It was dark and quiet inside the big house. A few lights were lit, but non in the entryway where Eamon sat on the floor and leaned against the wall. He held his cellphone in his hands and stared at it. As if he could make it ring if he stared hard enough. The boy was waiting for his daídai or Shiro to call about dad. His wonderful, amazing dad that he loved so much.
Eamon gritted his teeth, and he felt the tears burning in his eyes. He didn't want to cry. Not yet. Not when he was all alone. Finian and Shiro had both gone to the hospital almost thirty minutes earlier. Eamon had asked if they should wake Caoimhe, but Finian didn't think it was a good idea. Caoimhe would only get upset and want to go with them, but it wouldn't do the children any good to just sit in the hospital and wait. Finian decided that Caoimhe didn't need to know anything yet, that it was better to let her sleep and tell her when she woke up. But at the same time, Finian didn't want Eamon to be alone. Finian suggested calling his mother to keep Eamon company, but Eamon didn't want that. He wanted to call Tem.
Finian and Shiro hadn't left home until Eamon told them that Tem was on his way. It was a relief for them that Tem would come. They trusted him to be there for Eamon and the girls, so they left to go to their beloved Dorian.
Tem would soon be there. Eamon barely had time to ask him before Tem was already putting on his shoes, but still, every second alone felt painfully long. Eamon knew that it hadn't been that long since he called, but his whole being needed Tem. He had never felt so alone as now. Like he was all alone in the entire world. Just him and the agonising worry for his father. And when the door finally opened, Eamon jumped up and caught Tem in his arms. Although Tem was surprised by the sudden welcome, he threw his arms around Eamon and held him tightly. Eamon buried his face in the crook of Tem's neck, and without a word, he began to cry. They didn't say anything. Not a word. Tem figured that Eamon would talk when he felt ready to. But his heart ached by the anguished cries from his mate. They stood like that for a long time until the phone rang, and Eamon quickly let go of Tem.
"Dadaí?" Eamon's voice trembled.
Tem watched as Eamon listened intently. He didn't say much, just a few "okay" and "yes", but Tem could see that Eamon became calmer the longer the conversation went on. After saying goodbye and ending the call, the teenager breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Tem with his face wet with tears and his eyes red and swollen. Tem gently wiped the tears from Eamon's cheek and caressed it with his hand.
"Let's go to your room."
Eamon nodded, and after Tem took off his jacket and shoes, they went hand in hand to Eamon's room. They sat down on the bed, and Eamon rested against the wall.
"What did Finian say?"
"Dad's face has been injured."
"How?"
"Some bastard threw two bottles at his head. His right eye and ear are hurt. But that was everything daídai could tell me. The doctors put Dad under anaesthesia to help with the pain, and Dadaí and Shiro are waiting to talk with the doctor."
"God, I'm so sorry, Sweetheart," Tem took Eamon's hand in his and squeezed them tightly.
"You know, that time in the hospital when we laughed that you called Dad a genius. We didn't really mean anything bad about it, but we shouldn't have done it because Dad's really smart. He had the best grades in his class, and he built a successful record company. And he's so funny and kind."
The regret was apparent in Eamons face. But before Tem could say anything, the young man continued.
"What if dad's injuries are really bad? What if he can't use his eye anymore? Or ear?"
Eamon looked at Tem with big eyes.
"Tem, I'm scared."
Eamons voice cracked, and once more, tears burned in his eyes. He flinched when Tems hands caressed his cheek, but he leaned into it and closed his eyes.
"In every happy memory in my life, dad has always been there. And in every sad or bad moment, dad has always been able to make me feel better. Of course, Daídai has been there too, but Dad's different. He can make anyone feel better, and he can make everyone laugh."
Tem listened to Eamon with a smile. He didn't say anything, but he agreed. Tem hadn't met Dorian that many times, but Dorian was obvious a great person. There was no doubt about it. Tem had often thought that if his own dad could have been more like Dorian, his life could have been a whole lot different. With relief that Eamon was a lot calmer, Tem continued to listen to his mate as he shared memories of his childhood. In Tem's eyes, the McCallisters was the perfect family, and he was so happy that he had become a part of it. Not just as Eamon's fated pair but as Eamon's boyfriend. And the mere thought of that made it feel as if butterflies were fluttering in his belly.
Eamon got another call from Finian after about one hour.
"How's Dad?" Eamon asked as soon as he answered.
"Do you want to talk to him?" Finian asked and sounded calmer, and that was a good sign.
"Yes, please."
When Eamon heard his beloved father's voice, it was as if a heavy stone had fallen from his chest.
"Hey, Luv."
"Hi, dad."
"I'm having a hell of a night, but you know what? It feels so much better when I hear your voice."
Eamon bit his bottom lip and tried to hold back the tears.
"Don't be sad, darling. I actually don't feel so bad. The right side of my face has always looked better than my left," Dorian said in a drowsy voice. "Tem's there, right. I want to talk to him."
Eamon held his cell in front of Tem, and he just said that Dorian wanted to speak with him. Tem took the phone and put it to his ear.
"Hi, Mr McCallister."
"Oh common Tem, don't call me that. I told you to call me Dorian, didn't I?"
"Sorry. Hi Dorian."
Dorian laughed. It didn't have its usual strength, but it didn't sound forced either.
"I just wanted to thank you for being there for Eamon. It means a lot to us."
"You don't have to thank me. I will always be there for Eamon."
Tem smiled when he saw Eamon blush, and he tenderly caressed his mate's cheek while Dorian said 'awww' on the other side.
"That's so sweet."
"So don't worry, I'll stay with Eamon for as long as he wants me to."
If Eamon's face had been able to self ignite, it would have done so. He was red as a tomato and looked everywhere except at Tem.
"That's good to hear. Could I talk to Eamon again?"
When Tem gave the phone back to Eamon, their fingers touched, and Eamon jerked, close to dropping his cell phone.
Tem couldn't stop smiling. Eamon was just so adorable.
"It's me, Dad," Eamon looked away, even redder in the face.
"Honey, I want you to go to bed now. You don't have to worry because I'm just fine right now. Okay?"
Dorian spoke rather incoherent now, and Eamon had a bit of a hard time hearing what he was saying.
"Okay, Dad."
"Good boy. I'll call you tomorrow. Good night darling."
"Good night Dad."
Finian took over the phone and told him that Shiro would stay in the hospital while Finian would go home in a few hours. He wanted Eamon to sleep when he got home, and Eamon promised to try. After saying they loved each other and good night, Eamon hung up and sighed.
"That was a relief," Tem said.
"Yes, but Dad sounded so strange. Must have been the painkillers he gets."
"Probably morphine. That's why he sounded like that. I bet he's really doped up, so he's not in pain."
Eamon was relieved. He talked to his father, Finian would come home soon, and Tem was there. He put out his arms and smiled at Tem, telling him to come to him. As Eamon wrapped his arms around his body, Tem closed his eyes and rested his head on Eamon's chest. They said nothing, and to the sound of Eamon's heartbeat, Tem began to fall asleep.
Tem sat on Eamon's lap. At first, Eamon didn't think much about it. All he felt was Tem's deep breaths against his body. Tem being so close reassured him. He felt safe.
After a little while, Eamon noticed the pleasant scent that enveloped Tem. He remembered it. It was the same scent he had felt before when he first met Tem. Before they bonded. The sweet scent of strawberries and the warm summer air by the beach. Tem's own fragrance. But there was also something new. He couldn't really put his finger on what it was, but he felt a faint scent of Pinetree and clear, fresh air. Like after a rain shower. It smelled like autumn. Eamon realised it was their scent, his and Tems.
Eamon glanced down. Tem was falling asleep, but he still had his eyes open. Or, at least he tried. They were heavy and wanted to stay closet, but Tem struggled to stay awake. Eamon couldn't tear his eyes away from the man who was leaning against him, sitting on his lap. He was so beautiful. If someone had asked Eamon just a few months ago if he would think a man was beautiful, he would have said no. But that was before Tem. That was before he met this amazing man. And Tem was beautiful, and Eamon loved him.
Gently he kissed the top of Tem's head and took a deep breath. Tem smelled really good. His heart pounded in his chest. Suddenly, as if sobering up, he became aware of how they were sitting. Tem was on his lap in his arms, and Eamon suddenly realised how they touched each other. Eamon froze and tried not to move. But Tem got closer to him, a move that made Eamon jerk. Tems sat right on top of Eamon's lower body, and every time Tem moved, blood rushed to Eamon's member. He closed his eyes and tried to be perfectly still, but Tem kept moving as if trying to find the perfect position to calm down and fall asleep. Eamon desperately tried to think of something else. Like old men with hair sticking out of their noses. Or those youtube clips where someone pops a pimple and litres with pus comes out. Eamon tried to think of all sorts of disgusting things but to no avail. Instead, it got worse because the more he tried not to think about it, the more he thought about it. About the weight over his bottom, over Tem's closeness and scent. About how much he liked Tem and how much he wanted to touch him.
This was something new for Eamon. When he had been with Chhaya, he had thought it felt like love. But after realising what he felt for Tem, he understood that what he had felt for Chhaya wasn't love at all. It was just a childish crush. But he loved Tem. So much so that it was almost overwhelming.
When Eamon had listened to his classmates talk about other people's looks, how sexy they were and what they wanted to do with them, Eamon never joined in. He never cared about other people's appearance or wanting to do certain stuff with others. But now, nothing but things he wanted to do with Tem filled his thoughts. And Eamon panicked.
"I have to go to the bathroom," he whispered in a trembling voice and gently lifted Tem off his lap and put the almost sleeping Tem on the bed.
Tem quickly stood up and turned his back on Tem.
"Hurry back," Tem spoke in a husky voice, which didn't help Eamon calm down at all. That voice was so sexy that it made it twitch down in the lower half of his body.
Eamon mumbled something in response and almost ran to the bathroom. He closed the door behind him, leaned against the sink and stared into the mirror. He was bright red in the face. Eamon looked down but quickly looked up again, burying his face in his hands.
"Bloody hell," he whispered, wanting nothing more than to disappear.
He had an erection, it was so obvious that Tem must have noticed it, and just the thought of it made Eamon want to die. How could he look Tem in the eyes the next time they met. Tem must think he was nothing more than a horny teen. Okay, sure, he's actually horny right now. But in his defence, the person he loved had been sitting on his lap, just over his member. And he knew it would affect most people. Even his daídai, who was so strong.
However, if Eamon had known what Finian's sex life was like, he wouldn't have used him as an example. Not Shiro, either. And certainly not Dorian. More sexually active than those three there were hard to find.
So there Eamon was in front of the mirror, with a desperate expression on his face, feeling ashamed and tried once more to think of all the disgusting things he could imagine. But it still didn't help. So Eamon took a deep breath, said, "Fuck it," and gave up.
While Eamon suffered through the torments of hell, Tem was sleeping on the bed. He didn't notice when Eamon returned after five minutes and got down in bed next to him. Eamon was as far away from Tem as possible, almost falling from the edge of the bed. But what did it help when Tem, after just a few minutes, rolled over from the other side and crawled to Eamon and held on to him from behind. First, Eamon froze, then glanced over his shoulder and saw that Tem was still asleep, with a faint smile on his face and looked so beautiful.
Eamon flinched. There he was again, thinking things he shouldn't. Not right now anyway. He groaned, put his hands to his face and sighed.
"One year left! Just one more year."
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I'm sorry I didn't update anything until now. After covid, I've been incredibly tired. This wasn't a long chapter, but I didn't want to wait any longer. However, I will update the next part on Friday.
Thank you for your understanding // Toffnokk