Kapitel 13: Chapter Four

They'd been official four months, and in that four months they'd had a couple ups and downs. Corbin was still something Ivan was putting together. He'd notice the little boy lost look in his eyes, as if he were in a different and much darker place than their couch and in that moment. On one of these such days Ivan had come home from work on a whim that something was amiss, though he couldn't quite place it. He did know however, in his gut that he shouldn't ignore this instinct. When he arrived home he found him in a corner in the living room next to the entertainment center. He spoke to him softly, coaxing Corbin to respond. When he did finally look up, Corbin crawled to Ivan's arms, balled up between his legs and reveled in the new-found safety he had within Ivan. He wouldn't speak to tell Ivan what was the matter; and for many reasons. He couldn't tell him out of the fear this new lifestyle would vanish as quickly as it appeared. And selfishly he'd grown rather fond of it. He'd grown rather fond of Ivan, of learning not to be afraid when Ivan reached for him. Of learning that Ivan was gentle in bed, both during sex and at night when he just held him. Corbin found it strange that he didn't demand sex every night. He never demanded sex at all. He found it stranger that Ivan seemed to notice when he was out of sorts; when touch scared him. It both feared him greatly and moved him deeply when, in those moments, Ivan was that much gentler. He didn't ask questions, though often reminded him he could talk about it should he need. Corbin gripped onto him tighter as sobs came in hitching breaths.