He set Avery’s cup beside the chair before slipping behind his boy.
Avery leaned back into his chest. He didn’t take his gaze from the sky.
They sat in silence for several long moments before Avery sighed. “There is something I want to talk to you about.”
Jace did his best not to tense. With Avery pressed against him Avery would be able to tell. But it wasn’t usual for his boy to hide things. Normally they just popped out of his mouth. “Okay, baby boy. You can tell me anything. Whatever it is, we’ll work it out.”
“I wasn’t hiding it,” Avery said quickly. “I just didn’t think that it was something possible. I just sort of put it in the back of my mind. Until now anyway.”
That made sense. Avery was a worrier. A thinker. But when he was little he didn’t let things bother him. Big Avery however would make himself sick thinking about something. “I know you weren’t hiding anything. And even if you just needed time to think things through that’s okay too. I just hope you know you can always come to me to talk things out.”
Avery nodded.
It was hard talking to his boy not being able to see his face. But it might be easier for Avery if he didn’t have to see Jace either.
“Before classes ended for the semester I had coffee on campus with Caleb. Remember? You said it was okay to stay late.”
“I remember boy. It’s good for you to hang out with Caleb. He’s a good friend to both of us.”
“Yeah.”
“So what happened?” Jace didn’t mean to push Avery but his boy had struggled so much on campus. He didn’t connect with other students. Often he was made to feel weird or different. Jace was surprised Caleb hadn’t told him if something happened.
“After getting our coffees I walked Caleb to his culinary class in the vocation building. On the bulletin board in front are some listings of jobs and volunteer positions.”
“Okay,” Jace encouraged. He really didn’t know where Avery was going with this. Jace did a few hours every week at the coffee shop. He didn’t have to work for money. Jace more than made enough to provide. It was more about the connection Avery had with those at the coffee shop. Jace thought he was happy there.
“One posting…” Avery trailed off and started playing with his fingers.
Jace reached out and caught Avery’s fingers. He threaded his fingers with Avery’s. “It’s okay. Tell me.”
Avery laughed softly. “It’s like if I say it out loud then it’s real. I’ll admit to wanting something. Something I’m not sure I will even be able to do.”
Damn, Jace wished he could wipe away all of Avery’s fears. But all he could really do is listen to his boy. Encourage him.
Avery took a deep breath. “There is a new group in town that is starting a charity and needs volunteers.”
“Volunteer work is very important in our community. Any community really. I couldn’t imagine this is something I would object to.” Sure it would mean some changes to their schedule but if it was important to Avery that would be no problem. Maybe Jace could even volunteer some of his own time.
“No, I don’t think you’d mind. It’s just something that I really want to do. But there might not be many open positions and what if I try and they say no?”
“Then you’ll try again when they have another opening. What does this group do?”
“It’s a group of retired veterans. You know like military. They train service dogs to give to other veterans that have PTSD or are disabled. They are looking for people who can help in the kennels. They even posted that they were open to working with the volunteers to teach them to help with the training of the dogs.”
“Avery! That is fantastic.” That would be perfect for his boy.
“Mary said earlier that she could tell how much I love animals. And I really do. I could help out at the kennels with the dogs. Show them love until they go to their forever home. I wouldn’t even mind having to clean up their poop.”
Jace couldn’t, didn’t want to, hold himself back any longer. He turned Avery in his lap so Avery was cuddled into his chest and he could see his boy’s face. “If this is something you want to do then I will support you one hundred percent. When we get home we’ll look up this organization and see how to apply.”
Avery bit his lips as he went to petting Jace’s shirt. A substitution for not having his lily. “I really want to try. I was scared before. When I first saw the posting because I really want to do it. I’m still kind of scared but… I want to work with animals. I want to try.”
Jace kissed Avery’s forehead.
“I might suck at it. They’ll probably fire me.”
“Avery,” Jace said sternly. “You couldn’t suck at it because you love dogs so much. You’ll be the best volunteer there.”
Avery peered up at him. “You really think so?”
“I know so.”
“Thank you Daddy.” He yawned before laying his head back down on Avery’s chest.
“We should get up and into bed,” Jace said. He didn’t move though. It was nice sitting on the balcony. They had privacy and nothing was better than holding his boy.
“Just a little longer,” Avery begged. “I love the smell of the ocean.”
“Okay boy, a little longer.” Jace adjusted the back of the lounge chair until the were reclined further.
Avery’s hands went under Jace’s shirt. Avery began to rub his hands up and down Jace’s stomach. Jace’s body responded, like always, to his boy’s soft touches.
His cock hardened, straining his pajama pants and pressing against Avery’s leg.
Avery moaned pushing Jace’s shirt up.
Jace leaned forward long enough to whip his shirt off. He dropped it onto the ground before helping Avery straddle his lap.
Avery’s mouth went directly to
