"That's one of the best gifts a parent can ever give a child."
Ronin smiled softly and placed the guitar by the bed, leaning on the wall. "Music."
Chapter Seven
Two days had passed since Jose was last with Ronin. Though they spoke on the phone, José decided in order to get any work done he was going to have to go on a Ronin drought. Every night before bed the two talked, watched movies, and shared dreams, all over the phone or instant messenger. By the time the third day rolled around, José finally pulled himself from rushing back and forth between Eros and Century and stopped by Rajan's house for a friendly chat.
When he got there however, Rajan wasn't alone and Xavier invited José to stay for lunch.
"So how are things going with you?" Xavier asked, placing three plates on the center table beside a large bowl of curried chicken and a plate piled high with steaming pita bread. José eased down on the other side of the table and together, the three men ate. It was strange. The way José loved these men like they were his brothers and knew he could always depend on them. But aside from that, he felt so at ease around them, it was like breathing.
"Well, I'm happy for you, José," Rajan said. "Ronin seems like a good guy."
"He is. I haven't seen him in three days and I want to rip my hair out."
"Why not?" Xavier wanted to know.
"Well, we want to get Laird's job done and a couple of other jobs I have going on the side," José replied, stuffing a curry-covered piece of pita into his mouth. "We talk on the phone all the time and stuff but it's not the same."
"You want to feel his touch," Xavier whispered. "I understand how you feel. When Raj goes away for his shoots sometimes I feel like climbing the walls."
"I'm sorry," Rajan said.
Xavier laughed and kissed Rajan's head. "It's not a bad thing. I knew coming in that would happen. What I'm trying to say is, the way you feel about him even though you two just started together, don't ever let that change."
José nodded silently, and ate for a while. Once the meal was finished, he helped the guys clean up then retired to the living room with a beer. He told them what happened with Ronin and the guitar.
"He did what?" Rajan asked, sitting on the arm of the sofa and chewing on an apple. "Dang! X, why don't you ever sing to me?"
Xavier tapped his forehead against the desk and moaned. "Now look what you did! And besides, aren't you the singer in this marriage?"
"Oh!" Rajan exclaimed. "Touché!"
José laughed. "Seriously. He has this voice that's just—just so good."
Sighing, José took a sip from his beer and stretched his legs out before him. He went silent for a while before he finally took a breath and looked at Rajan. "I don't know, guys. I woke up beside him and I couldn't tell the last time I spent the night at the man's house and didn't sneak out in the morning."
"The classic walk of shame?" Rajan chuckled.
"We've all done it."
"Oh… do tell." Xavier eyed Rajan in that heated way José knew he looked at Ronin.
But before Rajan could say anything else, Xavier's phone went off. Rajan sighed and rose. José knew what that meant as well. Xavier, SWAT captain, had to leave for a job. He watched as Xavier kissed Rajan and listened as the two murmured their love for each other.
"Come home," Rajan said.
"I love you," Xavier replied and ducked out the door.
José saw Rajan's heart break a little as the door closed. Rajan didn't move from where he stood until long after the sound of the engine died in the distance. José respected the enormity of what was happening and remained quiet. Finally Rajan moved and smiled.
"I can't imagine how hard it is for you to watch him leave for work like that." José took a sip from his bottle and eased forward. He rested his elbows against his knees. "I'm sorry."
Rajan sat beside José and took José's beer from his hand to take a sip before handing it back. "It's hard. I've seen the work he does firsthand and I worry about him going through doors. But I've also met the CT and they are wonderful guys and gals who have his back."
José patted Rajan's thigh affectionately. "Think positive, Rajie boy. Your man loves you too much to make some dumb-ass punk take him away from you."
"Thanks, José."
"Anytime."
"So you and Ronin are getting serious?"
"I hope so," José replied, eyeing his bottle. "The man does things to me—he makes me feel like in those movies where your man is just so damn perfect for you all you want to do is cry."
"You? Cry? Am I being Punk'd?"
"You always gotta be such a dick?" José asked.
"Of course! That's part of my charm."
José shook his head and smiled. He drained his beer and relaxed into the seat. It'd taken some doing but after spending most of the morning catching up on paperwork,
he had to check in with his team. He wasn't about to go anywhere though—well maybe the bathroom.
"I have to go to the john."
Rajan pulled his legs in and José walked by him.
* * * *
Ronin peered at the swatches of material and eyed the wall. The color was a lovely bronze. He'd just bought some new paints that would be perfect for this assignment.
Smiling, he folded the swatches of color and dropped them back into his bag. José had given them to him before coming out so he could start formulating the images but the truth was all he could think about was José. A day had passed since they made love. Three hours since he'd seen José. He wanted to touch him in the most intimate of ways but Leroy,
