They was at this spot near campus grabbing food when some dude walked up to their table.
"Javi? I thought that was you."
Messiah caught how Javier tensed slightly. "Marcus. What's good?"
Marcus kept talking to Javier like Messiah wasn't even there, bringing up old memories and inside jokes. Messiah just watched, getting more heated by the minute.
"We should link sometime," Marcus said before finally leaving. "Catch up."
The ride to Javier's place was quiet, Messiah on his phone ignoring Javier's attempts at conversation. As soon as they got inside though, he started snapping.
"You ain't tell me you was still cool with your ex."
"I'm not. I ain't even talked to him in forever."
"Sure looked like y'all was real comfortable." Messiah was pacing, that wall coming back up. "Maybe you should go catch up with him since y'all got so much history-"
Javier caught him by the neck, backing him against the counter. "You got about five seconds to fix this attitude before I bend you over this counter and fuck it out of you. Messiah."
Messiah's breath caught but he still tried to pull away. "I ain't got no attitude-"
"Oh you wanna test me?" Javier's grip tightened slightly. "Cause I got all night baby."
Something in his tone made Messiah stop fighting. He let Javier hold him there, finally meeting his eyes.
"You done with the jealous shit?" Javier asked, voice stern but his thumb was gentle on Messiah's jaw.
"Yeah."
"Yeah what?"
"Yeah I'm done."
"Good." Javier's voice softened but his grip stayed firm. "Now you wanna tell me what's really wrong?"
Messiah was quiet for a minute, letting Javier's touch ground him. "Just... the way he was looking at you. Like he knew you better than me."
"Baby." Javier's other hand found his waist. "He don't know shit about me now. You the only one who gets to see me like this."
"Promise?"
"I promise." Javier kissed him soft. "But don't ever talk to me like that again. You feel me?"
"Yeah. My bad."
"I know." Javier pulled him close, feeling how Messiah actually let himself be held. "You stuck with me now. Ain't nobody else I want."
And something about how he handled him - dominant but caring, firm but gentle - made Messiah finally believe it.
YOU ARE READING
Smoke & thorns
General FictionJavier, a tattoo artist and college student, is all about that laid-back life. Messiah, a college student and soccer player, is tough and guarded. When they meet, sparks fly, but Messiah's walls are hard to break. Javier's all about showin' love, bu...
