A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

by Christina Lee

For the first time since the accident, the idea of his parents being somewhere in the universe together soothed his soul like a balm.

Rhys knew he should count himself lucky. Emerson had always been loyal and dependable. Christ, he was making him sound like a puppy. A very cute and sweet puppy.

And Emerson would take it all back if it meant their friendship would be strained. He couldn’t handle not having him in his life. He couldn’t lose him, too.

It was going to be hard for Emerson not to reach out and touch him in a more meaningful way. But he’d had to live with plenty of painful things in his life, so he’d just file this one away to that dark corner of his heart.

Emerson could not soothe the profound ache in his chest when he looked at his battered and bruised—and beautiful—friend, nor the ache to touch Rhys in a meaningful way.

Here he was, naked and vulnerable, and damn, he didn’t think he could trust anyone else’s hands on him like this. Never like this.

That was all he had to go on, and it would have to do. He hoped the memory of Rhys’s lips moving against his wouldn’t fade, but at the same time he hoped it did.

“But imagine what they ultimately become and how much they went through to get there,” he pointed out. “To anyone else, it would look like complete destruction, but really, it’s all about transformation and becoming something else entirely. And the wings they create from almost nothing are incredible.”

“That’s why I thought it was a good gift for you…because you’re sort of going through your own kinda metamorphosis.”

At least that was what he noticed when he sneaked a peek at her texts. Aunt Janice said it was a safety measure parents needed to take, but he still felt guilty about it.

Emerson had the urge to kiss him, to taste some of that afterglow from his lips. Maybe it would radiate through him as well and finally fill his empty spaces with peace.

“Can we talk about the elephant in the room?” Rhys arched a brow. “Your gorgeous cock?” “Stop it.”

Rhys lifted Emerson’s hand and kissed his palm. “This is one of those big moments again, isn’t it?” “Where we fall more deeply in love?” “Totally and completely.”

“You okay? Looks like you have a lot going on in that brain of yours.” “I do,” he replied, tapping their lips together. Emerson arched an eyebrow. “Climbing?” “Nope. Just life in general and how fucking happy I am.” Emerson’s eyes softened. “Ugh, my heart. One of those smaller moments again, and I love you for it.”