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"Ethan stooop, that tickles," Thomas giggled and squirmed trying to pull his foot away from Jonathan's grasp. It was the morning after their passionate official rekindling and immediately after bringing Thomas breakfast in bed Jonathan went ahead and ran a bath for the both of them. From the moment Thomas woke up he found himself smiling from ear to ear. Even after Jonathan left him to get the bath ready, he was still smiling while he ate. If there was any indication that he was happy before, his face was evidence enough of what he was truly feeling.
Jonathan brought him coffee with bacon, scrambled eggs and grilled cheese. Jonathan definitely knew how to spoil him and he loved every second of it, who wouldn't? When Jonathan returned from the bathroom almost five minutes later, his plate was completely clean by then. Jonathan's expression was anything but modest, he was flat out stunned which turned into an outright laugh when Thomas showed him the finger.
His legs seemed to be working fine in the morning but Jonathan insisted on carrying him to the bath. He blushed the whole way thinking how he managed to land such a man. He was happy as he was grateful to whoever upstairs was looking out for him.
The water felt heavenly. The temperature was just right, the lavender oil and bath salt together was divinely soothing and the company was nothing short of perfection. When Jonathan slipped in, he sat facing Thomas and immediately started massaging his feet.
Yes, absolutely perfect, Thomas was in heaven.
Jonathan stopped tickling him and resumed his massage but he just sat there staring at Thomas. "You're staring." Thomas blushed averting his eyes from Jonathan's to the water repeatedly.
"I know." Jonathan responded coolly.
"And?" He whispered resting his elbow on the edge of the tub with his knuckles against his jaw.
"And...I feel like the luckiest bastard alive right now." Jonathan smiled broadly while he admired Thomas' glimmering eyes and blushing cheeks. "Ten years ago I met the most disorganized, indecisive, bossy..."
"Watch it." Thomas glared amusingly.
"...kind-hearted, selfless, beautiful young man." Jonathan grinned at Thomas' approving nod then continued. "To think that I was actually chasing some tail to a book club and found you in the process; you had on an oversized tie-dye t-shirt and white washed bootcut jeans."
"I was killing it in those jeans." Thomas stated as a matter of factly.
He smiled broadly as he brought Thomas' feet to his lips. "That smile and those eyes had me at first glance baby." Jonathan suddenly went serious. "I've loved you all those years from afar and I was ok with that. As long as I got to be a part of your life and share the most precious moments of your life with you; that was enough for me, but the fact that I get to have you like this, holding you and touching you like this...makes me the richest man alive because you are beyond priceless."
Jonathan stared at Thomas' teary eyes and felt immense pride and satisfaction that he could bring out so much emotion in him with just a few words. Before he could process another thought, Thomas pulled his foot away and sprung right into his arms.
With arms tightly secured around Jonathan's neck, Thomas straddled and sat on his thighs while nuzzling his neck. "That was so corny." He whispered against Jonathan's neck which achieved a roaring laughter from Jonathan and loving caresses down his back. "But I feel like I'm the lucky one here...or maybe we're both lucky." Thomas lifted his head and pressed his forehead against Jonathan's and stared into his eyes. "I don't really know how to explain it but that first time I saw you, it felt like something clicked in me, like I finally found that missing piece of the puzzle, you know.
It wasn't anything sexual or romantic. I just felt like I knew you and had been searching for you all along without even knowing it and then...there you were right there in front of me." Thomas placed his hands on either sides of Jonathan's neck and just nuzzled his face.
"The year before mom died, she said something to me. I didn't quite understand what she meant at the time but she told me that when I fall in love, when I find the person I'm supposed to be with, I'll know because I already know." Thomas chuckled softly then sighed deeply. "As you can imagine, I shrugged it off because that didn't really tell me anything; in fact I made zero sense to me. I honestly thought that she said those things because of her treatment and she was kinda out of it; but that first time you kissed me, I finally understood what she meant. I was a straight man who never had one sensual or romantic thought about another man but I never resisted you for one second, it was like I was longing for you all this time and I wasn't aware of it until you touched me."
"So you think she knew I had feelings for you?" Jonathan murmured as he scooped up water in his hallowed palm and poured it over Thomas' back.
"I don't think so but if she was still here I know she'd be happy for us. She had the biggest crush on you." Thomas chuckled softly.