Chapter 87 - Courage Of The Morning

For some reason, everyone, or almost all, believed that it was Andrzej's merit. Even Mrs. Śliwińska hugged Nowicki good-bye and thanked him for taking care of her son. The photographer didn't feel like he deserved it, but Dominik looked at him with his sincere, charming smile as if joining his mother's thanks. It was a strange feeling, but nice.

Nowicki lost his parents a few years ago. The only grandfather he remembered had died even earlier. As the only child, Andrzej did not know what it was like to have a sister or a brother. At this point, he no longer had any family members and was largely lonely because of it. He wondered what Christmas could be like in such a busy house. Dominik's parents were very cordial to him and he liked his siblings as intelligent, quick-witted and, above all, loving. He wondered how Dominik could not miss them all?

He drove the car to the cottage and turned off the engine.

Śliwiński slept soundly, and his breathing was deep and even. Andrzej was sorry to wake him up, but it was neither a good position to sleep nor a good place. It was getting quite cold.

The night was not really warm. Andrzej got out of the car, opened the door of the house and came back for Dominik. The actor was sleeping so sweet that Andrzej had to try to keep the dream alive. He unbuckled Dominik's seat belt and gently, like a small child, took him in his arms.

He was so light and tiny. Even after a hearty dinner, which lasted until the night and was actually a typical Polish feast, weighed only a pinch. At that moment, there was no trace of this strong, possessive lover in him that dragged Andrzej to bed.

But soon Dominik will be standing firmly on his feet again. Nowicki will see to it personally.

Śliwiński, being carried, grunted in his sleep and pressed his head to Andrzej's shoulder. The warmth of his breath made Andrzej's spine shiver pleasantly. He really liked this kid.

The kid, he snorted in his mind. The actor was less than five years younger than him, in fact very little, but his small build, sensitive personality and lack of independence in life made him resemble a naive and innocent child to a large extent.

It was cold in the cabin too. Sloppy construction did not anticipate someone spending time here outside of summer, but preventive people did. The fireplace was practically new, because his friend had just come up with the idea of ​​installing it. He found fireplace very romantic.

Andrzej laid Dominik on the bed, but the actor's arms, instead of falling limply, embraced him tighter.

"Don't let me go," Dominik muttered, half conscious.

"It is cold. I have to start a fire."

"No ... we will warm each other ..."

"There is no discussion," he replied softly. "If we fall asleep in this cold, we'll both regret it. Be a good boy and go to sleep."

I guess he was too tired to argue. His arms dropped.

Andrzej took off his shoes and covered him with a blanket. For now, it was too cold to undress. He took care of the fireplace himself.

He sat down in front of the fire and took out his phone. He had one unread message from a friend who had given him the keys to that cabin.

Nowicki read it and swore - a load of nonsense, no particulars. He had expected more from someone of his kind.

Shit, he cursed. Why is it all going so slowly?

***

Andrzej was awakened by the smell of fried sausage. Half asleep, he tried to get up and found that he had just become entangled in some cloth.

"Be careful, or you'll hurt yourself," he heard a familiar laugh.

"Hm? Oh boy," he groaned, trying to unravel himself from the blankets. Practically his whole body ached.

"You got what you were owed for not wanting to sleep in bed with me. It looks like you fell asleep in front of the fireplace. If it weren't for that pseudo bear skin, you'd be pretty cold yourself. Only in the morning, when I was leaving for the need, I found you on the ground. You slept so hard I couldn't wake you up.

Nowicki yawned loudly and widely. He stumbled disentangling from the blankets.

"I would probably still be asleep if not for these smells" he approached the actor standing in front of the pan. "Where did you get the sausage? I don't remember packing it."

"From shop. About a mile from here is a small village and a grocery store. We passed them on our way here."

"Did you go shopping alone?" Andrzej felt a layer of ice cover his heart.

"Yes" Dominik admitted.

"Never do this again!"

"What? Why?" Śliwiński was surprised. His eyes screamed with great question marks.

"Because ..." Andrzej did not know what to say to him? How to explain his violent reaction. "If you were not there, and I woke up, I would be afraid that something happened to you."

"It's nice, but don't overdo it," laughed Dominik. "What could happen to me?"

"We are on the Bug. This river is eating people."

"Well, yes, but I left you a note anyway "Śliwiński took a crumpled piece of paper out of the trash, where it was clearly written: 'I'm shopping'. "I threw her out as soon as I got back."

"But don't do it anyway," Andrzej said.

"Why?" Dominik really didn't understand. "Do you...? You think this stalker can be dangerous, don't you?"

"No, I mean ... It might have been a stupid joke, but until we find it, I don't want to risk it. Shit, I am beginning to understand what Marczak meant when he said that he was locking you up from the world to protect you."

Śliwiński smiled gratefully and stroked Andrzej's cheek.

"He protected me from the world, but not from himself. His imprisonment has made me unable to take care of myself or protect myself, but you are different. You give me self-confidence and courage. That is why I am not afraid of the world or people anymore."

"They say that only fools are not afraid."

"Maybe ..." admitted Dominik. God, how beautiful and seductive he looked at that moment! "But I lived seven years fearing even my own shadow. I don't want it ever again."

"So I'll be afraid for the two of us" Andrzej promised.

"Thank you" Dominik climbed on his toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Andrzej felt as under his influence blush bloom on his cheeks.

What am I, a teenager, to blush under the influence of a stolen kiss?

"It's going to be a beautiful day," Nowicki observed, looking out the window. "What do you want to do today?"

"Roll around in the sheets, sweat and moan. Of course with you" Śliwiński replied without hesitation, with full enthusiasm.

"Can you explain to me how someone so subtle and sensitive can say such things freely?"

"Of course. It's love. It is love that is making me shameless. Now sit down, breakfast is ready."

Taking his seat at the lopsided table, Nowicki noticed on the cupboard open packages of drugs that Dominik was supposed to take. The actor caught his eye.

"I've already taken the ones to be taken before meals," he said lightly. "Do you want to count my pills?

"No need, I believe you. Yesterday I didn't have time to ask you, what are your impressions after meeting your family?"

Śliwiński did not answer right away, but a warm, cheerful smile did not leave his mouth.

"Ok, I think," he admitted.

"Your mother feels guilty that she let you go alone into the great world. She was afraid it was too soon."

"It was," he admitted. "In retrospect, I can see how much I lost because of it. However, you cannot live in the past. She had good intentions. Marek too. I myself was too young to make responsible decisions myself, but apart from temporary falls, I probably did not grow up the worst."

"I don't think so," admitted Andrzej. "By the way, your brother knows we sleep together."

"What?!!!" Dominik paled with terror. "Did you tell him ?! Why?!!"

"I didn't tell him anything and didn't confirm his suspicions, but he knew anyway. He said if I hurt you, he would kick me."

Dominik slowly lifted his jaw, and it dropped from the impression.

"My little brother," he said delightedly. "Who would have thought. I find it strange that he knows, but I'm relieved. After all, he didn't condemn me."

"Why would he do this? He is a young, conscious man and he loves you."

Dominik frowned, as if unpleasant thoughts had occurred to him.

"And I hurt him. He was thirteen when I left home. He may not have looked at me like in a picture, but as an older brother I owed him protection."

"Then why did you abandon him? Why have you never contacted him? Don't say that Marczak wanted to protect you from the thirteen-year-old as well. Because it's just weird."

But wasn't that what the relationship between Dominik and Marczak was like?