Chapter 129 Chapter 129
Chapter 129 Chapter 129
Liam and Logan had just walked out of the club, but Liam was carrying most of Logan's weight.
One of Logan's arms was draped over Liam's shoulders while Liam held him firmly around the waist, carefully guiding him across the parking lot. Logan's steps were uneven, his body swaying every few seconds as he struggled to keep his balance. His cheeks were slightly flushed from the alcohol, and every now and then, he let out a soft, sleepy laugh at nothing in particular.
After finishing their meal at the restaurant, Liam had convinced Logan to stop by a nearby club. Logan had refused several times at first, insisting he needed to get home because Chase would be waiting for him. But after enough pleading, and a promise that they wouldn't stay long, he had reluctantly agreed.
Unfortunately, one drink had turned into several.
Now Logan was far too drunk to even walk properly.
Thankfully, somewhere between their conversations at the restaurant and the club, Liam had managed to get Chase's address from Logan. At least he knew where to take him.
"We're almost there.'' Liam said softly, though he knew Logan probably wasn't listening.
They finally reached his car.
Liam unlocked the passenger door before carefully helping Logan inside. He adjusted him comfortably against the seat and made sure he wasn't leaning awkwardly before stepping back and letting out a quiet breath.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
His eyes slowly drifted back to Logan, and he couldn't help smiling.
He thought back to the evening they'd shared.
The conversations.
The laughter.
The dancing.
Having Logan so close to him.
Holding him.
Watching him smile.
It had felt like a dream he'd waited years to experience.
A small smile spread across his lips.
"You really have no idea, do you?" He murmured quietly before letting out a soft sigh.
He leaned into the car to pull the seatbelt across Logan's chest.
Just as he reached for the buckle...
"...Chase..."
The barely audible whisper froze him in place.
Liam slowly lifted his head.
Logan remained asleep, completely unaware of what he'd just said.
The smile on Liam's face disappeared.
A dull ache settled deep inside his chest.
He stared at Logan for several long seconds before speaking quietly.
"Just how much do you love that guy?" His voice was almost a whisper. "I always thought you were straight... and now you've fallen so deeply for another man."
He looked away, swallowing the bitterness rising inside him before fastening the seatbelt with a soft click.
Without another word, he gently closed the passenger door and walked around to the driver's side.
He climbed into the car and rested both hands on the steering wheel.
All he had to do was start the engine.
Instead, he found himself turning his head.
Logan had shifted slightly in his sleep, his face now angled toward him.
Liam couldn't look away.
His gaze wandered slowly across Logan's features.
His long eyelashes rested peacefully against his cheeks.
His straight nose.
The soft strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead.
Then...
His eyes settled on Logan's lips.
They looked impossibly soft.
Liam swallowed hard before forcing himself to look forward again.
No.
He shouldn't even be thinking like this.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"Just start the car. Take him home. Forget this ever happened.''
But no matter how hard he tried...
His eyes drifted back again.
This time they remained fixed on Logan's sleeping face.
His heartbeat grew louder with every passing second.
He knew this was wrong.
He knew he should stop.
Yet the obsession he'd buried for years drowned out every rational thought in his mind.
"Just this once... He'll never know.''
Almost without realizing it, Liam leaned across the center console.
His breathing became uneven as he drew closer.
Only inches separated them now.
He hesitated.
For one brief moment, his conscience begged him to pull away.
Instead...
He closed his eyes and gently pressed his lips against Logan's.
The kiss lasted only a few seconds.
When he finally pulled back, his heart was pounding wildly inside his chest.
Logan never stirred.
He remained fast asleep, completely unaware of what had happened.
Liam stared at him before slowly lifting a hand to touch his own lips.
A faint smile crept onto his face.
"I've wanted to do that for so long.'' He whispered.
For a fleeting moment, he considered turning the car around.
Taking Logan somewhere else.
Keeping him away from Chase.
The thought lingered...
Before he slowly shook his head.
"No..." He exhaled quietly. "Not yet."
He had only just found Logan again.
If he pushed too hard now, he'd lose every chance of getting closer to him.
There would be time.
Plenty of time.
With one last lingering glance at Logan, Liam finally started the engine.
The car pulled away from the parking lot and disappeared into the night, heading toward the one place he wished he didn't have to take him—
Back to Chase.
Chase paced restlessly around his apartment, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. He had been trying to reach Logan all afternoon, but every single call had gone unanswered.
When Logan left earlier that day, he'd only said he was heading out and would be back soon. He hadn't explained where he was going or who he was meeting, and Chase hadn't wanted to pry. He trusted him.
But now...
It was almost ten at night.
There was still no sign of Logan.
His calls weren't going through, his messages hadn't been read, and with every passing minute, the knot in his stomach only tightened.
He dragged a hand through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh.
"Where are you, baby...?''
He'd waited long enough.
If Logan didn't return in the next few minutes, he was going out to look for him. He didn't care how late it was. He'd even call their friends if he had to.
Just then, the telephone in the apartment rang, breaking the heavy silence.
Chase hurried over and picked it up immediately.
"Hello?"
"Good evening, Mr. Chase.'' The security guard greeted politely. "You have a visitor downstairs. He claims to be a friend of Mr. Logan and he's here with him."
Chase instantly straightened. "What?"
"The gentleman said his name is Liam. He asked if you could come downstairs to pick Mr. Logan up. If not, we can escort them upstairs."
"No." Chase answered immediately. "I'm coming down."
He hung up without another word.
"Liam..."
The name lingered on his tongue.
So...
That was where Logan had gone.
He'd gone to meet Liam.
A mixture of hurt and anger settled inside Chase's chest.
"Why didn't you tell me?''
He wasn't angry because Logan had seen an old friend.
He was hurt because Logan had hidden it from him.
Still...
That conversation could wait.
Right now, all that mattered was getting Logan home safely.
Without wasting another second, Chase hurried out of the apartment and made his way to the elevator.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Liam leaned casually against the passenger side of his car with his hands tucked into his pockets.
His eyes drifted toward the entrance of the building.
It didn't take long before Chase appeared.
The moment their eyes met, the atmosphere turned cold.
Chase walked toward him without slowing down.
His expression was unreadable, but the anger burning behind his eyes was impossible to miss.
He stopped a few feet away.
"Where's he?" He asked through clenched teeth.
Liam simply smirked before stepping aside.
"There."
Chase's gaze immediately landed on Logan.
Relief washed over him the instant he saw Logan sitting safely in the passenger seat.
The relief lasted only a second before his eyes shifted back to Liam.
His expression hardened once again.
Liam raised both hands innocently. "Relax." He shrugged. "We were just two old friends catching up. We had lunch together, then decided to stop by a club afterward." He laughed lightly.
"We were having so much fun that we completely lost track of time." His eyes wandered back to Logan. "I guess he missed me just as much as I missed him."
Chase's jaw tightened.
The muscles in his arms tensed, veins becoming visible beneath his skin as he fought every urge telling him to punch the smug look off Liam's face.
Instead...
He took a slow breath.
Without another word, he brushed past Liam and opened the passenger door.
He carefully unbuckled Logan's seatbelt before slipping an arm around his waist.
"Come on, baby."
Logan stirred slightly.
A sleepy groan escaped his lips as his eyelids fluttered open.
His unfocused eyes searched around before finally settling on Chase.
Almost instantly, a bright smile spread across his face.
"Chase!"
He reached up with both hands and cupped Chase's cheeks, squishing his face together.
"It's my boyfriend..." He giggled drunkenly.
"My handsome boyfriend."
A helpless smile tugged at Chase's lips despite everything.
"Yeah." He murmured softly. "It's me."
"You came."
"Of course I did."
Logan smiled lazily before letting his head fall against Chase's shoulder.
Chase sighed.
"Just how much did you drink?''
He helped Logan out of the car and carefully lifted him into his arms.
Only then did he turn back to Liam.
The warmth disappeared from his face.
His stare became icy.
"If this ever happens again..." He said quietly, his voice frighteningly calm, "I promise you, you won't get away with it so easily."
For a brief moment, neither of them looked away.
Then Chase turned and carried Logan toward the entrance of the condo without another word.
Liam remained standing beside his car, watching until they disappeared inside the building.
The pleasant smile on his face slowly returned.
But this time...
It wasn't warm.
It was a smirk.
A dangerous one.
Inside, jealousy churned violently within him.
Seeing Logan in Chase's arms...
Watching the way Logan smiled the moment he saw him...
Hearing him proudly call Chase his boyfriend...
Every second of it fueled the obsession growing inside Liam's heart.
"Enjoy him while you can...'' His smile widened ever so slightly. "Because I'm not giving up that easily.''
When they returned to the apartment, Chase carried Logan all the way to their bedroom before gently laying him down on the bed. Logan mumbled something incoherent in his sleep and shifted slightly, but never fully woke up.
Chase crouched beside the bed and carefully slipped off Logan's shoes before helping him out of his shirt, wanting him to be as comfortable as possible. Seeing the faint flush on Logan's cheeks and the smell of alcohol clinging to him, Chase let out a quiet sigh before walking into the bathroom.
A few moments later, he returned with a bowl of warm water and a soft towel.
He dipped the towel into the water, wrung out the excess, then began gently wiping Logan's face before moving down to his neck and arms, taking his time. His movements were slow and careful, filled with the same tenderness he always reserved for Logan.
As the cool towel brushed against his skin, Logan slowly stirred awake.
His eyelids fluttered open, his sleepy gaze lazily searching the room until it settled on Chase.
A small smile immediately appeared on his lips.
"Baby..." He mumbled, struggling to keep his eyes open.
Chase looked up and smiled warmly. "I'm right here."
Logan stared at him for a few seconds before a tiny frown creased his forehead.
"You're... not mad?"
A soft chuckle escaped Chase.
He reached over and brushed a few strands of hair away from Logan's forehead.
"I'm saving that for tomorrow."
Logan let out a sleepy laugh, but it quickly faded, guilt replacing the smile on his face.
"I... didn't tell you..."
Chase continued wiping his arm gently.
"Tell me what?"
"I was with..." Logan paused, trying to gather his thoughts. "...Liam."
"I know."
Logan blinked slowly.
"I... didn't tell you because..." His words slurred together. "I thought... you'd be upset... I didn't want to make you angry..."
Chase stopped what he was doing and looked at him quietly for a moment.
Then he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against Logan's forehead.
When he pulled away, he cupped Logan's cheek, slowly caressing it with his thumb.
"You silly guy." He said softly. "Do you really think I'd rather not know where you are?"
His smile held more concern than disappointment.
"You scared me so much today."
Logan's eyes became even guiltier.
"Next time." Chase continued gently, "just tell me the truth. We don't have to keep things from each other, okay?"
Logan gave a sleepy nod.
"...Okay."
"I'm sorry..."
"I know."
Chase smiled reassuringly.
"We'll talk about everything when you're sober."
He tucked the blanket a little higher over Logan.
"For now, I just want you to rest."
Logan leaned further into Chase's hand, his eyes already beginning to close again.
"I love you..."
The words came out as little more than a whisper.
Chase's heart melted instantly.
He smiled and brushed another kiss across Logan's forehead.
"I love you too, baby." His fingers gently stroked Logan's hair. "Now get some sleep."
Within moments, Logan's breathing evened out as he drifted back to sleep.
Chase sat beside him for a while, quietly watching his peaceful face.
The frustration he'd felt earlier had completely disappeared.
How could he stay angry?
He knew Logan hadn't meant to worry him.
He'd simply made a poor decision.
And that was something they could work through together.
Leaning down one last time, Chase kissed Logan's forehead again before picking up the bowl of water and towel and taking them back into the bathroom.
After cleaning everything up, he returned to the bedroom.
The moment he climbed into bed, Logan instinctively shifted toward him even in his sleep.
A fond smile spread across Chase's face.
He wrapped an arm securely around Logan's waist and gently pulled him against his chest.
Logan sighed contentedly, unconsciously snuggling even closer.
Chase rested his chin lightly on top of his head and closed his eyes.
No matter what happened...
No matter what challenges came their way...
He would always be here.
Holding him.
Protecting him.
Loving him.