TAKING OVER TROFIM (Dominion of Brothers series Book 4) by Talon P.S., Princess S.O. Page B

from the other end of the locker room spoke out amid the aftermath of Darko’s rage. “Don’t listen to him, Tro. Darko don’t know what he’s talking about.” Theo tried to add his two cents as he came in and grabbed a towel from his locker then headed for the showers.
    “That isn’t true.” Pyotr corrected the statement and waved Theo off. “But, he doesn’t hate you.” He turned his focus to his younger brother. “But his fears are valid and he’s right, I should have told him.”
    “But why does he have to get so angry?” Trofim mumbled from the cave of his wavy hair that fell around his face, hiding him against Pyotr’s chest.
    “That’s not anger. That’s Darko being afraid. He has a new man in his life. One he loves deeply. He’s afraid this will affect Maxum. And he is afraid of what could happen to you.” Pyotr stroked over Trofim’s back to settle his nerves as much as he could.
    Trofim sat up and looked up at his brother’s face. “He has a funny way of showing it.”
    Pyotr smiled warmly, “And don’t we all.”
    ~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~
     
    Trofim came out of the boathouse to find Shay waiting for him outside. “Why didn’t you come up?” Trofim asked as he stepped up.
    “Heard some commotion, figured I better stay out of team business.”
    Trofim sucked in a breath and slipped his arms under Shay’s, begging to be held, and there was some small amount of release when without any further prompting, Shay’s arms drew around and held him, taking ownership of Trofim’s body. It felt good to surrender to Shay .
    “I saw Darko tear out of here like a bat out of hell. Damn near bowled me over.”
    Trofim snapped his head up, “Did he say anything to you?”
    Shay shook his head with a frown, “No. I don’t think he even saw me.” Shay tightened his hold on Trofim and kissed his head as Trofim slumped into him. “Anything you want to tell me?”
    “I leave this evening; can we not talk about it?”
    “Sure.” Shay nodded and led him to his car parked at the far end of the crowded lot to take him home.
    They climbed into the car, but Shay hesitated a moment glancing at Trofim then the console that separated them. “You think maybe I can get enough out of this thing to maybe get one of them old impala’s or something with a bench seat?”
    “He really left you with nothing?”
    Shay didn’t answer, starting the car, threw it in gear, and pulled out.
    They rode in silence. And Trofim knew it was no good. Too many ghosts. He watched the tension twitch in Shay’s jaw, his eyes distant, not really focused on the road. Trofim turned and glanced out the window, seeing no more than his lover did, but he heard his brother’s voice in his head, and the pain seared at him that they were just going to have to figure out how to get through this.
     
~~ Did it hurt less when you were apart? —  —No. No, it did not. —  —Then is it not worth it to endure it together?~~
     
    He turned back to Shay, to his knuckles white from clenching at the wheel. His face so tight. Trofim reached out and gently placed his fingers on Shay’s cheek. Something broke inside his man and Shay quickly pulled the car to a vacant curb and turned looking at him. So much pain damned up in Shay’s grey eyes. An avalanche ready to explode and Trofim felt a similar pressing against his chest.
    “I’m sorry.” Shay whispered.
    Trofim’s head jerked side to side before he could think, “Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” He cupped Shay’s jaw and then leaned over to kissing him.
     
    They drove the rest of the way home, Shay’s hand stroking over Trofim’s thigh, while his own hand was tirelessly at Shay’s neck, tickling the short hairs at the back of his head. When they got inside, they fell into a hug that seemed to have no expiration date and it felt good being held. Even if they were both unstable on their own, together they could weather through anything. He hoped .
    Later,