My Home From Home (ManxMan)

Chapter 9

"Danny, say thank you to Dr Henry" Thomas took a mental but stern paternal tone as the little boy blushed bright red.

"Tank you." Danny mumbled softly, using one of his little fists to rub his innocent amber eyes.

"You're quite welcome." Henry ruffled the toddlers soft blond hair. "And you can call me Henry, I should think it best we become friends since it seems we shall all be living under the same roof. Would you like to be friends, Danny?" He asked sweetly watching as the little boy nodded bashfully before burying his face in his father's coat yet again.

"Alright bud, go on, run along and play. I have to show Mr Henry the rest of the house." Said Thomas as he set the little boy down onto the wood flooring, heaving teasingly as though he was having trouble lifting him. Danny giggled adorably as he took off out of the room, the toppling of his little boy shoes growing distant as he disappeared into God-knows where.

"He likes you." Thomas whispered softly with a smile as he folded his arms over his chest once again standing so close to Henry that he could smell his light aftershave. Henry tried heard to stop himself from taking in the view of the clearly muscular man's biceps as they seemed to  bulge through the sleeves of his scarlet tunic.

"He's precious. He looks just like you." Henry's cheeks flustered, watching with a throbbing heart as the man blushed and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. There was something about Thomas that Henry couldn't quite understand; he'd always found confidence in a man to be attractive, but something about this handsome manly man being so wholesome, shy, reserved, and sweet really seemed to do numbers on poor Henry's heart.

    Thomas nodded with a tight lipped smile, he didn't seem to be a man of many words; in one swift motion he knelt back down and lifted Henry's cases, silently beckoning towards a creaky dim staircase in the back of the house that lead up stairs; the house was old even for the time, likely Victorian, and thus came with it little creaks and squeaks that one would naturally expect of a house standing for that long.

    Henry followed without saying so much as a word, watching silently from behind as Thomas led him up the stairs, his back muscles clearly tensing even through the layers of his Mountie uniform. In that moment he felt such a burning desire for the handsome blond, but he also knew that acting on this attraction was perhaps the worst possible thing he could do. Here Henry found himself, halfway across the world from his home and his family, all due to the gut wrenching thought that he'd face legal challenges for being at an establishment that catered to men like him. Only to be standing here contemplating risking it all for a literal law enforcement figure whom he suspects might has the same inclinations as he does; and though Henry had never been wrong, it was still a risk he knew he dare not take.

"And... Here we are. Your bedroom." Thomas stopped at one of the bedroom doors along a long corridor with doors lining the either side all the way down. He creaked the door open, glancing back over his shoulder towards the other man who followed behind him silently. As he stepped inside he turned to see Henry wearily peeking around the corner of the door frame before tiptoeing into the room.

    Thomas' eyes remained transfixed upon the pretty raven haired lad simply taking in his view; the way he stepped gracefully about the room, blue eyes darting around and scanning his newfound surroundings methodically. The strand of raven black hair that'd fallen into his eyes, practically begging for Thomas to push it back atop his hair; though he knew better than to follow the itching he felt within to stalk up to him and push it away. He felt a warm sensation in his cheeks as he watched the boy smile and nod to himself, as though pleased with the place he'd found himself in.

"It's quite homely, I will admit." Henry said softly as he glanced around with a smile perking up the corners of his pretty pink lips as he got a good sweeping view of his new abode. There was a four posted mahogany bed in the centre complete with matching bedside tables and a bureau in the opposite corner. A large wardrobe with the same style as the rest of the furniture staring beside the chimney peace and a hearty stack of firewood next to the hearth. "Right, well, I should think it shall do quite nicely." He flashed a smile towards the handsome Constable, earning him a gracious yet confident nod in return.