The sincerity was so beguiling that a lesser man would have been undone by it and Frank nearly was undone, his armor against Tristan having been chinked from the very beginning. Anything was a very tempting offer and Frank could tell that Tristan meant it, would have known without looking at him, but the expression on Tristan’s face only made hearing the words that much sweeter, like a wine that went straight to your head.
Tristan often seemed like he should have been forbidden fruit, so young and delectable and desired by many, but instead he was caught on Frank’s tongue. Frank, who always swore he would never date anyone younger than his daughter and yet was undeniably carrying on an affair with a man several years younger than she was.
An affair, was that really how he thought of it?
Well, perhaps once, but it wasn’t the truth anymore. Tristan was the only one in Frank’s bed, had been from the very first time they slept together, and while Frank may have had so many rules and restrictions in place when they first touched in order to keep from feelings developing, none of it changed the simple truth. Frank, for reasons he either couldn’t identify or refused to, had found his control shattered by a teenage boy and proceeded to break that boy apart in bed again and again and again. And never once was he really sorry for it, although he frequently wished he regretted it just so it would be easier to walk away.
Because he should walk away, he was certain of that. he was more than twice Tristan’s age, and Tristan was young and impressionable, still figuring life and himself out and youth had a tendency to place too much importance on what their heart felt.
As someone that ended up married and a father by the age of twenty-two, Frank felt fairly confident he was qualified to say something like that and that he should be mature enough to know better than to encourage Tristan. And yet still they continued to meet, again and again and Frank kept getting more attached, perhaps proprietary in a sense, and that was so very dangerous.
Not as dangerous as Tristan’s own feelings, but still. Dangerous.
And having Tristan standing there looking at him with his damp hair hanging in his face and the towel from their shared shower hanging loosely around his hips, he looked dangerous. Forbidden fruit, except he wasn’t because he wanted to be devoured and god, did he taste good on Frank’s tongue.
He should have told Tristan to get dressed, told him that conversation was supposed to have been washed down the drain like the soap Frank had rinsed from Tristan’s mouth, and yet he didn’t. Instead Frank watched a droplet of water slide over Tristan’s collar bone before moving down his chest and really, that seemed to change the conversation entirely.
Dropping his shoe before he could put even the first one on, Frank reached out and pulled Tristan bodily into his lap without a single care for the fact his pants would grow damp from the towel.
“I know you’re serious,” Frank assured him, dragging his thumb roughly along Tristan’s bottom lip before grabbing his jaw and leaning in to kiss him. “That’s why it’s silly. Being willing to do anything is silly. Do you really want to do anything for me, to be that vulnerable?”
And fuck, there it was, the question he really shouldn’t have asked because it was an answer he didn’t want to know. The mere thought of Tristan’s devotion was daunting enough, but to hear verbal proof of it… Oh, what was he going to do with the boy?
(The answer, he had to admit, was becoming less and less opaque and it was terrifying.
Love him. That was all Tristan wanted, after all.)
Tristan didn’t regret the sincere words coming out of his mouth because he meant every syllable, he’d do anything for the man standing before him. He was completely devoted and loyal to Frank, there was no question to that, Tristan cared for him so deeply that this deep devotion came so easily and naturally, he honestly didn’t even have to try, being devoted to Frank came as easily to him as breathing.
Tristan wrapped his towel around his waist watching Frank getting dressed and wondering what was going through his mind, Tristan knew sometimes when he said emotional things like this Frank shrugged it off, or made some smug comment, he was used to it honestly because although Frank had let Tristan in, it didn’t mean that he was comfortable with the emotional things always. It depended on the day, but Frank wasn’t one to talk about his emotions, more someone to tip toe around them instead.
Tristan felt a soft shiver go down his spine, just from the way Frank was looking at him, he could make the boy weak just from a look, because the way he looked at him seemed as though he looked deep into his soul, and he could usually see his want and need for Tristan behind his eyes, it almost made him let out and audible whine, but he pressed his lips together to hold it back, not wanting Frank to question what that sound was for. But god the way he looked at him like he wanted to devour him, really got to Tristan.
When Frank dropped his shoe Tristan honestly wasn’t expecting him to pull him in his lap, but he willing let the man guide him towards his lap, the towel opening a bit showing off the side of his thigh, but to his surprise actually stayed on. He squirmed just a bit getting comfortable, at this point wanting to be as close to Frank as possible.
Tristan was certain Frank knew how easily he could rile up a reaction out of him, because even that small touch to his bottom lip, and the the way he grabbed his jaw to kiss him made a soft whine finally come out, he kissed him back gently and tenderly, wondering if when they kissed Frank could feel how sincere he was.
“Well you can find it silly if you please, but I”m dead serious, if I need to vow it to you I will.” He licked his lips for a second before leaning in closer, resting his forehead against his, his eyes locked with his, his voice soft and low only for Frank to hear “Yes I am willing to be completely and utterly vulnerable to you, I’m completely devoted to you, I’d do anything for you, just ask and I’ll deliver.”
Being open and vulnerable to Frank was the easiest thing he had ever done, even though for some reason still found his loyalty confusing and seems stunned when he is still there. He didn’t know how to vocalize how strongly he cared for him, because he was certain if he said it aloud he’d be scared off, a part of him was always scared he’d lose Frank because of how intense he feelings towards the man were.
