Chapter Text
David’s first thought was how warm and happy he was. Patrick had held him all night, and he’d felt safe and comforted by his strong arms. His body felt used in the best possible way, the ache of his muscles reminding him of how Patrick had taken him apart so carefully and lovingly, until he lost control and railed him hard. It was so delicious watching him lose control.
He needed to walk away now before he fell for this man, because he was absolutely going to fall. He knew that.
Patrick was hot, make no mistake about it. His strong solid body, with those thick thighs and his gorgeous arse were such a turn-on. David’s cock noticed every time the man walked into a room. But it was more than that. He also made David feel calm and settled.
Then there were those eyes, giant whiskey pools that were so open and so accepting, he wanted to dive into them and starfish on his back like he did as a kid on endless summer holidays in his parents’ pool. They were freeing, so accepting of who he was.
He wanted to kiss Patrick’s pouty lips and rest his face into his neck and just live in the smell of cheap cologne and delicious manly musk. Urgh. This was bad.
Because it wasn’t just those things he adored about Patrick. He was also nice. And kind. And passionate about doing the right thing. David didn’t think they could make a better man if they constructed him in a lab.
David turned to look at Patrick as he slept, his eyelashes fluttered so prettily before his eyes opened, and he repeated the phrase that he had said the first time they had spent the night together less than a week ago. How was it less than a week ago? It seemed like he’d known Patrick forever.
“Mornin’ Sunshine,” and he smiled at him so warmly, that David was reminded of the beach in Mykonos. David felt warm, safe and secure. Pity, it wasn’t going to last.
“Hey,” David smiled tightly, trying to pretend he was okay with what he was about to do.
Patrick furrowed his brow. “You okay?” Great. On top of everything else, the man was clearly perceptive. It really wasn’t fair.
“Mhmm, do you have work or whatever today?” David said, trying to sound nonchalant. He fiddled with a thread that was coming away from the seam of the quilt cover, eyes flicking up and back to Patrick.
Patrick pulled back studying David’s face, “No,” he said hesitantly. “I’ve got today off.”
“Oh, so you probably have a bunch of things to do, errands to run, that sort of thing…” David rolled onto his back so he didn’t have to watch the relief on Patrick’s face. He wished he didn’t feel this way, but he couldn’t let it get worse. He just needed to rip the band-aid off.
“David, do you want me to leave?” Patrick asked, sounding more surprised than David had expected.
“No, it’s just… I don’t want to keep you. On your day off… you should probably…” David kept his eyes focused on the thread that was unravelling, and not the man who was quickly creeping under his skin.
“I should probably what, David?” Patrick asked, annoyance creeping into his voice.
Why wasn’t he taking the opportunity to leave without making it a thing? He didn’t owe David anything and he had already given him so much. David finally rolled to look at Patrick, studying his face and trying to work out what he was feeling. Was that hurt in his eyes? Did Patrick not want to leave?
“I just…” David faltered. He had thought he was sure about his course of action.
Patrick raised his eyebrows and shook his head slightly as if to indicate he had no idea where David was going with this. Okay.
“I don’t want you to feel obligated. You looked after me so well yesterday. I really appreciate it and I’m so glad that you were there for me,” David said earnestly. “You’re really special Patrick. You made yesterday okay for me and I’m very grateful for that.”
Patrick’s face softened and he looked a little relieved. “I think you are really special too, David.”
“Well, thank you,” David said, sighing and cupping his hand around Patrick’s jaw. He was going to have to be more straightforward.
“Patrick, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you last night,” David said and then he had to dig deep. “I lied when I said I had got you out of my system. I don’t think I can keep… hooking up with you because I think, I’m going to want more from you than just… this.” He gestured between them, and as much as it hurt him to do it, he looked Patrick in the eye.
It was the most honest he’d been with a lover since he and Stevie ended their ill-conceived arrangement. It was a testament to how much he already trusted Patrick and he hoped that Patrick appreciated the easy out.
A smile spread across Patrick’s face and he blinked slowly before dropping his head and chuckling. His face was wide open and radiating happiness.
“What?” David asked, confused. Was it funny to Patrick that he was getting attached? Perhaps he had misjudged him after all.
“David,” Patrick said in a very serious voice. “I didn’t get you out of my system, either.”
“Oh,” David couldn’t think of anything else to say. Words eluded him for the first time that he could ever remember. It wasn’t possible that Patrick wanted him in the same way he wanted Patrick, was it?
Patrick pulled himself up in bed, so he was on his side, leaning on one hand and using his other to run his finger down the side of David’s face, tracing his finger over his stubble. “I can’t stop thinking about how this case brought us together. It is a tragedy, what happened to Sylvia, and I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. However ridiculously, it feels like it would be awfully disrespectful to Sylvia to ignore this last gift she gave us.”
David raised his eyebrows still at a loss for words.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the first time I saw you, David. And yes, I thought the whole thing was driven by desire. But the more time I spend with you, and the more I get to know you… the more I want.”
David couldn’t help but smile now. He rolled his eyes skyward to cover the emotion that Patrick’s words were evoking in him.
“And seeing as I have today off, I thought I could look after you some more,” Patrick admitted. “If you are okay with that?” Patrick had moved his hand to David’s chest and appeared to be admiring his chest hair.
What could David do but nod? “I am very okay with that.” How could it be possible that he had found this man?
“Great,” Patrick said, sounding very satisfied with the outcome. “And then when some time has passed and you are feeling ready, I’d like to take you out. To dinner.”
“Like a date?”
“Not like a date. An actual date,” Patrick grinned. “I feel like we might need a new starting point. And don’t relationships usually start with dating?”
“Relationships?” David blurted out, fixating on the wrong thing, probably.
“Ummm, I’d like to try. And isn’t that the point of dating? The goal? That it would eventually lead to a relationship,” Patrick seemed to be blabbering a bit. “I mean, if you want. We don’t have to…”
David took a deep breath and decided to cut the gorgeous man in his bed some slack. “That sounds very sensible, Detective Brewer,” he agreed, leaning in for a kiss.
Patrick sighed contentedly as he pulled away. A look of concern flashed across his face, “Do you think you could date a police officer?” he asked, biting his bottom lip, and trying not to look serious. “Not too embarrassing to be seen with me by your friends?”
“Pish…” David replied and rolled his eyes. “None of the people in the art world are actually my friends. More like my colleagues. I don’t really give a flying fuck what they think. My actual friends… well friend, singular, and my sister- they are all already Team Patrick.”
Patrick grinned and leaned in to kiss him softly
“I’d be proud to date you,” David added gently before kissing him again.
“It’s funny how we were both pretending to be different when we met,” Patrick said. “You wanted me to believe you were arrogant and abrasive.” Patrick kissed him indulgently to soften the words.
As he pulled away, David chuckled. “Oh, I still very much am both those things."
Patrick laughed and kissed him again, quickly. “Okay, but you are so much more than that.”
David smiled and then arched an eyebrow, “and you were trying to be serious and tough,” he whispered, cupping his hand around Patrick’s jaw.
“Oh, I’m definitely neither of those things,” Patrick confirmed, kissing him gently. “Is that okay?”
“Very okay, Detective Brewer,” David replied. “Because this way, I get to keep this sweet and kind version of you all to myself.”
Patrick spat out a laugh. “Well, you’ll need to share that version with my mom. She is the only other person who knows. She calls me her sweet boy.”
“She doesn’t know that you are a troll?”
“Oh, she knows that too, David,” Patrick replied. “Where do you think I got it from?”
David laughed, “I think I’ll like her.”
“Now shush, stop talking about my mom. I’m supposed to be taking care of you some more…” Patrick ran his hand from David’s shoulder, down his back and grabbed a firm hold of his arse cheek.
“Oh!” David squeaked, eyes going wide. “Detective Brewer… I like it when you take care of me.”
***
9 months later
“David, why aren’t you ready?” Alexis walked into the room from behind him, continuing until she was directly in front of him, where she bat his hands away from his Comme de Garcon tie.
“Alexis!” David sniped.
“Let me…” Alexis re-did his double Windsor impeccably without even batting an eyelid. A herculean task he’d not been able to get under control for the past twenty-five minutes. “There. Now tell me, what is going on?”
“Nothing,” David replied, trying to smile convincingly.
“David, I swear…” Alexis huffed. “Why don’t you trust me to run the foundation launch? I told you I had it handled… you just never trust me, David!”
David raised his eyebrows at his sister and blinked his eyes slowly, while giving her the most condescending look possible.
“It’s not about you, Alexis,” David admitted haughtily. “Not everything is about you.”
Alexis looked at him like she didn’t believe him for a minute, and finally, she looked around the room and David could see the minute it clicked. “Oh. Where is he?”
“Not sure, he got called out this morning and I haven’t heard from him today, and so I’m just…” David blinked back the tears that had started to well. He knew he was being ridiculous. Patrick was probably fine. No, he was most definitely fine. Definitely, nothing had happened.
Alexis smiled at him fondly. “You are really the last person who should be marrying a police officer, David.”
David snorted, “I know.” He smiled softly at his sister and looked up at Stevie who had entered the room, looking fabulous in a purple pants suit, with a fitted white tee underneath.
“You’ve got time to back out, you know. It's less than 48 hours since he asked and you haven’t set the date yet,” Stevie piped up, coming to stand next to Alexis, who smacked her arm playfully.
“Shut up, Harpy,” David scowled at her for a minute until his phone pinged. “Oh, thank god,” he breathed out and bent at the knees, head falling back.
“That him?” Stevie asked.
“Yes, he’s five minutes away,” David replied and tried to calm down. He probably should go to counselling or something. He was going to die prematurely if he couldn’t get over worrying about Patrick every time he went to work. He took a deep breath and moved his thoughts to tonight’s Foundation launch.
“Stevie, car?” David questioned.
“Will be downstairs in twenty,” Stevie confirmed, clearly getting now was not the time to be snarky.
“Alexis, set up going well?” He raised an eyebrow at his hyper-capable sister, who had proven herself over and over the last six months.
“There was a minor catering mishap, but I’ve covered it with extra crab cakes. There will be enough food,” Alexis replied. “Everyone else is in place and apparently the guests have started to arrive”.
“What time are we expecting Sylvia's siblings?” David queried.
“In time for speeches,” Alexis replied. “It’s all on the run sheet, David. Please leave it to me. Just relax.”
David breathed out in an exaggerated fashion and heard the front door open. Now he would actually be able to calm down.
“Hey, baby!” Patrick called out as David heard his keys clatter into the bowl by the front door.
“In here!” David called out to him, and within seconds Patrick was at the door of the bedroom.
“Hi. Stevie, Alexis…. Fiancé…” Patrick growled the last word and then crowded straight into David’s space, kissing him firmly.
“Ew Patrick,” Alexis grimaced. “You’ve got fifteen minutes or the car is leaving without you.” She gestured toward the ensuite.
“Okay, okay,” Patrick replied, and smacked David on the arse as he passed him on the way to the ensuite.
“He only needs five,” David smirked at his sister. “It’s obscene how little time he needs to look good.”
***
“Thank you,” David leaned into the microphone. Looking around his gallery, seeing all his hard work come together and mostly, making Sylvia’s dream become a reality was making him emotional. But he was ready to launch the Sylvia Schuller Foundation for Youth and Indigenous Artists.
“Nine months ago, my very dear friend Sylvia lost her life. She was a passionate advocate for the arts, and especially wanted to support up and coming artists, especially those that come from a lower socioeconomic group and indigenous backgrounds.”
He paused for a minute and smiled at Patrick, who as always was there to support him.
“She asked that I carried on this work for her because we had something in common. We both knew what it was like to be manipulated and controlled and to make decisions in our lives that weren’t healthy. She wanted to make sure that struggling young artists had the chance to say what they wanted to say without falling into these same traps.”
“The Sylvia Schuller Foundation will administer grants for art school fees, as well as that we will grant 12-month bursaries to artists, to help with their living expenses while they create art. Sylvia’s siblings, Constantine and Ivy, will be on the board with myself and Glenn Lowry, the director of MOMA and a financial representative. We have employed three up-and-coming artists, and we are training them to manage the administration side of the company. And we pledge to always employ young artists where possible, to cover as much ground as we can in ensuring artists are earning a living wage.”
“All the art that is on sale tonight is from the first artists that we will be supporting and every dollar of every purchase will go directly to the artist, commission free. Please take the time to have a look around after the speeches.”
“So it is without further ado that I hand you over to Constantine, who will make a toast.”
David stepped down and straight into the arms of his beaming fiancé, breathing a sigh of relief and knowing that Patrick’s warmth would help him steady himself after such an emotional speech.
There was a brief round of applause as everyone stopped to focus on Constantine, and once he pulled away from Patrick, Stevie was there to hand him a glass of champagne. He only just managed to wait until the end of the toast to down it.
“Day-vid!” David’s shoulders worked their way up to his ears as the voice rang out across the Gallery. He looked at his fiancé wide-eyed.
“Holy Fuck- who let them in here?” David muttered, so that only Patrick could hear. Patrick shrugged with a smirk. Seemingly he knew about this betrayal.
“I was about to warn you they were here,” Alexis said walking toward him with his mother and father in tow.
“But how did they know about the event?” David asked, glaring at Alexis.
“I invited them, duh, David,” Alexis replied, not taking her eyes off the clipboard in her hands.
“David, this is wonderful, Congratulations, son,” Johnny said, clapping his hand on David’s shoulder. “Patrick, so nice to see you again.” Johnny shook Patrick’s hand. "Congratulations again on the engagement."
Patrick smiled and concurred, looking nothing but happy to see his future in-laws. What a traitor.
“Yes, David,” Moira piped up. “This glittering evening of beatitude has transcended my supposition.”
“Thanks,” David said sarcastically. “Best you heap some of those backhanded compliments onto Alexis as well. She organized the event.” He waved one hand toward Alexis and then used the other to grab another glass of champagne from a passing tray and take a steadying gulp.
“Alexis!” Moira exclaimed, ignoring David’s dig. “Truly enchanting.”
“Thanks, mom,” Alexis took a minute to look up from her clipboard and smile disingenuously, before disappearing to manage something or other.
“What are you even doing here, anyway. Shouldn’t you be in L.A.?” David asked, seriously.
“We couldn’t miss this!” Johnny said eagerly. “Plus, we sold the New York house and we needed to come and sign the paperwork for that anyway. And now that we are settled over there and your mother is working on the reboot, we wanted to donate the money you gifted us back to the foundation.”
“Oh. Well, thank you.” David said, taken aback. “You don’t need it?”
“Thank you, son. But no,” Johnny stated. “We are a little more used to having a little bit less these days. We are fine. You’ve spent enough time looking after us, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Okay,” David replied, quite surprised at his father’s self-awareness. “Well yes. The gallery is making a profit and with the money Sylvia left me, we are going to be fine,” David replied.
“That’s wonderful, David,” Johnny enthused.
“Patrick is moving in with me,” David continued, “and we are planning on investing what’s left. For a rainy day.”
Johnny opened his mouth to speak but David cut him off. “In multiple accounts, with many different safety nets.” He raised his eyebrows at his dad, who flushed and then dropped his head. David knew how to protect himself.
David didn’t need to explain to his dad that his sexy detective had once been a business major.
He also didn’t need to tell anyone that he’d paid for Stevie’s apartment and bought one for Alexis in the same building, while she finished her degree in public relations. He had originally planned them as investment properties, but he realised pretty quickly, he wanted them to have their own financial security in hand, so he had the properties transferred into their names. He wanted them all to have something for themselves so they never found themselves in a precarious situation again.
David had become accustomed to having a little less over the months before Sylvia left him the money. He knew he was in an extremely privileged position, so, no matter how much he spent on his family, he knew it would be a wise investment.
“We will all be okay, Dad,” David smiled at his dad. “But thank you. For this,” David held up the cheque his dad had handed him. “This will make all the difference for somebody someday who really needs it.”
Johnny smiled and raised his champagne flute to David, “I am so proud of you, son.”
“Thanks, Dad,” David replied, turning to see Patrick answering him with a smile of his own, and stared lovingly into those adoring whiskey eyes that he would never grow tired of.
Because the reality was, now that Patrick was in his life, he was pretty sure he had everything he needed.
***