Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(47)

Trent kept Ashby close to him as they navigated the crowd, not making eye contact with anyone. They didn’t meet a soul as they went through the front door of the manor house and up the stairs to the third floor.

“Um,” said Ashby as they approached their room. He was spinning his card key between his long fingers. “Did you – uh – want to come in?” His English accent got more pronounced when he was anxious, Trent had noticed. He was obviously trying to make a joke of the situation, inviting him into their shared room. But Trent was done fooling around.

He touched the small of Ashby’s back. “I’d love to,” murmured.

He could see Ashby’s Adam’s apple bob as he gulped. “Okay,” he whispered, then turned to swipe his card and let them inside.

As soon as the door closed behind them in the dimly lit room, Ashby shrugged off his suit jacket and walked over to the full-length mirror. His hands were trembling as they attempted to undo the complicated knot he’d done for his tie. Trent removed his own jacket more slowly, then moved to stand beside Ashby.

“Here,” he said softly.

Ashby turned to face him so he could loosen the silk. “Thank you,” Ashby said. There was a tremble to his voice too.

Trent worked silently to free Ashby from the pink tie, then let it fall to the carpet by their feet. His hands were already hovering there anyway, so Trent rested them on Ashby’s chest and rubbed the tips of his collar between finger and thumb. So far, there was nothing freaking him out about putting his hands on another man.

“Thank you for coming with me today,” he said, focusing on the hollow of Ashby’s throat. It looked so kissable. Would Ashby like being kissed there? “It meant a lot.”

“Of course,” Ashby replied with a little squeak. “That’s what friends do for each other, right? They help them out when they get in a pickle. We couldn’t have you flying solo. ‘Going stag,’ as you Yanks say.”

Trent laughed, a nervous response to Ashby’s own unease. But he didn’t want to cause him to fret. He wanted the opposite, in fact. He frowned as Ashby’s face fell and he took a step away.

“Ashby,” he said. He placed his hands flat on Ashby’s chest to steady him. It worked. This was the point of no return. “I…I’ve been thinking.”

“Oh?” Ashby replied, licking his lips. Fuck, Trent wanted to kiss them even more than his throat. “That sounds like that sort of thing that requires a stiff drink to accompany it,” Ashby said. It sounded like he was aiming for a light, casual tone and not really achieving it. “Thinking, I mean. Always a tricky one. I think that thinking – yes – um – stiff – sorry – would you like one as well?”

Trent couldn’t think of a time he’d less wanted a drink. He bit his own lip. “I’d like…” he said, his gaze lingering on Ashby’s mouth. “Uh…”

Ashby surprised him by resting his own hands on top of Trent’s. The action calmed him and helped clear his thoughts. He could do this. The worst Ashby could do was reject him. Knowing him, he’d even do that with kindness. But every signal Trent was getting was that he was into this, too.

So, Trent pulled one of his hands free and cupped the side of Ashby’s face, making him gasp as he gently brushed his cheek with his thumb.

“What would you like, Trent?” Ashby asked, his voice sincere as he gazed up at Trent. “What do you want?” He lifted his own hand and touched his fingertips gently to the middle of Trent’s forehead where he was no doubt frowning.

He wanted more of that. More hands on more skin. Less clothes. He wanted…

“I want you,” Trent whispered.

Trent watched as Ashby stilled completely. Even his breathing seemed to stop. “You want…?”

“You,” Trent said, feeling his confidence growing.

He closed his eyes and decided that from now on, he would have no more hesitations. When he opened them again, he was looking directly into Ashby’s teal ones, full of trust and hope.

“I know what I said…before,” Trent said, thinking back to the last time Ashby had invited him in. “I know you’re a guy. But someone told me to stop overthinking things.”

“Oh,” said Ashby shakily. “That’s, um, nice. Isn’t it? I guess...uh, well-”

“Ashby,” Trent growled and raised an eyebrow.

Ashby tilted his head and looked back at Trent. “Uh, yes?”

“Stop overthinking,” Trent said gently.

He smiled and rubbed his fingers against Ashby’s collarbones through his shirt.

“Okay,” Ashby said, nodding. “Okay, no more thinking. Um, does that mean I can kiss you instead?”

Relief and happiness flowed through Trent so much he thought he might actually be glowing.

“Yeah,” Trent said, not allowing nerves to get the better of him. “Let’s try starting there.”





20





Ashby





Ashby felt like time had stopped all together.

Trent wanted to kiss him. Was waiting for Ashby to kiss him.

This couldn’t be happening. Ashby had promised himself no men while he was away and he especially shouldn’t be getting involved with a straight guy.