Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(52)

He was alone in the bed. Reaching over, the sheets still felt warm. Then another clattering sound came from the adjoining bathroom where the door had been left ajar.

Trent must be in there, Ashby figured. Was he taking a shower?

Even though they were sharing the room, Ashby felt like he ought to be looking after Trent. Shame swept through him. He should have heard Trent get up, not just left him to his own devices. Ashby glanced at the clock and saw it was still early – far earlier than they needed to get up to make it back to the airport for their flight. But there was no going back to sleep now. Ashby felt awful lounging about while Trent was up and busy.

Sheepishly, he slipped out of bed and picked up the first shirt he found. It happened to be Trent’s, so it was big enough to cover Ashby’s more intimate areas once he’d buttoned it up. He padded over the carpet and carefully pushed the bathroom door open a little.

“Trent?” he said, standing just on the threshold rather than simply barging in. His heart was in his throat. Last night had been so amazing. The last thing he wanted was for Trent to think he was being selfish.

Within a second Trent appeared at the door, opening it all the way. His smile was like sunshine breaking through the rainclouds. He was wearing a bath towel wrapped around his hips and his hair and skin were damp. He must have just had a shower after all.

“Hey,” he said softly. “I thought you were still sleeping. Did I wake you?”

Ashby swallowed. He didn’t sound pissed off. “Um,” he said, fiddling with one of the shirt buttons. “I’m sorry I overslept.”

Trent frowned and stepped forward. “You didn’t,” he said, shaking his head. He reached out and slipped his hand behind Ashby’s neck. Ashby couldn’t help but melt into the touch. “Is something wrong?”

Ashby thought about the clattering. A quick glance showed several single-use toiletries on the counter and plenty of splattered water droplets. Maybe the clattering was just an accident? Ashby bit his lip. Crashing and banging was the kind of thing Gordon did to make him feel guilty all the time. He would have been mad that Ashby was asleep when it wasn’t even as though they’d set their alarms and still had plenty of time to check out.

“I thought you might have thought I was being selfish,” he mumbled, feeling himself blush. Was that crazy? Now he was saying it out loud, it did sound a little nuts. But Gordon had flipped out or given him the silent treatment for far less when they were together.

Trent frowned. “Selfish?” he repeated. “I was just taking a shower. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Ashby tried to loosen the knot of worry in his gut. “Oh, okay,” he said nodding. He pulled at the shirt cuffs as embarrassment crept over him.

“Is this about last night?” Trent asked. He raised his other hand and rubbed Ashby’s arm. “Do you regret it?”

“No,” Ashby blurted out. He cleared his throat and licked his lips, his gaze dropping to the white floor tiles. “I mean, not if you don’t. No.”

Trent leaned over and kissed his forehead. “I don’t,” he said. “But it is a lot. You want to have that talk?” He looked down at Ashby’s bare feet. “You must be cold. Get back into bed.”

Ashby realized he was shaking. So he nodded and allowed Trent to lead him out of the bathroom and back towards the bed. He crawled under the blankets and curled up, not even sneaking a peek as Trent dropped his bath sheet and slipped in after him.

Trent laid his head on the pillow and looked at Ashby with concern. Ashby blinked and looked away. He was acting like a freak and Trent was going to run for the hills.

“Can I hold you?” Trent asked.

Ashby looked back at him. He was used to guys just pulling him in when they wanted him. Trent’s chivalry was borderline unnerving. But…also extremely sweet. Ashby really fucking liked being asked what he wanted and not having someone make assumptions.

Feeling some of that tension finally melt a little, Ashby nodded and scooted over to let Trent slip his arms around him. Trent kissed his hair and caressed him through the shirt with little circles he was making with his fingers.

“What’s on your mind?” Trent asked.

Ashby shrugged. “Don’t know,” he said truthfully. It was stupid of him to jump to conclusions about the noises from the bathroom. Now he felt like an idiot for making a fuss for no reason. Trent just hummed, though, and kept holding him. He sighed. “I guess my ex liked forcing me to jump through hoops and it made me nervous,” he said. “When you weren’t in the bed, I mean. That’s not your fault. I’m just being neurotic.”

Trent stroked his hair. “Guy sounds like an asshole,” he said. Ashby snorted. That was one way of putting it. “I’m sorry I worried you. No one wants to wake up alone after the first time they sleep with someone.”

As unsure as Ashby was, his ears couldn’t help but prick up at Trent’s words. ‘First time’? Did that mean he wanted there to be more times?

“I’m not made of glass,” Ashby grumbled, irritated with himself. “I should be able to work out you’re just in the other room and not go mental. You must think I’m like a pathetic puppy.”

“No,” said Trent, lengthening the ‘oh’ sound and rocking Ashby back and forth. “I think you’re an adorable puppy. Good boy.”