Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(53)

Ashby swatted his arm. But it felt good to smile.

“Do you want to talk about what happened last night?” Trent asked.

Nerves wiped the smile from Ashby’s face pretty quickly. “Um, yes,” he said. He didn’t know what the hell he wanted to say, but he did want to talk. “Do you want to go first?” He figured the ‘straight guy’ would have more issues at this point.

“Oh, sure,” Trent said. They were still cuddled close, but now their gazes were locked together. Trent took a deep breath. “I don’t know what this means. About me,” he clarified. “But I really like you, Ashby. I liked being with you.” A smile crept onto his face. “That was seriously hot sex. But…well, I like you as a person too.”

“I like you too,” Ashby said, making himself be brave. “And, um, yeah. Fantastic sex. Ten out of ten.”

Trent snorted. “I’m pretty sure fucking isn’t an Olympic sport.”

“Well, it should be,” said Ashby sincerely. “That was one hell of a workout.”

Trent laughed again and kissed Ashby lightly on the lips. “You’re so cute,” he said. “So…everything’s okay?”

He clearly wasn’t convinced about Ashby’s freak-out being unrelated to having sex last night. If he was being honest, Ashby couldn’t one hundred percent say it wasn’t. Had he perhaps transferred some of his anxiety about Trent being supposedly straight into his worries just now?

“Yes,” he said firmly. “I suppose…” He played with the edge of his pillow, then traced a finger along the word written over Trent’s heart: Bulletproof. “I suppose I was maybe a tiny bit worried you were just using me for kicks. For an experiment. And, well, I know this is just a holiday thing or whatever. But I’d rather not be dumped on my arse just yet.”

Because he had to face facts. He was heading back to London in two weeks. So there was always going to be an expiration date on whatever this was. But he so desperately didn’t want to feel used by Trent.

“I’d never use anyone,” Trent said with a frown toward the ceiling. “I guess there have been times where I’ve been with someone and it started out as no strings then one of us got attached. But not on purpose.” He blew out a lungful of air and looked back down at Ashby. “I’d like to make use of the time we have. If that’s what you want,” he added.

Was it Ashby’s imagination or did he sound nervous? Like he was afraid that Ashby wouldn’t want him?

“It is,” said Ashby carefully. “But…it doesn’t bother you that I have a cock?”

Trent nibbled his lip and frowned in thought. “I’m aware of the fact,” he admitted. “And it is kind of strange if I think about it too much.” That was fair. Ashby could understand that. It didn’t mean he could stop his heart from tightening in his chest just a little. “But,” Trent continued, “is it okay if I just don’t think about it?”

“In what way?” Ashby asked.

Trent shrugged. “I just know I like hanging out with you, and last night was amazing. Can we just keep on doing that, for now? And not get ourselves wrapped up in other things.”

“Like,” said Ashby slowly. “No labels?”

“Is that a total dick move?” Trent asked. He looked Ashby in the eye, not flinching away as Ashby stroked his hair.

“No,” said Ashby honestly.

He didn’t want to be anyone’s boyfriend right now. Who knew if they would even keep in touch once Ashby went home to London and Trent went back to making movies? He also didn’t care if Trent didn’t want to name his sexuality. That was entirely his business. So, actually, continuing like this sounded blissful.

“Friends can be a label, though,” Ashby added shyly. “Can’t it?”

Trent smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. “Definitely friends. Good friends,” he said. He looked down at the shirt Ashby was wearing. “Maybe…naked friends again?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Ashby laughed, the last remnants of the morning’s stress finally leaving him. “Sounds marvelous,” he said. He glanced at the clock. “You know, we still have a few hours before we have to head to the airport.”

Trent hummed. “Yeah,” he said. “I was supposed to get brunch with the boys.”

“Oh, of course,” Ashby said quickly. But Trent shook his head.

“I’m thinking we get room service,” he said as his hands slipped under his shirt and began to roam over Ashby’s body, making him quiver. “Just you, me, maybe some cream of some kind?”

Ashby pretended to scoff even as his cock came to life. “I don’t know what you’re suggesting, sir,” he said in his best uppity voice. “But it doesn’t sound hygienic in the slightest.”

“That’s what the shower’s for,” Trent mumbled as he began kissing down Ashby’s neck and chest, heading under the covers.

How could Ashby argue with that?



In the end, they were too busy kissing and giving each other hand jobs to order food. But they still had time to shower, pack and meet the guys for a late breakfast. Not everyone was there, though. Apparently, Elion was too hungover to drag himself out of bed, and Levi and Raiden had already left to head back to Kentucky. Blake looked to still be on a post-wedding high though, and Gabe and Joey were their usual cheery selves.