Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(60)

“Fuck, that’s hot,” Ashby whimpered. He was so tired, but he couldn’t stop watching Trent as he carefully cleaned Ashby with his tongue and lips, swallowing down his own seed. Ashby hummed and ran his fingers through Trent’s thick hair while he worked.

When Trent was done, he flopped down beside Ashby and flung his arm over him. Ashby wriggled until they were cuddled together better.

“Talk in the morning,” Trent grunted. He picked up Ashby’s hand and kissed the palm. “Promise. Won’t go shower.”

Ashby managed a weak chuckle. “In the morning.”

As he slipped fully into unconsciousness, Ashby couldn’t help but feel the smallest bit hopeful.





24





Trent





Trent was excessively used to waking up in unusual beds. He moved around so much (and slept around so much) he was familiar with that lurch of disorientation. Ordinarily, it took him no time at all to get his head together and figure out what he had to do. Was he due somewhere for work? What time zone was he in? Did he want to wake the girl or let her sleep? Was he looking to leave as soon as he could or hang around? Did he even remember her name?

He remembered Ashby’s name.

Sex was definitely not the problem here. Another night with Ashby had convinced Trent he had no hang-ups whatsoever about being with this gorgeous person. Just because he hadn’t felt like putting another cock in his mouth before didn’t stop him from wanting Ashby’s. Like how girls had different pussies and breasts, probably. Just because they came in different shapes and sizes didn’t make them any less desirable.

Something about Ashby had unlocked a corner of Trent’s desire he hadn’t been aware existed before. He realized how glad he was for that as he stroked back his sleeping lover’s blond hair.

Ashby hummed and squirmed a little against Trent. The sun was up and the morning light was spilling through the windows where they hadn’t pulled the curtains. Ashby blinked his pretty teal eyes and looked around before settling them on Trent.

“Morning, gorgeous,” Trent said.

Ashby’s face split into a warm smile. “Hi,” he said softly.

Guilt and worry threatened to creep around Trent’s heart. But he took a slow breath and concentrated on not panicking. Everything was fine between them. Although he did feel the need to apologize again.

“I’m sorry,” he said, chewing on his lip.

Ashby frowned. “For what?”

“Messing you around,” Trent said. He shrugged and moved more onto his side so he could see Ashby properly. He was trailing his fingers over the back of Ashby’s arm lying between them.

Ashby tutted. “Stop apologizing,” he said briskly. “I get you freaked out. It’s a lot to take on.”

It was Trent’s turn to frown. “It shouldn’t be, though,” he said. “It’s the twenty-first century. I like you, big deal. I shouldn’t have noped out on you like I did.”

Ashby moved his hand and linked it with Trent’s, stopping him from moving around. Ashby kissed the fingers through his own, then held Trent’s hand up to his heart. “You’re reassessing a big part of your identity,” he said seriously. “I’m not going to tell you it didn’t hurt, that I wasn’t worried. But I understand.”

“You do?” Trent asked dubiously.

“It’s the commitment thing, right?”

Trent frowned. He had said something about that last night, hadn’t he? But Ashby lifted both their hands so he could touch a finger above Trent’s heart.

“Mr. Bulletproof,” he said, lowering their hands back down.

Trent raised his eyebrows. “You spotted that, huh?” he said, looking down at the tattoo. He’d never allowed himself to think much about why he’d got that specific ink, other than it had felt right.

“Don’t worry,” Ashby said with a little laugh. “I’m not asking you to marry me.”

The words didn’t send the usual jolt of panic down Trent’s insides. But it also wasn’t really what had been bothering him, although that was what he’d said last night. Fuck, his thoughts were such a mess.

“I want to try and commit to this,” he said honestly, refusing to allow his mind to wander off into the infinite ‘what ifs’ that might conjure up for the future. “We can take it slow, day by day.”

“So…it’s the queer thing?” Ashby said.

“Kind of,” Trent said. “I wish I could keep it simple. But it’s not.”

Ashby bit his lip. “If you were freaked out by cocks, I think that might have come up last night.”

Trent grinned and made himself be mature and not quip about other things coming instead. “I was just thinking that,” he agreed. “But…” He sighed. This was the thorny part he’d been coming to the conclusion about, gradually. But he didn’t know how to phase it. “It’s only…your cock. I’ve not been attracted to another guy like this before.”

Ashby snuggled up closer to him. “It doesn’t bother me if you don’t want to put a name to how you’re feeling,” he said. “I mean about…not being as straight as you thought you were. I’m happy being the ‘special’ one who turned your head.” He fluttered his lashes. “But did you want to talk about some of the available words out there? It might help.”