Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(72)

He didn’t need to, though. As they rounded the corner, they were met with several gasps. Maeve and Trent’s dad were crossing the lobby toward the bar. As the guests nearest Trent and Ashby cried out, Maeve and Mr. Charles turned their heads to see them.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” Maeve shrieked. She grabbed Mr. Charles’s hand and the two of them joined the small crowd thronging around Ashby, Trent and Merlin as they shivered.

“He was in the pool,” Trent managed to grunt as he handed the puppy over to his dad. Mr. Charles apparently couldn’t care less that he was getting wet. He looked so happy, laughing with tears of relief in his eyes. “That asshole Kiefer Burton let him outside on purpose.”

“No!” Maeve gasped, scandalized.

“Here, boys, here.” Ashby looked around as he realized Skye had appeared from nowhere with an armful of towels from the spa. “We saw you coming in from the bar window,” she explained as she wrapped them both and Merlin in thick, fluffy towels. “I can’t believe you got in the pool in this weather!”

“What else would we have done?” Ashby said with a laugh.

Before he knew what was happening, Trent pulled him into a fierce, sodden hug and kissed his damp hair. People around them stilled in surprise.

“My boyfriend,” Trent said with emphasis to no one in particular as he looked Ashby in the eyes, “was the one who jumped in and saved Merlin. He’s a hero.”

Ashby could feel the blush rising on his face, a sharp contrast to his still-freezing skin. “Oh, uh, no, not really,” he stammered.

“Of course he is,” Maeve said. She wagged her finger in Trent’s face. “And don’t you forget it.”

“No, ma’am,” Trent said with a huge grin on his face.

“Thank you,” said Mr. Charles, nodding at Ashby. Merlin was subdued in his arms, probably finally feeling tired from his stressful ordeal. He glanced at Trent, his son. “For everything,” he added to Ashby.

Kadie and Darnell had joined the crowd. Darnell reached out and shook Ashby’s hand, then Trent’s. “Man, you guys saved the day.”

Kadie waved her hands in distress. “You need to get out of those clothes. You’ll catch your deaths!”

“I agree,” Maeve said shooing them back. “We’ll sort out this pup. You two go get yourselves warmed up.” Ashby didn’t miss the way she wiggled her eyebrows at him and he backed away before he could die of mortification.

“What about Burton?” Trent asked.

His dad shook his head. “We’ll deal with him later. This resort isn’t going down without a fight, I’ll tell you that much.”

“We can talk about it tomorrow,” Kadie fretted. “Go, go, before you ruin the carpets totally!”

Ashby laughed and let Trent lead him through the crowd that seemed to just keep getting bigger as people leaned in to pet Merlin’s head and coo over what a lucky boy he was to be safe and sound.

Ashby allowed Trent to walk him back to his room. Once the door was closed, Trent wrapped him in his big strong arms. “You’re amazing,” he said. “I’m so lucky.”

“Oh, shut up,” Ashby said, swatting his firm chest lightly.

“No,” Trent said simply with a grin. “Please get changed into something warm. I have to get you back to my cabin immediately.”

Ashby licked his lips and pulled at Trent’s shirt. “We could get naked right here,” he suggested, desire stirring in his belly.

But Trent shook his head. “My place has a log fire,” he said.

Ashby blinked. “Give me one minute,” he said.





30





Trent





The rug was soft and fluffy underneath Trent’s back. His burning skin was slick with perspiration and tingled all over. He looked up at Ashby straddling him in the flickering firelight and felt full to overflowing with joy and love.

He couldn’t stop his hands from roaming up and down Ashby’s naked thighs, around his slim waist, across his chest. Ashby gripped Trent’s shoulders as he rode him, their heavy breaths mingling as Ashby leaned down for a kiss.

“You’re so beautiful,” Trent murmured with wonder against his mouth. “All mine.”

“All yours,” Ashby agreed with a gorgeous smile. He sat up again, dropping his head back as he ground down on Trent’s cock. “Fuck, you feel so good. Holy shit.”

Trent reached up and touched his fingers to Ashby’s exposed throat, feeling his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed. He traced his hand down the middle of his chest, brushing his knuckles against Ashby’s flat, soft stomach, then circling his fingers around his stiff, leaking cock.

Joined together, completely naked, it couldn’t be more obvious how different they were. Yet Trent had never felt so perfect with anyone.

“Come on me, gorgeous,” Trent said as he jerked Ashby off and made him cry out. “You’re so pretty when you come.”

Ashby bit his lip as his grin got bigger. “I’m pretty all the time,” he managed to gasp. “I’m going to come all over you and show you that you’re mine. Fuck, yes, like that, don’t stop.”

Trent had never been come on before. He loved marking his partners when he felt close with them, but it felt so right that Ashby should be the only one able to mark him back in the same way. Everything about him was right: right place, right time. As Trent’s climax built, he felt like the luckiest guy in the world.