Nico stuck his tongue out, inhaling sharply when Mal dipped his head and bit it.
“Ew, don’t. I haven’t brushed my teeth in days.”
“I brushed your teeth and combed your hair and gave you sponge baths,” Mal informed him. “Besides, I think we’ve had this conversation before.” He pressed kisses into his cheeks, his temple, his forehead. Wherever his lips would reach. “I don’tcare how gross you are, you’re never too gross for me to stay away.”
“Because you love me,” Nico said in a sing-song voice.
Mal caught his chin and forced him to meet his gaze, his voice more serious than Nico had ever heard it. “Yeah, Fidget. Because I love you. I love you more than anything in the whole world.”
Nico swallowed the sudden lump in his throat, blinking back tears. He had to fight to catch his breath to say, “I love you, too. So much. More than anything in the world.”
“Good,” Mal said. “Now that we’ve established that, can we finally get to the happily ever after part? This courtship has been exhausting.”
Nico sighed, carefully turning to wrap his arms around Mal. “We’ve been a couple for two days.”
Mal scoffed, mouth going flat. “We’ve been a couple since the day we met. It just took you a while to catch on.”
Nico knew he was right. He usually was. “Okay, Bunny. Let’s do our own version of happily ever after.”
Whatever that looked like for them.
Nico heard the door of their new apartment open and close, a shiver of anticipation rolling through him, overshadowing the small tremor of fear. He glanced around, listening, but couldn’t hear much. The walls in their new place were much thicker.
Thank God.
The four of them had a million long talks about whether they should get one apartment or two before they’d finally compromised and found a duplex. They were now neighbors. They still shared a wall, but it wasn’t a bedroom wall, and both couples had solemnly vowed not to fuck near or against that wall in particular for the sake of everyone’s sanity.
Nico had worried about being away from the cats, but due to the landlord’s pet policy, they had no choice but to divide the five cats between them. Nori and Kimchi were now theirs, while Levi and Shiloh kept the other three. They still had playdates weekly though, so they didn’t get lonely.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Seven asked, his hands flying over the keys as he battled an orc.
No.“Yes,” Nico said, voice full of false confidence.
“Liar.”
“Look, I have a solid week off school and I plan to use it to recover from the dirty, disgusting things I intend to get Mal to do to me.”
Culinary school was fun but stressful. Working at the cafe had taught Nico that he was actually really good at decorating cakes. Now, he just had to get good at making them. And he was getting there. Slowly. And Mal was always there to cheer him on or push him when he needed it. It was in their contract.
Ever since he and Mal had gotten their own place, they’d been exploring domestic discipline full-time. Nothing much had changed. Mal still guided most of Nico’s day-to-day decisions, freeing him from an anxiety he hadn’t even known he had until it was gone. Mal was never bossy or overbearing, he never ordered him around like an employee. Usually, a single look could make Nico fall in line.
Unless the goal wasn’t a reward.
Unless the goal was punishment.
Like now.
Before Mal left work, he’d texted him a direct order. An order he was currently ignoring. He was meant to be naked on their bed, on his knees, hands behind his back and head down, belt in hand. Instead, he sat at his computer in a pair of tight black boy shorts and a crop-top that just said, ‘Make Me.’ He hoped the outfit would possibly provide a distraction should things get out of hand.
Adrenaline shot through him as the bedroom door opened, Mal pausing in the doorway. Nico didn’t acknowledge him, just kept playing his game. He could see him in his periphery, just…watching. He could feel his eyes on him like a brand. He was glad that the desk hid how bad his knees were shaking.
He tried not to stiffen up as Mal materialized behind him. Nico watched his own camera, licking his bottom lip when Mal’s black t-shirt rode up to show an inch of his flat tummy. Nico shivered as Mal leaned in, his nose nuzzling behind his ear, pressing a deceptively soft kiss there. Warmth flooded his insides, his cock twitching with interest.
“You okay, Fidget?” he crooned.
Nico missed a shot as his fingers fumbled on the keyboard. He smirked, presenting his cheek for Mal’s lips. “Do I not seem okay, Bunny?” he chirped.
Mal wasn’t shy in front of their friends. He had no qualms about playing their games right in front of them if Nico pushed him. “You look fine to me,” he said, looking him over like he was assessing him. “Good enough to eat, even. That was the plan anyway. But since you disobeyed my direct order, I figured you must be sick.” His voice was silk over steel, cutting deep in the best possible way. “Are you, Fidget? Are you sick?” He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead.
