Colton snickered. “Yes, I’m quite sure it was waiting specifically for you to return from our honeymoon so it could land on your head, hear you scream like a teen at a boy band concert, and then join you on your five-mile run down the beach.”
“He wouldn’t let go!” Ace instinctively touched his head. “Plus, I thought it was an alligator.”
“Oh, they climb trees now?”
Ace planted his hands on his hips. “You know what? You’re one more alligator joke away from making your own hot cocoa.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t tease you about going up against such a formidable enemy. I’m sure it was very traumatic for you both.” Colton opened the glass door to the shower and stepped in to turn on the water. He then turned to Ace, his expression deadpan. “At least when you dropped him, he hit sand and not tile.”
“Ooh, ouch.” Ace put a hand to his heart. “I think someone left a window open because it’s getting frosty in here.”
Colton laughed and held his hand out. “Aw. Don’t worry, I’ll warm you up.”
With a pout, Ace took Colton’s hand and let himself be led into the deliciously warm water. “Is it me?” Ace asked. “Is it my animal magnetism?”
“It’s something all right,” Colton muttered, getting a laugh out of Ace.
Ace wrapped his arms around Colton and kissed him. “That’s why I love you so much. You give as good as you get.” He waggled his eyebrows. “In more ways than one.”
“You’re terrible, and I wouldn’t change a thing. ‘Air gators’ and all.” Colton snickered against Ace’s lips.
Ace grabbed the loofa and squeezed shower gel onto it. “Besides—” Ooh, that smelled good. He gave it a sniff. “This isnice.”
“Peppermint and tea tree oil.”
“Of course it is.” He handed the loofa to Colton. “Besides, you should be the one comforting me and not because of my iguana trauma.”
Colton cocked his head to one side. “Oh?”
“What did you do after?” Ace asked, folding his arms over his chest.
“Rub the sore spots on my butt cheeks?”
Ace narrowed his eyes. “No.”
“Sweetheart, that was over three years ago. I remember the air gator falling on your head, you taking off, and me getting up and going inside.”
“You called Fitz.” Ace snatched the loofa away from Colton. “And what happens when you tell Fitzanything?” His husband could at least attempt not to laugh, but no.
“He tells Jack,” Colton replied.
“Who then tells Joker, and that’s when I walk into an office filled with rubber iguanas everywhere, several of which were wearing little parachutes.” Ace pursed his lips. “You have to admire their attention to detail.”
Colton laughed and took the loofa back from Ace. He brought him close. “I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you. I’ll wash you, and then when we’re done, I’ll makeyoua hot cocoa.”
“With whipped cream and marshmallows?”
“Of course.”
“And chocolate syrup.”
“All the sugar you want.”
“Deal.” Ace turned so Colton could wash his back. Their shower led to more fooling around, which meant more washing up. When they finished, they dried off and pulled on the soft, plush red plaid robes hanging from the hooks behind the door.
They went downstairs to the kitchen, not surprised to find Red there making himself some tea. His auburn hair stuck up at all angles. He was barefoot, dressed in sweatpants and a black t-shirt that said, “Size Matters,” and had a bunch of different-sized camera lenses. Ace snickered. No need to guess who that was from.
“Can’t sleep?” Ace asked, grabbing a mug from the cabinet.
