I shot him a withering look and he chuckled, pushing me gently back under the spray.
“I think it’s high time we coveredyouin cum,” I muttered, wiping my hands over my chest.
“But you look so hot like that.” Rowan kissed down the back of my neck. He wrapped his arms around me, and I stopped washing to take his hands in mine. We stood, basking in the warmth of the shower for a long moment.
For the hundredth time, I found myself wishing Rowan didn’t have to leave. I longed to wake up next to him again, but I knew better than to voice my thoughts. He’d asked for a little time, and I was going to allow him that. How much time, I wasn’t yet sure, but I figured I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.
Eventually Rowan sighed, pressed one last kiss against my neck and untwined himself from me. He reached around to grab the shampoo and squirted a generous amount out into his palm. We both washed in comfortable silence quickly before stepping out and getting towelled off.
Rowan wrapped a towel around his waist, and I marvelled again at just how muscular and attractive he really was. I couldn’t believe someone who looked like he did wanted to be with me. I suppose I must have been staring, because he glanced across at me with a cocked brow.
“What?”
“Just thinking about how hot you are,” I replied with a smile and tightened the towel at my own waist.
Rowan gave me a smouldering smile. “Right back at you.”
I couldn’t think of anything to say in response, and I felt my ears growing hot. Instead, I distracted myself by grabbing both sets of boxers from the floor. Rowan opened the door for me, and I strode out into the corridor.
In the lounge, I stopped dead. Rowan collided into the back of me.
“Hey, what’s…” The words died on his tongue.
Oliver and Becca sat on the sofa, curled up together in the dark, lit only by the light of the TV. They stared at us, wide-eyed.
“Hey, Max-a-million,” Becca eventually said. Her eyes flicked sideways. “Hi, Rowan.”
Oliver scowled, looking back and forth between us and Becca, clearly confused. I guessed he must have forgotten meeting Rowan at New Year’s. That was no surprise, he had been exceedingly drunk. At that moment, I’d have given anything to be as drunk as Oliver had been that night, or better yet, for the ground to swallow me up completely.
“We’ll, uh, yeah,” I spluttered, reaching back for Rowan and manhandling him out of the lounge quickly as we rushed back into the safety of my bedroom.
“Fuck, fuck,fuck,” Rowan said, pacing back and forth, running a hand through his hair. Gone was his easy, relaxed smile. It had been replaced by tension and worry.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know they’d be coming back here. I didn’t hear them, did you?” I sank my teeth into my lip.
“No, they must have come back whilst we were in the shower. I need to get dressed and get out of here. Where are— Shit, my clothes are out there.” Rowan groaned and ran a palm down his face.
“I’ll go.” I snatched a t-shirt from the floor and tugged it on, followed by a pair of jogging bottoms. “I’ll be right back.”
I took a deep breath before letting myself back out into the lounge. I heard low whispers, but Becca and Oliver quickly fell silent as I approached. Rowan’s trainers and t-shirt were still near the front door, but his gym bag was right next to where Oliver was. My heart sank.
“Good night?” he asked me as I walked around the sofa to grab it. I made a noncommittal noise.
“Sorry, Max,” Becca whispered. “We didn’t realise he’d be here. Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know,” I replied, trying to ignore the look she gave Oliver.
When I arrived back in my bedroom, Rowan was still pacing. He paused, shooting me a grateful smile as I handed him his belongings.
“Well, if Becca wasn’t sure of the extent of our relationship, she certainly is now, hm?” he muttered tersely as he dug a clean t-shirt from his gym bag and pulled it on.
“I meant it when I promised she won’t breathe a word.” I sat heavily on the side of my bed.
“And your roommate?”
I hesitated. “I don’t think he’d have cause to tell anyone, but I’ll have a chat with him. Oliver’s moral compass doesn’t exactly point due north, so it would be a bit rich if he did have something to say about all of this.”
Rowan just nodded and hurriedly dressed. I watched him bend down to put his trainers back on and lace them up.
