Besides, Adathan had worked so hard to make this place livable. Everything was organized now, beautiful plants livened every room, and Adathan’s masterpieces hung anywhere they could fit.
William hadn’t realized it, but now he could see how his hurry to move might feel like he didn’t appreciate the home Adathan had created for them. “I’m happy here with you. I thought you’d like more space, but if you don’t, then we have no reason to leave.”
Adathan’s features relaxed, and a soft smile grew on his lips. “I love you, William.”
Warmth spread across William’s chest, but even after hearing these words a hundred times, his heart tightened with disbelief. On bad days, he still had to fight his inner voice claiming it was just a script. William now recognized that voice for what it was, though: a defense mechanism. And thanks to Oliver, he knew exactly how to fight back.
“I love you, too,” William said, looking him in the eye. “So much.”
Adathan’s smile widened. He brushed the tip of his nose against William’s and leaned in for a kiss—slow, tender, delicious.
Perfect.
William caressed Adathan’s hair as he kissed him back. Their hands and lips found their familiar rhythm, an intoxicating choreography he never got enough of. Their breaths mingled, warm and close. The water swayed with their movements, gentle waves brushing their skin in time with the kiss.
Soon, they forgot all about donuts, and sparkling wine, and cramped apartments. As their hands melted the tension from their bodies, and their mouths drank the soft sounds escaping their lips, the world shrank to a tiny bubble of bliss. Nothing mattered but this. Them. Their love, and the present they shared.
“You make me so happy,” Adathan whispered against his lips.
William pressed their foreheads together. He let the moment breathe, the warmth sinking into his bones, lingering even as the water cooled. “What do you say we get out of the bathtub and eat a proper meal?”
“I made us some cold quinoa bowls.”
“Nice.” William never would have thought he’d enjoy eatingquinoa, but Adathan was just that good of a cook.
Adathan finished his half-eaten donut, and they gave themselves a quick scrub before stepping out of the lukewarm water.
William grabbed their fluffiest towel and wrapped it around Adathan. He shivered as he dried his own skin. Air conditioning was awesome until one was naked and wet.
They rushed to their bedroom to get dressed. William grabbed his comfiest sweats, and Adathan put on the silky kimono pajamas they’d found at the thrift store.
“Piggyback!” Adathan exclaimed.
William lifted an eyebrow. “To the kitchen?”
“Yes, please!”
William chuckled, shaking his head fondly. He crouched and grabbed the underside of Adathan’s legs as he climbed onto his back. He carried him out of their bedroom and walked a whole four feet before setting him back down. “You have arrived at your destination,Your Majesty.”
Adathan circled William to face him. “My gratitude is yours, my most valiant steed,” he declared, cupping William’s cheeks with exaggerated grace. “This noble act shall not go unacknowledged. I will see you properly rewarded.”
“There’s no need, Your Majesty. I already got the best reward—you.” The sentence landed like an echo from another life, hitting William with a load of memories.
Judging by the emotion flashing in Adathan’s eyes, he remembered too. Adathan had said those exact words on the day they met. William, of course, hadn’t believed them to be true.
“William,” Adathan said, his features sobering.
“Yeah?”
“If we were to move to a new place... would I still get to see Rosanna and Oliver often?”
William relaxed. “Of course. We wouldn’t be leaving this neighborhood.” He knew he should stop there, but he couldn’t help adding, “Who knows, we might even end up closer to Oliver. I saw a listing for an apartment right across the street from his place.”
“You did?”
“Yup. But there’s no rush; there’ll be other—”
“Can you show me?”
