Tristan felt clumsy and unsure at first, but that didn’t seem to matter to Colby. Water slicked their skin, steam curling around them, breath mingling in moans and gasps.
And then Tristan got more comfortable with this, establishing a grip and a rhythm that made Colby’s hands clutch at his shoulders, his back, nails dragging lightly over his skin as he panted against Tristan’s cheek.
It didn’t take long. Colby came first, trembling all over, and his broken gasp undid Tristan. He followed with a moan, grinding against him, mouth open on Colby’s shoulder. For a second, the whole world disappeared.
When he came back, he was clinging to Colby under the spray, and Colby’s arms were tight around him.
Eventually, Colby pulled back enough to rest his forehead against Tristan’s. “Okay,” he said, sounding dazed. A small,realsmile changed his face, and he looked almost as if he couldn’t believe what they’d just shared.
Tristan couldn’t blame him for that, because it had been awesome in every single way possible. Last night had been amazing, but to be completely naked with Colby? Yeah. There were no words. Except maybe one.
“Okay is right,” he agreed happily.
He knew he was grinning goofily as they quickly soaped one another and cleaned off, before stepping out to dry themselves. He handed Colby a clean pair of boxers from his drawer, then pulled on jeans and a worn t-shirt.
“So that happened,” he said, ruffling his damp hair and catching Colby’s eye in the mirror.
“It did,” Colby said, deadpan, but with a smile in his eyes.
Tristan laughed, filled with joy. “Ready for dinner?”
Colby didn’t say anything, just reached out, twined their fingers together, and nodded.
* * *
In the kitchen, the table was already set, and the smell of roasted meat and garlic filled the air.
Jason was at the stove. Jesse was stealing things from the stove. Riley was telling Jesse to stop stealing things from the stove. Dave was watching all of this tolerantly, while drinking a mug of fruit tea. In short, everything was perfectly normal.
Except for the fact that every single head turned when Tristan and Colby walked in together, hair still damp from the shower, a little tooglowy.
Jason’s brows rose. Riley blinked twice. Jesse choked—actually choked—on a cherry tomato he’d just snuck. And Dave made a small, surprised noise that might have been a smothered laugh or might have been a wheeze. Hard to tell.
Tristan felt his cheeks flare. Colby, on the other hand, kept his expression blank, like he hadn’t noticed anything at all. Maybe he hadn’t.
“Cuttin’ it close for dinner,” Jesse said, once he stopped coughing. “Problem with the water pressure? Or maybe you were just very,verythorough.”
Tristan opened his mouth to say something flippant, and froze. Bryce was seated at the table, arms crossed. He hadn’t even looked at them yet, but Tristan could feel the disapproval coming off him like steam from a kettle.
Tristan straightened, his spine instinctively bracing. And then indignation kicked in. Bryce didn’t get to do this, to spoil things for him, just because he’d gotten the wrong idea about Colby.
“Sorry we’re late,” he said, making his tone deliberately light as he leaned back against the closest countertop. Colby settled beside him. “Got a little distracted.”
Colby nudged his shoulder against Tristan’s, quiet and steady. Letting Tristan know he was there.
Across the table, Bryce finally looked up.
“I need to talk to you.” Bryce’s voice was quiet, but Tristan heard the edge underneath.
Tristan met his eyes. “Now?”
Bryce raised an eyebrow. “Unless you’re worried Colby’s going to disappear the second he’s out of your sight.”
The jab landed hard. Something twisted in Tristan’s chest—a mix of anger, shame, and disbelief that Bryce wouldsaythat.
The air went still around them. Jason paused mid-stir. Riley stopped reaching for Jesse’s wrist. Even Chaos, lurking outside theback door and glaring in through the glass like a hairy demon, turned away.
Tristan straightened slowly, not saying a word, and followed Bryce out into the hallway. The clatter of the kitchen faded behind them until it was just the two of them, standing in the hush of the house.
