“Turn around so you don’t fall, pumpkin,” Charlie said. “We’re right behind you. Second door on the right.”
Aspen skipped up the stairs, and Charlie cast Noah a conspiratorial look. “They’re really something.”
Noah’s protectiveness kicked in, and he felt Charlie’s thread in his chest quiver and shake, but then Charlie’s dimples popped out, and Noah realized he was being genuine.
“They’re…everything.”
Charlie’s smile widened and didn’t waver as they followed Aspen into the bedroom.
Noah paused in the entrance, taking in the room as Aspen spun in a circle, seemingly doing the same thing. If Noah had been blindfolded and transported to this room with no context, he would have been able to identify it as Charlie’s with no hesitation. There was a nicely framed photo of Melissa and Harry on the nightstand. All the furniture was made of heavy wood, and the bed was unmade, piled with several blankets and a mess of pillows. The walls were covered with strings ofPolaroid photos, and as Noah stepped further into the room, he realized they were all poorly taken selfies of Charlie with almost every dog at the shelter.
“I love your room, handsome,” Aspen said.
“Thanks, so do I,” Charlie said, and Noah appreciated that he didn’t apologize for the pile of flannels and jeans in the corner, or fret about making the bed. That was the sort of thing Noah would do, but Charlie had always seemed comfortable—at least in his own spaces like the shelter and his house.
Noah heard his mother’s scoff in his head. Appearances were everything to her.
“I’d love a tour of your room, and of the rest of the house, but first things first,” Aspen said.
They turned on their toes until they were standing at the foot of the bed, facing both men. With expert-level showmanship, Aspen tore open their flannel, and Noah was pretty sure he heard at least one button ping off the wooden floor.
“Ta da!” they said, letting the flannel hang open off their shoulders. “For once, I get to do this reveal, and I’ve already done the parts and preferences talk!”
Aspen looked so proud of themself. Noah didn’t want to take that away from them, so he circled around behind them and banded his arms around their ribs, just below their bare tits.
“You did a good job, Asp. But Charlie and I still have to talk about our parts and preferences.”
“I know, but how much more fun is it going to be with tits to look at?”
Noah buried his laughter in their neck until he heard Charlie’s choked laugh from across the room. Charlie was staring at Aspen’s chest like a man lost in the desert, finding an oasis.
“You have very nice tits, pumpkin.”
Aspen put their hands on their hips. “You’re welcome to touch them while you talk if you want. Sort of like a fidget toy! Trust me, I’d totally fidget with them, but another one of my preferences is that I don’t like touching them.”
“I do love fidget toys,” Charlie gruffed.
He tipped his head at the heavy oak desk in the corner. Noah was surprised to find it covered in different toys. Then Charlie unbuttoned his shirt two buttons and pulled out the chain he always wore around his neck. Noah was even more surprised to see it was actually a chew necklace.
“Huh,” Noah said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you stim before.”
Charlie shrugged one shoulder. “I don't really like using them around other people, except the worry stone I keep in my pocket.”
Charlie pulled out a shiny rock, and Noah reassessed every moment he’d seen Charlie leaning against the side of the shelter, walking one of the dogs, or just standing around with his hand in his pocket.
“You’re welcome to use them in bed if you want. I keep some toys at Noah’s house that I use during sex, too,” Aspen said.
Charlie crossed the room and took Aspen’s hand. “I may take you up on keeping my necklace on while we’re in bed, but as for right now, there’s no way I’d be able to focus if I’m touching you like that.”
Aspen sighed like it was a tragic occurrence, but as they stepped out of Noah’s arms and went to sit on the edge of the bed, they smiled up at him.
“I guess I will accept that. Come sit down. Let’s chat.”
Charlie and Noah took up opposite sides of Aspen, both holding one of their hands.
“I can start if you want?” Noah offered, and Charlie inclined his head. “I call my parts chest, dick, and holes, but I only use my back hole, and not all the time.”
“Maybe like, half of a quarter of the time,” Aspen said. “Oh! And I only use my front hole! Sorry, I forgot to mention that earlier. I use mine most of the time, but I also enjoy topping.”
