Thatwasn’t exactly what he’d intended to say, but he was dying to know the answer.Ash had definitely seemed happy at the time, but things sometimes changed inthe cold light of day.
Ashlaughed a soft, warm laugh that made the hairs on the back of Declan’s necktingle. He’d always liked that sound, but he had a renewed appreciation for itnow.
Everythinghe liked about Ash suddenly seemed a thousand times more wonderful. He wantedto bottle this feeling and keep it forever. It was like seeing Ash for thefirst time all over again, except that this time he was older, and wiser, andnot nearly as afraid to look.
“Youwere great, don’t worry. I’d definitely go back for a third round, if that’ssomething you want.”
Declannodded, his cheeks burning. That was what he wanted to know, but he wasn’t usedto this. He wasn’t used tocaringso much about whether someone wasstill interested in him.
Becauseup until now, he’d never been particularly interested in anyone.
They’dhad sex now, so if it was just some kind of weird sexual tension between twopeople who’d been through a lot together lately, then that should have easedit.
Ithadn’t. Not on Declan’s side, anyway. All it had done was left him craving more.
Noteven more sex. Just more of Ash, everything he was willing to give, whateverthat happened to be.
“It…I… yeah,” Declan said. He was still struggling to find the words for what hewanted to say.
Hell,he was still struggling to figure out the basic concepts he was trying to getacross.
“Forthe record, you’re extremely cute when you’re flustered,” Ash said. “And itfeels like a huge compliment, because I’ve never seen you like this.”
Declanshrugged. “Things have changed.”
Thatwas less terrifying now that he knew they were at leastcapableoftalking about this. He wasn’t ready to pour out all of his feelings, especiallysince he wasn’t sure what they were, but as long as he and Ash were still cool,he was happy.
“Yeah,”Ash said softly. “Not for the worse, I hope?”
“Notfor the worse,” Declan agreed. “I’m just… a little overwhelmed. Not in a badway.”
Ashsmiled again. “I understand, believe me. But we’re okay, aren’t we?”
Declanlaughed, a little more of the tension he’d been carrying easing off as he didso. Ash was worried, too. Worried about where they stood with each other now.
Hedidn’t have a definitive answer for that, but he knew they were okay. Thatwhile things had changed, neither of them regretted it. Declan could hear thatin Ash’s voice, and it made his heart soar.
Maybethey could have this, whatever this was.
“We’reokay,” Declan said. “I missed you this morning.”
“Idesperately needed a shower and I didn’t want to wake you,” Ash said. “And Iwasn’t sure how you were going to react, so I wanted you to have some space.”
Thatsecond part felt closer to the truth than the first one, though it wasn’t sohard to believe that Ash was a considerate lover.
Wow.
Lover.
Whata weird word to describe his best friend with, even in his head.
Weird,but not bad. Not bad at all.
“I’mfine,” Declan said. “No gay panic or anything.”
“It’sprobably a little easier not to panic when everyone in town already thinksyou’re gay,” Ash said.
Declanpaused, turning that thought over in his head.
