Chapter Twenty-Three
Isaac groaned as he collapsed onto the couch, sinking into the deep, plush cushions with a sigh of pleasure. One day down, one day to go.
He could manage this. He’d be fine.
The sound of footsteps told him Julian had found the ice pack he’d promised to go and get and was coming back with it, and a thrill of anticipation ran through Isaac’s body. He leaned forward, making a soft grunt as the cold touched his shoulder.
“Better?” Julian asked.
Isaac was really,reallyglad Julian had agreed to come home with him. Not just for his services as ice pack holder.
It was nice not to be alone. To have company instead of sitting in silence during the come-down, as the nerves and adrenaline of the day faded.
It was nice to have Julian, whenever he had him. Isaac had barely thought of anything else all day, except when he’d been in the middle of a match. Even then…
Yeah, he wasreallyfar gone, here. He was in love with Julian, and the thought was just as exciting now as it had been before.
“Way better,” Isaac said after a moment. “Glad I showered right after the match, though, because I couldn’t do it now.”
“I would have helped,” Julian responded.
A curl of heat settled in the pit of Isaac’s stomach at the thought. He was too exhausted to be much use to Julian, but hewantedhim all the same.
He always felt like this after he played, but he usually chose to ignore it. Or fell asleep with his cock in his hand, halfway through trying to get himself off.
“Well, if I’d known that…” Isaac trailed off, not sure he should even hint that he wasmaybeup for sex. He knew he’d be disappointing, but he also knew Julian wouldn’t care all that much.
Not that he planned on taking Julian for granted.
Cuddling would have been nice, though. Since Julian had come home with him, that seemed like something he could ask for.
Isaac hummed as he felt Julian’s fingers in his hair, warmth flowing down from his scalp and settling in his gut. Helovedthe way Julian touched him, the care he put into every brush of his fingers.
No one had ever made him feel like this before. No one had ever made him feelvalued, wanted for who he was underneath the top layers.
Well, except Julian. Isaac just hadn’t come to appreciate it as much as he should have before now.
“I think I’m iced enough,” Isaac said after a few moments, still enjoying Julian’s gentle touches.
Julian took the ice pack away, letting his fingers linger in Isaac’s hair a few moments longer.
“I’ll put this in the freezer,” he murmured, running his fingers over Isaac’s scalp one last time, and then disappearing.
Isaac sat back, letting the couch take all of his weight, and closed his eyes. He could do one more day of this. Now that he’d iced his shoulder, he feltwaybetter.
The couch cushions shifted as Julian sat down next to him, curling up against Isaac’s side and resting his chin on his good shoulder. Isaac smiled, forcing himself to open his eyes again.
That same feeling he’d had earlier in the day welled up in his chest again. He loved Julian. He loved Julian so damnedmuchthat he could barely contain it.
The thought made him want to laugh, but if he did that, he’d have to explain himself. As sure as he was…
Would Julian want to hear it? He definitely deserved to, but what if he didn’t feel the same way? Now seemed like a bad time to make things awkward between them.
Julian pressed a soft kiss to the crook of Isaac’s neck, nuzzling gently. The contact made Isaac’s skin tingle, a pleasant wave of warmth washing over him as Julian kissed him again, butterfly-soft.
Isaac gasped as Julian splayed a hand over his stomach, snuggling closer. It felt amazing to be touched like this, but he was going to have to tell Julian how exhausted he was.
“Hey, uh…” Isaac began, guilt welling up in his chest. “I don’t think… I’m so tired, and it’s not that I don’t want to, I just…”
