Isaac shook his head. “No.”
“What changed?”
“Absolutely nothing,” Isaac murmured, tracing Michael’s defined cheekbones with the pads of his thumbs.
Michael’s eyebrows scrunched together. “I don’t understand.”
Isaac smiled, hoping Michael knew it was the one he reserved for him and gave no one else. “I thought things might have changed between us, that we couldn’t go back to how we were. But I was wrong. I feel the same about you now as I did five years ago.”
Michael swallowed, then licked his lips. “And how’s that?”
Isaac took a deep breath. If he said this, there was no going back for them, but he was so done with being cautious. Life was unpredictable and he’d be a fucking fool to waste any second of the time they had together. “I love you,” he whispered, heart racing so fast he felt like he could fly away at any second if Michael didn’t ground him.
“Fuck.” He grabbed Isaac and yanked him close, mouth closing over his in a kiss that said more than words ever could. Michael’s arms wrapped around his back, holding him so tight, and Isaac fisted Michael’s hair, never wanting to let him go.
Low moans filled the room, and Isaac wasn’t sure if they were his or Michael’s as they clung to each other.
Finally Michael drew back, but only far enough to see Isaac’s face. “I love you too. I never stopped.”
Isaac’s smile was instant, all the tension of the past few days leaving him in a whoosh as he looked into Michael’s eyes and saw everything he felt mirrored there. “I’m sorry I made you wait.”
“I’m not.” He pulled Isaac close again, dipping his head to Isaac’s neck and inhaling deeply before letting it out with a contented sigh. “You weren’t ready when I first arrived here. You needed time.”
Isaac closed his eyes, his chin resting on Michael’s shoulder. “I did,” he conceded, knowing it was the truth.
“And Isaac?”
“Hmm?”
“Just so you know.” He kissed the side of Isaac’s neck and up behind his ear. “I would’ve waited forever.”
* * *
They all retired earlythat night. Dinner had been a quiet but relaxed affair, but after little sleep the night before, Isaac had found himself flagging once they’d eaten.
With a full day of planning ahead, it seemed the sensible thing for all of them was to get as much rest as possible. As the others retired to their rooms on the first floor, Isaac took Michael’s hand and led him up the stairs.
They didn’t speak as they walked up to the third floor. Everything that needed to be said was now out in the open. They both knew how the other felt. The time for talking was over.
Closing the bedroom door softly behind them, Isaac took the bottom of Michael’s jumper and gently peeled it up and over his head. He lifted his arms as Michael returned the favour.
Their jeans went next, along with socks and underwear, until they both stood naked, bathed in the moonlight coming through Isaac’s bedroom windows.
The curtains were open, and Isaac left them that way, the inky blackness of the night sky a fitting backdrop, the waning crescent moon giving the room a magical air that Isaac felt all the way to his bones.
“Bed,” Isaac murmured, walking backwards and reaching out a hand for Michael.
Michael took it, holding fast, but he didn’t let Isaac tug him any further. When Isaac raised an eyebrow, Michael grinned. “Are you too old to fuck me against the wall like you used to?” He smiled at Isaac’s low growl. “I thought you said nothing had changed?”
Isaac bared his teeth and gave Michael a sharp tug that had him stumbling forwards, his laughter loud and carefree. “I see that smart mouth of yours is still the same.” He tumbled them to the bed, and this time Michael let him, lying back as Isaac caged him in, arms on either side of his head.
Michael drew his bottom lip between his teeth and pushed his hips up, making Isaac groan. “You used to love my smart mouth,” Michael whispered, eyes full of mischief and want, a heady mixture that Isaac had always loved.
“I like it better when I’ve got my cock in it.”
Michael laughed again, eyes crinkling at the corners, and everything else felt a world away in that moment.
No conflict looming on the horizon, no battle plans to be drawn up.
