That Lane hadn’t wanted to jeopardize that.
“First off, it’s been more than a few weeks.” A few months, maybe. But if Lane had said something earlier? He might have realized it earlier. Still, he wasn’t going to put that on him. “And second off, it must’ve been tough.”
“Yeah,” Lane rasped out. He was clearly emotional, maybe even uncomfortable, but this time he didn’t look away.
Trevor curled the fingers of one hand into Lane’s skin as he leaned in and stroked his jawline with the other.
“I’m sorry you went through that. I’m sorry you didn’t feel like you could say anything,” Trevor said simply. Because what else was there to say? “But I’m here now, okay? I’m here now, andIlikeyou.”
Lane made a hungry noise in the back of his throat and tugged Trevor in, kissing him thoroughly.
One of his arms went around Trevor’s back and they kissed for a few long, drawn minutes, until Trevor had sunk into Lane and it was hard to know where he left off and the man underneath him began.
Trevor—and his dick—were pretty sure they were about to begin round two, when Lane pulled back.
There was a small smile on his face now, and the shame that had been so evident in his eyes wasn’tgonenow, but it was lessened. Easier, maybe.
Overall, in fact, he seemed much more relaxed. Like admitting the truth had lightened a load he hadn’t even quite known he was carrying.
“Hey,” Lane murmured and shifted them with his arm so they were lying side by side, “get ready for bed and then come back, okay?”
Trevor—and definitely his dick—were on board with that idea. Maybe Lane would even do more than just tease him with the idea of fucking him this time.
“Alright,” Trevor said, leaning in for one more kiss. Making it long and luscious, he didn’t actuallywantto leave, but he did want to get changed and not have to leave this bed after. Especially if they ended up doing what he thought they might.
But after he got changed, washed his face and brushed his teeth, and headed back to Lane’s bedroom—maybe it was becomingtheirbedroom? Trevor wasn’t sure, not yet, but there was a part of him that thought he wouldn’t mind that designation—Lane rolled over, peace settling over his features and put a hand on Trevor’s still damp cheek.
“Would you mind . . .” Lane hesitated. “I know you’re probably into going again, and I wouldn’t be against it, but I think it might be nice to justbe. But if you’d be disappointed—”
“No,” Trevor said, before Lane could ramble on. “No, it’s fine. I’d . . . I’d like that, too.”
The sex was amazing, for sure. He enjoyed every moment they spent touching each other, but they’ddonethat. Half a dozen times, now, if not more. And they’d never really done this, though they’d gotten close. But it was so easy and felt so right to just curl up against Lane and let his arm tuck him in closer, and just lie there, hearing the rhythmicin-and-outof Lane’s breath. The heady, reassuringthumpof his heartbeat.
The quiet was good; the quiet was better than good. It was one of the reasons that Trevor had always, even if he hadn’t necessarily understood what it was,likedLane. Had felt comfortable in his presence. Because Lane wasn’t one of those people who needed to fill a silence, or expected Trevor to.
He could justbe.
And he was going to, but he had one last thing he wanted to get off his chest, first.
“I get why you didn’t tell me,” Trevor said quietly, “I really, really do. And that sucks, for sure, that you didn’t feel like you could. But I still kinda wish you had.”
He felt Lane tense up a little—which was the last thing he’d wanted, even if it was maybe inevitable—but then he relaxed against Trevor again. “Yeah?”
“I’d have wanted to know. And maybe? Maybe this thing between us would’ve cropped up sooner.”
Lane hummed under his breath. And Trevor? Trevor would take that. Because Lane wasn’t saying no. Wasn’t sayingyes, either. But he wasn’t saying no.
Chapter 10
Laneexpectedthatafterhis confession—could he even call it that, when it felt like Trevor had wrenched it out of him, one unwilling word at a time?—things between him and Trevor were going to get, at the very least, awkward.
But everything felt normal. Normal at least in that they woke up next to each other, and Lane was treated to Trevor’s warm, sweet smile first thing in the morning and the quiet intimacy of the way they moved around each other in the kitchen as Trevor made eggs and Lane blended up their protein shakes.
The way they flopped on the couch and ordered pizza as a last cheat hurrah before the playoff work began in earnest as they watched the Piranhas beat the Bengals, finally defining which opponent they’d be facing next week. Trevor hadn’t hesitated to lie right against him, and Lane wasn’t stupid, so he hadn’t pushed him away. Had, in fact, because it wasallowednow, pulled him in even closer. Made out sleepily on the couch after the game.
The soft kiss Trevor leaned over and pressed to his mouth when they climbed into Lane’s SUV to head to the practice facility the next morning.
“Is this okay?” Trevor murmured against his lips.
