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Luke’s breath stuttered at the unmistakable offer in Syrus’s crooning tone.

It had been a very long day. And Luke was tired. Tired, but also very…awake. Aware.

Alive.

And here life was offering Luke something new, something equally unexpected to Colby’s appearance. Something Luke hadn’t even had the time or energy to realize he’d wanted.

But he did want it, didn’t he?

“Yeah, okay,” Luke found himself saying, swaying into the broad form in front of him. “Come inside and tuck me in.”

Luke had never gotten ready for bed with such…heightened awareness.

Syrus watched him.

As Luke washed his face, as they both brushed their teeth, as Luke stripped down to his underwear. All the while, Syrus watched.

He didn’t press against him, didn’t stroke Luke’s face, didn’t try to steal a caress while Luke’s back was turned. He only stood there, watching, close enough to touch. Looming over him with that heavy stare. And finally, when there was nothing left to do but slide under the covers, Luke started to wonder if Syrus really was only going to tuck him in tonight.

Maybe Luke had only been imagining the promise in Syrus’s voice out there on the porch.

You could always make the first move.

But Luke didn’t know if he could. He was in a strange sort of frozen, dazed state, half-mesmerized by the intent way Syrus kept his gaze locked on every one of Luke’s movements. It was the exact kind of mental fog that had made the threat of mind control seem like such a real possibility. But Luke was coming to realize it was just the effect of Syrus himself. His presence. His attention. It was heady fucking stuff.

So Luke slid under the covers, his face hot and his skin oversensitive to the brush of fabric against it. Syrus followed, but only to take a seat beside Luke on the bed. A seat on top of the covers.

Luke frowned at him, and Syrus smiled guilelessly. “Shall I rub your back?” he offered. “Like you do with Colby?”

Luke blinked at the suggestion. It wasn’t what he’d been expecting—or, to be honest, hoping for—but it would still be…something. He rolled over onto his stomach with a sigh and was rewarded with a low chuckle, like his barely subdued surliness was amusing.

Syrus’s touch on Luke’s back was gentle but firm as he rubbed along the muscles of Luke’s shoulders and down along his sides. Luke sighed again, tension melting from his frame almost against his will. There was something about Syrus’s touch that was different from any other. It was the smoothness of his fingertips, maybe. There were no calluses, no imperfections Luke could feel.

Did Syrus even have fingerprints? Luke should have noticed the difference when Syrus was stroking him off in the car, maybe, but he’d been too desperate to concentrate on the details. All his focus had been on the strength of Syrus’s grip, the possession in his gaze, the low croon of his voice. Luke shifted on the mattress, cock filling as he remembered just how easily Syrus could take him apart.

Even if he’d been hoping for more, it still felt so good to be touched like this, like he was something delicate in need of pampering.

Syrus’s fingers traveled down Luke’s spine, and Luke held his breath as Syrus lowered the covers further. He kept stroking and petting, but he didn’t move Luke’s underwear down or try to go any lower than Luke’s hips. His touch traveled back up instead, along Luke’s spine again to squeeze gently at the nape of Luke’s neck. Syrus rubbed his thumb over the short hairs there.

“You please me, Luke.”

So Syrus kept saying. Luke even believed him, but then why wasn’t Syrus doing anything about it?

Luke flipped over and dislodged Syrus’s hand to give Syrus a look, one that should have told him Luke was a grown man who didn’t need back rubs or to get tucked into bed like a baby. That he needed other things.

Syrus only smiled at him with heavy-lidded eyes.

“Syrus…”

“Yes, Luke?”

“Why don’t you come under the covers with me?”

Syrus’s smile widened, but he shook his head slowly, fingers toying with the tie of his robe. “But I couldn’t sleep in this robe, Luke. The fabric twists and tangles so.”

Luke rubbed a hand over his face. This fucking merman. “Then maybe you should take the robe off.”

Syrus was grinning from ear to ear now. “Oh, should I?”