Chapter 24 - Nick
How Nick had managed to walk out of his room without fucking Reece to tears was beyond him.
If he was being honest with himself, Nick didn’t really know what the fuck had come over him at all since he made it home.
No, since Reece managed to become a constant in his life.
Nick couldn’t escape him, not with any distance or even sleep.
They were just friends with benefits and Reece never demanded anything of Nick, he still seemed to understand their…
arrangement, but he’d still wormed his way into Nick’s life in a way that scared him shitless.
Nick was so excited to get home, knowing Reece was waiting for him.
And his first thought wasn’t that he wanted to fuck Reece, just that he wanted to see him, to hug him, to breathe him in and make up for what time they’d lost. He’d made it home and took his shoes off next to another pair of his, and three of Reece’s.
Nick knew Reece had been crashing at his place.
He had Reece on the phone multiple times, seeing him there.
Knew how close Reece and Kent had become.
Not because Kent was visiting Reece’s, but because Reece was at Nick’s so much.
Kent told him everything, too. He told Nick about running into Reece the first time.
Nick never expected having Reece check on his place would turn out this way, but Nick couldn’t be mad because Reece missed him.
Because Nick fucking missed him too. If anything, Nick was glad that Reece wanted to be there.
It gave Kent somebody to take care of, too, which was the highlight of his day.
It smelled like Reece at home. Looked like him too.
More than just the shoes by the door. There was a blanket on the couch that Nick recognized from Reece’s place.
A stack of magazines on the coffee table, which were definitely not Nick’s because he wasn’t interested in fashion unless it was directly involving Reece.
His room, which didn’t feel as if it was solely his anymore, because it had Reece everywhere.
It smelled so much like him that Nick had taken a step back after opening the door.
Soft and sweet and everything that Nick would never be.
Clothes were everywhere. Some of Nick’s, though he never left his clothes a mess, and most of them were Reece’s.
There was even a rack that Nick didn’t own in the middle of the floor where several shirts hung.
The more things Nick found, the more his curiosity piqued, so he found himself looking to see what else he could find.
He found more shoes and clothes in his closet that were Reece’s and then decided he had to search through his drawers, fully expecting to find one of his emptied for Reece’s things.
Instead he found a mix. Their underwear.
Their socks. Reece made himself right at home, and maybe Nick should’ve been upset about it.
Instead, he was just happy. Maybe even a little smug.
Nick gathered some clean clothes and went into the bathroom to shower, figuring Reece would show up soon enough.
The bathroom looked like it had been used thoroughly.
The counter, normally clean except for Nick’s necessities, was loaded down with things he also recognized from Reece’s.
More than the skincare products Reece had gifted him.
So many that Nick found himself taking the time to examine them.
He knew Reece didn’t use all of those things every day, but even after checking them out he couldn’t really make sense of all of them.
He was sure Reece had some sort of system, though.
He could stand to be a bit more organized, but Nick left everything as he found it, welcoming Reece’s chaos, and took his shower.
By the time he finished, Kent had arrived and was putting some groceries away. Nick missed his cooking. Missed him too. As his only remaining family, Nick held him close.
“You’re home early,” Kent said when he turned and saw Nick walking into the kitchen. He closed the fridge and Nick walked by, letting his hand rest on top of Kent’s head for a second on his way. “Are you hungry?”
“Fuckin’ starving.” His stomach growled just thinking about real food. He’d snacked like hell on his flight, but slept most of the time.
“You can have a snack for now… Reece will be home soon.”
Nick just grunted and took a seat at the table.
“How was your flight?” Kent asked as he opened the fridge again.
“Long as shit.” Nick stretched his legs out and leaned over the table. “It’s good to be home.”
“It’s good to have you home.”
Kent made him vanilla milk and served it with a chocolate chip muffin leftover from what he made Reece for breakfast. Nick liked thinking about Reece having breakfast there in the mornings with bedhead, still in his pajamas, and knowing Kent was spoiling him.
But he didn’t like that he wasn’t there to see it.
“That should hold you off until dinner,” Kent said, and he was already preparing to cook. “I’m making something simple and quick tonight. We didn’t expect you until tomorrow… But if you want me to make something that takes a bit longer—”
“Nah. Quick is good. I’m ready to eat and get in bed for the rest of the night.”
“It’s still pretty early…”
Their eyes met and Nick just cocked a brow. It took Kent a moment, but once he caught on, his ears turned red and he looked away.
“I’ll be sure to clean up quickly and get out of here.”
“Aw, you don’t have to run.” Nick chuckled. It made no difference to him whether Kent left or stayed and heard Reece scream and cry and beg when Nick fucked him.
Nick finished his snack and Kent took his plate and glass.
Kent always somehow managed to know exactly what he needed to fuel him because Nick felt like he had enough energy to do anything.
But he knew exactly where whatever energy he had was going when the door opened a moment later and Reece walked in, having no idea that Nick was home early.
Somehow, Nick didn’t really even feel home, not until Reece stepped into the kitchen and Nick laid eyes on him.
Tall and lean and beautiful. His kitten.
But Reece looked down. Sad. Exhausted. As if the day had really taken a toll.
There was a short conversation about cake, but Nick didn’t catch it all.
His pulse was racing, so much that it was what he heard most. Until he saw Reece, and a calm he couldn’t quite place settled over him.
Maybe the excitement of being home had gotten to him.
Or maybe it was something darker. This part of him that claimed Reece as his and only his, the same part that made it impossible for his own interest to sway.
So he couldn’t put a label on them, but he’d be damned if he shared Reece with anyone.
And he’d be damned if a bastard like Harrison got anywhere near him again.
The only way he could express himself was through his actions and kissing Reece might’ve been crossing that final line he’d promised himself forever ago never to step over.
It might’ve gone far enough for him to know there really was no going back.
But Nick didn’t care. Didn’t give a damn if it meant Reece knew who he belonged to.
As long as he knew Nick wasn’t letting him go.
He didn’t think about that first kiss when he kissed Reece this time. Not until Reece brought it up. As if Nick could ever forget it. That kiss had stuck with him ever since. Before he ever broke and let himself play with Reece, and so much more ever since he had.
That first time, Nick had been floored by everything he felt after kissing Reece for just an instant. How every part of him had reacted to it. The way it made him feel alive in a way basketball or anything else never could.
But this time, it was different. A thousand times more intense.
It meant a lot more than that first time.
Because they’d both been wanting it for so long.
How many times had Nick caught Reece staring at his mouth, begging to be kissed?
How many times had Nick had to have his mouth on every other part of Reece just to make sure he didn’t kiss him on the lips?
He couldn’t take the first kiss back, or any of the many that followed.
He couldn’t pull back either and didn’t want to.
He didn’t need to, because Reece was exactly what he needed.
And Nick had been content with those kisses.
With making Reece come. It didn’t matter how bad he wanted to fuck Reece because Nick knew they had plenty of time.
He was satisfied just being in his presence.
But his dick was still hard as he stepped into the kitchen, Reece right behind him, straightening the t-shirt he’d just put on.
Kent looked to Nick first, meeting his gaze directly before his eyes flicked downward, then very pointedly turned to Reece.
“Kenny, are you really making cake?” Reece asked, walking up to the counter by Kent’s side to see what he was busy with.
“Double chocolate. Dinner first, though. It’s ready, go have a seat so you can eat.” Reece stole a hug and then made his way over to Nick before Kent said, “I hope you washed your hands, Nick.”
“The hell? Why’re you only worried about my hands?” Nick glared and Kent turned his back to him, opening the cabinet for a couple of plates.
“Don’t be mean, Nicky. Be good and go wash your hands.”
“My hands are clean, damn it.” Nick stood anyway and walked over to the sink to wash his hands instead of going to the bathroom, just to purposely get in Kent’s way. “I hope y’all are happy.”
“Very. Take that basket of bread with you.”
Nick scoffed and dried his hands on Kent’s apron, then grabbed the basket and took it to the table. He didn’t even have it set down before Reece grabbed a piece and tore a small chunk of it.