Chapter 27
Mark
“I guess we should call it a night,” Mark said, voice rougher than he meant it to be.
Ethan nodded, running a hand through his blonde hair. “Yeah. Separate bedrooms, huh? Fancy.”
Mark forced a smile, his stomach twisting. “See you in the morning.”
They parted ways. He headed to his room, the door clicking shut behind him. He stripped off his shirt, tugging on red leisure pants that hugged his frame, the fabric cool against his skin. He climbed into bed, the crisp linens rustling, but sleep wouldn’t come. His mind churned, replaying the day, the jet, the game, Ethan’s grin, that moment their hands tangled. His pulse wouldn’t slow.
An hour ticked by. He tossed the covers back, pacing once across the carpet he exited his bedroom. A sliver of light spilled under Ethan’s door across the suite, catching his eye. He paused, jaw tightening.
He’s awake too.
He crossed the living room, bare feet silent, and knocked softly on Ethan’s door. It creaked open. Ethan sat propped against the headboard on his phone, shirtless, the lamplight carving shadows over his toned chest and arms. Rumpled sheets pooled around his waist, beige pants still on.
“Hey,” he said, starting small. “Couldn’t sleep either?”
Ethan shifted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Nope. Too wired, I guess.”
He hovered in the doorway, hands flexing at his sides. “Nice room, huh? These suites are something.”
Ethan chuckled, patting the bed beside him. “Yeah, not bad for a first date. Come in, you’re making me nervous standing there.”
He stepped inside. The air smelled of Ethan’s woodsy soap, sharp and familiar, mingling with the suite’s clean linens. Ethan stretched, his muscles flexing, and he swallowed hard, his throat dry.
“Talked to my folks earlier,” Ethan said, leaning back. “They’re good. They’re happy I’m here with you. I called Alex too. Ranger’s having a blast with Shadow.”
He nodded, easing onto the edge of the bed. “That’s good. Glad Ranger’s set.”
Ethan tilted his head, blue eyes studying him. “You okay? You look, I don’t know, twitchy.”
His jaw tightened. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m scared, Ethan. Anxious. Mind if I join?”
Ethan scooted over, making room. “Go for it.”
He climbed on the bed, settling beside him, their shoulders close but not touching. The mattress dipped under his weight. His bare chest felt exposed, his fit body filling out the red pants, and he caught Ethan glancing before looking away.
“I’ve been thinking,” he started, voice low. “About this. Us. I’m scared of what it means.”
Ethan stayed quiet, waiting, his calm settled some of the storm in Mark’s chest.
He exhaled, hands clenching the sheets. “I’ve never done this. Been with a guy. Never even thought about it until you. And now, I’m terrified of people finding out. What they’ll think. What does that say about me.”
Shame flickered in his gut, a cold twist he hated feeling. He’d spent years building a life, a name, and now this, this pull toward Ethan, threatened to unravel it.
Ethan shifted, turning to face him. “I get it. I’ve been there. When the guys at the department found out I’m bisexual, it wasn’t some big announcement. One of the older cops saw me with a guy at a bar once. Asked me about it the next day, all casual, like it was nothing. I braced for the worst, but he just shrugged. Said, ‘You’re still a damn good cop, it doesn’t bother me.’ Most of them didn’t care. A couple assholes made cracks, but they got over it.”
He listened, his shoulders loosening a fraction. “That easy, huh?”
Ethan snorted. “Not always. It took time. But the ones who matter, they stick around.”
He nodded, staring at his hands. “Still freaks me out. I don’t know how to do this, Ethan.”
Ethan’s lips curved, softer now. “Me too. This is new for me too, in a way. But it feels too right to not find out where it leads. Don’t you think?”
He met Ethan’s gaze, those green eyes steady, unguarded. “Yeah. It does.”
Silence stretched between them, thick with nerves and something else, something warm. Ethan’s hand brushed his, a fleeting touch as he adjusted the sheet, and his breath caught. The contact jolted him, grounding him all at once.
They sat there, hands close, the air humming with unspoken trust. His fears didn’t vanish, but Ethan’s presence made them smaller, bearable. Ethan’s bare shoulder was inches away, his warmth radiating, and he felt it, a quiet pull that promised more, if they could just take the leap.
Ethan shifted, his knee nudging his, and he felt it, a spark that jolted his spine. His hands rested on the sheets, fingers twitching, inches from Ethan’s. Their talk had stripped him bare, his fears laid out, and Ethan’s steady presence had stitched him back together. Now, the air hummed, thick with something he couldn’t name but couldn’t ignore.
“So,” he started, voice low, “nice night, huh?”
Ethan turned, blue eyes catching the light, soft and searching. “Yeah. Really nice.”
He swallowed, his throat tight. Ethan’s closeness pulled at him, a tide he couldn’t fight. His gaze dropped to Ethan’s lips, full and parted, then flicked back up. Ethan held his stare, breath hitching, and he knew, they both knew, this was it.
He leaned in slow, giving Ethan time to pull away, but he didn’t. Ethan tilted his head, meeting him halfway. Their lips brushed, tentative at first, a whisper of contact that stopped his heart. Then Ethan pressed closer, and he surged forward, kissing him fully.
The world fell away. His lips were soft, warm, tasting faintly of the wine from dinner, and he melted into it. Ethan’s hand found his cheek, fingers rough but gentle, guiding him deeper. He cupped Ethan’s neck, his pulse hammering under his palm, and tilted his head, savoring every second. His chest ached, not from fear, but from something raw and alive, blooming where grief had hollowed him out.
This is what I’ve been missing.
Ethan sighed into him, a sound that unraveled him, and he chased it, kissing him slower, deeper, letting it linger. His other hand slid to Ethan’s bare shoulder, skin hot under his touch, and Ethan leaned into him, chest to chest, hearts pounding in sync. Time stretched, the kiss a quiet storm of everything he’d held back, everything Ethan gave him.
He pulled back first, breathless, forehead resting against Ethan’s. His eyes fluttered open, meeting Ethan’s, wide and dazed, blue irises dark with want. His hand trembled on Ethan’s neck, and Ethan’s fingers lingered on his cheek, tracing the line of his jaw.
“That,” he whispered, voice rough, “felt like everything. Like I’ve been waiting for this and didn’t know it. You’re, God, Ethan, you’re in my head, my chest, everywhere.”
Ethan exhaled, a shaky laugh escaping him. His hand dropped to his shoulder, gripping tight. “It felt like you lit me up. Like every nerve in me woke up at once. I’m so into you, Mark, it’s insane.”
He smiled, a soft, helpless thing, and his heart swelled. Ethan’s words sank into him, warm and real, mirroring the rush still buzzing under his skin. He slid his hand down Ethan’s arm, fingers lacing with his, calluses brushing calluses. Ethan squeezed back, his thumb stroking his knuckles, and he felt it, a tether pulling them closer.
Their breaths mingled, the air thick with their heat. He wanted to kiss him again, to dive back into that sweetness, but he held still, savoring this. Ethan’s bare chest rose and fell fast, inches from his own, and the lamplight caught the flush on his cheeks, the shine in his eyes.
They stayed like that, hands tangled, foreheads pressed, the quiet night wrapping around them. His doubts faded, drowned by the truth of Ethan against him, and he knew, this was just the start, a promise they’d chase together.
Ethan’s breath still trembled from their first kiss, and he couldn’t stop staring. Those blue eyes, dark with want, held Mark captive. His chest swelled, joy bubbling up where fear had once gnawed. He shifted closer, their knees knocking, and Ethan leaned in, foreheads touching again. The faint scratch of Ethan’s beard grazed his skin, sending a shiver down his spine.
“Your beard tickles,” he murmured, lips curving into a grin. “I love it.”
Ethan chuckled, a low, soft sound that vibrated between them. “Yeah? Good thing I didn’t shave then.”
He laughed, the sound light and free, and pulled Ethan closer. Their bare chests met, warm and solid, Ethan’s arms sliding around his waist. He wrapped his own around Ethan’s shoulders, fingers tracing the curve of his back, memorizing the feel of him. Ethan nuzzled into his neck, beard brushing his jaw, and he sighed, the tickle sparking delight through him.
This is more than I ever dreamed.
He tilted his head, catching Ethan’s lips again. This kiss came slower, softer, a gentle press that deepened as Ethan opened to him. His lips were velvet, tasting of wine and something sweeter, something uniquely Ethan. He cupped Ethan’s face, thumbs stroking along his cheekbones, and Ethan’s hands tightened on his hips, pulling him flush. Their breaths mingled, warm and ragged, the world shrinking to just this, just them.
Ethan pulled back, just enough to breathe, and he chased him, stealing one more kiss. This one was quick, playful, Ethan’s beard grazing his chin in that perfect, ticklish way. He grinned against Ethan’s mouth, and Ethan laughed, the sound muffled as he kissed him back. His lips lingered, reluctant to part, and Ethan’s fingers slid up his spine, leaving trails of heat.
He shifted, tugging Ethan down until they lay side by side, legs tangling in the sheets. Ethan’s head rested on his chest, blonde hair soft against his skin, and he ran his fingers through it, marveling at the silkiness. Ethan’s arm draped over his waist, heavy and sure, and he pressed a kiss to Ethan’s forehead, tasting the faint salt of his skin.
“You’re incredible,” he whispered, voice thick with feeling. “This, you, it’s everything.”
Ethan tilted his head up, eyes shining in the dim light. “You’re making me dizzy, Mark. I can’t get enough of you.”
His heart thudded, loud and full, and he pulled Ethan closer, their bodies melding into one warm line. Ethan’s hand rested over his chest, fingers curling against his heartbeat, and he covered it with his own, lacing them tight. Their lips found each other again, a slow, lingering kiss that poured every unspoken word into the quiet. Ethan sighed into him, soft and content, and he drank it in, lost in the sweetness of it.
They stayed like that, curled together, breaths slowing as the night deepened around them. His fears, his doubts, they’d melted away, leaving only this, Ethan in his arms, a joy so deep it ached. Their hands stayed clasped, a silent vow in the way they held on, a promise stitched into every touch, every kiss.
Ethan kissed him again, slow and deep, his beard brushing his lips in that ticklish, perfect way. Ethan’s tongue exploring. He sighed into it, joy sparking through him, and pulled Ethan closer, their bodies melding. His heart raced, pounding against Ethan’s chest, and a heat bloomed low in his gut, undeniably rising with every press of Ethan’s lips. Ethan’s hand slid up his back, fingers digging gently into his skin, and he felt it, tightening in his pants, his arousal stirring under the thin fabric.
Ethan’s kiss faltered, just for a breath, and he pulled back, blue eyes locking on him. A knowing flicker passed through them, soft and sure. His hand drifted from his back, trailing down his side, slow and deliberate, until it rested over the bulge in his pants. He froze, breath catching, as Ethan’s fingers brushed there, light at first, testing.
“Is this, okay?” Ethan whispered, voice low, thick with care.
He nodded, throat too tight to speak. “Yeah,” he managed, hoarse and trembling.
Ethan smiled, a tender curve of his lips, and pressed his palm firmer, stroking him gently over the fabric. His touch was warm, steady, igniting him with every slow glide. He shuddered, hips shifting into Ethan’s hand, the friction sending waves of heat through him. Ethan’s bare chest pressed closer, his breath warm against his neck, and he buried his face there, inhaling the scent of him, woodsy and safe.
He’s everything I want.
His hands found Ethan’s shoulders, gripping tight as Ethan’s strokes grew surer, a rhythm that matched the thrum of his pulse. The red pants clung to him, outlining every pulse of need, and Ethan’s fingers traced him, gentle but insistent, coaxing him higher. He groaned softly, the sound muffled against Ethan’s skin, and Ethan kissed his temple, lips lingering as his hand moved with love, not haste.
The heat built, slow and consuming, curling up his spine. His breath hitched, ragged now, and Ethan held him closer, their bodies a single line of warmth. He felt it cresting, a tide he couldn’t hold back, and Ethan’s touch pushed him over. His release came in a shuddering wave, soft and overwhelming, pulsing through him as he clung to Ethan, his name a whisper on his lips. “Ethan.”
Ethan’s hand slowed, resting over him, warm and still, as he trembled through the aftershocks. His chest heaved, pressed tight to Ethan’s, and he felt Ethan’s heartbeat, fast and steady, echoing his own. Ethan kissed his bearded jaw, soft and reverent, and he turned, catching Ethan’s lips in a kiss that tasted of sweat and sweetness.
He pulled back, breathless, forehead resting against Ethan’s. His hand slid to Ethan’s cheek, thumb brushing over his beard, still tickling in that way he adored. “That was,” he started, voice rough with emotion, “so much. You make me feel alive.”
Ethan’s eyes shone, blue and endless, and he pressed a kiss to his palm. “You make me feel wanted. Like this is where I’m supposed to be.”
His heart swelled, an ache so sweet it hurt, and he pulled Ethan down, curling into him. Their bare chests pressed together, slick with heat, and he wrapped his arms around Ethan’s waist, holding him tight. Ethan’s hand rested over his heart, fingers splayed, and he covered it with his own, their breaths syncing in the quiet.
They lay there, entwined, the night soft around them. His body hummed, sated and full, but it was Ethan’s closeness, the weight of him, that anchored him. Their love pulsed in every touch, every shared breath, a vow whispered in the stillness, tender and unbreakable.