Chapter 31
Dean
The mid-afternoon sun glistened through the windows of the loft, surrounding Dean and Colton in a soft glow. After a strenuous fuck session, they both drifted into a blissful nap, wrapped in each other’s arms.
Dean slowly fluttered his eyes, waking from his nap. His head rested on Colton’s shoulder; their hands entwined on Colton’s stomach.
Dean cracked a smile. The sight of their hands interlaced gave him an idea.
“What’s got you grinning like that?” Colton asked, his voice still gravelly from sleep.
“You, duh…” Dean kissed his neck just beneath his ear.
Colton chuckled, pulling Dean on top of him for a kiss. “Good answer.”
Dean hummed into Colton’s kiss, their tongues lazily sliding and swirling against one another.
Dean gently kissed Colton’s nose. “You hungry?”
“Starving. We worked up quite an appetite.” Colton nuzzled Dean’s ear with his nose.
Dean snorted. “Yes we did.” He rolled off the bed, pulling Colton up by the hand. “Come on.”
They walked to the kitchen, naked, Colton kissing Dean’s shoulder and neck as they walked.
Dean wrapped his arms around Colton’s waist. “You want something quick, like a sandwich, or would you like me to cook you something?”
Colton looked at him sheepishly with a little pout. “Would you cook something for me?”
Dean kissed his forehead with a slight sigh. “You know I can’t resist those puppy dog eyes. Of course I’ll cook for you. You have anything in mind?”
“No. I love everything you cook.”
Dean paused for a moment. He said the L word.
Sure, he was only talking about food, but still. He didn’t mean the big L…but what if he did? What if it was a slip of the tongue, but what he’s really feeling inside?
Dean felt fireworks exploding in his chest. That thought made him giddy with joy. But was it too soon to say things like that? Even think things like that?
Probably. Way too soon.
Dean managed to drag himself away from Colton and began rummaging through the fridge.
“Hmmm, Okay I can make us some turkey burgers with sweet potato fries…or maybe roasted chicken salad, or…ooh! Grilled cheese?” Dean stood and turned to a smiling Colton.
“What is it?” Dean asked
“Nothing. This —watching you bent over the fridge, with your gorgeous ass, making me something to eat— feels like heaven.”
Dean took Colton back into his arms, kissing his nose.
“I love it when you get all mushy,” he teased.
And there it was again…that L word.
They were both using it now, more and more often.
Dean shook away the thought. “So, what’ll it be?”
“How about grilled cheese, turkey burger, and sweet potato fries?”
Dean raised an eyebrow as he stepped back.
“What? I’m a growing boy.” Colton smirked, patting his belly.
Dean reached out and grabbed his soft cock with a devilish grin. “Yes. Yes you are. My big, growing boy.” He kissed him softly before he slipped on an apron and tied the back. “Comin’ right up!”
Colton gasped. “Holy hotness, Batman…that is so fucking sexy!”
“What is?” Dean asked.
“You, in that apron, with your bare ass hanging out the back. Maybe you should wear that back to the bedroom once we’re done eating.” He winked and waggled his eyebrows.
Dean giggled and shook his ass at Colton before turning his attention to making their food.
As they both settled into a stool at the island, each with a full plate, Dean said, “Going back to your question. When we first woke, you asked what had me grinning.”
Colton nodded, “And?”
“I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was our hands, fingers laced together. It gave me an idea.”
Colton took a big bite of his turkey burger with a satisfied moan. “Fuck, that’s so good! You’re gonna make me as fat as an offensive lineman.” Colton grinned. “So what’s your idea?”
Dean smiled as he watched Colton enjoy the food he'd made for him. He wanted this every day. And now that they’d broken the seal and entered into a not-so-friend zone, maybe this was all possible?
“If you’re ok with it, I want to make a post about us.” Dean could see Colton about to protest, so he quickly finished his thought. “Just a photo or short video of our hands, just our hands…and no names.”
Colton thought while he chewed his food. Dean watched the wheels turning in his mind as he worked things out.
“Okay, so you wouldn’t tag me or mention my name in the post?”
Dean cracked a smile. “No, it’s kind of a teaser, saying ‘Guess what? I’m dating someone’, but I won’t say who. It’ll just be a closeup of our hands. No one will be able to tell it’s you.”
***
Colton
Colton felt another sharp pang of guilt stab through his chest. He hated that Dean had to hide like this, sneaking around, not being truthful.
But at the same time, he was grateful that Dean hadn’t sent him packing over his fear and hang-ups about his job and his team.
Dean was the sort of man you held on to and never let him slip through your fingers.
Colton stroked Dean’s cheek with the back of his hand. “I’m cool with that, baby.”
After finishing their meal and cleaning the kitchen, Dean set up a small tripod on the kitchen island. He positioned the phone at a downward angle, so that their hands filled the majority of the frame.
He let Colton look through the lens at the shot. “See? Just our hands. Look okay to you?”
Although still a little apprehensive, Colton nodded and smiled.
Dean started the recording. They slowly slid their hands toward one another across the countertop, ending with interlaced fingers and squeezing tight.
Dean added a caption to the video that read ’I’ve got a secret’ with a secret emoji.
Then, he posted the reel to his Instagram and all other social accounts.
Immediately, hearts and likes began filling the screen, in response to the post.
Some of the comments were hilarious…
SO happy for you! Who’s the lucky guy? [thinking face emoji]
DUH! It’s Johnathan Bradley! [duh emoji]
PLEASE let it be Ryan Gosling! [pleading face emoji]
Kit Connor! I know those hands! [heart eyes emoji]
My spidey senses tell me it’s Tom Holland! [slurp emoji]
It’s Ross Lynch! I want it to be Ross Lynch! [overheated emoji]
That hand belongs to Carlos Alcaraz…I just know it! [sploosh emoji]
I’d bet money it’s Colton Merrick! [bug-eyed smiley emoji]
I don’t care WHO it is! I’d pay to watch you fuck! #onlyfans [drooling face emoji]
Dean laughed and showed the comments to Colton. “Well, someone actually guessed right!”
Colton cackled. “Your fans are crazy!”
Not five minutes later, Colton received a message of his own…
Sophie: Hey! Just saw Dean’s post about his ‘secret’. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! And I want details!!
Colton: How the hell did you know it was me??!!
Sophie: PUH-LEASE! Your hands have been all over my body. I’d recognize them anywhere.
Colton: Ha ha, busted! But thank you! It’s still pretty new, but I’m so fucking happy! And believe it or not, I made the first move!
Sophie: YES…GET IT! You both deserve this! Enjoy it. And I hope to see you BOTH soon!
Colton smiled with a chuckle and showed the messages to Dean. “Well, Sophie figured it out.”
Dean’s eyes went wide as he read the messages. “Shut up! For real?”
Colton sighed. “Should I be nervous? Do you think others will figure it out too?”
Dean kissed his cheek. “No. I don’t think so. No one else is as close to you as Sophie. So how would they know? But, if it’s making you nervous, I can delete it.”
Colton felt a tightness in his shoulders. Although he was scared, he realized he couldn’t hide forever. It was time to nut up and be a fucking man. If anyone deserved his courage and resolve, it was Dean.
“Nah. Leave it up. If someone else figures it out, who cares?”
Colton smiled genuinely and pulled Dean close. “Now. How about we celebrate our big announcement?”
Dean gave a low, sexy growl, grinding his hips into Colton. “Mmmm…what did you have in mind, my secret sex toy?”
Colton flashed a sinister smile. “I feel dirty. Let’s take a bath.”
***
Dean was in NYC for a gig, so Colton was on his own for a couple of days.
He went home to his condo after practice, but it felt immense, quiet, and lonely. It had only been half a day, but he missed Dean so much it actually hurt. His stomach churned, and there was an ache in his chest.
He sighed as he put his bag down in the bedroom and noticed a small envelope in the side pocket. How had he not seen it before?
He opened the envelope and found a small MP3 player inside, along with a note from Dean…
Colton,
Listen to this song. The lyrics perfectly describe my feelings.
Dean
He'd even written down the lyrics, so Colton could follow along with the song. He popped in the ear buds and pressed play…
The sounds of 'Magic' by Kylie Minogue thumped through the headphones as he read along.
“Magic” Kylie Minogue
I feel like anything could happen. The stars look different tonight.
They’re glowing all around me. It’s flowing through my body.
I can feel it, I can feel it.
Don’t know if I’m awake or dreaming. There must be something in the air.
The time is disappearing. This moment’s never leaving.
I can feel it, I can feel it.
You got me started. And nothing on earth can stop it.
It’s crazy, I’m falling. I don’t know what else to call it. Boy do you believe in magic?
As the last notes of the song faded away, tears stung Colton’s eyes and rolled down his cheeks.
Dean was absolutely right, the song perfectly described his feelings, their feelings.
Colton focused on one line of the song, "free falling, it’s a new emotion," and something clicked. He’d been free falling, enjoying their carefree times together.
He’d had the most fun and felt more alive and freer than he had his whole life.
It had been amazing, eye-opening, and lately, fucking hot as hell!
But that was no longer true. He was no longer free falling.
He’d fallen…fallen hard for Dean. The realization consumed him, his heart four sizes too large for his chest, his smile so wide his head could barely contain it.
He read the chorus of the song once again…"boy, do you believe in magic? Do you?"
He did believe in magic. He believed in the magic of Dean.
Another line of the song jumped off the page and punched Colton square in the jaw.
"Don’t wanna keep this secret"
Colton’s smile dropped.
What an asshole he’d been, forcing Dean to hide, pushing him back into the closet. And for what? Because he was too chicken shit, too scared to stand up for what he wanted? Too scared to tell the truth to his team, his family, the whole world?
Wasn’t Dean worth telling everyone about? Worth bragging about? Fuck yeah, he was!
Dean was the kindest, sweetest, most devoted and beautiful man Colton had ever known.
He deserved the very best, to be treated like a precious commodity.
He deserved to be on the arm of someone who was completely proud and unashamed.
He didn’t deserve to be held under someone’s thumb, to be pushed to the back, to be less than.
Colton took a deep, settling breath. He vowed to be better for Dean. He was going to make their relationship fair and balanced, equal in every way. Even if it meant things might get a little messy for him.
It was late in New York, and Dean was probably sleeping, but Colton couldn’t wait.
He grabbed his phone…
Colton: Baby! Just found your note. I love the song! It’s perfect. Thank you! Please come home soon. I miss you!
Dean: I’m glad you like it. I thought it was perfect too! I miss your smile. I miss your beautiful eyes. I miss your huge cock! Fuck New York! I’m coming home now!