Chapter 25
Days later, Kieran’s still stuck on the inescapable fact that he let Ash get him off. Not just in a yeah, okay, do whatever, just do it quickly kind of way. In the fuck, I’m nervous, but I kinda not so secretly want this and holy shit, this feels good! kinda way.
And the part he’s even more stuck on? Things are not weird. They totally should be! Like, hellooo? Ash rubbed against him until they both came in their pants, fucking bit him like a rabid dog, and then—then!—he cuddled him! And Kieran let him!
They should be circling each other in awkward, tense silence. And what are they doing?
Anyways, he gets why Ash might not be awkward about it. In his mind, they have been doing the do for years. But how come Kieran’s not feeling weird about it either?
Maybe the lack of ceremony is what’s keeping him calm?
There was no dramatic buildup—apart from that tense minute when he got hard from Ash rubbing his feet.
There was no tearing off clothes in desperation like in those stupid movies.
Ash purposefully kept their clothes on, correctly sensing Kieran needed some form of barrier between them. And it worked, in a way.
Because layers or not, he can vividly recall the weight of Ash’s body, the steadiness of his hands, the heat that rose through every piece of clothing like it wanted to brand him.
The strangest part wasn't the act itself, but how easily his body and mind had accepted it. Like it was inevitable.
Duh, this body is used to it. My mind, though? That shit needs to be studied.
So yeah, things are not weird. There’s just one tiny detail that won’t leave Kieran alone.
Ash didn’t kiss him. He all but fucked Kieran through his clothes, but lips-on-lips action? Zilch. Nada. Which is good, Kieran wasn’t ready. But he knows it’s bound to happen at some point, and, honestly, the anticipation is as nerve-wrecking as it is exhausting. He just wants to get it over with!
He’s been so desperate for a distraction he even started working again.
It didn’t take long to figure out what projects his future self is working on, so he decided to ease himself in.
Conclusion? Working from home and being his own boss is fucking great, but it comes with the unfortunate disadvantage that everything takes way too long to complete since there’s no one checking on him.
Except for the damn cat, who judges him constantly.
Apart from work, he’s spent the past few days getting more magic lessons from Gabe—which included free coffee—and visiting Dee.
Kieran caught him mid-painting and got to watch him work.
That alone solidified what everyone’s been trying to tell him since he arrived here: his closest friend is living his best life, and Kieran doesn’t have to worry about him anymore.
Overall, it’s been a pretty good few days.
But now he’s stuck with Ash again, and his mind is as far from peaceful as can be.
Ash, on the other hand, is the epitome of carefree, lying under the blazing sun like he can’t even feel the heat. He’s only missing a drink with an umbrella in it to complete the look.
Kieran wonders briefly if he’ll ever stop being both infuriating and magnetic at the same time.
Annoyed for no specific reason, he decides to be annoying back. And the best way to do it?
Complaining.
“Why did we go to Fiji of all places? It’s not like we don’t have beaches here.”
“You don’t do winter sports—”
“Any sports.”
“—and hate hiking. Options were limited.”
Smug ass. Why does he have to have an answer for everything?! Once, just once, Kieran would love to shake him up.
Annoyance intensifying, an idea pops into his head. It’s random, just this prank thing he saw on Insta one time and thought it was hilarious.
Worth a shot.
Hiding a grin, he compels a barrier to rise around his thoughts, just in case Ash tries to have a looksie.
“Speaking of hiking, how long do you think it’d take to walk to the end of the world?” he asks, keeping what’s hopefully a straight face.
“Hypothetically or literally?”
Kieran blinks. Okay, that clearly went over Ash’s head. He might need to be a little more specific.
“Hypothetically. Ignore the oceans and hostile terrain. Just think of a person, walking and walking until they reach the end.”
Ash goes quiet, but not like someone who’s wondering what the fuck is going on, but like someone who’s actually doing the math.
“You mean if they walked the circumference of Earth? That’s about 40,000 kilometers, so—”
“No, I mean the end,” Kieran stresses, frustrated. “Like, the very end. The edge.”
“The edge?”
“Duh. Since the Earth is flat.”
Slowly, Ash turns his head towards him, and slides his sunnies lower to peek at him over the rim. “The Earth is flat?”
Kieran bites his lip to stop a grin.
“Sure is. Haven’t you seen the articles? It’s proven. The bullshit about the planet being round is just a government conspiracy. There’s evidence.”
Ash’s brows rise, then pull slightly together in a frown. “I’ve read the articles. I’ve watched the documentary. I don’t agree with the physics of it, though.”
Kieran’s not liking how cool Ash is about the whole convo, but at least he’s buying it!
“Physics.” He scoffs. “What they teach at school is made up. And all that crap about satellite images… Anyone with mediocre photoshop skills could do that!”
More silence. Longer this time.
Kieran is gearing up for an earful, some very serious lecture on the topic. He can’t wait to watch Ash lose his shit over the thought of his boyfriend being a flat-Earther while Kieran calmly continues to hold his ground.
“That’s true. I guess anything is possible.”
Kieran shoots up so fast he almost gives himself whiplash. “Dude, what the fuck?!”
“Hm?”
“Are you for real? You think the Earth is flat?”
“You clearly do.”
“No, I don’t! I just made that up for kicks! I can’t believe you’d just let me get away with it!” His arms flail wildly in all directions.
“Is it really that important?”
“Is it—” Kieran gapes at him. “How can you be with someone who thinks we live on a levitating pancake?! Have you no standards?”
Ash shrugs. “It’s either that or a levitating donut.”
“Still!”
“I can’t be 100% sure either way,” Ash carries on. “I’ve never been to space, never seen Earth from above with my own eyes.”
Kieran turns towards the shore and stares into the distance. “Oh. My. God.”
It’s the quiet laughing behind him that snaps him out of his life-contemplating trance.
“You fucker. You knew I was trying to prank you!”
“Obviously. Points for effort, though. That was a good one.”
Kieran sighs. “I thought I was getting better at this mind-reading buffer thing.”
“I wasn’t trying to look,” Ash says. “Don’t you think I’d know if my boyfriend of two years believed in the flat-Earth theory?”
A relieved smile grows on Kieran’s face. “I knew it. You wouldn’t actually date someone who did, right?”
The smile drops when Ash just shrugs.
“What difference does it make? My life wouldn’t change either way.
I’d still go to work and pay taxes. I’d still go to the beach, eat good food and drink good coffee.
” Kieran can feel his gaze on him even through the sunnies.
“I would still love you. None of it would change, no matter what type of pastry we live on.”
Look at him trying to be all romantic while defending his appalling lack of standards and critical thinking. Kieran won’t be swayed. He will not.
“I can’t believe I’m dating a semi-flat-Earther.” He goes back to distance staring, then gets up and stretches. “I’m going in.”
Ash’s fingers wrap around his ankle. “Not so fast. You need a touch up.”
“Ugh, again?” He swears, Ash is just looking for an excuse to touch him.
“The UV index is nine. Yes, again.”
Kieran rolls his eyes, but plops back down, offering his back. He hates to admit it, but Ash’s lotion-applying skills are off the charts. It feels pretty good, kinda relaxing.
His dick gives an interested twitch.
Maybe a little too relaxing.
“Okay, all do—”
Kieran’s on his feet in an instant, sprinting towards the water like it’s holy and will purify him of sinful thoughts. It might as well be—23 degrees turns out to be cold enough to get rid of his half-chub, and to clear his head a little.
The waves are admittedly great, the perfect size and power to have some fun but not die.
Kieran stays in for a good while, only getting out when he nearly gets zapped by a bluebottle. Nasty little fuckers.
Ash isn’t in their spot. Looking around, Kieran finds him chatting to a group of Latinos playing volleyball nearby, handing over the ball that must've wandered his way. He’s all easy smiles and jokes; his usual charming self.
One of the girls is twirling her hair, laughing at something he said (which probably wasn’t even funny).
Kieran rolls his eyes, about to lie back down, but freezes.
One of the guys steps unnecessarily close, then proceeds to curl his fingers around Ash’s sculpted bicep. He says something, flashes a smile. Ash shakes his head. The guy says something else, still clutching Ash’s bicep.
And Ash isn’t shaking him off.
Kieran is striding over before he realizes his legs are moving.
“Are you sure?” he hears the guy ask, and then Ash’s reply, “Yeah, I’m here with someone.”
Spotting Kieran coming, he turns towards him, beaming. “Hey, there.”
“Hey.”
Ash’s smile dims. He must’ve picked up on Kieran’s doom and gloom.
The guy and the girl slowly turn their gaze towards Kieran, as if only now registering his presence.
“Your friend can join in too,” the guy says, in that way someone would say: “Yeah, sure, call me if you need me.” Forced, stiff. At least he’s finally taken his grabby hand off Ash.
Ash’s now free arm wraps around Kieran’s shoulders. “This is my boyfriend, and the ball isn’t his friend.”
Kieran scowls. Why not tell everyone how fucking useless I am when it comes to sports?