Chapter 26 - Nick
The night was a blur. They fucked all over the room, in every position they could think to desire.
Then they moved to the bathroom, cleaning each other up in the bath, which wound up being an extended session where Reece rode him and they kissed until their lips were swollen and tingling all over again—and their bodies were shriveled from the prolonged soaking.
When they finally had their fill and got into bed in clean sheets, they laid on their sides facing one another.
Reece had one arm tucked between them, one around Nick’s waist. Nick had one under Reece’s neck, the other around his back.
Their legs were tangled, both of them naked, and Nick played with Reece’s hair, knowing he was drifting and would be sleeping peacefully any second.
He was happy. So happy that he felt guilty for it. Nick could’ve laid right there with Reece forever. Feeling his soft, flawless skin, breathing in his shampoo.
Wondering if it was okay to be happy like this, with Reece, forever…
Wondering if it was okay to let himself care fearlessly.
Wondering if it was okay to let go of his past and just look toward the future.
Nick held onto Reece and wondered what it was about him that made Reece hold onto him just as tightly, despite everything. He wondered what he could do to deserve that, because at the moment, he knew he didn’t.
* * *
“I got you something,” Nick said the next morning, when he joined Reece at the table. Reece was just like Nick pictured him the day before. A messy head, sleepy eyes, and an adorable smile that he tried to hide behind his steaming mug of tea.
“Got me something?”
Nick grunted and set the small black box on the table in front of Reece.
When he couldn’t get Reece out of his head after he left the training camp, Declan suggested he go out and buy Reece a gift. So they went shopping together. It was eventful as hell, and Nick learned, at least according to Declan, that he was a picky shopper.
“Earrings?! Nicky?!” Reece squealed, holding the open box toward Nick as if he hadn’t seen them already. They were white gold hoops with diamonds around them from one end to the other. “Nicky got me earrings?!”
“You like them then?” Nick kept it cool, but he was damn happy about it. And proud that he picked them out himself even though Declan had made a few suggestions.
“I love them! Nicky… Why? You shouldn’t have… I didn’t get you anything. Now I’m gonna cry!”
“The hell—don’t cry!”
Reece set the box down and opened his arms wide, reaching for Nick until he came closer and dipped down to hug him. “Thank you, Nicky…” Nick lifted his head from where he’d tucked it against Reece’s neck, and Reece kissed him. “Now I have to get all dressed up and take a cute pic for my Insta!”
“Cute,” Nick mused.
“Alright, kids, breakfast is ready,” Kent interrupted and Nick sat, happy to have a day at home.
Just them.