Chapter 38 - Nick
“Damn. Must’ve been worn out.”
“Yeah.” Nick nodded. They were on their way to the hotel Reece was staying at, and Reece had fallen asleep as soon as they were on the road.
He was in the middle this time, legs stretched out over Declan’s.
And Nick didn’t mind because Reece’s head was on his shoulder, Reece’s hand clutching Nick’s shirt, and he was there, sleeping soundly, and looking so fucking cute Nick couldn’t stand it.
“Hey, I know you’ve been having regrets, but… The hell are you thinking right now, Nick?”
“I don’t fuckin’ know,” Nick said, but that wasn’t entirely true.
He knew he fucked up. Knew he wanted to make it right.
Knew that he needed to make Reece his again—no, make Reece his officially.
Because nothing would be right until he did.
And he knew Reece wanted it too, so there was nothing stopping him.
They just needed to talk.
“I think you do.” Declan looked at him, cocking his brows. “You want him back.”
“No shit,” Nick scoffed. “I’m getting him back. I just don’t know how yet.”
“Here’s an idea,” Declan mused. “Tell him you fucked up and you want him back.”
Nick sighed, brushing his fingers through Reece’s hair. “It’s not a bad idea…”
At Reece’s hotel, Reece didn’t stir when Nick gently attempted to wake him. He only roused slightly after Nick lifted him from the backseat and started carrying him inside, Declan following.
“Nicky,” Reece mumbled, nuzzling Nick’s throat with his nose.
“Which room’s yours, Kitten?”
“307,” he sighed softly. “Key in bag.”
“This bag?” Declan held up the small black clutch Reece had with him at the after-party. The only thing he carried with him.
Reece didn’t answer, already sleeping soundly once more. “What other bag?” Nick huffed quietly, stopping at the elevator and pressing the call button while Declan opened the bag and pulled out a sleek black and gold card.
In the elevator, Declan leaned against the wall opposite of Nick and took a picture of him holding Reece, taunting him until they were walking in Reece’s suite a few moments later.
Nick carried him to the bedroom, holding Reece while Declan pulled the covers back. Then Nick laid him down and looked back over his shoulder to Declan.
“Get out.”
“Haah, why?” Declan frowned. He looked from Nick to Reece and then blushed. “What the hell are you planning, you pervert?!”
“Dumbass! Nothing, fuck off.” Nick scowled at him and then carefully removed Reece’s shoes. “I’m going to get him ready for bed.”
“Alright. You better not take advantage of him.”
Nick rolled his eyes and waited for Declan to walk out before working Reece’s belt open, and then his pants. Reece’s head turned and he shifted his hips, eyes fluttering open.
“Nicky?”
Fuck. He was so fucking sweet and sexy and cute when he was sleepy.
“Go back to sleep, Kitten,” Nick said, responding just as softly as Reece had called his name.
He pulled Reece’s pants down past his hips, down those long, flawless legs, saliva pooling under Nick’s tongue as that pale skin was revealed inch by inch by inch.
Reece lifted his legs to help, spreading them in the process, and Nick’s eyes lingered on the short black briefs he wore for a few seconds too long before he forced himself to look back to Reece’s face and caught those blue eyes on him.
Nick exhaled slowly as he removed Reece’s pants completely, folding and setting them on the bedside table. Then he put a knee on the bed to lean over and start working the buttons on Reece’s shirt open. Neither of them said a word. Reece hardly breathed. But he watched Nick all the while.
“Do you have something you want to put on for bed?” Nick croaked, his throat too fucking dry for him to speak properly. And Goddammit, he was hard.
Reece hesitated, shifting where he lay. The movement was so minuscule, and yet it had Nick’s eyes roaming his body, naked save for those tight briefs, and so fucking pretty. Nick watched him swallow. Watched him pull in a deep breath. And then Reece fisted the sheet beneath him.
“Stay with me.”
Nick couldn’t strip himself fast enough.
He had on too many layers. Far too many.
But after a moment, he was slipping into bed next to Reece in only the basketball shorts he’d been wearing under his pants.
Reece rolled to face him immediately, burying his face in Nick’s chest as Nick wrapped his arms around Reece.
Nothing more than a quiet sniffle sounded from Reece before he was asleep again, but with wet lashes and furrowed brows. Nick played with his hair and massaged his scalp and neck until every crease had fallen away, leaving only a look of peace on his beautiful face.
And only then did Nick whisper, “I’m sorry, Ree.”
He cursed himself and held Reece until Declan tiptoed his way into the room and took off his pants by the bed, getting in behind Nick.
“Declan James. I will literally fuck you up so bad you’ll never play basketball again.”
“Relax, man. The couch is too damn small for my ass. The bed’s got plenty of room. Somebody’s gotta watch your ass anyway.”
“You better count your fuckin’ blessings and be glad Ree’s here to protect your ass.”
“Thanks, Ree. Night!”
Seconds later, Declan was snoring. It took a lot longer for Nick to fall asleep, but he was in heaven having Reece in his arms, his nose in those soft blond locks, breathing in the scent of his shampoo, feeling Reece’s soft breaths until finally, he drifted off too.
And he dreamt of Reece in all white, a pretty blue flower in his hair, and a smile on his face that stole Nick’s breath away.