51. Chapter 51
Three Days Until Charlotte
Beau found Colt floating in the pool on his back, eyes closed.
His swim shorts were indecently short—black with little pink cat heads on them.
Toast chittered at Beau as he walked past, lounging on one of Beau’s deck chairs in a patch of fading sun with his harness on, leash attached to the armrest.
When Beau reached down to stroke his back, Toast arched into the touch and purred. Spoiled, spoiled little shit. Colt treated Beau’s cat like a prince, and Toast was eating it up.
“You're gonna be insufferable in a few days, aren't you?” Beau murmured. Toast meowed, and Beau pulled off his shirt. He dropped it on the chair, and Toast climbed onto it and settled with a rumble. “We'll be alright.”
Colt was still floating peacefully when Beau slipped into the water.
Colt yawned. “You're home early.”
“Mhmm.” Beau sank down and pulled Colt’s hips under the surface. Colt flailed and yelped.
“Beau!” Colt's laugh echoed off the water as he twisted and wrapped his legs around Beau’s waist. “Haven't you been telling me to relax, like, for two weeks straight?”
“Mhmm.” Beau nuzzled under Colt’s jaw and inhaled the soft chlorine scent mixed with the smell of his skin. They’d been sleeping in the same bed so long that Colt was starting to smell a little like him. “Know you spent the afternoon in the gym anyway. Joe called.”
“Joe is such a snitch.” Colt put one arm around Beau’s neck and rested the other hand on Beau's chest. “I only got on the treadmill since someone wouldn't let me go to work today. Missed my daily run, you know.”
Compared to a week ago, going to the gym for a run was nothing.
Colt wasn't calm. Didn't have it in him to be, all spark and constant movement.
But he'd been more settled since Beau had taken him apart and put him back together.
Less panicked, more clear-headed. He'd shaved time off his practice runs, was generally resting when Beau told him to.
It was better.
Colt pulled back just far enough to catch Beau’s lips in a kiss. A soft sort of kiss, all open mouths with no tongue. Unhurried. Kissing Beau like they had all the time in the world instead of—
Well.
The sun slipped behind the mountains, painting the water gold and pink. Crickets started up in the desert beyond the fence, and Colt's hand slid into Beau's hair as Beau pulled him closer, kissed him deeper.
Toast purred on the deck chair, a low rumbling freight train of contentment.
Colt broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Beau's. His eyes stayed closed.
"Three days," Colt murmured.
Beau's hands tightened on his thighs. "I know."
They stayed like that until the water went cold and the stars came out.