Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Thanks.” Apollo kissed him soundly. “I’m sorry—”
“What you are going to be is the one stuck in the cold part of the shower.” Dylan cut him off, not wanting Apollo to feel he had to apologize for his grief and its limitations. He stuffed the rest of the sewing stuff away and sprinted for the bath, Apollo fast on his heels. His deep laugh was exactly what they both needed, and Dylan would do whatever it took to keep it coming.
Chapter Seventeen
“I’m not sure any part of me is cleaner than when I got in.” Dylan laughed. It was true—they were both wet, but the shower really had been too small for any fun and even soaping up had been a challenge.
“Hey, it’s not for lack of trying on my part.” Apollo groaned as he stepped around him. He opened the linen cupboard next to the sink only to discover a single blue towel. “Oh f—heck. There’s only one towel in here. I’ve been off my cleaning game lately—”
“Not a bad thing.” Dylan handed him the lone towel. “You’ve been having fun. And recuperating your back. It doesn’t always have to be work-work-work.”
“I know.” Apollo blotted off with the towel then handed it to Dylan.
“And you can ask me to do more than help with the girls and heat up food. I’m good for a load of laundry or whatever.” Dylan dried his hair first.
“You’re a guest,” Apollo protested.
Dylan’s face drooped and his exhale was one of defeat before he schooled his expression.
Crap. Way to fuck up, Lieutenant.
“Yeah, well, I’m a guest who can help.” Dylan scrubbed at his damp chest and stomach.
“I didn’t mean...” Apollo sighed. Did they really need to have this conversation right then? “We’re friends now, right? You and me. I just meant I don’t want you feeling obligated.”
“Yeah, well, I kind of like obligations.” Dylan handed the towel back again.
“You do?” Apollo couldn’t think of any other twenty-three-year-old eager for structure.
“Yeah.” Dylan shrugged, seemingly impervious to his nudity. “I like routine. Rules. Expectations. Growing up as the youngest, people never seemed to expect much from me and there wasn’t much routine I could count on. I know you think it’s nuts, but I really dig your systems.” His tentative smile made Apollo’s chest flutter. “When they’re not getting in the way of fun, that is.”
Dylan opened the bathroom door, looking back over his shoulder with a wink.
“Wait! You’re naked!”
“So are you.” Dylan plucked the towel from Apollo’s grasp.
“We can’t run naked through the house,” Apollo protested.
“I can be very, very fast. And quiet.” Dylan’s laugh was infectious. “And I’m planning to stay naked, soon as I lock my door behind you.”
“Come back here,” Apollo halfheartedly demanded as Dylan sped away.
And okay, there was something weirdly freeing about racing through the house like this. His younger self woke up and took a look around and liked what it saw, liked this chance to forget for a while. Maybe Dylan was right and he did need more fun.
Breathless, they both sped into Dylan’s room, reaching for the door lock at the same time.
“Eager?” Dylan brushed a kiss across his jaw.
“You have no idea.” Apollo claimed his mouth in a kiss that tried to say thank-you for waking up his playful side, tried to invite Dylan to play more. And Dylan got with the program, licking and nibbling exploring. Kissing wasn’t supposed to be this...joyous, but with Dylan it totally was, every time.
Wanting more of that bubbly feeling, Apollo pushed Dylan onto the bed, dragging his ass to the edge so that Apollo could kneel in front of him.
“Hey. Whoa.” Dylan tried to shove at Apollo’s shoulder. “I had plans—”
“So do I.” Apollo licked down the side of Dylan’s shaft. Apollo had figured out on the weekend that Dylan was uncharacteristically self-conscious about getting blown, usually distracting him into doing something else, but this time, Apollo was determined to give him this. “There a reason why you don’t like oral?”
Dylan shook his head and propped himself up on his elbows. “It just always feels weird, being the center of attention. I like giving better. In fact—”
“Weren’t you just going on about how I need to have more fun? This totally counts as fun for me, so how about you let me have my entertainment?”
“Fine.” Dylan flopped down on the bed again. “But I probably can’t shoot this way.”
“Aren’t you the same guy who swore up and down he couldn’t come untouched?” Apollo laughed as he stroked the base of Dylan’s thick cock. “Excuse me if I need to test this theory out for myself.”
“Things are...different with you.” Dylan gasped when Apollo licked at him again.
“Same here,” Apollo said honestly. This sort of fun was something he’d never really had much of. Or all the talking in bed that Dylan seemed to favor. And the rest of it...somehow it all felt new and different. Apollo figured he should feel guilty about that, but instead, all he could manage was gratitude. Gratitude that it didn’t dredge up old memories. Gratitude that it felt so good. So right. Gratitude that he got to play with this amazing creature, even for a little bit.