“Couldn’t.” Apollo made a sad face.
“Oh, dude, you should have said something. I would have taken your room.” Dylan patted Apollo’s arm, which made his face fall further. Crap. Of course Apollo wouldn’t want Dylan in the master bedroom he’d shared with Neal. “Or the couch.”
“Guests don’t take the couch.” Apollo started to take a step forward, but Dylan pushed him back into his room.
“Take my bed for a nap. Please.”
It was a sign of how high on the meds Apollo was that he didn’t argue, just lay down on the made bed still in his uniform. He landed in a heap, limbs akimbo, head not even on a pillow. Dylan tried shoving him into a more comfortable position.
“Is this good for your back? How should we arrange the pillows for you?”
“You don’t need to hover. Sit down.” Apollo gave him a dopey smile and patted the bed next to him. He scooted around until he was flat on his back, pillows under his knees. “There. Textbook.”
Dylan perched on the edge of the bed, but tried not to get too comfortable. Having Apollo in what he thought of as his space was exceedingly weird. “Looks like Marilyn and Pat stopped by for the bags I put by the door. I’ll text them in a bit, make sure they’re all set over there.”
“You’re so good.” Apollo yawned.
“Speaking of them, you didn’t tell me that your in-laws are both women. I hope I handled everything okay.”
“I’m sure you handled it fine.” Apollo rolled slightly so that he was looking at Dylan.
“How long have she and Pat been married?” Dylan was fascinated by Apollo’s in-laws, but mainly he was looking for an excuse to stay next to Apollo a few more minutes.
“Forty-three years.”
“Oh wow.” Dylan hadn’t been expecting that answer.
“They’ve been together since long before Marilyn transitioned. They’re a pretty amazing couple.”
“That’s awesome. And Neal was cool with it too?”
“Neal struggled with it more than me, actually. He was bullied about it in high school and had a rough time accepting it. Maybe it’s easier that I only met her after she transitioned. She’s just Marilyn to me.”
“I get that. And you can tell they both adore the girls. The twins were so happy to see their grandmas. It’s too bad Neal had a hard time with it.”
“Eh. He was better after the girls came. Kids are good equalizers.” Apollo yawned again, and his nose wrinkled. “Your bed smells like you.”
“Uh...sorry.”
“Don’t be. I like it.” Apollo gave a sly smile as he did a more deliberate sniff.
“The meds totally take away your filter don’t they?” Dylan laughed and patted Apollo’s shoulder.
Reaching up, Apollo captured Dylan’s hand. “Maybe. Don’t usually make me this aware.”
“Aware?” Dylan’s voice came out hoarser than he’d intended as he took in their cozy proximity—somehow he’d relaxed next to Apollo despite his intention to get out of the room quickly.
“I wouldn’t turn you down now.” Apollo kept hold of Dylan’s hand, drawing it lower to rest against his stomach.
“Whoa.” Dylan took his hand back. “Somehow we’ve gone from talking about your in-laws to sex and just no.”
“No?” Apollo’s pout was every bit as good as the girls’. “But you want me.”
“Glad to see it’s not your ego that’s injured.” Dylan laughed and gently shoved at Apollo’s shoulder. “And doesn’t matter. I’m not going to fuck you while you’re high as a kite on the meds.”
Apollo blinked. “You’re not...”
“Nope.” Dylan got off the bed before Apollo could tempt him into changing that stance. He grabbed the spare blanket folded over the chair in the corner and spread it over Apollo.
“You know...you’re awfully...fixated. On you fucking things.” Apollo laughed like he’d made a hilarious joke.
“Fixated? You mean toppy?” Dylan had been wondering if this would come up, or if Apollo would assume that just because Dylan was younger that he was naturally more of a bottom. “You’re still just weirded out that I said Maddox would let me fuck him.”
“That too.”
“Sorry to break it to you, Toppy McToppy SEAL, but not all gay SEALs are alpha freaks like you.”
Apollo’s laugh echoed off the mirrored closet doors. “Do you always...”
“Top? It seems to be what most guys want from me, but no, not always.” I wouldn’t with you. It was way too soon and Apollo was way too high for Dylan to confess that though.
“I was going to ask if you were always so blunt about sex, but you kind of answered that question too.” Apollo grinned at him.
“Life’s too short to dance around sex or be afraid to talk about it. I’m not ashamed of loving it.”
“Well said.” Apollo’s lopsided grin was almost too adorable. “It’s more that you’re nothing like I expected.”
Dylan had to laugh at that. “I know. You’re still trying to wrap your head around the fact that I’m not a bumbling, virginal teenager.”
“It’s wrapped.” Apollo groaned and grabbed Dylan’s hand. “So wrapped.”
“God, you’re adorable.” Dylan bent and kissed his forehead. “Tell you what, you sleep off the meds, and if you’re not in too much pain once you’re lucid, then I’m all yours.” He’d bet money on Apollo not remembering a word of this conversation.
“Not tired. Horny.” Apollo’s yawn belied his words.
“Ha.” Tugging his hand free, he crossed back to the doorway before Apollo could pull him down onto the mattress. “You sleep now.”
“Okay.”
Man, the big guy all docile like this was almost fun, if Dylan could get beyond being worried for him. He was still getting over how his heart had galloped when he’d gotten Apollo’s text. He didn’t want to be this concerned, didn’t want to care this deeply, especially when the only time Apollo would confess to needing him was when he was drugged.
*
“Hey?” A gentle hand on Apollo’s shoulder dragged him back to consciousness. Fuck. He needed out of dreamland where he’d had fucked-up dreams with both Dylan and Neal in them. And purple goblins. Because, thank you, painkillers.
“Hi.” Apollo blinked awake to find Dylan sitting next to him on the side of the bed.
“You were moaning in your sleep. I brought the meds upstairs, but you should probably eat something first. Feel up to a late dinner?”
“Dinner? How long was I out?”
“It’s ten, Sleeping Beauty, so about four hours.” Dylan’s deep laugh was the best alarm clock ever, chasing the cobwebs of sleep out of Apollo’s head.
“Fuck. The meds did a number on me.” Apollo cautiously sat up. Miraculously, his back didn’t protest the movement too loudly. Slight twinge, but the noisy symphony of unhappy muscles had been dialed down to background music level.