Man, what a sucky day.
His air compressor had finally taken its last gasp, and the replacement he’d purchased had been missing vital parts. He’d assumed the brand-new one would come complete with a regulator as stated on the box. He’d assumed wrong. By the time he’d made his way back to the hardware store and returned to the garage, missing regulator in hand, Dylan had been about three hours behind on an already busy hump day. The rest of the afternoon he’d scrambled to catch up, a feat he never quite accomplished.
Fortunately, everything was about to take a turn for the better.
With a prolonged beep, the lock released, and Dylan entered the house, inhaling the scent of garlic, herbs, and tomatoes. Alec’s afternoon off usually meant dinner would be especially delicious and sometimes included dessert. Today proved no exception. From the smell, Dylan guessed the oven contained his favorite: eggplant Parmesan.
How in the hell he’d wound up loving a meatless recipe Dylan would never know. He supposed he owed Tyler for the friggin’ fantastic variety of meals Alec loved to cook, half of which contained no meat. But neither an extraordinarily crappy day nor the thought of the ex could ruin Dylan’s mood.
Dylan tugged at his laces and toed off his boots before padding down the hallway toward the kitchen. He paused in the doorway and took in the familiar scene. Alec stood at the center island chopping vegetables for a salad, his back to Dylan. Studying Alec’s economy of movements, his efficiency in the kitchen, Dylan crossed his arms, a smile tugging at the edges of his mouth.
Used to be when Dylan looked at Alec, he saw the lean body of an academic. Then he began to appreciate the nicely formed ass and thick, dark hair great for burying fingers in during sex. Alec’s blue eyes broadcasted his every emotion—whether he was confident, babbling nervously, or completely mute— and Dylan found them totally compelling.
He especially loved to watch Alec’s eyes as he came.
There was no doubt the man enjoyed the sex too, but he also liked every other aspect of having a companion in his home. Alec oozed domesticity, enjoying simple activities like cooking for two or talking about his day over dinner. Despite Dylan’s protests, Alec even insisted on helping with the cleanup, preferring the company in the kitchen to relaxing in the living room alone. He always waited for Dylan to settle in front of the TV before picking up whatever reading material he chose for the evening. After years of living by himself, Dylan should have needed time to adjust.
Odd how comfortable he felt here. Over time, his spare tools had slowly made their way to Alec’s garage. Dylan had purchased a utility bench, setting the stainless steel table up in the corner. Dylan had claimed a rack along the wall and was now well on his way to filling the shelves. Alec had made a comment about breaking the sucker in, and Dylan had rolled his eyes, secretly pleased.
Sex with Alec defined the word awesome.
And now Dylan could choose between that quick, sharp hit of pleasure he craved or a long, slow burn that left him dying for more until he came. The relief of release was almost as thrilling as the orgasm itself.
Several days had passed since his confession, and Dylan felt lighter, freer, and more comfortable with Alec than he’d ever been with another person. He’d never shared that part of his past with anyone. Not even Rick.
Dylan braced himself for the crushing pain that always followed thoughts of his friend, but today the sensation resembled more of a dull ache. The gaping hole felt smaller and less sharply defined—about bloody time after five years.
Alec turned to reach for a red pepper and saw Dylan. “Hey. You’re home.”
Home.
Dylan’s lips quirked. “I got behind today, so I skipped changing the oil on the Ducati as planned.” No need to share he’d rescheduled the task, choosing to come home early because he knew Alec would already be here.
“Does she really need it?” Alec asked.
“Nothing but the best for my babies.”
Alec smiled, crinkles appearing at the corner of his eyes. “So I’ve gathered. What’s on your agenda for tonight?”
“You.”
Alec laughed, and a familiar light lit his gaze.
“Good,” Alec said. “I want to discuss something with you.”
The words plowed into Dylan like a speeding bus.
Shit. He recognized that look on Alec’s face, and it had nothing to do with sex. Dylan had seen the same expression on Alec several times since the football game. Dylan couldn’t be sure, but he had a feeling the things Alec wanted to talk about involved the future.
His chest grew tight, and Dylan cleared his throat, forcing a light tone. “You want to discuss switching to a new brand of lube?”
“No.” Alec nervously tucked his hair behind his ears. “I’m hoping you can pry your mind out of the gutter for five minutes because there’s something I want to ask you.”