Ryan’s expression morphed from relaxed to tight and confused. It darkened a little as he raked his gaze over Rhett’s naked torso.

Ryan cleared his throat as Cole came up behind Rhett. His arms slid around Rhett and he tugged him inside, away from the door. “Let your brother in. I ordered enough pizza for everyone.”

“Heard you were back from Kristen’s wedding.” Ryan flashed a look at Rhett. “I still can’t believe Macy gave you time off at the drop of a hat.”

“It was…” Rhett cleared his throat. “It was good timing. Her niece got dumped on her for a few weeks and she’s been helping out. Macy simply had her do more when I was away. It also helps that I’ve never asked for time off before.”

Rhett tried to wriggle free of Cole’s arms until he kissed him on the shoulder. “Stop,” Cole whispered to him.

He let himself settle there in the safety of Cole’s touch, although still not safe from the weight of Ryan’s scrutiny. Rhett wasn’t used to feeling as though he had anything to explain to anyone, certainly not to his brother, who mostly seemed not to care what Rhett did with his life. But Ryan and Cole had been friends since they were kids. Rhett didn’t want to be the thing that came between them.

The doorbell rang again and this time Cole did let Rhett wriggle out of his arms. “I’ll get the pizza,” Rhett declared, still clinging to Cole’s wallet. “You two go sit. I’ll be right there.”

Rhett took the interlude with the pizza guy, who very graciously did not stare at his naked chest, to calm his frazzled nerves. Cole had been doing a remarkable job of convincing him that he could belong here, that he wouldn’t look away from Rhett now that he’d seen him. That he wasn’t a mere passing interest, that he meant something to him.

It had been entirely too easy to believe him in the bubble that had become their lives. Ryan’s sudden appearance shattered that bubble and instantly the real world was very much real again.

Rhett took a steadying breath and carried the pizza into the living room. He set it on the coffee table and was going to take a seat on the other end of the couch, but Cole leaned forward, grabbed Rhett’s waist and hauled him down next to him.

“Let’s eat, I’m starving.” Cole kissed his cheek, then flipped the lid of the pizza box open. He pulled out two slices, holding one out for Rhett, who took it without hesitation.

Rhett became aware of Ryan’s gaze gravitating between him and Cole and back again. Apparently, Cole also noticed. He swallowed a bite of pizza and looked at Ryan. “Stop gawking.”

“This is weird,” Ryan stated, waving his hand in the air, at them, at the pizza, at the television still turned to I Love Lucy.

“What’s weird, Ryan?” Cole asked, and even Rhett had to grin at the sound of frustration Ryan made in the back of his throat.

“Really? My little brother is practically sitting in your lap, looking like you just...never mind, and you’re watching I Love Lucy of all things.”

Cole leaned back, tugging Rhett with him, snugging him next to his side. His fingers traced along his shoulder in small circles, but Rhett could feel the tension radiate off Cole.

“Ryan.” His voice was even and smooth, but Rhett had the distinct impression that Cole’s tension was carefully restrained anger. He’d never seen Cole anything but relaxed and laid back. This new side of him made Rhett appreciate Cole’s easily won smiles and laughter. “Do you love your brother?”

“What kind of a question is that? He’s my brother.”

Rhett leaned closer to Cole, watching Ryan’s face carefully.

“And I’m your best friend, yes?”

Ryan’s slice of pizza finished, he leaned back and crossed his arms defiantly over his chest. “Duh.”

“Then shut up,” Cole said, clearly exasperated. “Whatever chip you have on your shoulder about this, you need to get over it. Rhett and I are happy and he’s moving in here, so you’ll have to get used to us sooner or later.”

“Moving in?” Ryan gaped for a minute, then looked at Cole. “So it’s going to be the three of us hanging out now?”

“I do have a life you know, Ryan. I won’t monopolize all of your best friend’s time.”

Cole leaned over, gripped his chin and turned Rhett to face him before stealing a chaste kiss.

“Maybe I want you to,” Cole declared, sending a bloom of heat through Rhett.

His words now, said in front of Ryan, did more to soothe Rhett’s fears that he was just a passing interest than his eager kisses had. Ryan was part of the real world, and if Cole still wanted Rhett now that the real world had crashed back into their lives, then he maybe really did want him.

“But you’ve never even had a boyfriend before,” Ryan piped up and Rhett snapped his gaze over to him.

“He has one now, that’s all that matters.” Rhett suddenly wanted Ryan gone so he could kiss Cole. He’d start at his mouth and kiss every inch of him after that—down his spine to the center of his perfectly meaty ass and back again.

Ryan exhaled and looked slightly defeated, so Rhett tossed him a bone. “You know I won’t hog your best friend all the time, right? I still have to spend lots of time with Penny and Tyson, and most of the time I have a job to do.”

“Whatever,” Ryan sighed, reaching for another slice of pizza. “Don’t hurt each other or I’ll have to kick both your asses, okay?”

Cole laughed and kicked Ryan in the shin. “Like to see you try. I can still take you.”

The conversation shifted into light teasing after that, who could take who, who would win and how. After three slices of pizza and another rerun of Lucy, Rhett yawned and moaned sleepily as Cole tugged him closer, his breath tickling Rhett’s ear.

“Sleepy?”

“Mmhm. I work tomorrow too. I should go home and unpack.”

“You should stay here and sleep in my bed with me. Besides, I picked you up, your car is at home. I’ll take you to it tomorrow before work.”

“So I’m your prisoner?”

Cole chuckled and Ryan coughed.

“That’s my cue to leave, I guess.” Ryan fished in his pocket for his keys and Rhett made no move to stand up, though Cole did to give Ryan a hug.

“Thanks for stopping by.”

“Yeah,” Ryan exhaled.

“We’ll go for drinks or hang out soon.” Cole slapped Ryan on the back and walked him to the door, returning to Rhett with a soft smile. “Let’s get you upstairs and tuck you in.”

Rhett heaved himself off the couch. “Tuck me in?”

Cole caught Rhett’s wrist and pulled him close, their bodies slamming together, Cole grinning at him. “I wish our bedroom wasn’t all the way upstairs. I can’t get enough of you.”

Then they were kissing. Cole’s hands buried in Rhett’s hair, his skin hot against Rhett, their hard cocks pressed against each other as Cole kissed Rhett with a dedication that Rhett had never experienced.

He pulled away, breathless, letting Cole tug him toward the stairs. “You called it our room.” Rhett felt dizzy from the kiss and the way his life had spun itself not out of control, but into something he hardly recognized but wanted. He wanted this, this impossible life that two weeks ago didn’t exist, that one week ago was a fake, and had since become the most real thing in Rhett’s life.

They landed in a tangled heap of limbs on the bed—their bed—Rhett corrected himself.

“If we’re really doing this, Cole,” Rhett breathed as Cole made more marks on Rhett’s skin.

“Not if. We are,” Cole replied, nipping at Rhett’s skin.

He squawked indignantly and wriggled, but was held still by Cole’s firm grasp. “We need to get tested.”

Cole stilled. Exhaled. “Oh fuck, yes. Tomorrow. I’ll go tomorrow.” Cole lifted his head and looked at Rhett, promising once again, “Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow came the way days always did, but slightly different because, as Cole had promised before, Rhett felt perfectly used. He didn’t mind topping when the mood struck him, as it had their first time together in Tahiti, and he wanted to do it again, but not right now. Right now he wanted to lie in Cole’s arms their first morning together, truly together.

“If I remember correctly,” Cole’s husky voice sent shivers down Rhett’s spine. He didn’t say another word. Instead he flipped Rhett onto his back and sank down under the covers, peppering Rhett’s body with kisses. He moaned, yanking the blankets out of the way so he could see as Cole gazed up at him. He watched his cock disappear into Cole’s mouth, down to the root, and Cole still stared up at him.

Rhett sank his fingers into Cole’s hair, not to control or force the speed, but to anchor himself. Cole closed his eyes, his dark lashes fanning out against his cheeks as they hollowed out. The sight of his cock in Cole’s mouth should have been too lewd to be as beautiful as Rhett found it.

Cole sucked him with expert precision, passion, and moans that Rhett felt vibrate through his entire body and before long, Rhett was shouting, his hips thrusting, fucking himself with Cole’s mouth, emptying his release down Cole’s throat.

Cole climbed up Rhett’s body afterward and grinned down at him, a wicked twinkle in his eye. “Good morning.”

“You have ruined me.” Rhett pressed his lips to Cole’s, swept his tongue into his mouth and caught the taste of his own release.

“I have to get home,” he said, burying his face against Cole’s shoulder. “I need to change, and call Penny and get ready for work, but I have time to return the favor in the shower.”

“It’s not a favor that you need to return, Rhett.” Cole pinched the bit of skin above Rhett’s hip as he kissed him.

“I know, but maybe I want to taste you, too,” Rhett admitted, brushing his lips against Cole’s.

They showered together, somehow getting clean without spending too much time kissing and stealing touches, or trading gropes. Rhett did return the favor, sinking to his knees in the tiled shower, licking the water from Cole’s skin before taking his cock into his mouth. Cole braced his hands on either side of the shower and stared down at Rhett the whole time, commanding him to not look away from him.

Cole came first, spilling down Rhett’s throat, then hauling him up, plunging his tongue greedily into Rhett’s mouth. He shoved him up against the wall of the shower and wrapped a hand around Rhett’s cock, dragging another orgasm out of him.

It was a miracle they made it out of Cole’s house and down to Rhett’s apartment at all. Cole walked Rhett to the door, carrying his luggage for him. Rhett unlocked his door and Cole followed him inside.

“Lucy,” Cole called, “Daddy’s home.”

Rhett punched Cole in the arm playfully, and Cole fought back by hauling Rhett in for another kiss. He put his hands against Cole’s chest. “Cole. Work. Job. Life. Friends. Remember those?”

Cole moaned, “Don’t want to.”

“Sorry, babe, we have to.”

Cole sighed and kissed him one more time before reluctantly pulling away. “Okay, you win.” He reached the door before pausing, keys in one hand, doorknob in the other. “Have dinner with me tonight?”

“Yes. But I don’t think I can come for at least the next twenty-four hours.”

Cole crossed the room and kissed Rhett again with a smirk. “See you later.”

Rhett exhaled when the door clicked shut behind Cole and he tried his best not to feel morose or bereft at the sudden departure of his boyfriend. He looked at Lucy, who sat there lacking judgement, and exhaled sharply.

“Lucy, life is very weird. You should be happy you’re a plant.”