***

Levi couldn't believe how much they'd both gotten wrong. Mack had been trying to get closer without putting pressure on him, hoping that he would make the first move. But he didn't know that and it had confused him. He thought Mack didn't want him so he'd backed off.

Levi couldn't believe that such a stupid misunderstanding had nearly kept them apart, when there was no need.

“I really don't mind you being friends with Tam, but I don't want to hear you talking about snogging him again,” Mack said, as they lay side-by-side on his bed. The atmosphere was calmer now, with everything talked through and reasoned out.

“God, you really are clingy,” Levi teased, though he understood that imagining his boyfriend making out with his brother's husband had to be pretty gross.

When Mack frowned and shook his head, like he was going to get angry again, Levi reminded himself that he had a hairline trigger for his jealousy. Instead of arguing or trying to talk him down, Levi leaned in and licked his cheek, which made Mack laugh and swat him off.

“Shut up,” he grumbled, putting on a straight face. “I'm not like my brother. I won't be pussyfooting around, holding hands and giggling like a schoolgirl,” he objected, as though he didn't already know that.

Levi smiled and touched his face to turn him. He looked him right in the eye as he spoke, “I know. You bottle it all up and you'll probably explode with all the mushy stuff when we're alone. Which suits me just fine.” He kissed him lightly, relieved that Mack kissed back and smiled much softer than before. Levi had a feeling he was really going to enjoy the no-mushy-stuff rules of their relationship. It meant nothing had to change, except that he'd get kisses whenever he wanted them. He wasn't sure there was anything better than having a best friend he could make out with.

“How the fuck did this happen?” Mack asked quietly.

“No idea.” Levi shrugged, because he really didn't know. They'd gotten themselves into some kind of mess and it was going to be a bitch trying to work out where their boundaries were. “I think we just got comfortable with each other.”

“But I don't do relationships,” Mack admitted, causing his smile to lessen. Levi hated hearing that and wondering if that meant what they had wasn't a real relationship. “But I can't stand the thought of you with anyone else, either,” he finished, watching his smile brighten.

He couldn't help himself; it was the best he was going to get. “Good, because I've got a confession.” Levi sighed and realised that he probably should have said this earlier. “I've kind of been fighting this for a while. Like...years! With Tam fucked up and worrying about him falling off the deep end again, I didn't want to get distracted by you. Then, I guess I just got used to not taking the risk.”

Mack smiled, but didn't comment.

“It hit me, the day they tried to tell Konnor and Grayson they were dating. You got really mad and were shaking. The only thing that calmed you down was being in my arms. It made me feel special,” he said, unable to feel anything but happy about that. He wanted to make Mack feel better about things that upset him; wasn't that what boyfriends did?

“You are special.” Mack nodded in agreement. Then he sighed and turned onto his side. “But we have a problem. I do not fancy being fucked. It scares the shit out of me.”

“Yeah. I'm not sure it appeals to me either,” Levi agreed, with a frown. “Have you ever been in a relationship where there's been no sex?” he asked, wondering if such a thing was possible.

Mack made a face and shook his head.

Just as he suspected.

“But…” Mack smiled suddenly, trailing his hand down his bare chest. Levi had forgotten all about that heated make out session, when he talked about his jealousy only for Mack to pounce on him. They were both shirtless now, to give themselves more places to kiss. “I do remember Tam telling Casen that there are some guys who don't want to top or bottom, for whatever reason. Like Gio and Darren,” he recalled, with an intrigued look.

“And what do they do?” Levi wondered.

“They just go with a really simple solution; they jack off and suck each other,” he explained, raising an eyebrow at him.

Levi mimicked the gesture by accident; that was an interesting thought and he could already tell that, once he was allowed to, he would find himself capable of getting up close and personal with Mack's cock. “We could do that,” he agreed.

“You suck cock?” Mack laughed at him.

“I can give it a shot,” he decided.

Mack kissed him, out of the blue, so he kissed back. He was his boyfriend, after all. “I've done it before, so let that be my thing. I've never put much stock in profiling, so I've experimented once or twice,” he replied, with a warmth in his voice that said he was happy. “And, of course, there's frotting, edging, all the kinky bondage stuff which might be fun to try...and, of course...the whole making out part.” He smiled, leaning in to kiss him again.

Levi chuckled and kissed him back, letting it linger. He loved that Mack's only reaction was to smile and reach up to cup his cheek. “When did this start for you?” he asked, desperate to know.

“I haven't got the faintest idea,” his boyfriend said, looking confused. “I think it started with the hug, but I didn't know what to do about it. I needed to know what you wanted. If it was me or the thought of me.” He reasoned it all out and although he didn't get a definite answer, Levi understood why. It was confusing as hell and there was really no need to pinpoint when. Not now.

“It's definitely you,” he reassured him.

“Good, because I'm clingy as hell.”

“I've noticed.” He laughed as he realised just how careful he'd have to be, to always let Mack know that he came first and that he wasn't interested in anyone else.

“And I can be unreasonably jealous,” Mack warned, seriously.

“Did you really want me to stop you?” Levi asked, realising that might be what he was trying to remind him of. He really should have stopped him sooner, when that guy kissed him, but he'd lost all ability to move.

When Mack nodded and looked sad, he felt guilty. He'd kissed a guy he didn't want or mean to kiss, just because Levi hadn't stopped him in time. What idiots they'd been.

“I'm sorry I didn't. I just–” he stalled, not sure how to explain.

“Baby, it's done now. Let's just move past it?” Mack asked, caressing his thumb over his jawline.

He decided to go with it; it sounded like a great plan, and boy did he love hearing Mack's strong voice calling him 'baby'. Levi nodded and was just a little surprised that Mack shimmied out of his jeans and threw them away. He peeled off his boxers, before laying his head on Levi's shoulder and snuggling in.

“I'm tired. Can we talk more tomorrow?” Mack asked.

“Yeah. Go to sleep,” he whispered, caressing his hair to help.

Whatever came of the next few days, they would deal with it.

Until then, Levi copied his boyfriend and slipped his jeans and boxers off, letting them clutter the floor. He tugged the cover down from underneath them and pulled it over the top of their naked bodies to keep them warm tonight.

Tomorrow would take care of itself.