Hale woke up to sun in his face. He grumbled in protest and rolled over, only to hit something solid. Groggy, he opened his eyes and discovered that Austin was asleep beside him, nude. The blankets were draped across his thighs, but he was otherwise uncovered. The lean, muscular chest that Hale had discovered the night before was on display, and Austin’s cock, complete with morning wood, was its biggest competition. Hale looked down Austin’s body, taking him in, then bit the inside of his lip and rolled onto his back to stare at the ceiling.

Last night, they should have made a decision about Michael. Instead, they’d fought, and Austin had screwed him into submission all night long. Hale needed a shower, and the sheets either needed to be laundered twice over or burned, but they’d come no closer to finding Michael a way out of his predicament.

That needed to change.

Hale didn’t want to be rude, but he felt like he had little choice in the matter. He stroked Austin’s arm until he started to stir, then spoke. “Hey, good morning. I’m sorry to wake you, but we kind of need to have a talk.”

“Morning,” Austin mumbled. He rolled over and sank his face into the pillow, the tight curves of his ass now on display. “‘M’not up for a fuck.”

“No, a talk, not a fuck. Although I’d be lying if I told you I hadn’t considered it.”

Austin made a noise into the pillow…he pulled away.

“Austin? What’s wrong?”

Austin groaned into his pillow. “In the heat of everything…I didn’t think about my scars...the ones on my side.”

Hale lightly brushed his hand against Austin’s back. “You don't ever need to hide your scars from me, they make you who you are.”

It sounded like he was falling back to sleep, so Hale resumed stroking his arm.

“You need to stay awake so that we can get business taken care of,” Hale said. “I know you’re exhausted after last night, and I am, too, but we’ve got to focus. We need to figure out what to do about Michael.”

“We already figured it out. You need to call the police.”

“No, you’re not starting with this again.” Hale sighed. “I’m not doing that, and you’re not going to strong-arm me into doing it, either. I told you why I can’t go to the police. We’re on our own right now. I’m either going to go in there alone, or I’m going to go in there with you. I need to know which way it’s going to be so I can prepare myself. I understand if you don’t want to go, but—”

“No. Stop.” Austin pushed himself into a sleeping position. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked at Hale, mildly annoyed. “You really know how to say good morning, huh? Wake a guy from a dead sleep with serious, potentially life-ending questions?”

“The longer Michael stays with those people, the worse off he’s going to be. It’s already been three weeks. I can’t even imagine how he must feel.”

“I understand. I really do. But—”

“The question I asked isn’t answered with a ‘but’—it’s answered with a yes or no.” Hale met Austin’s gaze. “Are you going to come with me to rescue Michael? Yes, or no?”

Austin frowned. “Yes, but provided that you agree to certain things.”

“Terms? I’m willing to hear them. After you hear my answers to them, you can make your final decision. Once I know, I’m getting up, showering, grabbing some fresh clothes, and then hitting the road. I’m not going to let Michael think that his situation is hopeless and that he’ll never be saved, and I don’t care if that means I go at it alone or not.”

“Condition one,” Austin said. Hale frowned. “You’re the one responsible for this little rescue mission. You’re not going to push me into going, then tell me that I’m the one responsible for getting him out. That’s all on you. I’ll be there to help and to keep you as far from harm as I can, but I’m not going to lead this thing.”

“Agreed.”

“Condition two.” Austin’s gaze never left Hale’s. “If things start to look dicey, or if I feel like we’re in over our heads, we’re getting out of there. It’s not going to do us any good if we power forward despite the apparent danger only to be killed or get kidnapped, just like Michael.”

“Fine.” Hale crossed his arms. “Is there anything else, or does that kind of sum it up?”

“One more thing.” Austin let out a controlled breath. “If things do go south and it looks like it’s going to be too dangerous for us to get in, when we leave, I’m going to call the police. I’ll indulge you to a point, but if it comes to it, I have to put safety first—and that means for everyone. You, me, and Michael. Do you understand?”

Hale closed his eyes. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but he knew that Austin had the best intentions. Michael was important to him, and he wanted to make sure that he made it out okay, but some things really were beyond the scope of his capability.

“Okay,” Hale said at last. “I agree to those three terms. If there’s anything else you want to add in, you’d better do it now. I’m not going to accept last-minute revisions once we’re on the road.”

“No, that’s it. Three simple terms. I don’t want to leave you stranded, Hale, but at the same time, I can’t let myself do something stupid. You understand, don’t you?”

Hale frowned. “I understand.”

“Then we’re both on the same page, and everything should be fine going forward. I trust you not to forge forward even if I say it’s getting too dangerous. You need to value your own life, as well as those of the others you’re with—that means me and Michael.”

“But if we get through this thing alive, and get Michael out, and everything’s good again, then you owe me something.” Hale narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know what it is just yet, but I do know that it’s got to be something good. Something like… a repeat of last night.”

“You say that like it would be a hardship for me to have sex with you again.”

“You’re straight,” Hale said flatly.

“Straight-ish,” Austin interjected. “Unless you have a secret to tell me—a secret I didn’t discover after a very thorough investigation of your body last night—I’m pretty sure you’re not physically a woman. If you are a man, after what we did last night, I don’t think I can claim that I’m straight anymore.”

Despite the pressure of the upcoming rescue mission, Hale smiled. “Nah, I’m not a woman. I’m very happy being a man, thank you. A beautiful man, but a man nonetheless. You’re totally gay.”

“I’m not gay.”

“Gay-ish.” Hale stuck out his tongue. “Are we good to start getting ready to go?”

“I think so.”

“Then I need to know if there’s a trick to working your shower.” Hale stretched, then climbed out of Austin’s bed. A tiny thrill ran through him at the thought. He’d spent the night in Austin’s bed, and not in a platonic way. The subtle scent of Austin’s cologne was on him now, and in turn, he’d left his scent in Austin’s sheets and pillows. “I need a shower in the worst way.”

“Nope. Nothing you should know. There’s soap and shampoo in there. Help yourself.”

Hale paused. He glanced down Austin’s body to his hardened cock, then lifted his gaze until he locked eyes with Austin. “You want to come with me, actually? Show me how to turn on the water? Where the soap is? Watch as I accidentally drop it?”

Austin grinned. He got out of bed and stepped around to stand by Hale, slipping his hands around his waist. “You’re insatiable, aren’t you?”

“One more time for the road,” Hale pleaded. “What do you say?”

“Get your ass in the bathroom and find out.” Austin swatted his ass, and Hale laughed. “I’ll be there in a second.”

It was gearing up to be one of the most stressful, scary days of Hale’s life, but it was a comfort to know that even with the unknown waiting for them ahead, he had someone like Austin to help take the edge off.

Shower sex, Hale decided, ranked above kitchen counter sex, but only by a hair’s margin. The truth was, he’d have sex with Austin anywhere—he hoped that he lived long enough to prove himself right.