“Oh? Why’s that?” Dom’s heart stuttered, breath catching as he waited for Henry to elaborate. He didn’t know why Henry’s answer mattered to him so much—they weren’ttogethertogether—but it did.
Henry sighed. “I think much like your situation. We had different ideas of what our relationship should be.” He snorted. “Clearly, judging from the way it ended. But that aside, I reckon me and Kyle weren’t in the same place in our lives. And it showed.”
What place are you at?Dom was desperate to ask, the question on the tip of his tongue, but if the answer wasn’t one he wanted to hear, it would no doubt put a damper on the rest of their time together.
Or maybe add some much-needed perspective?
Either way, the moment passed, and Henry stood, tossing his empty cup in a nearby bin. “Shall we head back?” He shivered and rubbed his hands together. “I don’t know about you, but I’m freezing now that the cider’s worn off.”
Dom nodded, trying to shake the tinge of disappointment threatening to creep in. “Yeah, let’s go.”
They fell into step with the rest of the crowd heading out now the fireworks were over, a slow progression with sleepy toddlers, and children in pushchairs.
Henry reached for his hand, and despite his reservations brought on by their earlier talk, Dom clasped their fingers together. He’d packed all his things earlier that afternoon, since they planned to stay in Henry’s villa tonight. All he had to do was go fetch his car in the morning and load it up.
They didn’t talk much on the way back. The silence was a comfortable one, but it let Dom’s mind drift to places he’d rather it wouldn’t.
What had Henry meant by that? What did he see when he thought of the future? He was only six years younger than Dom, but he’d only just finished uni. Did he still have that young, carefree mindset? As much as Dom wanted to pursue this thing between them and find out if it could go anywhere once they got home, he wasn’t sure he trusted his own judgement anymore.
Yes, Henry was lovely, fun, and unpredictable in a way that kept Dom on his toes. All things he wanted in a partner. But uncertainty about what he wanted for his future definitely wasn’t. If that was Henry, then it was far better to enjoy what they were doing now, then end it before either of them got in any deeper.
You already like him a whole lot more than a no-strings arrangement should warrant.
Which was true. Dom always struggled separating sex from emotions. But that was on him. It didn’t mean Henry felt the same. And he couldn’t ask that question without implying that he wanted to see him again.
And while Dom knew he did, he wasn’t so sure that he should.
Henry came to an abrupt stop, and Dom realised with a start that they were back at his villa. He’d managed to walk the whole way home lost in his head.
What great fucking company you are.
Henry shot him a tentative smile. “All right?”
And you’re ruining your last night together. Awesome.
Regardless of what came next for them, Dom had plans for tonight. Ones that included getting naked and sweaty, not being all awkward with each other outside Henry’s door.
“Sorry for spacing out.” He pulled Henry in by his coat and kissed him, trying to convey everything he felt with the soft press of lips and the slide of his tongue as Henry opened up for him. “I was thinking.”
“About?” Henry asked as he slipped out of Dom’s hold to unlock the door.
No way was Dom about to tell him everything that had run through his head on their walk back, so he settled on the last part. “What I want to do to you once we get inside.” The biting wind chose that moment to pick up speed and swirl around them, making them both shudder with cold. “Assuming I can thaw my dick enough to actually use it,” he muttered, hustling Henry inside once he got the door open.
Henry’s loud laughter filled the small hallway as they hurried to take their coats and boots off, but once inside the living area, the heat hit them and they sighed in unison.
A hand landed on Dom’s crotch, palming his very interested cock, and Henry sniggered. “I don’t think we’ll have a problem.”
They shed the rest of their clothes on the way to Henry’s bedroom, laughing again as Henry fell over taking off his jeans and landed in a heap on the bed. But when Dom climbed under the covers to join him a few moments later, their laughter died away as the reality hit home.
This was their last night together.
Here.
In a place where real life didn’t matter; only they did.
Tomorrow everything would be different, and they’d go their separate ways. Dom didn’t want to think about it any longer, so he inched closer, sliding a thigh between Henry’s legs and kissing him like it was the last time he’d get to do it.
Because in all likelihood, it would be.
