“You were awake? Sneaky.” Packing up the towels, Tristan tossed them into the hamper.
“I wouldn’t sayawake. You fucked me into oblivion. You’re a dangerous man, Tristan Maddock. And I like it.” Jax pulled him down for a short but sweet kiss.
Sitting back up, Tristan uncapped a water bottle and handed it to Jax. “Drink this before you go to sleep.”
“You read my mind. Thank you. For this and, uh,everything.” His eyes didn’t hold any pain; in fact, his face was relaxed and open, his smile peaceful, and Tristan’s heart spun in his chest.
This far exceededlike. Maybe it wasn’t too soon.
Stepping out of the hallway shower, Tristan dried off and immediately checked on Jax, who was still fast asleep. He seemed downright Lilliputian in Tristan’s huge bed, and the morning sun painted yellow stripes across his skin, making it glow. A flat pillow that he’d brought from home still sat between his knees, and he hugged a fluffier one, not wanting to curl too much in his sleep.
Once again, Tristan climbed to a new level of understanding. Good health was a privilege, underappreciated until it vanished.
That’s why he wanted to treat Jax well. Not because he thought that Jax was incapable or fragile, but because Jax was strong and precious. Hefought hard every day to do what he loved, and he deserved some pampering, especially after that spectacular dinner and dessert.
Grabbing his glasses and clothes, Tristan went to the kitchen and got dressed, quietly taking out a pan and ingredients. Although he wasn’t a chef, his cheesy scrambled eggs were always a hit, and this was his moment to shine.
A few moments later, Tristan heard footsteps padding down the hall.
“Whatever that is? It smells amazi- you wear glasses?” Jax strolled into the kitchen still deliciously naked, looking up at Tristan with wide eyes.
“Yes, I usually wear contacts.” Tristan had to force that out since his brain was short-circuiting from all that skin in close proximity.
“You do?” Jax ran his hands through his hair, which stuck out cutely in all directions, and Tristan felt like he’d won the lottery. He could get very used to having this man in his placeandin his life.
“I’m almost forty.” It was cute how Jax kept forgetting their age gap. “I haven’t been able to see for five years. How do you feel after last night?”
“My back is a little cranky but it’s nothing a shower won’t fix. And everything else? Buzzing.” Jax stood on his toes, peering over Tristan’s shoulder. “Are those cheese eggs?”
“Cheesyeggs. With ay,” Tristan corrected, stirring the concoction, which was coming together. The trick was to cook it on low heat and melt the cheese into the eggs while they were still liquid. Wrapping an arm around Jax, he kissed his temple. “Why don’t you grab that shower, and I will have tea and breakfast ready for you when you’re done.”
“I am so into that,” Standing on his toes again, Jax pecked him on the lips before walking away, and Tristan’s eyes stayed glued to Jax’s ass until the smell of almost-burned eggs grabbed his attention.
Moving the pan off the stove, he went to work prepping the tea, taking the bacon out of the air fryer, and toasting far too much bread. Every once in a while, he’d stop, lost in thought, his mind still blown from last night, and then he’d jolt back to reality to keep breakfast on track.
A knock on the door made him jump, and he stared across the apartment, jumping again when the toaster finished and bread flew into the air.
Tristan checked his watch. Who would knock on his door at eleven in the morning? His heart thumped in his chest, thinking the worst, but hehad to reassure himself that Eve didn’t know where he lived, and Rain would text if he wanted to come over.
Tristan was halfway to the door when he realized that he hadn’t checked his phone. Scrambling to the bedroom, he frowned at the screen.
“Oh no…” There were five texts from Rain. By the time Tristan made it to the living room, the doorknob was turning, and Tristan froze, glancing toward the hallway as he heard the shower turn off.
“I’m glad I still have my key!” Rain barged in, wearing a clear plastic backpack that had his fluffy, black kitten inside it, and Mason was right behind him.
“Is he home.” Mason’s monotone made it sound like a statement.
“Tristan? Oh, there you are! And you made breakfast?” Rain took off the backpack, unzipping it and letting Mouse run free. She immediately curled up at Tristan’s feet, but the adrenaline made him too stupid to react. “Are those cheesy eggs? Nice!”
Mason stopped next to Tristan, his strange blue-green gaze flicking between him and the counter.
“Let’s go,” he said, strangely aware.
“What?” Already in the kitchen, Rain snatched a piece of bacon, nibbling, but it fell from his hand as the bathroom door opened and Jax strode out.
Drops of water dripped from Jax’s hair, streaming down his damp body until they hit the towel around his waist, which didn’t cover much.
“Tristan, that shower gets super hot. We have to take one togeth-” Eyes going wide, Jax froze, noticing all three men and the cat. Mason let out a breath, and Mouse darted from Tristan’s feet to the kitchen floor, where she nabbed the fallen bacon. “What the fuck is this?”
