Page 67 of If the World Was Ending

Hunter had never showered like this with anyone, not a woman and certainly not a man. He stepped in, and Colby stepped in behind him. He dipped his head under the warm, hard spray and closed his eyes. Colby’s hands slipped around his torso, and his fingers spread on his chest. It was nice. Better than nice. It was intimate, and it made him both happy and terrified. But he let Colby hold him like that for several long, delicate minutes.

“I’m fake dating Hannah.”

Hunter wiped the water out of his eyes and opened them, cocking his head back over his shoulder. Colby’s head was resting there. He was so close Hunter couldn’t focus, couldn’t read his face. “Why?”

“Because it’s what the label wants.”

Hunter reached up and placed his hands over Colby’s, gently removing them from his chest so Hunter could turn and switch places with Colby. Once Colby was under the water, facing Hunter, he tilted his head back and let the water coat his entire head. Hunter stuck his hand under the hotel body wash bottle and pumped two dollops into his palm.

“Why? Isn’t it better if you’re all single? I mean you’ve got girls losing their shit over you at the front of the stage,” Hunter said, lathering the body wash into his chest and belly… and then lower. He tried to forget Colby was watching him because being turned on didn’t seem like the best idea, what with the topic of conversation.

Colby finally pulled his eyes up to Hunter’s. “I guess this is something that’s been speculated on online.”

“It has. I’ve read shit for months.” Did that sound as bitter as it felt? Hunter hoped not. He had no right to feel anything about Colby’s relationship. Did he?

“She had a shitty boyfriend before, and it hurt her sales, so dating someone who isn’t a drunk rapist is what she needs to fix her reputation,” Colby explained and shrugged. “And she’s in no headspace to actually date for real, so this works for her too.”

“Rapist? The hockey player?” Hunter’s eyes widened when Colby nodded.

“That’s between you and me. Promise?”

“Of course.” Hunter nodded. “So, you’re pretending to be her boyfriend, and that will bring you her adoring fans too?”

“Yeah. See, you get how it works.” He didn’t sound thrilled.

Hunter pumped more body wash into his hand, but this time he rubbed it into Colby’s chest. Colby sighed, and his eyelashes fluttered. “So, it’s not real? Like you two haven’t… You aren’t... hooking up?”

“No. She’s a good friend. Like you.” Hunter didn’t like that answer. Not a single, solitary ounce of it. Colby smiled softly. “Except, you know, I don’t dream of sucking her cock. Or anything else.”

Hunter liked that answer a whole lot more. He inhaled slowly and focused on his hands as they moved lower, across Colby’s ridiculous, nonsensical abs. “What are we even doing though, Colby?”

Hunter let his hands slip lower. They left a trail of suds over Colby’s cock, which was coming to life again. “I think we’re gonna jerk each other off again in a minute.”

Hunter smiled, his eyes still locked on Colby’s soapy cock as it grew, like Hunter’s was. “Yeah. But that’s not what I meant.”

“I know. I’m scared to answer the other question.”

Hunter finally looked up. Colby’s eyes were soft but wide, and his bottom lip, still swollen from all their kissing, seemed to… tremble. He blinked and averted his gaze. Hunter stepped closer, wrapped an arm around Colby’s back, and pulled him into a hug, their wet torsos pressing together. “Are you scared of saying it?”

Colby didn’t answer. He dropped his head onto Hunter’s broad shoulder, turned away from him, and then Hunter felt Colby’s arms circle his waist. “That I’m attracted to men? I used to be, because my Dad made it feel wrong. But I can say it. I’m sexually attracted to you more than any girl. So far. So I mean, that’s all I can say. I don’t want labels.”

“I’m bi,” Hunter said out loud, what had been rolling around his head since that time in high school in the woods with Gavin. “And right now, I like this stuff with you more than anything I’ve ever done.”

“Because Leandra burned you so badly?” Colby mumbled.

“Because you are so fucking perfect.”

Colby tightened his arms around Hunter. “Ford says my career won’t work if I’m with you.”

Hunter suddenly got a chill despite the warm water and the hot, steamy air circling them. He let go of Colby and stepped back. Colby looked up, confused.

“Ford knows? About this?”

“I didn’t tell him. He guessed that we were more than just roommates,” Colby explained.

Hunter moved beside Colby to rinse off quickly and then stepped out of the shower. “I hate that fucking dude, Colby. He’s not good for you.”

“He’s the reason I have this tour. And my band,” Colby argued quietly but firmly. “Are you leaving?”