Page 97

Together, they cleaned up the game, musing over some of the other interesting words they’d managed to play. Then Cass disappeared out into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a glass of water for each of them. Ash took his with a nod of thanks, and they both settled back on the bed, sitting cross-legged facing each other, as they had been for the last couple of hours.

They should be winding down, saying good night, heading to bed. It was well after eleven, and Ash had had a long day. But Ash seemed as reluctant as Cass to let the day end, and so, after a moment, Cass set his water down on the nightstand and said, “I have plans for tomorrow.”

Ash’s eyes narrowed, though his smile brightened. “Oh?”

“Yeah.” Cass dropped his eyes to his hands. “So, in the morning, I thought we’d—”

“Wait,” Ash interrupted, and when Cass glanced back up, Ash was biting his lip. It was perfectly adorable. “Maybe, uh, don’t tell me?” he said.

Cass huffed a quiet laugh. “Don’t tell you?”

“Yeah,” Ash said with a shrug. “I mean . . . I mean, surprise me?”

“Surprise you?”

Ash nodded, still looking incredibly adorable and sweet.

The fullness in Cass’s chest felt so good and so warm, and he wanted to do it—he wanted to finally give into the tug he’d been fighting all evening, the one begging for more. More touch, more intimacy. Hand-holding. A hug. A . . . kiss.

Something told him, however, that he should wait until Ash showed he was really ready.

So instead, Cass just smiled softly and nodded. “Okay, yeah. I can do that.”

Ash smiled in return and then lowered his eyes to the drink in his hands, his fingers tapping the glass. “I should probably get to bed. Bri usually wakes up early, around six. Sometimes earlier.”

“Not a problem.” Cass started to scoot to the edge of the bed. “Here, I’ll take that for you,” he offered when his feet hit the floor.

Ash scooted right up next to him, so close he could feel Ash’s body heat and smell the faint scent of vanilla and pine. His heart beat harder, but he forced himself to reach out for Ash’s glass. It was inevitable, wasn’t it? That their fingers would touch? That the most pleasant, warm tingle would shoot up Cass’s spine? That he’d be momentarily unable to breathe?

Ash’s cheeks reddened, and he dipped his chin but didn’t let go of the glass. And all that resolve Cass had had to take it slow, to let Ash make the next move, was suddenly put to the test. He swallowed hard and waited, his fingers resting gently over Ash’s on the glass. It was several seconds later when Ash lifted his chin back up, his eyes flickering with uncertainty as they lingered on Cass’s lips.

Cass swallowed again.

“Ash . . .”

“Hmm?”

Cass let his fingers caress over the back of Ash’s, though he didn’t otherwise answer. And Ash scooted a little closer and lowered their hands holding the glass to set on his thigh. Then he lifted his other hand, and his fingers brushed along Cass’s jawline in some exploratory, light touch, before coming to rest on Cass’s neck. Cass sat perfectly still and took a slow, deep breath, watching the emotions flitting across Ash’s face.

Eagerness and curiosity. Hesitation. Wonder. And then more of that uncertainty.

Ash looked up at him, finally, briefly. Then his eyes fell back to Cass’s lips, and he leaned in.

Cass didn’t hesitate to meet him.

The kiss was short, sweet, gentle. Just Ash’s lips, warm and soft, touching his, moving in a tentative caress.

It was perfect.

And it was over much too fast.

Cass let out a quiet whimper when Ash pulled back, and with a weak huff of a laugh, Ash dropped his hand from Cass’s neck. Cass opened his eyes as the bed shifted. Ash was looking down again, a small smile on his lips and his cheeks bright red.

“I hope that was okay,” Ash mumbled, risking a glance back up.

Cass nodded and tightened his hand slightly over Ash’s on the glass, which was still sitting on Ash’s thigh. “Yeah, it was.”

Ash nodded and then swallowed and lowered his eyes again. It was so beautiful and sweet. He was so beautiful and sweet.