Savior:A Tattered Club Story(57)
God, he hated the possession one man could have over another. This was love, at least on his part, and he only hoped Niko would come to the realization that love in any form was still love and he should be proud he’d found someone.
Niko looked over his shoulder, his dark brows furrowed. “Stop thinking, Ethan. Sometimes you think too much. Forget what your brain is telling you and get in the shower with me. We can figure everything out tomorrow. You’re safe with me.” He patted his thigh, signaling Casper to follow. “If you don’t hustle, little man is going to steal your spot in the bed.”
Ethan leaned over and rested his head on the counter. Normally, in these situations, when his soul warred, he wanted to cut. He needed to cut. Not this time. He was nervous about his future and ashamed. Even if Niko never told anyone he was gay, Ethan was afraid he’d still give his heart to the man. “Niko?” he asked, standing and fighting the urge not to pace. “I want to be your boyfriend, but I don’t know how to.”
Niko took two more steps and was out of view. “Get your ass in the shower, Ethan.”
The deep timbre wasn’t playful and wasn’t angry. It was neutral. It was full of hidden…something. Ethan started toward the darkness of the hallway. One thing was for sure. Niko knew how to keep secrets, even if it meant he had to live a double life. Ethan opened the bathroom door. The water was already running and Niko was standing with his naked thighs parted in front of the toilet.
“These are the kind of things boyfriends do. At least I think it is. Right? We piss in front of each other and flush the toilet. We brush our teeth together and argue over stupid shit like who’s doing the laundry.”
The flushing sound made Ethan laugh.
“See?” He turned around, his already half-full cock hanging between his legs. “Boyfriends also kiss and suck each other’s cocks. I figure we’ve got that one down. But friends protect each other and man up for each other. That has nothing to do with being boyfriends. I don’t have a family anymore, Ethan. Really, I never did. I have my brothers at the shop. And I have you.”
Ethan unzipped his pants and tugged at the cuffs to toss them on the tile floor. Steam rolled out of the shower, fogging the mirror. “I don’t have a family anymore, either. But I have…you.”
Niko took two steps and wrapped Ethan relaxed in the circle of Niko’s thick arms. “Then have me. Don’t let your brain tell you no.”
Ethan’s head swam between the disappointment of knowing their relationship might always be hidden and the relief when he’d finally be able to reveal his feelings for the man he loved. “Someday I want to walk down the sidewalk holding your hand. That’s the kind of boyfriend I need, Niko.”
“You need me. That’s the kind of boyfriend you need. Get in the shower and let me take care of you. I know you’re a big boy and can do it all on your own, but let me do this. I need to do this for you.”
With the plea in Niko’s voice, he couldn’t deny he needed taking care of at the moment. “All right. Tonight we can pretend.”
Niko gave a hard nod and opened the shower door. Ethan removed the rest of his clothes and stepped inside. Ethan’s neck relaxed when Niko slipped his fingertips through his hair. Skilled massaging little circles soothed his scalp until his head tingled. His knees started to give when Niko’s strong hands caught his waist. He was right, they had become a little family together.
Niko rubbed the towel over his wet hair and, when he declared himself satisfied Ethan had been dried properly, he swiftly put him in bed, tugging on the blanket Casper was settled on. The pup walked in several circles before finally making camp in the crook of Ethan’s waist. “I have to grab my phone. Scarlet was moving around a few of tomorrow’s appointments.”
Ethan was instantly flushed with guilt.
“Don’t look so panicked. It’s all good.”
Ethan watched Niko’s naked butt disappear out the door. Sliding his hand under the sheet, he stroked his cock. God, he needed inside—
“I know who you are, cocksucker, and if you ever touch him again, I’ll rip every nail off your fingers and break your knees. I’ve done it before and jail wasn’t so bad so fuck with Ethan again and I promise I’ll be heading back there. Your choice, dick. Either stay the hell away and you get to walk on those fat fucking legs, or roll the dice and never walk again.”
Ethan shot out of the bed and ran down the hall. “Niko!”
Niko’s chest rose and fell in hard pants. He tossed Ethan’s phone on the counter and skimmed his fingers through his dark hair. “I mean it, Ethan. I’ll kill the son of a bitch before he touches you again. It was him. I heard the asshole breathing through the phone.”