“Urgh,god, why are youso—” Chris makes a strangled sound, then he's gripping Dennis’s arms as the hot stream finally releases. His head drops back onto Dennis's shoulder, chest heaving with each ragged exhale as his muscles finally loosen against Dennis's chest.
"There you go," Dennis murmurs, one hand holding while the other strokes down the velvety length. "How you feeling?"
"So fucking good my head hurts," Chris slurs. “That was kinda almost romantic too,” he sighs, trailing off.
After a moment, Dennis pokes at Chris's dick, making the stream dance around the bowl. Chris yelps "Denny!" while Dennis cackles, sucking a mark into his shoulder.
God, it’ssosososonice having Chris back. Being together feels like breathing again.
When Chris is empty, Dennis gives him a final shake before pulling his underwear further down. He grips the fabric with his toes, then drags it all the way to Chris’s ankles, before stepping on it so he can step out.
"You're coming in with me, aren't you?" Chris's voice edges toward panic again.
Dennis's chest tightens watching Chris—this unbreakable, larger-than-life man who survived ten years as Lancaster's property, who never showed weakness to anyone, now terrified at the thought of Dennis being more than twoinches away from him. How many nights did Chris lie awake alone, pretending to be invincible?
"Of course I am." At Dennis's words, Chris walks with him to the bathtub.
Dennis steadies Chris as he gets in first, Chris's hand gripping his shoulder for balance. Then Dennis strips off his underwear while Chris watches, eyes never leaving him for a second.
"Scoot forward, baby." Chris makes room and Dennis slides in behind him, legs bracketing Chris's sides, his cock and balls pressing against Chris's spine.
The hot water envelops them. Chris leans back against Dennis's chest while Dennis scoops bubbles all over him. Dabs some onto his nose, making him sneeze.
Dennis works shampoo into Chris's hair, fingers circling and pressing at his temples while Chris sinks lower. His ears dip under the water, eyes closed in bliss as Dennis's touch melts away the tension.
The water's turning tepid when Chris props his arms on the sides of the tub, now fully unwound into Dennis. Dennis trails his fingertips down Chris's front, following the ridges between his abs, over his powerful thighs, tracing circles around his navel. Under the water, Dennis cups Chris's balls in his palm, rolling them between his fingers like worry stones, watching goosebumps rise on Chris's skin.
Dennis has been turning Jessica's words over and over in his head since the rescue. Now seems as good a time as any.
"Word on the street is I'm your boyfriend now," he says, trying to sound casual.
"Word on the street is wrong."
Dennis goes quiet, the words landing harder than expected despite Chris's playful tone.
"Word frommeis that you're going to be my husband if it's the last thing I do."
Something wild ricochets through Dennis's chest. He opens his mouth, then closes it, not quite sure what to say. When he finally opens it again, all that comes out is:
"That's very presumptuous of you, Chris Rhodes."
Chris finds Dennis's hand under the water, joining their fingers together. "Nuh uh. The way you raised the bar—you did this to yourself. How's anyone gonna followthat—saving my ass, fighting off guys with guns, and being so goddamn talented and gorgeous and irresistible?"
"It was nothing," Dennis says breezily, ears heating despite the cooler water. "Just another Tuesday."
"Wow, actually?" The way Chris actually sounds impressed as he tries to straighten up and turn around to look at Dennis tickles him to no end.
Dennis laughs, dropping his forehead to Chris's shoulder. "No dummy, I almost died. God, just thinking about it makes me want to drown myself in the bathwater."
"You can't do that.” Chris’s voice is steadier now. Low and warm. It tingles Dennis’s insides just like he remembers. “You haven't kissed me yet."
Chris twists as much as he can in the confined space, and they take each other in—eyes flitting over every familiar line and angle made new again after that godawful separation that never has to happen again, ever, ever,ever.
“Pretty sure princesses are supposed to kiss the guys they rescue," Chris says with a pout, lush lips extra puckered. "I mean, I don’t make the rules or nuthin’."
Dennis grins, wrinkling his nose. "Since when do you follow the rules?" he quips, but his voice catches at the end.
Dennis's fingers unfurl against Chris's cheek. His thumb traces the dark circles under Chris's eyes, brushing over the delicate skin of his lids until Chris's bloodshot eyes flutter closed.
