Page 23 of Embers Glow After the Fire

The soft bristle of fresh buzzed hair tickles Matthew’s chin. Brendon’s long frame is curled against his chest. The sweet floral heat rising off the slumbering stranger is a contrast to the chilled air assaulting his bare backside. He carefully shifts the plush white comforter to cover his naked body without disturbing his bedmate.

He rolls onto his back and gazes out the glass sliders at the rising sunlight reaching toward the western horizon and pushing back the violet remnants of a night sky. A smear of pristine white clouds stretch across the pale blue canvas. The tops of the trees jangle leaves on a soft breeze and the house feels still except for Brendon’s gentle rhythmic breaths.

He stretches an arm across the space between the bed and his suitcase, wheeling it closer under the tips of his fingers. He collects a pair of trunks from inside, slowly lifting his knees under the blanket and threading one foot at a time through leg holes to tuck away his indecency.

Brendon’s inhale catches and his bloodshot eyes jolt open. They fix on Matthew as he processes the situation.

“Morning—“ Matthew offers a tender smile. “Sorry, if I woke you.”

“Morning.” He crinkles his face and curls up tighter. Collapsing his shoulders and inwardly flexing his folded limbs, he pulls the comforter up to his cheek and cuddles down into the warm nest with big mossy eyes looking up through long dark lashes.

“Sleep okay?” Matthew breaks the silence.

“Mm-hmm.” His lips stretch into a dreamy smile. “How do you feel this morning?”

“A little queasy, but not too bad—considering.” He chuckles.

A wave of hindsight washes over him as snapshots of skinny-dipping and wet kisses flash into his mind.

“Sorry for my behavior last night.” Matthew’s cheeks singe.

The edge of Brendon’s mouth twists and his lusty eyes trace down the blanket. “Mmm. —no complaints here.”

Matthew shifts a leg to hide the tent rousing under the cover and pushes himself up, sitting back against the headboard and pillows.

“I was the inappropriate one yesterday.” Brendon cringes.

“No, you weren’t.”

“I didn’t know about Adam—” He scoots up the bed until he's seated shoulder to shoulder with Matthew. “No one said anything—Yesterday was a big day.”

“You couldn’t have known.” Matthew pats his arm. “Besides, you weren't the one making drunken advances in the lake.”

They both giggle.

“Fair. —I wouldn’t normally crawl into a stranger's bed though. Especially on such a fragile occasion.” Brendon pleads his case.

“Adam has been gone for ten years.” Matthew’s gut aches. “It took me a long time to face that but I'm good,” he lies. “I honestly don’t expect anyone else to remember.” He shrugs. “Except Dennis—he always calls me and then reminds Robbie and Perry.”

“You're all so lucky to have each other.” Brendon’s eyes reflect a sadness Matthew hasn’t noticed before. “My ex didn’t leave room for us to have friends.” He swallows. “At least—didn’t want me to have them.” He fiddles his fingers.

“Ex?” Matthew feels left out of a loop.

“Ex-husband-—well, he will be.” His eyes avoid connecting.

“I’m sorry. Divorce can’t be easy?” Matthew can’t imagine wanting to leave Adam. He was taken from him.

“Leaving was easy. —Getting away is the tricky part.” Brendon lays his head back against the high wooden frame. The nub in his throat kicks.

“What do you mean?” Matthew crosses his arms and lays his head back, staring past the space between them. His eyes trace the length of Brendon’s sharp nose and plush lips. The gentle asymmetry of an overbite you wouldn't notice from any other angle. He has a square jaw, soft cheekbones, and unbelievably dense lashes.

“I met Christian when I was young and he was still deep in the closet. His parents were right-wing evangelicals who would never have accepted us.” Brendon rubs the scruffy shadow coating his chin. “He was always paranoid that his dad would find out he’s gay. So we hid the relationship for a long time.” His face tilts toward Matthew’s. “He inherited the family company when his dad died of a heart attack and there was a shift in him. His possessiveness magnified.”

“Sorry.” Matthew gazes into glossy green pools, reflecting the treetops outside the sliders.

“Meh—I should have left long ago. For some reason, I still married him.” His eyes drop. “I did love him once.”

Matthew reaches across his lap and squeezes Brendon’s hand. He scoots down and his fuzzy head lays on Matthew’s shoulder.

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