Page 23 of Covington Acres

“Yeah…I know…it’s impressive,” Vince said, hoping to keep the mood light and playful. He didn’t want Colby to think too much about this, to worry and stress that Vince would take it as more than it was. Vince knew where they stood, and that was okay with him.

Colby snorted before looking up, his hair messy from sleep. Vince grabbed his cap from the floor. It had fallen off at some point. “What’s impressive? I don’t see what you’re talking about.”

“So we’re gonna play it like that, huh?”

“Would you rather I tell you there’s a monster in your pants?” Colby sat up, leaning against the back of the couch.

Vince did the same. “Yes. I would very much like that. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard it, but it’s not something a guy can hear too much.”

Colby rolled his eyes and chuckled. “I hardly felt a thing.”

“Liar.” Vince winked.

Colby ran a hand over his face. “I’m sorry about that…falling asleep on you that way. And I guess, with you that way. It’s the second time I’ve ended up staying with you all night.”

Vince shrugged. “No worries. I like sleeping with someone…having another person in bed with me. There’s comfort in it. I was never one to just jump out of bed with a man after we fucked either. Not like that’s what this was, but the sentiment is the same—the physical contact with another person. Don’t tell me Colby Covington is the fuck-and-run type.” He nudged Colby with his arm, thankful that things were okay with them. That the awkwardness wasn’t uncomfortable or too heavy.

“Ah, hell. I don’t know. Yes and no. Sometimes because I didn’t want women to get the wrong idea. It could be nice, but…stressful too.”

Vince frowned, unsure what Colby meant. It seemed to circle back to the intimacy thing, making him wonder again if Colby was on the ace spectrum. But then sex and intimacy weren’t always the same, and cuddling wasn’t either. “How so?”

“I, um—”Beep! Beep! Beep!The phone alarm went off, stopping Colby from saying whatever it was he was going to say. “We should get ready for work.”

“We have a few minutes if you want to talk.”

Colby wrinkled his nose. “There’s nothing to talk about. You got hard cuddling me, is all,” he said playfully. If he was bringing up the erection, he definitely didn’t want to talk about anything else.

“You’re hot, and I’m a gay man. It happens.” They both stood.

“Damn, I’m hot, huh?”

Vince rolled his eyes, the two of them heading for the door, then back to the house. “Please, like you don’t know you are.” Colby didn’t reply right away, prompting Vince to ask, “Wait. You know you are, right? I noticed you right away, babe.”

Colby looked at Vince over his shoulder, smiling practically ear to ear. He might not be queer, but he clearly enjoyed being considered good-looking, even if it was from a queer man.

“Shut up.” Colby waved him off.

“You shut up. You’re smoking hot. Great body. Love the big pecs.”

Colby covered his chest. “What? My pecs are normal.”

“Your pecs are fucking great.”

Colby shook his head, but again, Vince could tell he was enjoying this, which made Vince enjoy it even more. Making Colby feel good lit something up inside Vince but also soothed him. He wasn’t sure if that made sense, but it was how he felt. Vince liked being his friend, making him smile. It was an unexplainable rush.

“I can’t figure out what to do with you sometimes.” Colby opened the house door for them. “You’re so different from anyone I’ve ever met.”

“That’s probably a good thing. Two of me might be a bit much.”

“It’s definitely a good thing, but not for that reason. You’re…fun.” Colby looked away, almost like he was embarrassed.

“You’re fun too.”

“Oh yeah. Real exciting.”

“Hey.” Vince held Colby’s chin, which was lightly stubbled, not having been shaven yet today. “You are. I have the best time with you. It just feels…natural.”

Colby breathed deeply, hesitated a moment, then said, “It feels natural for me too.”

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