Page 19 of Rough Heat

“We’ll cook the spinach with the garlic—it’ll be delicious, trust me.”

“I trust you,” Leo said easily, his heart thumping at the way Josh grinned up at him.

By the time they made it back to Josh and Damon’s apartment, they were flushed from walking in the cold air, Damon’s nose an adorable red. Leo repressed the crazy urge to kiss him sweetly—the couple hadn’t indicated they wanted anything physical to happen, and Leo was in no position to test that boundary.

“Babe,” Josh said as he shed most of his many layers. “Can you put some music on?”

“On it. Leo, if you want to use the bathroom or anything, you know where it is.”

“Cool, yeah, let me just freshen up, and I’ll be out in a sec.”

Josh laughed softly. “Freshen up. I can just imagine you powdering your nose, pimping your curls.”

“I think you mean primping…? I mean, if I had curls, I’m sure there would be someone out there that would pay to touch them while they jerked off.”

Josh choked on nothing as Damon let out a startled laugh. “Oh, my God…are people that weird? I mean, not judging or anything, but…” Josh trailed off.

“You literally have no idea.”

Damon made a contemplative sound. “I mean, we’ve been on the Internet…maybe we have some idea.”

“Somehow, people are weirder in person,” Leo said.

“No way. Weirder than the Internet?” Damon shook his head incredulously.

“I mean, maybe as weird as the Internet.”

Josh waved his hands around. “You clearly haven’t seen the Sonic fanart. Please, God, someone burn that away from my memories.”

Leo took a step away. “I’m going to the bathroom. I do not want to know.”

“Good choice,” Damon said, patting Leo on the shoulder as he walked by.

By the time Leo stepped out of the bathroom, the apartment was filled with Brazilian samba, Josh and Damon laughing in the kitchen.

Josh was pouting, slapping Damon on the arm. “I can dance! Just not when I look like Skeletor.”

“Baby, you don’t look like Skeletor.…Skeletor is much taller.”

“Fuck you, you oaf. You cretin. You mouldy-brained sack of ostrich meat.”

A startled laugh ripped out of Leo, announcing his entrance.

Josh stared at him imploringly. “Leo, help me. He’s being mean.”

Damon scoffed. “I’m being mean? You just said my brain was mouldy.”

“Lies and slander,” Josh accused.

“You little…” Damon lunged at Josh, grabbing him by the middle and tickling him mercilessly.

All Leo could do was stand and watch, chest tight, as Josh howled, writhing and biting at Damon’s arms. Damon yelped, releasing him, and Josh ran straight to Leo, hiding behind him.

“Protect me,” he ordered. “I wanna see some Alpha-on-Alpha action.”

Leo held his hands up as Damon took a step towards him. “I’m an innocent bystander.”

“Then hand over Josh,” Damon challenged.

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