LOGINWet heat closed around him, tight and perfect. Nathan’s head fell back against the cushion. His hands found Theo’s hair, soft and short under his fingers, not pushing, just holding on. Theo worked him slowly at first, tongue pressing along the underside in a long, firm stroke, lips tight and careful. Then he took him deeper, throat relaxing, until Nathan’s hips jerked despite himself. The soft, wet sounds of suction filled the room, mixed with Nathan’s increasingly broken breathing. The heat of Theo’s mouth was almost too much. Nathan’s resistance cracked further with every pass of Theo’s tongue.“Fuck… Theo… your mouth…” Nathan’s voice broke into a low, filthy moan. “That feels so fucking good… do not stop… please…”Theo hummed around him, the vibration shooting straight up Nathan’s spine like a spark. He pulled off just long enough to stroke the slick length with his fist, the wet slide audible, tongue flicking over the sensitive head, then sank back down, sucking harder. Nathan’s m
Theo’s mouth claimed Nathan’s in a kiss that was nothing like the careful ones under the bridge. This one was rougher, more aggressive, full of the frustration and want that had been building for days. Theo’s hand left the door and gripped the side of Nathan’s neck, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. Nathan’s back pressed hard against the cool wood as Theo’s body pinned him there. The heat of Theo’s chest soaked through the thin fabric of their shirts. The taste of coffee and something warmer filled Nathan’s mouth. The solid weight of Theo left no room to pretend anymore.Nathan’s hands rose almost without any thought. One tangled in the front of Theo’s shirt, feeling the soft cotton and the hard muscle beneath. The other hand slid up to the back of Theo’s neck, fingers brushing short hair that felt warm from the night air. He pulled Theo closer instead of pushing him away. The kiss turned hungrier. Theo’s tongue swept into his mouth, slick and insistent, and Nathan answered with a
The door swung open. Claire stood in the middle of the living room with her phone in one hand and red-rimmed eyes. She immediately regained herself and rushed forward to Nathan.“Babe, I’ve been trying to reach you for days,” she said, voice tight and urgent. “We have to talk. Please… I cannot take the silence anymore.”Nathan breathed in deeply. The familiar scent of her perfume filled his senses but it didn't have that effect it used to months back. He looked past her shoulder toward Theo. Their eyes met for a brief second. Theo gave a small nod, understanding without a word.“I’ll give you two some privacy,” Theo said quietly. He stepped toward the hallway that led to his bedroom. “Take as long as you need.” He said walking towards the hallway that led to his room.The soft click of the bedroom door left Nathan and Claire alone in the living room. Nathan could still feel the faint pressure of Theo’s mouth from the kisses under the bridge. The memory of the bridge was still felt on
Halfway back to the hotel, Nathan’s phone lit up with a text notification. He pulled over under a streetlight and opened the message from Theo.*I’m still here if you change your mind and want to come back. No talking required… Just company.*Nathan stared at the words until they stopped making sense. He felt restless, part of him wanted to ignore the text and drive straight to the hotel. Another part still wanted to see his best friend, the same man who had betrayed him in the worst possible way.The memory of Claire’s soft moan and Theo’s hand on her bare skin sat heavy in his chest. Underneath it burned something hotter that he could not name, or was scared of naming. That heat kept pulling him toward the bridge instead of away.He turned the car around and headed back after much contemplation.The drive took less than ten minutes. Theo still sat on the low stone wall, his empty coffee cup was just lying around. When the headlights swept across the grass, he looked up but did not s
Nathan stared at the message for a long time. The place under the bridge was where they had talked through every hard thing since university. He almost deleted the text. Instead he put on his jacket and drove over.Theo sat on the low stone wall with a paper cup of coffee beside him. When Nathan approached, Theo looked up but didn’t smile. His eyes held the same quiet regret Nathan had seen in the apartment.“You came,” Theo said.Nathan sat a few feet away. The river moved dark and steady beneath them. “I almost didn’t.”“I wouldn’t have blamed you if you didn't.”They sat for a while without speaking for sometime. Then Theo spoke first, his voice low and careful. “I keep seeing the look on your face when you walked in. I hate that I put it there. You didn’t deserve any of this. Please believe I’m not trying to make excuses. I just need you to know how sorry I am.”Nathan kept his eyes on the water. “Why did you let it start?”Theo was quiet for several seconds. “Because I was lonel
“You’re still at the office?” Claire’s voice came through the phone, warm and a little impatient. “I’ve been waiting almost an hour.”Nathan held the phone between his shoulder and ear while he lockead the design firm’s glass doors. “Last client change ran long. I’m leaving now. Where are you?”“I got tired of sitting at home, so I stopped by Theo’s. He’s making that pasta you like. Come pick me up and we can still eat together.”Nathan smiled as he walked toward his car. “Tell him I’ll be there in fifteen. Don’t let him finish the whole pot without me.”Claire laughed softly. “I’ll try. Drive safe.”The call ended. Nathan drove across town with the windows slightly opened, the evening air cool against his face. Theo’s building looked the same as always. It was made of brick, green door, the old oak tree out front. He parked, climbed the stairs, and used the key Theo had given him years ago.Soft jazz drifted from the living room. Nathan stepped inside and called out, “Hope you saved







