the man with luminous eyes

21.

Brett was quiet on the way back. His eyes lingered on Eddy's face as the younger man drove. Eddy turned his head to look at him, a small smile lining his face.

"You're gonna bore holes in my face."

Brett reached over and gently pulled his hand toward him, intertwining their fingers. The comfort of silence enveloped them as they drove to Brett's house.

"You can stay here until you... figure stuff out," Brett said as he watched Eddy pull his things out of the trunk.

"For real?" Eddy smiled.

"Yeah, since you missed your flight 'cause of me."

Eddy closed the trunk and they walked to Brett's door hand-in-hand.

Brett helped him inside, drifting toward the kitchen to get themselves a warm cup of tea.

"Did you want to—?" Brett flinched at the man behind him, who had quietly leaned in until his head was just next to Brett's.

"I have a question," Eddy gently turned Brett around, leaning his waist on the counter now behind him. Brett recoiled back shyly as Eddy's hands laid gently on his hips. His face burned a bright red as Eddy smiled reassuringly. "In my letter, I wrote about when we first met, right?"

Brett's eyebrows twitched knowingly. "Mhm."

"Do you really not remember? Or are you just pretending you don't?"

Brett swallowed. Eddy's hand felt like a hotpack against his waist as his mind immediately played flashbacks of their first and only night.

"I remember," He whispered shyly. Eddy's eyebrows lifted with surprise, but it died down quickly.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

Brett pursed his lips. How is he supposed to say that he didn't say anything because he fucking wanted this man with all his being? That'd be weird, right? Or maybe not, now that he knows that Eddy likes him back?

Eddy seemed to sense his inner turmoil and pulled Brett into a tight embrace.

"It's alright," He said quietly into Brett's shoulder. "I don't care anymore. As long as you're here, I'm fine with anything."

Brett's heart warmed as he hugged him, squeezing him tight.

"What're you gonna do now?" Brett asked softly. "I... I ruined your chances with Sydney."

Eddy pulled away, caressing the shorter man's cheek. "You didn't ruin anything. You gave me so much more than they could ever."

They shared another sweet kiss, something Brett realized he'd have to get used to. Eddy seemed to like them. His heart swelled with affection as Eddy pulled away with a smile.

Brett tilted his head, hesitant to speak. Eddy noticed this, tilting his head with him.

"What's on your mind?"

Brett pursed his lips.

"What happens to... to that night?" He asked shyly. "I... don't think I can just ignore it."

A sly smile creeped up Eddy's face-- one that almost made Brett regret asking.

"You can't, huh?" Eddy asked, his hands sliding into Brett's shirt. A jolt sent his heart flying as his back straightened.

Brett blinked rapidly as Eddy laughed. His face was bright red, his expression blank.

"We can do with that night whatever we wanna do with it," Eddy said. "But our second night will definitely be a lot more special, I promise."

The idea of a second night made Brett's chest want to explode.

"Our second night," He whispered. Eddy nodded. "When is it gonna be?"

Eddy shrugged. "Who knows? You're mine, I'm yours. We have all the time in the world. We can take it as slow as we want to," Eddy said, kissing his forehead softly. "Or as fast as we want, if that's what you prefer."

Brett looked him in the eyes. "What do you want?"

"I already have what I want," He replied thoughtfully as he took Brett's lips again. "I have you, don't I?"

Brett closed his eyes as he kissed him for a long time. The room was silent except for the sounds of their exchanging lips. Brett's hands found Eddy's arms as they wrapped around his waist. His waist pushed against the counter behind him as Eddy squeezed him. Eddy pulled away first, leaning his forehead against his.

"We just made out, I think," Eddy whispered with a smile. Brett breathed slowly, trying to catch his breath. His face felt hot as he relished in the addicting aftertaste of the younger man.

"I didn't even brush my teeth," Brett realized, embarrassed. "I was in a rush tryna get to the airport."

"We can go do that now, then," Eddy kissed him one more time. Brett's lips tingled as they walked to the bathroom together.

The once solitary bathroom became an intimately shared space as Eddy watched him brush his teeth. He seemed eager, as if waiting for something.

"Can we make out again?" He asked when Brett questioned him with a look.

Brett smiled. "You don't waste any time, do you?"

"I just know what I want, is all."

Brett smiled as he closed his eyes. The quiet, gentle intimacy of his small kisses spoke more to him than his words ever will.

And Brett loved every second of it.

"Come to think of it, I'd like that second night to be now," Brett challenged as he pulled away. Eddy's eyes sparkled as a shy smile lined his lips.

"Yeah?" Eddy asked, inching closer ever so slowly. His cologne completely engulfed him as Brett felt the wall hit his back. The air around them changed noticeably as their kiss deepened.

Brett pulled away, breathing heavily.

"Let's move to the bed?"