Tom was the first to break the silence, his voice soft and a little shaky. "That was..."Angus kissed his forehead, cutting off the words. "I know."They lay there for what felt like an eternity, their bodies still joined, the sweat on their skin cooling in the air. Tom's hand found its way to the back of Angus' neck, his thumb tracing lazy circles on the damp skin."What now?" Tom finally asked, the question hanging between them like a cloud.Angus sighed, his chest rising and falling against Tom's. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I do know one thing."Tom looked at him, his eyes searching for answers. "What's that?"Angus leaned in, his eyes filled with a mix of affection and uncertainty. "I don't want this to be a one-time thing."Tom felt his heart swell with a warmth that had nothing to do with the exertion of their passion. "Neither do I," he whispered.---They pulled away from each other, the loss of contact leaving them feeling a little cold. Angus reached over and grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed, draping it over them both. They lay there, wrapped in the warmth of the blanket and their newfound closeness.Tom's mind was racing. He had never felt this way about anyone before, let alone a guy. But as he looked into Angus' eyes, he knew it was real."We can take it slow," Angus offered, as if reading his mind. "Figure it out together."Tom nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Okay," he said, his voice a little shaky. "Together."They kissed again, this time slower, more deliberate. It was a promise, a pact sealed with passion.---As they lay there, their bodies slowly cooling, the TV in the living room played on, the cheers of the crowd a distant reminder of the world outside. But in that moment, all that mattered was the warmth between them.They talked into the night, sharing secrets and fears, laughing and kissing, their bodies intertwined in a tapestry of newfound intimacy. The TV in the other room had long ago switched to static, but the buzz of their conversation filled the air, a gentle reminder that something profound had shifted in the fabric of their friendship.Tom traced the curve of Angus' ear with his tongue, feeling the shiver that ran down his neck. "I can't believe we've been hiding this for so long," he murmured, his voice a gentle caress in the darkness.Angus nodded, his fingers playing with the hair at the nape of Tom's neck. "I know. I've wanted this for so long."Tom propped himself up on one elbow, looking down at Angus. "What are we going to tell people?"Angus' smile was a soft glow in the darkness. "We'll tell them the truth," he said simply. "If they can't handle it, that's their problem."Tom felt a warmth spread through his chest, a warmth that had nothing to do with the blanket. "You're right," he said, leaning down to kiss him again. "We'll face it together."The next morning dawned with a soft light that filled the room, casting a warm glow over their tangled forms. They lay there, the quiet of the new day a stark contrast to the storm of passion that had ravaged the night.Angus stirred, his hand reaching for Tom's. "Hey," he whispered, his voice still thick with sleep.Tom's eyes fluttered open, meeting Angus' gaze. "Hey," he murmured back, his voice filled with a contentment he had never known before.They lay there for a moment, just watching each other, the reality of their situation sinking in. Then, with a grin, Angus sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "You hungry?"Tom laughed, the sound a little shaky
