Boy Trouble GT

Chapter 46

[MASON]

Warmth pooled in the sheets around Mason as he blinked awake, his mind drifting through the remnants of a pleasant sleep. For a disoriented second, he couldn't remember where he was—until he felt the broad, slow breathing of the giant next to him, and the events of the previous evening came rushing back.

He lay tucked against Kye's side, an arm's length from the edge of a bed clearly built for someone more than twice his height. The soft hush of morning light glowed around the edges of the curtains, illuminating Kye's pale face in a gentle wash of gold. His hair—that bleached mess—flared out wildly across the pillow, worse than usual after a night's sleep.

Mason couldn't help a drowsy smile at the memory of the day before, of that first clumsy kiss. Now, something akin to anticipation fluttered in his stomach as Kye's eyelids fluttered open. The giant murmured a low, indistinct greeting, still half lost in dreams. Then, in a motion that felt both surprisingly shy and utterly natural, Kye leaned down, bridging the huge difference in their sizes, and pressed a soft, tentative kiss against Mason's mouth.

The contact was featherlight, as if Kye were worried about overwhelming Mason, but it left Mason's heart thrumming all the same. He let out a contented sigh, tipping his chin to meet Kye's lips more fully, all while Kye's giant hand hovered near Mason's back—careful, gentle.

"Morning," Mason whispered, voice still husky with sleep once Kye pulled back. He propped himself up on an elbow, grinning at how Kye's cheeks tinted pink, despite everything.

"Hey," Kye mumbled, eyes half-lidded. He shifted slightly, folding an arm beneath his head as he peered down at Mason. Even half asleep, he exuded that quiet presence that made Mason feel simultaneously protected and charged with energy.

For a long moment, they simply watched each other in the muted morning glow—the giant and the human, a new day begun with a kiss so gentle, it felt fragile. And yet, Mason sensed a certainty there, too: that this was no fluke, no awkward fluke of the night before, but something they'd keep choosing.

Eventually, Kye broke the silence, rubbing bleary eyes with the back of his hand. "Guess we have to get up," he said, voice reluctant, as if he'd rather stay tangled in the sheets forever.

Mason nodded, a playful spark flashing in his eyes. He leaned in just long enough to kiss the edge of Kye's jaw. "We do. But... not just yet."

And with that, they settled back into the hush of morning, the world outside their door waiting a little longer for them to emerge.

/

Late morning sunshine streamed through the dorm's tall windows as Mason and Kye headed out, crossing the threshold into the bustling campus pathways. It was one of those mild days where the warmth in the air felt comfortable, promising a pleasant walk. Mason fell into step beside Kye—not that it was an easy match: Kye's stride covered almost three times the ground that Mason did.

They walked without saying much at first. Mason, per usual, had no qualms weaving around other students or passing acquaintances. Kye, on the other hand, seemed painfully aware of every glance thrown their way.

When they hit a quieter stretch of sidewalk, Mason peered up at the giant face looming above him. Something in Kye's expression—that faint flush still marking his cheeks—reminded Mason of the kisses they'd shared. Kisses Kye had initiated, no less: first shyly the evening before, then that gentle one in the morning that left Mason's heart fluttering.

Impulsively, Mason reached up, trying to catch Kye's hand the way one might hold hands with a partner. But given the difference in size, his fingers barely reached Kye's knuckles unless Kye crouched down a bit.

"Hey," Mason teased, looking up with a playful grin. "Can I... hold your fingers or something?"

Kye's eyes widened. An embarrassed laugh rumbled low in his chest as he half-bent to angle his arm lower. "Y-you really want to do this here?" he mumbled, shooting a quick glance around. Indeed, a couple of passing students slowed momentarily, eyebrows raised at the image of a giant leaning down to meet a tiny human's hand.

Mason shrugged off the stares. "Who cares?" he said lightly, stepping forward. He hooked his little fingers around Kye's index and middle fingers, which dwarfed Mason's entire grip. "I mean, we already—" He cut off, not saying the word "kiss," but the implication was clear in his cheeky smile.

"Still," Kye whispered, a pink flush creeping up his neck. "We're in public."

A wave of fondness rushed through Mason. Kye, the same giant who had bent down to press a kiss to his mouth just that morning—now looked like he might self-combust from secondhand embarrassment at being seen holding Mason's hand.

Mason squeezed those two large fingers gently. "You'll live," he quipped, starting forward again. Kye, forced to stoop slightly to maintain the handhold, gave a resigned groan but followed nonetheless.

The stares didn't stop—they never really did—but Mason ignored them. He could sense Kye's tension; the giant's shoulders hunched, and his steps grew more careful. Still, the memory of that shy, tender kiss lingered between them, buoying Mason's determination to show the world he didn't mind what they thought.

"You good?" Mason prompted after a block or so, glancing up. Kye nodded, cheeks still tinted, but a hint of a smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"I'm fine," Kye muttered, a quiet acceptance in his tone. Then, so softly Mason almost missed it, he added, "Thanks, Mase."

Mason's chest gave a pleasant squeeze at the whispered gratitude. "What're you thanking me for?"

Kye flicked his gaze away, focusing on a random spot in the distance. "For... not caring." There was a warmth in those few words that said more than any long conversation could.

Mason's responding grin was immediate. "Nah," he teased, "my job is to pester you 'til you forget to be embarrassed."

Kye huffed a laugh, tension easing ever so slightly. They continued on, step by mismatched step, Mason's small hand hooking Kye's giant fingers. And though curiosity and a few hushed whispers followed in their wake, Kye's presence felt comforting, just as those soft, stolen kisses had been—a new sort of closeness that neither was quite ready to surrender.