Page 108 of Should Our Stars Collide

“You will. What do you want?”

It was a joke, but whatever. “Foot massage.” His feet are still killing him. Not that Ash would agree to something so below him?—

“Deal.”

“Wait, really?”

“Why not?”

“Well, I…” Looking down at his socked, no doubt smelly feet, Kieran scrunches his nose. “They’re feet. It’s weird.”

“No, it’s not. Come on.” He takes Kieran’s hand and pulls him towards the sofa. “We can watch something in the meantime.”

Naturally, the first thumbnail on the TV belongs toRoad House,asking them if they want to resume watching.

“Lusting after other men when I’m not around.” Ash clicks his tongue.

“I wasn’t! I just love the original, and Jake is an A-class actor.” He frowns. “Why am I defending myself to you?”

“Maybe you feel guilty.”

“Do not.”

“Hmm.”

Despite the nagging, Ash presses play and the movie resumes where Kieran left off. He pulls Kieran’s feet into his lap, effectively sending him flat on his back.

“Hold on a sec.” Kieran pulls himself up. “I need to shower. This is gross.”

“It’s not gross.”

“I’ve been walking for hours, Ash. Hey!”

“It’s not gross,” Ash repeats, taking one sock off, then the other. Kieran expects him to be knocked out cold by the stink any second. “It’s you, and you are lovely, head to toe. There’s nothing gross about you.”

If he could stop saying all the sweet shit for one freaking minute,that would be brilliant.

“Hate to break it to you, but I poop too.”

Ash snorts. “I’m aware. I was there when you ate two burritos and finished them off with a jumbo ice cream.”

“Wow. You must really love me.” Kieran wouldn’t wish that experience on his worst enemy.

“I must.”

A smart remark lodging in his throat, Kieran stares at him. He watches, momentarily struck speechless, as Ash wraps his hands around the left foot and presses his thumbs into the sole.

It’s a little ticklish, but the pressure provides such an acute relief that it drags an honest-to-god moan out of him. He slaps a hand over his mouth, though it’s too late. Ash caught it alright, and he looks smug as hell.

Kieran would love to kick him in his perfect teeth, but…holy hell, it feels way too good to stop.

“How are you so good at this?”

“Not my first time.”

Kieran narrows his eyes. Not his first time? Great. Fantastic. Which one of Ash’s past conquests got the five-star spa treatment? The thought needles at him, but he shoves it down and turns his attention to the TV, toJake,determined to ignore whatever Ash is doing to him; but it’s impossible. It’s not only that it feels good. The way Ash treats him, cradling his feet like they’re made of gold instead of biohazard material…there’s something inexplicably intimate about it. About being handled so gently, so deliberately.

Ash’s thumbs sweep lower, into the curve of his heel, slow and precise. Kieran’s whole body shivers. His chest tightens, heat pooling low, making his breath hitch.