Page 114 of The Last One to Let You Down

Tom wiped off his mouth with a bashful grin. “Wasn’t thinking. Just wanted to kiss you.”

“Mm, let’s get rinsed off and get you in bed.”

“Can we stay a little longer?” Tom wrapped his arms around Cypress’s middle, pressing his face into his chest.

“Yeah. Just for a bit.”

A bit turned into staying inside the shower until the water began to run cold. They quickly rinsed the last of the suds away, and Cypress stepped out first to grab some towels. He wrapped one around his waist, turning back to bundle Tom up and start drying him off.

“Thank you.” Tom grinned as Cypress fluffed his hair, letting him take the towel to finish up. He felt so relaxed, and it honestly wouldn’t take much for him to fall asleep. He wrapped the towel around himself and tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.

“Mmm, tired?” Cypress smiled knowingly, picking up a small amber bottle and splashing a yellow oil in his hand. He began to rub it into his beard, saying again, “I’m serious about you crashing. It’s been a pretty crazy day.”

“Yeah,” Tom agreed. “I’m full and tired and mm. Sleep sounds very good.” He paused, sniffing the air as Cypress continued to work the oil into his beard and hair. “That. What is that?”

“Argan oil.”

“That’s why you always smell so good?” Tom was curious, leaning in to catch a whiff.

“This and coconut oil,” Cypress replied as he unscrewed the lid of a small plastic tub. Inside was a white, creamy salve. “I put a little in my beard, use the rest everywhere to keep my skin from getting dry.”

“Could I…” Tom glanced at the coconut oil and back to Cypress’s naked body, not sure if his request would sound too strange.

“You wanna put it on me?” Cypress asked, clearly reading Tom’s ravenous gaze.

“Please?”

“Go right ahead.”

Tom grabbed the tub almost too fast, slathering his hand and globbing the oil right in the middle of Cypress’s broad chest. Not the most subtle application, but he began to smear it and rub it in everywhere. He stroked Cypress’s shoulders and arms, sliding their fingers together as he coated his hands.

He did his best to make sure it was all rubbed in, enjoying the tropical, warm scent all over both of them now. He made sure to get Cypress’s back and his stomach, letting his fingers dip below the edge of his towel just enough to earn himself a playful smack.

“Watch it,” Cypress scolded.

“What happened to having more to show me?” Tom teased back.

“Work happened.” Cypress laughed. “Mm, maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll show you some new stuff tomorrow.”

“Fine.” Tom pretended to pout, grinning when Cypress pulled him in for a deep kiss. “What was that for?”

“To make sure you know I’d much rather be doing you all night than putting together some flower arrangements.”

“Ah, you really say the sweetest things.”

“Right?”

Tom finished getting ready for bed and tucked himself in, saying good night to Cypress before he headed downstairs to work. It was easy to get settled down, still warm from the hot shower and buzzing from the awesome sex.

He noticed that he didn’t have the familiar sense of dread and urgency about having to go to work tomorrow, precisely because he wasn’t going. Instead, he had a guilty rush of pleasure as if he was playing hooky.

It was nice.

He wasn’t worried about the awful mess that was waiting for him back at home or what was going to happen with Junior and all the burglaries. In this bed, snuggled in tight, he felt safe. The only thing he had to fret over was whether or not Mister Doodles was going to sneak in here and try to nibble his face.

He laughed softly to himself at that thought, closing his eyes and drifting to sleep.

Mister Doodles did join him in bed at some point, but she didn’t try to eat him. She curled up by his feet and remained there until Cypress came to bed. Tom drowsily cuddled up next to him as Mister Doodles repositioned herself up against his side.