Ash rubbed his hand over his stubbly jaw before he leaned his elbows on the table, his voice quiet. Sloane sat forward.
“Did you worry about moving in? That maybe it would change things between you?”
Sloane was taken aback by Ash’s question. Was he thinking about moving in with Cael? It had been a big step for Sloane, but saying it would be a big step for Ash was an understatement.
“Of course I was worried. It’s natural to be. It was a big change for both of us, but not as big as we thought. Before I moved in I was spending more time at his place than I was at mine. When I was with him, at his, I never thought about going home. I wanted to stay. I think that was the first indicator that I was ready. It’s scary. I won’t lie about that.”
“What’s it like?”
“Living together?” Sloane shrugged, yet he couldn’t help the dopey smile that came onto his face. “It’s great, actually. We found a morning routine that works for us, and we divide up the chores. Dex likes cleaning but hates taking out the trash. I like cooking but hate washing dishes. He doesn’t mind doing laundry. I’d rather vacuum.”
Ash arched an eyebrow at him. “I want to shoot myself already.”
“Right, because you don’t do any of those things?”
Ash seemed to consider this. “But it’s different. I do it because I gotta. When I’m with Cael, it’s about us.”
“It’s all the fun stuff,” Sloane agreed. “You went shopping with him.”
“Yeah, but it was on the way home from the movies. His showerhead broke.”
Ash’s face flushed, and Sloane held back a laugh.
“I might have broken it,” Ash confessed. “By accident. During sex.”
“Sounds intense.”
Ash’s grin made Sloane happy. “You have no fucking idea.”
Sloane glanced over at the bar where Dex was putting in their order. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I do.”
“No, you really don’t.” Ash leaned closer, his voice hushed. “Cael looks all innocent, but he’s got one hell of a kinky streak. I mean, I didn’t know half the shit he’s shown me. Dude, he’s handcuffed me to the bed I don’t know how many times.”
Sloane’s brows shot up. “Really?” He would have never expected that from Cael. Then again, it’s always the quiet ones.
“There’s all these toys, and if it hadn’t been him, I would have been all ‘what the fuck,’ but I have never, and I mean never, had sex like this.”
“Well, you’ve never had sex with a guy before this, so there’s that.”
Ash gave him the finger, and Sloane chuckled.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I get it. So the sex is good, but what about the rest? How’s your relationship?”
“It’s good. He’s teaching me to talk and shit. It was exhausting at first, but I got used to it. It’s different with him. I actually care what he has to say.”
“As opposed to the rest of us?”
“You don’t count. You know that. Dick.”
Ash narrowed his eyes at someone in the distance, and Sloane followed his gaze to a large Therian chatting to Cael. He laughed at something Cael said and put his hand on Cael’s shoulder. Ash was already out of his seat.
“Easy there, tough guy. Sit down. Cael’s not going anywhere.”
“That asshole’s touching him,” Ash growled, but he resumed his seat, his eyes boring into the man as if he could set him on fire just by glaring at him.
“It happens. Welcome to boyfriendhood. You need to get used to it.”