Page 134 of Pretty ’n Peak

Mateo found himself grinning. That definitely sounded like he was special. Even more, like he was helping Austin come back from the grayness that was sucking him down.

“The only thing I remind myself around you is that I’m allowed to be happy.”

“And are you?”

Austin’s face, still strangely disproportionate without his glasses, scrunched up. “I mean, that wasn’t my favorite conversation that we just had. But otherwise, yeah. You make me happy.” Then he added, his brows furrowing, “At least so far.”

In any other context, that would have sounded like a dismissal. Like Mateo was disposable, not worth keeping around after he’d outlived his happiness quota. But he was starting to get the sense that so much of Austin’s reservations around him—and that gloomy forecast now—were all part of this bigger thing. And not about him at all.

So he took a risk and teased a little. “Is that what your therapist would want you to say?”

Austin laughed, that deep belly laugh. “Probably not.” He snuggled back in at Mateo’s side, his voice coming out smaller. “I hope it’s alright that I told you all this.”

“Of course. Um, is there anything that I can do to help?”

“I don’t think so? Or, I guess, that was helpful. If I say anything negative like that, just call me out on it. Be patient with me if I’m having a bad day. Not that I usually do around you. You cheer me up.”

“I can do that,” Mateo promised. He would be on the look-out now.

Austin rolled away from him. “Sorry to cut this short, but I have been dying to pee since I woke up, and now I’m ready to burst. Are my glasses over there?”

“Hang on, I’ll hand them to you. It’s the first door you come to on the left.”

Listening to Austin, just a few minutes later, it was hard to believe that he was struggling with depression. He sounded totally fine.

Even lighthearted. Upbeat.

Austin came back a few minutes later, humming a tune. “So, what were your plans for today? Do you need me to get out of your hair? I can head back any time.”

For a moment Mateo’s thoughts scattered. Was the visit over already? They hadn’t talked about anything more than one night.

It was strange to share such intimacy and then just walk away.

But maybe Austin was feeling fragile after admitting his depression.

Or maybe Mateo shouldn’t worry so much. Do you need me to leave? was different from I’m ready to go.

And God, Austin was still naked. So gloriously naked that all Mateo could think about was rubbing up against the sparse hair on his chest, and then sinking down to his knees to…

“You said something about a breakfast place?” Austin added, oblivious to his whirling thoughts.

“Oh, uh…” That meant they could spend a bit more time together. There was a good spot nearby, but... “I could cook for you here,” he blurted out. From somewhere deep inside, he found a well of courage. “I’ve got a cute little apron.”

Austin’s grin turned predatory. “Oh you do, do you?”

Mateo’s chest felt light. Every time he flirted, it felt like jumping off a cliff. He still didn’t trust that there would be a parachute there to catch him.

But Austin had caught him every time.

Austin strode across the room. He’d been touching the walls with his fingertips, but apparently he could locate Mateo sitting on the edge of the bed just fine. “I think we better put the apron to good use.”

Mateo parted his legs, and Austin slid into the space between them, their bodies not quite touching.

“Yes, Daddy,” he said, testing out the words hopefully. It wasn’t over after last night, was it?

Austin gripped his hair and pulled him into a devouring kiss. Mateo responded greedily, whimpering at the back of his throat because the sting in his scalp and Daddy’s tongue thrusting into his mouth were just too good, too delicious.

Mateo still felt like he was drunk off the touch of Austin’s lips. Last night, they’d kissed in the heat of the moment. Doing it now, the next morning, felt like a flower unfurling, something new and beautiful.