Page 171 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Logan shook his head. “That’s not the Kash I met. And I know that’s not who you want to be.”

That made Kash smile. He reached up, resting his hand against Logan’s cheek. “You bring out the best in me.”

Logan’s gaze dropped, his cheeks warming.

“I’ve known you less than two months,” Kash went on, pulling him just a little closer, “and you already know more about me than anyone else.”

Logan swallowed, shifting. “I… I’m gonna make us something to eat.” He turned, but didn’t get far.

Kash caught his wrist and pulled him back, guiding him down onto his lap. “Where are you going, princess?”

Logan’s breath hitched, his eyes flickering away. “D-don’t call me that…”

Kash leaned in, his voice dropping. “Did I say you could go?”

“…No.”

“Look at me.” He tilted his chin up with his fingers.

Logan’s cheeks burned as his eyes lifted, hesitant.

Kash studied him, like he was deciding something. Then he leaned in and kissed him. Firm enough to make Logan still under him. When he pulled back, his thumb brushed along Logan’s jaw. “You make it really hard to stop when you look at me like that…” he murmured and kissed him again, slower this time.

Logan’s hands hovered before settling against him.

“Now be a good boy and unzip me,” he said between kisses, and Logan obeyed.

The next morning, Mano woke up around nine, grabbed a handful of muesli and a banana, then pulled on his black sweats, gym bag already in hand.

Odysseus: I’m downstairs

When he stepped out of the building, Ody was already in the car, a huge grin on his face. “Good morning!” he said the second Mano got in.

“You’re this excited just to go to the gym?”

“Yeah,” Ody said, starting the engine. “Because we’re going together.” Before pulling out, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Mano’s lips. Mano glanced around, making sure no one was looking.

After dropping their bags in the locker room, they headed straight to the machines.

“What do we start with?”

“Ten minutes on the treadmill. Easy pace,” Mano said, already walking toward it.

They took the treadmills side by side, and Mano reached over, adjusting Ody’s settings without asking.

“Do you always start like this?”

“No. I changed it for today.”

Ody turned his head, smiling. “For me?”

“Stop staring at me. Look ahead.”

“I prefer looking at you.”

Mano reached over and bumped up the speed on Ody’s treadmill.

Ody stumbled. “Hey!”