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Chapter 22

Shane

Ruben lay pressed against me on this miserable cot. Ever since we had spent the night in the hotel, I could hardly bear the sleeping situation in our cabin. I couldn’t manage to connect the beds that they didn’t drift apart at some point.

So we’re on one bed. At least that had the advantage that there wasn’t a hair’s breadth between us. It took some effort, but I managed to slip my arm between us and stroke Ruben’s chest. His dark chest hair fascinated me.

“Maybe I should shave.”

“Now? In the middle of the night?” I didn’t move from my spot but continued to watch my fingers stroke his hair.

Ruben laughed softly. “My chest. I promise I’ll trim it properly.”

“What?” I dug my fingers into his chest, and Ruben hissed.

“Ouch. It’s okay, they’ll come off.”

“What are you talking about? Why do you want to shave them?” I stroked them again.

“Don’t they bother you? You keep looking at my chest, and I don’t know… you’re hairless. Except for the hair on your head. It’s not normal to walk around this furry. But to be honest, I haven’t had the motivation until now.”

“Why bother? I love it. In fact, I can’t even tell you when or why I started shaving completely.”

“It’s beautiful,” Ruben said, stroking my thigh, which was resting on his. “You don’t have to do it. But your skin is so different from mine.”

“Different is good. The physical sensation of stroking your chest is sexy.” To emphasize what I meant, I stroked his chest hair vigorously.

He closed his eyes with pleasure and hummed to himself. “I’ll miss you,” he murmured.

I kissed the tip of his nose. “Me too. But it’s only a three-day ski safari.”

Ruben sighed. “Three days when I’ll have practically no time off. And after that, I won’t have much time with you either. Then your family will be here.”

I continued stroking his shoulders and head. “Don’t you want to see them anymore? That’s okay. I thought you did?”

“Yes, of course. But you’ll be busy with each other. I have to work. There’s hardly any time left.”

“If it doesn’t work out, we’ll postpone it. They know that. I can’t always take time off when they visit me either.”

“Okay,” Ruben murmured. “I’ll see you in a week, then.”

Laughing, I pulled him close. “We’ll have the nights.”

Ruben buried his face in my neck. “When we’ll be sleeping peacefully in our beds.”

“We can sleep. Or do something else.” I tugged lightly on the hair at the back of his head, and he grinned at me.

“I think I’m nervous.” Ruben smiled tentatively.

“Why?” I cupped his chin. Stroking it.

“I’ve never met anyone’s parents before.”

“Me neither,” I admitted.

“Then why so fast? Not that I have anything against it. But don’t you have any reservations?”

“Concerned about what? Us?” I shrugged. “Do we have any guarantees? No. But there’s no reason not to make the best of it. No one should have any doubt that we’re together.”