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The house party had ended, and your last full day in town was drawing to a close.
You offered to help with the cleanup, but got promptly rejected because “it’s your party”. Though they still let up on you since you insisted.
After the final cleanup of the secret party planners, you and Baxter said your goodbyes to everyone.
You were glad you could confidently declare that the next time you’d see each other with Baxter by your side.
Hand-in-hand with Baxter, you headed to his apartment for one last time…
This would be the last night in this apartment for this trip. Even though you had only stayed here for a few nights, you were starting to miss it already.
After all, it was a sacred space where you, and only you, had the privilege to see Baxter’s true self in all its glory.
There was also this exciting prospect of living together someday in the future, but that discussion would be bookmarked for another time.
You and Baxter parted ways in the hallway to prepare for the night.
You decided that the final night would be the night to make good use of the bathtub. A stay at a luxury apartment wouldn’t be complete without at least one bubble bath.
You remembered one time kid Lizzie described bubble baths as luxurious, and you as an adult still wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment.
Unsurprisingly, there was a wide selection of bubble bath solutions, bath salts, bath bombs and even candles at your disposal. Baxter sure didn’t cut corners when it came to pampering oneself.
You scanned the labels and pondered your options as you waited for the bathtub to fill up.
You poured the formula of your choice under the running water. The water bubbled and frothed, emitting a floral scent and warm steam that quickly enveloped the bathroom.
After carefully lowering yourself into the tub, you let out a sigh of contentment as the hot water and gentle bubbles lulled you into a state of serenity.
You leaned back as you indulged in the sensations and let your mind wander. However, as relaxing as you wanted it to be, your brain seemed to have another plan in mind.
Your shower thoughts were intruded by an unsolicited reminder of this being your final night here, and with it a familiar thrill that gradually resurrected.
The same thrill from the previous night; only this time, it was much more unquenchable.
The tryst from that night, which was as brief as it was fervid, immediately played out like a movie inside your head before you consented to remember it.
The way your lips rapturously sought out each other. The way your exposed chests scandalously grazed against each other.
The way it felt when he caressed and complimented your legs. The way his ass cheeks felt in your palms.
The way he conveyed to you through the mischievous glint in his eyes that he enjoyed every second of it.
And the way the phrase “Come here” sounded under his ragged breath. A magical spell cast by him on you for the second time—the first time in the mountain lodge—that liquefied you in a second.
To be honest, the ecstasy sparked from the mountain lodge rendezvous still remained on your skin, tingling. You had always been looking forward to the sequel, but yesterday just wasn’t enough to satiate your craving.
It felt good to touch Baxter, and it felt good to be touched by him.
You wanted more. More of that rapturous delight.
And you wanted to have it before your departure tomorrow.
It was a miracle that the both of you didn’t go any further than you did. It was probably thanks to the accumulated fatigue and exhaustion from a whole week full of activities.
Tonight, you weren’t as tired, but your desire for the man had been amplified by the impending separation.
The mere thoughts of your lover had set your body aflame and not even a cold shower could douse it.
The water surrounding your body had turned lukewarm, but the heat radiating from your body could potentially raise its temperature back up again.
You decided to end your well-deserved soak before your skin became any wrinklier. You then made yourself look representable enough to leave the bathroom, seeking a cooler place to sort out your thoughts.
Cautiously creeping into the living room, you hoped not to see the person who was responsible for causing you to be in this state, at least not now.
You breathed a sigh of relief when you were met with silence.
Well, until you heard some clattering noise from the master bedroom’s direction, again. You felt a sense of déjà vu, though this time, it didn’t sound as chaotic that would make anyone brace for another miniature earthquake.
Baxter had already cleaned up that neglected pile of clothing in his bedroom earlier today, so you wondered what he’s up to now.
Curious as you were, you decided against confirming your suspicions now. You upped your pace towards the kitchen to look for something cold to drink before your body started combusting.
You helped yourself with a glass of iced water and leaned over the kitchen counter.
Feeling the chill run down your throat as you gulped down the liquid, the burning sensation in your stomach unfortunately did not dissipate at all.
The cold touch of the marble counter brought to mind a very recent memory of you and Baxter pressing your faces into it after being “tangled up intently”, as he would call it.
At that time, you mindlessly joined him for the heck of it, but thinking back on it now, he looked ridiculously cute for squishing his cheek onto the platform like that.
As much as Baxter wanted to appear mature, some child-like innocence still remained. The endearing preciousness reminded you of all the reasons that made you fall head over heels in love with him.
Feeling a warm blush rising in your cheeks, you couldn’t help but muse about Baxter as a person.
As a lover, you felt like you had shared with Baxter everything you could about your life so far, from your childhood in Sunset Bird, to your current circumstances as an adult.
You were practically an open book to him. Though Baxter did just let his walls come down and open up to you about himself very recently as well.
However, as naked and vulnerable as he tried to be, there were still some parts in his life that you could probably never ever have the chance to fully grasp hold of.
Specifically, the life of pre-teen Baxter that you had only heard so much about through the sparse crumbs of insight he had given.
You already knew Baxter to be sentimental considering the numerous waves of nostalgia evoked from this whirlwind of a week.
However, would he one day be willing to go as far as bringing you to visit his childhood home? To visit Golden Grove in Oregon?
There were undoubtedly some painful memories associated with the place. His parents who he deliberately cut off ties with would be there too.
But you didn’t think he could avoid them like a plague forever.
Someday, he would have to come to terms with his past self and past relationships. And you would be there for him when that time comes.
You thought it was normal for someone to be curious about their lover’s past, and see how it played a part in shaping the person into who they are now.
And admittedly, you were also curious to see if his old friends were still there. You had always wondered what kind of people he grew up with. Oh, not forgetting his first crush too!
Considering how the universe worked in mysterious ways that made you both cross paths with each other, there was a good chance he might bump into someone he knew.
A pang of anxiety went through you. You sincerely hoped that when that time comes, Baxter would be able to take reunions well, or at least better than yours with him.
But, if he insisted to steer clear from his past connections, you would respect that as well.
If his hometown was out of the question, there were other alternatives too.
How about Colorado where his family often took vacations? Or how about Virginia where he studied for college? Or—get this—that one lake cabin where he was dared to skinny dip?!
Unknowingly, you had listed so many great options for your future vacations with Baxter. You smiled wryly at yourself for being such a busybody.
Speaking of pre-teen Baxter, the image of fourteen-year-old Baxter in his gray suit at the Summer Soiree reappeared from the depths of your mind, right on cue.
You had always welcomed this fond memory like an old friend. But this time, it brought along a twinge of melancholy with it.
Your imagination started conjuring parallel universes where things could be different.
If—and that’s a big if—you happened to be a friend of young Baxter in that quaint little town, would your presence be welcomed and important, just like how it was now to him?
Would he listen and understand when you told him all the words he needed to hear? Would he be convinced that you’d always be there for him? Would you be able to save him from his inner turmoil? Would he be able to lead a happier life?
And if you were still friends, would your friendship be able to inspire his parents to be more open-minded about his choice of company?
You scoffed at your little savior complex and decided to put the imaginary timeline to rest.
You were content with how things worked out in your current timeline, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. You both lost five years, sure, but you believed in the saying of “absence makes the heart grow fonder”.
Though, one burning question lingered in your mind as you studied the virtual image of young Baxter once more.
He had learned to act more mature than his own age due to his family background and upbringing, that you understood.
But, how on earth could he be so brazen and unfazed during intimate moments? You were still flabbergasted at how he didn’t even flinch when you caught him with his pants down, literally.
If someone thought it wasn’t possible for a human to be born without the feeling of shame hard-wired in their brain, they hadn’t met Baxter Ward, the epitome of shamelessness.
Sometimes you wondered if he ever had any physical boundaries for himself, even though he did know the concept exists because he actually respected that of others.
You insisted that there must be a reason behind this eccentric behavior. You searched in your memories of Baxter, every conversation you’d had with him, until an epiphany came to you like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky.
He did mention that he had “experience” in dating before you two got together for the first time. So… maybe it was because he had gone further with someone else before?
Scandalized by how your train of thought arrived at this destination, an audible gasp of horror slipped out of you before you could hide your mouth with your hand.
You shuddered and shook your head roughly, trying to put that thought out of your head, but it was to no avail. The train of thought continued to chug along and had no intention of stopping.
This one rude assumption trapped you in a vicious cycle, your mind spiraling downward like a whirlpool, pulling you deeper and deeper into a dark abyss of what-ifs.
Another wave of heat swelled within you, burning you up from the inside as you imagined things you really shouldn’t imagine.
Your trip to the kitchen had done nothing to help you tune out from your indecent thoughts, and this time, the marble counter had failed to pacify your growing desire.
Baxter:
Hello, darling.
Baxter was right.
Baxter:
Darling?
You’re incorrigible, aren’t you.
Baxter:
Rei?
A gentle grip of your arm brought you abruptly back down to earth. You snapped your head in the direction of the tug and saw Baxter’s face with a concerned expression.
Oh no. You thought you were hallucinating a Baxter saying “you’re incorrigible” to your face again, but it turned out to be a real Baxter, standing across the counter from you.
Except he didn’t actually say that line this time.
Your soul was floating in an entirely different universe and you didn’t even register Baxter’s presence in the kitchen, let alone his voice.
Wait, you had a similar rumination before during the cleanup of the wedding party, of which Miranda helped snap you out. Unsurprisingly, for both times, the culprit was the same person.
Baxter:
Are you alright? You seem to have a lot on your mind. Am I interrupting?
Rei:
I, uh… I’m alright. It’s nothing. You can stay.
You were still in a daze, and you mentally cursed yourself for not putting the effort to make your tone sound the least bit convincing.
It was of course a lie; there was no way you would be alright with the root cause of your problem casually appearing right before your eyes.
You didn’t have it in your heart to deliberately avoid him, especially when he was the host and you were a guest. There was no place to hide; the time to come clean was drawing near.
Baxter’s hand was still perched on your arm resting on the counter, and you were grateful for having worn long sleeves so he wouldn’t notice how fiery hot your skin had become.
Seemingly skeptical, Baxter’s gaze lingered on you with a meaningful look. A look you could’ve sworn you had seen before when something tickled his fancy.
Before you had the chance to come up with another excuse to dissuade his worrying, he broke into a playful smile.
Baxter:
Mm, forgive me for boldly assuming, but I think you’re not being very honest.
Confused, you blinked a few times and took another good look at Baxter, before a wrinkled, not-so-pajamas-looking article of clothing below his head finally registered in your vision.
It was the T-shirt you bought for him as a souvenir.
It seemed you were caught staring right through him and into space.
Rei:
…Oh! You’re wearing the T-shirt I got you.
Baxter:
Why yes, it took you long enough to notice it.
Baxter stepped back to give you a full view. Grinning proudly, he proceeded with his trademark gesture by smoothing the front of his T-shirt, his chest puffed out in pride. He really wore it like a badge of honor.
It seemed like his whole purpose of coming to see you was to show himself wearing the T-shirt. One word: adorable.
You vaguely remembered the T-shirt to be on the large side, but now it fitted like a glove. Or a T-shirt.
You mentally patted your younger self on the back for managing to get the perfect size for adult Baxter.
You should be over the moon at this rare, resplendent sight of Baxter in a buttonless shirt, but at this point, anything Baxter did that remotely pleased you would only add fuel to the fire of passion.
Basking in the glorious view, you swallowed thickly in an attempt to behave yourself for the sake of continuing the conversation.
Rei:
You do look nice in a T-shirt after all. I figured it’ll at least be useful as sleepwear since you can’t be seen wearing anything that has no buttons.
Baxter:
You’re too kind, Rei.
Baxter:
Also, I’ve been thinking… wearing this only at home is such a waste.
Baxter:
If I ever return to becoming a tourist at a beach town, I’d like to wear this to the beach. It’s a more appropriate attire than a white button-down, naturally.
Your heart skipped a beat at his willingness to not only go to the beach but also wear a buttonless shirt in public!
And he’d also be indirectly advertising your hometown since it’d be hard to miss the logo on that shirt.
Rei:
Well, I’m glad you didn’t have to ransack your closet for it this time.
Baxter:
Oh, I assure you. When the time comes to go to the beach and this shirt is not within reach, I’d definitely do the same.
Baxter gladly continued the conversation, and you were relieved that he didn’t prod at your thoughts earlier.
He flicked his eyes to a corner of the kitchen as he mulled over something unbeknownst to you.
As if an idea struck him, he shifted his newly lit up eyes back to you, his customary relaxed smile grew wider.
Baxter:
If you’ll humor me, Rei, I have a proposition that I think it’s best suited for this final night of your trip.
At this point it was no longer a surprise to you that Baxter always had an endless supply of propositions hiding up those sleeves of his.
You gave him a curious glance to urge him to continue. Having your rapt attention, he then flicked his wrist towards the kitchen.
Baxter:
Why don’t we finally indulge ourselves in some inappropriate drinks? We deserve it after such a hard week’s work, after all.
Baxter:
I must apologize again for not being able to offer you the same when we were in the midst of baking a few nights ago.
Baxter:
I wish to make it up to you tonight. There’s no time more perfect than now.
He leaned in closer, conspiratorially, over the countertop with his ever-familiar Cheshire Cat grin.
Baxter:
We’re neither drinking on the job nor drinking underage anymore.
Uh-oh.
Once again you found yourself beguiled by the rebellious gleam in his eyes, even though there was nothing illicit about the activity he suggested.
There was a heat to it that spread all the way to the pit of your stomach.
Was drinking in this state a good idea or a bad idea? Before you had the time to weigh the pros and cons, your impulse had already made the decision for you.
Rei:
“Finally” is right. What’s on the menu tonight?
Baxter:
Ah, the menu won’t be as extensive as the one in bars, but I do have a variety of wines and champagne.
Rei:
I’m fine with whatever you usually drink.
Baxter:
Excellent. I’ll take this opportunity to refresh my image as a bad influence by recommending only the finest drinks.
Baxter:
You’re suited only for the best, after all.
Taking the empty glass you left on the counter, Baxter strolled over to the kitchen and put it in the sink. He then fetched a pair of wine glasses from one of the cabinets.
He shuffled to his wine chiller that was hidden in a corner, retrieved an expensive-looking bottle of red wine and slowly poured its content into the glasses.
Holding the glasses in a graceful manner, he strolled back to the opposite side of the counter and gingerly handed you one of them.
He raised his glass towards you and cleared his throat.
Baxter:
To my wonderful and forgiving boyfriend, for being so generous and gracious in allowing me to have a place in his life once more, and a chance at this relationship again.
Baxter:
Rei, every moment spent with you is a beautiful melody that makes my soul dance. I’m beyond grateful for having the privilege of meeting you, let alone being your partner.
Baxter:
Thank you for everything you've done for me, for us. Here’s to our incredible journey ahead.
With an unwavering eye contact and an affectionate expression, Baxter delivered the toast with genuine gratitude, each word steeped in heartfelt appreciation and adoration.
How could anyone not be touched after hearing such a speech? You almost couldn't resist the temptation to hug that man and kiss him right there and then, but the weight from the fragile glassware in your hand kept you grounded.
Rei:
…Wow, you’re definitely a wedding planner alright. You’re making me blush.
Rei:
You have such a way with words. I can’t imagine how much more grandiose your wedding speech is going to be.
Baxter’s demeanor brightened again at the word “wedding”. You braced for another coy response, but there was none. Instead, what followed was a sincere promise.
Baxter:
Certainly, I have no intention of letting it be any less dramatic than this. You have my word.
You still felt giddy with delight after that speech, but you tried not to get too carried away before you said your piece too. It’s only fair.
Rei:
Well, I can’t lose either.
You raised your glass towards Baxter as well.
Rei:
I want to give a shout-out to the universe for reuniting us—twice at that—while defying Baxter’s stubborn insistence on running away and maintaining distance.
Rei:
Thanks to that, I get to have such an amazing suitor who I’ll definitely be holding onto this time and never letting go.
Rei:
I’m suited only for the best, after all. Here’s to many more summers together!
Baxter let out a demure chuckle after catching on to you indirectly calling him “the best”.
Baxter:
Now you’re making me blush. Thank you, Rei. And the universe too, for its delightful sense of humor.
You both concluded the toasts with an enthusiastic “Cheers!” and the clinking of your glasses that rang clearly in the living space.
Baxter twirled his wine glass by the stem, observing the red liquid gliding across the surface.
He then brought the rim to his nose, took a good sniff, before he lowered it to his mouth and took a long, slow sip.
As he let out a sigh of contentment, you flashbacked to a young Baxter drinking champagne, its image overlapping with the current Baxter.
You followed suit and took a sip of the wine graciously offered by your host.
The taste of the wine was rich and full-bodied, with a slightly oaky/woody flavor. As expected of Baxter’s palate.
Baxter ran his free hand through his hair as he searched for a conversation starter. A familiar gesture you’d never tire of.
Baxter:
So, I hope the bathtub was to your liking.
Rei:
Oh, it was lovely. Thanks for letting me use it.
It was no surprise that Baxter knew since you were in the bathroom for quite some time.
Rei:
Though it would’ve been better if I got to drink this in the tub earlier.
Baxter:
Hah! Indeed.
Sipping your libation, You and Baxter picked up the conversation where you left off, sharing bits and pieces in the five years you were absent in each other’s life.
You felt a sense of intimacy and closeness that you hadn’t experienced since that night of cupcake baking at the rented condo.
The alcohol began to take effect, melting your inhibitions and numbing the nervousness that had been consuming you. You found newfound courage from the warmth bubbling within you.
Your eyes wandered over to Baxter’s person, suddenly finding his every movement interesting.
The way his Adam's apple bobbed as he took another sip. The way he closed his eyes and savored the taste. The way he smacked his wine-stained lips thereafter.
You gulped at how utterly enthralled you were by the mere scene of Baxter drinking wine.
You started feeling woozy as the both of you downed the last drip of wine in your glasses.
Baxter took that as a cue to dispose of the empty wine glasses in the kitchen sink before promptly returning to your side.
Baxter:
Thank you for your company in this splendid wine session, Rei.
Rei:
I remember telling you that you don’t have to thank me for everything, you know. I enjoyed it too.
Flashing you a coy smile as an acknowledgment to your statement, he gestured towards his bedroom.
Baxter:
Well, if you’re ready to retire for the day, shall we head to bed?
Rei:
…Okay.
No, you’re not ready actually. But that answer stayed within the confines of your head.
Warning sirens were going off in your head, but your mind had been made up and there was no turning back.
You stiltedly trailed after Baxter towards the master bedroom, the alcohol coursing through your veins pushing you forward.
You watched Baxter’s walking posture from behind, mesmerized by his broad shoulders and lean figure.
Your heart sped up its pounding in anticipation, threatening to burst out of your chest at the prospect of sleeping with Baxter (literally and potentially figuratively).
As you tucked yourself into bed, you caught sight of something in the corner of your peripheral vision.
There was no messy pile of clothing to be seen this time, but in its place was a black suitcase standing beside the side table.
The reason for the commotion earlier had dawned on you—he was already packing for his next trip to visit you. Mom was right; he sure wasn’t one to waste time.
Though it was wise of him to start now since he took almost a whole day and a lot of back-and-forth between his armoire and suitcases just to pack for that hiking trip which only lasted for three days.
Still, you were a little disappointed for not being there to catch sight of Hurricane Baxter possibly making a ruckus in that walk-in closet once more.
It seemed like there had always been a new surprise waiting for you every time you ventured into this bedroom, and you were already starting to wonder when and what the next one would be.
The gesture warmed your heart, but the warmth grew into an intense heat within seconds, flooding you with an invigorating energy.
Your ceaseless longing had become unbearable.
Was it truly okay to yearn for someone this much?
Surely you’re not the only one who wished the moment of intimacy had lasted a little longer, right?
Though Baxter had stopped running away, he still needed a little push and some encouragement.
Just like how the wonderful concept of visiting you only came out from him today, the last day of this trip.
You almost nodded in an agreement with yourself when suddenly you had a realization that warranted a slap to your face.
How could you compare his yearn for love with your yearn for lust? That’s utterly disgraceful.
You squeezed your eyes shut and pinched the bridge of your nose in a desperate but futile attempt to reset your thought process.
It wasn’t until seconds later that you realized you had unconsciously mimicked one of Baxter’s signature mannerisms.
You took a quick peek in Baxter’s direction. Much to your clandestine relief, he didn’t notice you as he was just about reaching for the light switch by the bed.
Then, a click echoed in the room, indicating that the day had reached its conclusion.
Apparently, the sudden lack of light was the last straw that threw your last bit of restraint out the window.
You felt a sudden rush of adrenaline surging through your body, giving you a burst of energy that came from nowhere. The next thing you knew, Baxter’s face was in closer proximity, his widened eyes staring upwards toward you.
Once your conscious mind caught up with what was happening, you realized you had brazenly climbed on top of Baxter, ensnaring him as soon as he lay down on the bed. Your position was now reversed compared to last night.
The high quality mattress did not let out a single creak under that sudden movement. Your knees planted on either side of Baxter’s body brushed against the cotton fabric of his T-shirt.
The moonlight creeping through the window casted an ethereal glow on Baxter’s features. With bated breath, you let the sight soak in as your vision adjusted to the darkened surroundings.
You and Baxter locked eyes. You were entranced by his deep brown eyes that shone through the darkness, like a beacon of light in your storm of brewing emotions.
Peering in those arrestingly beautiful gems, you could almost see your reflection gazing back at you, hunger apparent in its dilated eyes.
The world came into a standstill. Both of you were frozen in that moment, lost in each other’s gaze, as if the very fabric of time had come apart.
The only indicator that time was still flowing were the sounds of your racing pulse and your shallow breath.
You studied Baxter’s stunned expression, wondering if that was also how you looked when he did the same last night.
Only when you caught his mouth opening in slow motion did you snap back into reality.
A wise man’s quote “in for a penny, in for a pound” sprang to mind.
Before he had the chance to question your intention, you hastily buried him with an avalanche of words.
Rei:
I’m sorry, you’re right. I’m incorrigible.
Rei:
I’m regretting what we did last night, because now I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t stop wanting more of it.
Rei:
Actually, no. The truth is, I’ve never stopped thinking about it ever since the time we had at the mountain lodge. And it’s been years.
Rei:
I’ve been waiting for years. And now that I’ve had a taste of it again, I don’t think I can wait for another day.
Rei:
It wasn’t enough for me. And here I am boldly hoping that it’s the same for you.
Rei:
You already make me happy, but… I can’t help feeling greedy when I’m with you.
Rei:
I want you. I want to touch you. I want to go further with you.
Rei:
Right here. Right Now.
The fervor you had held in for five years had been laid bare in a trainwreck and you finally stopped to catch your breath at the end of it.
You were secretly glad you still had the mental capacity to somehow form a somewhat coherent speech and didn’t just blurt out “I’m horny”.
Though the word “regret” tumbled out of your mouth before you remembered it might be a little triggering to him.
Honestly, as unimpeachable as you knew Baxter was, your mind couldn’t help but be buzzing with what-ifs.
An escape plan had already been prepared for when a “not now” or “not today” got thrown back at you.
You would cage yourself in the guest room and sulk alone for the night. Staying in the same room with him—breathing the same air with him—in this state would definitely be torturous.
You desperately hoped your shameless plea struck a chord in him, but your confidence faltered as the silence stretched on, a palpable tension filling the space.
Both of you remained stock-still in that position like a pair of sculptures in a museum.
Your body started wobbling slightly, your knuckles turned white as they clutched on the sheets as if to help maintain balance.
After what felt like an eon but was probably only a couple awkward seconds, you felt a quiver from the sheets beneath you.
The silent beat was broken by Baxter’s attempt to stifle his giggles with his palm covering his mouth and the other palm gripping tightly onto the fabric across his chest.
You were completely thrown out of kilter. Which part of your embarrassing confession was so funny?
A few snorts managed to escape before he finally took a deep breath to compose himself.
Grinning wolfishly, Baxter reached both of his hands upwards and delicately cupped your face.
The featherlight touch was as innocent as it could be, but it sent euphoric shivers down your spine regardless.
Baxter:
I must apologize for my rude behavior during such a crucial moment. But it seems my darling Rei has been infected by my forwardness.
Baxter:
I’ve been wondering when you will let this side of you surface. I’m proud of you.
Wait… What? Were you that obvious?
Taken aback by his nonchalance, you unconsciously loosened your grip on the sheets.
Rei:
So… you saw this coming all along? Did you have fun watching me suffer?
Baxter tittered as you scrunched up your face in disapproval. He shifted his gaze to the moonlit window, searching for a delicate way to put his reasoning into words.
Baxter:
Well, trust me when I say I don’t mean to assume, but when I saw your perturbed face earlier, I was compelled to read the signals, just like I did before asking you out the first time.
Baxter:
And I hope I read them correctly this time around as well, because I got the impression that you’re troubled with something… something to do with me.
Bullseye. It seemed that you underestimated Baxter’s shrewdness, again.
The way Baxter pulled back his gaze to you and emphasized those words with an intimidating grin kept you on your toes for what’s about to come out of his mouth next.
Baxter:
So, I took the liberty to offer you some alcohol, in hopes that it will provide you with the confidence you seek to pursue what you want.
Your eyes widened as the words sunk in. Unbelievable– he had ulterior motives all along?!
You should’ve known. As soon as you felt even an ounce of coyness seeping through him earlier, you should’ve buckled up for a wild ride.
Baxter:
I couldn’t help but feel ravished by your intense gaze ever since I stepped into the kitchen. But it was the most intense during our wine savoring session. And that’s how I know I’m on the right track.
Baxter:
Forgive me. When I said you made me feel wanted, I definitely did not anticipate it to be… of this caliber.
You winced. In other words, he didn’t expect you to be this horny.
Baxter hummed pleasingly when you didn’t deny it. You felt his thumbs tenderly rubbing small circles into your cheeks.
Baxter:
Though I do remember saying that I didn’t want to imply too much at the time. The same still holds true now.
You mentally scrambled to make sense of his responses. As much as what had been said, Baxter still hadn’t given you a clear answer to your ridiculous request.
All you could manage was stare back at the devious look beneath you in consternation, with your mouth fallen slack.
It was then you noticed Baxter’s expression morphed into the fondest, most doting one you had ever seen worn on his face.
Baxter:
If you’ll have me, you will have me. I am yours, completely and utterly, for as long as I can be, for as long as you want.
You were still struggling to process the revelation when the new poetic confession summoned a deluge of emotions that flooded your insides once more.
His evocatively earnest gaze brought you to a few days back when you confessed your feelings to each other. And it was a moment of clarity that should’ve made you realize: the fear of him running away had become absurd and groundless.
Baxter had finally been wearing his heart out on his sleeve, so it should be obvious he would want you to be just as open, even if it’s about your insensible desires.
You were reaffirmed that it was okay to want this. That it was okay to be given this. That you deserved it.
And Baxter was readily willing to give you whatever you wanted as long as it’s within his capability. Much like how you would do the same for poor, young Baxter five years ago.
How the tables had turned.
Ostensibly having had enough fun with your incredulity, Baxter’s demeanor underwent a 180-degree change. His eyes sparkled with mischief, the corners of his mouth twisted into a sly smirk.
Baxter:
As a reward for your honesty and patience, allow me to indulge you.
The hint of thrill in his voice made your heart flutter and your body thrum with excitement. You didn’t fail to catch the familiar ember in his eyes and the faint pink tinge spreading from the tip of his nose.
One of Baxter’s hands friskily trailed from your cheek to the back of your head, leaving a trail of lingering warmth in its wake.
Its fingers coiled in your hair as it gently but eagerly pulled you downwards.
The intoxicating spiced floral scent from his pillow invaded your senses at once.
As you closed your eyes and surrendered yourself to the darkness, you heard the forbidden phrase whispered into your ear in a fatally tantalizing voice.
Come here.