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My eyes open, face contorting I chely Ugh

Banks laughs, then uses his foot to pry open a sliding drawer to a trash bin I spit out the half-mashed bite of toast

“You sure that’s not in the cottage cheese family?” I sip from my water bottle

“It’s…” He trails off as we hear footsteps towards the bedrooms

The noise stops

My eyes skim the width of their apartment I’ out at the penthouse It’s clean for four guys crashing here, but this is about how clean security’s townhouse was too No crushed, e around It looks more like a professional sleep-space

Soa 4 am business call?

A door creaks open Just as I take a swig of water, a shirtless Akara Kitsuwon saunters towards the kitchen

I choke again

“You okay, Sul?” Akara asks with furrowed brows He comes up to the bar counter that separates me and Banks from him

His shoulder His chest

Wide-eyed, I wipe dribble off my lips and zero in on the fresh tattoo Colorful ink covers his shoulder, upper bicep, and part of his upper-chest like a plate of ar red roses and soreen

Beyond the new tattoo, sweat casts a glossy sheen over his bare chest and abs His black hair—grown out enough to curl behind his ears—is a little damp

My face begins to slowly fall

It’s not wet like he took a shower It’s damp from sweat

Oh fuck me…

Five minutes

Though, I ask hopefully, “Were you just getting tattooed?”

“What?” he frowns and glances at his fresh ink “No, I got it a few days ago” He’d been talking about getting a tattoo, so I shouldn’t be that fucking shocked But I guess I always thought I’d be there That he’d want me there Before I ask if it’s Donnelly’s work, he explains, “I was around Old City and passed a tattoo shop It was a spur of the ”

I just nod, not sure what to say

Banks bites into the toast I nibbled

“What’s up?” Akara asks me

I texted him to talk But I can’t shake how tense he looks

He checks over his shoulder “Can we go in the hall to chat?”

So like I’d been doing