Damon raised an eyebrow, not bothering to voice how ridiculous that excuse was considering he had just hopped into the spring in nothing but his underwear. “You know, you’re acting awfully shy, considering…”

“Considering what?” Micah snapped, finally regaining some of his footing with the perceived offence.

Considering that he’d supposedly worked as a prostitute? That he’d attempted to drunkenly blow Damon through his pants? That he’d sent the man a picture of himself in nothing but a pair of cum-stained panties?

…okay, so maybe Damon had a point.

Instead of finishing his sentence, however, Damon merely covered his eyes with his hands. “Is this better? Will you come in now?”

Asshat. Micah ought to refuse just for that.

But then again, was he really going to pass up the opportunity to lounge in a natural hot spring in the middle of Italy?

Throwing his hands up in defeat, Micah quickly rid himself of his winter gear before stripping down to his underwear. (Why in the name of all that is holy had he chosen to wear his superhero-themed briefs today?) Before Damon could open his eyes and tease him for it, he sank down into the water – as far away from the man as the spring allowed.

And, Jesus, what an experience it was.

He felt himself melt into a pile of goo as the warm water hit his cold, stiff muscles, and he couldn’t resist the urge to groan aloud. “Okay, so this is pretty amazing,” he admitted after a moment, opening his eyes as he’d involuntarily closed them upon entering the water. “Tessa is going to be so jealous.”

“Who’s Tessa?”

Micah froze. God, he could be so stupid sometimes. What was even more concerning than the slip-up, however, was that Micah’s first instinct was to just tell him the truth.

Micah shrugged in a way he hoped looked casual. “Just a friend from work who looks out for me.”

It was true in the technical sense, if not in spirit.

Damon tended to shut down and distance himself at any mention of Micah’s “job”, but to his surprise, the man actually shifted closer to Micah – so close that their knees touched under the water.

Fuck.

“I’m glad,” he said, his thigh pressing up against Micah’s now. “But you don’t need anyone looking out for you anymore. It’s my job now.”

Micah laughed, but it sounded forced to even his own ears. “I thought I was the serf in this relationship,” he joked.

Damon snorted. “You’re… something,” he admitted, turning to face Micah so that their noses – their lips – were mere inches apart. Was… was he really going to kiss him?

Micah thought his heart might beat out of his chest in anticipation, and his cock was already straining against the waistband of his briefs at the thought. And yet…

He couldn’t let it happen.