I stop by the kitchen to fill two plates before padding to Nicolas’s room, thankful that Jade heard the alarm on their way out, and rescued the food before it burned. A plate in each hand, I nudge Nic's door open with my hip and enter.

“Hey, I’ve got dinner before we get ready. What’re you watching?” He’s sitting at his dressing table, focused on the cell phone propped on the tabletop, nothing but a towel draped across his lap.

“A make-up tutorial I wanna try.” He pauses the video to take a plate from my hand. “Thanks Sweetness, I’m starving.” I sit across from him on his bed, folding my legs under me, and dig into my dinner. He starts the video again and we eat in a companionable silence as the tutorial continues. While he’s distracted, I sweep my eyes over him, appreciating his confidence and casual nudity. Warmth from being in his familiar presence settles in my chest. 

His dark brown hair is still damp from the shower, with beads of water clinging to the coily curls on top, left longer above a high and tight fade. I always preferred when he kept his hair in locs, but he says it’s easier to get the wigs on if he keeps it short. From this angle, I have a perfect view of his high cheekbones and broad nose. He got into a fight with a douchebag bully in middle school, which left his nose slightly crooked and when he tells the story, he always says — you shoulda seen the other guy — with a funny accent and a cocky smirk.

Thinking of his smile draws my eyes there, and heat rises in my gut as I watch him take a bite of food. His full, dusty pink lips press around the fork as it slides out of his mouth. Pink tongue licking it clean. Nic has always appreciated my cooking. Partly because he could somehow burn water and would most likely starve if I didn’t feed him; but also because he knows it’s one way I show him my love. 

I continue my admiring gaze down his chest and torso. Nic is fit and lean, with a muscular upper body from years of throwing a basketball. His long legs stretch in front of him, a compression brace covering his right knee steadying an old college injury he still occasionally suffers from. He twisted it during a basketball game and had to sit out for the semester. But, in a weird twist of fate, the injury led to him performing drag. 

Regrettably, he’s covered his ass with a towel wrapped around his narrow waist. Before I can lose myself in thoughts of the delectable parts hidden away, I drag my mind out of the gutter to focus on more important matters. 

“Will you be able to wear heels tonight if your knee’s bothering you?” He pauses the video again and directs his pale blue eyes to me. I flick my gaze up to meet them, drawing my eyebrows together in concern. 

“Yeah, it must be going to rain, cause it’s aching. But, I’m wearing the catsuit with the platforms, so I should be fine. The heel on them isn’t too high.” He points at the electric blue bodysuit hanging on the back of the door, complete with knee high, holographic silver, lace-up boots that are indeed mostly platform and not much heel.

“Oh, good! You’ve been practising so much. I’d hate for it to cause you trouble. So, what’s the plan? What time are you going on stage?” Nic sets his empty plate on the bedside table, taking mine and stacking it on top. Then he turns to face me, clapping his hands in front of his body. 

“First, pre-game blowie. Second, we gotta get glamorous. Then a taxi to the club? I’ve got two sets tonight, one at eleven, the other before last call at two am.” He threads his fingers together, leaving out his pointer fingers and thumbs making a gun and points it at me. “Thoughts?” 

“Sounds good to me.” I say with a nod. “I’ll probably come home after your first set. It was mental at the cafe today. Also,” I wave my hand in front of my face and grimace. “Please do something about this. I just can’t even right now.” 

He breaks into a wide grin. “No problem. Don’t worry, when I’m done with you, you’ll look fabulous.” 

I climb off the bed and sink between Nic’s spread knees, sliding my hands up his strong thighs and under the towel to grip his hips. Pressing a small open kiss to his inner thigh, I revel in the taste of his warm brown skin. 

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I missed this.” I gaze up at his face, a timid smile on my lips. 

“It certainly has. I love what your sinful mouth does to me.” He brings his hand up to cup my jaw, sliding his thumb across my lips. “I really missed you too. You’ll always be my Sweetness, no matter what.”

Nic leans in to kiss me. His soft lips are parted as he presses them to mine. He teases his tongue along the seam of my lips, asking for entry. I allow him inside, our tongues caressing each other as we reacquaint ourselves. Our kiss is slow and reassuring, one of thousands we’ve shared. Nic and I have such a long history, it’s just instinct to fall back into our groove. I pull away to unwrap the towel from Nic’s hips, but he stills my hands, taking them in his own.

“Hey, you know I was mostly teasing, right? We don’t have to if you don’t feel like it. I won’t be mad.” He stares into my eyes so I can see his sincerity. I exaggerate a pout up at him. 

“After a sexy kiss like that? You’ve got me hot and bothered now. Don’t worry, I want to. I’ve been wanting you for ages. Like I said, I miss this. I miss you and your dick. Please let me? I’m a good slut, right?” I lick my lips, nibbling my bottom one, and looking up at him through my eyelashes. He raises an eyebrow at me as I realise what I let slip. 

“That’s a new one Sweetness. I’m not sure if I agree.” He presses his lips into a firm line, his brows furrowing together in concern. I jerk my hands back from his body, sitting back on my heels and averting my eyes to the floor. Why did that word come out of my mouth? We've never had that kind of dynamic between us. What's the matter with me? A spike of anxiety has me wrapping my arms around my torso, seeking comfort and protection.

“Sorry Nic.” Words trip out of my mouth as I hastily withdraw, my heart in my throat and blood pounding in my ears. “She used to call me that. I wasn’t thinking. Sorry.” I pull myself up and turn to run from the room. Nic’s hand shoots out and gently grabs my wrist.

“Hey, hey, it’s not like that.” He turns my body back towards him, cupping my jaw in his hand again. “Look at me Chiron.” I lift my gaze from the floor to his face. It’s painted in concern, worry coming off him in waves. “You’re fucking sexy as hell. And sure, you have your slutty moments.” His mouth pulls up into that signature smirk. “But you aren’t a slut. Trust me, I would know. But, even if you were, who gives a fuck? I was just surprised. Do you like being called that?” I pull away from him and cover my face with both hands, dragging them down my flaming cheeks.

“I don’t know, kinda? At first it was hot. Then, how she said it changed. In hindsight, she probably called me that because she thought it was true.” I let my hands flop by my sides and hunch forward to rest my forehead on Nic’s shoulder. “Sorry, I think I killed the mood.” 

Nic’s shoulders shake as he laughs. He wraps his strong arms around me, pulling me onto his lap to hug me tight. I don’t know why I was worried. Nic is steadfast. His presence means love, safety, and comfort. I tuck my face into his neck and breathe deep. He smells of soap and aftershave and happy memories. His chest rumbles beneath my ear as he speaks. 

“No worries, maybe next time, Sweetness. Right now, though, we gotta get ready or we’ll be late, especially if I’m doing your make-up. You wanna take a quick shower? May perk you up after your busy day?”

I nod my head. “Yeah, a shower sounds divine. Thanks Nic, you always know what I need.” I climb off his lap, grabbing the dirty plates as I go. As I walk away, he gives my ass a spank. 

“Damn straight. Don’t you forget it. Can’t stay friends this long without learning a thing or two.” I lift my middle finger and roll my eyes.

“I’ll try to be quick.”