Gunner stood in Ace’s doorway, watching Griffin, the man’s body swaying awkwardly as he tried to grab another can of beer. Gunner’s gaze darted between him and Gus, who didn’t seem interested in helping him. Ace had made it clear that he was exhausted from dealing with the Bexley brothers’ emotional turmoil and didn’t want to get involved.

Sighing, Gunner lumbered forward. The evening was cool, but the tension on the porch was palpable as if the air was thick with everything left unsaid. Griffin was clearly drunk, his head down and his shoulders slumped. His messy dark hair was plastered to his sweaty face, and he could barely stand.

“You’re not going to last the whole night like this, Griffin…”, Gunner thought, walking over to him.

As he approached, Gunner gently pulled him by the arm, but Griffin, in the state he was in, stumbled and almost fell to the ground. Gunner caught him with a quick reflex, supporting the weight of his larger body. He smelled the strong smell of the drink he was giving off, mixed with his scent that always seemed to stand out in the middle of everything.

— Griffin, come on… It would be best if you lay down. — Gunner spoke in a low voice, trying to be firm but gentle at the same time.

I knew that forcing him would only make him more resistant.

Griffin looked at him through half-lidded eyes, a faint, almost sad smile playing on his lips.

— I’m sorry… I… I shouldn’t drink like that. — Griffin’s drawl was filled with something other than drunkenness. There was a hint of pain, mixed with what seemed to be embarrassment.

Gunner swallowed, his chest tightening. Seeing Griffin like this, so vulnerable and unarmed, shook him in a way he wasn’t ready to deal with. He’d always known Griffin was the tough type, but beneath that was a fragility he rarely let show. 

— Let’s just... get you to the cabin, okay? — Gunner replied calmly, holding Griffin tighter.

With difficulty, Gunner placed Griffin’s arm around his shoulder, supporting his companion’s greater weight. As they walked, Gunner could feel the heat of Griffin’s body against his, the touch of his skin somewhat disconcerting despite the discomfort of the situation.

The walk to the cabin seemed to take forever, especially with Griffin stumbling every other step, mumbling incoherent words.

— I… — Griffin began, his voice cracking a little. — I’m not… good for you. I’m not the guy you… deserve.

Gunner paused for a moment, surprised by the words he had heard. He looked sideways, trying to meet Griffin’s gaze, but he kept his head down as if he was ashamed of what he was saying.

— What are you talking about? — Gunner asked, the worried tone now evident.

But Griffin shook his head, stumbling once more, forcing Gunner to hold him tighter.

— No… I need to say this. I need to… — he paused, his body shaking slightly. — I don’t think I’m good for you… I think… you deserve someone better… I don’t want to… hurt you… But that’s all I do… You never seem happy when you see me…

Gunner felt his heart race in his chest. Griffin's words came as a shock.

— You’re drunk, Griffin… — Gunner said, trying to rationalize the situation. But, as much as he tried to convince himself of it, something in the back of his mind knew that it wasn’t just the drink talking.

Griffin, however, didn’t seem to hear.

— I never meant to hurt you, Gunner. — he continued, his voice growing hoarse as if he were on the verge of tears. — You… are a good person… Lovely… And I always knew I couldn’t give you what you deserved… but I… want this… I want to try…

Gunner didn’t know what to say. The emotional weight of Griffin’s words hit him like an avalanche, and he felt his body tremble slightly. With effort, he pulled Griffin closer, forcing them both to keep walking until they reached the cabin.

Finally, upon entering, Gunner helped Griffin sit on the bed, but before he could say anything, Griffin’s larger body began to fall to the side, causing Gunner to try to catch him. It was at this point that Griffin, already off balance, fell directly on top of him, pushing him back against the mattress.

— Shit, Griffin! You weigh… — Gunner exclaimed, laughing nervously as he tried to push him aside.

But Griffin didn’t move. Instead, his eyes locked onto Gunner’s, and suddenly, the air between them grew heavy.

The silence that followed was more telling than any words spoken before. Griffin’s face was mere inches from Gunner’s, their lips so close that Gunner could feel Griffin’s hot, ragged breath against his skin.

— I… — Griffin began, but his voice cracked.

Before Gunner could process what was happening, Griffin bent his head and hesitantly touched his lips to Gunner’s in a soft but emotionally charged kiss. Gunner froze in place, his mind struggling to comprehend what was happening but his body reacting instinctively. For a moment, he didn’t move, shock and confusion clouding his thoughts.

Griffin seemed to sense the hesitation and began to walk away, a gleam of regret appearing in his eyes.

— Sorry… I shouldn’t have…

But before he could finish, Gunner, his heart still racing, grabbed Griffin’s shirt, stopping him from pulling away completely.

— No … Don’t apologize. — Gunner whispered, his tone uncertain.

He knew what he felt, knew what it meant, but the implications scared him. Still, he couldn’t push Griffin away. He wanted the opposite. He wanted this moment to last longer, for that heat to continue to surround them.

Griffin’s eyes locked with Gunner’s once more, surprised and hesitant, but this time, the kiss he gave was more confident, deeper. And this time, Gunner kissed him back. It was a mix of pent-up desire and emotions that had been pushed down for too long. Gunner didn’t know what it meant or what would come next, but for now, he just let it happen.

Gunner found himself giving himself over completely to Griffin’s touch, to the fingers that now slid over his face, down his neck, creating a trail of heat wherever they went.

He felt Griffin pull him closer, and without knowing how they both ended up on the mattress, their bodies intertwined as the heat between them grew. Gunner lost himself in the touch, in Griffin’s breath panting against his skin, and when Griffin’s fingers began to slide around his waist, Gunner couldn’t find the strength to stop what was happening. This was a moment they both longed for, but had never allowed to happen.

And then all he knew was heat and weight and desire. There were no more words, just touches and kisses and the connection they had avoided so much, but which now exploded in the middle of that room, in the shadows of the night.

Moon stopped in front of Ace’s porch and for a moment just watched Gray’s sleeping figure. Ace was sitting in an armchair, reading a book.

— Your brother already took your brother-in-law away. — he said without taking his attention off the book. — Gus is already asleep. Gray came here looking like he was crying, already a little drunk with Griffin… I left them drinking here and didn’t interfere. I thought it was better to just watch…

— Did they cause any trouble?

— No. — Ace looks at her. — I don’t know about the feelings between Griffin and Gunner, but... I think Gray is really in love with you. And for longer than you think...

— What do you mean?

— At the party… I don’t think it was the first time he saw you. I think he’s been watching you for a while, waiting for you.

Moon crossed her arms and glared at him.

— You don’t think so. You already know that.

Ace laughed.

— I hate giving in.

— I know. But I think you’ll realize that it’s okay to give in to your partner…

Gray, slumped on the wooden steps, was visibly drunk, with a few empty beer cans around him and the relaxed face of someone completely oblivious to the world around him.

— Good evening, Ace.

— Hm… — he waved. — You don’t have to work tomorrow… Take the opportunity to make up for all the time you lost… — he said, laughing.

Moon cursed at him. She crouched down next to Gray, noticing the soft snore that escaped his parted lips. Gray seemed more vulnerable than usual, something she rarely saw in him, as he always tried so hard to maintain a facade of strength and control. Moon felt her heart tighten. She wanted to hate him for being so insistent, for constantly breaking down her barriers, but something about seeing him like this disarmed her.

— Gray… — Moon called softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He mumbled, still half asleep, and moved his head from side to side.

— Hey, wake up… — she insisted, now shaking him lightly. — Let's go home.

Gray blinked a few times, confused, his vision blurry until his eyes focused on her. A silly smile appeared on his lips as he recognized her.

— Moon… — he muttered, his voice slurred by alcohol. — You… arrived… — he tried to straighten up, but he seemed to have completely lost his balance.

— You’re drunk… — she said, with a light sigh, but she couldn’t help but smile a little. — Come on, I’ll take you home.

— Home…? — he repeated, as she helped him up. — My home… is where you are… you know?

Moon rolled her eyes, but his soft tone made her shiver inside. She wrapped her arm around Gray’s waist to steady him as he leaned against her, the two of them walking off the porch with unsteady steps, and began walking back to her cabin.

— Do you… hate me? — Gray asked, his voice heavy, as he tried to keep up with her steps.

Moon paused for a second, surprised by the direct question, and looked at him. Gray’s eyes were filled with something she couldn’t tell if it was pain or just the effect of the alcohol. She bit her lip, hesitant about how to respond.

— I don’t hate you. — Moon finally said, her voice low as they continued walking.

Gray let out a sigh of relief, leaning closer to her, the closeness between them becoming even more evident. Moon could feel the heat of his body against hers, and the irregular beating of his heart seemed to echo inside her.

— Good… Very good… — Gray began, stumbling over his words. — Because… I can’t stop thinking about you, Moon… about how I… want you… need you…

Moon felt her face heat up at his words, but she remained calm as they reached the cabin. Gray was staggering slightly.

When they reached the door, Moon opened it with difficulty while holding Gray with her other arm. Once they were inside, she led him to the small couch and helped him sit down.

— Stay here, I’ll get a glass of water. — she said, trying to change the focus of what he had said.

But before he could pull away, Gray grabbed his wrist with unexpected firmness, despite his drunkenness.

— No… — he murmured, his eyes intense on hers. — You won’t, Moon…

She stopped, her heart beating faster at the intensity of his gaze. Gray pulled her lightly, and Moon hesitantly sat down beside him. He leaned closer, his breath thick with alcohol, but there was something else there—a longing, a raw sincerity.

— I… love you. — Gray confessed, his voice thick with emotion. — I always have… from the moment I saw you… at the pub… I knew you were… — he brought his hand to her face, gently tracing her cheek. — Please… give me a chance… living without… knowing where or how you are… it’s painful…

Moon felt her heart race at his words.

Now, with Gray there, vulnerable, confessing her feelings, it was as if everything she had been trying to hide was being brought to the surface.

— Gray… — she began, her voice wavering.

— I would do anything for you… — he interrupted, moving even closer until his lips were dangerously close to hers. — You are everything to me…

His closeness, his warmth, the gentle touch he held on her face, the strong scent of cinnamon… it all seemed to create an electric current between them.

She closed her eyes, trying to control herself, but when she opened her eyes again, she met Gray’s intense gaze.

He leaned in, and before she could say anything else, their lips met. The kiss was slow at first, gentle as if they were both testing the waters, but it soon became deeper, more urgent.

Gray pulled Moon closer, onto his lap, his arms wrapping around her with an intensity she hadn’t expected, and she found herself giving in to the moment, her fingers tangling in his hair.

It was a kiss that carried everything they hadn’t said, everything that had been repressed for so long. Moon felt every unspoken word, every pent-up feeling express itself in that moment. Gray’s taste, mixed with the slight bitterness of the drink, awakened in her a desire that she didn’t know she had kept so deeply.

When they finally broke apart, they were both panting, staring at each other in silence. Gray touched her face again, his eyes filled with a tenderness that Moon couldn't look away from.

— Give me a chance… — he whispered, almost like a desperate plea. — I love you… more than you can imagine.

Moon didn’t know what to say. She knew what she felt, she knew what those kisses had awakened in her. But she also knew that things would never be simple between them. However, at that moment, the only thing that seemed to matter was how much she wanted him there, by her side.

— Hm… — she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Gray pulled her back to him, pressing his lips to hers, this time more gently as if sealing a promise.

And while the world outside continued to spin, inside their cabin, only the sound of their racing hearts filled the silence.

Nothing would be the same after that night.