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Dinner was good.

Ikki slept next to Terrence, the steady pattern of his breathing reassuring as Terrence failed to sleep. Ikki was simple, with no drama or community attached—ish. He had plenty of tales of his workplace relationship dramas. Still, no one would judge him for sleeping with an ex-boyfriend. Maybe Fred, but Fred didn't need to know everything. 

He was safe. They used protection. He checked that Ikki didn't have a current partner. They were two single men enjoying a night together and the relief and intimacy it brought. 

Terrence remembered Ikki's body well. He remembered his smell, his taste, how his ribs were tickish. Ikki giggled the same and equally went after his weak spots, kissing and nibbling as he went. It was heat, it was passion, it was pleasure. Damn, he needed it. He needed the world to be nothing more than skin against skin and solid. Nothing had changed for a brief few hours, and he was free and floating in bliss. 

Why did his stomach rock with guilt?

Ikki's hair tickled his nose as he played big spoon. He hadn't been able to bring himself to sleep with Marquez or Sanvish. Falling into bed with Ikki was like a breath of fresh air after being stifled. Maybe it was because he knew the score on the door with Ikki. The idea of sleeping with Marquez brought up too much to think about. 

His shoulders didn't ache. How long had it been since he felt like this? Pleasure buzzed through his veins lazily. He missed this. 

Maybe it was time to get back on dating apps if sleeping with his ex made him feel this good. He had no excuse not to try to find someone. He was single, alone and the circus wasn't returning for him. 

Ikki was his ex, that's why it was easy. They knew each other's scripts. Dating apps were painful things. He was too lonely if using them again sounded like a good idea. They were his only opinion. He hated him. 

His stomach continued to burn with worry. 

"Taz?" Not Terry, not like this. 

"Um?" Terrence pushed closer to the warm flesh and tightened his grip around Ikki, his arm twinning with Ikki's. Ikki kissed his knuckles and wriggled into the spot, exhaling with a content sound. Terrence wasn't the only one who needed this. They floated in the blue light of the moon and the peace of the early morning. Terry closed his eyes to drift as Ikki didn't immediately talk. No fur brushed over him, and a tail didn't wind around his leg possessively. His shoulders were cold.

Ikki was human. He breathed steadily. Terrence listened to his heartbeat and squeezed his eyes shut. He made his choice. 

When things turned orange and warm, Ikki would leave him again and the world would be cold as he waited for a sign Madame forgave him. 

"Have you got time in the morning?"

"For you, always." Terrence kissed Ikki's shoulder. 

"Good," Ikki hummed, the air too soft for actual words. "I missed this."

"You not found someone to warm your bed? I thought you said the hotel game was wild," Terrence teased.

Ikki snorted. "Spicy, for sure. One-night stands are easy. Grabbing a nonresident or charming a guest looking for a good time is one thing. Finding a stable partner who doesn't mind that you live in a dorm is another."

"Living in a dorm does sound bad," Terrence thought back to sharing with Marquez growing up. They had more space than most, but privity wasn't a thing. They kept the babies away from where the adults had more private time. "I like my own space, but there are advantages to not being alone."

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