Chapter 408: Waiting.

Chapter 408: Chapter 408: Waiting.

Even this newly revised one hits some snags, because as it turns out, Loac’s here after all. Hogging the goddamned bath.

​"You’re here." It comes out sounding a lot more surprised than Khobi was planning on.

Lounging in the water with his arms slung casually over the edge of the tub, Loac cracks an eye open and gives him an irritated look.

​"This is my room," he reminds him, like he’s starting to get annoyed that people seem to keep forgetting that. "Where’d you think I was?"

​"Ugh, nowhere," Khobi mumbles, waving a hand dismissively as he eyes the steaming water with equally steaming jealousy.

And the person in it, obviously; even relaxed Loac’s imposing presence seems to set the steam off the water swirling, and after the day in the sun his dark skin is at its most tantalising. "How long have you been here?"

​Loac reaches up to brush his damp hair back off his brow. Water trickles down a lean bicep as he leans back to make himself more comfortable, and Khobi can tell that the way he’s flexing is entirely intentional; deliberately trying to draw Khobi’s eyes across his naked chest.

"A while."

​(It’s working.)

​And even though he knows he was just imagining things –that whatever he thinks he saw was a figment of his imagination –he can’t help but sneak a look.

But as Loac’s eyes rise to meet his, Khobi finds nothing there but the steady blue of his eyes, staring back.

Well, not nothing ; it’s been a long time since Khobi looked into his eyes and saw nothing. But there’s nothing there that shouldn’t be there. As expected.

​...It’s not quite as vindicating as he thought it would be.

​"...How long’re you gonna be?" Khobi inquires flatly, folding his arms across his bare chest.

Two can play at that game.

As predicted, Loac’s gaze dips to his pecs, where it begins its lazy descent towards his navel, then lingers on the waistband of his pants.

​Eyes darkening, he shrugs, sending a small wave lapping towards the edge of the tub. Water cascades over the edge, and any that doesn’t swirls back against Loac’s body to lap against and fawn over his taut form. "...A while."

​That’s not the answer Khobi was hoping for. His knees are already begging for reprieve, and the fatigue is starting to set in with a vengeance.

If Loac’s gonna take his sweet time in the bath he’s gonna pass out before he gets his turn, which would mean he’d have to drag himself out of bed before the crack of dawn if he doesn’t want to start tomorrow’s training just as dirty as he finished today’s.

​The thought is...unpleasant.

​Fuck it, he’s too tired for this.

​Khobi starts unbuttoning his pants.

​"What’re you doing?" Loac deadpans, as he flings what’s left of his clothes into the corner and pads towards the unoccupied end of the tub.

Khobi gives him a dry look; it’s not like they’ve never been naked together before.

​"I want a bath," he states emphatically, and while he keeps his tone innocent, the eyebrow he quirks back at him is distinctly mocking,

"...What? It’s big enough, right?"

​Loac’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t say anything as Khobi steps on in. It’s hard not to groan as the water immediately licks up his calves and then up his thighs as he drops down into the tub.

It’s a perfect, just-shy of scalding and it feels amazing. So he groans anyways, letting his head loll as he slumps down until the water’s nipping at his chin and darkening the locks at the base of his neck.

How has he been out in the heat all day but this still feels awesome? Sure, he’ll need to give his skin a good scrub but he already feels cleaner.

And as the low vibration of his voice slowly fades away, he lets his eyes sink closed, savouring the silence after the clamour of the day, and the heat enveloping his aching body.

​It looks like his evening might be back on track after all; at this rate he’s gonna be asleep the moment his head hits the pillow.

That is, is he doesn’t just drift off right here in the bath. After today’s brutal session at the training grounds, this could quite easily be one of the most relaxing moments of his life.

​Ah, but all good things must come to an end.

​The other end is decently far away, yet somehow, one of Loac’s legs knocks into his. Khobi probably shouldn’t but he gives him the benefit of the doubt that it wasn’t on purpose.

​"Hey, Khobi." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

​(Still Khobi .)

​Not Frost. Never Frost. Not since that one time. He’s tried not to let that nag at him. And then when he inevitably fails, tried not to linger on just why exactly it does.

​"Hey, you asleep over there or what?"

​Khobi cracks one eye and one eye only to settle Loac with an annoyed look.

" What ?"

​"You interrupted my bath," he growls, expression pulled into a deep scowl –the particular one he wears when he’s sulking.

Khobi thinks that’s an audacious claim to make when he’s the one interrupting what had the makings of a perfectly nice bath, because the second time their legs knock, there’s something very deliberate about the way Loac’s skin drags against his.

Something dark flashes behind those blue eyes, and a sly, predatory lilt takes over his voice as he cocks his head invitingly, "At least make it worth my while."

Even as exhausted as he is, Khobi’s pulse quickens, and a heady bolt of arousal shoots down his spine.

​Well, well, if it isn’t one of Khobi’s most vivid and embarrassing fantasies come back to haunt him.

​Seconds tick by. Khobi weighs up whether or not he wants to give him the satisfaction with Loac watching him all the while; his eyes dipped low but the dangerous glint behind them stark and bright, and tempting .

​I’m waiting .

​Who’s he kidding? At this point, denying Loac might as well be denying himself.