Chapter 28: Steps Apart

Cody POV

I’m slumped on Ryan’s couch, head fuzzy from beers with Jake. My chest’s warm, happy from our laughs. Then that crash outside cuts through, loud and sharp. My heart jumps, fast and tight. Ryan’s up quick, pulling me close. “Stay here,” he says, voice low. My stomach twists, cold and quick. We peek out, blinds creaking soft. A trash can’s tipped, rolling slow in the wind. My breath slows, shaky and dumb. “Just the wind,” I say, soft. He nods, arm still on me. My chest calms, steady with him.

Morning comes bright, sun sneaking through. My head’s heavy, beer lingering sour in my mouth. Ryan’s sprawled beside me, snoring soft. My phone buzzes on the table, loud in the quiet. I grab it fast, hands shaky. An email. My heart stops, then races wild. “Dance tour offer,” it says. “Six months. Europe.” My stomach flips, excited and scared. My fingers shake, scrolling slow. Big stages, big crowds. My dream, since the studio days. My chest buzzes, warm and quick. “Ryan,” I say, shaking him gentle. My voice cracks, happy and dumb.

He blinks awake, eyes sleepy. “What?” he says, rough and low. I shove the phone at him, grinning big. “Dance tour,” I say, loud. “They want me.” My heart’s pounding, wild and real. His face shifts, smile fading slow. My stomach drops, cold and fast. “Six months?” he says, sitting up quick. His voice tightens, sharp and hard. My throat burns, nervous now. “Yeah,” I say, soft. My hands twist together, sweaty and shaky. “It’s big,” I add, quiet. My chest’s tight, scared he’ll hate it.

He stands fast, pacing slow. My eyes follow, heart sinking low. “Europe,” he says, low. “Far.” His jaw clenches, tight and mad. My chest hurts, seeing him jealous. “It’s my shot,” I say, standing too. My voice shakes, pleading soft. He turns quick, eyes dark. “What about us?” he says, loud. My breath catches, warm and wild. “We’re good,” I say, stepping close. My hands reach for him, shaky and sure. “I want this,” I add, soft. My throat’s dry, begging him to get it.

He grabs my arms, pulling me in. My chest bumps his, warm and hard. “You’re mine,” he says, voice rough. My heart jumps, hot and fast. “Always,” I say, quick. My eyes sting, trust loud. He nods slow, then pulls me tighter. “Shower,” he says, low. My stomach flips, needy and dumb. We stumble there, hands tangled quick. My shirt’s off fast, jeans next. His clothes hit the floor, messy and loud. Water runs hot, steam filling up. My chest heaves, excited and real.

He pushes me in, water splashing loud. My back hits the wall, tiles cold and wet. His lips crash mine, hard and deep. My hands grab his hair, tugging fast. Water streams down, hot on my skin. His tongue dives in, wet and wild. My breath’s fast, shaky with him. He pins me hard, hands on my wrists. My chest’s tight, heart slamming loud. His cock presses my thigh, hard and hot. I’m hard too, rubbing close. My legs shake bad, weak and warm.

He pulls back, eyes dark. “Mine,” he says, low and fierce. His teeth bite my shoulder, sharp and good. My head tips back, moaning loud. A mark blooms, warm and wet. My hands claw his back, nails digging light. He grabs soap, slicking up fast. His hands slide down, gripping my ass. My breath catches, soft and needy. He lifts my leg, hooking it high. Water drips off his nose, splashing me. My heart jumps, wild and real. He lines up, pushing in hard.

I feel him, thick and deep, stretching me fast. My moan’s loud, echoing wet. “Harder,” I say, voice breaking quick. He grunts low, thrusting wild. Water steams, blurring us up. My chest heaves, full and hot. His hands bruise my hips, holding tight. Skin slaps loud, mixing with splashes. My cock bounces, wet and slick. His teeth bite again, shoulder stinging good. My head spins, dizzy and wild. “Ryan,” I gasp, loud and raw. My legs tremble, slipping slow.

He moves faster, pounding me down. My back slides, tiles cool under me. Soap slicks between us, warm and messy. His lips find mine, kissing sloppy. My tongue tangles his, wet and fast. My chest bursts, love loud and sure. “Always,” I moan, shaky and real. My hands grip his shoulders, clinging tight. He thrusts deep, hitting right. My breath’s fast, shaking bad. Water runs down my face, hot and good. My heart’s wild, trusting him big.

We keep going, hard and wild. My hands slide down, grabbing his ass. His skin’s hot, sweaty under water. My moans get louder, fearless and free. “Love you,” he says, low in my ear. My throat burns, full of him. “Love you too,” I say, hoarse and quick. My chest heaves, sealing us tight. He slows a little, rocking steady. My cock rubs his stomach, slick and warm. I come fast, spilling hot between us. My moan’s loud, shaking the walls. He follows quick, groaning deep, warm inside me.

We slump, water still running hot. My chest’s sweaty, sticking to his. His arms wrap me, tight and safe. My legs shake bad, dropping loose. His lips kiss my shoulder, soft on the bite. My heart slows, steady with his. “Long distance,” he says, soft. His breath’s warm on my neck. My chest warms, sure and real. “Yeah,” I say, nodding fast. My voice shakes less now. “We’ll make it,” I add, quiet. My hands cling to him, warm and sure.

We rinse off, soap swirling down. My body’s sore, good sore. His hand rubs my back, gentle and slow. My chest feels big, love loud and strong. “You’re mine,” he says, low. My stomach flutters, happy and dumb. “Yours,” I say, soft. My lips brush his, wet and sloppy. Water drips off us, warm and good. My heart’s loud, steady with him. “Dance your ass off,” he says, grinning big. My chest bursts, proud and real.

We step out, towels soft and warm. My legs ache, shaky and slow. His arm stays on me, solid and close. My chest heaves, calming slow. “Six months,” I say, quiet. My throat burns, scared but sure. He nods, forehead on mine. “I’ll wait,” he says, low. My eyes sting, warm and happy. My hand rests on his chest, feeling heartbeat. We’re good, trust sealed tight. My heart’s strong, ready for this.

Then my phone buzzes. Loud. Sharp. On the counter outside. My eyes snap open, heart jumping fast. Ryan freezes, hand on my arm. My stomach twists, cold and quick. “Who?” I ask, voice shaky. He steps out, dripping wet. “Cody, wait,” he says, soft and scared. “Please,” he adds, turning quick.