The house was quiet, unless you counted Circe having the zoomies. The girls were out looking for a place of their own, and per request, Ryan had left the store in someone else’s care for at least part of the night. Alone, the two of them had opted to lie in bed, and just be close — intimate without being sexual (at least for the moment). Ryan shifted, adjusting position so that he was no longer the little spoon, but was now facing Nick instead.
“You’ve been quiet. What’s in your mind?” he said, reaching up to run a hand through Nick’s hair.
Nick smiled, leaning in to give Ryan a brief kiss. “Your list, among other things.”
Ryan harrumphed, though if he could, he’d be blushing. “You’re teasing me.”
“Maybe a little.” Nick admitted.
“I never should have said anything.” Ryan muttered.
“Don’t be like that.” Nick said. “I’m glad you told me.”
“Are you sure?” Ryan asked.
Nick nodded. “If the opportunity ever arose, just talk to me first about it, okay? That’s all I ask.”
“Like you’ve done?” Ryan teased.
“I’ve tried to be good about that.” Nick pouted, flushing slightly.
“It’s such a cheat that you can do that. Yet, I love it.” Ryan said, kissing Nick’s nose. “I’ve always liked getting you to blush. You’re so cute when you do that.”
“Why does everybody say that?” Nick said. Now it was his turn to harrumph.
“You’re adorable, that’s why.” Ryan said, snuggling into Nick’s arms.
Nick wrapped his arms around Ryan. Having him this close, having him at all? He didn’t regret his choice. After a long silence, Nick spoke up. “So… on an adjacent topic…”
“Mm…what topic?” Ryan muttered, his voice somewhat muffled from being buried in Nick’s shirt.
“The list.” Nick reminded him.
“What’s adjacent to that?” he asked.
“Just wondering if you’d want to try someone else in the bedroom sometime.” Nick wondered aloud.
“I thought you broke up with Alyssa and Esme?” he queried, pulling away to look at Nick.
“I didn’t mean the girls. I meant another guy, someone you and I can agree on.” he offered.
Ryan propped himself up on an elbow and studied Nick. “You’re serious.”
“Of course I am.” he responded.
“Didn’t we try that already? With Brandon?” Ryan asked incredulously.
“Enjoyable as it was? Let’s not count it, due to the circumstances surrounding it.” Nick suggested.
Ryan took a moment to think. “Agreed.”
Nick leaned in, tilting Ryan’s chin with a finger so he could properly kiss him on the lips.
“I love it when you kiss me like that.” Ryan murmured, before giving a little sigh. “I guess we should start with my list.”
“Let’s rule out the obvious ones — Brandon, Vince, Adam, and likely Paxton as well.” Nick began.
“That’s most of my list.” Ryan pouted.
“I know, but we also know they’re not going to stray from their partners.” Nick pointed out gently.
“If we could ever convince him, definitely Rick. I can’t help but want to fulfill that fantasy, at least once.” he looked a little sheepish.
“Don’t be shy about it. I get it. Rick’s an attractive guy.” Nick said with a smile. “So who else?”
“No way. Your turn.” Ryan prompted.
Nick thought for a minute, weighing whether to give Ryan a teasing answer, but decided against it. “I know you’ve told Donovan no in the past, so I won’t suggest that.”
“Thank you. Now quit stalling.” Ryan demanded.
Nick chuckled a little at Ryan’s slight annoyance. “What about Timur?”
“The Russian guy?” he thought a moment. “I thought you were pretty possessive of him.”
“Only feeding from him.” Nick stated.
“You sure you haven’t caught feelings for him or Donovan?” Ryan asked.
“I haven’t, and neither of them want anything above casual sex. So I’ve been told.” Nick promised.
“Not sure about Timur. Keep him as maybe.” Ryan sighed. “Okay, my turn…” he thought for a long moment. “Ollie?” he offered.
“Ollie, really?” Nick laughed a little.
“Sure he’s dramatic, but I think I’ve spent more time with him than you have and, well, he’s not that bad a guy. He’s got that guy-next-door appeal.” Ryan said.
“I can see it. Okay, sure. Let’s put Ollie on our list.” Nick smiled. “But if we’re adding Ollie, I’d like to throw in Ronan.”
“Is Ronan even gay?” Ryan asked.
“I have no idea, to be honest with you. But the question is, do you object?” Nick stated.
Ryan thought a moment. “Okay. Ronan is appealing.” he thought a long moment. “Ugh,m I hate this. A name is escaping me.”
“Who are you thinking of?” Nick inquired.
“Bald Egyptian man.” Ryan described.
“Oh, Charles.” Nick offered.
“Yes, him.” Ryan nodded. “He’s got gorgeous eyes.”
“I don’t know how ethical that would be.” Nick thought aloud.
“What do you mean?” Ryan asked.
“He’s offered to be my therapist.” Nick explained.
“Ok, I can see your point. No to Charles, then.” Ryan said, mulling things over. “What about Makya?”
“Good looks. Good dancer. I’ve been wanting to get to know him better anyway.” Nick admitted. “Endrik?”
“No — he creeps me out.” Ryan said, hugging himself.
Nick reached out to hug him back and pull him in close. After a moment of holding him close, Nick spoke up. “Anyone else?”
Ryan sighed. Yea, but way out of our league.”
“Tell me.” he coaxed.
“Avery.” Ryan said.
Nick chuckled.
“You’re making fun of me.” Ryan pouted, and started to pull away.
“No, no — I’m not. I’m really not.” he promised.
“Then what’s so funny? Ryan pouted, trying to pull away, but Nick kept him close.
“I had been thinking of his partner, Jakob.” Nick admitted.
Ryan chuckled this time. “Okay, that is kind of funny. “Both on our list?”
Nick nodded. “Your turn again.”
“Oh, hell.” he sighed, and thought long and hard. “Would Billy be a weird say?”
“No. Not for sure which way he swings, though.” Nick relayed.
“So…were you keeping track of who’s on our definitely list?” Ryan wondered.
“Rick, if we can convince him, ever. But assuming not, which is likely…just Ollie, Ronan, Makya, Avery, Jakob, and Billy.” Nick said after a moment of recounting the conversation.
“Now the only question is who do we try to approach first?” Ryan asked.
Nick thought for a long moment, weighing options in his mind. He knew some things that Ryan didn’t, and ruled out Ollie almost immediately for now. He was still mourning, and with what happened recently, he wasn’t sure it was a good idea right now. Ryan had a point that Avery and Jakob seemed well out of reach of the two of them, so that might be a long-term goal. Well, fantasy was more like it. Rick they could approach, but he was sure of rejection, and didn’t want Ryan to face that right now.
Ryan poked him. “You’ve been thinking for a while.”
“Sorry. Maybe Billy? Or we could work together, going to Charlie’s or Elysium more frequently and approach Makya?”
“Sounds like a plan. But…what if, somewhere along the way, one of us catches feelings?” Ryan asked, concern in his voice.
“We talk about it, together. See how we want to move forward.” Nick stated.
“Promise?” Ryan asked.
“Promise.” Nick offered, before kissing him. “You’ll also always be the ‘First Wife’ to me.”
“I better be.” Ryan countered seriously.
“I know this — you’re first in my heart.” Nick spoke truthfully.
“Aww. You’re too much.” Ryan said. Once again, if he were able, he’d be blushing.
“Can’t help it. I love you.” he replied.
“I love you too.” Ryan said, leaning in to kiss Nick.
Nick kissed back, pulling Ryan close to him, increasing with intensity until they naturally escalated, to that act two lovers naturally gravitate toward.