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“It’s difficult not to.”

Nate reached into the tub and turned on the water. The pipes made their usual objection, which did nothing to improve Leo’s expression.

“It works.”

“I know it works. You’ve explained that before.”

“And yet.”

Leo opened his mouth, but Nate pulled his shirt over his head, and whatever he’d been about to say apparently stopped being worth saying.

That was useful to know.

Nate dropped the shirt into the laundry and went on undressing. He’d been naked with Leo before, but doing it here, in the middle of the day, with Leo openly enjoying himself, made him a little self-conscious.

Wanted, too.

After the morning he’d had, he was happy to enjoy that.

He stepped into the tub and pulled the curtain around. Leo drifted through it after him and settled at the other end.

The water was nice and hot now. Nate let it run over his aching shoulders while he rubbed the back of his neck. Then he washed his hair, tipped his head back to rinse it, and wiped the water from his eyes.

Leo was still watching. “Imagine if I could get in there with you.”

“That would be nice.”

Leo looked pleased. Then he glanced at the water running straight through the edge of his sleeve. “I’d like to feel that again.”

Nate wished he could arrange it. Hot water should have been an easy thing to give someone.

“I’d even put up with the hose,” Leo added.

“You must be serious.”

“Very.”

“We’d need a better shower if there were two of us using it.”

“You need a better shower with only one of you using it.”

Nate laughed and reached for the body wash. “You’re never letting that go.”

“Never.”

Nate put some soap on the sponge and started washing. Leo stayed close, looking interested enough that Nate found himself taking longer than usual.

He wanted more of this. He wanted to finish washing and take Leo somewhere they could lie down together. Maybe they could do that later.

For now, he’d settle for having Leo’s attention.

He reached over his shoulder with the sponge and immediately regretted how much wood he’d chopped.

“Give me that,” Leo said.

Nate lowered his arm. “What?”

“The sponge. I can do your back.”