Chapter 26

Closeness

They next few days before Preston's birthday were filled with lazy mornings, playful banter, and stolen moments of affection.

They spent their time baking cookies and cakes, sneaking bites of batter, and making a mess of the kitchen. Caleb had never seen Preston so carefree, and he loved every second of it.

One afternoon, Preston had an idea. "Cay, I want to paint you."

Caleb raised an eyebrow. "Paint me?"

Preston grinned mischievously. "Yes. But you have to be half-naked."

Caleb scoffed, crossing his arms. "And why exactly do I have to be half-naked?"

"Because," Preston said matter-of-factly, "I need to capture every detail of you properly. Now take your shirt off and sit still."

Caleb rolled his eyes but complied, removing his shirt and settling onto the stool. "You better make me look good."

Preston smirked as he set up his canvas. "You don't need my help for that."

As he worked, Preston found himself getting lost in the lines of Caleb's chest, the definition of his muscles, the way the afternoon light cast soft shadows over his skin. Caleb, on the other hand, struggled to sit still, shifting uncomfortably.

"Cay, you have to stay still," Preston scolded playfully.

"How long do I have to sit like this?" Caleb groaned.

"Just a little longer. You're so impatient."

Caleb huffed but stayed put. "I don't get why you're so focused on this."

Preston bit his lip, his eyes flicking between Caleb's face and his chest. "Because you're my favorite thing to look at."

Caleb swallowed hard, his heart skipping a beat. The intensity in Preston's eyes sent a rush of warmth through him, but he forced himself to stay composed. He watched Preston work, mesmerized by the way his eyes softened as he painted, the way his tongue peeked out when he was deep in concentration.

Finally, Preston stepped back, admiring his work. "Done."

Caleb stood and walked over to see. His eyes widened as he took in the painting—a perfect, almost lifelike representation of himself, but the way Preston had painted his eyes… there was something deeper there, something raw and affectionate.

"This is incredible," Caleb murmured, genuinely impressed.

Preston beamed. "I'm going to enlarge it and put it in our bedroom."

Caleb chuckled. "So you want to wake up to my half-naked image every morning?"

Preston shrugged with a grin. "Maybe."

Caleb shook his head, ruffling Preston's hair. "You're unbelievable."

Later that night, as they lounged on the couch, Preston curled up against Caleb's side. They weren't doing anything particularly special, just enjoying each other's presence. Caleb found himself absentmindedly running his fingers through Preston's hair, savoring the warmth between them.

"You're really happy, aren't you?" Caleb murmured.

Preston looked up at him with a sleepy smile. "Yeah. I think I've been waiting for this kind of happiness for a long time."

Caleb felt his chest tighten. He wanted to say something, to define what they were, to give Preston the words he deserved to hear. But instead, he just held him closer, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

"Me too," he whispered.

They still hadn't spoken their feelings aloud, but in the quiet of the night, wrapped in each other's arms, they both knew the truth. They belonged to each other in a way that words couldn't quite capture.