Page 127 of If the World Was Ending

“Maybe. But maybe not,” Chris replied. “It’s a new day. A new world. A… well, the same bullshit, but I gotta tell you, I’ve seen a lot of positive supportive comments.”

“Yeah?” Hunter had seen some, but his spiraling brain had focused more on the Gross, and why did you have to ruin this with your politics? Unfollow. Because to those idiots, sexuality was a political choice.

“Yeah, totally. I mean, in my day there wasn’t any social media, and maybe that was the problem,” he lamented. “But also, you’re far more talented than I was. And you were honest. So whatever happens, Hunter, I want to say congrats. You’re a star in my books.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it,” Hunter replied and sighed. “Got any roles you wanna give me?”

They laughed.

Later that afternoon, as Hunter pretended to be perfectly fine and absolutely normal, he read the first review of his actual movie. It used words like "masterpiece" and "must-see". And Colby and Briar read out all the positive comments they found on articles as he grilled chicken for their dinner. Margo sent rainbow-dyed roses with a card that read, "Whatever happens, I got you."

That night, as Hunter pretended to watch a movie and Colby snored with his head in his lap, he realized that the world hadn’t ended. Whatever came next, Colby would be there with him. It was okay. He woke up his boyfriend. “I think we need to have sex.”

“Mmm…” Colby murmured sleepily, but he started pulling his T-shirt over his head.

Hunter laughed. “I love how you placate me.”

They fucked on the couch, slowly while Colby woke up, but then he was begging for harder and faster and sucking on Hunter’s neck like it was the meaning of life. When they had both come, and it was stuck to their stomachs, because they were a heap of galloping hearts and tangled limbs, Hunter whispered, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

And the next morning, as Colby prepared Manuel’s breakfast and Hunter prepared theirs, a text lit up Hunter’s phone. It was Margo.

Margo

You’re too much work Hunter Law. I’ve got seven new script offers to sort through and two new brand ambassador offers and about forty interview requests. Did you not hear the part where I wanted a simpler life?

Hunter’s eyes watered, but he blinked them away while he smiled. Colby walked over, read over his shoulder, and then squeezed him tightly in a hug from behind. He wrote back to Margo while Colby kissed his neck.

Too bad Marge. I’m not the brightest bulb but I don’t make the same mistake twice. You and Colby are both stuck with me.

He put his phone down and turned around to face the love of his young, crazy life.

“We got this,” Colby announced with a dimpled grin.

“You bet your sweet ass we do,” Hunter agreed and kissed his boyfriend as if his life depended on it. It didn’t. He could live without Colby, he just refused to anymore. And there was no going back.

Epilogue

About damn time

18 MONTHS LATER

“Oscars,” Hunter whispered, reluctantly, because there was nothing he loved more than Colby sucking on his neck until there was a mark. It never got old, except for the makeup artists on sets and photoshoots who constantly had to cover it up. But most of them chuckled under their breath about it.

“You taste so fucking good though,” Colby groaned, but he let up, his sucking turning to gentle licks and soft kisses. What wasn’t soft was his cock, which was rutted up against the crease of Hunter’s leg, leaking salty goodness onto his hip. “Can we fuck soon? We’re running out of time.”

“Do you wanna fuck me?” Hunter whispered. He’d bottomed only twice in their entire relationship. Not because he didn’t like it, but their moments seemed to naturally progress the other way. “Wanna feel you with me if I get to walk up on that stage.”

Colby’s breath hitched, and he smiled. “When. When you walk up on that stage.”

“Is that a yes?”

Colby’s mouth closed over Hunter’s. His tongue teased, and his lips claimed what was his and would always be his. Hunter broke the kiss first, again, with reluctance. “They’re gonna be here soon.”

“I’ll make them wait outside,” Colby replied as he began kissing and licking his way down Hunter’s torso. Over his nipples, across his pecs, down the flat of his belly, to his hip. “Lube, please.”

Hunter groped on the nightstand and plucked the Astroglide from it. Colby’s fingers scraped his as he took it, and Hunter shivered. A few seconds later, Colby was between Hunter’s wide thighs and his mouth was wrapped around Hunter’s cock. His lube-slicked fingers circled his hole. Hunter reached out and grazed his own fingers through Colby’s curls. His hair was wild on a good day now because he was growing it out and it was an unruly, in-between length, not quite to his chin unless you tugged each wave straight. Briar was going to spend half her time here this afternoon styling it into submission.