Catch A Tiger By The Tail (THIRDS 6)

“I see the supervising is going well.”

The door closed, and Ethan threw his hands up. “Seriously. I can’t let my guard down for a minute. Those two can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s amazing they leave the house every morning.”

Calvin shrugged before heading over to the wall of boxes. “It’s kind of sweet, though. I mean, being that in love with someone you can’t help but touch them when they’re near you, wanting to always be in their arms. Like being away from each other is painful. They’re lucky.”

Ethan frowned. Was that what Calvin wanted? Ethan walked over and took hold of his arm as his partner reached for a box. He worried his bottom lip. He wanted to say something, but he wasn’t sure what. Calvin cocked his head to o

ne side and studied him.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Is that how you feel?”

Calvin averted his gaze. “I wasn’t implying that… I mean, I don’t want to make things uncomfortable for you.”

Ethan couldn’t help his surprise. Did Calvin hold back from showing affection so Ethan wouldn’t feel uncomfortable? He took hold of Calvin’s face and kissed him. I’m sorry. There was nothing he wanted more than to give Calvin everything he wanted. He needed a little more time. Please don’t stop loving me, wanting me. God, I do want you so bad. I need—

“Are you kidding me?”

Ethan gave a start. He turned to find Ash, Cael, Dex, and Sloane standing there frowning at him. He gave them a sheepish smile.

“No, you know what? If there’s no sexy times for me and Sloane, then none of you are getting any either.” Dex jumped on the couch and addressed the room, pointing to everyone one by one, starting with Ethan. “No sexy times for you.” Then Calvin. “None for you.” He pointed to Ash. “None for you.” He pointed at Cael. “Definitely none for you.” He ignored Cael rolling his eyes and moved to Sloane. “Sorry, babe, none for you either. We’re all chaste until moving is over.”

Ash let out a laugh. “You and Sloane, chaste? That’s the funniest shit I’ve heard all year! You two can’t go one day without boning each other. All Sloane has to do is look at you, and you drop your pants.”

“Hey, I have self-control,” Dex said with a sniff.

Ash and Cael looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Yeah, Ethan didn’t buy it either. Sloane took a sudden interest in a piece of tape stuck to his shirt.

“What? You’re saying I don’t?”

Ash reached into his back pocket and pulled out a bill. “Fifty bucks says you two can’t go forty-eight hours without getting off.”

Dex eyed Ash warily. “What are the rules?”

“What I said. No getting off. Kissing is fine. Nothing else. Who wants in on this? Easiest money you’ll ever make.”

Calvin pulled out his wallet and handed Ash a fifty. Cael followed suit. Ash smiled sweetly. “I’m gonna put in for Rosa and Letty, because we all know they’re going to jump in on this.” Sloane handed Ash fifty bucks. Dex gaped at his boyfriend.

“Dude, you’re betting against us? What the hell?”

Sloane shrugged. “I’m being realistic.”

“That’s it. We’re doing this.” Dex jumped off the couch and marched over to Sloane. He poked him in the chest. “It’s on now.”

Ethan gave Ash his fifty, smiling apologetically when Dex gaped at him.

“You too? I thought we were bros?”

Ethan shrugged. We are, just, let’s face it, you’re going to lose.

“All right. Let’s get the van filled up. You can collect your winnings from me on Monday.” Ash laughed as Dex flipped him off. “Oh, and just for shits and giggles, that’s thirty minutes of silence.”

Dex stared at him. He spun on his heels and stormed over to the wall to pick up a box. On the way to the door, he stopped next to Ash and glared at him some more. It was more likely Dex was cursing him out in his head. Then he marched off.

Ash sighed. “I have a feeling this is going to be a great weekend.”

They all laughed and grabbed boxes to take downstairs. Cael stayed in the truck to organize, and in no time they had the whole thing full. Ethan thanked his lucky stars Sloane was moving into Dex’s and not the other way around. He’d been to Dex’s basement. It was scary. Dex had used his Tetris skills to fill it to capacity. Who knew what was down there. The guy was a pack rat. He’d deny it until his dying breath, but he was definitely a pack rat. The fact that the majority of what was in his basement belonged in the eighties didn’t change a thing.