He sank deeper into the bath, the steam loosening knots in his shoulders he hadnât realized were there. He scrubbed at his arms with a cloth, finally washing away the blood and grime that had become second skin. As Theon spoke, Dior turned his head, a slow smile spreading across his face at the other's deflection.
âBut I know what you taste like,â he offered, voice lower, a touch of heat curling behind the joke. A wink followed before he softened. âAnd Iâm not the prying type, Theon. If I learn more, itâll be because you want me to. Thatâs the only way I want it.â
Dior groaned dramatically as Falon excused himself, lifting an arm in a lazy wave. âYou canât say âwelcome home' twice and then disappear it starts to feel performative. And I would know!" But there was no real irritation in his voice, just a kind of knowing amusement. Falon would always leave just before things got warm. Dior had no illusions about that, and strangely, he didnât mind. It just meant he had to burn hotter.
The moment of warmth was abruptly drowned in a splash as Napoleonâglorious, dramatic, still fully clothedâcrashed into the bath.
Dior blinked. Then laughed. A loud, startled, incredulous laugh that rocked through his chest despite the pain. âFinally!â he wheezed, arms going around Napoleon immediately. âA normal response to someone you care about showing up alive.â
He groaned as the otherâs body landed against bruised ribs, but he didnât pull away. Instead, he kissed him, deep and slow and grounding, before resting their foreheads together. âYou beautiful, ridiculous man. Iâm here. Iâm alive. And Iâm not going anywhere for a long, long time.â
He let the moment stretch. Then, reluctantly, he pulled back, grabbed a towel, and rose from the water with only minor winces, water sliding down sun-kissed skin. He dried off with practiced ease, then sauntered to the chaise where Theon still sat and casually dropped down beside him, looping one arm around the assassinâs shoulders and tugging Napoleon into his lap like it was his throne. âAlright. So, how exactly do you two know each other?â