Luca was first to pull away from the kiss, flinching back like he'd just touched fire.

He listened to his heavy breaths waver in the air, his mind snapping back into immediate focus.

He sneaked a glance at Ashton who was watching him tentively, lips parted in surprise and Luca had to look away before he grew tempted to repeat what had just occurred.

"Luca-"

"Don't," he cut him off, finally peering away and turning his body so his back was facing Ashton.

Ashton stared at Luca's back for a solid minute, his mind processing the fact that he and Luca had just kissed. And it felt amazing, like nothing he had experienced before.

"Okay," he whispered because he understood Luca needed time.

This wasn't going to be easy, he thought to himself as he allowed his head to fall back against his pillow. His eyes shut close, entering an abyss of darkness.

However, that night he got not not a blink of sleep and he was sure Luca didn't either.

–—♡—–

When morning arrived, Luca was hardly surprised to see Benji grinning as he flipped pancakes over the stove and whistled the melody a song cheerfully to himself.

"Morning love birds!" Benji exclaimed and Luca furrowed his eyebrows.

Love birds?

It was then that he realised the position he had woken up in after getting only a few hours sleep. A firm hand was gripped at his waist and his small body was pulled up against Ashton's slightly larger build.

He was fucking spooning with Ashton Anders.

A bright red blush drew over his cheeks as he attempted to release himself from Ashton's hold who was still stuck in a deep sleep.

He couldn't help but sneak a couple galnces over at Ashton's peaceful features—his lips especially looking

particularly soft. His mind wandered back to the night before when they'd shared an intimate kiss and he knew he had to completely remove his body from the contact between himself and Ashton before he did something he'd regret.

When Luca freed himself, he scooted over to the edge of the bed, noticing Benji's teasing grin.

"It must of just happened in the night by accident!" Luca said, knowing he was forming many dirty thoughts about what may of happened last night to result in the two boys cuddling up.

Benji nodded, biting his lip as he observed Luca's state of distress.

He watched as Ashton moved restlessly around in the bed, and he sighed before leaving the pancakes and making his way over to Luca.

Luca sat up in the bed, palms in his face and Benji carefully removed them—sitting down beside him.

"Did something happen?" he asked, and Luca turned to him.

"Maybe," he grumbled in reply, shaking his head.

"He didn't say something mean did he?" Benji questioned, scrunching his eyebrows together into a concerned frown.

Luca rolled his eyes, "No. We talked a little...but then..." he trailed off, afraid to confess what had happened.

"What? Did you tell him that you like him?" Benji asked, tilting his head to side.

Luca opened his mouth to say 'no', but was interrupted by a tired yet small voice that made Luca tense.

"You like me?"

Shit.

Both Benji and Luca averted their eyes over to Ashton who lied there in bed, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

Luca's eyes widened and Ashton's gaze travelled over to Luca—his panicked facial expressions instantly confirming his question.

Luca stood up abrupty. Ashton knew and now there was no going back to make it seem untrue.

And all that seemed to rummage through his mind was,

Shit. Shit. Shit.