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James could see it—the weight of the world resting on Will’s shoulders. It showed in the dark circles under his eyes, the slump in his posture, the sharpness in his tone. He was exhausted, and it was written all over him. He needed to unwind.
Will had been snappy all afternoon, barking at James over the smallest things. James didn’t take it personally; he knew Will had a mountain of work to do, and today, everything seemed to be going wrong. Corrupted footage, rejected ideas—one thing after another crumbling onto Will’s already brittle shoulders.
James tried not to snap back. Instead, he made Will the best cup of tea he could muster, adding an extra spoonful of sugar in the hopes of sweetening his mood. But no—Will was still grumpy, caught in an endless loop of frustration.
While Will was stuck on yet another video call—this one running late with some manager or other—James quietly took matters into his own hands. They were at Will’s place, so he didn’t know exactly where everything was, but after a bit of snooping, he managed to dig out a Lush bubble bar. He ran a warm bath, letting it fill with soft bubbles, adding a few drops of lavender extract he found tucked behind the mirror, and lit a candle that had already been half-burnt. The soft glow filled the room with a calming scent and low flicker.
He heard Will sigh as he made his way from the living room to the bathroom.
“You having a piss?” Will called out—always a poet, that one.
“No, come in,” James replied, swilling the water gently to even out the temperature. He dried the dampness from his arms with a towel he'd warmed on the radiator.
“James,” Will groaned. “I told you, mate, I don’t want to be in the room while you’re pissing.”
James opened the bathroom door and let the scent of lavender and rosewood waft out.
“Oh…” Will stopped mid-sentence, his breath catching. No one had run a bath for him since his mum did when he was little—and obviously, that didn’t count. This was different. Romantic. Tender. A loving gesture that made something in him melt.
“You ran me a bath?”
“Yeah,” James said softly. “I know you’ve been stressed all day. I know how much you love a bath, so…” He trailed off, suddenly second-guessing himself. Maybe it was too much. Maybe running someone a bath was too intimate when you weren’t technically dating. Just two mates who fuck, right? Friends with benefits can run baths... can’t they?
Before the thought spiralled, Will leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to James’s cheek. “Thank you.”
Will slowly peeled off his black t-shirt and stood awkwardly in the bathroom doorway. “Sorry I’ve been a bit of a dick today—”
James cut him off. “It’s alright, love. Enjoy your bath, yeah? Take your time. I’ll be in your room watching TikToks or something.” He kissed Will softly on the top of his head, then left him to it.
It was nearly two hours later when James heard Will moving about in the bathroom, the sound of bare feet padding against the floor, and the faint slosh of water draining away.
James lay on his back in just his boxers and an old T-shirt—one he’d brought over to Will’s ages ago. It was a size too big, but soft and comforting, and tonight felt like a night for comfort. He was trying to carry the calmness from the bathroom into the bedroom, not letting the peace unravel.
The room was lit only by candlelight—three of them flickering quietly on the dresser. Will was a self-confessed candle snob (which James found hilarious for someone who used to swear he was as straight as they come). The man had far too many candles, even by James’s standards. But in moments like this, it paid off. The overhead lights stayed off, replaced by the warm, low glow of what James swore were all some variation of “cosy bed” or “soft linen.” He knew full well Will would have a go at him for lighting three candles at once—something about scent layering and “wasting the good ones”—but the room needed the light, and honestly, it smelled lovely.
Will padded in quietly, a towel slung low around his waist, beads of water still clinging to his shoulders. It was like the stress of the day had rolled off him with the bathwater.
“Hey,” James said gently, stretching an arm out toward him. “Was your bath alright, baby?”
Will stepped close and wrapped his arms around James’s neck, leaning down to press slow, lingering kisses into his hair. “It was wonderful,” he murmured.
James looked up at him, beaming. This wasn’t just about the bath, and they both knew it. It was a shift—quiet, unspoken, but felt in the softest parts of them. A little step forward neither of them had expected, and neither of them wanted to undo it. It was warm. It was home. Everything felt right.
“You going to get dry and into bed?” James asked, fingers playing idly with the edge of the towel at Will’s waist.
Will gave him a familiar look—the kind that always came just before something dangerous or delicious. “I was thinking we could do something else.”
James couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Of course you were,” he muttered. “You’re like a bloody rabbit.”
Will grinned, all mischief and heat. “You complaining?”
James tugged gently at the towel, lips brushing against Will’s stomach. “Not even slightly.”
Will’s grin deepened, eyes half-lidded as he let James tug the towel loose. It dropped to the floor without protest, and James took a moment—just a second—to look. To see him. The way water still clung to Will’s skin, how the candlelight caught in the curves of his body, soft and golden. It was unfair, really, how good he looked when he wasn’t even trying.
Will climbed onto the bed, settling on James’ lap with a comfortable closeness. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight, and James instinctively reached out, his hands resting gently on Will’s hips as he pulled him in.
“You’re ridiculous,” James murmured with a small smile, nuzzling into the side of Will’s neck. “Just had a two-hour bath and you’re still full of energy.”
Will chuckled, low and warm. “Relaxed doesn’t mean I’m ready to sleep.”
James’ fingers traced the small curve of Will's spine, down the small of his back. Will instinctively spreads his legs a little further apart as he leans In to kiss James' hot and passionate tongues wrapping in each mouth over a fight of dominance, James slides his fingers between Will's cheeks and lets a finger dip into Will's ass. Will moans, the sound is soft, perfect as he moans into James’ mouth.
James pulls back from the kiss “You already prepped ?” James says adding around his finger feeling wills lubed ass, wills head falling forward on James’ shoulder as he moans “Yeah wanted to be ready” he pants trying to get his words out
“more” will demand he pushes his leaking cock further onto James’ shirt fingers intertwined in James’ hair pulling lightly.
And who was James to deny him that? He adds a third finger stretching wills ass, his movements firm but gentle. Teasing Will knows how to make him fall apart under him. “My good boy”
Will's eyes flutter close, his lips parting with a silent plea, his mind fogging over with simple pleasure and he doesn’t even have a dick in him yet. “You're so handsome like this”
He tore out his pleasure as he feels James removing his fingers, a whine that Will didn’t know was coming was forced out, he felt James shake with laughter, and he didn’t have the energy to call him a dick or slap his arm. He needs to be filled
James lifted Will placing him on the bed “ass up” James says taking his baggy shirt off showing his well-crafted body and pulling his boxers down no matter how many times will see or feel James’ cock it looks and feels bigger each time.
Will hates that he feels like bitch heat with his ass up on his knees but also he knows he loves it and he can let himself indulge with James, everything going to be okay, he wills himself not to get too caught up.
James rubs his back as positions behind him, and pulls Will back slightly, teasing Will with cock head against his entrance, James steadies Will's hips because he knows how greedy his boy can be, and perfectly on time will tries to push his hips back begging for it without saying anything but a small whine.
“Ready? “ James says pushing slowly knowing that Will doesn’t need the prep of the rules of the taps or Green or Red, he knows Will knows
“Green, stop bitching round” Will moans as his ass is stretching, one part of him trying to will himself to be present and conscious, the other ready to drip into bliss.
James smirked, his grip tightening on Will’s hips as he thrust forward, burying himself deep inside Will’s tight heat. Will cried out, the sound a mix of pain and pleasure, his body arching as he adjusted to the intrusion. “Good boy,” James praised, his voice thick with satisfaction. “Take it all.”
Will nodded, his eyes squeezed shut as he focused on the stretch, on the burn that quickly turned to bliss. James began to move, slow and deliberate at first, his thrusts steady and controlled on one hand on Will's hip the other buried deep into Will's hair. Will moaned, his body sinking further into the mattress, his hands scrabbling against the sheets as he struggled to keep himself grounded.
James leaned over him, his lips brushing Will’s ear as he spoke. “That’s it,” he whispered, his voice a low rumble. “Feel it. Feel me inside you.”
Will whimpered, his body trembling as James’s words sent shivers down his spine. He felt full, stretched, his every nerve ending alight with sensation. James’s thrusts grew firmer, more insistent, and Will’s breath quickened, his body tensing as pleasure coiled tight in his gut.
James’ hand moves from the back of Will's hair to around his throat no pressure but a presence, James’ thrust is slow but thoughtful with power behind. He leans in close to Will's ears nibbling at the lob “Beg Will. Fucking beg” as he snaps his hips, holding Will's head close to his.
Will can't. He isn’t a bitch that begs. That is what he thinks but it’s almost like an instant “please James” It's a chant that moans out begging for more, more of James. More of everything. He has no control, the words fall out, and his body moves and contorts in pleasure in ways it never has before.
James beamed he never thought he hear these sounds, these beautiful fucking sounds ever escaped wills lips. “That’s it baby” James whispers in Will's ear “My good boy” his voice low and proud only to spur Will on more “beg for what you need darling” his thrust grew firmer, and he could feel Will pressing his throat on James neck only for James to add bit of pressure to release a moan that sounds like 1000 angels to James ears.
Will’s body sunk further into subspace, his body on the world's best autopilot begging to do anything James could ask, his hand clenching into the mattress and his arms giving way letting his head press in sheets but James’ hand says firm. He can’t form words, it's a jumble of pleases and James and asking for more.
James watched him with a mixture of pride and hunger, his desire coiling tight in his gut. He leaned forward, his lips brushing Will’s ear as he spoke. “You’re so fucking perfect,” he growled, his voice rough with need. “So beautiful when you’re like this.”
Will shuddered, his body trembling as James’s words sank in. He felt exposed and vulnerable, and yet, in that moment, he felt more alive than ever. James’s thrusts grew relentless, his movements driven by a primal need, and Will’s breath hitched, his body tensing as pleasure built to an unbearable crescendo.
“Cum for me,” James commanded his voice a low growl. “Let go, Will. Give it to me.”
Will cried out, his body arching as he obeyed, his release bursting forth, hot and intense. James followed, his own orgasm tearing through him, his thrusts stuttering as he spills himself deep inside Will. They collapsed together, Will’s body limp and boneless, his breath coming in ragged gasps as James held him, his arms a firm anchor in the aftermath of their passion.
James pressed a kiss to Will’s sweat-dampened hair, his voice soft and tender as he spoke. “My good boy,” he murmured, his lips curving into a satisfied smile. “You did so well.”
Will smiled weakly, his eyes fluttering closed as he basked in the afterglow. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.
James chuckled, a low, golden sound that shimmered through the quiet. “Rest now,” he whispered, his hand gliding over Will’s back in slow, reverent circles. “We’ll clean up later, my love.”
Will’s eyes fluttered closed, a sigh slipping from his lips as he nestled closer. His body, spent and sated, melted into the warmth beside him. James’s touch was a lullaby, a promise, a tether to something safe and whole. Around them, the world softened—the candlelight dancing like fireflies on the walls, the hush of the room cradling them in its arms.
They lay there, wrapped in one another, hearts beating in quiet harmony. And in that stillness, they both felt it—something had shifted between them. This wasn’t just desire; it was trust, a gentle opening, a door pushed wide to let the other fully in.
A shared truth settled over them like a second blanket: they had stepped into something deeper, something lasting. And in that warmth, with the scent of skin and love hanging in the air, they were content—utterly, completely.
Together, they drifted into sleep, knowing they’d just crossed a threshold neither of them wanted to return from.