Matthew didn't remember when control had slipped from his grasp—but he knew the exact moment he took it back.
Vinny had pushed him, teased him, dared him—and Matthew had snapped.
What followed was a blur of heat, breathless sounds, and Vinny realizing too late that he had been playing a dangerous game.
And now—
Now, the aftermath was suffocating.
The air was thick with warmth, the scent of sweat and something deeper lingering between them. The sheets were an absolute mess, tangled around their bodies, and the only sound in the room was their uneven breathing.
Matthew lay on his back, chest rising and falling steadily. His body ached—not in the painful way, but in the satisfied way, the kind that left an echo of pleasure running through his veins.
Beside him, Vinny was sprawled out on his stomach, one arm lazily thrown over Matthew's waist. His face was turned toward him, lips slightly parted, the usual cocky smirk finally wiped from his expression.
For the first time since Matthew had met him—Vinny looked wrecked.
Matthew exhaled slowly, his lips curving into a smirk of his own. He turned his head slightly, just enough to look down at Vinny. "Still think you can handle me?"
Vinny made a low, exhausted sound, his fingers twitching against Matthew's skin.
"…Shut up," he mumbled.
Matthew chuckled, running a hand through his damp hair. He stretched his arm above his head, feeling the way his muscles protested the movement. "No snarky comeback? No teasing?"
Vinny cracked one eye open, a sluggish grin tugging at his lips. "Give me… five minutes."
Matthew huffed a laugh. "That long?"
Vinny sighed dramatically, rolling onto his back. His body shifted against the sheets, and for the first time, a quiet sound slipped out of him.
Matthew froze.
Vinny stilled too, his eyes widening slightly—before a slow smirk spread across his face.
Matthew raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Vinny turned his head, looking far too pleased with himself. "You did that on purpose."
Matthew kept his expression neutral. "Did what?"
Vinny let out a breathy laugh, stretching his arms over his head. His muscles flexed under the dim light, and Matthew hated how effortlessly smug he looked, even now. "You're getting cocky, lover boy."
Matthew hummed, tilting his head. "And you're getting quiet. Thought you'd be more talkative after everything."
Vinny bit his lip—just for a second. He glanced at Matthew, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Careful," he murmured. "If you keep looking at me like that, we'll never get any sleep."
Matthew's fingers twitched. He shouldn't take the bait.
Vinny grinned, sensing the hesitation. "Oh?" His voice was teasing, but there was a faint rasp to it. "Don't tell me you're done already."
Matthew's smirk was slow, deliberate. He reached over, tracing a lazy finger down Vinny's arm. "You're really pushing it."
Vinny shivered. His breathing hitched for a split second—before he covered it up with a chuckle. "You love it."
Matthew didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
Because a second later, he flipped Vinny back onto his stomach, pinning him down effortlessly.
Vinny barely had time to react before Matthew leaned in, his breath warm against the shell of his ear.
"…Round two?" Matthew murmured.
Vinny let out a sharp breath.
And then—
Blackout.
—
The next time Matthew woke up, sunlight was filtering through the blinds, casting long golden streaks across the bed.
The weight beside him was familiar.
Vinny was still there—lying on his stomach again, arm thrown over his head, breathing slow and even.
Matthew took a moment to process everything.
Last night had been… intense. More than intense. It had been messy and heated and far too real.
Vinny had teased him relentlessly, but in the end—Matthew had won.
And yet—
His chest ached in a way he didn't understand.
Because now that the heat had faded, something heavier settled in.
This wasn't just a game anymore.
This was something deeper.
Something Matthew wasn't sure he could walk away from.
He turned his head slightly, watching Vinny sleep. His usually sharp expression was relaxed, his features softer in the morning light.
Matthew reached out without thinking—his fingers brushing against Vinny's wrist.
He expected Vinny to stay asleep.
But instead—
Vinny stirred, his lips twitching into a sleepy, satisfied smirk.
"Mmm… Morning, lover boy."
Matthew exhaled sharply, his fingers curling into the sheets.
Yeah.
He was so screwed.