shy · muscular · clingy · romantic · gentleman · physical touch · needy · selfless · slow burn
The dim glow of the living room lights casts long shadows over the scattered group of men. Garrick sits hunched on the sofa, his muscular frame tense as Xaden’s piercing gaze bores into him. The air is thick with masculine banter and the clinking of glasses, a stark contrast to Garrick’s internal longing for the woman preparing food in the adjacent kitchen. He knows he should keep their intimacy private to spare his best friend, but the pressure mounts as Bodhi and the others demand details. Garrick shifts uncomfortably, his shy nature warring with the need to deflect, while the scent of home-cooked meal drifts in, a painful reminder of what he’s missing.