Ethan's hands still tingled from the feel of Alex's jaw under his fingers as he finished charting the last note of the day. The clinic had emptied out an hour ago...assistants gone, lights dimmed in the hallways, only his private office glowing soft at the end. He saved the file, closed the laptop, and leaned back in his chair. The temporary crown looked perfect on the digital scan. Alex would be fine...dentally, at least.
But the rest? That was a different story.
Seeing Alex in his chair today had shaken Ethan more than he let show. Those brown eyes looking up at him...trusting him...the same eyes that had stared into his under moonlight three years ago. The spark was still there. Stronger, even. Coffee had turned into easy talk, laughs, stolen touches across the table. And now...now Alex was coming over tonight.
Ethan glanced at the clock. Almost seven. He stood, grabbed his keys, and turned off the lights. The drive home felt short...mind racing with what-ifs. What if it was awkward? What if too much time had passed? What if it felt exactly the same?
His apartment building appeared fast. He parked in the garage, rode the elevator up, and stepped inside his place. Modern and clean...big windows showing city lights starting to twinkle, open kitchen with stainless steel, soft couch facing a big TV. He dropped his bag, loosened his tie, and poured a glass of water. Calm down, he told himself. It's just dinner. Just talking.
A knock came at the door exactly at seven-thirty.
Ethan opened it.
Alex stood there in jeans and a fitted black shirt, sleeves hugging his arms. No hoodie or cap this time...just him, tall and handsome, holding a bottle of red wine and a small smile.
"Hey," Alex said. "Hope this is okay. Figured we could use it."
Ethan stepped aside. "Perfect. Come in."
Alex walked past, brushing close enough that Ethan caught his cologne again. He looked around. "Nice place. Suits you."
"Thanks. Make yourself at home." Ethan took the wine, opened it while Alex slipped off his shoes. They moved to the kitchen easy...like no time had passed.
"So," Ethan said, pouring two glasses. "How's the jaw feeling?"
Alex worked it side to side. "Good. Numbness gone. Temporary feels solid. You're seriously the best."
Ethan handed him a glass. "Told you. Practice."
They clinked glasses and sipped. The wine was smooth...rich and warm. Alex leaned against the counter. "Smells good in here. You cook?"
"Ordered in," Ethan admitted with a laugh. "Italian from that spot down the street. Figured we could eat and talk."
Alex's eyes softened. "Missed talking to you."
Ethan felt his chest tighten. "Yeah. Me too."
They moved to the couch with plates...pasta, salad, bread...simple but good. Conversation started light. Alex told stories from the road...crazy fans, teammate pranks, a game in Miami where it rained inside the arena. Ethan shared clinic tales...a nervous singer who needed laughing gas for a simple filling, a kid who swallowed a toy and needed x-rays.
Laughter came easy. So did quiet moments...eyes meeting, smiles lingering.
After plates were empty, they sat closer. Wine glasses half full on the table. The city sparkled outside the window.
"Tell me the truth," Alex said softly. "Did you think about that night? After?"
Ethan nodded slow. "All the time. Replayed it in my head. The beach. Us. Wondered what would've happened if we'd exchanged numbers."
Alex set his glass down. "I did the same. Looked you up. Saw your clinic growing. Told myself you were better off without my chaos."
Ethan turned to face him fully. "Chaos?"
"Media. Travel. The past catching up sometimes." Alex looked down at his hands. "Gangs from back in the day...they don't forget you made it out."
Ethan reached out, touched his arm. "Hey. You saved me that night. You're the strongest person I know."
Alex looked up. Their faces were close now. "You're the calm one. Fixing things. Making people whole."
Ethan's hand moved to Alex's cheek...gentle, careful of the sore spot. "Your tooth isn't the only thing that needed fixing, is it?"
Alex leaned into the touch. "No. Been missing something. Someone."
The kiss started slow...soft press of lips, testing. Then deeper. Alex's hand found Ethan's waist, pulling him closer. Ethan sighed into it, hands sliding into Alex's curls. Years of want poured out.
They moved together like they never stopped. Alex lifted Ethan easy, carrying him to the bedroom without breaking the kiss. Lamps glowed low...big bed with soft sheets. Clothes came off slow...shirts first, then pants. Skin on skin felt like coming home.
Alex kissed down Ethan's neck...slow, reverent. Ethan arched, fingers tracing the muscles of Alex's back. Every touch lit fire. Alex's mouth moved lower...chest, stomach...teasing until Ethan begged soft.
When Alex took him in...slow heat, perfect pressure...Ethan moaned loud, hips lifting. Alex worked him gentle then deep, eyes locked. Pleasure built fast and sweet.
Ethan pulled him up for a kiss, flipping them so he was on top. He returned every favor...mouth exploring Alex's body, tasting salt and heat. Alex groaned low, hands gripping sheets.
They took time...no rush. Hands stroked, mouths worshipped. When Alex finally entered him...slow push, eyes asking permission...Ethan gasped yes. They moved together perfect...deep thrusts, shared breaths, names whispered like prayers.
Climax came together...waves crashing hard and long. Ethan first, crying out into Alex's shoulder. Alex followed, burying deep, holding tight.
After, they lay tangled...sweat cooling, hearts slowing. Alex pulled the blanket over them, arm around Ethan's waist.
"Stay," Ethan whispered.
"Try to make me leave," Alex murmured against his hair.
They talked soft in the dark. About fears...loneliness...how empty success felt without someone real. Alex shared more about his past...growing up scared, using basketball to escape. Ethan opened up about work filling voids, never feeling quite enough.
"You're enough," Alex said, kissing his forehead. "More than."
Ethan smiled against his chest. "So are you."
Sleep came easy for the first time in years.
Morning light woke them slow. Alex's phone buzzed from the living room...practice soon. Ethan groaned as Alex kissed him goodbye.
"Game tonight," Alex said at the door. "Come. Please."
Ethan nodded. "Wouldn't miss it."
Alex left with one more deep kiss.
Ethan showered, dressed, headed to work with a smile he couldn't hide. Maria noticed right away.
"Someone's happy today," she teased.
Ethan just grinned. "Good patient yesterday."
The day flew...patients, calls, charts...but his mind stayed on Alex. On last night. On what this could be.
Across town, Alex ran drills with extra energy. Teammates joked he was on fire. Coach loved it. But Alex's secret fuel was Ethan...blue eyes, soft touches, the way he said his name.
Evening came fast. The arena filled...lights bright, crowd loud. Ethan sat in a private seat Alex arranged...close to the court but hidden.
The game was intense. Alex dominated...dunks, threes, steals. Every point felt like a promise. At one timeout, he glanced up...found Ethan's eyes...smiled big.
Suns won easy.
After, in the players' parking lot, Alex waited by his SUV. Ethan walked up, heart racing again.
"Great game," Ethan said.
Alex pulled him close. "Better with you watching."
They drove to Ethan's place...hands linked over the console.
Inside, clothes stayed on barely long enough to reach the bedroom. This time was slower...tender. Alex laid Ethan back, kissed every inch. Hands linked as they moved together...deep, emotional. Whispers of more...of staying...of trying.
Pleasure built gentle then strong. They came undone together again...holding tight like they never wanted to let go.
After, wrapped in each other, Alex traced patterns on Ethan's back.
"This real?" he asked soft.
Ethan kissed his chest. "Real as it gets."
Outside, the city kept moving. Inside, two hearts were finally healing.
More than teeth were fixed.
Something broken long ago was whole again.
And it was only the beginning.