Chapter 1: Unpacking Heat
Tayden shoved the last of his neatly folded shirts into the cramped dorm dresser, the faint scent of his mother’s lavender laundry detergent lingering in the air. The room was small, barely big enough for two twin beds and a pair of desks, but to him, it was freedom. No more siblings snoring or parents hovering. Just him, his thoughts, and his new roommate, Ethan, who was currently sprawled on his bed, tossing a stress ball in the air with a lazy grin.
‘So, Utah boy,’ Ethan drawled, catching the ball mid-air and fixing Tayden with a mischievous smirk. ‘You gonna survive out here without your flock of sheep or whatever you’ve got back home?’
Tayden rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at his lips. He leaned against the dresser, crossing his arms over his slender, toned chest. ‘I’ll manage. And for the record, we don’t all herd sheep. Some of us just play soccer and try not to die of boredom under parental lockdown.’
Ethan chuckled, sitting up. His pale skin contrasted with Tayden’s sun-kissed glow, but their builds were eerily similar—lean, athletic, brimming with the restless energy of eighteen-year-olds. ‘Lockdown, huh? Sounds like you’ve been itching to break some rules.’
Tayden’s heart gave a little thump at that, though he masked it with a casual shrug. ‘Maybe. Never had much chance to. Shared a room with three siblings. Privacy was a myth.’
‘Well, damn,’ Ethan said, hopping off the bed and sauntering over to help Tayden unpack a box of books. He stood close—too close, maybe—and Tayden caught a whiff of something clean and sharp, like aftershave. ‘Guess this is your big rebellion then. State school instead of holy land BYU. What’s next? Sneaking beers? Sneaking... other things?’
Tayden’s cheeks warmed, but he held Ethan’s gaze, refusing to back down. ‘I’m not some naive kid, you know. I can handle myself. And who says I’m sneaking anything? Maybe I’m just... curious.’
Ethan’s grin widened, a spark of something dangerous flickering in his hazel eyes. ‘Curious is a good start. I like curious.’ He bent down to grab a book, his shoulder brushing against Tayden’s arm, and the contact sent a jolt through Tayden’s body—a heat he wasn’t used to, one that made his breath catch just a little.
They worked in charged silence for a moment, the air between them growing thicker with every accidental touch, every sly glance. Tayden’s fingers fumbled with a stack of notebooks, his mind racing. He’d never felt this kind of pull before, not with anyone. Was it just the thrill of being away from home, or was it Ethan’s sharp wit, the way he seemed to see right through Tayden’s carefully constructed good-boy facade?
‘Hey,’ Ethan said suddenly, straightening up and stepping even closer. Their faces were inches apart now, and Tayden could feel the warmth radiating off him. ‘You ever wonder what it’s like to just... let go? No rules, no expectations. Just do what feels good?’
Tayden swallowed hard, his voice low but steady. ‘All the time. You offering to show me?’
Ethan’s laugh was a low rumble, and before Tayden could overthink it, Ethan’s hand was on his waist, light but firm, testing the waters. ‘Only if you’re game, Utah. I don’t play with anyone who’s not all in.’
Tayden’s pulse hammered in his ears, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he tilted his chin up, a challenge in his eyes. ‘I’m in. Show me what I’ve been missing.’
The room seemed to shrink around them as Ethan’s grip tightened, pulling Tayden closer. Their lips were a breath apart, the tension electric, and Tayden felt a rush of heat pooling low in his body, a need he couldn’t name but desperately wanted to explore. Whatever was about to happen, he knew it would shatter every boundary he’d ever known—and he was ready for it.
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