Page 131 of Killing Me Softly

They stayed there for a moment, panting into each other, water cascading over them. Then Aaron chuckled, breathless and wrecked, rubbing a hand over his face before dropping his feet to the ground. “You’re getting old, doc,” he teased, swiping the fogged-up glass with his palm. “You almost dropped me.”

Kenny smirked, pressing a final, lingering kiss to Aaron’s throat before turning him around, shoving him under the spray and slapping his arse. “Brat.”

They washed each other after that—properlythis time—still slow, still teasing, but without the same desperation. And when Aaron finally stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist and running another through his hair, he winked at Kenny before opening the door. Where Chaos came barrelling in at full speed, tail wagging, tongue lolling, his entiresoulvibrating with joy. Aaron caught him, laughing as the dog launched up, licking his face like he hadn’t seen him in weeks.

“Miss me, boy?”

Kenny leaned over the sink, still dripping, still flushed from everything, and justlaughed.

Becausefuck, he was happy.

He dried off, rubbing a towel over his head before glancing in the mirror.

His smile was a permanent fixture now. It had taken time to get used to it.

After getting dressed, Kenny opened the front door, stepping outside into the crisp autumn air. Their path led straight down to the beach.Theirbeach. A secluded stretch of coastline, untouched by the usual swarm of tourists, hidden away from the crowds that flocked to the bigger, flashier parts of the island. This was different.

Quiet.Private.Theirs.

Only the few scattered houses in the village shared it, and even then, most of the locals stayed away as the colder months crept in. The sand was damp beneath his feet, darkened from the morning mist still clinging to the edges of the cliffs, curling lazily over the rugged coastline and the tide had come in strong last night, leaving behind pools of sea foam with scents of brine thick in the air.

Out on the beach, Aaron was already running, Chaos bounding at his heels, barking with wild excitement. Aaron laughed as he threw the ball, sending it soaring down the stretch of sand, before turning and sprinting straight into the shallows, letting the freezing waves hit his ankles. He didn’t even flinch.Of course he didn’t.

Kenny smiled, watching him from his usual spot. Which was two wooden chairs sat side by side, facing out toward the endless horizon. The same place where he and Aaron sat in the evenings, watching the sun sink into the sea, painting the sky in wild hues of orange and pink. Their own little ritual. A quiet claim on the life they had built. He sank into his seat, letting the cool air settle over him, but after a while, two looming shadows fell across his lap, blocking out the sun. Kenny peered up, shielding his eyes with one hand.

“Well, this looks suspicious,” Jack said, fingers loosely threaded with Fraser’s as he clutched their bags. “Dr Kenneth Lyons relaxing? A smile on his face? Is this a case of the body snatchers?”

Kenny shot up, pulling Jack into a firm hug, then Fraser, clapping him on the back. “Why didn’t you call from the port? I would have given you directions.”

“It’s okay, we have all the mod cons of a sat nav.”

“Sometimes those things take you right off the cliff.”

Jack chuckled, peering out toward the beach, where Aaron and Chaos were tearing across the shoreline. “That yours?”

“Yeah,”Kenny said with an affectionate shake of his head. “And the dog.”

Jack chuckled. “So, not a completely unchaotic life? He must make a mess.”

“Which one?”

“I suspect both.”

“Great detective skills.” Kenny’s chest warmed at the sight of Aaron—free, alive,his. “Wouldn’t have him any other way.” He smiled, then ushered them to the house. “Come inside. Let me take your bags, show you around. Then we’ll grab some drinks and bring out the deck chairs.”

Kenny led them through the cottage, showing them to the spare room. It was small but cosy, with a view of the cliffs and the sea beyond. Then they all pitched in, carrying glasses, a cool box packed with drinks and snacks, and two fold-up chairs before making their way back down to the beach.

By the time they returned, Aaron had finished his run, hair damp from the sea spray, cheeks flushed from the wind. He strode up to them, shaking Jack and Fraser’s hands, before going to drop onto a chair only for Chaos to leap up and claim it for himself.

Aaron huffed out a laugh, rolling his eyes. “Traitor.”

Then, instead of bothering to find another seat, he climbed right into Kenny’s lap, settling against his chest like he belonged there.

But, of course,he did.

Kenny rubbed slow, soothing circles over his back, trailing his fingers under his jumper. They cracked open drinks, passing them around, and the conversation fell into an easy rhythm. Small talk. Stories from the past year. Catching up on the mundane. Fraser talked about the new hiking trails he wanted to drag Jack through. Jack grumbled about paperwork, but Kenny could tell he didn’treallyhate it as much as he claimed. Aaron, as always, kept sneaking Chaos snacks, grinning whenever Kenny shot him a knowing glare.

But eventually, the conversation had to turn.

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