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He watched as Coop dried off, then, pulled on a pair of boxer-briefs and shorts His T-shirt stretched over the muscles that Noah loved so et hard

"If you keep looking atout of here" Coop’s eyebroent up

"I can’t help it You’re sexy"

"And you’re not? Still, if we don’t eat I y left for tonight"

Noah laughed, pulling his shirt over his head "We wouldn’t want that"

They went to an out-of-the-way diner and had breakfast Questions ate a hole through Noah Was Cooper okay? Was he thinking about his parents and hiding it? Was this thing between the to work?

He kept the there was a better time to discuss it than now

After lunch they headed to the lake They had fishing supplies, chairs and whatever else they needed in the back of Coop’s truck They parked on the side of the tree-lined, quiet road beforethe short hike down a hill, and to the water

They had their fishing poles in the water for about an hour when Noah looked over at Coop in the chair beside hi, ? Because of what today is or because of e did last night?"

Noah shrugged "I don’t know Both, I guess" His heart paused its beat, waiting for Cooper’s answer

"I know I should feel strange, because of last night, but I don’t I’m shocked I did it, and more shocked that I liked it so much There’s a part ofI shouldn’t want you inside er by a uess… ," he stopped as if to think over his words "I guess, it doesn’t matter what I think I should want Whatis between us I feel more like myself when I’ain He reached over and laid a hand on Cooper’s strong arood, right?"

Even though it had been Noah who lightened their ht be different forelse is the same I’ve only ever felt corinned "See? I aood"

Noah shook his head "You’re an ass Nohat about the rest of it? Your parents?"

"I still miss ’em like hell, Noah There’s a part of , I shouldn’t feel it this deeply, but I do I’h I think they’d be happy to know I’m happy"

He had no doubt Cooper’s words were true, but the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes, said his lover was feeling things more than he wanted to share That had always been Coop He felt guilt for things that weren’t his fault And Noah knew Cooper would always bla his parents behind in that house, even though there was no way he could have saved them

Before Noah could push the conversation farther, Coop’s fishing pole jerked in his hand "Well lookie here, Noah Looks like I’ the fish couldn’t have cos and Cooper wasn’t in theto Noah about it The man was about the only person he really could, but not now Not this weekend He wanted this to be about the with so they’d thrown it back Cooper stood next to Noah’s chair ready to do so with me" He nodded toward the water

Noah didn’t need to be asked twice He reeled in his pole before taking off his shirt and dropping it on his chair Cooper caught sight of that dragon tattoo on Noah’s upper back that he loved so much It continued to surprise hi down to their underwear, they headed for the water Coop watched as Noah dunked his head under before breaking the surface again, shaking out his dark, wet hair Would he ever get tired of watching Noah? Even doing the sis like that?

They swam for a while before Noah snuck up behind hiether, water running down each of their faces When he looked at Noah, there was no doubt in his mind that this was it for him That he really was in love with him