Vinny never knocked. He didn't need to.
The door creaked open slowly as if it already knew the rhythm of his arrival. He stepped in, eyes scanning the loft like he expected ghosts, but what he found instead was the slow hum of music, warm lamplight, and the soft click of Matthew emerging from the kitchen—hair damp from a recent shower, sleeves rolled up, collar slightly undone.
Vinny blinked once. "You trying to seduce me or just forgot what buttons are for?"
Matthew's brow arched with amused condescension. "Why not both?"
Vinny dropped his bag near the door. "You good?" He meant it casually, but his eyes didn't match the tone. They darted to Matthew's arm—still bruised, the fading remnants of the warehouse fight.
"I'm fine," Matthew said. Too quick.
Vinny didn't buy it, but he didn't push. Not yet.
Instead, he sauntered in like he owned the place, like he always did, and collapsed onto the couch with a groan. "I've had a long-ass day. You better feed me, or I'll sue for emotional damage."
Matthew wandered closer, leaning against the wall with a glass of wine, slow and easy. "You always this needy, or is it just when you miss me?"
Vinny tilted his head, smirk sharp. "You're assuming I missed you."
"I know you did," Matthew replied, walking over and sliding down next to him, their knees brushing.
Vinny's fingers twitched at the contact but didn't move away. "Cocky."
"You like that about me."
"I like a lot of things about you." Vinny's voice dropped just enough to thicken the air.
They sat like that for a beat—close, too close, a thousand unspoken things stretched tight between them. Vinny's gaze dropped to Matthew's lips for half a second too long before he snapped out of it with a smirk.
"You're staring," Matthew said, amused.
"You've got that 'I just got out of the shower' look," Vinny murmured. "It's distracting."
"Sit on my lap then. Get a closer look."
Vinny blinked.
Matthew didn't even flinch. "Unless you're scared."
Vinny laughed—a soft, breathy thing—and straddled him without hesitation, arms sliding around his neck like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Scared? Of you? That's cute."
"You should be." Matthew's hands found Vinny's waist, holding just firm enough to make Vinny's heart stutter.
Their faces were inches apart now. Every breath was shared, every glance louder than words. Vinny tilted his head, eyes searching Matthew's like he was trying to find all the pieces of himself he'd left behind.
"What are we even doing, Matt?"
Matthew's fingers twitched. "Right now or in general?"
"Both."
Matthew exhaled slowly. "Whatever this is… it's real. That's what matters."
Vinny hesitated. Then, with that crooked, teasing smile he wore so well, he murmured, "That's dangerously close to being sweet."
"Don't tell anyone. I have a reputation."
They both laughed, soft and low, like they didn't want to break whatever fragile thing had settled between them. Vinny leaned in, forehead brushing Matthew's.
Then came the whisper.
"I like it when you call me yours."
Matthew froze.
Vinny smirked against his cheek. "You said it once. That I'm yours."
Matthew's grip on his waist tightened.
"I liked it," Vinny murmured, voice like sin wrapped in silk. "So possessive. So not-you."
"It is me," Matthew said, voice low, serious now. "You just bring it out."
Vinny's smirk faltered into something softer. He didn't reply, not with words.
Instead, his fingers slid into Matthew's damp hair, tugging gently as their lips finally met in a slow, burning kiss. It wasn't rushed—it didn't need to be. It was molten, lingering, both of them savoring every second like they didn't know what would happen tomorrow.
Because maybe they didn't.
Vinny pulled back slightly, breath ragged. "We're a mess, you know that?"
Matthew's smile was wicked and unrepentant. "But we look good doing it."
Vinny laughed again, the sound almost affectionate now, before collapsing fully against him, head tucked into Matthew's shoulder like it belonged there. Matthew's arms encircled him without question, like they'd done it a thousand times before.
And maybe they had. In other lives. In other versions of this story where the world hadn't made them so sharp.
For a while, they didn't talk.
The quiet was new.
But then Vinny's voice broke through. "Tom hasn't texted me back."
Matthew's jaw tightened slightly. "You think something's up?"
"Don't know. He's been weird lately."
That's an understatement, Matthew thought, remembering the way Tom's voice had dripped venom during their last confrontation.
"I'll figure it out," Matthew said instead.
Vinny shifted to look at him. "You sure you're okay?"
Matthew brushed his fingers down Vinny's spine. "I am now."
It wasn't a lie. Not exactly.
Vinny pressed a soft kiss to his neck, a slow thank-you without words. "You're dangerous when you're like this."
"Like what?"
"Soft."
Matthew chuckled. "Only for you."
"Don't get too used to this." Vinny smirked. "I still plan to ruin your life a little."
Matthew's gaze burned. "You already have."
And for once, it didn't sound like a curse.
It sounded like a promise.