Best Friends & Roommates

Elias and Marcus had been roommates for three years.

They had met in college and decided to get an apartment together after graduation. It was convenient. They got along well. They split the rent and chores.

What Elias didn’t tell Marcus was that he had been in love with him since their sophomore year.

He had tried dating other people. He had tried to get over it. But every time Marcus smiled at him, every time they stayed up late talking, every time Marcus walked around the apartment shirtless — it got harder.

One night, after a bad date, Elias came home frustrated and a little drunk.

Marcus was on the couch watching TV.

“Bad night?” Marcus asked.

Elias kicked off his shoes and collapsed next to him.

“The worst,” he muttered. “I don’t know why I even bother dating.”

Marcus looked at him for a long moment.

Then he said quietly, “Maybe you should stop dating other people.”

Elias turned to look at him.

“What?”

Marcus swallowed.

“Maybe you should date me instead.”

Elias stared at him.

For a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

Then Marcus leaned in and kissed him.

It was slow at first — careful, almost hesitant. Then Elias made a desperate sound and kissed him back, and Marcus’s control snapped.

He pushed Elias down onto the couch and kissed him harder, hands roaming possessively. Elias wrapped his legs around Marcus’s waist and pulled him closer.

They didn’t make it to the bedroom.

Marcus fucked Elias right there on the couch — deep, desperate, and completely overwhelming. Every thrust was rough and possessive, like Marcus was trying to make up for years of not saying anything.

“You have no idea,” Marcus growled against Elias’s ear, “how long I’ve wanted this. How long I’ve wanted you.”

Elias could only moan in response, completely lost in the feeling of finally having what he had wanted for so long.

When they finally came — together, shaking and gasping — Marcus gathered Elias into his arms and held him close.

“I love you,” Marcus whispered. “I’ve loved you for years.”

Elias closed his eyes and rested his head against Marcus’s chest.

“I love you too,” he whispered back. “So much.”

Marcus kissed the top of his head.

“Good,” he murmured. “Because I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”

Elias smiled.

“Good,” he whispered. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

And for the first time in three years, their apartment felt like home.

Because it finally was.