The sheets were still warm from the night before—tangled, messy, a silent testament to everything neither of them dared to say aloud. Morning light filtered through the blinds, streaking gold across Vinny's bare chest as he lay on his side, watching Matthew with a look that was half smug, half unreadable.
Matthew was sprawled beside him, shirtless, one arm bent behind his head, the other draped loosely across his stomach. His usually composed face was softened by sleep, jaw shadowed with stubble, lips slightly parted. But Vinny knew better than to mistake that stillness for peace.
Matthew was thinking. He was always thinking.
"I know you're awake," Vinny said lazily.
Matthew didn't open his eyes. "And I know you're staring at me like a creep."
Vinny smirked. "Don't flatter yourself."
A quiet beat passed.
"You said something last night," Matthew murmured, finally cracking one green-silver eye open.
Vinny's pulse skipped. "I said a lot of things."
"You called me yours."
Vinny rolled onto his back with a groan. "God, are you seriously bringing that up?"
Matthew turned his head, eyes sharper now. "Say it again."
"No."
Matthew shifted, rolling onto his side, propping his head up on one hand. "You can scream it when you're under me, but now suddenly it's too much?"
Vinny tossed a pillow at him, which Matthew caught effortlessly, laughing.
"You're such an ass," Vinny muttered.
"But you like it." He leaned closer, fingers brushing over Vinny's exposed stomach. "Admit it."
Vinny reached up and grabbed Matthew's wrist, holding it still. "Don't get cocky just because you made me melt for you once."
Matthew leaned in further, their noses almost touching. "Once?"
"Okay. More than once," Vinny admitted with a sigh. "Happy?"
"No. I want to hear it properly."
Vinny narrowed his eyes. "What is it with you and needing to be validated like a needy boyfriend?"
Matthew didn't flinch at the word. If anything, it made his eyes gleam darker. "Maybe because I am your needy boyfriend."
Vinny froze.
Matthew used the pause to his advantage, dragging his fingers slowly up Vinny's side, over the curve of his ribcage, until Vinny's breath hitched. He leaned down, lips brushing against Vinny's ear.
"Say it again."
Vinny turned his head, refusing to meet his gaze. "You're mine," he muttered.
"Louder."
"You're mine, damn it."
Matthew grinned and kissed him hard—hungry, insistent, all teeth and tongue. Vinny gave in too easily, pulling him closer until their bodies fit together like they were made for this chaos.
It wasn't just kissing.
It was claiming.
After what felt like forever, they broke apart. Matthew stayed close, his forehead pressed to Vinny's. "You're not the only one who likes being claimed," he whispered.
Vinny blinked up at him. "What?"
Matthew's fingers skimmed down his chest again, slower now. "When you called me yours last night… it did something to me. I haven't stopped thinking about it."
Vinny flushed. "You're such a freak."
"You like that about me."
Vinny didn't argue.
They stayed tangled for a while longer before Vinny finally stretched, tossing the sheets off. "You hungry?"
Matthew watched him pad around the room in nothing but boxers, already regretting letting him get out of bed. "Starving."
"For food or me?" Vinny asked with a smirk.
"Both," Matthew said without missing a beat.
Vinny paused by the doorway, leaning against the frame. "You're dangerous when you're honest."
"You're worse when you pretend you're not soft for me."
Vinny scoffed but didn't deny it.
They ended up in the kitchen, Matthew perched on the counter while Vinny scrounged through cabinets. The tension never really left—it just shifted into something quieter, more domestic, yet equally charged.
"You ever think about what we're doing?" Matthew asked suddenly.
Vinny raised a brow. "Define 'what.'"
"This thing. Us."
Vinny paused, closing the fridge. "What about it?"
"It started as a game," Matthew said. "But now…"
Vinny leaned back against the counter, arms crossed. "Now you're catching feelings?"
Matthew held his gaze. "Aren't you?"
Vinny's throat tightened. "I don't know."
Matthew hopped off the counter and walked up to him. "I do. And you do too. You're just scared to admit it."
Vinny hated that he was right.
So instead of answering, he pulled Matthew closer by the waistband of his sweats and whispered against his lips, "Make me admit it."
Matthew smirked. "Gladly."
And when their mouths met again, it was less teasing and more promise.
This wasn't the end of their game.
It was just getting serious.