Soapy

No one was home, which I had been expecting. No, not expecting; anticipating. There was a note on the fridge telling me to get take out, even though there was plenty of food in the cupboards. Magnus was looking at everything with big, nervous eyes. It was true that we had a huge house filled with expensive crap, but that didn't make me worth more than anyone else.

"You... you live here?"

"Actually I live in a washing machine box out back. They don't mind me taking food, though."

Magnus didn't laugh. "Wow," was all he said.

"Want some juice?" I asked. "We have the red kind."

"I like the red kind."

"Red kind it is."

Magnus followed me back through the big, empty foyer and up the stairs. It felt a little bit like giving a tour for MTV Cribs (which was an offer my dad declined over and over again), only I was trying to not show off. In fact, I only realized how bad I was trying to hide the wealth when I told Magnus my mom's original Picasso was an overpriced piece of junk. By the time we got to my room he was completely silent. I occupied the attic of our goliath Victorian home. Magnus seemed to expect nothing less than what it was; flat screen, huge bathroom, big squishy bed, and stacks of comic books and novels.

He sat down on the edge of my bed and took a timid sip of his juice, looking like he was terrified of touching anything. I opened the sky light windows so I could see the glow of Broadway and stood by the door to the bathroom.

"I really need a shower," I said shyly.

Magnus took another sip of his juice. "Go ahead. I'll just... look at everything."

My cheeks were hot. "Do you need a shower?"

He laughed, still not looking at me. "I most definitely need a shower." And then silence. Wow, he really wasn't getting it.

"So... how about we kill two birds with one stone?"

Magnus cocked an eyebrow at me. "Huh?"

I sighed and turned into the bathroom. "Just get in the shower," I said.

"OH!" Magnus caught on and I heard the glass slam down on my bedside table. His steps were almost clumsy and suddenly he was in the bathroom with me, grinning like an idiot. A shirtless, adorable, wonderful idiot. "Gotcha," he winked.

"Where did your clothes go?" I mumbled, trying to look behind him.

Magnus kissed me softly. His hands linked behind my neck and I got up onto my tiptoes to meet his lips. "Shh, no talking."

I could agree with that. Actually, I could do more than agree. I spun around so that Magnus was against the black countertop. My hands wrapped around his hips and he smirked against my lips. Then I picked him up. His eyes went wide and he held on tighter. I set him down on the counter, leaving me between his legs, and for once he was the one bending into the kiss to get more.

When we finally broke apart, he was gasping, his eyes glazed and happy. "Where have you been all my life?"

"Right here."

Our lips met again, only this time it was sweet and short. I stepped back, peeling off my shirt as I turned on the shower. I felt his hands running over my back. Fingers tracing the notches in my spine, the curve of my shoulder blades, the dimples in my lower back. I stood upright, a hand in the spray to test the heat. Magnus wasn't smiling. His face looked... occupied. He hitched his thumbs in my waistband and dragged me closer. His chest against mine was warm and smooth.

"We need to go on a date. A real date."

"Okay."

"But not right now."

"Nuh uh."

Magnus kissed my forehead. "Ready to get soapy, fanboy?"

"Uh huh!"

He undid the string on my pants again and I pulled his belt off. Our pants fell to the floor, followed by our underwear, and we got in the shower. I grabbed a facecloth before stepping into the spray. Magnus was squinting into the water, amazed at how big my tub was. I grabbed the body soap and, when he wasn't looking, squirted it up his back. Magnus yelped and swivelled around to glare at me. I smiled innocently and then we were kissing again, tugging on each other's damp hair, swallowing quiet, needy noises.

It was just getting heated when I heard it. Someone was pounding at my bedroom door with all of their might. My stomach froze and I pulled away from Magnus, wide eyed, terrified. But unsure. The level of fucked we were all depended on who was entreating entrance at my chamber door. I reached over and shut off the water, finger to my lips, and waited.

"ALEC!"

There was a creak and I was suddenly ultra aware of how naked and close I was to Magnus. I made a series of "SHH SHH SHH" noises at Magnus and hopped out of the shower, throwing a towel around my waist.

When I opened the bathroom door, Isabelle was sitting on my bed, looking beautiful and sweaty, fresh from a club. "What?" I asked, my voice cracking a little. There was no way this could go in my favour. Unless I snuck Magnus out of the house. But damn it, I had wanted him to meet my family!

Isabelle lifted an eyebrow. "Who else is in there?"

Damn. That was one slick bitch.

"No one. Just me. Why would you think anything else?"

She pointed at the glass on my nightstand. "Two half dranken glasses and no one else is in the bedroom." She made a face. "Unless I'm sitting on her."

Her. Oh, this was going to be a shock.

"I was really thirsty," I said, at which point Magnus, in an attempt to be quiet, sat down on the edge of the tub and knocked everything onto the floor. "Church!" I cried over my shoulder. Magnus was laughing.

What a... what a... what a fucking fuck!

"I'm telling mom!" Isabelle announced with a coy smile. "Unless you tell me who it is."

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I felt a little faint. My stomach hurt and the world was shaking in front of my eyes. The door was forced open a little more behind me to make room for Magnus. Isabelle's mouth popped open and I slowly turned to glare at Magnus. He was beaded with water, his hair plastered to his face, a towel slung low on his hips.

"Hi," he said, "I'm Amanda - Alec's girlfriend. Come back in a few. We were busy."

And then he tugged me backwards and shut the door.

I tried. I tried so hard to be mad at him, but I just ended up laughing hysterically. Because as pissed off as I was, the shocked look on Isabelle's face was worth being pushed out of the closet a thousand times over.