“That’s not what I meant,” Oliver said. “And you need to keep your hands to yourself. I don’t appreciate you touching me without my permission.”
“Come on, I just want to talk to you. My place is a few miles away from here, and I promise to drop you back to your boyfriend.” He licked his lips, smiling, his amusement practically a third person in their exchange.
“No, thank you.” Oliver cocked an eyebrow and folded his arms.
Grant mimicked his folded-arms pose. He was, admittedly, extremely handsome. Picturing Grant’s delicious body, naked and hot, wasn’t helping Oliver. His traitorous dick responded to the naughty image that popped into his mind.
But it didn’t matter how riddled with unfulfilled desire he was, having sex with a random man he just met was so depressing.
Finally getting his body to cooperate, Oliver turned to walk away, but Grant placed his hand on the pillar, preventing him from moving.
“Where are you going, gorgeous?” he whispered into Oliver’s ear. “Look, I watched you come in here with that guy. I saw how he looked at you. Imagine, a man with a smoking hot boyfriend like his, and he doesn’t even kiss you. Dance with you. I know he can’t be fucking you the way you need to be fucked.”
“Stop,” Oliver said.
Come on, I’m ready to give you the time of your life. You can either come with me for the night or stay here with your boyfriend. Now, what’re you going to do?”
Was sinking into the floor an option? “Listen, my boyfriend…”
Boyfriend? Come on, how long was he going to keep calling Ben his boyfriend before he admitted to himself that ignoring his feelings was going to hurt him badly? He didn’t care for Grant, or any other guy for that matter; what he really wanted was a relationship with Ben. Not fake, but real.
Oliver found it hard to formulate a reply to Grant because he suddenly felt foolish. He’d fallen for a straight guy, someone who’d never be able to see him as more than a friend. Grant, a gay guy, clearly wanted him, and Oliver hesitated.
“I’m sorry, but I only have eyes for one man,” Oliver said.
Grant clamped his lips together, unmistakable determination in his eyes telling Oliver he wasn’t giving up without a fight.
But then Ben showed up, stepped forward and kissed Oliver on the cheek.
“Who’s this, babe?” Ben asked, handing Oliver his drink.
“Grant,” Oliver said, biting off the word distastefully. “Grant…meet Ben, my boyfriend.”
He glared in Grant’s direction, hoping that the man would take the hint and walk away. But he didn’t. Instead, he reached out his hand, which Ben took. Grant’s lips parted into a smile and appeared to let out a quiet chuckle. He wasn’t going anywhere.
“I was just asking your boyfriend here if he’d like to go deep-sea diving with me.” The grin looked permanently stitched on Grant’s face. “I’m an instructor around these parts, and I can show you the best places to find the most beautiful fishes.”
“That sounds like fun,” Ben said. He turned to Oliver. “What do you say, do you think we’ll have enough time to go and check it out?”
Ben’s body language read calm and cool, while his eyes shouted are you okay with this guy? Oliver sensed that Grant was someone who would bring him nothing but trouble. He lifted his glass to his lips and sipped silently, pretending to think it over. He didn’t want to be around Grant — even though Ben had arrived, the man’s gaze was still lingering on him for longer than was polite.
Effortlessly comfortable in the awkward situation, Grant tortured Oliver with his smirk, his unconcealed amusement, and his unmistakable confidence. He used his tongue to moisten his lips.
It made Oliver’s skin crawl.
“Maybe…I don’t know,” Oliver said.
“Hey, come on, it’s your first time in Grand Cayman, you guys should get out and have some fun!” Grant gave the word fun just enough emphasis to convey to Oliver that he’d suggested something naughty.
Grant reminded Oliver of his exes, with his arrogance and a big ego. Bigger, in fact. The man’s cocky, nothing-surprises-me, self-satisfied attitude was very familiar. Going anywhere with him wasn’t a good idea. There was no way that he would trust Grant to…
His mind hitched on that last thought. He opened his mouth to decline Grant’s offer, to tell him that they would be busy. But that wasn’t what came out. “Sure…I’m sure we can find the time.”
Oliver stilled. He looked at Ben, praying that his best friend could read his uncomfortableness. And then, when Ben exchanged numbers with Grant, Oliver got an awful feeling in his stomach.
Eventually, Grant spun on his heels and walked off, making sure he got one last glance at Oliver. “I’ll see you later.”
[Relieved that the agonizing moments with Grant was over, Oliver let out a sigh and turned to Ben. With a smile, Ben deleted Grant’s number from his phone.
“You know, I thought I saw you talking to Amanda,” Oliver said.
“She’s here with Karen,” Ben said. He pulled his eyes from the direction where Grant had walked off and turned to Oliver. He looked tense and a little concerned.
“Really? Where’s Karen?”
Ben’s eyes softened. “Right over there,” he said, smiling as he nodded in the direction of the dance floor.
Oliver leaned back, a bit in shock. In the middle of the dance floor was Karen, shaking her hips and making a show of whipping her hair. However, seeing her letting loose wasn’t what surprised him. It was her dance partner.
“Well, I’ve got to hand it to him…” Oliver said as he recovered from the shock. “…Dad has way better moves than me.”
“I doubt that,” Ben said. “Sometimes you just need the right dance partner.”
“Are you asking me to dance?” Oliver said. He was sure that his cool tone did little to hide the jumble of excited nerves as Ben gazed down at him.
“I wanted to dance with you from the moment we got in here,” Ben said. “B-but, I know you’re not that into dancing. Otherwise, I would have asked you sooner.”
“Well, it’s like you said. I’ve always been looking for the right dance partner.” Oliver grinned and took Ben, who sported a lotto-winning smile of his own, to the dance floor with some urgency.
They stood facing each other, enjoying the occasional bump and grind from the mass of bodies moving around them. Oliver wished he could be free-spirited and confident like his dad, but he simply froze, enthralled by the man standing across from him.
He was less concerned with his crappy dance moves and more concerned with the sudden throb in his pants. He closed his eyes and released a breath. Happy with the vibe. Good music. Great atmosphere. Even greater company.
The music slowed down, and Oliver kept his eyes closed as he swayed to the rhythm, nervous and self-conscious.
Oliver felt strong hands grasp his hips, and he opened his eyes. Ben locked eyes with him, and didn’t waver for an instant. Then without hesitation, Ben’s hand slid lower and touched his butt, which instantly raised the temperature of the room.
Heat warmed Oliver’s face, and he grew even more nervous. His gaze swept the crowd and flickered over to his dad, who returned his look with a sweet smile.
He wasn’t sure if he was moving to the rhythm; he wasn’t sure if he was moving in unison with Ben. He was completely disarmed by how good it felt to be in Ben’s arms. To be held so intimately in public, to still feel the lingering heat on his ass cheek where Ben had touched him.
They were already halfway through the song when Oliver’s legs remembered how to move. He clung to Ben, curved his hand over Ben’s back and slid his hand down to his butt. Ben’s shorts were smooth under Oliver’s fingers, and beneath them, he felt the outline of his firm ass.
Glee shone in Ben’s eyes as they swayed together. A short laugh escaped Oliver, and the result of seeing Ben’s delight sent a light tickle over his skin. It was like a tongue running over his body.
Olive
r took a deep breath, then inched closer to Ben, feeling their bodies wrap around each other until he found the perfect rhythm. They were now moving in sync. Oliver sighed in Ben’s arms — each move was a beautiful union of their breaths and bodies.
In a final act of courage, Oliver buried his head in Ben’s chest, and he pressed his lips to his best friend’s chest. Heat warmed his face as he gave Ben’s chest a soft kiss.
Soon, Oliver’s insides thawed, and his movements became more fluid. They swayed together, and beneath the loud music, he could feel Ben’s heart pounding. He could feel Ben’s impossibly warm body, which was hotter and better than any fantasy. Ben’s body was harder and tighter than he was used to.
As Ben wrapped him into a hug, caressing his head and kissing his hair, Oliver enjoyed listening to the rapid heartbeat. He imagined collapsing into the heat of the man and being surrounded by it.
He didn’t want it to end.
The rhythmic grinding was overwhelming, enough to make their ragged, short breaths almost audible to each other.
“Oh, wow,” Oliver gasped.
Suddenly, Oliver was all too aware that his crotch was pressing against something hard. Ben held him, bending his knees to grind his hips into Oliver a little harder. This was enough to push him over the edge. A throbbing pleasure shot to his cock, which felt so good that he barely knew how to handle it.
Oliver gave a low moan as Ben ran a thigh between his crotch. He couldn’t remember feeling so free in a club. The way Ben was caressing him, the smooth glide of his thick thigh between Oliver’s legs, the pace of their sensual dance, was unbelievable. The intense pressure was better than any fantasy.
He felt Ben’s hands move up and down the length of his body, palming his ass. Their bodies clung together, hips rotating to the music while they swayed and rocked to the sensual beat. Oliver buried his face into Ben’s neck.
They moved beyond the brewing sexual tension, and openly and freely expressed feelings that neither man could put into words. Not just lust or passion, but something more. This was a benchmark. It felt important, meaningful in a way that Oliver was aware of, even though he wasn’t sure he fully understood it yet.
The song ended.
Oliver bit down on his lip, inhaling deeply, feeling his chest heaving. He grinned like an idiot, feeling happy and more alive than he imagined he could feel after dancing. Seeing the expression on Ben’s face, he knew the feeling must have been mutual. Oliver wasn’t alone in feeling lightheaded by the rhythmic grind or mesmerized by the man in front of him. Ben, in all his beauty, held Oliver’s attention and made his head buzz with joy.
“You’ve got pretty great moves,” Ben said with a smile.
“You too!” Oliver said. “Wanna have another go?”
“You bet!” Ben replied. “But wait here. I need the bathroom. I won’t be a minute.”
“I’ll promise not to disappear,” Oliver said. “But if you’re longer than a minute…then I just don’t know,” he teased.
Ben weaved his way through the crowd and disappeared. Oliver stood in the iridescent light. An arm draped around his shoulder and pulled his attention away from the space where Ben had previously stood.
“Where’s lover boy?” whispered a familiar voice into his ear.
Oliver shoulders tensed, and he turned to face the man who invaded his space.
Grant.
“He’s gone to the bathroom,” Oliver said. There was no doubt that panic had quickly crept into his voice. “He’s not going to be long.”
Oliver cursed himself for answering when he should have simply told the man to back off. It made him feel as if he was planning to cheat on Ben, which was slightly absurd since they weren’t really in a relationship. Yet, Oliver wanted to remain committed to their new relationship, even if it were an act.
“Don’t worry, I’m not here to cause trouble in paradise,” Grant said, grinning. “I just want you to take my number.”
Oliver clenched his jaw.
“Fine. I’ll take your number if you promise to back off. Okay?”
“Deal.”
With a wink, Grant moved off and disappeared from view. Oliver deleted his number.
“I hope Tucker hasn’t been too much trouble,” Oliver said. Tucker huffed out a growling bark and his tail wagged excitedly.
“He’s been very well behaved,” Rose said. She stroked Tucker’s head with tender care. “He’s definitely made the past few days more interesting.”
Oliver FaceTimed Rose in the morning and managed to catch them as soon as they returned from the park. He knew a light jog factored into Rose’s morning routine, and therefore she wouldn’t mind taking Tucker to the park. It was eight in the morning and Ben laid in bed, sheets barely covering his chest, while Oliver sat up and whispered to Rose.
At first, Oliver had been unsure that it was entirely a good idea to dump Tucker on his neighbor, since looking after a dog wouldn’t be easy. But seeing the happy spark in Rose’s eyes told him that he’d made the right decision. Tucker had obviously brought a few days of joy to Rose and Martin.
“How’s the wedding cruise?” Rose asked.
“Oh, I’m having a fantastic time,” Oliver said. He gave her a brief update about everything they’d done up to that point. They spoke for a few moments before arranging another FaceTime call in a few days and ending the call.
Ben was still sound asleep, looking so peaceful lying on his back with his mouth slightly open. Morning stubble covered his chin. His sexy lips and gorgeous features kept Oliver in a state of distraction for a few minutes.
A thought left Oliver feeling a little disconcerted. Josh had felt threatened by Ben. He always got into a mood when he saw them together. He did not believe their friendship was platonic. And he wasn’t the first boyfriend who refused to believe he and Ben were just friends.
A few of his boyfriends would give short-lasting fake plastic-like smiles or become tense when they were introduced to Ben. The signs of insecurity were so subtle that Oliver barely acknowledged them. They were impossible to ignore now.
The whole time he’d been dating guys, Oliver hadn’t been able to shake the telltale signs that they weren’t actually compatible. It went way beyond sharing the same interests and sexual chemistry. Oliver couldn’t be himself around the guys he dated. Ideally, he sought someone who he could feel as comfortable being around as he did with Ben.
Oliver hopped out of bed and strode across the room. He needed to stop overthinking things.
He stepped out on the balcony. The cool morning breeze was a refreshing start to the day. The air was already starting to feel sultry, but he didn’t mind. The view was ridiculously beautiful, more dazzling than anything he’d seen before. Colors of immaculate white buildings, the golden sand, the elemental green of the pine trees and the breathtaking blue of the ocean.
Below, the cruise ship’s outdoor swimming pool shimmered and sparkled in the presence of the sunlight.
A whiff of the sea-air fragrance was unlike the familiar briny tang he’d smelled on the cruise ship. In the distance was a majestic waterfall that looked like a sheet of white, cascading over the rocky outcrops.
Oliver wanted to wake Ben and share the experience of the rich sights, smells and sounds that captivated his senses.
“Mesmerizing, isn’t it?”
Oliver turned to the wistful voice beside him. Jane was stood out on her balcony. He smiled at her.
“I could stay out here looking all morning. It’s amazing here. It almost makes you not want to go back home. Right?”
The melancholy in her voice drew a half-smile. It was obvious that she was upset.
“Right,” Oliver said. “I’m glad Erica decided to come here for her wedding. I can feel myself gradually unwinding. If this vacation hadn’t been so magical, I would have ended up finding something work-related to do. But I don’t know who couldn’t relax here.”
“Are you kidding?” Jane shook her head. The somber tone left
her voice. “Try being around your uncle, who doesn’t know how to relax unless he’s holding a bottle of beer. You’d be just as frustrated as I am right now. You’d find yourself waiting for a little alone time.”
Arms crossed around her dressing gown, the rosy sheen of her freckled cheeks spread as she gave a rueful smile. She pushed her blond ponytail over her shoulder. Something about the gesture added a youthful appeal to her appearance.
“When he gets up, maybe you should invite him out here,” Oliver said. “Not only is the view spectacular, but this would be a perfect spot for breakfast.”
“Right. I’ll consider it,” Jane said.
“It’s just a nice quiet place where you can both focus on your time together. I know Ben would love it out here too,” Oliver added as an afterthought, knowing Ben would appreciate the view. He could feel his stomach cramp with excitement at the thought of having breakfast with Ben in front of the beautiful scenery.
“That sounds like an awesome idea,” Jane said. And suddenly the excitement was no longer buried with Oliver’s stomach — it was apparent within her eyes.
“Yeah?” Oliver asked.
“We should have breakfast together as soon as Harry wakes up!”
14
Oliver
Ben’s presence, comforting and endearing all at once, smoothed out the wrinkled emotions and worry creasing Oliver’s confidence.
“Oh, this was a great idea, babe,” Ben said. “The view out here is marvelous.”
“I know, right?” Oliver agreed.
The scent of coffee mixed with heat from the morning sun as Jane poured each of them a cup. The table was covered with plates of bacon and eggs, pancakes, toast, hash browns, fruit, and scones.
Oliver’s weekday mornings were always a mad rush, and he could barely manage to have a cup of coffee or a glass of orange juice before he had to dart out. So he really appreciated the king-sized breakfasts during the trip.
He was basically in breakfast heaven.
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