by Jaime Reese
Gritting his teeth, he pushed forward through the tightness. Slowly. Carefully. Every inch of his body was on fire, crackling with excitement.
After taking a few deep breaths, Ben opened his eyes. His gaze instantly met with lust-filled brown eyes. As if an unspoken message relayed between them, a smile tugged at his mouth at exactly the same moment a grin widened on Gabriel’s face. He leaned forward, meeting Gabriel midway for a kiss. Gabriel took Ben’s hand and guided it to the side of his neck, covering Ben’s hand with his own. The vibrations of Gabriel’s groan throbbed in his throat and into the kiss with each slow thrust.
Ben wanted this…this feeling, this new experience. He wanted to memorize it. Recall and relive it in high definition. He shoved forward, thrusting his hips into Gabriel with the entire force of his body. Gabriel tore away from the kiss and threw his hands back over his head, gripping the headboard behind him. He pushed off the headboard as Ben slammed his hips forward. Again and again, in a frenzied dance to get closer. Ben gasped for air as sweat burst from his pores. The heat surrounding him was overwhelming, dizzying. Enthralling.
He gripped Gabriel’s strong legs, holding him, spellbound by the way Gabriel’s body tightened, moved, and twitched.
The strained control in every flexing muscle was breathtaking.
Ben’s gaze slid down to where their bodies connected, staring in awe and wonder. Fast, then slow, and fast again.
The legs around his waist tightened and held him in place, flush against Gabriel’s body. His gaze snapped up, his breath rushing through his lips at the sight of Gabriel’s twisting body and those strong hands now clawing at the sheets. Ben’s pulse sprinted as Gabriel fought for control, the muscles clenching and flexing with the battle until he finally arched and stiffened, spilling his release between them.
The spark tickling the base of Ben’s spine shot up like a missile. It was all too much—the scent, the heat, the tightness. All possessing him, shattering his control, and mindlessly driving his hips forward with the full force of his entire body. He gritted his teeth and threw his head back, burying himself deep as his release tore through him, numbing him.
Gasping for air, he collapsed onto Gabriel’s sweat-slicked body. Blinking, he willed his vision to clear as his pulse slowed. He reached out to brush the sweaty fringe of Gabriel’s hair away from his face, needing to see him, touch him…to know that this was real. He met Gabriel’s gaze. There was heat and need, battling for attention.
But there was also something more.
It wasn’t his imagination or a fantasy puzzle filling in the blanks. He had seen it the night before and had felt it.
And there it was again.
Ben leaned forward, hovering over him. They stared at each other, sharing the same breath. He stroked Gabriel’s cheek once, then again. Thick arms wrapped around him and pulled him closer, one hand wound tightly around his shoulders, the other splayed possessively across his back. Ben slowly slid out of Gabriel’s body and nestled against him. He grabbed one of the towels and wiped Gabriel’s body as best he could without moving away from his warm cocoon.
“I want to do that again,” Ben signed.
Gabriel leaned forward and pressed a closed-mouth kiss to Ben’s lips. They stared at each other, Ben’s heart pounding at the depth of emotions staring back at him. “Anything you want,” Gabriel said as he stroked the back of his fingers down Ben’s cheek.
“I just want you,” Ben signed his response with shaky hands. He held Gabriel’s hand against his cheek and leaned into his palm as he stared at him.
“You already have me.”
Ben frowned over his shoulder at Gabriel. He returned his attention to the bookshelf next to the television in the living room. Giving up, he turned around and slapped his hands on his thighs. “I don’t see it,” he signed.
“That’s the point,” Gabriel responded, signing with a big silly grin on his face. He grabbed the book from the shelf and pointed to the black globe image stitched into the spine.
Ben took the book in his hand and inspected it from every angle.
Yup, still just a book.
Gabriel turned on the television and pressed a few buttons on the remote. Ben stilled, momentarily stunned by the image of himself on the screen. He aimed the spine around the room while staring at the television screen, the image panning the room in the same sweeping motion. He set the book back on the shelf. The angle of the camera granted a full view of the living room, Gabriel’s workspace by the window, and the open space in between.
Ben finally tore his attention away from the television and back to Gabriel. “I can’t believe you’ve got a camera in your living room,” he signed, shaking his head while holding back a chuckle.
“I’m a security guy who lives in a hotel. Can’t help it.”
Ben surveyed the room. Pretty pointless considering he couldn’t spot the camera even when he was told where it was. “Any others?”
Gabriel shook his head. “Only one entry point. I’m the only room up here and every staff member knows this floor is off limits unless I request something. But it’s still a hotel with a digital lock. I’ve asked Rachel to change the system to keys, but she insists that’s…” Gabriel stopped signing and fingerspelled a-n-t-i-q-u-a-t-e-d. “I stopped arguing with her about it and did this instead.”
“You could just change the locks on your place to a regular key?”
“True.” Gabriel smirked. “But with all the traveling I do…used to do…it was easier to call staff and have them check on something when needed. And I’m not gonna lie, housekeeping is a mega bonus.”
Ben couldn’t have agreed more. “You check the video on your phone?”
Gabriel shook his head. “It’s a closed-circuit feed not a cloud service. Video only. Records here on my DVR’s hard drive. I get a phone alert when there’s a card swipe at our door. If I’m not expecting someone, that’s when I know I need to check the recording or alert security if I’m out of town.”
A smile twitched Ben’s lips. He didn’t miss the reference to our door. “And like Calvin says, ‘the trick is getting inside. Once you’re in, it’s Christmas and everything’s a gift.’”
“Exactly.” Gabriel used the remote and switched to a regular channel before turning off the television. “We’ve still got part of the weekend. Anywhere you want to go?”
He shrugged. He hadn’t really gone out much before, and even though he had lived in Miami for the better part of his life, there were still places he hadn’t seen. “Anywhere is fine. But I’m good staying in with you.” He didn’t miss the softening in Gabriel’s features. Sometimes, his Bull was as cuddly as the plush version.
“I caught you looking at the beach. Want to go downstairs for a while?”
He couldn’t nod fast enough.
= ♥ =
Bull tapped Ben’s shoulder. “We’re getting you some swim trunks,” he signed.
Ben lowered his sunglasses. “No. I’m good,” he signed in response. He pushed the dark sunglasses back up and resumed his people watching.
Denim shorts weren’t ideal for the beach, but after learning the power of the word no, Ben’s determination to stand his ground had escalated on just about everything. Bull was damn proud of him for finding that inner warrior who refused to surrender, but that just meant Bull needed to learn when to give up. And now was one of those times.
He side-eyed Ben sitting on the towel beside him. They had arrived on the beach nearly an hour ago and Ben didn’t appear to be tiring one single bit. Even with the dark sunglasses Bull had given him, Ben couldn’t disguise the way he visually swept the entire crowd of people around him. In the water, sunbathing, single people, couples, families…everyone appeared to be a fascinating subject in his people-watching adventure.
“He’s been trying to build something for twenty minutes and it keeps falling apart,” Ben signed and pointed to the young boy sitting on the beach. “He’s going to give up.”
“Th
at kid doesn’t give up so easily.”
Ben pushed the glasses to the top of his head, his eyes pleading. “Some do.” He stood and brushed off the sand.
Bull didn’t need to ask to know where Ben was headed. Pulling the baseball cap off his own head, he handed it to Ben. “Wear this, please. The sun’s too strong this time of the day.” Thankfully, Ben didn’t argue with him and took the baseball cap, popping it on his head as soon as he walked away.
Bull quickly grabbed his phone and dialed a number from his contacts. “Hey, Janet, how are you?” he asked after a few rings.
“Hi, Bull! Are you in town this weekend?”
“Look to your left.” He waved at Janet when she turned toward him.
“Why are you calling me instead of just walking over here?”
“Because a guy is about to walk up to your son, and I didn’t want you freaking out. He’s with me.”
She quieted as her son threw the small shovel and bucket into the incoming tide. There was little that seemed to keep six-year-old Wyatt’s temperament in check since his father passed away the year before. Except for the beach. Something about the water eased him enough to convince Janet to negotiate for one of the cabana-level rooms during her annual employment review. The moment Rachel found out about Janet’s loss, it hadn’t taken much to convince her to agree.
They remained on the call, neither one saying a word as Ben picked up the bucket and stepped just far enough into the shoreline to fill it with water. He scooped up the shovel on his way toward Wyatt and plopped himself on the sand across from him. They watched Ben dig a trench between the start of the boy’s castle and the shoreline threatening to tear it all down with the rising tide. Ben led by example. Showing Wyatt how to wet the sand enough to the right consistency for his sand sculpture. Wyatt craned his neck, refusing to miss a single detail as Ben built one layer, then another into something that looked like a three-tier sand cake.
It was enough to make Wyatt smile and scoop up a handful of sand and wet it enough to add to the structure.
“That’s the first time he’s smiled this month.” Janet cleared her throat. “Wednesday was a year. It’s been a tough week.” They quietly watched as both Ben and Wyatt worked together to expand on the castle. “He’s good with him.”
“He’s good with everyone,” Bull whispered.
“Why don’t you come join me. Make some of these hotel guests jealous of me for a while as we watch them.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “I’ll be there in a minute.” He ended the call and packed up their things. Midway in his walk to Janet, Ben glanced up and tracked his every step. With the sandcastle forgotten, Ben closely watched as Bull opened his chair next to Janet and found a spot under the shade of the umbrella. He knew Ben well enough to know it was worry and not jealousy triggering his vigilant watch.
“She’s his mom,” Bull signed.
“Is she mad at me?”
He responded with a headshake. “She’s happy. Keep building.”
The smile on Ben’s face made Bull’s heart skip a beat. With renewed determination, Ben stood and filled the bucket with more water before returning to his spot on the sand to resume construction.
“You love him.”
Bull swallowed heavily as he stared at Ben, not responding to Janet’s observation. He was so far gone for the man he couldn’t hide it and didn’t bother trying.
“You’ve got the entire staff buzzing about him.”
“Why’s that?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. He knew better than to fuel staff gossip. They were a fiery bunch and needed little to spark their imagination.
Turning her head toward him, she pulled her sunglasses down. “Oh c’mon. You’re like this social magnet everyone’s drawn to when you enter a room, but you’ve never crossed that line with a single person here. Even though I’ve heard some interesting stories about guests and staff offering themselves up to you.”
“Is that right?” He bit back a smile.
Janet sighed as she stared out at her son and Ben in the sand. “Everyone’s curious about the person who finally cast a spell on you.”
You’re looking at him.
“He’s really sweet.”
Sweet and sexy as hell.
They quietly sat and watched the two build their castle in the sand. Each time Ben retrieved another bucket of water, he somehow steered Wyatt a few more steps away from the rising tide and closer to the drier beach where there was less risk of the tide destroying their sand creation. They now had a multi-tier structure with a few towers decorated with seashells and seaweed.
Wyatt stood and darted over to them like a rocket. “Mom! Mom, did you see?” He spoke quickly, his words rolling into each other as he recapped every detail of the process, all while Ben remained in his spot, carving out windows and the top edge of the castle’s tower.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?”
Wyatt shrugged. “I don’t think he wants to be my friend.”
Bull cleared his throat, prying his eyes away from the flex in Ben’s forearms as he reached over the sand structure. “Hey, Little Man. I’m pretty sure he wants to be your friend.” He leaned forward in the chair, hoping to keep Wyatt’s attention.
“But he doesn’t talk to me.”
“Do you know his name?”
“Ben.”
“And how do you know that if he didn’t talk to you?”
“Because he wrote it in the sand.”
“That was his way of talking to you. Did you know he can’t hear you?”
Wyatt’s features twisted. “But he knows what I’m saying.”
Bull pulled down the front bill of Wyatt’s hat. “He reads lips.”
Wyatt’s eyes rounded. “Like the TV show where the spy was on a mission to save Earth?”
“Ben’s not trying to save the world. He’s trying to be your friend.”
Wyatt beamed.
“It’s important to look at him when you’re talking to him. That way, he can read your lips. Okay?”
“Okay!” He wasn’t sure how, but that missing-tooth smile got bigger.
“Hold on a second,” Bull said, stopping Wyatt before he ran off to rejoin Ben. Reaching into the small cooler, he pulled out a bottle of water. “Please give this to Ben.”
With another smile and yelled “okay” over his shoulder, Wyatt ran off with the water bottle in hand.
They watched as Wyatt handed Ben the water, said something, and then fist-bumped him before retaking his seat in the sand.
Ben glanced over at them. He tipped the bottle toward Bull before taking a sip.
“How do you sign thank you?” Janet asked, tearing her attention away from them in the sand. After showing her the sign, she looked back at Ben and relayed a thank-you to him.
Ben slowly pulled down his sunglasses. Even from a distance, Bull could see the emotion filling Ben’s expression as he shook his head and signed a thank-you in return. Wyatt tugged on Ben’s arm, stealing his attention back toward their growing castle.
“I think I got the sign wrong.”
“You didn’t. He was emphasizing the you, thanking you for letting him spend time with Wyatt.”
A laugh cut through the sound of crashing waves.
Janet slowly raised a hand to her chest, her exhale escaping her with a tremble at the sound of Wyatt’s laughter.
“Bull…”
“Yeah?”
“I might steal Ben from you.”
Not in this lifetime.
Ben snatched his vibrating phone from beneath his pillow, grumbling as he glanced at the display. Four in the morning. He caught a whiff of the fresh coffee wafting in the air. That was one thing that would get his ass out of bed.
On second thought… He pressed his face to the pillow with a sigh. Would five more minutes really be that bad? Damn this bed was comfortable.
The bed dipped, then settled.
Prying open an eye, he glanced at Gabriel through his sleep-haz
ed vision—that sexy bedhead mess of hair, all that tan skin begging to be touched, and that damn manipulative dimple.
Okay, maybe there were two things that would get his ass out of bed this early. He raised his head from the pillow and sat up in bed. “Why am I so tired?” he signed, then took the mug of steaming coffee from Gabriel.
“You got a lot of sun yesterday. That can tire you out if you’re not used to it.”
He sipped his coffee, hoping the caffeine would jump-start him into his new morning ritual and help his brain catch up to the conversation. Yesterday… He hadn’t expected to spend more than a few minutes in the sand, just enough time to spur Wyatt on so he wouldn’t give up. But the look in the boy’s eyes had made Ben stay. He recognized that deep-seated grief. He remembered how lost he had felt and how much he had hated the world during that time when his own father had passed away.
Gabriel stroked his cheek, pulling him away from his thoughts. “It’s a good thing you didn’t burn.”
He nodded as he took another sip of coffee. The only reason he hadn’t cooked himself something fierce yesterday had been because of Gabriel’s always watchful eye. Midway during their sand construction, a shadow had cast across the structure. When Ben had looked up, there had been Gabriel, with a T-shirt in one hand and another bottle of water in the other.
Gabriel took his mug and set it on the nightstand. “C’mon,” he said, pulling back the sheets. Ben shook his head as Gabriel nodded.
“You need to get up,” Gabriel signed. “Nat wants you at the bakery to help with prep and I know you want to be there for that.”
Fine, three reasons to justify getting out of bed this early. With a smile, Ben rose from bed and got ready for his first full day of work as a free man.
Fifteen minutes later, they were pulling into the narrow alley behind the bakery and into a parking spot. The instant Ben saw the blue door with the painted frame, he hopped out of the SUV and waited by the entrance.