by Ally Decker
Did he need romantic? Perhaps not. But he did want it. Sex was all well and good, and from the way the heat sparked between them this morning, he could already tell the sex with Kevin should be straight-out fantastic. But Charlie wanted a relationship. He wanted a loving partner and a stable home life.
Heated glances over the bonfire were amazing when he was a teenager with a crush. They weren't enough now.
CHAPTER FIVE
Kevin was having a good time at the bonfire, talking with Nate and Claire, and stealing glances at Charlie. Then, after most of the marshmallows had been eaten and everyone had at least one beer in them, Sylvia insisted they couldn't waste the opportunity of having so many talented singers around, and she demanded they played a game.
"One song from a musical from the year each of us was born," she announced, then laughed at the groans from a few older people in the group, including her own brother.
Kevin just took another sip of his beer. He had no problems with other people singing, as long he didn't have to.
And for a while, it was fun. Hearing professional singers live like this was something special, even if he didn't know most of the songs. He recognized a couple of them—the one from Cabaret, and the one from The Phantom of the Opera.
Then it was his turn.
"What year were you born in?" Sylvia asked.
"1987."
Her face lighted up as if he offered her a million dollars. "Les Mis!" she shouted, raising her bottle above her head and getting a round of cheers in response. Then she turned to Charlie. "Please, be Enjolras, please."
Charlie glanced down at the bottle in his hand before looking up again and nodding. "Anything for a bride-to-be," he told her with a courteous nod. "You all are helping," he added, pointing around the fire.
And then Kevin got to watch over a dozen people performing Do You Hear The People Sing as they stood around the campfire, their voices flowing together perfectly, as if they'd rehearsed it numerous times. It was one of the greatest things Kevin had ever witnessed, and something seemed to be rearranging in his chest as the last chorus echoed into the night.
There was a second of silence after the song ended, before the group erupted into cheers, and the audience into applause. Only then Kevin realized he'd been staring at Charlie for most of the song.
And Charlie was looking back at him now, too.
Kevin's heartbeat sped up. There was something building between them, the tension rising and ricocheting whenever they got close. This morning, he'd been so close to breaching the space that had separated them and pushing between Charlie's spread legs to bring him up for a kiss. If Shawn hadn't called…
They hadn't seen each other for the rest of the day, but Kevin zeroed in on Charlie as soon as he'd gotten to the bonfire. He'd tried not to stare, but once Charlie had started singing, there was no force that could keep Kevin from looking.
When he performed, Charlie was breathtaking. Commanding attention. Pushing Kevin's emotions to the surface as if he'd handpicked them and forced Kevin to acknowledge them. Look at them, he seemed to be saying. Look at me.
Kevin was still feeling overwhelmed when the rest of the group quieted down. He barely paid attention to Sylvia announcing Nate's birth year without asking, and to following discussion about the musical and song choice.
But when Tara started singing, it all became too much. It was a song about a couple having only one night for each other, and the woman's acceptance of her fate—their fate—was almost haunting.
"I'm going to take a walk," he whispered to Nate before standing up.
His friend's careful gaze met his. "You okay?"
He nodded, mumbled that he was fine, and patted Nate on the shoulder reassuringly. Because he was fine. He just needed a breather.
***
The stars were magnificent out there. As he lay on his back near the end of the dock, he got lost in watching the night sky. He tried to identify a few constellations he could recall at first, but then gave up and just took in the sights. One thing New York didn't have was this—a clear sky with thousands of visible stars.
He felt weirdly ill-footed. On one hand, he felt detached and insignificant, staring at the endless sky, on the other, he could still hear people around the campfire singing in the distance, and the weird melancholy sat heavily in his chest.
He tensed when he heard the footsteps. Please, don't be Nate. He loved that man like a brother, but he didn't have it in him right now for Nate's way of "helping". As in, "tell me everything, then listen to how I think you should fix it".
It wasn't Nate.
Charlie appeared in Kevin's line of vision, looking down at him as he stood there, hands stuffed into his jacket's pockets.
"Do you mind if I join you?" He tilted his head to indicate the space on Kevin's left side.
"No, of course not." Kevin sat up and gestured for Charlie to do the same. "Did you finish the game?" he asked, even though he could still hear the singing from the distance.
Charlie chuckled as he sat down with his legs crossed, feet tucked under his thighs. "No, but I had to leave when they got to Rent."
"Do you hate it that much?"
"Oh, God, no. I love it. But it premiered in 1996. I suddenly felt old."
Kevin snorted. "I remember how for years I was surprised whenever I realized a kid born in the nineties was a legal adult."
"Yes!"
"Soon enough, kids born in 2000s will get there, too."
"Shut up, they're still in diapers," Charlie told him, and they both laughed.
Then they fell into silence, and while Kevin wouldn't exactly call it comfortable—his whole body was very aware of the man next to him, of the space between them, and how little it would take to close it—he didn't feel the need to fill it with words, either.
When Charlie lay down on his back, Kevin followed suit. Their arms were barely brushing on every other breath he took, and he had to curl his fingers into his palm to stop himself from reaching them towards Charlie's hand. It felt weirdly teenage-like, and even back then, Kevin had been more forward than that. As an adult, he didn't waste any time going for what he wanted, but he'd been somewhat…shy when it came to Charlie.
Shy by his standards, at least.
He turned from staring up at the stars to look at the man next to him. Charlie was watching the sky, barely blinking, and he had a soft smile on his face.
"If I could change one thing about New York…" he started in whisper, but then drifted off.
Kevin nodded. "Right? I would, too."
Charlie looked at him then. His eyes were bright in the darkness, and his smile turned even softer.
"Look at us," he whispered. "We could pick traffic, or rent prices, or even the metro stations, but no, we pick this."
Kevin chuckled. "Ask me again when I'm stuck in traffic, and my answer is bound to be different." Then he rolled onto his side, resting on his elbow, head fit into his palm. "Metro stations, though?"
"I always wanted to live right next to one." Charlie's smile grew bigger, showing off his dimples. "It would save me so much time."
"Wouldn't it make more sense to move rather than rebuild the metro system?"
"Don't bring logic into my dream New York." Charlie swatted him on the chest, but his hand lingered as he pulled it back slowly.
Kevin caught it in his, tangling their fingers together, and moved both their hands to rest against his chest. He wondered if Charlie could feel his heartbeat under his palm.
They looked at each other for a long time, neither of them moving aside from Kevin rubbing his thumb over Charlie's knuckles, back and forth.
When he leaned in closer, it seemed like the most natural thing to do. He brushed his nose over Charlie's before kissing his lips. Charlie was warm against his chilled body, and Kevin sought that warmth, pressing closer. Their joined hands were stuck between them now, but Charlie used his other one to pull Kevin even closer. His warm fingers on Kevin's neck sent shivers down
his body, and Kevin licked Charlie's lower lip in response.
When Charlie opened up for him, the kiss turned hotter in an instant. Under the weird mix of candy and beer, Kevin could taste something more. Something that made his whole body take notice. Something that had to be specific to Charlie.
They stopped after a while, but Kevin didn't move far. He rested his forehead against Charlie's and smiled when he saw his grin. Excitement and desire were building up inside of him, ready to burst, and although he was hard—they both were—Kevin was more interested in getting another kiss than just getting off.
For now, at least. He would be all for getting off at some point in the nearest future.
When he pulled back a bit so he could see Charlie better—for all that he could in the dark—he let go of Charlie's hand and brushed his fingers over the dimples he knew were there.
"Scratch that from my camp bucket list I made as a kid," Charlie whispered, eyes shining as he stared up at Kevin.
"You'd never kissed anyone at the camp?"
They moved so that they were both lying on their sides, propped on one hand, with the other free to touch.
"I got a kiss, once, my last year at theatre camp." Charlie shook his head. "My camp bucket list was much more detailed, and it grew over the years, too. But making out under the stars was there right from the start, I think. I probably saw some older kids do that, or heard a story. Back then, I just wanted to have what my straight friends had."
Kevin nodded. He got that. That feeling had been what first fueled him to be more forward with what he wanted. Once he'd learned the rules were different for gay kids, he'd figured that nobody would give him a damn thing if he didn't go for it first. The results differed, but at least he'd gotten to have something.
Though he didn't had any romantic story from his camp days to share, either.
"I went to a camp for computer geeks, twice, but there was not a lot of romance involved," he finally said, because he wasn't sure how to say, I let another boy touch my dick and jack me off, but we never kissed.
"And I was already picturing long looks over the monitors and the like."
Kevin snorted. "Yeah, not really. Or maybe it happened, but not to me?" He shrugged. "I was more interested in my World of Warcraft campaign than my fellow campers, I have to say."
"Well, good thing that I have lots of ideas, then." Charlie leaned closer. "If you're interested, of course," he added with his lips against Kevin's.
There was only one possible answer.
"Definitely interested," he told Charlie before kissing him again.
CHAPTER SIX
Charlie startled awake, and it took him a second to reorient himself in whatever little light there was. He thought it had to be pre-dawn, and his phone confirmed it. 4:21.
He was lying half on top of Kevin, who was still asleep, his face turned towards Charlie. They seemed to have moved in their sleep, because the last thing Charlie remembered was them both lying on their backs and coming up with their own constellations.
He'd probably rolled into Kevin to seek his warmth, but damn if it didn't feel good, lying in his arms. Charlie briefly considered staying like this and going back to sleep, but he could already feel his muscles cramping. And he was cold now, too. Early summer or not, the nights weren't yet warm enough for sleeping outdoors without nothing more than a jacket.
They needed a real bed.
Beds. Separate beds. Yes.
Charlie sat up slowly, not wanting to disturb Kevin, and ran his hand over his face, trying to wake up fully. It would be so easy to just drag Kevin to his cabin and have sex, but Charlie truly wasn't built for falling straight to bed with anyone, even if their chemistry was unmistakable, and once they started kissing, it only multiplied.
Making out under the stars really was something he'd dreamed about, and not just as a teenager. He didn't want to go straight to sex from that, even if his body was telling him a different story.
Soon, though, he thought, glancing at Kevin. Soon.
Charlie watched the sleeping man for a few moments longer, but then he shivered again in the chill of the night and pulled his jacket tighter around himself. They needed to get indoors. He curled his fingers around Kevin's arm and shook him lightly.
"Hey," Charlie said quietly, not wanting to spook him.
Kevin tensed and opened his eyes, going from asleep to completely awake in a split second. Charlie found it impressive, especially since he was still fighting off sleep.
"Hey," Kevin echoed him and sat up.
"We fell asleep," Charlie stated the obvious, from the lack of the better idea. "Cold woke me up."
Kevin nodded. For a few seconds, Charlie resigned himself to the awkwardness, but then Kevin tilted his head to the side. The corners of his mouth were twitching.
"Did you really make up the Marlon Brando constellation or did I dream that part?"
Charlie chuckled, glancing down at his knees. "I did, yeah."
"Amazing."
And the thing was, it could've been mocking, but it didn't sound like it. Kevin seemed genuinely impressed, and when Charlie looked up, he saw Kevin smiling at him softly.
He leaned in and pecked Kevin on the mouth before he could talk himself out of it. Being only half awake lowered his impulse control, that was for sure, but Kevin didn't look like he minded. Quite the opposite, really, if his gaze on Charlie's lips was any indication.
"We should probably go back," Charlie said when the cold made him shiver again.
They walked slowly in silence, their arms brushing at every step. The campsite looked so empty in the pre-dawn light, it was almost eerie. Charlie was glad he wasn't alone. Walking around here in the dark was one thing, but now that everything seemed washout and grey, it almost looked like a horror movie set up.
"Spooky, huh?" Kevin suddenly asked, startling Charlie, who once again glanced behind them to make sure they were alone.
"God, yes." He slumped his shoulders. "And it's weird, too. I'm not usually afraid of the dark or anything like that."
Kevin shrugged. "Maybe it's just that we're used to the city that's never this empty."
"Oh, I don't know, New York can be seriously spooky in the early hours like this." Charlie didn't want to reminiscence right now about his early years in the city when he'd been coming back to his apartment in East Brooklyn at every hour of the night, though. This, right here, was spooky enough. He didn't need more.
"You're right, I remember some horror stories now," Kevin said, but paused and looked at him when Charlie shook his head.
"Please don't share them with me now."
Kevin nodded and sneaked his arm around Charlie's waist, pulling him closer against him. "Sure thing."
Charlie relaxed into the embrace and breathed in a little bit easier. He was reluctant to move away once they got to his cabin, but Kevin solved that problem for him, turning so he'd face Charlie and circling both arms around his waist.
At the first touch of Kevin's lips against his, Charlie reached out and grasped those broad shoulders that had haunted him since he'd first seen Kevin at the airport. He hadn't had a chance to properly explore them last night, but now, he let his hands map them out, tightening his grip as Kevin nipped his lower lip.
They felt even better than they looked.
Charlie got lost in the kiss after that, in the feeling of Kevin's body pressed against his, in the way he didn't seem to get enough of Kevin's taste. In the dizzying high when Kevin clasped his hands over Charlie's hips, tight and strong.
Maybe he could be a sex-on-the-first-night guy after all, just this once. His body would definitely be grateful. His erection pressed roughly against his jeans, and the heat spread behind his ribs at the mere thought of seeing Kevin naked.
He broke the kiss, panting against Kevin's mouth. The invitation to go inside was almost there at the tip of his tongue, but then Kevin tilted his head and sucked on the skin just above Charlie's collarbone, and all the thoughts disapp
eared from his head. Everything narrowed down to this, Kevin's lips and tongue against his skin. Charlie was fairly sure he was now leaving marks on the back of Kevin's neck with his nails. God, he hadn't wanted anybody this badly for way too long. Years, probably.
When Kevin pulled back, leaving behind a hot mark Charlie was itching to touch, to press his fingers against it, their harsh breaths were loud in the silence of the early hours.
Come in. Stay. How about we move this inside? All of this and more was flying through Charlie's head, but the words just didn't want to come out.
Kevin kissed him again. "How about we catch some sleep, huh?" he whispered, lips moving against Charlie's.
It took Charlie a second—and Kevin taking a step back—to realize he truly meant sleeping, in their separate beds.
"Sure, yes," he said, disappointment and relief warring inside him.
Kevin pressed another short kiss against his mouth, brushing his thumb over Charlie's jaw. "I'm going," he murmured.
"Okay." Charlie sucked on Kevin's lower lip before releasing it with a quiet pop.
Kevin groaned and pulled him closer again. "In a minute."
***
After a few more hours of sleep—in a bed, once they finally stopped making out and parted ways—Charlie woke up in a great mood. He couldn't stop smiling, so when he went to get breakfast and Sylvia and Greg waved him over to their table, he also couldn't avoid questions.
"Somebody is in a good mood this morning." Greg smirked, but he also poured him coffee, so Charlie decided to let it go.
"I am indeed," he said, taking a sip and grimacing when he burned his tongue.
"I would be, too, if I'd had this much fun last night." Sylvia leaned closer and poked him in the neck where Kevin's mark had to be.
Charlie tssked. "Don't tell me you didn't have fun last night." He turned to Greg. "Step up your game, man," he told him, trying not to laugh.
"My game is perfectly fine, man." Greg rolled his eyes. "I just don't feel the need to show it off so everyone can see."