by L. C. Chase
Jax settled sleepy but still amazingly brilliant blue eyes on him, raising one eyebrow in an “are you serious” expression, and Kellan volleyed with his biggest pleading puppy-dog eyes. “Please?” He batted his eyelashes. “I promise to make it worth your while later.”
Jax pulled him into his embrace so Kellan was half on top of him and kissed Kellan’s chin. “You could make it worth my while now.”
Kellan pressed a kiss under Jax’s jawline. “I could, but then what would you have to look forward to tonight?”
“More.” Jax groaned and rocked his hips.
“Hound,” Kellan teased, smiling.
“Woof.”
Kellan pushed up onto his elbows and held Jax’s eyes with his, pouting until Jax broke and started laughing.
“Okay, okay.” Jax gave him a playful shoulder shove. “Let’s get going before I come to my senses.”
Kellan hooted his victory and hopped from the bed, dragging a laughing Jax along behind him.
THE LAST surf was short since the tide wasn’t high yet, but Kellan was happy to get out there one more time before leaving Tofino. Even if he ended up surfing alone while Jax watched from ashore, as the puncture wound in his finger from the crab was still too fresh. Plus, anything he could do to prolong the inevitable return to the mainland and Jax’s departure, he would. Short of making Jax miss his flight. Which he’d love, but Jax undoubtedly had a life to return to.
A few short hours later, Kellan stood at the top of the Rainbow run on Mount Washington and watched Jax sail down the slope effortlessly. They had started on the easier runs for Kellan to regain his snowboarding legs before progressing to the intermediate runs. The first thing Kellan had to get used to again was having his feet strapped to the board, then shifting his weight from center on the surfboard to front on the snowboard. After a half-dozen runs or so, he felt better about increasing the difficulty up to the next level. Jax didn’t at all seem to mind going Kellan’s pace, but there was no hiding Jax’s pro boarding abilities. Anyone could see his talent.
Kellan launched and followed Jax down the slope, though nowhere as gracefully or fast. Cold air buffeted the exposed skin of his face, and trees blurred in his peripheral vision as he carved a nice clean line to the bottom—at least that was how it felt to him. Jax could be seeing something completely different. Probably was. He dug the rail of his board into the groomed snow, shooting up a fan of white powder, and came to a stop before a waiting Jax.
“Just like a pro!” Jax raised his gloved hand for a high five.
The smile that pulled at the corners of Kellan’s mouth had nothing to do with Jax’s praise, which he wouldn’t deny he loved hearing, but everything to do with the joy on Jax’s face. Even though he’d been a trooper and spent most of the week surfing, snowboarding was clearly his element. Every minute Kellan spent with him, he discovered another level to his smile, another shade to the blue of his eyes, another piece of the man who made him want more. Why did they have to live in opposite hemispheres?
“I’m sorry we didn’t get up here sooner,” Kellan said, meaning it. He could come to the island and surf anytime he wanted. Jax, though, it was highly possible he’d never be back to Canada. The thought cut at Kellan, but he pushed it aside. He’d save the pity party for later.
Jax regarded him for a long minute, and then that insanely brilliant smile of his overtook his handsome face.
“No worries, Kell,” Jax said softly, and Kellan’s heart flipped over. Again. Jax hopped closer and leaned in for a lingering kiss. The boards made for an awkward angle, and they couldn’t fully embrace, but Kellan didn’t care. Jax’s lips were on his, and that was all that mattered. Jax pulled back, and Kellan reluctantly let him go. Mingled breath puffed a cloud between them in the cold afternoon air.
“The alternative meant I got to spend more time with you. So worth it,” Jax said, voice pitched lower on the last few words, and Kellan didn’t for a second doubt his honesty. “Besides, turns out I quite like winter surfing.”
“But you like snowboarding better,” Kellan said, trying hard not to melt where he stood.
Jax shrugged, his signature smile back in full force. “Depends on the company.”
And he lost. Melting Kellan made puddles in the snow everywhere. I am so in love with you. Whoa! He cleared his throat, stalling to get himself back in check. “Ready for another run?”
“Hell yeah! I gotta hit the Thunderdome run before calling it.”
“Of course you do.” Kellan laughed, feeling a little more centered again. “But you’ll have to do that one on your own. There’s no way I’m ready for a double black diamond run. I’ll meet you down at the tent café when you’re done.”
“You sure?”
“Sure.” Kellan nodded. “Go shred it!”
With a quick kiss and a wave, Kellan watched Jax head for the lifts. When he was out of sight, Kellan turned in the other direction and headed for the base. A shiver raced through him, and he decided there was another difference between surfing and snowboarding he wasn’t too fond of. No matter how cold it was surfing in the dead of winter, he felt warmer out there on the water than he did here on the snow. Of course when he was done surfing, he was a short dash to his condo and into a hot shower. Here he was standing around in the cold just waiting for the chill to sink deeper.
At the pop-up café, he ordered the largest hot chocolate they had, sans whipped cream, and sat at a table that gave him a good view of the slopes to watch for Jax. He had nearly finished the drink when he spotted Jax sailing down the run toward the base. Jax dug in the rail of his board and slid to a stop mere feet from Kellan, spraying snow halfway up his body.
“Hey!” Kellan jumped back, laughing as he dusted himself off.
“That was rippin’!” Jax’s voice was loud with excitement, his cheeks and nose bright red, and his smile insanely wide and dazzling. Kellan felt another twinge of guilt in keeping Jax from the slopes most of the week but made himself let it go. Jax had already assured him he’d been quite content to stay with him regardless.
“That was intense.” Excitement laced Jax’s voice, and he spoke rapidly. “You should have seen it. I almost bit it twice. What a rush.”
Kellan laughed, imagining Jax whipping between trees, sailing over rocks and drops, and probably hooting like a maniac the whole way. He wished he had seen it, but if he’d been on that run with Jax, they’d likely be heading for the hospital instead of the chalet. Speaking of hospitals….
“How’s your finger?”
Jax carefully pulled the glove off his injured hand and extended his fingers, then loosened them. “It’s a little sore, but not too bad.”
“Good. I’m glad it wasn’t something that would have prevented you from boarding today.”
Jax smiled. He opened his mouth, about to speak, but another voice cut in.
“Jax! Large hot chocolate up!”
He tilted his head at Kellan, one eyebrow raised in question at hearing his name.
“Perfect timing,” Kellan said. “Figured you’d need a shot of warmth after that.”
Jax unsnapped the buckles from his boots and stepped off his board. “I could use a shot of warmth of another kind too.” He lowered his voice seductively and winked.
Kellan laughed. “Done boarding for the day already?”
“Not at all, but the slopes close in twenty minutes, so we have the rest of the day left to fill.”
Today was all theirs. There would be no Lacey knocking on the door. No Remy bouncing up and down to go surfing. No neighbors randomly popping by to say hi or invite them on spontaneous adventures. Not that he minded any of that. He loved it, in fact. But his limited time with Jax was rapidly running short. Tonight they could finally get a full night together without any interruptions, and Kellan planned to make the most of it. He bumped Jax’s shoulder and tipped his chin toward to the café. “Go get your drink.”
Kellan watched him walk to the pickup bar and smiled when th
e barista did a double take when he saw Jax. The barista moved closer and said something. The stars in his eyes sparkled all the way outside to Kellan. His amusement waned when Jax leaned on the counter and said something in response. The barista laughed, leaned closer, and Kellan knew Jax was gracing him with one of those insanely brilliant smiles of his. The barista held up his hand for Jax to wait, did something behind the bar where Kellan couldn’t see, and then handed Jax a piece of paper.
Kellan narrowed his eyes, lips pursed. A phone number, no doubt. The guy was totally hitting on his man, and his man seemed to be playing right along. His man? Oh no. Yes, he had fallen for Jax in a hard way. He’d been falling ever since they met, but he was never one for the flares of envy. Then again, he’d never met anyone like Jax before. Never felt the way he did now so quickly and certainly. He was in some serious trouble here. How was his heart going to survive after Jax left?
Jax returned with that brilliant smile packed with so much heat that Kellan thought he’d been hit with a flamethrower. Jax reached for Kellan’s hand, light dancing in his eyes as though he knew exactly what Kellan was feeling, and pulled him to his feet. “Now what was it we were going to do after boarding today?”
Kellan laughed as his heart swelled, and words there was no way he should be saying bubbled below the surface. “We’re unplugging the phone and putting the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door.”
They made their way from the café back to their room in the chalet, and at the door, Jax turned before opening it, his smile playful and teasing. “You were jealous.”
“What? No.” Heat flooded Kellan’s cheeks. Yes, of course he’d been jealous, but thought he’d managed to hide it. Jax raised an eyebrow. “Okay, yeah. I may have been feeling a little like… ‘back off from my man’ kind of thing.”
Jax grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close. “I like the sound of that,” he said and then claimed Kellan’s mouth in a knee-buckling kiss before Kellan could form any kind of response. Not that anything verbal was required. He’d let his body do all the talking tonight.
He reached behind Jax, turned the knob of their hotel room door, and they tumbled backward into the room, not stopping until they fell into a twisted pile of limbs on the large bed in the middle of the room.
“Too many damn layers,” Jax grunted, yanking at the jacket and snow pants’ zippers. On his back, he struggled out of his jacket like it was a living thing fighting him, and Kellan doubled over laughing.
Up on his knees on the bed, Kellan tossed his own jacket to the floor. “Slow down there, wild man. Let me.”
Jax stopped moving, trapped in a mess of tangled outer clothes, and blew a hank of hair from his eyes. His gaze was wide and pleading. “Hurry.”
Kellan locked his gaze with Jax’s and held on, telegraphing his thoughts and hoping Jax was reading them right, that he understood the words Kellan couldn’t say. “Sit up.”
Jax complied, and Kellan began detangling him, pulling off his jacket and upper-body layers piece by deliberate piece—just slow enough to tease, to entice, but fast enough not to frustrate. He tossed the freed clothing over the side of the bed without any regard for where or how it landed. The only thing he could focus on was revealing more of Jax as each article of fabric between them disappeared.
Kellan hooked the last underlayer with his thumbs and pushed it up, sliding his palms along the hot, smooth skin of Jax’s torso as he went. He pulled the shirt over Jax’s head and then leaned in to kiss him. Jax gripped the bare skin just above the waist of Kellan’s pants, and his touch burned like a branding iron. A shiver of anticipation skittered out from that ignition point, spreading outward, and the kiss intensified to the point he stopped breathing.
Breaking the kiss, he sat back on his heels, skimming his hands down Jax’s heaving chest until they reached his snow pants. He popped the button and pulled the zipper, his earlier deliberate pace now frantic. “Lift,” he ordered gruffly. His breath was coming fast and shallow.
Jax lifted his hips, and Kellan wasted no time. He gathered the pants, the long johns, and the underwear in his grip and yanked the whole collection down in one pull.
“Yessss,” Jax hissed when he was freed.
Kellan threw the bunched material over his shoulder, then hopped off the bed to remove his pants, his eyes never leaving Jax’s.
“Bloody hell,” Jax whispered. “You’re a beautiful man.”
“I was thinking the same of you,” Kellan said, crawling back onto the bed to straddle Jax. Jax pulled him down on top of him, their bodies molding together as one, and took his mouth in a passionate kiss. If Kellan had thought the last kiss was intense, this one was off the charts. Tongues dueled and caressed and tasted, and Kellan’s mind shorted out. There was no world beyond this room. No room beyond the bed they lay upon, no bed beyond the press of their bodies. The world could be burning down around them, for all Kellan was aware, and at that moment, he really didn’t care if it was. As long as he was with Jax, nothing else mattered.
Jax moved his mouth from Kellan’s lips and began a seductive, mind-melting journey over Kellan’s body. Jax flipped them over so his heavier, larger body covered Kellan, and Kellan gave over completely. Gave Jax total and complete freedom to have his way. Kellan briefly registered lingering awe at the fact he trusted Jax in a way he’d never trusted anyone before. Never had he given of himself with such abandon, but with Jax, this was exactly perfect.
Jax was saying something, words between kisses and sucks, and not a single one made sense to Kellan. He was gone on the pleasure, lost in the desire, and all he knew was skin and heat and tongues and hands. Their bodies moving and rocking and undulating in unison. Jax on him and around him and finally in him, and the ride was wild and freeing, and Kellan never wanted it to end. And then he was flying, higher and higher. The sun that was Jax burned brighter and hotter until they reached the point of no return, and whatever small shred of mental capacity Kellan had left exploded into a universe of stars. Jax’s voice whispered on the edges of his awareness. He might have said, “Holy shit, that was intense,” but the sound was soothing and caressing and carried Kellan off into sated blissful slumber. Yes was the last thing he remembered coherently. Intense.
Chapter Ten
“I’M REALLY happy we met on the ferry and I convinced you to come to Tofino with me,” Kellan said. He tried to be cheery about it, but his heart hurt in a way he hadn’t thought possible. This was their last morning on the island before heading back to Vancouver, before Jax returned to Australia, and somehow he’d managed to ignore the fact it was a hard reality and not some abstract notion. He’d known it was coming but hadn’t accepted it really would, and he didn’t want to say goodbye. Not now, not ever.
“Me too.” Jax smiled from the other side of the table, where they were having breakfast after epic snowboarding the day before, followed by an amazing night of lovemaking. Kellan’s skin still tingled from the heat of Jax’s hands on him, from the weight of Jax’s body on his. “Never thought I’d enjoy winter surfing so much. Figured I’d give it a go that first day and then be on the mountain slopes for the rest of the week.”
“At least you got one day of boarding in so you can say you officially snowboarded coast to coast.” Kellan winked, but the effort felt halfhearted. Wanting to stretch out what time they had left as much as possible, he blurted, “Stay at my place when we get back to the mainland tonight, and I’ll drive you to the airport.”
Jax smiled, that brilliant infectious smile of his that made Kellan’s heart race and urged him to make premature professions.
“I would like that, but are you sure?” Jax’s tone was hopeful. “I have to be there by four thirty in the morning.”
Kellan nodded. “All good.” He looked down at his nearly finished meal. His stomach knotted at the reminder Jax would be gone this time tomorrow, and he couldn’t eat any more. He did not want Jax to leave, but how could he ask someone he’d known only a week
to move to the other side of the world?
Unless I went to Australia…. Not for the first time this week, he started running options in his head for an extended trip to the land down under.
“Believe it or not, I’m actually going to miss not getting one more surf in before we leave,” Jax said.
“Ha!” Kellan laughed, genuinely this time. “My mission is complete.” Surfing with Jax had made the trip perfect beyond expectation. “If there’s enough daylight left when we get back today, we could even go windsailing.”
Jax shook his head and chuckled softly. “You Canucks really do everything all year here, don’t you?”
“As much as we can, absolutely, and wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Companionable silence fell between them while Jax finished his breakfast and Kellan nursed his hot chocolate. Kellan wanted to reach out and hold Jax’s hand, feel the heat that radiated from him, ask him to stay. He sighed. One week. It wasn’t meant to be more, but what an amazing week it had been. Why couldn’t it last longer? The world wasn’t as big as it once was, though that didn’t negate the massive body of water separating them. Being that their two countries were part of the Commonwealth, he could get a work permit for Australia. His firm had an office there too, so he could take a transfer. But that would take time, and Jax would probably move on. Which Kellan should do too, because again…, one week and opposite hemispheres. Did whirlwind affairs really last after the winds died down? Not unheard of, but the odds weren’t in their favor.
“Don’t you go getting all melancholy on me,” Jax said softly, nudging Kellan’s foot under the table with his own.
Kellan met Jax’s gaze, and his vision blurred for a second before he could get it under control and muster a smile he knew wouldn’t reach his eyes.
“I wish you could stay.”
Jax nodded. “Me too. But think, I’m only a fourteen-hour flight away.”