by Zoe Piper
"Where are we going now?" he asked quietly, so as not to disturb Sarah and Mike. Jase fished his cell phone from the pocket of the fleece he was wearing and activated the flashlight feature.
"This way," came the hushed reply and Jase led him away from the cabin towards a worn path. Slowly and carefully, they made their way towards the beach. The path was slippery in places and Kyle had to rest a hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him. They were soon stepping onto the uneven sand. Kyle moved from behind Jase to walk beside him. They were heading towards some sand dunes and a small outcrop of rocks. As they neared, Kyle could just make out a few trees, branches hanging low over the beach. They would provide excellent shade cover in the hot, summer sun, but for now, they cast deep shadows where they would be hidden.
They ducked under the low boughs and moved to the far side of the trunk of the tree. Jase turned out the light on his phone and put the device back into his pocket. Kyle reached for him, turning him so his back was against the tree. The sound of the waves breaking on the beach echoed in the background and the air was cooler down here, so close to the water.
"I believe you have a rain check you want to cash in?" he murmured against Jase's throat, pressing soft kisses along the warm skin. He could smell the faint scent of smoke from the fire pit coming off him. It mixed with Jase's natural scent and Kyle breathed it deep into his lungs.
"I believe I do. Can you help me?"
Kyle returned his mouth to Jase's, thrusting his tongue between the lips opening for him, his hands slipping under the fleece and t-shirt Jase was wearing, fingers drifting across the warm skin. He undid the button on Jase’s jeans and slid the zipper down. With a final kiss to Jase’s hot mouth, he dropped to his knees, wincing when he landed on a sharp shell. Pushing the discomfort away, he looked up into the hooded gaze as he carefully pulled down the jeans and underwear encasing Jase's heavily engorged cock. He felt Jase shiver at the touch of cool air breezing over his heated skin.
Kyle brought his hand up and gently fondled the heavy sack before running the flat of his tongue up the shaft. Jase hissed above him, and Kyle repeated the motion, tugging on the balls in his hand. Jase's hand landed on his head and tried to push him closer to his groin, rocking it towards him. He raised up slightly on his knees, and with his free hand, gently eased the swollen crown into his mouth. Jase had a good-sized cock, long and thick, which was great when being pounded into his ass, but meant he couldn't swallow Jase all the way down his throat like he wanted to. Still, he gave it a good try, moving his head up and down and using his free hand to rub the part of the shaft he couldn't get in his mouth. As he sucked and teased, Jase moaned above him, urging Kyle on with a hand to the back of his head.
He popped his mouth off the straining cock and peppered kisses along the deep V of Jase's hipbone. He reversed his trail across the taut abs, nipping and sucking the skin. His hand slowly jacked the neglected shaft, rubbing his thumb over the leaking head and then smearing it back down, mixing the precum with the saliva he had left behind.
"Babe, I'm close." Jase's strained voice broke the silence. Kyle glanced up and met his lover's gaze. The green eyes were half shut, and he could see the ecstasy on Jase’s handsome features. Kyle flicked his tongue over the slit, tasting the bitter precum before sucking as hard as he could on the flared head. He sped up the hand jacking Jase off, moving his head in tandem, bobbing up and down. He heard a gasp and then Jase was groaning out his name as hot come filled his mouth. Swallowing, he loosened his grip and eased off the sensitive flesh. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and carefully stood up. Jase grabbed him and kissed him hard, tongue swiping into his mouth, tasting himself on Kyle's tongue. He felt Jase's hand at his buckle and then in his own jeans, grabbing his aching cock. He wasn't going to last long, and he grunted into the mouth on his as strong firm strokes brought him quickly to his own release.
Panting, he pulled his mouth away from Jase's and leaned his head against his shoulder. A hand ran gently up and down his back.
"Rain check well and truly cashed," Jase chuckled into his ear.
"Fuck yes."
He eased back and let Jase pull his jeans up while he stuffed himself back into his own pants.
"Ugh. Sand in places there shouldn't be sand," Jase said as he zipped himself up.
"Yeah, got a bit of a mess going on here too," Kyle agreed. "We'll have to shower when we get back to the cabin."
"We'll have to be really quiet. The bathroom is a shared one and I don't want to wake Sarah and Mike."
"I'm sure we can be, just this once," Kyle replied as they slowly walked back along the beach and up the path towards the cabin.
Once they reached their cabin, Jase paused and looked at him. Kyle couldn't fully make out the expression on his face as it was too dark, but he could see Jase wanted to say something. He waited, and Jase lifted his hand to rest on his jaw before moving forward and placing a soft kiss on his mouth.
"What was that for?" he whispered.
"Because I can and because I wanted to," Jase whispered back. "I like you Kyle Foster. A lot.”
Kyle understood what Jase was saying. "The feeling is very mutual." He pressed his own kiss to Jase's mouth. "I think I like you more than a lot."
He saw Jase's grin in the dim light. "Good."
"Come on. Let's get showered and turn in."
✽✽✽
The following morning Jase shuffled into the kitchen, past his best friends sitting at the small table, making a beeline for the coffee machine. He was preparing a second cup for Kyle when he heard him enter the room. The other man gratefully accepted the hot cup from him and took a mouthful. "Thanks, darlin'."
Jase took a mouthful of his own brew, sighing appreciatively as the hot liquid cleared some of the just-woke-up fuzziness he was experiencing.
"Morning, guys," he said to the silent couple watching them.
Sarah turned to her husband and said conversationally, "Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that the harder two people try to be quiet, the noisier they are?"
Mike nodded at her. "I did know that, yes."
"And, before I forget, can you remind me to let Jo and Hemi know that they need to advise guests that the showers here are not for more than one person at a time?" Jase then found her amused glare turned his way as she continued, "And especially at one o'clock in the morning!"
Jase glanced at them and then at Kyle. He noticed his lover had developed a great interest in the contents of his coffee mug and wasn't looking at any of them, a red stain flushing his cheeks.
"Sorry, love. Did we wake you?" he asked pulling a chair out and plonking down it. Using his foot, he pushed the empty fourth chair away from the table, silently indicating that Kyle should sit down. "I needed to rinse off the smoke smell from the fire pit. It was bugging me."
"Uh huh." Sarah nodded, clearly not believing him. She turned her saccharine smile on Kyle. "And you were helping him to scrub his...back?"
Kyle quickly glanced at Jase, and then back at Sarah. "He demanded my help."
Jase choked on the mouthful of coffee he had just swallowed. Coughing, he glared at the man who had completely and utterly just thrown him under the bus. "You fucker. You did not just say that. It was your idea. I said we should have separate showers, but you insisted on joining me."
"No, I distinctly remember you saying you needed help," Kyle replied, grinning into his coffee as he took another mouthful. "And I remember you not taking no for an answer, despite me telling you we would disturb Sarah and Mike."
Jase felt his jaw drop at the ridiculous words coming from Kyle. He narrowed his eyes at him. "Oh, that's how you remember it, is it?"
"Mm hmm." Kyle nodded. Sarah and Mike watched the exchange with amusement.
Mike leaned towards his wife and stage whispered, "Do you think we should leave and let them sort this out?"
Sarah whispered back, "Shush, it's just getting good. Do we have any popcorn?"
/> Jase turned his glare onto his friends. "Really, guys? You're going to take the word of a man you have known for a few weeks over that of the man you’ve known all your lives?"
The couple glanced at each other, grinned and nodded at Jase.
"Fuckers. The lot of you." Jase picked his coffee back up and took a deep mouthful. He felt his foot being nudged. He ignored it and carried on drinking his coffee. Another nudge at his foot. Again, he ignored it. Putting his now empty mug down, he said conversationally, "Weather is looking okay again today. What time were you thinking of heading off?"
He could feel Kyle looking at him, trying to get his attention. Sarah and Mike glanced between the two of them.
"Ah, maybe before lunch?" Mike said, looking to his wife. Sarah nodded abstractly, her attention still on the two men.
"Sounds good. We'd better get organised then. I'm just going to freshen up," with a pointed glance at Kyle, "alone, and then I'll make breakfast."
"No mate, don't worry, I'll do breakfast," Mike offered.
"Yes. Mike will make breakfast and I'm sure Kyle can be of assistance again this morning, if you need it, of course," Sarah said with a grin.
"Um, Jase?"
"Yes, Kyle?" Jase answered, finally giving the man his full attention. He felt a little guilty when he saw the worry in his face.
"Can I have a quick word?"
Jase decided to let Kyle off the hook. He grinned at him. "Well, it depends."
"On what?" Kyle asked warily, leaning back in his chair.
"On whether you're going to admit that you pushed your way into my shower last night, or you're going to continue this charade of trying to look good in front of my friends," Jase teased. Relief washed over Kyle's face as he realised Jase wasn't mad with him. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk.
"What's in it for me?" he asked.
"I'm sure we can think of something," Jase parried back.
Sarah interrupted, "And on that note, I think you two should continue this discussion alone."
Mike nodded his agreement. "But if you need to have your 'discussion' in the shower, then I’m taking my wife for a short walk."
Jase laughed and assured his friends, "No, we don’t need to have this discussion in the shower. Kyle here will help you with breakfast, Mike. I'll be back in a few minutes and then he can go and have his turn." He stood up and placed his empty mug in the sink.
Kyle did the same and then said to Mike, "I'll be back in two minutes." He followed Jase into their room and shut the door.
Jase looked at him questioningly.
"Are we okay?" Kyle asked him, the worried look returning to his face.
Frowning, Jase replied, "Yes. Of course, we are. Why wouldn't we be?"
"You seemed upset out there before."
"Oh, babe. I wasn't upset. I knew you were just teasing." He stepped forward and placed a hand on the stubbled jaw. "Believe me, you'll know when I'm upset with you. I'm not one for sulking. I'll tell you if I'm mad at you and the reason why."
Kyle's frame relaxed, making Jase realise his lover had really been worried he'd upset him.
"That's good. My last serious relationship… well, let's just say Paul was the king of sulking and pouting."
"Don't have time for that kind of bullshit. Life is too short to carry a grudge, especially over some light-hearted teasing." He pressed a quick kiss to Kyle's mouth. "Now, go and help Mike otherwise they'll have even more ammunition."
Chapter 14
It was the end of a busy day and Kyle was relieved to be shutting down his computer and heading for home. He was feeling particularly homesick today. It was Thanksgiving in America and he was missing his family. Due to the time difference, he wouldn't be talking to his family until Friday, New Zealand time. He glanced up when a knock came to his open office door. Leaning against the door frame was the one person guaranteed to make him feel better. "Hi, darlin'. What’re you doing here?" he asked a smiling Jase.
The other man walked into the office, casually pushing the door to close. It didn't close fully, but enough that Marybeth, his temporary PA, couldn't see them. Kyle stood and came around the desk, meeting Jase halfway. Their lips met in a gentle kiss, Jase's hand squeezing his hip.
"Hi," Jase said huskily. "I decided I would call in and see if you’re free for dinner tonight?"
"I am. Where are we going?" Kyle looked into the dark green eyes, feeling his melancholy slip away.
"I know a little place not far from your flat that I think you may enjoy." Jase let go of Kyle, "so get your butt into gear and let's get out of here."
Kyle returned to his desk and gathered up his things. "Well then, let's go." Together they walked out of the office, bidding Marybeth a good night. Sarah had finished work the week before and, fortunately, had not had any more scares. They made their way to Kyle's apartment. Kyle remembered back to when they had first done this, just seven weeks ago. They had gone from temporary boss and employee to lovers negotiating the first steps of a new relationship. Kyle had worried that things were moving too fast, but he had never felt so comfortable with a guy—not even his cheating ex, Paul—and had decided to just go with it. He had spoken with his sister and best friend, both happily in love, and they had told him to enjoy his time with Jase and just let it go where it was meant to go. So, he was.
It didn't take them long to reach the apartment and he was relieved to loosen his tie and take his shoes off. Glancing at Jase, who was leaning against the kitchen counter, he asked, "Beer?" At his nod, he grabbed two bottles of a local craft beer he had discovered from the fridge. He popped the tops of both bottles and passed one to Jase while taking a long swig of his own. As the cool brew eased down his throat, he felt himself relax.
Placing the bottle on the counter, he asked Jase, "What time do we need to be there?"
"Not for a couple of hours," he replied. Kyle moved around the end of the counter and into Jase's space.
"A couple of hours?" he queried. Jase nodded. "What do you suggest we do until we have to leave?" His hands slid around the trim waist.
Jase's arm wrapped around his neck and he pressed a kiss to Kyle's mouth. "Well, you'll probably want a shower to freshen up, and I know you hate to shower alone.” Kyle nodded at this statement as Jase continued. "So, I reckon that will kill some time." Another kiss, this one longer.
"What are we waiting for?" Kyle asked huskily as he started to walk them to his bedroom.
"Nothing," Jase replied, smiling against his mouth.
A couple of hours later, both relaxed after mutual blowjobs in the shower, they were stepping out into the cool evening air. It was late spring, with summer officially starting on the first day of December, and although the days were getting warmer, the evenings were still cool after the sun had dropped below the skyline. Jase reached for his hand and led them away from the main Viaduct area. They strolled along the walkway, past the expensive super yachts moored in the enclosed harbour. Nodding at the huge boats, he asked Jase, "Which one do you like?"
Jase perused the selection. "They’re all very nice, but a bit over the top for me. What about you?"
"I'm not a huge fan either. I know a lot of people think it's the height of success, to have such a large boat, but to me it's just flaunting your wealth and I'm not a fan of doing that."
"You've mentioned that before. Can I ask why?" Jase asked him quizzically. Kyle thought for a moment. If he and Jase were going to be together, the other man needed to know some of Kyle's history.
He nodded. "How about I tell you over dinner?” Jase smiled at him, nodding his agreement. They came to a stop in front of a restaurant festooned in red, white and blue bunting, and miniature versions of the American flag. He looked at Jase who was grinning at him.
"Happy Thanksgiving, babe."
"What is this place? And how did you know about Thanksgiving?" Kyle asked him.
"This is The Eagle Bar. It's an American-themed restaurant, advertised as serving authentic America
n fare and tonight they have a special Thanksgiving menu." Jase pulled the door open, ushering Kyle in before him. Kyle stepped into a wide-open space that had a long wooden bar running down one side. On the opposite side, there were tables for dining next to the large open windows, and booths tucked along the back wall. The whole place was decked out in traditional Thanksgiving decorations and felt warm and inviting.
They were greeted by the smiling, young hostess. Jase gave her his name and they were led across the restaurant to a small, secluded booth. They took their seats, not quite opposite each other and not quite next to each other.
"This place is amazing. How did you find it?" he asked Jase.
"I'm surprised you haven't been here, considering it's only ten minutes from your flat," Jase replied as he picked up the menu in front of him. "I admit that I Googled what to do for Thanksgiving and this came up. The reviews looked good, so I booked a table and here we are."
A wave of emotion washed through him. He had been feeling so homesick and had planned a quiet night in front of the television. Then this wonderful man in front of him had surprised him with a night out to celebrate a holiday that was not recognised here. He realised he was starting to feel a lot more than just lust and attraction and that his feelings for the handsome Kiwi were growing.
Reaching across the table, he took Jase's hand in his. "Thank you for this. It means more than you know."
Jase lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "You’re welcome. I figured you'd be a bit homesick today, being so far away from your family."
"I was. But you've made it better."
Jase smiled at him, warmth shining in his eyes. "I'm glad. I like making you happy."