Falling In (Only You Book 2)

by J. S. Finley

  “What’s that?” Clay pointed to a smaller waterway partially obscured by trees.

  Thomas turned his kayak around and Clay had to paddle in a circle to see the opening again. Thomas caught his gaze and shrugged.

  “Let’s go see.” Thomas angled his kayak toward the opening and Clay followed. The small river widened a little, and he could see a bend in the waterway.

  “This is weird,” Clay said.

  Thomas turned his kayak a bit so he was facing Clay and paused his paddling.

  “There are a lot of islands out here. As the tide rises, these waterways fill up. When it goes out, it falls.”

  Clay glanced around. “You don’t think we’ll be trapped back here?”

  Thomas shook his head. “No, the tide is still coming in. It will be hours before it goes out.”

  Birds squeaked, cawed, and honked from the trees. A splash sounded to his left.

  “What was that?” Clay asked.

  Thomas chuckled. “There are a lot of animals out here, alligators, otters, rays and skates, then there are the dolphins and sharks, which come in and swim around the waterways. We have jumping fish too.”

  Clay glanced around but didn’t see any fish or other animals. It was beautiful out here. He got why Thomas stayed. Though it was hot, he liked being on the water. In Alexandria, he could have found a place to go out on the water, but he’d been so busy.

  “Hey,” Thomas said as he motioned to the shore. “Would you look at that.” A rickety old dock stuck out from amongst the trees. Thomas pointed his kayak in the direction of the shore and moved closer. Clay followed. “I never knew this was here.” Thomas stilled and poked his paddle into the water, almost dipping it below the surface before he pulled it up again. “Wow, it’s deep. I had no idea. This isn’t one of the smaller estuaries; it’s big.”

  He moved close, and Thomas reached out and grabbed onto his kayak so he didn’t float away.

  “So an island with a dock, want to go explore?” Thomas asked.

  “An adventure with you? You bet I want to do it.”

  The smile on Thomas’ face made his heart thud. He was falling hard for the guy. No question, he was open for whatever type of relationship Thomas wanted as long as the man stayed in his life.

  There was a sandy spot about twenty yards away, and they paddled fast, heading up onto the shore. Clay followed and stepped out with Thomas, pulling his kayak up onto the bank.

  “Is this someone’s land?” Clay asked.

  “I don’t think so, not in the traditional sense. You couldn’t build out here, it’s too low—possibly below sea level during a king tide. The presence of the dock is weird. It must have been someone’s property at some point, or it was used for something.”

  They made their way between the trees down a narrow path and came out to a clearing with a covered picnic area. A fireplace had been built at one end of the structure, though this looked a little worse for wear.

  “This is weird.” Thomas moved closer to the bench and reached out for Clay’s hand.

  They weren’t in public so Clay took Thomas’ hand and wove their fingers together. Jake had told him stories about how he and Brent had to watch where they held hands and how affectionate they were. Being open at the wrong time could elicit a terrible reaction. But this place looked abandoned so he felt comfortable holding hands.

  “How long do you think it has been since anyone’s been out here?” Thomas asked.

  Clay stared at the junk on the ground. “Um, based on the trash and drug paraphernalia, I’d say a couple of days.”

  “Hmm, so it’s probably not really safe to be here.”

  Clay glanced around, studying the surroundings. “Safe, kind of. I don’t think we should drop our pants and start sucking each other, but I think we’re safe walking around.”

  Thomas turned and then turned again. “All of the times I’ve been down this river I’ve never seen this. I know there are islands people talk about where drug deals take place, but I’ve never known where.”

  Clay stepped close behind his man and wrapped his arms around Thomas’ chest, holding him tight. He kissed the back of Thomas’ neck and let his hands roam over his chest and abs.

  “I like how easy it is with you,” Clay whispered.

  Thomas sighed and held onto Clay’s hands. “I know. It is easy with you. I feel whole. I feel right.”

  Clay’s lips lingered on Thomas’ shoulder as he breathed in deeply.

  “I’m not looking forward to you leaving,” Thomas said.

  Clay didn’t know what to say. Work sucked; he had no clue what would happen once he went back to Virginia and talked to Internal Affairs. His stomach twisted as he contemplated not being with Thomas. He was smart enough to know Thomas couldn’t move to Virginia. His job was rooted here.

  Fear of the unknown filled Clay. Being with Thomas was wonderful and sucked all at the same time. He would never find anyone else he felt this comfortable with. They’d lived half a life together in the Marines. No one would ever share those experiences with him like Thomas had. They’d gone through hell together and come out the other side. Though they’d only been together in their unit for four years, it had seemed like more. This was the man he was meant to spend his future with, but he didn’t know how to get there.

  After walking around the picnic tables, searching down partially hidden paths, and finding nothing, they hiked around the island, discovering a path circling back to the kayaks.

  “Did we—wait, that’s cool,” Clay said.

  “It’s kind of like a secret path. I want to go back.” Thomas turned, tugging Clay with him.

  He wove their fingers together as they walked. He felt like he was exploring Treasure Island with Thomas. They were having fun exploring, ducking under low hanging branches and moving through tall grasses.

  “It’s fun running around out here with you,” Thomas said.

  Clay’s heart squeezed. He couldn’t leave Thomas. “This is the most fun I’ve had in a while.”

  After circling around again, they got in their kayaks and made their way back to the dock they’d paddled out from. It was easier going back since they were traveling with the current. He saw more dolphins, manatees, and some amazing birds.

  He helped Thomas load the kayaks into his truck, glad they were spending time together. Once they were back at Thomas’ place, they washed the kayaks and stored them so they would dry. He felt at ease, like this was where he was supposed to be.

  He was heading to the shower when Thomas grabbed him, pulling him up short.

  “Um, I was going to shower.”

  Thomas stepped closer. “You can shower with me.”

  “Oh fuck, I forgot.” Clay looked down at Thomas’ body and heat filled him. They would be in the shower together, their bodies wet, slick with water and soap. He swallowed and then nodded. “This is going to be good.”

  Thomas pulled him into the bathroom and tugged off Clay’s shirt then shoved his shorts off. He watched as Thomas stripped, taking in his muscles and the way his ass curved.

  Thomas turned on the water and stepped in. Clay grabbed the soap as he stepped into the shower. The water was perfect as he stood under the spray.

  Thomas took the soap from him and moved close. This wasn’t just going to be showering; this was going to be earth-shattering fun.

  He swallowed hard as Thomas hit him with a stare that curled his toes. He wanted to know what Thomas was going to do, but more than knowing, he wanted to experience it all.

  Thomas slid the slick soap over Clay’s chest then lower, rubbing his hand over Clay’s pecs then his abs. He moved in close, and Thomas slid the soap over his back before turning them both so Clay was no longer under the spray.

  Clay was half hard and getting harder. He rocked his hips forward as Thomas grabbed his cock and squeezed. He swayed closer, gasping as Thomas squeezed again. He was fucking Thomas’ hand, and it felt amazing.

  Clay wasn’t sure when th
ey’d gone from fucking around to serious, but based on the look in Thomas’ eyes, neither one of them thought this was only a hookup.

  Thomas spun him around and pushed him up against the tile of the shower. He spread his legs a bit as Thomas smoothed his hand lower over his ass.

  “Aw, fuck, Clay. I want to sink into you now.”

  “Do it.”

  “I don’t have a condom ready but touching you is making me want to come. I’m so freaking close.”

  “I need you, Thomas.”

  Thomas stepped closer, his cock riding Clay’s crack. “It would be so good.”

  Clay spread his legs a little more and arched his back, lifting his ass. Thomas pulled his hips back and then pushed forward. The tip of his cock banged into Clay’s pucker, and they both gasped. Thomas clutched him closer and pumped his hips faster, his cock resting between Clay’s cheeks.

  “Fuck, I need lube.”

  He reached down and grabbed his cock. Thomas was pumping hard, riding his crack, and he wished he would slide in, but they didn’t have lube. Being like this, with Thomas behind him, felt so good. He made a note to buy lube.

  Thomas’ arms wrapped tighter, and he let out a groan as he stilled. Clay flicked his thumb over the head of his cock, and it was enough to push him over the edge. He came as Thomas’ spunk sprayed over his ass and lower back, Clay’s name rolling off his lips in a shout. His heart thundered in his ears as everything slowly came back into focus.

  Their raspy breathing filled the room. Clay clutched Thomas’ hands, holding him tight. This was more than fucking; this was something to be treasured. He couldn’t let Thomas go, ever.

  7

  The next morning, Thomas was already gone by the time Clay woke. He found a note on the kitchen table telling him to enjoy his day along with the keys to Thomas’ convertible. He wouldn’t be back until close to six in the evening and suggested they go out to dinner. Clay had other plans.

  He pulled out his computer and checked his email as he enjoyed a delicious cup of coffee. Maybe the coffee tasted better because of the beans, or maybe it was because he was with Thomas.

  His email inbox was mostly empty, but he did find a note from work. He opened it and stared at the words on the screen, trying to make sense of what was being said. Somehow, he’d been reported for a violation on an arrest he’d made a few weeks prior. The note said to set up an appointment when he returned from vacation, that it wasn’t a big deal, they just needed to talk to him. He thought back over all of the arrests he’d made recently and everything had been clean. Even when someone was a jerk, he’d kept his cool because he knew not to lose it.

  His breathing was shallow as he picked up his phone. Who should he call first? He wasn’t a troublemaker, and the Union reps didn’t really know him. He’d kept a low profile, doing his job, paying his dues, and trying to keep his nose clean. Fuck, what had happened?

  It had to be Banks, the guy he’d talked to. But hell, he was only trying to keep other officers safe. Worry filled him. If IA started nosing around, they wouldn’t find anything real, but obviously something had been faked. Maybe he should head back today. But he couldn’t leave, not right after he’d started something with Thomas.

  He blew out a breath as his fear ramped up. Someone was framing him and he had no idea how to solve this issue. He’d done nothing wrong during that arrest. This had to be in retaliation about his concerns.

  Clay glanced around Thomas’ den, his mind on the fun they’d had. If he ran out now, it could end what he and Thomas had started. There wasn’t anything he could do while he was here. He would enjoy his vacation because this might be the last one he was able to take for a while. After he shut down his email program, he pulled up a site with recipes. He checked Thomas’ cabinets for supplies, made a list, then headed to the store.

  Daytona was an interesting place. A lot of the people in the stores were tourists, so he knew his perception was skewed, but it was cool. He could get used to this town. There would never be snow days, no going in to work during an ice storm. But the heat was an issue. Getting the groceries into the car caused him to break out in a sweat.

  He had about two hours before he had to start cooking, so he put on his running shoes and shorts and jogged to the beach. His thoughts were bouncing all over the place from work to Thomas to the hard packed sand he was running on. It felt weird under his feet. The cars were another obstacle he had to deal with. It wasn’t too bad, but he had to watch for vehicles, which he’d never had to do on a beach.

  After a couple of miles, he turned and ran back along the path he’d come, getting a little lost along the way. He’d left his phone at Thomas’ place, so he didn’t have a map. He stopped to survey the area, trying to remember which way he’d come from and where Thomas’ house was. After a few wrong turns, he wove his way back to the house, relief filling him when he realized he was on the right street and in the right neighborhood.

  By the time he finished with his shower, it was thirty minutes later than he expected. He could make up for the lost time if he worked smart preparing dinner.

  Cooking helped him relax. At home, there was no one to cook for, and he rarely had time anyway with his extra shifts and the crap the department was putting him through. It had been months since he’d cooked like this. He prepared the meat, boiled the pasta, chopped vegetables, all the while thinking about his work and what he could do. An Internal Affairs investigation could screw him over. He knew turning in a cop would mean he would have a target on his back, and that’s why he hadn’t done anything yet. Heck, they’d worked fast to discredit him. Maybe he wouldn’t have a job to go back to.

  By some miracle, he had the pie made and ready to go into the oven with enough time to finish the main course. If only his job could run this smoothly.

  With ten minutes left on the ziti, the front door opened and Thomas called out. “Honey, I’m home. Wow, it smells great in here. What did you make?”

  Clay stepped around the corner and stopped dead still when he saw Thomas. It was the most welcome sight he’d ever seen. His heart swelled and emotions filled his throat, closing it off.

  Thomas closed the distance and Clay could smell the sea and sweat along with the heavy scent of fish.

  “I know, I stink,” Thomas said.

  “I want a kiss anyway.”

  Thomas looked down at himself and shook his head. “I really stink.”

  “A quick kiss.”

  Thomas leaned in and brushed his lips over Clay’s. The touch was exactly what Clay needed. His heart expanded even more, and his throat closed. Having this man in his life was more important than having a job with the police force.

  Thomas stepped away, and Clay felt the loss immediately. “Let me shower and change. The food smells great. No one has ever cooked for me like this.”

  “Go shower; the food will be done soon. I made baked ziti, a salad, and breadsticks. For dessert, I have an apple pie, which will go in after the ziti is done.”

  Thomas shot him a wide smile. “Wow, you’re amazing. Thank you.”

  Clay beamed at the praise. He liked the way his guy looked at him, and how his voice caressed him when he spoke. “Shower; then we can eat.”

  Clay found candles and placed them on the table. When the timer rang, he turned the temp up a little and slid the pie in for ten minutes. He’d turned the lights low in the other parts of the house and had soft music playing in the background. Thomas stepped in the kitchen, looking refreshed and smelling great.

  “Did you have a good day?” Thomas asked.

  “I got lost on a jog, but it was easy to find my way back.”

  “Oh, wow, what did you do?”

  The timer rang on the pie, and Clay turned the temperature lower. He set a timer for forty minutes then carried the food to the table. They settled and Clay started talking about his adventure and getting lost. As he spoke, he marveled at how Thomas wanted him so much. It was wild thinking he could have a real future with
someone who loved him.

  “It’s interesting being here in your house instead of staying at a resort or one of the hotels. I like it.”

  “Living here has its ups and downs. It’s good though. I’ve learned when to go shopping and when to go to the mainland. You can get stuck in terrible traffic if you’re not careful.”

  He took a bite of pasta, happy with the results of his efforts. “I could see that. How was your fishing trip?”

  “It was good. The guys weren’t too annoying. They did say some shit about gays, and it was hard to listen to.”

  Clay sat up straighter and narrowed his gaze. “Oh?”

  Thomas rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You know, people probably said stuff before, and I ignored it, but this time, it stung.”

  Clay stabbed a noodle and stared at it before he took a bite. He chewed then swallowed. “Do you think of yourself as gay?”

  “I don’t know, but this isn’t about the sex part. Sure, I want to fuck you, but sex isn’t the only thing I want from you.”

  Clay took another bite, hoping the words from others didn’t derail their relationship. “You know Jake has had to get used to it too.”

  “Yeah, I know, it’s weird though. Before, it wasn’t about me; now it is.”

  They ate in silence for a bit. Clay knew hate was out there, but it was hard to face. People could be incredibly ignorant and mean.

  Clay wished he could take all the pain away. “Babe, you know their words don’t define you.”

  Thomas nodded and took a bite of the ziti. “This is really good.”

  “I like to cook. It’s nice being here with you and having someone to cook for.”

  Thomas stared down at his food, pushing it with his fork. “I missed you today.”

  “I missed you too.”

  Thomas glanced up, their gazes meeting. “Do you think…never mind.”

  Clay felt the weight of having to leave at the end of his vacation. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was freaked out. He finished chewing the bite he’d taken and swallowed.