Fresh Start: A Small Town Gay Romance (Cedarwood Beach Book 1)

by Rhys Everly

  “Me. Neither. Ugh,” Dawson whispered in my ear and tightened both his legs around my hips and his embrace.

  I licked his salty neck, and he pulled my hair which brought me closer to climax. Dawson moved his ass up and down my cock, adding to my own rhythm, and just as a wave crashed in my back, I shot my release inside him.

  He drowned me with his kiss as the water enveloped us. It turned out it wasn’t a good idea to kiss when waves were drowning us. We pulled apart from each other, coughing and trying to breathe.

  Dawson pulled me closer to the beach, and once we were both sat at the shallow water, we laughed.

  “That was different,” I said.

  “That was epic,” Dawson said, boring into my eyes.

  “It was,” I said. “Now, let’s get out because the sand is going into some interesting places, and I’m not sure I like it.”

  We got out of the water and laid on the picnic cloth, drying under the sun and allowing the serenity of this private beach to bring us closer.

  "Are you hungry?" Dawson asked me after half an hour or so.

  I gawked at his perfectly defined body that looked like a teenager’s wet dream under the sunlight, and my erection returned. The man standing in front of me was exhilarating.

  "Not for food," I said.

  Dawson sat up on the cloth and looked up at me with needy eyes.

  "What are you hungry for?" he asked, his blue eyes feigning innocence.

  I also sat up opposite Dawson and took the man's face in my hands.

  "You," I said, pushing my lips and tongue onto Dawson's mouth.

  I was so horny for the man it was ridiculous. I didn't have the energy to go smooth and sweet on him. And if I’d learned something from last night, it was that Dawson didn't always like it smooth and sweet.

  Dawson caressed the back of my neck and kissed back, full force.

  “It’s your turn,” I whispered into his neck, tasting it again and again.

  Fifteen

  Dawson

  I’d hit the jackpot. There was no doubt about it. Whatever fate it was that had made my parents move here, and whatever I’d done to deserve this happenstance of being in town at the same time with Leo, I was grateful for.

  Kissing him felt like heaven on earth. There was no sweeter feeling than being one with Leo, and I couldn't remember the last time I’d enjoyed sex as much.

  Leo's hands did some exploring on my body, and it took all my strength not to come to my undoing. This man in front of me made me feel alive, more alive than ever after a decade of comatose living.

  Leo moved from my neck to my chest, leaving a wet trail with his tongue. It gave me goosebumps.

  "You're so fucking sexy," I whispered in Leo's ear.

  "And you are so fucking tasty." Leo teased my nipple with his tongue.

  I put my hand under his chin and brought his lips back to me.

  He let out a moan and my cock reacted to the sound.

  "Will you fuck me, already?" Leo asked, pulling slightly away, but I held on to his lower lip, not letting him get away from me. Not even for a moment. Not again.

  "Of course I will, baby. If you really want me to," I said.

  I didn't know why I was being overly polite about it. He had asked for it. Hell, he’d even made it happen by running first into the sea.

  Leo kissed my cheekbone, my eyes, my forehead, and I took his dick in my hand pulling him closer to me.

  I loved how things were between us. We communicated through our actions, driven by our emotions. Like the fact that I could explore Leo's body without the fear of hurting or offending him. If Leo didn't like something, he made sure to tell me. I guess all that came with age and experience. But our sex now was nothing like the sex we’d had when we were twenty. This was so much better. We’d both grown up and learned a few things. Leo more than me, but I hoped I was a good match for him despite the long dry spell.

  He leaned in and licked my chest. Then he kissed my abs and my belly button before going all the way down to my groin and back again. He seemed to create a pattern with his tongue on my body, and my heart pinched with every lick, every touch, every breath.

  He helped me lie down and then sat on top of me, rubbing his ass over my cock, which throbbed as if it hadn’t come in years. Well, it hadn’t. Not like this. Not like it had with Leo. I closed my eyes and let myself get intoxicated in the moment, the friction between us making my length harder and tauter. I wanted to take Leo, but something told me Leo had not finished with me just yet.

  As if Leo had read my mind, he crawled down to my crotch, took me in his mouth, and sucked. When I was close to orgasming, Leo pulled away and readjusted his ass over me as he sat on me and teased my erection with his tight hole. It took a few gasps and growls, and when I finally went all in, I was so close to coming, I had to tell Leo so he could slow down.

  We’d done this so many times yesterday, but not like this. Not bare. Going that extra mile so quickly should have been scary. But he trusted me, and I trusted him, which made our connection so much stronger.

  Leo leaned forward but kept riding me, and despite the announcement, going faster. My breath hitched, and when I was sure I’d come undone, Leo stopped, focusing all of his attention on my lips and face.

  I got a few moments to unwind and catch my breath, keeping busy with my tongue in Leo’s mouth. After a few minutes, he eased his ass along my length to make sure I was still hard before he worked up a rhythm. A rhythm that started slow and built up to an intoxicating speed. I felt close again and warned him. Leo stopped and leaned down for more kissing.

  "Are you making me edge?" I asked after the fourth time he’d done the same thing.

  "What gave it away, Sherlock?" Leo laughed and bent down for a quick peck on the lips before he started going again.

  I’d never remembered being like this with anyone before. Sex with Leo was unlike anything I’d experienced in the past. Leo knew the right buttons to push. And boy, was his body a dream to look at.

  Leo looked down at me and bit his lip.

  "I want you to come inside me, baby," Leo said.

  I took a deep breath that turned into a moan. Leo slowed down again and gave me a moment to defeat my urge to come.

  "Okay," I said.

  He smiled and started going fast again. I grabbed his hips and squeezed his butt cheeks as he pounded down on me. That was it. I lost any control I had left and allowed my release to fill him up.

  My muscles felt like lead and my breathing hardened as I tried to catch up. I kept my eyes fixed on Leo as he dismounted me, and I expected him to come down for a kiss, but instead, he went down on my wet, but still semi-hard cock and licked me clean.

  "Tasty," he said, licking his lips.

  I was speechless. I loved this man.

  The thought caught me by surprise.

  I loved having sex with Leo. I loved spending time with him. Was it too early to admit to myself I was in love with him? We’d been in love once before. Was I in love with him again?

  "If you give me five minutes, I can go again," I said and slapped Leo's butt as he moved up for a kiss.

  "Already? Are you on Viagra or something?" he asked.

  "No, you just really turn me on." I squeezed his butt cheek and the insatiable hunger for him roared inside me.

  I didn't know if it was true that I could go at it again so quickly after coming, but we weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

  "I'm hungry," I said when Leo came up for air.

  We sat up, and I became painfully self-conscious, so I put my underwear back on straight away. Leo did the same and then we both sat down again. I looked inside Melody’s basket and saw it contained a nice selection of sandwiches, some potato chips, a few craft chocolates, some water, a thermos with coffee, and a bottle of champagne.

  I cursed as I lifted the bottle. I forgot to ask her for no alcohol. Leo hadn’t told me he didn’t drink, but I’d noticed that throughout our stay at the guesthouse
. Anyone on vacation would be drinking themselves silly. I was always holding a beer no matter the time of day. But Leo didn’t. And I was so proud of him for his strength.

  Leo asked me what was wrong, and I showed him the bottle.

  "You might want to look again." Leo laughed, and I wasn't sure what was funny, so I turned the bottle around to read the label.

  It turned out the bottle was a very convincing looking non-alcoholic, sparkling apple juice.

  “You think my sister doesn’t know me?” Leo chuckled.

  “Of course,” I said. How could I ever doubt Melody?

  "A toast?" Leo asked.

  I cracked the bottle open, which brandished a foil, cage, and cork like real champagne, and poured a glass for both of us. When I placed the bottle back in the basket, Leo handed me a glass, and I raised it in the air.

  "To being us again," I said.

  “To us,” Leo said, and we clinked glasses.

  "All right, what's in here? I'm famished," he asked and looked inside the basket. I handed him a cheese and jam sandwich, and I grabbed a pastrami for myself.

  I watched Leo eat, taking small but hungry bites from his sandwich, making sure the crumbs weren't dropping on the blanket, even though that was its purpose. This man was delicate and caring and funny. Everything I could possibly want in a man. I looked around, making sure for the hundredth time we were all alone. It was one thing if it leaked to the press that I was gay, but it was a completely different beast if a sex tape all of a sudden appeared online. That, I was not prepared for.

  Once again, I was reassured by the peace and quiet of our surroundings. Our only company was the few seagulls fishing in the water.

  "It's beautiful out here. I love it," I said.

  Leo stopped chewing and looked at me with those dark eyes that glimmered both sex and beauty.

  "It's an amazing place, isn’t it?” he said. “I’m so glad to finally be back. It took me some time, but I made it.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  He turned his gaze toward the sea and put his sandwich down.

  “I’ve not been back for so long. Since I left for New York. I haven’t visited since then,” he said.

  “You haven’t seen your family in twenty years? Why?”

  I knew I’d neglected my parents the last few years, but I couldn’t imagine not seeing them for so long.

  “I don’t know. At first, I just wanted to escape. Life at home wasn’t the same without Mom. And everything reminded me of her. Then, while I was living in New York, I was mostly broke, so flying home wasn’t really an option and then...

  “Then I got busy with work. By the time things slowed down, I couldn’t face going back. I knew my dad was upset, and so were my brothers. I haven’t spoken to them in so long. They’re all mad at me. And they’re right. I was a coward.”

  “You’re not a coward. You’ve been through a lot,” I said, placing my hand on his back.

  “It’s not an excuse. It can’t be an excuse anymore. I just hope it’s not too late to rebuild my relationship with them,” he said.

  “You can do it, Leo. I don’t how easy it will be. I mean, I haven’t seen my parents for five years, and my mom is still mad at me, so I can’t imagine what twenty years might be like, but you’ll do your best. Won’t you?”

  Leo smiled and turned to look at me.

  “I won’t stop until they forgive me. Just like I’ve forgiven you.”

  I kissed him to show him my gratitude. How lucky was I to find this man again? Being with him made me feel whole again.

  Was it too much if I wished he wanted to be whole with me too?

  Sixteen

  Leo

  A couple of hours later, we made our way back after a lot more food, sex, and sparkling apple juice. I hadn’t had so much fun with someone in a long time, not having to worry about my ex-bandmates, or the media, or anything else for that matter. Being with Dawson was so easy and so oddly liberating, I didn't want it to end.

  Of course I wanted to go to LA and audition and snatch that role I’d been dreaming of my entire life, but I also wanted to stay here with him forever and never leave.

  I was finally hopeful for the future. Dawson had helped reassure me about the role again, and I was becoming more confident about the outcome.

  It was my time to shine. It was my turn to find success. Both in my career and in my personal life. It was my turn to find love.

  Yes, love. It was a bit too early to think about it, but I didn't care.

  "I want to take you on a date," Dawson said, pulling me out of my little daze.

  "Wasn't this a date?" I asked.

  "Yes, but I mean like a proper date. A candlelit dinner and some nice music and… I dunno. You know what I mean?"

  "I'd love for you to take me on a date," I said.

  I smiled and thought he was going to kiss me, but we were in town again, not hidden away by our little cove anymore.

  "It's just…" Dawson started to say but hesitated.

  "It's just what?" I asked, resisting the urge to reach for him and caress his cheek.

  "I dunno. It might be a bit crap, you know? I can't really take you to a nice restaurant or anything, so you might be disappointed."

  My urge became overbearing, and I took hold of Dawson's hand, giving it a quick squeeze before releasing it again. Dawson glanced from left to right at the passers-by.

  "Don't worry about that. I'm sure whatever you come up with, whatever we do, it will be perfect," I told him.

  "I’ll let you know tomorrow. I’ll have a little brainstorming session,” he said, and I grimaced.

  “You don’t want to come to my room tonight? After dinner with your parents?”

  Dawson tried to hide a smile, but it was impossible. He was beaming as bright as the sun.

  “Of course,” he said.

  “Good,” I said trying to keep a straight face.

  “Good,” Dawson repeated, trying to do the same but failing miserably.

  When we got back to Melody’s, Dawson went to return the basket, and I returned to my bedroom for a much-needed shower. I had sex and sand all over me, and only one of those things felt good.

  Once I was out of the shower and after I shaved my scratchy face off, there was a knock on my door, and I pulled a robe around my naked body to answer it.

  Melody barged in before I could stop her, and she sat on the bed, putting her feet up.

  “Tell me everything,” she squeaked, and I was quick to shut the door.

  “Mel, we’re not twelve, for fuck’s sake. We’re almost forty. Well, I am. You already are,” I said, and as I went back into the bathroom to change, she flipped the bird at me.

  “Ass,” she called me, and I could tell she was standing right outside the bathroom because her voice still carried inside. “What happened? What’s going on? How do you know Dawson Eldred, and oh my God, he’s gay? What about Paris Wells? Or any of the other girls he’s been with.”

  Once I was appropriately dressed again, I opened the bathroom door and found Mel leaning against the wall looking just as excited as she did when we talked boys when we were teens.

  “Okay. But you have to keep your mouth shut because he’s still in the closet. Capisce?”

  Mel nodded her head so fast I thought it’d come off as she jumped back on the bed. I sat opposite her, crossing my legs like her, and I told her everything.

  I’d never told a soul what happened between Dawson and me. At first, because it was too painful, and then because I didn’t want to out him. And for all I knew, he had either been experimenting with me during college or he was bi.

  It felt good getting it off my shoulders again, and once again I realized how stupid it had been of me to be mad at him for choosing his career over me. He was a great actor, and it wasn’t his fault I’d crapped my chance to get an agency on the industry night.

  Dawson was right. If it had been me, I’d probably have done the same. I’d have chosen
my career over him. And I’d probably be more broken than I was now. Being used and abused like Dawson’s agent had done to him, I knew, would have broken me. It would have broken anyone.

  But it didn’t break him.

  And that said so much about Dawson’s strength. More than he, I, or anyone else could ever describe.

  I told her about meeting him here again that first morning, and about Summer and the butterfly tour. Then I told her about our fight and the angry kissing. I tried to keep some details to myself, not because I didn’t trust Mel, but because they were too private to share.

  Not that she cared. She wanted all the juicy details. Which I didn’t get. I had no interest in finding out how she liked to have sex. But maybe it was a girl thing I didn’t understand.

  “I love him,” she said. “Can you guys get married, like, yesterday? You guys are too cute together,” she said and fanned herself.

  “Shut up, Mel. How can I marry a guy who’s in the closet? It wouldn’t work,” I said, but I also allowed myself to fantasize what it’d be like.

  “You never know, sweetie. You never know,” she said and took my hands in hers. “He’s changed a lot since you were in the closet. Maybe he’ll surprise you with how much.”

  Mel stifled a yawn and turned away from me until she composed herself again.

  “Okay. I’ve told you about me. Now your turn,” I said, and boy was it high time we had this conversation.

  “My turn what? I’ve got nothing to tell,” she chuckled.

  “Funny thing. Nathan mentioned you were engaged and then this asshole walked away with your money.”

  Her eyes popped open and jaw dropped.

  “That little douchebag. I told him not to say anything,” she said.

  “But why, hon? Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

  “You had your own crap to worry about.”

  I squeezed her hand, and she looked me in the eyes.