Chapter 3 #2
“I can drive.” He chuckled softly. “Camping? Swimming?”
“I love the hot springs. And rafting!” Devon beamed at him, lit up. “I love rafting. So much fun. Great exercise. It’s nice and cool. It can be really exciting. I’ve done a number of trips.”
“I didn’t think about knitting and outdoor sports as compatible hobbies,” he admitted.
Devon shrugged, and his expression was relaxed and open. “Well, you know, knitting is really portable. I always have a tiny bag of knitting—socks usually. I can take it with me anywhere. I can take it to the mountains; I can take it in the office.”
“That’s super cool, actually. I do that with whittling. I always have a knife. Hell, I’ll buy one if I fly to like, Banff. And there’s always deadfall.” He made weird little animals and monsters and faces, which his friend Amber sold in a funky gallery down in Madrid, New Mexico.
“Oh yeah? That’s cool. I’d love to see what you make. Do you do animals?”
“I do.” His cheeks heated a little. Man, how long had it been since someone had been interested in him for something besides quick sex? “Do you collect any?”
“I am a huge koala bear fan.”
“Koala bears? Really? That’s amazing.” He’d never met anyone who collected koalas.
“Well, you know. They’re good parents. Pouches, the whole thing. I just fell into it, I suppose.” Devon winked at him. “Besides that, they’re just adorable and fuzzy and they have those big ears and those soft little noses…”
“That’s too cool.” He could totally do a koala. If he found a burl with the right grain, it would be adorbs.
“Well, you get bonus points for not telling me you think it’s ridiculous, but yeah, I do love a koala. What about you? What’s your favorite animal?”
He pondered that. “Well, I have two. One fits my alpha image right? I love a grizzly bear. But the one that really fascinates me?” Laird paused for dramatic effect. “Platypus.”
“Oh wow, those are like ‘God-laughed’ animals, aren’t they? Venomous and lays eggs and is a mammal. And they’re absolutely adorable except for the whole fangs and venom thing.” Devon nodded like he totally understood. “I love it.”
“You do get it.” He chuckled feeling super simpatico with Devon and, all of a sudden, the more he knew about the guy, the more Laird liked him. He wanted to do this again, and they weren’t even past the salad stage yet.
“So, what are your plans for the rest of the day? Gonna do anything fun?”
Laird had to wonder if that was an offer because if it was, he was taking it.
“I had no plans past lunch.” He tilted his head, inviting confidences. “What are you up to?”
“I was thinking about hitting the hot springs pool and just soaking my bones.” Devon shot him a wicked little look. “I love it because they have a clothing-optional section that is also kiddo-free. Sometimes it’s nice to just be adults.”
His body roared to life at the idea of a naked Devon slipping into the hot springs tubs that were made to be clothing optional. Holy shitballs. Could he do that and not embarrass himself? He was half hard now.
“Do you want some company?”
Devon looked him up and down and then nodded.
“I would love that. Sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon.” Devon bit his bottom lip.
“Then, if you want, we can go back to my place. I have all the things to make soup and sammies for supper, or we can order in Chinese or whatever. We could see what happens and how things progress.”
He stared at that lower lip, which was pink now from Devon’s abuse. Laird cleared his throat, his body thrumming. Lord, he’d gone from, “he’s okay” to “I’m going to have him” in a heartbeat. “That sounds amazing.”
“Perfect. So now we have a plan.” Devon winked at him. “I like a plan.”
“I’d think with a job like yours, you wouldn’t worry about plans too much…”
“Oh no, I love plans. I’m also fully aware that every single plan I make for absolutely anything will somehow, in some way, go haywire, because that’s how life works.
That also amuses me, but having a basic plot, an idea of what we’re interested in, what we want, what we might manage, has an appeal. ”
How was this conversation so motherfucking hot? Laird had never made a plan to have sex with someone, but it felt as if he were doing just that now.
“I’m happy to make a plan and to be flexible. With what I do for a living, you have to be able to think on your feet.” That was a good answer, right?
“Also a very good quality in a person is being able to change directions when things aren’t working.
” Devon took a bite like he was thinking about something and then smiled again.
“Like, you know, sometimes when things are stressful you have to completely change direction, breathe, and find exactly the right rhythm.”
How the hell was he supposed to keep up with this? Devon was making his throat dry.
Those cheeks were pink, Devon was nibbling on his lower lip, eyes dark, his breath coming a little fast. He was a living, breathing advertisement for I need a little nookie right now. And Laird was so willing.
“I’m totally willing.” He leaned closer, and made sure to hold Devon’s gaze, wanting to regain a little balance in this situation. “And able to listen to the clues that I’m being given. I can’t wait to spend the afternoon together. Seeing what we can come up with.”
“We’re smart men. I bet we have a lot of ideas between the two of us. Some truly stunning ones.” Devon shot him a wicked grin. “We’ll have to make a list.”
“A plan.” He nodded, tickled down deep in his gut. “I’m in.”
“Then it seems like I am too.”
“Good deal, honey. Very good deal. Now, do we need to stop by your place and pick up your swim trunks or a robe so we can go to the hot springs pool?” He always had some in the back of his truck. So it wouldn’t be hard to head to where he was parked and he could drive down to the pool.
And then as Devon said, they would absolutely see what they can get up to.