Chapter 31
Connor
Several hours later, we’re loading into another van after leaving the Warsaw Neon Museum and enjoying a few drinks at a nearby pub.
I wasn’t happy about us being out in public while everyone is still jet-lagged.
I voiced my opinion— thoroughly—and suggested several safer alternatives, but in the end, I was overruled.
Bruce, Aaron, and I stayed on guard all evening, though it ended up being uneventful. We were assumed to be a random cluster of American tourists, and although the size of some of the men in our group raised a few eyebrows, no one recognized the band.
The engine purrs to life as Tai and I drop into the back seat. I slide my arm around his shoulder. “There’s something very important that needs to be handled.”
“Oh? What might that be?”
“We still haven’t taken care of this whole business with my number being blocked.”
“Yeah,” he says softly. “I guess we haven’t.”
“We can’t be official if I can’t even text you.”
He twists to face me and plants a hand on my chest, tilting his head until we’re almost nose to nose. “Is that what you want?”
“More than anything,” I murmur, brushing my lips against his in the lightest touch. “There’s no one else for me, Tai. I know I promised we’d go slow, so if you’re not ready for that, just say the word and I’ll stop—”
“Don’t stop,” he interrupts. “I want that, too.”
“Not going to make me chase you?” I tease, nuzzling his nose with mine.
“You can still chase me. Maybe I want you to.”
My heart kicks double time as our lips brush again, the promise of more hanging heavy between us. “I don’t mind chasing, sweetheart, as long as I catch you in the end.”
“This is better than an audiobook,” Theo drawls, interrupting us for the second time today.
“How about you listen to one and mind your own fucking business?” Tai snaps.
Theo is wholly unaffected as he rolls his eyes. “If I’m not getting any road head, neither are you.”
My entire face flames. “That’s not… we weren’t… there wasn’t anything like that happening.”
Tai squeezes my arm with a quiet chuckle. “Ignore him, chippoke. He’s trying to get a rise out of you.”
“A rise, classic,” Theo snorts, before he blinks a few times. “Did you just call him tiny? Oh my stars, that’s so fucking adorable!”
Tai stares at him with an expression that’s surprised and slightly curious. “How do you know what that means?”
Theo shrugs. “I watch enough anime to have basic knowledge of the Japanese language.”
“Fantastic, cultural lessons by Naruto,” Tai mutters.
“Sailor Moon, actually.” Theo’s eyes widen as he turns to Dante. “I just had a great idea for an outfit…”
Shaking his head, Tai turns back to me. “Now, where were we?”
“You were letting me back in… so I can text the man I’ve been missing like crazy.” He pulls his phone out, tapping through the settings. Simultaneously, both of our phones blow up in a long series of pings.
His eyes widen as he cringes. “I might’ve… messaged you a few times.”
Both of us stare at our screens, scrolling through the texts he sent me along with the ones I sent him. Every single one of mine is a variation of the same aching regret.
Every day I’m separated from you, I regret leaving even more. What we had was too amazing to walk away from, but I did. I fucked up, sweetheart. And now I can’t find my way back to you. One day, I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me, and if you do, please look for me. I’ll be waiting.
Not a minute goes by that I don’t think of you constantly. I miss you, and I’ll tell you every day until I get through to you.
He scans the never-ending stream of texts. “How many times did you text me?”
“Sixty-three… one for every single day we were apart. I’m sorry, sweetheart.” My voice cracks, and emotion clogs my throat. I throw my arms around him as he does the same, both of us crushing the other close.
When we regain some composure, he whispers, “I’m sorry I drunk-texted you mean things, but I really meant it at the time.”
I choke out a laugh. “That’s fair… I deserved that.”
We’re quiet for the rest of the drive, his head on my chest and my fingers raking gently through his hair. Even though it’s only ten and we’ve barely been awake for twelve hours, we’re catching up to the time difference. Both of us yawn as we ride the elevator to our floor.
Everyone splits into their own spaces, and soon it’s just me and Tai again, standing inside his room with the door still open. “You need more sleep.” I brush my thumb over the dark circles forming under his eyes.
“Are you trying to say I look bad?”
“You look stunning.” I slide my hand to the side of his neck, tugging him closer. “It doesn’t matter what you do, Tai, you’ll always be gorgeous to me.”
“Such a romantic,” he teases with a soft smile.
My eyes dip to his lips as I inch closer, and then I’m right there, hovering a breath away. “I really want to kiss you. I’ve been dying to kiss you all fucking day. May I?”
“Please,” he whispers.
Our lips meet, and it’s like the first time all over again. My entire body lights up at the soft press of his mouth against mine and the happy sigh that pushes from his nose as he melts into my touch. It’s patient and sweet, and over far too soon as I pull away.
“I should let you get a good night’s sleep.”
“Alright,” he says, as I step into the hallway. He grips the doorframe until his knuckles turn white, like he’s physically holding himself there. “Goodnight, then.”
The door shuts, leaving me alone in the hall.
I take a deep breath and force myself to walk toward my room, fighting the urge to sprint back and steal a few more precious moments with him.
My feet stop moving, and for several long seconds I stand there, chewing on my lip.
I’m caught between honoring his wishes and feeding my own desperate need.
“Fuck,” I mutter as I march back to his door. Before I can knock, it swings open. Tai grabs my shirt and yanks me inside the room. In a single fluid motion, he pushes the door closed and we fall against it.
His mouth finds mine, and it’s no longer the chaste kiss from a minute ago. This one is clashing teeth and clumsy lips, beard burn on his cheek and nails digging into my back.
“I’ve missed you,” I groan against his lips.
He frantically nods, leading me toward the bed, but we only make it halfway before I pin him against the wall.
His fingers tangle in my hair and pull me closer as his teeth scrape my bottom lip.
It stings, but I’ve never loved a touch of pain so much.
Another step and my hand slides under his shirt, skimming the warm skin of his lower back as his tongue slips into my mouth.
I growl, yanking him toward the bed, but my foot catches on his discarded shoe. My balance is thrown off-kilter and I teeter backward with a stunned shout. I tumble toward the edge of the bed, unintentionally pulling Tai along with me.
In the chaos, my brain decides the best possible idea is to launch him onto the bed so he’ll at least land on something soft while I hit the floor.
My shoulders hit the mattress, ass hanging off the end, while Tai’s crotch lands right in my face.
I try to speak and end up with a mouthful of sweatpants-covered balls instead.
Tai rolls off me, roaring with laughter so intense he can’t catch his breath. My legs give out as my ass slides the rest of the way to the ground.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” I gasp through the chaos. Gleeful tears stream down his cheeks and he clutches his stomach while I army-crawl onto the bed and flop beside him. “I bet you missed my smooth moves, huh?” I ask.
“Sure did, Pink Eye.”
My mouth drops open into a perfect circle. “You did not!”
He throws his head back and howls as I sit up and drag him into my lap. Just like that, every worry about us finding our way back to each other disappears. Every fear that it could never be the same flies out the window into the black, starry night.
He’s Tai, and I’m Connor, and we’re back on that beach, drinking banana rum and wrestling in the ocean.
It’s simple, and effortless, and amazing.
I kiss him again, sweet this time, using far too many teeth because I can’t stop smiling. “Get some rest, sweetheart. As soon as you want me in the morning, I’ll be right here for you.”
He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight, not a single molecule of space left between our bodies as he relaxes into me.
It takes another five minutes for us to pry ourselves apart, and by the time I close the door behind me, Tai’s already drifting off to sleep with a tiny, contented smile on his face.
The next day, Monica surprises us with a chartered bus tour of the city, which gets us out to explore while not being too strenuous after our long travel. It also allows the band to stay within my sight, and the absence of added strangers puts my protective heart at ease.
The driver is a kind older man who greets us all with a warm smile. There’s plenty of room, as the bus is built for groups three times our size. Everyone spreads out, with Bruce and Aaron stationed up front near the door.
Tai and I take a seat near the rear. I slide my arm around his shoulders, and he leans into me, his hand resting on my thigh. We haven’t been able to stop touching each other since last night, and this time, there are no trip hazards.
“Comfortable?” I murmur, brushing my lips against his temple.
“Very,” he says softly, tilting his head to look up at me. “This is nice. No rushing, no hiding… just us.”
My fingers trace lazy circles on his arm. “Feels like we’re back on that beach again, doesn’t it? Except this time I don’t have to steal alcohol to get you to talk to me.”
Tai huffs a quiet laugh, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “You didn’t have to steal it then, either. You just wanted an excuse to relive your frat bro days.”
“I told you I wasn’t a frat bro.”
“A tourist, then.”
“Ah, you got me there,” I admit, pressing another kiss to his hair. “But it worked. Got me sitting next to the prettiest guy on the bus.”
He rolls his eyes, but the flush on his cheeks gives him away. “Flattery won’t get you out of buying me coffee later when we’re back at the hotel.”
“Deal. As long as you promise not to throw it at me this time.”
“No promises,” he teases, squeezing my thigh. “But I’ll try to aim for your shirt instead of your face.”
“You saying you don’t like my shirt?” I glance down at my burnt orange henley with mock offense.
“You were certainly a lot more colorful back at the resort.”
“Oh, don’t worry, sweetheart. There’s plenty of color underneath.” I lean in closer, voice dropping.
His cheeks flush as his eyes dip to my crotch, then huffs quietly. “Careful. You keep talking like that and I might forget we’re supposed to be taking things slow.”
“I’m being very slow,” I protest innocently as my thumb strokes the inside of his wrist. “This is me at my most patient.”
“Sure it is,” he murmurs, but he turns his hand over and laces our fingers together.
I pull him closer, resting my cheek against the top of his head as the city rolls past the windows. The casual contact, the easy affection, the way he fits against me—it all feels like coming home.
When night comes and we’re finally tucked into the privacy of Tai’s room, we turn on a movie.
I couldn’t tell you the plot, or even the name, because we spend the entire hour and a half making out on the bed.
We’re like teenagers who just discovered how good it feels to kiss someone you’re crazy about.
Clothes remain on and hands stay mostly to themselves, but I can’t get enough of kissing and touching him, knowing there’s not an expiration date on it this time.
Tai sleeps in again the following morning, and the day goes by in a rush as we prepare for their show. It’s a mad dash of verifying equipment is where it needs to be, coordinating security measures with the venue staff, and ensuring everyone is hydrated and rested.
Social media posts are made, as well as phone calls to family back in the States when the hour is appropriate.
Everyone gathers around Eric’s phone when he calls his parents.
They go around the group saying hello, and I’m officially introduced as Tai’s boyfriend.
Something warm and stupidly bright flares in my chest.
We split into our two vehicles and head to the venue.
Despite the day’s craziness, I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in a long time.
Tai glances up at me, and the corner of his mouth lifts in that quiet smile I’m quickly becoming addicted to.
For a moment, the noise of the van and the chatter from the others fades into the background.
It’s just us again, the same way it felt on that beach when the rest of the world didn’t exist.
He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to. The way he leans into my touch, the way his fingers curl loosely around mine on his thigh, says everything.