Chapter Twenty-Seven
“I think we bought half the store,” Naomi joked as she and Alex walked toward the front door, laden down with shopping bags.
“We didn’t buy everything,” Alex retorted. “I left that blue cheese ice cream where it was.”
Naomi shuddered. “Well, yeah, because… yuck.”
They reached the door and before Alex’s fingers touched the handle, Joshua was there, taking bags from him. “Next time, take me along too?”
“What makes you think… I’m going next time?” Alex made a few wheezing sounds, grinning when Joshua jerked his head around to stare at him in alarm. “Gotcha.”
“Oh, you got me, all right,” Joshua muttered under his breath. Before Alex could fathom what that meant, Joshua had strode toward the car to grab the remaining bags that sat beside it.
Naomi joined him, glancing over her shoulder at Alex. “You can start putting all the shopping away, if you like,” she said with a wicked smile.
Alex hoisted the bags up onto the countertops, and proceeded to take out all their purchases. Simon and Greg appeared, their hair damp, both dressed in nothing but a pair of shorts. “Here, let me do that.” Simon took over, and Greg began the task of filling the refrigerator.
Joshua came back into the house, dropped the bags at Simon’s feet, then grabbed Alex’s arm. “Can I have a word?” Before Alex could utter a reply, Joshua steered him across the kitchen and into their bedroom, closing the door behind them.
Alex frowned. “Is something wrong?”
Joshua stared at him. “Wrong? No, not wrong as such. Confusing? Yes. Surprising? Definitely, but wrong?”
Alex smirked. “Okay, I know I said to switch off and relax, but it’s beginning to sound like you need to do a reboot.”
Joshua took a deep breath and came to stand in front of him. “When you left to go shopping,” he said quietly, “you… did something.”
Alex gazed at him, perplexed.
Joshua glared at him. “You kissed me, for Christ’s sake!”
He blinked. “I did?”
Joshua nodded, his eyes wide. “Like it was… something you did every day.”
Alex thought back. “Wow. Yeah, I did, didn’t I?
I guess because it just felt… natural in the circumstances.
” He studied Joshua’s flushed face, his chest that rose and fell, as though breathing had become an effort.
Oh God. Alex took a steadying breath of his own.
“Did you mind me kissing you?” He honestly hadn’t thought it a big deal, but judging by Joshua’s reaction…
Please don’t let this be a problem. Because if a light kiss freaked him out…
Joshua swallowed. “No, I didn’t mind. In fact… I was gonna give you another shopping list when you got back, in the hope that you’d do it again.” He attempted a grin.
Holy Mother of God.
Alex closed the gap between them. “And what if I wanted to kiss you again, but this time…make it last a little longer?”
Joshua stilled. “Then… I’d let you.”
In spite of his pounding heart, Alex smiled. “Let me?”
Joshua rolled his eyes. “For God’s sake, just kiss me!”
Alex moved swiftly, his hand cupping Joshua’s cheek as he leaned in, until their mouths were almost touching.
Alex breathed him in as their lips met, then Joshua’s hands were on his back, barely there, as if he was afraid to hold on too tight.
Alex molded his body to Joshua’s and let go, losing himself in the kiss he’d thought about so often the last few weeks.
Joshua sighed, and his hands were on Alex’s shoulders, pressing him closer, closer, until it felt like they were fused together, joined at lip and chest and hip, and all Alex knew was Joshua’s warmth, his scent, the sound of his breathing, the taste of him….
Unhurriedly, Alex broke the kiss, still maintaining the connection with his hand on Joshua’s cheek. He gazed into Joshua’s deep brown eyes. “Better?”
Joshua pursed those full lips. “Y’know, I’m not sure. Maybe you need to run that by me one more time.”
Alex gave him a hard stare. “And maybe some people are greedy.”
“Hey, do you blame me? You have any idea how long it’s been since I was kissed?”
Alex stilled. “Actually? Yes.”
Joshua’s breathing hitched. “Yeah, I guess you do at that.” He snaked a hand around Alex’s waist. “So what are we waiting for? We got a lotta catching up to do.”
Alex chuckled. “Oh, I like a man who doesn’t waste time.”
“Hey, where did you two disappear to?” Naomi yelled from beyond the door.
“We got stuff to do out here.” Alex caught the edge of a muffled conversation, before Naomi’s voice rose again, only not as loud.
“What do you mean, leave them alone? What the hell are they doing in—Oh.” More muffled conversation. “Never mind. My bad.”
Alex met Joshua’s gaze, and seconds later they were both trying to stifle their laughter.
Alex’s sides ached, and tears rolled down Joshua’s cheeks.
When they finally had themselves under control, Joshua wiped his eyes and drew in a long breath.
“Great. I feel like I’m in a fish bowl. They’re gonna be watching us, you know that, right? ”
“And that bothers you.” Not that Alex couldn’t understand that. They weren’t his kids, however.
Joshua nodded. “So, as a favor to me…”
“No shenanigans where they can see us,” Alex concluded. Part of him wasn’t happy about that idea, but he totally got where Joshua was coming from. This was all new territory. Then a thought occurred to him. “What about where they can’t see us? And what about kissing?”
“What about it?”
“Well, just say the word and there’ll be no more kissing.” Alex kept a straight face.
Joshua arched his eyebrows. “I may be forty-seven, but I am not going senile. And if you have any more thoughts on that topic, keep ’em to yourself.”
Alex smirked. “Gotcha.” He couldn’t resist the feel of Joshua’s stubbled cheek beneath his fingertips. “No regrets then?”
“Only one.” Joshua’s grin reached his eyes. “Why the hell did we leave it so long?”
Alex chuckled. He wasn’t sure of the answer.
Joshua pulled free of Alex’s hand and glanced toward the door.
“I suppose we’d better get out there. Heaven knows what they think we’ve been doing.
” He shook his head. “You know what? This stinks. They’re out there, imagining we’re…
you know… and here we are, not even contemplating half the things they’re thinking of. ”
“Speak for yourself,” Alex murmured. “I can contemplate quite a lot.” He wasn’t about to hide how he felt, not now everything was out in the open.
When Joshua stared at him, eyes wide with surprise, Alex laughed.
“And don’t give me that startled deer in headlights look.
I’m certain you’re capable of a fair bit of contemplation yourself. ”
Joshua blinked, then darted forward to kiss Alex on the lips, before heading for the door.
“That’ll keep me going until bedtime,” Alex muttered as Joshua opened the door. When Joshua’s back stiffened slightly, he knew he’d hit his mark.
Sharing the same bed had just taken on a whole new meaning.
~ 0 ~
“This is heaven,” Naomi sighed, her feet propped up on the tiled surface surrounding the firepit, a bottle of beer in her hand.
“I second that,” Simon added beside her, leaning against the wooden railings. Micah and Greg sat together, their fingers laced together over the arms of their chairs. The sun had just set, and the sky was a riot of color.
Joshua took a long drink of beer and echoed Naomi’s sigh. “I was talking to one of the guys staying in the property next door. He says he caught a huge trout yesterday.” He licked his lips. “Man, there is nothing like the taste of freshly caught trout.”
“I take it we’re going fishing tomorrow?” Alex smiled. “Count me in. There’s a spot along the river bank that looks perfect. We can do some fly fishing. The minions here can keep us well supplied with beers and snacks.” He winked at Joshua.
“Minions?” Naomi gave him a mock glare.
“Well, of course. What else are you going to do with your time?” Alex quipped. Greg snickered.
Simon hooted. “Dude, you like living dangerously, don’tcha?”
Alex cackled. “Naomi isn’t going to say a word, not while her dad is turning a blind eye to the fact that she’s drinking beer. Are you, Naomi?”
Joshua smothered his laughter at the sight of Naomi’s startled expression. “Relax,” he assured her. “We’re on vacation, and Alex is a long way from the County Prosecutor’s office. I’ll bet he even left his badge at home. Didn’t you?” he said, fixing Alex with a firm stare.
“Don’t you believe it,” Alex muttered. “I sleep with it under my pillow.”
There was a moment of silence before the chuckles broke out.
Joshua recalled a sign he’d seen as they’d driven to the cabin. “There’s a place in town, just where the road crosses over the river, where they hire out boats and canoes.” He peered at Alex. “Have you ever been in a canoe?” It was something he’d always wanted to try.
Alex shrugged. “No, but I’m game.” He let out a contented sigh. “I am going to kick back and relax for two whole weeks.” Alex raised his bottle. “A toast. To the wonderful minds that came up with this plan. Thank you.”
Micah grinned and leaned over to clink his bottle against Alex’s. “Here’s to a great vacation. May it bring you everything you wish for.” His eyes gleamed.
Joshua didn’t miss the brief glance Alex flashed in his direction. Oh Lord.
~ 0 ~
Joshua stripped down to his boxers, and placed his clothes on a chair.
Alex was in the bathroom, cleaning his teeth.
Joshua had already done that, and what crossed his mind as he rinsed and spat was that he felt like a teenager again, about to go on a date.
Thank God he didn’t kiss like one. There was something to be said for experience, even if they were out of practice.
That first kiss had just the right amount of steam to set Joshua’s toes curling.
And despite what he’d said about keeping things on the down low because of the kids, he sincerely hoped Alex wasn’t going to take him all that seriously. A little exploration wouldn’t hurt, right?
Alex walked out of the bathroom and headed for the bed, pulling back the covers on the right side. “This okay?” he said as he got under the sheets.
Joshua nodded, trying not to stare at Alex’s lean body.
“And I’ll try not to migrate too much into the middle of the bed.
” He got in on the other side, trying not to think of how little space separated them.
Not to mention how little clothing… He lay on his back, his hands beneath his head, focusing on the soft whir of the A/C, definitely not focusing on the scent of warm male that emanated from the bed, a scent that seemed to connect with a part of his anatomy that he really wished would go to sleep right then.
Alex sighed. “This was an easy prospect before I kissed you.”
“Is this where I ask if you have any regrets?” Joshua hoped that wasn’t the case.
“No, no regrets.” Alex bit his lip. “Well… yes. One.” When Joshua gave him a quizzical look, Alex huffed. “Agreeing to not getting up to anything while we’re here.”
Joshua coughed. “Strictly speaking? We agreed to no shenanigans where the kids could see us, not none at all.”
“So there’s wriggle room? Because speaking plainly?” He locked gazed with Joshua. “I want you. I’m not going to lie about that. And I don’t want to wait.”
Joshua swallowed. He wasn’t going to lie either. “I want you too. But… this is new, all right? And even if I am really open with the kids, there are still things I’d like some… privacy about. Can you understand that?”
Alex studied him in silence for a moment. Finally he nodded. “Yes.” Then his eyes sparkled. “I’m just not sure if we can last two weeks. I’m only human, after all.”
Joshua chuckled. “You and me both.” He reached over and switched off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into darkness. “However….”
A low chuckle rolled out of the inky blackness. “I sense a but coming.”
Joshua shifted toward the middle of the bed. “I don’t see anything wrong with a kiss goodnight, do you?” Then he caught his breath as Alex reached for him, pulling him close.
“Nothing wrong with that at all.”
Joshua closed his eyes and melted into a kiss that he had only dreamed about: the soft rasp of Alex’s beard against his cheek; warm lips eagerly seeking his; gentle hands that caressed and explored his skin; and a firm body pressed against his, warm and vital.
Two weeks suddenly seemed like an eternity.
Alex broke the kiss and chuckled. “Are you sure you want to wait? Because from my side of the bed, it doesn’t feel that way at all. And the kids are all the way over there…”
Joshua got his breath back. “I’ll wait.” He knew it probably sounded old-fashioned and crazy, but he’d waited all this time to discover what being with a guy was like, he could wait a little longer.
Micah might be comfortable with the idea of his dad having sex with Alex—that didn’t mean Joshua was on the same page. And until he was….
“I do get it, you know,” Alex said softly. “Really.”
Joshua was overcome with a sense of relief so acute, it made him giddy. “Thank you.” He shifted closer, until his head lay on Alex’s chest. Alex put his arms around him and laid a gentle kiss on his head.
Warm, safe, in the arms of someone who understood what lay in his heart, Joshua fell asleep.