Chapter Twenty-Eight
Alex couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun.
One thing he did recall from childhood vacations was the way the days would seem to speed up, when he desperately wanted them to last, and it appeared adulthood was no different.
By the time a week had passed, he found himself clinging to each day, trying to cram as much as possible into every hour.
After one week spent in their company, he felt like he’d known Joshua’s family all their lives.
He discovered Naomi had a softer side, the morning they’d gone for a stroll along the river, and had found a bird caught up in a discarded fishing net.
Naomi had wavered between anger toward the negligent fisherman, and compassion for the bird.
They’d knelt in the silt, while she patiently tried to free it from the netting, the plainly frightened bird breathing rapidly in Alex’s hands as he did his best to calm and soothe it.
When she finally removed the last of the net, the bird flapped its wings and launched itself into the air, bobbing and dipping as it flew away.
Naomi had watched until it was no longer in sight, then they’d hugged.
It was a moment Alex would cherish.
The discovery of a basketball hoop attached to the side of the covered parking bay had led to hours of competition between him, Micah and Simon.
Occasionally, Greg would play, but not for long periods.
But the best times were when it was just him and Joshua, working up a sweat in the afternoon sun, both trying to keep score.
Who am I kidding? The best part of those afternoons wasn’t trying to score points, but getting to see Joshua in a pair of shorts, sweat glistening on his upper body, watching him twist and leap and undulate.
The cold shower that followed had nothing to do with the heat.
There was something incredibly satisfying about spending hours standing in the river, patiently watching and waiting for the line to twitch, and finally yelling in triumph as a glorious brown trout burst through the surface, glittering in the sunlight.
Alex loved that both he and Joshua knew what they were doing.
He could all too easily picture Todd getting very squeamish at the thought of putting the fish out of its misery, or cleaning and gutting it.
Joshua simply got on with the task, and their reward was night after night of succulent grilled fish, accompanied by small potatoes covered in melted butter, and fresh vegetables from the farmers’ market in town.
With six people, a hot tub that held four comfortably was always going to be an issue, but one that for some reason never materialized.
They seemed to polarize into two groups—the four young people, and Alex and Joshua—and there never seemed to be a time when the groups clashed.
In fact, what Alex noted was how when he and Joshua got into the hot tub, everyone else seemed to… disappear.
Every single time. It was like magic. Then Alex thought again.
Not magic—Micah. And if Joshua hadn’t been so conscious of his kids’ presence, it might have worked out perfectly.
That didn’t mean Alex wasn’t averse to sneaking a hand under the bubbling water to stroke Joshua’s burgeoning erection through his shorts.
That one time when he managed to unfasten the shorts and slip his hand inside…
Dear Lord, the look on Joshua’s face… It might have been ‘we can’t’ on his lips, but the way he pushed his dick through the funnel of Alex’s hand said way more than words.
And there was something so sexy about covering Joshua’s mouth with one hand while he brought him to climax with the other.
There were days when it was too hot to do anything, and on those occasions everyone retreated indoors and turned up the A/C to full blast. A doze on the bed morphed into a long afternoon nap, a blissful state of utter contentment, secure in the knowledge that this really was the best way to spend time.
Then there were the times when he and Joshua sat out on the deck in the shade, a cold glass in one hand, a book in the other, while the others soaked up the sun or went for a dip in the river.
Neither he nor Joshua felt the need to fill the silence with conversation, and that was something to be treasured.
And then there were the mornings.
That first full day, Alex had awoken to a beautiful sight.
The sun had barely risen, peeking between the curtains and casting a warm glow around the wood-lined room.
Joshua had indeed kicked off the sheets, the comforter having been removed when the night grew warmer.
He’d lain on his back, his chest rising and falling steadily, legs spread—and from below the waistband of his boxers, his cock emerged, trapped against his belly, hard and looking so…
lickable that Alex’s mouth watered. He’d rolled onto his side and lain there, drinking in the view: Joshua, completely at peace, his morning wood jerking up, restrained by the soft cotton.
There had to be seven inches of hard, cut dick under there, and Alex knew exactly what he wanted to do with it.
“I see something’s grabbed your attention.” Joshua’s quiet, amused voice broke the silence.
Alex gave a start, but recovered quickly. “I was just lying here, contemplating….”
Joshua snickered. “Yeah, I can see exactly what you were contemplating.”
“Well, do you blame me?” He’d shifted closer, until his face was inches above it. “I mean, how do you expect me to stay on my side of the bed, when there’s this gorgeous dick just crying out for my tongue?” Alex met his gaze. “I can’t ignore it. That seems… rude.”
Joshua stared at Alex, his breathing quickening. “What… did we say?” he said quietly.
And just like that, the atmosphere in the room changed, charged with an electricity that prickled its way down Alex’s spine.
Alex didn’t move an inch. “We’re not kids anymore. This isn’t new, for either of us. Is it?” He kept his voice low.
Joshua shook his head.
Alex glanced at the thick shaft, then met Joshua’s gaze. “How long has it been since you felt a mouth on your dick? Probably about the same time as it has been for me. I think we’ve waited long enough, don’t you?”
Joshua swallowed. “Yes.”
Alex grasped the waistband and slowly pulled the boxers down over Joshua’s hips, Joshua pushing up off the mattress to help him as he removed them completely.
Then Alex got between Joshua’s legs, Joshua spreading for him, and made himself comfortable.
“Are we still okay?” he asked, wrapping his hand around the root of Joshua’s dick, awaiting the confirmation he knew was coming.
Joshua’s eyes twinkled. “We won’t be if you don’t get your ass in gear.”
Alex chuckled. “Now remember. No noise.”
“For God’s sake, just—” Joshua arched up off the bed, his body shaking as Alex licked a line from the base of his cock to the head, before fluttering his tongue under the ridge.
No words came from Joshua, just a series of soft sounds and low cries.
He grabbed Alex’s head, holding him there while he moved beneath him, gasping when Alex sucked on the head, and shuddering when Alex slid more of Joshua’s cock into his warm mouth.
“Oh yeah, just like that.” Joshua pumped his hips, pushing deeper, only to still when the bed squeaked. “Shit.”
Alex tried not to laugh around a mouthful of dick, stroking Joshua’s belly as he slowed down, taking his time.
Joshua soon got in synch with him, his hands gentle as he stroked Alex’s hair, and together they got into a rhythm, leisurely and sensual.
Now and again, they picked up speed, but as soon as the bed complained, they hurriedly slowed things down, until it was almost a game, trying to keep to one side of a very fine line.
No words passed between them, and that was sexy as hell.
The sound of their mingled breaths was erotic enough.
It wasn’t long before Joshua’s breathing became erratic and his movements jerky, and Alex knew the dam was about to burst. He rolled Joshua’s balls through his fingers as he licked and sucked his way to the finale, his heart pounding as Joshua came, warm on Alex’s lips and tongue.
Joshua threw his arm across his mouth, sealing in whatever sounds threatened to disturb the quiet.
Alex licked up every drop, before shifting higher to cover Joshua with his body. He propped himself up on his elbows and gazed at Joshua’s sated expression. “Hoo, it’s been a while.”
“Tell me about it.” Something flashed across his face, and Joshua’s glance seemed tinged with anxiety. “Was it—?”
Alex cut off whatever he’d been about to say with a kiss. “It was awesome.” Joshua’s body relaxed beneath him. He kissed Joshua on the lips, a slow, lingering connection that was the perfect end to their first sexual exploration.
Joshua stared up at him. “You know I said we weren’t gonna do anything?”
Alex laughed quietly. “Mm-hmm?”
“Well, I may have to rethink that idea.” Joshua cupped Alex’s nape and pulled him down into another kiss.
“Mm-hmm,” Alex murmured against his lips.
“We can’t do this every day, y’know,” Joshua said between kisses.
“Mm-hmm.”
“I mean it. Maybe now and again.”
“Mm-hmm.” Alex kissed Joshua’s neck, loving how he shivered.
“Ohh, f-fuck. Can’t think when you d-do that.”
“Mm-hmm.” Alex sucked on the skin, before taking Joshua’s ear lobe between his teeth and pulling on it gently.
“Fuck, I’ve missed this,” Joshua said with a sigh.
“Me too.”
“No, really. I’d forgotten how it felt to be touched, kissed…
And then suddenly it’s like it all comes flooding back, and you remember how fucking amazing it can feel.
It’s like… time does a short circuit, and throws you right back into the middle of all those emotions, those sensations, like you’ve never been away from them. ”
Alex said nothing, but inside he was humbled by Joshua’s reaction.
He shifted position until he lay beside Joshua, gently stroking his chest and belly, keeping the movement unhurried.
They lay like that for what seemed like ages, until he caught the first sounds of activity coming from beyond the door.
Reluctantly, he pressed a hand to Joshua’s hairy chest.
“And that’s our cue,” he whispered.
Joshua sighed. “Damn.”
Alex kissed him on his forehead. “There’s always tonight.”
“And tomorrow morning. And tomorrow night.” Joshua’s brow furrowed.
“What’s the matter?”
“The bed. It squeaks.”
Alex grinned. “There’s always the shower.”
Joshua narrowed his gaze. “You are a bad influence.”
“And you taste good.”
“You are not to say things like that outside this room, okay? Because I know you, Alex. You like to tease.”
Alex straightened his features and held up one hand. “I solemnly promise not to tease.” Then he grinned again. “Much.”
It had been the perfect start to their vacation, and it had only gotten better.