Chapter 4
4
“Y ou know, you could go say hello, Zeke.”
Zeke rolled his eyes at Carson. “He has all the subs in the place to choose from. He’s fine.”
“There’s three.”
“How many are here? Six. I’m one, that leaves two…”
“I ought to put you over my knee.” Carson snorted. “There. He’s leaving, look. Just follow him out. Find some excuse to say hello. I heard about the cocktail foul yesterday…”
“I didn’t mean to do it. He was just standing there, and the sun was in my eyes!”
“Of course you didn't mean to do it, but you’re on his radar now. Isn’t today your one-thousand-day mark? It’s about time you took advantage of some of the perks of your resort fee.”
“It is!” How sweet for Carson to remember. He loved that. “Maybe I could walk by him, say hello.”
“See? Why not? He’s here for what, a week? What have you got to lose? If it goes well, it’ll be a good week, and if not, then he’ll be gone before you got time to worry about it.”
And what if it went well, and then the man left, and he was lonely? What if that?
He didn’t ask, because he didn’t want to listen to Carson.
He had a lot of days of not listening to Carson build him up.
Carson leaned toward him a little, like he was telling a secret and whispered, “Sometimes they stay longer.”
He rolled his eyes, chuckling as he got a playful swat to send him on his way out to see what Mr. Hottie was up to.
Wesley was wandering through the lounge area looking at the statues, the art, and other displays scattered around the room. The lounge had a masculine feel with leather seating and heavy wooden coffee tables, and Wesley seemed to fit right in, with his hands in his pockets and a relaxed, easy posture.
“Did you have a nice breakfast?” That was a fair question, wasn’t it?
Wesley turned to look at him and crossed his arms. “Oh, you’ve decided not to ignore me now?” The Dom’s smile eased the words into a tease. “I waved at you twice at breakfast.”
“Did you?” He’d misread that, obviously. It had felt like the Dom was waving toward him, maybe talking about him. “I’m sorry. My bad.”
“It’s nice to see you again. My shirt survived, if you were wondering, and so did I.”
Ouch. Dude. “I was wondering, actually. I’m glad your shirt survived, Sir. I didn’t mean to, at all.”
“I know. I was trying to break the ice a little and make you laugh, but it looks like I missed that mark.” Wesley shook his head. “So, how about this?” Wesley turned to a sculpture hanging on the wall. “I was just trying to figure out if this was meant for one’s genitals or one’s mouth.”
Zeke blinked, then turned to give the question the attention it deserved, trying his dead-level best not to crack up, but he came face-to-face with this wild… cocky-cagey-leathery-pricky thing with buckles. “I v-v-v-” The cackling started, and he wasn’t going to be able to stop soon. “Vote genitals!”
Wesley nodded slowly, looking as if he were critiquing something serious, but a grin was tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I think I am also team cock.”
“T-t-t—” That was it, he covered his face and started laughing hard.
Wesley snorted, which didn’t help either of them as they dissolved into breathless laughter. Wesley seemed to try to say something a couple of times but gave up and waved it off, trying to get a breath.
Finally, Wesley flopped into one of the large couches, holding his middle. “Oh God.”
Zeke sat too, shaking his head as he fought to catch his breath.
“Oh. Ow. I might have strained something. But if that didn’t break the ice, I’m not sure what would.” Wesley struggled to sit up straight with a groan.
“I—” Zeke wasn’t sure he’d ever laughed so hard in his life. “Thank you.”
That was new.
Scary.
Possibly cool.
“That was a good moment, wasn’t it?” Wesley smiled, head tilted slightly with interest. “We had a moment. That was great.”
“It was—” What? It was exciting and exhilarating and… “It so was.”
“I think I better stop looking so hard at the artwork though. It’s dangerous.” Wesley stood, still grinning, one hand on his belly. “Try to avoid laughing that hard on a full stomach. Ugh.”
“Oh, careful now. Do you want a—coffee?” Was that the appropriate offer?
He got that head-tilt again, and Wesley shook his head. “No, thank you. But I’d love some air. Would you like to take a walk with me?”
Oh, should he?
Was it wise?
“I suppose that’s safe enough. Yes.”
See him being brave.
“I—okay. I know you don't really know me, but they did the whole background and character check thing before they accepted me so—but, if you’d rather just stay here and get a coffee, that’s fine.”
“No. No, I’m not incapable of saying no and meaning it. It’s not raining yet. Want to head to the ocean overlook?” It was a gorgeous view.
“That sounds great.” Wesley let him lead the way out of the building. “So, I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Oh?” Had he done something amazing? That would be cool.
“A thousand days?” Wesley gave him a sidelong glance. “That has to be a record. By a very long mile.”
“Oh.” Yes, well… He liked it here, a lot, and he wasn’t leaving. “I imagine you’re more than right…”
“Can I ask why you’ve been here so long?”
“I like it here. It’s safe, it’s comfortable, and I pay my rent.”
“Safety is important to you.” Wesley wasn’t asking, that was a statement.
“It is.” Safety. Consistency. Privacy. Security.
Wesley nodded and tucked his hands back in his pockets as they walked. “Are you a sub?”
“I am. But I haven’t been in the lifestyle in a long time.” Not since he was a young man and innocent.
“More than a thousand days?” Wesley glanced at him again. “I’m going to keep asking nosy questions until you tell me to mind my own business. I’m like that. If I don’t hear a no, I tend to keep pushing.”
“Way more than a thousand days, yes.” And he’d already told Carson, he knew how to say no.
“Hm,” was Wesley’s only comment. That was interesting considering he’d just said he was going to keep asking questions. “I didn’t see this beach when I checked in. It’s pretty.”
“It’s sort of hidden. I found it one day when I was wandering.” He’d worn a little path, but Wesley was the first person he’d brought here.
“I bet you know every nook and cranny around here.” Wesley took a few steps toward the water and looked out over the ocean. “The water is a great color.”
“You should see it in the winter when the moon is full. It’s pure magic.” Cold but magical, nonetheless, and he loved it.
They stood there, quietly looking out over the water for quite some time. Long enough that Wesley finally puffed out a breath and rubbed his arms. “It’s getting chilly.”
“Would you like my jacket?” He didn’t think it would fit, but he had to offer. It was the right thing to do.
Wesley turned and smiled at him. “That’s sweet of you, but no. I do have a question for you, though. Another question, and it’s a big one. I don’t need an answer today.”
That made the assumption that there would be a tomorrow. Interesting. “Okay.”
Wesley’s hands slid back into his pockets. “Do you even want a Dom?”
He did, but he was scared. He nodded, and he waved toward the Barn. He would answer, just not right now.
“You want me to go, hm? I understand.” Wesley took a few steps and stopped. “Listen, when I thought you were ignoring me, I made plans to hang out with someone at the cookout tonight. He seems sweet, and I don’t want to be rude and stand him up. You’re the one I have my eye on, though. Just so we’re clear.”
“I—” He blinked and licked his lips. “Thank you. I—I would have been hurt. I like that you’re kind. Very much.”
“I like that you pay attention. Have a good day, Zeke.” Wesley gave him a nod and headed back toward the lodge.
“You too, Sir!” Then he ran to the safety of his cabin.
He had some thinking to do.