Chapter 11
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
ZIGGY
“Ican’t remember the last time I went fishing,” Kennedy says. He’s sitting to my left, holding a fishing rod with one hand and a can of Coke in the other. Every time he reels something in, his elbow skims my elbow, and air keeps getting caught in my throat.
I’m haunted by the image from yesterday of a near naked Kennedy, wet briefs hugging his cock, lazed out on the warm rock like a lizard in the sun. He was soaking up every ray of happiness, like I do when I’m around him.
Like I’m doing right now.
All up and down my body, little sparks and zaps are distracting me from fishing and making me hyperaware of the man beside me.
“Do you do this often?”
Kennedy’s watching me, giving me the chance to answer without words. I really, really don’t want to do that, but his proximity is taking up too much of my focus to add speaking on top.
I nod. Fishing isn’t something I do constantly, but it’s relaxing in the summer to sit by the water and see what I can catch. I eat fish, even if I don’t love the taste that much, but I know some of the others really like it, and I’m always happy to share around whatever I walk away with.
Especially with Lynx.
“Can you bring me with you next time?” he asks. “I like it.”
I duck my head to try and hide my thoughts, but I can still feel his eyes on me. The lingering, searching gaze is heated against my skin, and when I finally give in and meet it, he’s closer than I remember.
My gut is a twisted pot of nerves as I force myself to keep looking. “S-sure.”
“Thanks.” His answering smile is everything. So swift and effortless, like the sun breaking free of heavy storm clouds and reminding you of how bright the world is.
“Do you ever do this with anyone else?”
No.
Wilde has come a couple of times, and Rooney joins me occasionally, but those are all sporadic moments. Most of the time, it’s me and the sky and the river stretching off in both directions.
Alone.
“I think I’ve got another one!” Kennedy excitedly starts reeling the fish in, his arm rubbing torturously against mine. Bare skin on skin.
He pulls the fish free, and it’s a good-sized one. I immediately open the cooler while he removes the hook, and then we stash it away with the others.
I bring my line back in and stand.
“Wait, that’s it?”
As much as I’d love to stay out here for longer and fish the river dry, we have what we need. I pick up the cooler to show him we’re done, and Kennedy immediately takes my fishing rod from me and rests them over his shoulder.
We start back down the forest path, Kennedy a few steps behind me.
“We could go swimming again?” he suggests.
After seeing him naked yesterday and nearly giving myself away in front of him? No way. I shake my head.
“What about … exploring some more? You could show me around?”
It’s getting late, and we’ve already had a long day of work.
I want to show him around, but I’m always worried about spending too much time with him.
The more I do, the deeper I fall for his voice and his energy and his big heart.
And the deeper I fall, the less I trust myself not to act on those feelings.
“What about getting a drink at the Cutty? Or … your place! I still haven’t seen it.”
Before he can push that thought any more, I turn to face him. Kennedy pauses, rocking back on his heels, free hand tucked into one of his pockets as his gaze sweeps over me.
“That could be fun … right?”
“No.” I couldn’t think of anything less fun than Kennedy seeing my home.
“Okay, umm … I’m open to ideas. We can do anything.”
Anything … His eyes are hesitant as they meet mine, and a smile trembles his mustache.
“If you wanna hang out, that is.” He pokes me in the shoulder. “Unless you’re sick of me already.”
I bat his finger away and tap the cooler. “Dinner.”
He lights up, and I tell my excitement to ignore it. “Yeah? You’ll stay for dinner? That’s awesome. Hudson and Hart will be nice, I promise. And I can cook, but …” He squints at the cooler. “I don’t know how to prep the fish.”
“Wilde does.”
“Oh. So we’ll invite Wilde, then. I guess.”
He needs to get over this grudge he has because I don’t get the impression that Hudson and Wilde are coming to an end anytime soon. Kennedy might not think they’re serious, but Wilde’s never been involved with someone before, and the fact that he is now says all I need it to.
I tilt my head the way we were walking, suggesting we keep moving.
“Yeah. Let’s go. Now you’ve mentioned it, I’m starving.”
Kennedy leads the way, and I know how he feels.
But as my attention drifts down to his ass, I’m hungry for something different. My need for him is getting out of control, and I’m worried it will take the smallest thing for me to slip.
At least at dinner, with people around, there will be fewer chances for that to happen.
This is all going to be okay.