Page 98 of Refraction

“She moved into this condo deal with cards and bingo and bus trips to the casino. I tried to do the dorms at school, but it didn’t work out so well for me.”

“Mmm. The painting? Or something else?” He felt Calvin’s hands run slowly over his lower back underwater. Just a little caress, but the gesture meant Calvin wasn’t even holding on to him anymore.

“Something else. I had… it was hard to learn how to be—”Normal.“—assimilated, I guess.”

“I bet that was hard. You’re unique, tiger. You’re not like anyone else. You don’t… you shouldn’t be….” He watched Calvin’s face scrunch up like that was going to help find words. “Trying to make you fit in would crush your spirit. The best thing about you is that you don’t see things the way other people do.”

“Thank you.” He leaned up and kissed Calvin’s temple. “It’s good to find someone that sees you like you are and loves you anyway.”

“Say that differently. Not ‘loves you anyway.’ That sounds so negative, right? Like there’s some right or wrong to being who you are. Say ‘loves youfor it.’ That’s better. God, I got so tired of people that didn’t want to see past the whole model thing. That didn’t get that I wasn’t acting all the time. Can we just stay in this pool forever? It’s so mean out there.”

“Loves you for it. I approve. And yes. Forever. We can float until you’re bored.” God, he loved this man.

“Good. Glad the sun’s not frying my back. All these lights around the pool just come on as soon as the sun goes down? It’s so pretty.”

“Yeah. They do. I love the way they make everything shine.”Please. Please let this last. Please let this be real.

“It’s kind of romantic, you know? It’s… oh. Speaking of romance, tiger, I just thought I’d tell you… I mean, it’s totally up to you and everything, but you haven’t been with anyone else, and I get tested every six months, you know? So I’m clean if you ever wanted to…. Anyway, it’s totally your call. I just wanted you to know.”

“Yeah? Me too. I want everything.”Mostly forever.

“Good. Because I’m going to be your first, last, and only.” Calvin kissed his chest and ran a hot tongue over his cool nipple.

“Fair enough. I accept.” His abs tightened, and he moaned, so caught it wasn’t funny.

“Like you have a choice.” Calvin leaned over and winked at him, then wobbled and slipped off his side, splashing into the water and going right under.

He grabbed Calvin, not too worried because all Calvin had to do was stand. They were fine.

“Whoops! Good catch.” Calvin got his feet under him and stood, grinning and not looking the least bit worried. “I forgot to hold on.”

He swooped in and scooped Calvin up, swung him around in the water, making his lover howl with laughter.

“Hey! Put me down!” Calvin ordered in a very unconvincing tone. “Stop! Tucker! You’re just showing off now, you stud.” Calvin laughed again and was trying to get hold of him anywhere, fingers slipping on his wet skin.

He was laughing so hard that he couldn’t breathe, but he didn’t let go.

“Put me down, you brute, or so help me….” Calvin was laughing still. “Tuck-er-Will-iams!” Strong legs wrapped around his waist, muscled thighs squeezing his middle.

“Grr! Argh! Rawr!” He was going to fall down. Calvin leaned hard to one side and threw his weight over to the other, and that was it for his balance. The two of them went down together.

He rolled them, then moved to the edge of the pool, Calvin in his lap. “Lord have mercy, honey. You tickle me.”

“I do love this pool.” Calvin poked him in the nose. “You should swim if you want to. It’s almost dark enough to go set something on fire.”

“You okay sitting here, honey?” He lifted his chin and nibbled Calvin’s finger.

“I’m okay. I’m gonna haul myself out and sit up on the edge and watch you swim.”

“Good deal. I’m just going to burn off a little steam.”

“Go. Have fun.” Calvin climbed out of the pool.

He stole a kiss on Calvin’s wet leg, then pushed off, zooming across the pool.

After a couple of laps he wasn’t focused on Calvin watching him anymore; it was just him, the water, and the familiar stretch and burn in his muscles. All he needed was to go and go and fly.

When he’d finished ten laps, he let himself slow, ease back and just glide.

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