Page 29 of Between the Lines

Theo’s heart jumped as if it was leaping toward Luca. And Luca smiled, Theo could feel it against his mouth, leaning in until Theo’s back hit the rock behind him and their hips pressed together. Hands clasped, fingers locked, Luca nipped at Theo’s lips, deepening the kiss. Theo’s cock began to fill and Luca must have felt it because he made a soft approving noise in the back of his throat, urging his hips closer still—close enough for Theo to feel Luca’s hard length nudging against his stomach. He groaned, he couldn’t help it.

“Fuck, you’re hot,” Luca said, grinning as he pulled back, sun-bright and happy. “I’ve wanted to do that all morning.”

“Me, too.” Theo smiled, high on the freedom of this—nothing hidden, everything clear. “Among other things...”

Luca kissed him again, slow and full of promise. “Let’s get down to the beach,” he said. “I want to swim before we get to the other things.”

It was difficult to concentrate on getting down with his cock still half hard and the distraction cost Theo his footing a couple times. But at last, with Luca’s grip firm on his arm, his feet hit the sand and he punched out a breath of relief.

Luca loped off toward the stream that cut through the rocks, and the narrow swath of scrubby grass growing along the base of the cliff. He dropped his backpack there, pulled out a blanket and a couple of towels and laid them out on the grass. It was sweet, and for a moment Theo let himself imagine this was a real date, full of possibilities and hopes for the future. That the persistent tug of attraction he felt, the tingling warmth beneath his skin, might have the chance to blossom into something beautiful and lasting.

He shook his head at himself as he picked his way carefully across the uneven beach, the sand shifting precariously beneath his feet. Normally, he hated how it got into his shoes, but he was too distracted right then to care. Luca watched his progress with a grin Theo was learning to recognize: happy, eager—horny. Then, to his breathless delight, Luca grabbed the bottom of his t-shirt and pulled it up and off in one glorious sweep. Stunning. Theo’s heart gave a dangerous lurch, but he decided to ignore the warning. Today, he just wanted to enjoy the moment. And the moment was bloody spectacular.

He sat down on the grass to kick off his shoes, Luca’s eyes on him the whole time. Then he fiddled with the button on his polo shirt, fingers made doubly awkward by the thought of what they were about to do—frolic in the sea, and then... Andthen.

“Here.” Luca dropped to his knees in the sand in front of Theo, batting his hands away from the buttons. “Why don’t you just wear t-shirts? Way easier.”

Theo swallowed his instinctive protest—I can do it!—and said, “I don’t like to compromise.”

Luca sat back on his heels. “By making things easier for yourself? That’s dumb.”

“Excuse me?”

“That’s like refusing to wear glasses if you’re nearsighted.”

Theo bristled. “It’s nothing like that. I do wear glasses, actually. For the computer.”

“You do?” Luca’s smile changed again, not the heated grin of before but something goofy. “I’d like to see that.”

“The point is,” Theo said, “Icanundo a button. It takes me longer, is all. Maybe you should be more patient?”

There was a still silence and then Luca winced. “And not do it for you and make you feel like a child? Shit. Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“Not really, though, huh?”

Theo sighed. “No, not really.” They looked at each other for a long moment, Luca’s eyes narrowed against the glare. With a little jolt of delight, Theo noticed a scattering of freckles across his nose and under his eyes, almost lost beneath his deep summer tan. And then Luca’s lips curved into that brilliant, boyish smile and Theo’s breath caught. Bloody hell, he was lovely.

“You gotta tell me when I’m being a jackass, okay?” Luca said. “I want to know.” He pushed to his feet in one fluid movement and stuck out his hand for Theo, pulling him up, too. They stood so close Theo could feel the warmth of Luca’s bare chest through his shirt, and felt an answering pulse of a different kind of heat as Luca tugged at his collar. “Now get those clothes off and let’s swim.”

Luca ran ahead of him into the water, splashing in the surf, gasping and laughing at the cold. Theo followed more cautiously, wincing at the occasional stone underfoot. And when Luca dived under the waves, Theo watched, entranced by the sleek sheen on his back, the sunlit gleam in his hair, heart pounding with happiness and desire and something like terror. Because this? He wanted this. He’d dreamed of this for years. He already knew that letting go would hurt.

Luca waded back to the shallows, hand outstretched. “C’mon in,” he said. “I’ve got you.” And Theo took his hand, letting Luca lead him into deeper water.

When they were past the breakers—only small here, in the sheltered cove—they splashed around together, laughing and playing until, breathless, Luca slipped his arms around Theo’s waist and reeled him in. Water droplets clung to Luca’s lashes, glinting in the sun, and his skin felt slick and warm when Theo slid his hands up over Luca’s broad shoulders. Luca smiled. “Come here,” he said, bumping their noses together, and with his heart pounding Theo closed his eyes...

Their kiss tasted of sea salt, all cool lips and hot mouths. Luca’s hands roved slowly up Theo’s back, across his shoulders, then, with a soft groan, up into his hair, grasping handfuls. He smiled into the kiss—Theo felt it against his lips—fingers drifting down across Theo’s ribs to dip beneath the band of his shorts. It felt glorious, Luca’s assured touch against his wet skin, and Theo surged up against him, his cock pressing against Luca’s hip, Luca hard and insistent against Theo’s belly. When Luca’s mouth dragged along his jaw, to that perfect point beneath his ear, Theo’s knees buckled. “Luca,” he gasped, not sure what he was trying to say, not sure what he wanted. Only that he wantedmore.

“Yeah.” Luca hummed his approval, low and gravelly. “Yeah, come on.”

He pulled away and Theo regretted the loss of Luca’s warm, hard body. But Luca didn’t let go of his hand, tugging him out of the water and across the warm sand to the grass and their towels.

They were both breathing hard, Theo’s hands shaking in anticipation as he started to dry himself off. He’d have been embarrassed by his hard-on if Luca hadn’t been in the same position, and Theo’s eyes fixed on the shape of his cock in his wet shorts. His mouth went dry. Jesus, he wanted it. Wanted him. He could barely breathe for wanting.

Luca dropped his towel. “Theo?”

Blinking, he dragged his eyes up. “Yeah?”

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