Page 51 of Twice Shy

Ollie grinned. “Let me grab my coat.”

Bundled up, they headed back around the side of the hotel to the steps that led down the cliff onto the beach. Ollie pulled out his phone to use as a flashlight and they made it onto the damp sand without breaking a leg. The surf sounded loud, so the tide was probably most of the way in, the occasional white flash in the starlight revealing a breaking wave hissing over the sand. It was quiet. No sound save the surf, not even a breeze to stir the dune grass. Cold and clear and crisp.

“Hey.” Ollie’s hand found his and Joel looked over at him, smiling.

“Hey yourself.”

They walked hand-in-hand along the beach towards the glittering lights of town. Joel liked holding hands, but he’d never held a guy’s hand. Back in college he hadn’t been confident enough to hold hands in public. He still couldn’t imagine it. But he’d liked holding Helen’s hand, and he loved holding Ollie’s—firm and warm, his grip strong. In the dark, he felt safe and rubbed his thumb over Ollie’s knuckles. “So, the kids settle okay with their grandparents?”

“Yeah. We stayed there for a few months after— after the accident. They feel at home. And they get spoiled rotten, of course.”

“It’s good for you, to have a break,” Joel said, squeezing his fingers.

“I don’t need a break, I’m—”

“Fine. I know. But, Ollie, everyone needs a break. Doesn’t mean you aren’t coping. That’s not what I meant.”

“Right.” He smiled. “Sorry, I don’t want people thinking that I don’t like being their parent, or that it’s a burden, it’s just—”

“Come on, parenting is hard. Everyone says so. Give yourself a break—and enjoy the break! You’ve earned it.”

Ollie looked at him, eyes gleaming. “Yeah, okay.” A breath, shoulders straightening. “Yeah, you’re right.” And then he grinned, a glint of teeth in the dark, dropped Joel’s hand and started to run.

Startled, Joel watched for a moment, then started running after him. “Wait! Hey, where are you going?”

“Nowhere!” Ollie laughed, spinning around with his arms wide. “Just running. Because I can.” His eyes lit on something, and he darted off toward the dunes, leaving Joel to follow.

They were both laughing as they scrambled up the soft sand, grabbing onto the dune grass to help them until they’d reached the summit of the sandy mountain.

“Wow,” Ollie said, breathless as he stared out over the dark beach and the star scattered ocean. “Wow, just look at it.”

“Yeah.” Joel struggled to catch his breath, not helped by the way Ollie looked standing there smiling and breathing hard from his run. “Spectacular.”

Ollie turned. He must have heard something in Joel’s tone. In the dark he was mostly shadows, but Joel could see his eyes glitter and the curve of his smile as he held out a hand and Joel took it, tugging him close. Lifting a hand to his face, Joel paused to take in the sight of him. He really was beautiful with that dark curling hair, warm eyes and angular features. “Can I kiss you again?” he said. “I’ve wanted to all evening.”

Ollie’s arms slipped around his waist, a warm weight. He smiled. “Yes. Go on.”

This time, their kiss was a languorous exploration. The contrast between Ollie’s soft lips, the hot slide of his tongue, and the cold snap of the air was startling. Electric. A low moan of pleasure rose in Joel’s throat, but he trapped it there, afraid it might be too telling. Ollie’s hands left his waist, fingers running up his sides, then one hand cupped the back of his head, clenching into his hair as the kiss deepened. They staggered a little on the unstable sand, almost losing their footing, and laughed into the kiss as Joel grabbed Ollie’s hips for balance and drew them closer still. Gooseflesh raced across his skin at the unmistakable sensation of Ollie’s hardening cock nudging against his own.Christ. That trapped moan escaped and was matched by Ollie’s own soft sound of arousal.

“Fuck,” Ollie said softly, like a caress against his ear. “Fuck this is hot.You’rehot.”

“Do you—?” Joel could hardly get the words out of his breathless lungs. “Do you want to come back to my place?”

Ollie’s fingers fisted in his hair and he pressed a hard, happy kiss against his lips. The roll of his groin against Joel’s felt deliberate, like an invitation. “Why Mr. Morgan,” he grinned, dark eyes sparkling. “I thought you’d never ask.”

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