Chapter 14 | Wade
The snake incident shook them both up. Adam for having the damn thing slithering on him and Wade for seeing the man he cared about slithered upon.
His spike of adrenaline had kept him open and receptive when Adam launched at him, practically crawled on top of him, and they’d kissed just as passionately as the first time.
The kiss was as pleasant this go around as Wade remembered the first one being. More so, in fact.
Also, Adam was much stronger than he appeared to be. The near stranglehold he'd had on Wade’s neck was proof of that.
What surprised Wade most of all, though, was that he didn’t find it unpleasant. On the contrary, it was altogether very pleasant. Too pleasant, if that were possible. He wasn’t spooked by it, which was not what he’d expected.
As for all the light touches he and Adam increasingly exchanged during the day, they were new to Wade, unexpected and nice. Unlike him, Adam was a tactile, expressive man and very affectionate, without being pushy or demanding. If Wade didn’t return a gesture, Adam didn’t get upset or angry like girlfriends had when he'd needed his space.
“Standoffish and emotionally distant” was what they'd say about it when they were being nice. “Cold and broken” were the words they'd use in anger, or when the relationship ground to a standstill.
Broken.
Perhaps he was. He rarely sought physical contact and most often pushed it away. He’d thought it was how he was made. But here on the island with Adam, Wade experienced new and unfamiliar feelings.
Longings.
Desires.
Adam never pushed or punished him for it. That made it easier to return those touches. To initiate them sometimes.
Adam made it easy to want those things, and with that freedom, to go at his pace. And it made it very easy to desire more affection, deeper affection from Adam. Wade wanted that.
It was obvious to Wade that Adam found him attractive, and slowly it dawned on Wade, the feeling was mutual. If there was a man to be attracted to, Adam’s body stirred something in his gut. A longing. A desire to take things further. Make them more physical.
After all he'd witnessed, the stuff he'd gone through, Wade had to control the when and where of being touched, even by a woman. He'd never expected to have that with a man. Not after it had been drilled into him just how wrong it was. An abomination.
Now, he craved to know more. What it would be like with another man.
How could he now approach Adam to ask for more? And if he did, would Adam turn him down? He would be well within his rights to do so. Wade would respect Adam’s decision, of course, but he didn’t think Adam would say no. He hoped he wouldn’t say no.
He had to find out and get this burning question out of the way. He crawled out of the cave. Adam would be down by the waterfall, having a bath.
Never had he known anyone to have so many baths before. Adam said he constantly felt the gritty sand against his skin. Wade suspected that Adam simply liked being in the water. There were chores to tend to, fishing that Wade needed to get in if they wanted to eat. None of it was too urgent. He left the pole at the cave and went in search of Adam.
They had to talk, and Wade couldn’t concentrate until they did.
Adam was right where Wade knew he would find him. His clothing piled on a rock, washed and spread out to dry. He stood beneath the waterfall as it cascaded down over his head and shoulders. Even though Wade could only see Adam’s chest, he could imagine the naked body beneath the surface of the water, hidden from view. He licked his lips, savoring the delectable image in his mind.
Of course, they’d seen each other naked before. Being trapped on an island didn’t encourage modesty after a while. Who else would see them?
A product of his upbringing, Wade stayed the more modest of the two. Adam was respectful of privacy and comfort levels and kept the shameless parading around to a minimum. Unfortunately for Wade.
The shame was that Adam covered up a beautiful body. He was tall, slim without being thin, and although they’d both lost some weight, they weren’t at starvation levels of thin.
Adam was still a sight to behold. His hair was so light as almost to be white from near constant exposure to the sun, in sharp contrast to his tan. They frequently went without shirts, especially on particularly humid days, and it showed in the golden color of Adam’s skin. He would fit the model for a beach bum if they’d been back at home.
“Want to join me?” Adam asked over the sound of cascading water.
Wade realized he had been staring. “Would you mind the company?”
“I wouldn’t mind at all. Good thing about our tub,: Plenty of room for two, although it is a little cool today.”
His clothing could probably do with what passed for washing in paradise. A soaking and a few beats against the rocks to knock the worst of the sand and grime off.
Wade eased into the water and stripped his clothes. A few vigorous dunks in the water and swishing around like an agitator, he wrung them out and spread them next to Adam’s on the rocks.
After that, he ducked beneath the surface to wet his hair, swimming closer to Adam. “Why are you standing under the waterfall? Taking a shower?”
Laughing Adam looked up. He squinted, his eyes closed as the torrent beat against his face, then he stepped forward to leave the cascade of water. “They say it’s a good meditation technique.”
“And is it?” Wade floated towards Adam.
Adam shrugged. “Hard to say. I wasn’t particularly relaxed, but it did feel nice for a change from the surf. So I’m sure I’m missing something vital.”
“Didn’t you tell me that everyone has their own way of meditating? Like mine is apparently, when I’m fishing or out walking.”
“That sounds about right.”
“So maybe being beat into submission by a waterfall isn’t yours.”
“That also sounds about right.”
Adam ducked beneath the surface. When he emerged again, he pushed his hair from his eyes and smoothed the water from his face. “I’ll leave you to a tranquil bath.”
Before Adam moved out of reach, Wade closed a hand over his wrist to hold him. “Adam. Wait. I wanted to ask you something.”
“Sure.” Adam sunk to his chest again so they were even. “What’s on your mind?”
Where to start? How did he say this? There was such a lot was on his mind. Everything was on his mind. Now that he was there to talk to Adam about his feelings, the words didn’t come. He hadn't thought about what he'd say, only that he needed to say something.
He didn’t release Adam’s wrist, nor did Adam pull away from him.
Wade shifted his hold to lace his fingers together with Adam’s.
Adam floated closer. “Is everything okay, Wade? You’re kind of quiet on me now.”
“Yeah, I just… I need to…” Wade frowned. “Talk. It's weird. I don’t know how to say it.” How to have this conversation when naked and bathing together? So very not thought through.
Adam regarded him for a moment before he smiled. “Say what your comfortable saying, at a pace you’re comfortable saying it. There’s no rush. I think we've got all day.”
Wade heard an implicit invitation beneath Adam’s words. He stood and pulled Adam flush against him. Adam couldn't have missed Wade's erection prodding at his belly. Any other time, Wade would’ve been embarrassed that he was already hard just from considering this, but he hadn't had time to think. His mouth on Adam’s showed what he wanted as much as his body ever could.
Adam melted against Wade, his arms circling Wade’s neck. Their bodies pressed together, and Wade could feel Adam’s growing interest as well. That was different. And welcome.
Reaching between them, Adam’s hand wrapped around Wade’s cock. The juxtaposition of Adam’s warm hand cutting through the cool water around his shaft was a shock, and he jerked out of the kiss. “Adam, wait.”
Adam didn’t move, didn’t release Wade, but he didn’t proceed further either. He waited patiently. “It’s okay. Tell me what you need.”
Wade swallowed and licked his lips. “I just need to go slow. You know?”
“I understand.” Adam released him and wrapped his arms around Wade again. “We can take this as slow as you want.”
His beating heart started to calm again. Wade slid his hands down over Adam’s body, smoothing over the swell of his hips and ass. Adam was firm and alive against him.
Looking around, Wade decided to take Adam to the edge of the pool where they could recline against the rock outcropping. In shallower water, there was no hiding Wade’s eagerness. He wasn’t sure what they could do. What they should do. He just knew he wanted to get very close to Adam.
Adam leaned back against the boulder, his lean legs rising to wrap around Wade’s hips.
Exposed and inviting and completely available for Wade to see and touch. Adam didn't need to vocalize consent. His willingness to proceed was all there in his body language and position.
Gulping down a deep calming breath, Wade felt driven crazy by Adam’s body splayed before him. “God, Adam, you have got to be the most incredible man I've ever met.”
“Don't you say that to all the guys on the island?” Adam laughed brightly. He stretched his arms up, hands over his head, showing off his trim body. Wade was almost out of his mind with need and desire. He ducked to latch his mouth over one hard nipple, coaxing at it with his tongue, wringing a moan from Adam.
Arms and legs remained wrapped around Wade as he teased with tongue and teeth until Adam arched, pushing his erection upward. “Wade, you’re driving me crazy so please don’t stop.”
Pleasure. Wade liked hearing that he brought Adam pleasure.
Adam didn’t want to stop.
Everything was fantastic because this was what they both wanted, right?
With Adam’s cock pressed against his chest, Wade finally turned his attention to it. He wrapped a hand around the slender shaft and pumped it. More moans. Adam writhed against the rock. He panted softly around Wade’s name, bucking and twisting beneath Wade’s attention.
The way Adam moved brought their hips flush and Wade’s cock slipped over Adam’s ass cheek. He froze, waiting for… something. For Adam to clench up. Or to tense up. Or to press his hands against Wade’s chest. Push him away.
None of which happened. Why should it?
Wade pushed his demons down. Adam wiggled his hips to brush against Wade, which ramped Wade’s desire up to crazy. Adam looked like he was enjoying it and Wade found great pleasure in the sight.
He thrust, slowly at first, finding that his shaft slipped blissfully against Adam’s ass cheeks. It provided enough stimulation to encourage him to move with more certainty. Soon thrusts matched his hand as he beat over Adam’s shaft.
“Oh, Wade, oh God,” Adam panted out. Beautifully desire-glazed eyes stared up at Wade. Adam’s perfect white teeth pulled along his bottom lip. “So perfect. Please don’t stop now.”
Wade certainly didn’t want to. He wanted to hear more. He wanted to see more.
He wanted it all.
He wanted Adam’s all.
Adam bucked hard up into his hand, hand slapping at the rock surface. His eyes squeezed shut, and with a final gasp, his rhythm faltered. His cock pulsed, shooting white strips along his stomach.
To watch and feel Adam brought pressure on Wade’s cock. He pressed a hand down on Adam’s lower abdomen to keep him in position until his orgasm swamped his senses. He came with a call wrapped around Adam’s name.
When he risked opening his eyes, Adam smiled up at him. Reaching with one arm around Adam’s waist, Wade lifted him up, encouraging him to wrap around and hold him.
Their hearts crashed together, slowly finding their resting rhythm again and Adam’s soft panting breaths once more grew long and measured.
“Amazing,” Adam whispered against Wade’s neck. “That was amazing.”
Wade agreed. He was isappointed when Adam’s legs slid down his body to eventually find their footing. Their embrace broke. Adam stepped back to wash off his stomach.
“Thank you,” Wade said, afraid his voice would break.
Adam’s head snapped around, and he cupped Wade’s face. “Thank you, Wade, for letting me close.” A pained look crossed Adam’s face when his hand dropped away.
Wade caught it and held on so Adam wouldn’t pull away. “Wait. What—”
“I just worry. About what this means.” Adam smoothed his fingers across Wade’s lips, combing through his beard. “About us. Or if it means anything at all.”
That was a good question. A kiss was easy to ignore. Something like this? They definitely needed to talk about it.
Wade’s heart thumped heavily. Did Adam think this was something to forget, like the kiss? That hurt Wade even to consider.
He wrapped his fingers around Adam’s wrist and pulled his hand to kiss at the center of his palm. “I don’t know what it means. But I do know that I want you. I have for a while. I wanted you just then, and even though we’re done, I still want you.”
Lifting his gaze, he looked deeply into Adam’s gaze, willing that the meaning and importance of his admission came through. “I want you, Adam. I don’t want to hold back. I don’t want to hold back from you.”
Adam’s expression relaxed, and he smiled, blinking slowly. Closing the distance, he pressed his mouth against Wade's in a gentle kiss. “I don’t want to hold back from you, either.”
Wade’s heart soared.