“Your order, sir.”

Darius shifted in the lounger. “Put it on the table. Thanks.” He rustled something. “Here.”

Gray reluctantly opened his eyes and was met by a soda and a packet of Junior Mints.

It was the strangest sight, in a way. Soda and chocolate were something you ate at home. It was too ordinary.

“Ask me something. Anything you want about me,” Darius said. “You get five questions.”

That didn’t exactly make this any less weird, though Gray was catching on. Darius was doing this to make Gray comfortable. Possibly to make him forget where they were for a moment.

Gray cleared his throat and sat up a bit, supporting himself on his elbow so he could take a sip of his soda. The tall glass glistened from the condensation, and the orange-flavored bubbles fizzled and made his nose tickle. He hadn’t had a soda in months.

“Why do you call me knucklehead?” He figured he could start off lightly.

Darius chuckled under his breath and took a swig of the beer he’d ordered. “I guess it just came to me when I read through your social media and listened to what your brothers said about you when I met them.”

It was a little unnerving that he knew so much about Gray.

Don’t make the other four questions about yourself then, moron.

Gray drank some more from his soda and licked his lips. “Do you have a nickname? Can I call you Dare or something?”

It was funny how quickly Darius’s expression flattened. “You definitely can’t call me Dare. Ryan and Ethan used to call me that when we were kids. I always hated it.”

Gray was gonna end up calling him Dare. “Okay, I have a follow-up question since you didn’t really answer.” He pushed forward before there was any silly protesting. “Are you the eldest?”

The questioned sobered Darius, and he nodded slowly. “I am now. Jake was two years older.” That was the brother who’d died in Afghanistan. “Then it’s me. Ryan and I are Irish twins, meaning we’re less than a year apart. Ethan. Then Pop let our mother rest for a decade or so before Lias came along.”

“And then they adopted your sisters after that,” Gray finished, taking another swallow of his Fanta. It was so fucking delicious. He’d never appreciated the divinity of soda the way he should have before. “How old are you? By the way, that’s also a follow-up.”

Darius snorted but let it slide. Probably for the last time. “I’m forty-three.”

Hot. It was something Gray shared with his best friend. He and Abel had always been drawn to older men.

“Family status?” It was a broad question that would hopefully give lots of answers, Gray thought cleverly to himself. “That includes kids, partners, the whole shebang.”

Darius smirked, then wrapped his lips around the tip of the bottle. Gray watched his Adam’s apple work with each swallow, and it wasn’t distracting at all.

“Ahh…” Darius set the bottle on the table. There was some other stuff there too. A paper bag, a bowl of peanuts. “No kids, no wife. I have an on-again-off-again relationship with a woman who works at my brother’s gym in the Valley. But I reckon that’s over and done with since she’s ready for the wholesome family life.”

And for some reason, he couldn’t give her that…? Gray chewed on the inside of his cheek, debating what to ask next. There were several items he wanted to bring up that probably weren’t important in the grand scheme of things. Like, was Darius straighter than an arrow or slightly…bent? Was he on Viagra right now? Did it bother him to be so close to Gray?

No, he could ask for something more meaningful. “Tell me three things most people don’t know about you?” He leaned over Darius to set the empty glass on the table. The box of Junior Mints went there too. For now.

Darius hummed and coaxed Gray into his arms again. “Let’s see… My parents split their time between Camassia and San Francisco these days, and when they’re not home, I sometimes head over to finish Pop’s list of things to do. He’s forgetful, and Ma’s pretty fucking demanding.” He chuckled quietly and tilted his head toward the sky. “It just keeps the peace.”

“Oh, wow… Who knew you’d be a pacifist?” Gray teased.

Darius scoffed. “Fuck pacifists. Cowards, the lot of ’em. They can sit around and sing kumbaya while others get the job done. Personally, I’d like to see how a bunch of hippies would manage when there are no diplomatic solutions. I’d get popcorn too.”

That was almost a rant. Gray filed it away for later, ’cause at some point he wanted to dig. Cradled by the peaceful moment, he relaxed further and focused fully on Darius. He soaked up the raw beauty of Darius’s features, the intoxicating masculinity, and the little imperfections that each had their own story.

It couldn’t be safe to feel so comforted merely by someone’s presence.

“I keep killing plants.”

Gray’s forehead creased, and he waited for Darius to look away from the sky.

“Now that I’ve got my new house, I wanna grow my own food.” Maybe it’d been intended to be a light topic, but the more Darius spoke, the more bothered he became. “It shouldn’t be that fucking hard to grow some tomatoes, but I managed to kill my last baby plant before I headed out to find you.”

Gray stifled his grin and placed a hand on Darius’s chest. “Baby plant? Are you referring to them as your children?”

He huffed in reply. “Get real, kid. No. I’m saying it wasn’t old. It’d just started sporting leaves.”

“Oh.” Gray did the math and couldn’t help but snicker. “Who grows vegetables in the winter? You’ll probably succeed better if you do it in the spring.”

“Why would that matter?” Darius frowned down at him. “You sow them indoors.”

“And at a certain age, they gotta be transplanted to the outdoors,” Gray replied with an easy smile. “My mom does this every year—around March, I think.”

“Huh. Did not know that.”

Gray let out a soft laugh and stretched out. The day was catching up with him, and he yawned. A salty wind breezed through, causing a shiver to run down his spine. It was the first time the Caribbean weather felt chilly.

Darius noticed and turned toward him. “They should come up here soon, unless they’re doing a more thorough search.”

“What if they haven’t come up before Jonas gets sent to the cabin?”

“I’ll think of something.” Darius closed the last little distance so their bodies were aligned. “It’s gonna be a long night no matter what. I have to meet up with Valerie too.”

Gray made a face as he got comfortable, using Darius’s bicep as his pillow. “What’s the point of this stupid tour she’s gonna give you?”

“Depends who you ask. She’ll probably try to get laid. I want access to their surveillance system.”

Gray cleared his throat and drew a finger aimlessly over Darius’s pec. “I see.” He didn’t wanna talk about it anymore. He hadn’t asked his five questions yet anyway, and that was more important. Also, didn’t Darius have another random fact to confess?

A quiet chuckle rumbled from Darius, and Gray withdrew his hand and scowled, knowing he’d been caught. Been caught with what, he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t fucking jealous. That was irrational and insane and impossible.

Maybe he was afraid. And just a bit territorial? Which wasn’t weird, he hoped. Darius was his way home.

“Look at me, knucklehead.” It was as if Darius knew Gray would do no such thing, ’cause he had to hook two fingers under Gray’s chin and lift his head. There was understanding and something burning hot swimming in Darius’s eyes. “I get it. I know what this kind of trauma does to your mind. It’s normal for a victim to latch on to the closest safe place.” He carefully cupped Gray’s jaw and pressed his lips to the corner of Gray’s mouth. “You okay with this?”

Gray had stopped breathing and couldn’t respond verbally, so he only nodded. He was more than okay with this. As their lips touched, something ignited in Gray. For a moment, he wanted to be normal. He wanted to pretend this wasn’t an act, and he wanted to pretend he wasn’t here.

“No one’s watching, though,” Gray whispered. “I don’t think those at the table give a damn.”

“Good,” Darius whispered back. “Then this part’s just for us.”

It made no sense; he made no sense, but Gray let it go and deepened the kiss. He teased the seam of Darius’s mouth with the tip of his tongue, and he breathed in the heady scent of the man’s cologne.

It only got more intense when their tongues met, and the heat consumed Gray quickly. He wasn’t here on this yacht. He wasn’t someone’s property. He was somewhere else, where he had a choice, where his will was free, and he was making out with the sexiest man he’d seen.

There was nothing practiced or mechanical about this kiss. Darius was going all in, and it didn’t take long before Gray found himself underneath him. The back of the lounger was lowered without the kiss ever breaking. Gray sucked in a breath and exhaled around a groan. His hands roamed Darius’s back, his solid thighs, and up his incredible arms.

Desire shot through him at the feel of Darius’s cock against his own. It was less of a surprise that Gray was getting hard, but Darius… Unless he’d taken a magic blue pill in the past three or four hours… Or he was fantasizing heavily about women right now. Did that even work?

Gray didn’t care. Not right now. The bad memories were getting fuzzier and easier to push aside.

Swirling his tongue around Darius’s, Gray slipped a hand between their bodies and felt around Darius’s cock. Oh God. A full body shudder rocked Gray. He’d always loved the feel of a thick cock growing harder and harder. He made quick work of Darius’s pants and pushed them down his hips.

“Jesus fuck.” Darius drew a sharp breath and gripped Gray’s jaw. Their foreheads touched, and the sheer hunger in Darius’s eyes—

“Mr. B—oh. Ah… Sorry, sir, but we have to search—”

“Goddammit!” Darius growled furiously. “Can a man get some privacy around here?” In a second, he went from looking like he wanted to devour Gray, to wanting to fucking murder the two guards who now stood a couple loungers away.

Gray hid and reveled in the protection of Darius’s body, and maybe he’d gone too far. He was too ravaged by need, so he kept kissing every inch of skin he could reach. Darius’s neck, where he smelled fucking amazing, his shoulder, where Gray sank his teeth into the muscle and sucked at the flesh.

One of the guards got flustered, judging by the tremor in his voice, and Gray easily tuned the fucker out. ’Cause at the same time, Darius gave Gray a quick, drugging kiss and told him to get on his stomach.

Fuck yes.

We’re not here. We’re somewhere else. Just you and me.

As soon as Darius sat back on his heels, Gray stretched like a cat and rolled over, all too happy to shimmy out of his underwear. You want it, so it’s okay. It’s okay. You have a choice. He gasped as Darius’s warm body covered him, his scruff tickling his neck.

“They’re leaving,” Darius whispered.

Gray grunted something and blinked through the haze. The two guards were by the table now, paying them no mind.

“I want it…” Even to Gray’s ears, his plea sounded desperate.

Darius chuckled huskily. “Cocktease,” he accused under his breath. Reaching over to the table, he turned the little paper bag upside down, and a bottle of lube tumbled out.

“Oh yeah,” Gray exhaled. He rubbed his butt against Darius’s crotch. “You gonna give me that big, beautiful cock now?”

Darius coughed. “What the—the mouth on you, boy.”

Oh, whatever. Gray felt more like himself than he had in months. Could he have these minutes before they returned—stop it. Not going there. They had this moment.

He waited somewhat patiently while Darius lubed up his dick, and Gray squirmed every time he came in contact with the wetness. His own cock strained, trapped against the thin cushion.

We’re not here. We’re somewhere else. Just you and me.

He shivered and gusted out a long breath when he finally felt Darius between his legs. His long, thick, hard cock glided along Gray’s ass cheeks, slowly pressing between.

“Stop teasing, Darius.” Gray groaned and wriggled against the cock he wanted buried balls deep inside of him. “Please.”

“I’m not the one doing the teasing here.” Darius grazed his teeth along Gray’s neck. “One of us has gotta have some self-restraint, so—fuck—so quit it. You have a fuckable little ass, knucklehead. If you keep moving like that, I won’t be able to keep it at pretending.”

Pretending? No…fuck pretending! Gray made a frustrated sound and shoved back firmly enough to make Darius ease off. Then he turned onto his back again and pulled Darius down on him for a hard kiss.

“If you want my ass, it’s yours. I’m—” begging you. He froze for a millisecond. Kissing Darius, tasting him on his tongue, helped him relax once more. Okay, so he couldn’t beg. The notion was all but revolting, but he did want it. He wanted Darius so fucking much.

He could make Gray forget.

“Fuck me,” he whispered against Darius’s lips. “The only thing I wanna pretend is that we’re not here. We’re somewhere else.”

Understanding dawned in Darius’s severe gaze. They were so close, noses almost touching, breaths mingling, bodies flush. Gray could see the concerns Darius had. The extent of Gray’s abuse these months, if there were any triggers, if this would cause more harm…but sometimes a quick fix was needed.

“Somewhere else.” Darius’s quiet echo of Gray’s request settled it, and they’d run out of things to say. Their next kiss was slow and simmering with promise. It sent a heat wave through Gray, who melted underneath Darius.

Possibly not entirely convinced yet, Darius moved forward at a pace that should have been outlawed. He teased Gray’s ass with his fingers, then the head of his cock, for half an eternity, until Gray couldn’t help but puff out a breath and grin and ask if this was his first time.

Darius chuckled into a kiss. “Shut the fuck up, I’m tryna be a gentleman here.”

“Well, it’s not my first time…” Gray dug his heels into Darius’s ass. “By the way, I’m shit out of luck if I’m supposed to look like I don’t want this.”

“We’ve done enough to secure our cover.”

“That’s gotta be the unsexiest way ever to tell someone you’re wearing a condom…which you’re not.” Gray smiled to show he was kidding. And that it was literally the least of his worries.

“You really need to be quiet now.” Darius knew exactly how to silence him too. He pushed forward in one long, slow thrust and buried himself.

Gray hauled in a breath and screwed his eyes shut. He clung to the fiery sensations, although he realized now Darius had been going slow for a goddamn reason. Holy fuck, he stretched him good.

“Christ,” Darius hissed through clenched teeth.

“Mother of monster cocks,” Gray gasped, shifting carefully to get another spark of delicious pain bolting through him. “Keep g-going.”

Darius smirked against Gray’s jaw, out of breath, and started moving unhurriedly. “You’re something else, knucklehead. Are you okay?”

Gray nodded, slipping a hand between them to stroke himself. “As long as you don’t stop.”

There definitely wasn’t any stopping. They found a rhythm, a seductive push and pull that finally swept Gray away from everything else. Darius had the most sensual moves, and he seemed to have a big appetite for Gray.

“Tell me where we are, Gray.” Darius hooked his arm under Gray’s leg and drove in deep.

Gray inhaled sharply and threw his head back, ripples of burning pleasure coursing through him. He blinked at the sky and thought he was seeing things at first. But the black canvas of the sky really was filled with stars. Millions and millions of glittering dots.

“Somewhere else,” he whispered, pressing his lips to Darius’s shoulder. “Holy fuck, that feels good. Again.”

But Darius had something else in mind. They changed positions so Gray could be on top, and he sank down on Darius’s cock with a breathy moan. Instantly, Darius’s hands were all over Gray. In rough, greedy strokes, he manipulated Gray’s flesh and kissed him just as hungrily.

There was laughter… Red’s here. She’s at the table with the others… Gray shook his head and silenced the background noise. Then he cupped Darius’s jaw and threw himself into a passionate kiss. We’re not here. We’re somewhere else. Just you and me. He rolled his hips and took Darius’s cock deep inside his ass, he sucked on Darius’s bottom lip and traced the texture with the tip of his tongue, he felt the coarse rasp of Darius’s scruff under his fingertips.

“You feel fucking incredible.” Darius ran his hands down Gray’s chest, up and down his thighs, and moved closer to his cock. “Use my hand.” He circled his fingers around the base of Gray’s dick and stroked upward until he could swipe his thumb over the wet tip.

Gray shuddered and wrapped his hands around Darius’s, and he got completely lost. He took Darius deep on every shift of his body but kept it slow in an attempt to draw it out. He didn’t want the moment to end. The kisses made everything foggy, and Darius’s hands on him made him feel so fucking desired.

“I don’t wanna be close already,” he panted. He could feel it, all the sensations dropping lower and growing more powerful.

“I shouldn’t be close already…” Darius was out of breath too, though it didn’t stop him from ravaging Gray in another deep kiss. Breathing was overrated anyway, and Gray let himself be swept away by the euphoria.

He cupped Darius’s cheeks, their tongues and breaths mingling, and rolled his hips hard to meet every thrust. Knowing that Darius was almost there pushed Gray closer to the brink.

“Come,” Gray whispered. “I wanna feel you.”

Darius groaned into the kiss, and his thighs tensed up. “Jesus Christ, Gray…” He circled his free arm around Gray and pulled him down on his cock, simultaneously stroking Gray off faster.

It was the urgency in the air that sent Gray flying. Darius’s erratic breathing, his gritty curse, how his muscles flexed. The second Darius went under and started coming, Gray was surrendering too. The orgasm pummeled through him like the sweetest fucking relief.

We’re not here. We’re somewhere else. Just you and me.

.