Tahiti was a dream. A wonderful, too good to be true dream that starred Cole Mallory, suave fake boyfriend of the geeky, and suddenly slightly tipsy, Rhett. The sight of the one bed in the room made Rhett’s head spin. Okay, so maybe a little of the spinning his head was doing was related to the beer he drank at dinner.

“It’s just a bed, Rhett.” Cole spoke quietly, as if afraid of spooking him.

Too late. Rhett took a deep breath. “It’s a lot bigger than my bed at home.”

“I know.”

Cole’s words reminded Rhett of how it had felt to have him in his room, sitting on his bed. He’d felt exposed, but not in a bad way. He felt much the same way now. Like Cole had the ability to look at him and actually see him, and the spark of interest Rhett pretended he saw in Cole’s eyes sometimes fueled his desire to let Cole in, to open himself up. Something about Cole made him feel safe and it was that feeling he clung to now, just as tightly as he held Cole’s hand.

“I’m going to get ready for bed.” He finally dropped Cole’s hand, rummaged through his suitcase for his bag of toiletries, and slipped into the bathroom. He could scarcely breathe through the tightness in his chest. It felt dangerously domestic, this dream vacation. Eating on the beach. Playing in the surf, feeling Cole’s gaze on him the whole time. Dinner. Being saved from the crab, and now Cole stood in the next room while Rhett took a piss and brushed his teeth.

Cole had always been Ryan’s friend. One of the guys. Ryan talked endlessly about the things they did and the fun they had, and Rhett had never been jealous. He had his own life and his own friends, and he wouldn’t trade Penny for anything. He didn’t feel jealous now, but just a new kind of warmth inside. He had these new memories with Cole, memories that were his and Cole’s alone. It sounded stupid, even to himself, but he didn’t want to tell anyone about them; he feared they’d seem less magical if he spoke about them.

A knock on the door jarred him out of his thoughts. “You okay in there?”

“Yeah, be right out.” Rhett laughed and finished brushing his teeth. He left his bag of toiletries on the counter and exited the bathroom. “I didn’t mean to take so long, I guess I zoned out.”

“More tired than you thought?”

“Something like that.” Rhett smiled and was thankful that Cole couldn’t hear the way his heart raced or feel the dampness of his palms. “I’m going to turn in.” Rhett’s gaze slid over to the bed.

“I could sleep on the floor. Or in the chair. I can’t believe this room didn’t come with a couch.”

“Cole, no. It’s fine. We’re adults. We can share a bed.”

“Okay.” Cole smiled at him. “I’ll be right out.”

Once he disappeared into the bathroom, Rhett stripped his clothing off and tucked himself into bed. He normally slept naked, but tonight he decided that it would be a good idea to leave his boxer briefs on. He lay on his side, facing the ocean, and hoped that he’d miraculously fall asleep before Cole joined him.

Rhett quickly discovered that sleeping would be impossible if he didn’t get his heart rate down. With every second that ticked by, he felt more awake. The knowledge that he was about to sleep next to Cole had breathed a second wind into him.

The bathroom door opened and a moment later the other side of the bed dipped down as Cole climbed under the covers.

Then…

Nothing.

Rhett inhaled, closing his eyes, imagining that he could smell Cole’s toothpaste, the salt on his skin, and the clinging aroma of Tahitian beer.

“Rhett?” Cole’s voice was scratchy and far too intimate. It felt like a caress in the dark hotel room. A moment Rhett stole and called his own, tucking it away with all the other things he’d never tell anyone.

“Yeah?” He answered back.

“If you don’t stop being awkward about this, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“I’m not awkward.” The bed moved a little and Rhett had the distinct impression that he was being watched.

“Then why are you clinging to the edge of the bed?”

Rhett rolled onto his back and looked at Cole, who was far too handsome in the dim light. “Sorry. I’ll try to curb myself.”

“Please do. It would mean a lot if you could save it for the next time we’re out and you’re attacked by a gang of errant street crabs.”

Rhett felt himself blush all over again. “Are you gonna make this a thing? It could have been anything.”

“But it wasn’t. It was dinner. You were scared by lunch on legs.” Cole laughed, his tone affectionate.

They dissolved into laughter and Rhett discovered that the weirdness was gone. In its place was a comfortable silence, filled only with friendship. He supposed it wasn’t a bad thing, to enjoy spending time with his fake boyfriend. Rhett snuggled down into the covers, wiggling a little to find the perfect position. He cracked an eye open and found Cole looking at him.

“Good night, Cole.”

“Good night, Rhett.”

Sleeping with the curtains open meant Rhett was up with the sun. He watched his first foreign sunrise snuggled in bed, trying to deny that he’d wanted to wake up in Cole’s arms and not just in the sheets. It would’ve been an accident, and maybe it would have made things even more awkward, but it had been a while since he’d had the chance to cuddle with someone. Rhett wasn’t sure exactly what the dynamics of their fake relationship would be, but he hoped to one day negotiate cuddle time. He didn’t think Cole would be opposed to the idea.

“Good morning.” Rhett heard Cole mumble behind him and the bed shifted around. “What do you want to do today? It’s our only day of freedom before the wedding stuff happens.”

Rhett rolled over, abandoning the view of the sunrise to look at Cole, who happened to be gorgeous, all sleepy-eyed and messy-haired. “I don’t know. You’re the expert. What do you suggest we do?”

Cole yawned and stretched, and Rhett did his best to not ogle his bare chest. “We could take a boat to a private island. We could go horseback riding. We could swim with the sharks.”

Rhett squeaked. “Definitely not.”

Cole grinned, wide and beautiful, the corners of his eyes crinkled. “I’d keep you safe, you little fraidy-cat.”

“You can keep me safe by not taking me to swim with sharks. That sounds like the least safe thing we could do together.” Okay, the second least safe thing, Rhett thought, hoping Cole would get out of bed first and give him time to tame his raging hard-on. It wasn’t a normal morning erection; it was one fueled by Cole’s sleepy face and the fantasy of doing nothing all day but lying in bed with him, just like this.

“Okay, no sharks.” Cole flung the covers back and climbed out of bed, stretching his arms above his head as he yawned. “I’ll grab a shower. Did you want to get room service or go somewhere to eat?”

Eating in the room sounded far too intimate for Rhett and the runaway fantasies in his head. “Is anything open right now?”

“Something’s always open,” he replied as he rummaged in his suitcase. “Out in a few.”

Rhett lay in bed while Cole showered, contemplating breakfast, and trying not to think of a very naked Cole in the next room, water cascading down his body and soap sliding down his skin. Rhett climbed out of bed and pressed his hand down against his erection, willing it to deflate. Sharing a bed with Cole had been as bad of an idea as he thought it would be.

When Rhett heard the bathroom door open, he hurriedly grabbed a change of clothes. “I won’t be long,” he told Cole as their paths crossed.

“Take your time.”

Rhett shut the bathroom door and tossed his clothes on the counter before padding over to the shower. He turned it on and adjusted the spray before stripping out of his underwear and stepping under the water.

He contemplated turning the cold water on and taking care of his problem a different way, but Cole was under his skin now. Even alone in the bathroom, it was as if he could feel Cole’s presence twining around him, becoming part of him.

Rhett wrapped his hand around his cock and bit back a groan. He flattened his other hand against the tile and closed his eyes. Water alone proved to be a little rough against his skin, so he stopped long enough to use some body wash to slick his movements.

He at least tried to think of anything besides Cole, but it felt wrong to think of anyone else when the person he really wanted, but shouldn’t, stood in the next room waiting for him. So Rhett let himself think of Cole and the way their hands felt so perfect together; the way he’d touched Rhett’s cheek, or bumped his shoulder. Each memory stole Rhett’s breath and soon he was biting back a moan as his orgasm slammed into him, leaving his legs shaky.

He finished his shower and hoped that one orgasm would be enough to keep his suddenly revived sex drive at bay until he could be alone again.

Then he left the bathroom and knew he was doomed. Cole tucked his wallet into his back pocket and held his hand out for Rhett to take. “Ready?”

“For anything except sharks,” Rhett replied, taking Cole’s hand, blushing a little when he remembered what he’d just used that hand for.

“You’re smiling,” Cole remarked with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course I am. I’m in Tahiti.” Rhett hoped Cole wouldn’t press and was thankful when he smiled, as if he somehow knew, but chose not to say anything.