Too many thoughts to process.

I should have found a way to get out of that hike with Jesse, but I can’t deny that some part of me wanted to go there—to have a chance to be alone with him again. I can’t deny that I was hoping something would happen, and when it did, I felt the power of our connection swirling in my chest, this powerful energy pulsing and needing to break free. A potent force, something that seemed so tangible.

That ass was so fucking tight, and something about knowing Jesse had only recently started playing around with it turned me on even more.

As if my relationship with Ty isn’t shit enough without me putting everything on the line by playing with his friend’s prostate.

Goddamn me. Goddamn this whole fucking situation.

I sit in a bar not far from the condo, drinking a margarita on the rocks as quickly as I can. I need to feel at ease again, need for this burning desire within me to settle, but it won’t. It isn’t even just that I have the hots for Jesse. I feel protective of him now. He’s inexperienced. He’s vulnerable and open and eager.

It felt…like heaven.

Those words are all I keep hearing, over and over again.

He wants to feel good, and that’s all I want to do for him—all I want to give him.

It should be an amazing experience with someone who gives a shit about making sure it’s right for him, and I can give him that.

What the fuck am I thinking?

That’s not an option, but if it’s not an option, why are these thoughts all-consuming?

I finish my drink and start on round three.

I didn’t talk to Jesse any more before leaving the condo. I wasn’t worried he would say anything to Ty, but it was so fucking thoughtful of him to say that he would keep that between us. Like he just wanted to keep me from worrying about it.

Who the fuck is this kid? And how has he managed to fucking captivate me like this?

After I take another sip of my drink, I lick the salt off the rim and gaze out at the Malecón boardwalk, watching passersby as they enjoy their stroll beside the oceanfront.

Maybe I need to book the first flight I can get out of town so that I don’t have to worry about any of this bullshit. If I walk away now, everything will be fine…even though I know it won’t be. Even though I know I’ll be dwelling on what could have been with Jesse. But it’s better than making the biggest mistake of my life and destroying my relationship with my son.

After downing a shot of tequila for good measure, to help convince me that’s the right thing to do, I walk back to the condo. When I head inside, Jesse and Ty are chatting in the living area.

“I can’t fucking believe this!” Ty shouts at Jesse, turning to the bay window. He’s still in pajama bottoms, and his sandy-blond hair—a trait from his mother’s side—is a mess…like he’s been fucking with it while stressing about this issue he’s been handling with work.

At least, I hope that’s what he’s so frustrated about. There’s a part of me that wonders if Ty figured something out and confronted Jesse. Or if Jesse said something about what we did at the beach.

I remind myself that Jesse said he would keep it secret, but considering how angry Ty seems, there’s no telling what happened in the time I was gone.

It’s about work, I tell myself, but it doesn’t keep my fear from lingering in the back of my mind as I head into the living area.

“Everything all right?” I ask.

Jesse’s gaze meets mine, but I can’t read his expression, and that makes me even more nervous than I already am.

Ty whirls around, his jaw locked, his face bright red, like he’s been screaming at Jesse.

“Fuckin’ work shit,” Ty says through his teeth. “It’s this stupid project we’ve been working on for months, and we just learned that the data we’ve been using wasn’t updated after a major glitch in the system that happened three months ago.”

Holy shit. I feel like crap for even having second-guessed Jesse’s loyalty to his word.

“What are they doing about it?”

“That’s the issue. They won’t be able to resolve this without me. I mean, I’ve tried to walk Megan through it, but she’s not going to be able to work fast enough to get this done. I think I’m going to need to fly back home. At least for a few days to help them figure this shit out.”

My gaze instantly meets Jesse’s, and once again, I’m left wondering what he’s thinking.

Like our hike, it’s as though the universe conspired to make this moment happen. Like it’s giving me and Jesse every opportunity to do the very thing we shouldn’t.

Ty crosses his arms and shakes his head.

“There’s got to be a way that you can stay here,” I say, surely sounding less than sincere about my interest in him sticking around as a part of my mind wanders through scenarios of getting Jesse all to myself.

God, I’m a fucking monster.

“I mean, it’ll be easier if I’m there,” Ty says. “It’s a quick flight back home. I can hunker down… It might take me a few days, but I figure I’ll have time to be back and still be able to enjoy at least some of my vacay. I have points, so it won’t be a total bust.”

“Still…”

“Yeah, it sucks, but what are you gonna do?” he asks.

I nod, and even though I’m looking at Ty, I can feel Jesse’s gaze on me. I imagine him reflecting on what it was like when I had my fingers inside him, wanting to experience that once again. Although I wonder if part of that is my drunk brain fueling my desire.

“Anyway,” Ty says, “I need to check flights. See what I can get tomorrow.”

“If you need me to cover any expenses…”

Ty smirks. “I appreciate it, Eric, but I’m fine. Thank you, though.”

He wouldn’t be thanking me if he knew what his best friend and I were up to at the beach.

“I’ll order some takeout tonight,” Jesse says. “That way you can catch up on whatever you need to without having to stress.”

Why didn’t I think of that?

“Thank you, that’d be great,” Ty says before heading back into the master bedroom, leaving Jesse and me alone again.

Silence.

Awkward fucking silence.

We’ve had too much of that today.

I try to keep from looking at Jesse, but as usual, I can’t help myself, and he’s looking right at me, his gaze as hungry as it looked at the beach.

“Well, isn’t this an interesting turn of events?” he asks.

“For sure.”

I hear the master bedroom door open, and Ty steps out. “Oh, sorry, I got so busy, I never asked. How was the hike?”

We turn our attention to Ty at the same time, and I can feel myself blushing—fucking blushing like a kid getting caught doing something he shouldn’t.

“It was awesome,” Jesse says, and I can hear the sincerity in his tone.

He’s not just talking about the hike.

“Yeah. It was…much better than I expected,” I confess.

Ty glances between us curiously, like he’s on to the fact that neither of us was referring to a scenic walk. “Too bad I missed it. But maybe it was good that you got to spend some time together, considering you’re going to be all up in each other’s business for the next few days.” He winks. “Anyway, back to work.” He rolls his eyes before heading back into the bedroom.

“Yeah…” Jesse groans. “Gonna be an interesting few days without him.”

I nod. “For sure.”

I don’t give him more than that before I head into the guest bedroom. I strip down to my boxers and open my laptop. I’ll throw myself into work. There’s always something to do. Vanessa sent a bunch of tax shit over that I need to review for the accountant.

Work, yes. That’s always been my escape. Focus on success and my career to distract myself from the pain and uneasiness…those things that haunt me.

But I can’t focus on spreadsheets and files of news articles to keep me abreast of current events while my dick is stiff against my leg, urging me to release. I don’t want to because I know I won’t be able to jerk off without thinking of him.

After a couple more failed attempts at focusing, I rise from my desk and stretch out across the queen-size bed.

I pull down my trunk boxer briefs and stroke my cock. As I retrieve some lube from the nightstand, I’m not lying to myself, not pretending I want anything other than to have my cock buried in Jesse as I watch his expression. I want him to show me how much he’s enjoying me pleasing him, serving his needs—the way he did when I was massaging his prostate.

The idea of doing that with my cock instead of my fingers—oh, that feels so right…so delicious.

I jerk more vigorously as I imagine spilling my load inside him and watching him shoot his across that muscular body of his, the cum seeping into those ridges between his abs.

I want to make him come so badly.

I want to make him writhe in pleasure beneath me, to be the one to show him how amazing the experience can be.

The thought takes me over the edge, and soon I’m jizzing all over myself, muscles spasming, body twitching as I enjoy a fantasy where I can give Jesse exactly what he needs without having to worry about consequences or anything getting in our way.

It’s just us and this powerful, potent lust that lingers between us, that only grows stronger the more I’m around him, the more I get to know him.