“I’m glad,” I say softly.
He starts to walk away, but stumbles awkwardly in the sand. I grab his hand to steady him before he takes a tumble, and he falls into me. I put my hands on his hips, and for a long moment we rest against each other. His body is warm and a wonderfully familiar weight against mine. It’s as if the gods recalibrated the sharps and angles of my body five years ago so it would fit against him, so I would know him in the dark.
“Reuben,” he says huskily, and before I can stop myself, I reach up and take his glasses off. His eyes are very blue in the light, the colour of the ocean behind us. His lids fall closed, and he sways into me.
It’s too much, and I don’t hesitate. There isn’t a single thought in my head but kissing him. I drop his sunglasses, cup his face, and pull him even closer, taking his lips with mine. Passion immediately roars through me to him as if someone took a flame to paper.
His mouth opens under mine, and he gives a throaty groan that seems to reverberate in my balls. I can’t get close enough, and I lower my hands, cupping his arse and pulling him impossibly closer.
I’m aware of his hands fumbling between us, his fingers finding my jeans’ zipper and lowering it. As I take a small step back to give him space, wild for his touch, a weight hits us, and we tumble into the sand.
“Motherfucker,” he hisses as Bernard jumps around us barking frantically, obviously thinking this is a tremendous game.
“Ouch,” I say plaintively as Xavier’s elbow hits me in the throat.
“Sorry.” The word quakes with repressed mirth.
I wave a hand. “Oh, go ahead. You’ll burst otherwise.”
My mouth twitches as he starts to laugh. He’s half lying on me, and the bloody dog is still dancing around us, barking and intermittently darting in to lick our faces.
“Fucking hell. He’s like a battering ram with saliva,” I groan.
“He just wanted a cuddle.” He laughs harder as I grimace. Finally, he calms and comes down over me, supporting himself on his raised arms. “Hello.”
I can’t help my smile. It must look completely besotted. “Hello, you.”
“So, I can’t help but notice that sex might be back on the table. Tell me, Reuben. Has your willpower always been this bad?”
“Oh, shut up. You know it’s always been non-existent around you.”
He laughs again, and I push the jackass off me and climb to my feet. I step forward and there’s a sudden ominous crunching sound. I look down and groan. His sunglasses are now in pieces. “Sorry,” I say.
He bites his lip. “Oh dear. They wereveryexpensive.”
I roll my eyes. “They were free. Ask them to send you another pair, Influencer Boy. I’ll warn the postman to prepare for more deliveries. He’s already muttering about hernias.”
He rolls to his back, laughing helplessly, and my breath catches at the pretty picture he makes in the sand, his golden hair every which way. I offer him my hand and pull him up.
“I’m so glad I amuse you.”
His hand is warm, the skin soft as silk against my own rougher skin. He looks up. Those mercurial eyes of his are so blue and bold. The silence drifts. It seems so full of possibilitiesthat it makes me dizzy. I shouldn’t hope, but I can’t help it. This feels so right.
He gives me a crooked smile but doesn’t say anything. As he begins walking again, I start to let go of his hand, but he tightens his grip, keeping our fingers pressed firmly together. “Do you mind?” he asks, lifting our joined hands.
“I—” I clear my throat. “I willnevermind that.”
He nods, and we walk silently along the beach. I don’t think I’ve ever held hands with him before, and the thought fills me with sadness. This closeness and quiet is the best thing I’ve ever felt, but it might never have happened. Tears prickle my eyelids, and I’m glad of the cover of my sunglasses. He could have died in that hotel where Robbie took him. Instead, he’s here beside me, healthy and so full of life and mischief. I don’t believe in any gods, but I send a fervent message out to the universe.Thank you.
Eventually, we reach the end of the beach, and we pause. “We can swim here,” I say, reluctant to break the moment.
He turns to me. His eyes are bright and bold and full of his usual mischief. “So, we’re getting naked? This day is full of surprises.”
“Is it really?”
He watches me steadily for a moment, and then his mouth tilts in a crooked smile. “No. Don’t we always end up here?”
“Not like this?” I say tentatively, glancing down at our joined hands. I hold my breath and then relax when he slowly shakes his head.
