When both Max and Channing were thoroughly done and dusted, the pair of them collapsed onto the sand. The tide was on its way back in and would soon fill the cove with water.
But there was no immediate danger.
Max and Channing lay on the sand, naked and exposed, and let the sun’s rays hit their exhilarated, exhausted bodies.
‘That was thebest,’ Channing said, still panting. ‘I don’t think I could have had anything better if I’d dreamed it up myself.’
‘What about that group of strangers watching?’ Max said, playfully running his hands over Channing’s chest.
‘Maybe that would have been fun,’ Channing giggled. ‘But fantasies are one thing. The reality for me is that any time with you is pretty much all I’ve ever wanted. Sorry. I hope that’snot too intense or clingy or whatever. And if I was calling you Daddy, that was just the heat of the moment…’
Max paused.
He felt sad that Channing even felt the need to clarify his comments. It was true, in the past Max had been scared by any kind of thought of commitment. But that was then. Max had learned from spending this time with Channing that he might be evolving.
Commitment suddenly didn’t seem like such a scary word to Max.
And Max wanted Channing to know that too…
‘Nope. Not clingy or anything even remotely close,’ Max said, his voice warm and reassuring. ‘I want you to feel comfortable simply telling me how you feel. Good, bad, or whatever. I just want to hear it. And calling me Daddy ismorethan fine.’
‘Thank you,’ Channing said. ‘I could lie hereforever.’
‘Same,’ Max replied. ‘But those guys up there might have something to say about it…’
With that, Max pointed up toward the left corner of the cove.
In the distance and from a raised vantage point, a group of guys seemed to have spotted them.
‘Quick let’s change and then rock and roll out of here,’ Max said. ‘Those guys will have their phones out and we’ll be viral before you know it!
Max and Channing leapt to their feet and quickly sought cover underneath the cove’s craggy overhang. With their clothes safelyback on them, the two of them make quick work of the steps back up to the boulevard.
‘Phew, that was fun,’ Channing said, holding Max’s hand as the two of them began walking.
‘Which part?’ Max said, winking knowingly.
‘I’ll tell you later,’ Channing replied, a definite hint of mischief in his voice too.
Max was happy to see Channing so free and easy going. He could tell that Channing spent a lot of time focusing on his work, and that was a good thing as it gave Channing a real sense of purpose and passion in his life.
But Max knew how important fun was too.
And to know that he had helped to give Channing a truly fun, wild experience made Max feel very good about himself.
With it’s hyper-eco and ultra-healthy outlook, Los Frisco may not have been exactly Max’s idea of a fun place, but it turned out that being with Channing most certainly was fun – and hopefully that fun wasfarfrom over.
And maybe, just maybe, Max couldn’t help but think that he was ready to settle down and be the Daddy that Channing so clearly wanted more than anything else in the world.
Maybe I wasn’t always sure.
Maybe it was the fear of accepting who I am.
But I can’t hide from it… I’m one hundred percent Daddy and it’s time to act like it.
Chapter 9
CHANNING
