After lunch they hiked up the hills that ran along the cove. Walking up a winding path, they ended up among trees and then stood on the ridge and took in the view. They were there just in time to watch the light turn golden and the ocean change color as the sun set.
Back at the bungalow, they dressed for dinner. Bailey gazed at that huge bathtub and Matt noticed and put his arms around him from behind. "I'd offer to skip dinner, but I'm too hungry," Matt said.
"I wouldn't ask you to do that. It will have to wait," Bailey said as he leaned back against Matt. "It gives us something to look forward to."
Before dinner, they had cocktails in the resort lounge and Bailey barely took one step away from Matt when a guy started hitting on him, telling him, "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
He might have been right about that, but Bailey didn't want any guy saying that to Matt other than him. Then Matt told the guy, "I'm here with him and very happy about it." He put his arm around Bailey and grinned at him.
The guy said something about Bailey being a lucky dog and he couldn't dispute that either. He couldn't get all worked up aboutguys or anyone hitting on Matt though. It was bound to happen and he just had to handle it gracefully and not get jealous.
When it came to being jealous, Matt didn't restrain himself. A guy at the bar noticed Bailey and asked, "Are you here by yourself?"
Bailey was going to answer, but Matt jumped in. "No. He is not. We're together."
Bailey smiled at him. He liked hearing that, but on the way to dinner, he still asked, "Planning to work on that jealousy?"
"Sorry. I never had anyone to be jealous about. I just want to warn everyone off," Matt admitted.
Matt must not have gotten jealous over his ex, but Bailey wasn't about to bring him up or his own very lukewarm ex. He only wanted to enjoy Matt, even his jealousy.
Their dinner was delicious and Bailey could tell Matt loved every bite. "You were hungry," he said.
"Even if I wasn't, this is really good. You know how to treat a guy," Matt said.
"Every second of this is a treat for me," Bailey told him. He couldn't get enough of Matt, every look from him, every smile, every sound of satisfaction as he savored his food and later when they made love in the tub, splashing water everywhere.
Wet and dripping, Bailey was straddling Matt and kissing him. "I want to go everywhere with you," Bailey said.
"Fine by me," Matt said with a smile. "All I need is just to be with you. I love you."
Chapter 22
Warm muscular arms were wrapped around Bailey as his eyes started to open. Now he was looking into beautiful blue eyes and a smiling mouth he had to kiss. He loved waking up with Matt so much. He loved Matt, but he hadn't told him.
Bailey was going to do it right after Matt said it, but he didn't get a chance to. Last night Matt kissed him and then told him, "Don't say it back. Say it when you're ready. I don't want to push you."
Matt hadn't pushed him. Hearing those words from him was amazing. Every time he thought of that moment, Bailey got giddy. Matt deserved to hear that he was loved too, but Bailey wanted him to believe those words, to know they came from the heart.
So he didn't say it back and now it hurt to think that he didn't get the words out. He was a step behind and he needed to catch up, to share how he felt with Matt, to give himself to him heart and soul.
The resort had a pretty outdoor cafe with an ocean view, palm trees in pots and flowering vines climbing the trellises. They ate a breakfast of eggs with pancetta and avocado that Matt devoured. Being a good boyfriend, Bailey had to let him have some of his while he sipped his excellent coffee.
After that, they spend the day on the beach. They lounged on the sand when they weren't swimming as much and as far as they wanted. When they video-called with Joey, Bailey told him they were just lying around on the beach. He didn't approve.
"Lying around? Daddy, do something fun," Joey urged him.
"Being with Matt is all the fun I need," Bailey told him.
Leaning over his shoulder, Matt told Joey, "We don't know how to have fun without you, my guy. We're grown ups. You'll have to show us."
"I will," Joey promised. "Gwen and I are having fun. We know how."
After the call, Bailey did wonder, "Maybe we are being lazy. Do we need to do something more exciting?"
"Nah," Matt told him and pulled him down to lie in the sand. "I like being lazy with you. And there is that party on the pier tonight. We can make up for it, dance all night."
For dinner, Bailey was having poached salmon in a buttery, wine sauce and also plenty of wine. "I dance better after the right amount of wine," Bailey said to Matt who didn't exactly keep up with him.
