Page 43 of See My Words

Minh fisted Rylan’s T-shirt and dragged it up, flicking the button of Rylan’s shorts open and sliding his zipper down to reach inside, the sound of barking dogs breaking into the haze of pleasure…

“Shit!” Minh suddenly exclaimed, rolling away from Rylan and sitting up, hugging his knees and hunching over. “People coming.”

“Fuck,” Scott grated, sitting up too. Rylan rolled to his back and lay there in a fog of interrupted arousal, his tented shorts hanging half-open, his chest heaving. Scott lunged to the side and snagged his wet T-shirt from the nearby branch, throwing the cold, clammy material over Rylan’s lap just as a group of hikers burst into view, their two dogs gamboling up to plunge into the creek and shake, spraying the three of them with yet more water.

“Well, there’s our cold shower,” Minh muttered, blowing out a breath, dropping his head down to his knees. Scott laughed, the husky sound doing nothing to calm Rylan’s aching erection.

Two gray-haired couples appeared next on the trail, athletic with tanned, weathered skin, all carrying well-used walking sticks.

“Hey, folks,” one of the women called, waving. “Gorgeous day for a hike!”

The three of them waved back, and before long, the other four were sprawled out next to them, drinking from canteens and munching on granola bars. They made small talk, laughing at the dogs’ antics, Minh even getting up to find a stick and play a rousing game of fetch with them.

Scott sat close to Rylan as they chatted, at one point sliding his arm around Rylan’s shoulders, stroking his thumb over Rylan’s upper arm. When Minh slipped and fell into the water yet again, he buried his face in Rylan’s hair in mock secondhand embarrassment, giving him a kiss on the cheek as he pulled back.

Rylan was enjoying the open display of affection, and he put his hand on Scott’s thigh, leaning against him. Unlike the old ladies at the rest stop, these two couples didn’t bat an eyelash, continuing to talk easily with them, recommending places to go and things to see in Sedona.

“Oh, that Mexican restaurant in Tlaquepaque is so romantic,” one of the women said. “If you go, be sure to get patio seating. The twinkly lights, the view of Bell Rock—just incredible.”

“If you’re celebrating an anniversary,” the other woman added, “or are on your honeymoon, the mariachi band will even come and serenade you.”

“You two celebrating anything special?” the first woman asked, her gaze open and friendly.

Scott shook his head. “Nope. Just enjoying spending some time together after a hectic couple of months. Thought I’d treat him to a weekend away.” He kissed Rylan again.

It turned out both couples had been married more than forty years, been friends with each other nearly as long, and every year took a big trip together.

“We’re leaving for New Zealand next week,” the second woman said. “Two weeks hiking, rafting, and eating.” She grinned. “We can’t wait!”

The four stood to take their leave, whistling for their dogs and calling their good-byes to Minh before turning to Scott and Rylan with wishes for a good weekend, tramping off deeper into the forest with exuberant waves.

“What nice people.”

Rylan turned his head to press a kiss to Scott’s shoulder. “They are.” He heaved a wistful sigh. “Don’t you want that someday? Exotic travel, lifelong friends…that would be amazing.”

Scott put gentle fingers under Rylan’s chin and tilted it up, giving him a kiss that was aching in its tenderness. “You deserve all that and more.”

He stood, pulling Rylan to his feet before leaning down to pick up his camera and hand it to him. Minh danced his way back over to them, giving Rylan a quick slap to the ass, informing them how hungry he was and demanding lunch before heading off down the trail in the direction of the trailhead parking lot.

Rylan started to follow, and Scott grabbed his arm to stop him. “What happened earlier, I swear I didn’t invite Minh along for…that. He’s pretty wild, if you haven’t already figured that out, and if you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable or think I expect—”

Rylan flashed him his best wicked smile. “Mmm. Well, after my last threesome, I felt like I was cleaning spunk out of my ears for a week.” He enjoyed Scott’s look of openmouthed shock, stretching up on tiptoe to give him a smack on the lips. “I’m not an innocent sixteen-year-old anymore, Scott,” he reminded him. “I’m an adult, and I love sex, in all its forms. If this weekend leads to that—” He shrugged. “—I for one intend to enjoy it to the fullest.”

Scott’s face suddenly took on a pinched look. “I should have been your first,” he burst out, clenching his fists at his sides. “I wanted to be. I intended to be. God, Rylan, I—”

Rylan took a step closer and put his hand on Scott’s shoulder. “I know. I wanted you to be, more than anything.”

Scott bit his lip, and Rylan cupped his cheek. “But it didn’t happen, and everything that did led us to this moment right here. We can dwell on the regrets of the past, or we can enjoy the present. I know what I’d rather do.”

“Start as we mean to go on,” Scott murmured, scrubbing the back of his hand over his eyes.

“It is what it is,” Rylan echoed back to him, and they gave each other watery smiles.

“Come on, bitches!” Minh’s whine echoed back through the trees. “I’m hungry!”

With a laugh, Scott reached out and twined his fingers with Rylan’s, and they ambled in Minh’s direction, their clasped hands swinging between them.

Chapter Seven