AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But when Connor thought of a Valentine’s weekend at the Doe Bay resort, he decided that would be a lovely setting for them to—at last—become intimate. It was a big step. He hadn’t been with another man since Steve had left. He’d been a faithful partner to Steve throughout the course of their nearly twenty-year relationship.
Why, he was practically a virgin again!
“Anyway, I thought we might escape up there for a long weekend and to celebrate Valentine’s. Would you be free? Game?”
Trey had needed no time to ponder. “Yes, yes, of course. It sounds wonderful.”
“You’ll be blown away by the island. Just getting there is crazy gorgeous. But when we do, I’ll take you to Moran State Park, and we can go up to the top of Mount Constitution. The views up there, of the Salish Sea, Mount Baker, and more are indescribable, even for someone like me for whom words are his living.”
“Sold,” Trey said quietly. He’d covered Connor’s hand with his own.
Connor felt giddy. “I’ll make all the arrangements. And it was my idea, so my treat.” He held up a hand. “No arguments.”
“Okay, okay.”
And now, here they were in a cozy little one-bedroom cabin that looked out on a meadow bordered by towering pines. There was even a peek-a-boo glimpse of the blue waters of the bay. The cabin, wood-paneled and rustic, had everything they needed.
And now, here they were, drowsy lovers (officially) waking in each other’s arms.
Connor snuggled close to Trey, gently, so as not to wake him. Morning sun, diffuse, poured in through the partially open blinds.
Trey had been considerate, going slow at first, when Connor was uncertain, and yes, even a little irrationally guilty. The thought that he was being unfaithful to Steve was there in the back of his mind, even though he knew there was no reason for him to feel ashamed or guilty, certainly not that he was cheating. But sometimes, it takes our hearts a while to catch up to our heads.
But after the kissing and stroking ignited and then stoked their desires, thoughts of Steve faded and then vanished into the background. Their libidos took over. Connor hadn’t realized how starved he’d been for this, and he smiled now at the thought of just how he’d gone from nervous and reserved to wanton and nearly out of control in a matter of a few minutes and a few well-placed touches and licks.
The room smelled of semen and the lemon verbena candle they’d lit. The sheets cocooning them were warm and slightly damp from their sweat. In his mind’s eye, Connor visualized their shadows, flickering, on the wall opposite the bed, charting the course of their desire.
He’d forgotten just how wonderful lovemaking could be, how completely and utterly it could take over one’s body and soul. Sweet oblivion.
By the time dawn seeped into the room and they passed into an undeniable weariness and welcome slumber, Connor knew he’d fallen in love with this man, a fact he thought wouldn’t be possible for him when Steve had left him. At that time, he was resigned to making his best life—alone.
He was glad they’d waited.
The only thing he wasn’t glad about was Miranda. She’d tried after their second date to convince him again Trey was all wrong—that there was something “off” about him. Yet when pressed, she could offer no evidence supporting her claims other than her intuition. At times, Connor felt she was holding something back, but he couldn’t imagine what.
She’d withdrawn from him. He tried not to take it personally and attempted to believe her when she claimed it wasn’t personal. She was working feverishly to finish up her novel before the end of the term.
The fact that he and Trey had continued dating seemed to annoy her. This made him sad. But at the same time, he couldn’t let his own child ruin his chances for love. If the tables were turned, he’d expect her to stick to her guns if she found someone to love that Connor was less than crazy about. Only we, ourselves, can decide whom we will or will not love, no matter how much or how little sense it makes to anyone else.
He knew he and his daughter had work to do to bring their relationship back to what it was before Trey arrived on the scene.
But thoughts like these were for later. Right now, from the sound of Trey’s breathing, he knew he was climbing out of the warm embrace of slumber.
And Connor had other embraces to welcome him back to the waking world.
THEY ATE Asimple dinner in the cabin. They could have gone to Doe Bay’s excellent and quaint restaurant, with its stunning views of the bay, but Trey insisted they stay in. It was a good idea, especially since a soft but steady rain had begun that afternoon.
Now, with darkness pressing against the rain-smeared windows, and the patter of drops on the roof, Connor felt like he was sheltered with Trey. They were the only people in the world.
Their empty plates and glasses had been shoved to one side as they gazed across the table, wordless, at one another. Connor always believed the best relationships were defined by their silences. If you could be comfortably quiet with someone, that was a very good sign.
Connor and Trey had stopped at Whole Foods before making the trek north and had bought the ingredients for tonight’s dinner—simple. There were halibut filets, poached in white wine, roasted potatoes, carrots, and turnips, spiked with garlic, a good loaf of French bread with Irish sweet-cream butter, and a salad of arugula and lemon.
For a while, they sipped their wine in companionable silence. Every now and then, Connor would look across the table at Trey, and their gazes would lock. To Connor, it seemed so much passed between them in those simple glances, stuff mere words couldn’t begin to approach—hope, desire, affection, love.
It was this last emotion that caused Connor to set down his glass and draw in a deep breath.
It was time.
