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“It’s not that I don’t like it—it’s just not a singing voice, Avery.”
“It’s not?” Avery tucked on his lower lip. Ethan knew exactly what game he was playing right now; to Avery foreplay started as soon as he woke in the morning, making Ethan just about to burst when he could finally punish that provocative, bratty mouth at night. “But didn’t I sing good for you last night, Eth? Didn’t you like it then?” Avery’s brows furrowed as he slid his sun-kissed arms around Ethan’s neck and leaned in against his ear.
Ethan was painfully aware that they were far from alone in the parking lot. Families were getting ready to head out for the day and some were looking in their direction. Avery teasingly nibbled on Ethan’s earlobe as he continued.
“Don’t you even like it just a teeny, tiny little bit when I sing to you, Eth?” His voice was deep now, dripping with pent-up lust and neediness. “I thought you loved it. Especially the final verse.”
Shuffling his feet on the pine needle covered ground, Ethan hardened behind his zipper, sweat building at the back of his neck.
“Avery…”
“What about the last part?” Avery moaned, nearly humping Ethan’s thigh. “Didn’t you like that either?”
“The last part?” Ethan swallowed, saliva pooling in his mouth.
“Yeah.”
“Uhmm…”
“You forgot?”
“Avery…”
“Harder, deeper, faster,”Avery sing-song-moaned seductively, unclenching his hands from Ethan’s sweaty neck, winking tauntingly, before he headed towards the passenger side of the car. “C’mon, let’s go!” He grinned adorably. “Time for breakfast, handsome!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Matty – Now
“THERE YOU AREkid,” Will smiled at him as soon as Matty hurried into the hallway of the small cottage. It was extremely windy today and none of the boats had been able to head out. Matty shook off the excess water from his coveralls and removed his wet boots before entering the kitchen. The familiar smell of coffee, apple pie and laundry detergent hit his nostrils and his pulse instantly lowered again. It still smelled like home even though Matty hadn’t lived here for the past four months.
“Hey Will...” Matty sat down in front of the man who’d changed his life almost three years ago. Who’d taken him in no questions asked without so much as wanting anything in return. Sure, Matty still worked on Will’s boat two days a week. The rest of the week, he went out with Austin on their own boat.
My own boat. Stella.Austin had agreed that it was astellarname for a boat after Matty had caved. They’d bought the boat together. Will had lent Matty the money he couldn’t come up with himself. They’d gotten a sweet deal anyway since Mr. Potter was retiring and his two sons, who both lived in the city, one in Boston and one in Salt Lake, had no interest in taking over the boat and the family business.
Even though he no longer lived in the small cottage, Matty felt more at home with Will and Millie than he’d ever done in his childhood home in Eden. It had come to symbolize a place of safety and kindness to him. A place where he didn’t have to fear his father’s wrath or witness his mother’s quiet resignation. A place where he could simply be. He figured that’s why it had felt natural to him to stop by today. Matty let out a resigned, drawn-out sigh.
“What’s up, son? You don’t usually come by on Tuesdays.” Will reached for the coffee pot and poured Matty a steaming hot cup of coffee before refilling his own mug.
“What? Can’t I come by and see you on Tuesdays now?” Matty snapped, and as soon as he’d spoken the words, he realized that his anger and frustration was misplaced. But he also knew that Will always listened when things got hard or if Matty didn’t know who else to talk to. He’d never imagined that a fifty-five-year-old lobsterman from Grant’s Harbor, Maine would become his best friend in the world. Well, second best friend.
You’re my best friend in the whole wide world, Matty.Ethan’s words echoed in his head.You’re still my best friend too, Ethan.He pushed the thoughts away and looked at Will, who returned his gaze patiently.
“Sorry,” Matty murmured into his coffee cup.
“No harm done, kid,” Will grinned, a world of affection reflected in his kind eyes. “Now, tell me what’s got your panties in a wad. Trouble in paradise already?”
Matty couldn’t help chuckling, almost forgetting that he was supposed to be mad. Leave it to Will to put a smile on his face within five minutes.
“Yeah… Something like that,” he shrugged, looking out of the kitchen window, gray clouds hanging low above the dunes.
“Yeah, Millie used to drive me crazy too when we first moved in together. All her girly stuff all over the place. Well, I guess you two young ones don’t have that kinda trouble. Anyway, it takes some getting used to, that’s for sure. You know, making room for someone else in your life suddenly. You’ll get there, the two of you. Austin’s a good man.” Will nodded as he reached for his coffee.
“I know he’s a good man, Will, but he drives me up the fucking wall sometimes!” He looked back at Will just in time to see the older man cringing.
“Language!” Will raised a gray eyebrow, a mock-stern look on his kind, weather-beaten face.
“Sorry, sir,” Matty mumbled, fidgeting with the lavender-colored tablecloth, which was Millie’s favorite. She liked the yellow one with the daisies, too, but not as much as the lavender which had been a birthday present from her late mother, Dorothy.
