9. Noah

Noah

Chapter nine

Day 3 Cruise Itinerary: North Tavia 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Crystal-blue waves lap at the powdery white sand. My breath catches at the view. It doesn't matter how many times I visit North Tavia, I'm always captivated by the sparkling blue of the ocean, the fluffy white clouds in the sky, and the cawing seabirds overhead.

As soon as we dock and make it onto dry ground, most of the passengers divide up into their designated groups, while this is the one stop on the cruise I left open. North Tavia is better enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Rather than hear the guides talk about the history of the island, I like to explore it on my own terms.

"Hey there, stranger," Dylan says as he sidles up next to me, looking bright-eyed and alert, despite the early hour. His dark gray shorts hang off his narrow hips, and his navy blue T-shirt hugs his toned arms. His curls look almost golden in the sunlight. I lick my lips.

His flirty tone causes me to grin. "Stranger?"

A sexy twink with a skintight crop top checks out Dylan, and I'm tempted to claw his eyes out, until I see Dylan's gaze roaming my body as if I'm the one who's half naked. I'm wearing a light blue tank top and tan shorts.

Dylan's voice drops to a rumbly growl. "I wasn't sure how you felt about public declarations, but in all honesty I would rather have called you ‘boy.'"

I shiver. Fuck, what was it about that title that got me going? Although, I'm pretty sure Dylan calling me anything would have the same effect.

Ignoring the way his words make me feel, I change the subject. "Which group are you going with today?"

"I actually opted for a free day. Rowan was originally signed up for something, but it didn't sound like my thing. What about you?"

A smile spreads across my lips. "Free day. I love this portion of the island so much. I didn't want to be tied down to any commitments."

"Wait, you've been here before?"

I point to the sidewalk ahead and indicate that we should veer left, taking us away from the crowd of excited tourists. "Yeah, I've been here a couple times. With my brothers."

Something flickers across his face and Dylan frowns before quickly covering it up. "Alright then, are you going to play guide, and give me a private tour?"

I might need to ask him about that look he gave me, but I'll let it go for now. A giddy excitement fills my chest. I want to show him the island. Seeing North Tavia through Dylan's eyes sounds like an adventure in a romance novel, and what would it feel like to show him something that's so special to me?

"Sure, Daddy," I flirt. "I can show you around."

That earlier frown is completely replaced by a wide, genuine smile. It's devastating and beautiful. No one has ever looked at me like that before. God, how am I going to survive this trip without getting my heart broken?

He laces his fingers with mine. "What's special about this part of the island?"

I shake from my trance and tug him down the sandy pathway toward a small blue structure. "Well, North Tavia is known for its quaint, small town vibe with quirky, bright-colored buildings. From a helicopter, it's easy to see the rainbow of houses and shops."

The cement path dips down into the sand as we enter the beach.

"Since we only have a few hours, we could go shopping," I continue. "But honestly, if you've never been here before, it's better to sightsee and take photos rather than spending your time indoors."

"What about you, though? Won't it get boring?"

I nudge him playfully. "Why would it get boring?"

"You've probably seen it all before."

"There's no freaking way. Look around, Dylan." I pause and wait until he does, in fact, look around. I watch as he takes in the sparkling aqua water and the lush green trees just beyond the beach. The tropical sweet-scented breeze ruffles his blond curls. Just like the sight in front of me, I don't think I can ever grow tired of admiring Dylan. "There's so much to see. It's why I love this island. No matter how many times I visit, I'm always finding something new."

I toe at the sand and blush, knowing the words I'm about to say are going to sound cheesy, but they tumble from my lips, anyway. "And I want to discover that ‘something' new with you today."

He squeezes my hand. "Damn, boy. Okay." He nods. "In that case, is there something you've always wanted to do here, but couldn't do with your brothers?"

I pause to think about it, biting my lip. Then, like an epiphany, I have an amazing idea. Would he go for it?

Dylan's eyes sparkle. "What is it? Your entire face lit up. It must be good."

"Actually, there is something I've always wanted to try." I point at the purple rental shop ahead. "We could rent some bicycles and ride around the village. Then maybe I can take you somewhere special. What do you think, Daddy?"

He gives me a heated stare. "Sounds fun. Let's do it, darlin'." His tone is huskier than usual. Suddenly, I wish we were back in my private cabin getting ready to explore each other rather than some tropical island.

"I'm still bummed they didn't have any of those tandem beach cruisers. I've always wanted to try one." His voice carries on the ocean breeze. We're riding our bikes on a path parallel to the beach. The view is stunning, and we pause every so often to snap some photos. I even send a few to Olly and Zayden.

"Maybe next time," I call out, and Dylan glances over at me and smiles. "You know, I used to have a huge crush on you," I admit. He doesn't need to know that crush never went away.

"Is that so?"

"I remember I used to see you all over the city riding your bike. As if it wasn't torture enough seeing you with Jules all the time."

Another one of those frowns pulls at Dylan's lips. "I couldn't afford my first car until I was nineteen. I saved up for years." He almost sounds mad.

This time my lips turn down. Why would he be upset about that? "I couldn't afford my own car until last year. The only reason I could was because I didn't have to pay for another year at college since I was graduating. I saved for years, too. Even then, my little purple Prius was several years old."

Dylan slows his peddling, then pauses near a bench. The whisper of the waves lapping at the shore echoes in the background.

Dylan watches me, wide-eyed. "You paid your own way through college?"

My forehead scrunches in confusion. "I did. Don't you remember Jules and I going off to school together?" I joke, but it falls flat.

Dylan's foot pushes the kickstand into place and he gets off of his bike. His head whips toward me before he angrily shoves a hand through his curls. "Fuck," he whispers, before storming off toward the beach.

I scramble off my bike and lock both of our bikes together against the bench. "Dylan, wait," I yell. "Slow down."

He whirls back around and marches right up to me. "You bought your own car, too?"

"What the hell is this about?" I'm so confused. I stand up straighter and throw my shoulders back, ready to defend myself.

"Fuck," he whispers again. He lifts his hand and trails his fingers over my cheekbones before cupping my face. His eyes soften once he focuses on me. It was almost as if he was lost in his own world, lost at sea, until I anchored him back to reality.

"Talk to me, Daddy," I whisper, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "What just happened?"

His gaze is intense, his hazel eyes boring into me. "I have to confess something."

My stomach drops.

"I think I might have judged you unfairly over the years."

He reaches for my hands and clasps them in his. I blink. I'm used to people judging me, assuming I'm some crazy party boy in the shadows of my brothers' success. But I'm not that guy, and I'm tired of being judged for it. I've worked hard to get where I'm at. I know success can be fleeting, and I don't want my rock star brothers defining me.

I sigh. "If you'd rather go back to the ship and join the party, you're more than welcome to." I try not to let the hurt come through my tone, but it's pretty obvious. God, how stupid could I be? We are on a kinky Pride cruise, for fuck's sake. Of course, most people wouldn't want to spend all day exploring the island. Most people just want to shop, eat good food, take a few photos and get back to partying.

"Wait, what?" Dylan asks. Now it's his turn to sound confused. "Oh no, I think you misunderstood me, Noah. I want to be here with you. I just feel a little guilty." He takes a deep breath. "Let me start over. While we were growing up, I had to care for my mom and help support Jules. We struggled a lot financially, and well, I really don't think my mom should have stayed in the Bay Area with rent skyrocketing and caring for two children, but she did her best."

Understanding dawns on me. "You were uncomfortable with my family's wealth. We were on the rich side of town, in a nice house, and then my brothers became famous."

He nods. "I know it doesn't excuse my behavior, but it was hard for me. All my highschool bullies had money and liked to rub it in my face. So when I found out that Jules was best friends with someone who lives in a mansion, I didn't handle it well. I didn't want Jules going through that too. Your brothers never actually bullied me, but some of their friends did."

I squeeze his hands. "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. And you don't need to apologize, Dylan. You were a kid, plus you never treated me poorly because of it."

He shakes his head, ready to deny it, but I interrupt.

"No, I'm serious Dylan. All your thoughts were internalized. You have always been so respectful and sweet to me." I can tell he still doesn't believe me, so I confess the only thing I know that will get his attention. "Why do you think I've had a crush on you for the last decade?"

His lips part, and his eyes widen. Holy shit. I can't believe I just confessed to that. It's silent except for the ocean waves crashing and laughter could be heard off in the distance.

"Noah–"

The sudden urge to explain overcomes me. "You were the nicest person I knew. You think you treated me a certain way, but in reality, you always made it a point to open up your home and your doors to me. When I was fourteen, you started your job at the radio station, and every Saturday you took Jules and me out for ice cream. You thought I had money, yet you never insisted I pay for my own. You worked hard to help your family, and it's why I always went to you for help as a teen. You support those you care for. In fact, you might be surprised, but you have a lot in common with my brothers and me."

His lips twitch at that. "Things in common with the world's most popular rock stars?"

"Jeez, never let them hear you say that. They aren't that big… yet." I crack a smile.

Dylan laughs, and the rumbling sound causes a shiver to run down my spine.

I glance around to make sure we are truly alone. Just in case. "Can I tell you a secret?"

Dylan puts an arm around my shoulders and we lean back on the bench, staring out at the water.

"Tell me."

"We didn't have any money. Not the way you think. In fact, we were homeless for a few weeks before we moved to San Francisco."

Dylan tenses. His face turns bright red, and I can't tell if he's upset because he didn't know or upset it was something that I lived through.

"I was just a little kid, so I don't remember much, other than being hungrier than normal. But it was when Dad left. Mom was suddenly alone with three children to care for. She didn't know how to get a hold of anyone. And my aunt, her sister, was the only person who would even be able to help. But they lost contact years before."

"Fuck. I'm so sorry, Noah. I had no idea. I feel so fucking awful for ever judging you."

I lean my head against his shoulder. "No apologizing. I didn't tell you to make you feel bad. I told you because I trust you. I've always trusted you."

We are silent again for a few minutes.

"So how did you end up in San Francisco and at such a nice house?"

"It was our aunt's house. Mom went to the library one day and used one of their computers. She found Aunt Tessy on social media and let us move in. Aunt Tessy treated us like her own. It might have looked like we had money, but Mom worked at a local pub. It wasn't until my brothers became famous that they bought the house from Aunt Tessy and gifted it to our mom."

Dylan uses his free hand to scrub it over his face. "Wow. I'm an asshole, and I just thought you were all rich."

"Nope." I pop the p. "In fact, we were so scared that it would happen again, and we hated seeing Mom work so hard, that Olly, Zayden, and I all made a promise to work hard enough to support her before retirement age. If anyone deserves it, she does. It's also why I made it a point to not use my brother's money for school, much to their disappointment."

"You're amazing, Noah."

"Thanks, Daddy."

A bird caws overhead, causing me to look up just as it swoops down, dangerously close. Without warning, the evil bird swoops again and poops on the bench, inches away from me. I screech, and Dylan laughs with that gorgeous smile back in place.

I jump out of my seat and beam at him. "I think that's our sign. Enough serious talk. I want to show you some of my favorite spots." I hold my hand out to him and wiggle my fingers.

Like Prince Charming himself, Noah clasps his hand in mine, flips it, and places a toe-curling kiss on my knuckles. There's heat in his eyes, and his plush lips linger a little longer than appropriate. And just like that, I'm back to thinking dirty thoughts about the sexy man in front of me.

"Thank you for being so understanding, darlin'. And thank you for trusting me. I'll do anything I can to keep your trust." He pulls me in for a quick hug and places a kiss on top of my head. Warmth spreads through my body as I realize I trust Dylan because he makes me feel safe. He always has.

Is it me, or is there something awfully romantic about a bike ride by the Caribbean sea? We spent hours riding around town as I showed him some of my favorite spots. We even ate at a cute little seafood restaurant I've never seen before.

The ocean waves roll lazily onto the shore, and sunlight shimmers on the water. The atmosphere is so magical it causes warning bells to sound in my head. Too fast. Too much. I've always had a habit of falling too quickly. But does it count when I've been half in love with the man for almost my whole life?

Ignoring the thought for now, we peddle our way back to the cute little rental shop on the beach and return our bikes. Then make our way back onto the ship and straight to our cabins. I turn around to face Dylan. I'm expecting a brush-off, or even a fast and cheesy line about how he wants in my pants. I don't know why I'm expecting it. After our heart-to-heart, we chatted about lighter topics while riding our bikes and getting to know each other a little more. So, I don't actually expect Dylan to be the hit-it-and-quit-it type of guy, but it's just the way most dates go, so I'm caught off guard by the tender look in his eyes.

Dylan pulls me into a sweet, lingering hug, and I can't stop the stupid emotional tears that rim my eyes. What the hell is wrong with me?

"I had a wonderful time today, sweetheart."

His innocent words touch a part of me I'm ashamed to show. Instead of replying, I pull him even harder into the hug. He lets me stand there for several minutes, just clutching him tightly while he rubs small circles onto the small of my back. When I finally feel settled enough to talk, I let go of him and stare into his striking hazel eyes. "Thank you for today, Dylan."

My gaze dips down to his lips.

"Can I kiss you, Noah?"

I blink. Has anyone ever actually asked to kiss me before? My exes just took, never asked.

His eyes are dark with lust as they travel down to my mouth. My lips part and he steps forward, placing two fingers under my chin and tipping my face up. We might be close height-wise, but rather than an inch or two, he feels larger than life. Dylan is dominant in all ways. His height, his muscles, his heated stare, even his wild blond curls. All of it turns me the fuck on.

My heart pounds with nerves and excitement as I nod my consent.

Dylan closes the distance, ghosting his breath across my lips. "I want to hear you say it, boy."

"Please," I whisper. "Please kiss me, Daddy."

He sucks in a breath, smiles, then presses his lips against mine. The kiss is slow and decadent. Lingering and exploring. He tastes like chocolate from our dessert and I can't get enough. I moan into the kiss and his soft lips tip back into a smile, but we don't pull apart.

My fingers tangle in his shirt and I tug him closer still. Dylan's whole body pushes against mine until we are leaning against my cabin door. I arch into his erection. His tongue licks at the seam of my lips, asking for permission. I open willingly, parting my lips and sucking him into me.

Our kiss turns desperate with teeth, nips, sucks, and bites. I pull his bottom lip between mine and bite it, hard. He groans at the same time his whole body jerks. His hands begin exploring my body and suddenly, despite my earlier thoughts, I want nothing more than to have my wicked way with him.

Dylan pauses to look at me through hooded eyes. "Damn, boy. That was one hell of a first kiss," he pants. "I want nothing more than to follow you into your room, but we have an early morning tomorrow. And the first time we're together, I want time to savor every inch."

His words from earlier replay in my mind. ‘You deserve to be cherished. You deserve to be seen.'

My heart flutters and I nod, wanting that. I might regret not feeling his skin against mine while I lay in bed tonight, but I have a feeling Dylan is worth the wait.