18. Sam

Ilift my arm to wrap around Carter’s shoulders. He snuggles in deeper with his coffee cup nestled in his hands. This two-person folding chair was the best purchase I could’ve made. Besides the air mattress. That one earned me a brain-exploding blow job after we got the tent up.

The flames of our fire pop, adding to the nature sounds that surround us. We spent our morning setting up camp, and then I took Carter on a short hike. He complained almost the whole time, and it took everything I had not to laugh at him because I knew it would make things worse.

“I might be fit, but this is not the kind of exercise I enjoy doing, ya know,” he said. Then I’d hear a smack and a grumble. “Goddamn bugs.”

“We’re only going a few miles. The views will be worth it,” I promised him.

“I smell like sweaty bug spray, Smoky. I don’t think anything would be worth that.”

“I happened to like the way that smells,” I teased.

“Huh-uh. Nope. You will not be getting anywhere near the sweat mess that is my body right now. I would like to keep my dignity, thank you.”

I had to bite my knuckle to keep from laughing at that. I knew he was completely serious, though, so I managed to hold it in with a cough.

But then we got to the end of our hike where we watched a waterfall crash into the small pool below, and he wrapped his arms around my waist as he took in the sight.

“Okay, this is really pretty,” he said quietly.

I just squeezed him tighter to me. I was so grateful to have him by my side at that moment that I was tempted to start spouting words that started with an L. I barely managed to keep it inside and was thankful when he said, “You’re going to carry me back down, right?”

We started giggling, and the moment passed.

When we got back to camp, I cooked us burgers over the fire, and his grin while I made them was teasing enough I didn’t need him to say the words. I knew he was thinking I’d burn down the whole forest, but luckily for him, I’m a master at grilling any form of meat.

“Okay, I have to confess. This is pretty nice. I don’t think I’ll ever be an avid hiker, but I could probably get used to this,” Carter says quietly.

I press a kiss to the top of his head. “This is my favorite part. When the moon and stars provide the only light, aside from the fire, and all you can hear are the sounds of the nocturnal animals just waking up for the evening.”

“It’s very relaxing. Thank you for putting up with all my grumbling.”

“Completely worth it if I get to snuggle with you the rest of the evening.”

Carter pinches my side. “Hey, you were supposed to say it wasn’t that bad. Or you found it cute or something.”

I chuckle at his outrage. “You were pretty damn cute, I’ll give you that. I’m just glad you didn’t break up with me the minute we pulled into the campground.”

“Nah, I may not be your typical outdoorsy guy, but I’m willing to do just about anything as long as you’re with me.”

“Is that so? Want to go fishing tomorrow?” I tease.

“Fuck no.”

We both start laughing. I’m sure I could get away with a lot of things, but getting Carter to hold a fish isn’t one of them.

He tilts his head up, his gorgeous, lopsided smile filling his face. I cup his cheek and lean in to kiss him with all the reverence I can muster. Words won’t accurately describe how grateful I am to have him by my side tonight.

“Is it time for bed yet?” He smirks against my lips.

I grin. “Absolutely.”

Carter heads to the tent while I bank the fire and clean up the little bit of mess we had left from dinner. My body is revved up by only the image of him in the tent waiting for me. It makes me race through getting things put away until I can finally join him.

I find him in the dim glow of the battery-operated lamp hanging from the roof of the tent. He’s lying in the center of the air mattress on his belly, his glorious ass in full view. My cock pulses at the sight.

“Jesus Christ.” The words come out on a breath.

He looks over his shoulder with a smirk. “You’re entirely overdressed for this party.”

I fumble with my clothes, ripping them off when they get stuck in my hurry to join him in bed. I start to step toward him and trip myself on my pants. “Goddammit.”

Carter laughs as he sits up. He grabs my arm to help steady me, and I land next to him with a bounce.

“What’s the hurry? We have all night.” Carter runs his nose up my neck, his breath tickling my skin. His chest presses into my side, and I wrap my arm around his waist to pull him closer.

“If you’d have walked in on a hot, naked man in your bed the way I just did, you’d be in a hurry, too.” I gasp when Carter nips my ear lobe. My fingers spear into his hair to pull him up to my mouth. Our tongues duel, licking and gliding against each other. His skin is smooth under my palms. The muscles in his back flex when I dig my fingernails into him.

“Need you,” I mumble against his lips. “So much.”

Carter whimpers. “You’re too fucking sexy, you know that? We’re both sweaty and disgusting, yet I want to suck you off so bad my mouth is watering.”

I huff out a laugh. “I kind of forgot about the whole no-shower thing.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got us covered.” Carter reaches over to his bag and pulls out his toiletry kit. He settles back on top of me with a bottle in his hand. At first, I assume it’s lube until he squeezes some into his palm. The smell of spicy oak fills the tent. Lotion. Brilliant.

Then any previous thought dissipates when he starts to grind his hard-on against mine. “Oh, fuck,” I moan.

Carter wraps his lotion-coated hand around both of our cocks, and my hips start to cant up into his fist. The way his head rubs against mine is making me crazy.

“Sam.” Carter’s desperation matches mine, and I pull him down into a kiss. I want every piece of us as connected as possible right now.

“I’m gonna… fuck. I’m gonna come,” I grate out. The tight fist he’s got wrapped around us is about to make me explode.

“Do it. I want to see you come apart for me, Smoky.” Carter’s lust-roughened voice sends me over the edge, and I blow. The orgasm feels like it lasts fucking forever and is only prolonged by the sounds Carter makes as he comes right after me.

We’ve made a mess on my chest, and I couldn’t give two shits. I yank Carter’s head down to mine to press a soft kiss on his lips. Luckily, he doesn’t care about the mess either. He presses his weight onto me as we continue to kiss. Each one is softer than the last, and the emotions arcing between us make tears burn behind my eyes. I refuse to become a sap despite how intense sex with Carter is.

“How does this get better every single time we do it?” I ask to distract myself from what I really want to say to him.

“I don’t have a clue. But if it keeps going at this rate, you might kill me.” Carter chuckles.

I run my hands up and down his sides. When our mess starts to get gross, I pat Carter on the ass. “Grab my T-shirt and the water bottle over there. That should suffice until we can shower at home tomorrow.”

After he gets my shirt wet, he wipes it across my chest and then cleans off his stomach. Then we get comfortable, cuddling under the sheet I brought, knowing we’d likely burn up under sleeping bags. Carter wraps his arms around my waist and uses my shoulder as a pillow.

“I’m really glad you came into my life, Sam. I’ve never felt more like myself with anyone else.”

“Ditto.” I kiss the top of his head. “I’m falling hard for you, Carter. I just want you to know that.”

“Ditto,” he repeats with a laugh. He kisses my chest, and we both drift off with smiles on our faces.

I don’t think anything could ruin this feeling.