18. Harper

18 /

harper

A Week Later

Luca had left early for a photo shoot, and without him beside me, the bed was cold and empty. I got up and made breakfast, and while I ate peaches, eggs, and toast, I thought about how content I was. Buffalo had become a refuge I hadn't anticipated. After only two months, I felt more at home than I had in D.C., where loneliness had been my way of life. Even surrounded by teammates, I was always the outsider, watching them live their lives while mine felt incomplete.

I'd been convinced Buffalo would be the same—too much time alone, casual hookups, and no strings. There certainly would be no satisfying tangle of legs and sheets that could carry me through the day.

But meeting Luca changed everything. He cracked open the walls I'd built and tore down his own. What began as two horny athletes having fun grew into something deeper, and we'd become boyfriends. The road ahead was uncertain, but he'd done the impossible—he had me wanting to believe in happy endings.

I drove to the Warriors' facility in Amherst to meet Gabe and Holcomb for a workout. They had already become my friends, something I was thankful for since I missed my old teammates. After the workout, we grabbed lunch, and I drove back home to wait for Luca.

Along the way, I tried to think of something special we could do since it was cooler outside. It didn't take long for inspiration to hit. When I was a student at Mohegan, my friends and I used to go to Lake Erie State Park when we wanted to get away. The park is on the lakeshore, about halfway between Buffalo and Mohegan, and it has a surprisingly beautiful beach.

Since Luca and I both enjoyed the water, I wanted to take him down there. Watching the sunset together would be romantic as hell, and lying on a blanket, whispering under the stars while the waves rolled in, would bring us even closer.

When Luca got home, he loved the idea of a beach date. We took my SUV, and by the time we arrived at the park, the place was deserted. I was glad we'd have peace and quiet for our special date. Safe to say, there would be some delicious twilight kisses.

We carried a picnic basket and blanket with us into the park. Luca had been there before, and when we reached the water's edge, he pointed up the beach. About a hundred yards away, a stand of trees was nestled between a huge pile of driftwood and the sand. "That's a perfect spot," he said, winking. "Plenty of privacy, right on the beach."

"Great idea. My friends and I used to hang out there when we came up from Mohegan."

Hand-in-hand, we walked to our chosen spot. It was secluded, with the water lapping nearby and the trees providing natural shelter.

After we spread the blanket out on the sand, I looked around. We faced the water, with the trees and driftwood providing a protective barrier behind us. "Look at this," I said. "Our own private corner of the world."

Luca brushed his fingers up my arm as a gentle smile spread across his lips. "Thank you for thinking of this. It's wonderful to be here with you."

Our eyes met, and time stood still as I lost myself in his dark, lustrous gaze. It was a moment before I could say, "Your eyes are so beautiful that I'll never get tired of looking at them."

"Yours too. One minute they seem brown, the next green. That's hazel, right?"

"Yeah." I smiled. "Want to go for a walk on the beach, sexy eyes?"

"Definitely, but first…" His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "I need to kiss you."

My heart skittered, and I placed my hands on his chest and squeezed. His leathery, musky fragrance was intoxicating. It was impossible to tell where the cologne ended and his own scent began, but I didn't care. It was all Luca.

Desire crackled between us when our lips touched. The feathery contact only lasted an instant, but the spark was explosive enough that I jerked my head back.

His mouth hooked up on one side. "Think that was a sign of a good night ahead?"

Before I could answer, his breath caressed my lips. Like before, the kiss was only a whisper, a brush of warm skin followed by a soft exploration of the corners of my mouth. Then he traced his tongue along the seam of my lips, and a shiver rippled through me. He took me in his arms and pulled me close for a proper kiss. His lips were soft and luxurious, and I melted into their touch. A low moan rumbled in his chest when I slipped my tongue into his mouth, just long enough to ignite the heat between us.

Back and forth we went from his mouth to mine, every breach a second longer than the last. He slid a hand up behind my head, his fingers making my scalp tingle as he deepened the kiss. I grunted in surprise when he moved, and our cocks made contact through our shorts. We were both hard, and while our tongues performed their sensual dance, our bodies moved together. While we moaned into each other's mouths, our cocks collided again, and I was soon throbbing with excitement. Luca's dick jerked in response, drawing a groan of lust from me. Like our lips, our dicks were enjoying their own kiss.

All at once, Luca seized full control, grunting and squeezing me harder while he explored every corner of my mouth. We swayed, moving from side to side, and my breath caught every time our cocks made contact. Not caring about the layers of clothing between them, they tried to nest like lovers in a desperate embrace. I sucked Luca's tongue while he sneaked his hands under my shirt, grazing his fingertips up my sides.

In perfect sync, we ground against each other as heat roared through my veins. We were noisy, our hips thrusting while he pillaged my mouth. He sped up, and I responded, moving like a teenager fucking for the first time. My need to be possessed, combined with his need to control, sent us soaring into our glorious space. If we were going to stop, it had to be now. I made a meager effort to pull away but couldn't do it.

He broke the kiss and said, "Stand fucking still."

The low rumble of his voice made the back of my neck tingle, and I replied with a feeble, "Here?"

"Any fucking place I want. Don't act like you aren't down for it. I know what you like, straight boy."

I'd forgotten I was wearing my hat. When he called me "straight boy," I knew I was going to get it, one way or another, but I also knew he wanted to play.

He knelt, pulling our shorts and boxers down our legs. When he stood up, he wrapped his index finger and thumb around the bottom of his shaft, making his cock rigid. Quirking his lips into a snide grin, he asked, "Like what you see, straight guy?"

Doing my best imitation of a straight teammate, I glanced between him and his dick a couple of times before giving him a snarky grin. "That's a nice stick you've got there, dude."

He snorted. "Oh dude , it's way more than a stick. It's a fucking sword." Quick as lightning, he slapped his cock against mine.

"Fucker!" I grabbed my dick and tapped his with it.

"Swordfight!" he yelled.

We went into fencing mode, twisting our hips and trying our best to gain the advantage. We were both longer than average, but since long for a dick is still pretty short for a sword, we could only leverage what we had. We laughed as we fought, looking into each other's eyes and then back at the action. While we played, fire ignited inside me, making my dick harder than ever.

Enjoying the game, I decided to be the most mischievous straight guy I could be. "Truce!" I yelled, letting go of my cock and raising my hand.

Grinning, Luca removed his hand from his dick. His eyes were glassy, and the rapid rise and fall of his chest indicated he was feeling as much heat as I was. He licked his lips and leaned in for a kiss, then drew away as soon as our lips touched.

"The fuck?" I was a little miffed because I'd wanted that kiss.

"Free for all!" He laughed louder than ever, wiggling his hips and bouncing his dick toward mine until they collided.

"It's on!" We both gyrated, cackling as we gave the term "dirty hula" new meaning. Swiveling our hips and crossing our sticks from every possible angle was somehow hot as fuck. I looked down, watching the action, but Luca's laughter soon made me raise my head. He was so handsome, absorbed in our game and wearing the familiar flush I associated with him fucking me. As my need for him skyrocketed, my interest in the swordfight waned. I let go of my dick and reached for him.

He smiled as he wrapped his arms around me. After possessing my mouth, he began thrusting against me again. His cock was hard as a rock, its heavy girth irresistible. I moved with him, and the slip and slide of our dicks became the center of my world. It was impossible to focus on anything but his rough tongue, powerful arms, and huge cock.

I groaned as he increased the tempo. The rough pleasure of his dick raking against mine had me vibrating with need. Tensed for release, I edged closer to orgasm as he growled next to my ear. Finally, with a primal shout, I came. Waves of pleasure pulsed inside me, keeping time with the heavy streams of cum I shot against him.

"Fuck!" He grunted harshly while his cock spasmed, the wet heat of his cum mixing with mine, coating us with the sticky evidence of our satisfied lust. When he stopped shooting, we sagged against each other, and he whispered, "Fuck almighty, that was incredible."We sank to our knees on the blanket, then lay down side by side.

For a while, the only sounds were the wash of waves on the beach and our labored breaths. What we'd just done was superhot. We needed each other in many ways, and the sex we enjoyed so much was more than physical for us. We were enjoying the intimacy we'd each needed for years.

After cleaning up with napkins and bottles of water from the picnic basket, we ate. I'd gotten pastrami sandwiches from a deli near our building, and they were delicious. After we finished them, along with sides of coleslaw and cucumber salad, we leaned against one of the trees behind us and watched the sunset. He wrapped an arm around me, and as the sun descended toward the horizon, the sky became a kaleidoscope, repainting itself from cerulean to rich shades of orange, gold, and violet.

The water shimmered as night approached, with beams of yellow and pink reflecting off its surface, stretching toward us. I wanted to believe they meant us to share in their beauty, a sign of hope that we should treasure each other and cherish every moment we had together. When the sun kissed the lake, the sky transformed into countless brilliant hues, and the rays dancing on the water glowed a dazzling orange.

Luca tightened his grip on me. "It looks like it's on fire."

"Like you."

"Like us." I felt his eyes on me, so I turned my head. "You've got… a little mustard…" Instead of finishing the sentence, he kissed me.

The contact was short, and when he drew away, I leaned against him in the delightfully chilly air. I liked Luca more with every passing day, but was I being silly to think we were anything but two men who'd found what they needed in each other for now?

We were boyfriends, but maybe it was still too soon to justify dreaming about more. I wanted to believe things between us could go somewhere, but was I projecting desperate hopes onto something that wasn't ready to bear them? He lived in my heart, and I believed I lived in his, but how long would it last?

My uncertainty deepened as the sun dipped below the horizon. Nothing was sure in life, so I needed to keep my feelings in check. If things went well, the reward could be better than anything I'd ever imagined, but if they didn't—and given my history, that was the more likely scenario—I had to be ready to call this a beautiful moment that gave me temporary relief from my loneliness.

"Penny for your thoughts." Luca's voice was much more upbeat than the one in my head.

"Thinking about you," I said. "What else?"

"Makes two of us, babe." He stood and held out a hand. "Let's go for that walk on the beach now."

The moon was up, and its pearlescent glow made for a peaceful night. While Luca and I walked with our arms around each other's backs, I enjoyed the still-warm water washing around my feet.

"This was the best idea, coming down here." Luca tightened his hold on me. "I've been meaning to talk to you. How are you feeling about us being boyfriends?"

"Terrific." It was no lie. Despite the insecurities I'd indulged in minutes earlier, I couldn't remember a time when I'd been happier. "You're incredible, Luca, and I've never known anyone else who understands me the way you do."

"Ditto."

"As much as I enjoy the way you care for me, I like how you let me take care of you. You don't expect it, and you don't demand it. You just let me do it, and you…"

"Appreciate it? Enjoy it? Think it's the best fucking thing ever?"

I smiled and rubbed his back. "I was going to say reflect it back to me, but I'm happy to hear those other things."

"Nobody's ever treated me as well as you do." He sighed and brought us to a stop, dropping his arm from my back and turning to face me. "I'm a caretaker. I love protecting people I care about and making them happy, but I've never had anyone feel the same way about me. You don't just take; you give. I've had great friends, but no one's ever done this for me."

My eyes grew misty. "I care about you, Luca, and I'm thrilled about what we have."

He swallowed hard, his eyes looking extra shiny in the moonlight. "I care for you so much," he said. "It's amazing because it hasn't been all that long, but I feel like you're what I've been waiting for."

He seemed vulnerable, so I wrapped him in a hug. My mouth was next to his ear, so I whispered, "I feel the same way about you. And I'll be here for you as long as you'll let me."

I kissed him, enjoying the texture of his lips. Our tongues met, their lazy dance making me giddy. After the kiss broke, we held each other and danced to the music of nature. The susurration of water washing up on the sand was magical, and the man in my arms was everything I wanted.