Chapter 31

Thirty-One

Happy three-day weekend! Our school is blessed with several recent openings for both full and part-time positions, including for next school year. If interested, please apply early! We’d love to have you as part of our ohana.

NOLAN

As Merry and I exited the hotel into the nippy-for-Oahu night air, I bounced on my feet to keep warm and out of leftover excitement from the show.

“That was marvelous.” I grinned at him, offering my hand as we made our way to the parking garage.

“The interactive part was pretty fun.” Accepting my hand, he gave it a playful swing.

“I can’t believe you guessed the murderer before me.” I used a scolding tone just to make him laugh more.

“Honestly, I am too.” His expression was bashful, but he’d been one of the first to spot each clue. In fact, watching him reason out the mystery had been almost as much fun as watching the play unfold. “I’m not always the most observant.”

“You see way more than you give yourself credit for.” I meant more than simply clues in a game. He’d seen something in me, and I remained profoundly grateful he’d found me worth caring about. And kissing. I’d mellowed over the course of the evening. Our talk beforehand had also helped, and now I was counting down until we were truly alone. To distract myself from those arousing thoughts, I pulled out my phone with my free hand and held it up. “And look, I have several new contacts. Potential theater friends.”

“Good.” Merry’s voice came out flat as we reached the parking garage. He dropped my hand.

“You don’t sound happy.” Pocketing my phone, I turned to peer more intently at him. “I thought you were angling for me to make friends tonight?”

“I was.” He quirked his mouth as his forehead creased. “I’m feeling guilty because I was motivated by fear of you leaving. Again. I keep thinking I’m past those doubts, and then they return, like the tide.”

“You’re allowed to be afraid. And doubts are normal.” I didn’t like Merry beating himself up over trust issues that were entirely too common. “My grandfather always said it’s what you do with the fear, and I’m happy you’re willing to give us a chance anyway. And for what it’s worth, I’m scared too.”

“You? You’d never know it.” Merry’s tone mirrored his skeptical expression.

“I’m an actor. Never let the audience see you sweat.” I winked at him in the dim light of the parking garage. “Seriously, though, I’m worried I’ve overhyped the potential of this thing, and maybe you’ll get sick of me by summer. You’re so worried I’ll want to leave, but I’m well aware I’m something of an acquired taste. I’m high-maintenance.”

We reached the car, but instead of unlocking it, Merry grabbed my arm.

“You really aren’t.” He met my gaze, a deep fondness there I hadn’t prepared myself for. “The other day, I doom-scrolled Alyssa’s social media. She’s a true high-maintenance person. Or like how Cara’s relatives have to have everything a certain way. You? You’re dramatic and passionate, sure, but you’re also flexible and spontaneous.”

“Thank you.” My skin heated from the unexpected compliments. “I do like to shop, however, and I’ll probably never surf beyond the boogie board stuff.”

“That’s fine. I’m not looking to change you, Nolan. I just want to…l— care for you.”

“Same.” I pretended I hadn’t heard him pull back from using the L-word. Which was fine. Even though patience was not my strong suit, I could wait because, for the first time in weeks, I was willing to trust that we’d get there. “And I don’t want to change you into a smooth-talking, city-dwelling, nightlife-loving party boy or anything else. I care about you exactly as you are.”

“Thank you.” He exhaled in a rush before pulling me to him for a decisive kiss, our first since New Year’s Eve. Where that kiss had been bittersweet and full of longing, this one felt more hopeful, emphatic even, like an exclamation point on the evening or a turning point from the purgatory of the last weeks and into something new. His lips were soft and sweet from the coconut dessert cake. Merry pulled back slightly, cheeks damp like on New Year’s Eve but eyes far more sparkly. “We probably shouldn’t get this sappy while in a parking garage.”

“I suggest we move this discussion to a more suitable location and perhaps find better uses for our mouths.” I grinned at him and swiped at his cheeks. He might have made us both wait for this moment, but my chest was warm and full at how deeply he felt things and how willing he was to let those emotions be seen.

Nose wrinkling, he glanced at the car. “The backseat is rather cramped.”

“As if you didn’t already know perfectly well you’re coming home with me.” I gave a tsk .

“Well, I had some hopes…”

“And a bag in the backseat.” I’d noticed the backpack earlier.

“Okay, hopes and plans. And a desire to not have to return in the same clothes and get even more teasing from my mom.” He pulled me in for a fast kiss. “But only if you truly want to move forward with the whole dating thing. I want way more than friends with benefits or something casual with you.”

“I’m not sure I’d have the first clue how to do casual with you. My feelings have been involved from day one.”

“Even when I was grumpy?” He finally unlocked the car and ushered me into the passenger seat.

“Maybe especially when you were grumpy.” I winked at him, but it wasn’t a lie. He said he liked my passion, but I liked his as well, his commitment to his students and his island, and his protectiveness for both. “You’re cute cranky.”

“You’d be the first to think so.”

“Their loss. My win,” I said as we zipped through the lighter evening traffic toward my rental cottage.

After we parked, I grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s hurry in before my landlords stop us for an after-dinner chat.”

“That eager to get me alone?” He waggled his eyebrows at me.

“That eager.” I unlocked the door. I was prepared to show him the small kitchenette, bigger main room, and tiny sleeping nook, but he had me against the wall next to the door in short order. “What are you on about? I thought you’d want the tour.”

“Later.” He nibbled my neck, undid enough buttons to lick my collarbones, and then, apparently on some sort of internal countdown clock, he sank to his knees. He didn’t waste any time in undoing my fly and sending my pants and briefs fluttering to the floor. “I missed you.”

“Missed you too. And not that I’m complaining, but I meant occupying my mouth.” We’d spent far more time together with clothes on than with them off. It wasn’t that Merry was averse to going down on me, but I dearly loved blowing him and was bossy enough that I usually got my way. “Or both our mouths. Or…” I trailed off as he swallowed my cock in a single graceful motion, not unlike a swan dive. His mouth was warm with the exact perfect amount of suction. “Oh, good Lord, if you’re going to do that, please don’t stop.”

“Not planning on stopping.” Merry pulled back long to grin up at me before diving down again. I’d figured surfers must have swimmer-like lung capacity, and I wasn’t wrong. Not only did he have the ability to take all of my cock, but he could stay deep and work the shaft with his tongue for an impressive amount of time. And each pass of his talented, talented mouth got me that much closer to the edge.

“Please tell me you’re in the mood for going for doubles again,” I panted, trying to stave off the inevitable. I was torn between finishing this way and getting fucked, and if I could have both, so much the better. “Because this is gonna be quick…”

“Doubles for you? Absolutely.” Merry winked up at me, idly teasing the underside of my cock with his tongue between words. “Heck, we’ve got all night. Might even make it a triple play.”

“Good.” My voice came out all shaky as he resumed the slide of his mouth up and down my cock, but at a pace slow enough to watch grass grow. I was balanced on the edge. The stimulation wasn’t quite enough to tip me over but more than enough to drive me out of my mind. “No fair. No fair. Oh God, Merry.”

“See?” He grinned up at me. “You’re not so quick after all.”

“Please.”

“Please make it last?” His grin turned downright evil. I loved him like this, sexy and playful. Watching him enjoy himself was its own pleasure, not orgasmic, but a deeper, warmer, richer experience.

“Merry. Please.” I rocked my hips, trying to initiate more contact. “Before I expire.”

“So dramatic,” he chided before finally taking pity on me and getting serious about getting me off with a fast, deep rhythm and more tongue action for the friction I craved.

“Oh God.” After all that teasing, my orgasm crashed into me almost without warning, a dramatic entrance indeed, leaving me shuddering as I came in Merry’s mouth. “Coming.”

His eyes drifted shut, and he moaned around my cock as he swallowed eagerly, and the sight of him on his knees, so supremely satisfied by my orgasm, was enough to trigger another wave of pleasure.

“Bed before I fall over.” After I’d come what felt like gallons, I yanked on his arm, dragging both of us toward the alcove that housed my bed. I fumbled out of the rest of my clothes.

“Better conserve your energy.” Merry raised his eyebrows as I sprawled on the double bed. He stripped off his sweater and jeans, joining me on the bed, but instead of looming over me, he lay beside me and nudged me with his foot. “You on top. I want a show.”

“That can be arranged.” A fresh burst of energy raced through me at his request. I did like showing off for him. “You did work awfully hard just now.”

“Uh-huh. And suffered waiting all week for date night.”

“Me too.” I chuckled because it truly had been torture, not giving in to the urge to have him over sooner. I rose to my knees next to him. “Got any ouchies from my classroom renovation for me to kiss?”

“You should check.” He gave me a cheeky grin as I made of game of checking him for bumps and bruises, kissing the backs of his hands and forearms, trailing my fingers down his sides, nuzzling his neck. I rubbed my cheek against the sparse hair on his chest before fisting his cock, jacking him slowly. “Okay, my turn to beg. Condoms in my bag if you don’t have any here.”

“Do we need them?” I moved so I could meet his gaze. “I’m not planning to sleep with anyone else, and I got tested before I came to Hawaii.”

“You were my first in a long time, but same. I’ve been tested, and I’m not planning on having sex with anyone other than you.” A blush swept up from his chest. “Can’t say I’ve actually had condom-free sex. The twins were a happy accident.”

“I’ve never been with someone long enough to consider forgoing protection, but I’d like to share that with you.” I dropped a soft kiss on his lips before retrieving the lube and a condom from the small box where I kept personal items under the bed. I held up the condom. “Your call.”

“I want to share going bare with you.” He tossed the condom back into my box. “Now, back to our show.”

“You want to watch, huh?” I grabbed the lube and slicked up my fingers before straddling his midsection.

“You are the one who loves prep. Let me see how you get ready.”

I could have spun and given him a porntastic view, but Merry was the type to appreciate watching my face more. Reaching behind me, I teased my rim, making sure to give Merry all sorts of eye contact. I used my free hand to rub my torso and thrum a nipple. Every so often, I dipped forward to kiss him until he caught on and started anticipating the kisses, stretching his head to meet me.

That made for a fun game of riding down on my fingers and up to kiss him until we were both panting.

“God, you’re hot. And killing me.”

“Only fair, considering you almost did me in earlier.” Wiping my hands on a washcloth I’d grabbed from my box, I rearranged myself so I could sink down on his cock and put us both out of our misery.

But he’d asked for a show, so I lowered myself by millimeters until Merry was groaning and reaching for my thighs. He’d tortured me with drawing the blowjob out, making me wait for that first climax, giving me no qualms about making a warning noise. Two could play those kinds of games.

“No touching the performer.” I wagged a finger at him, continuing my slow slide. But eventually, my own impatience won out as it always did, and I started riding him with more purpose. True to my word, I tried to give him good visuals, arching my back, stretching my arms, playing to my audience of one.

The more into it Merry became, the less of a performance I gave, and the more I simply wanted to give us both as much pleasure as possible. Then our eyes linked, and the only thing I cared about was the connection we shared.

“Oh, Nolan.” Merry’s whole expression softened. “I could watch you forever.”

“Forever might be pushing it.” I’d found a particularly good angle, and exactly that easily, I catapulted toward orgasm again, especially when Merry smiled fondly at me.

“I can tell.” He reached for my cock, which bobbed hopefully between us. “Gonna come for me again?”

“Like right now?” I groaned because his hand felt so good, firm and familiar, and he knew exactly how to touch me.

“Go for it.” He stroked me hard and fast. “Take me with you.”

“With pleasure.” I rocked harder against him, the pressure on my prostate almost enough to get me there without his hand. I let my head fall back and stopped worrying about what a picture I made. Merry used his free hand to urge me on, pulling me faster and harder until I let go. I wasn’t performing anymore. Heck, I wasn’t even Nolan—I was something greater than myself, something I could only be with Merry.

“Merry.” That was all the warning I got out before my come sprayed his chest and abs. Apparently, he dug that because he bucked underneath me and?—

“I feel that.” Mid-orgasm, I let out an awe-filled gasp. I could feel him come in me, leaving part of himself behind, some sort of primal marking I’d never known I’d be into. However, from the way one more jet of come arced out of my cock, I loved having him in me, loved sharing this together.

“Oh damn.” Merry pulled me down for a lazy kiss.

“I could sleep like this. You still in me.”

“Okay.” He was agreeable as ever, holding me close. I doubted we’d really drift off this way, but it was nice to cuddle, feeling him soften rather than having to mess with the condom. “Nolan?”

“Yeah?” I yawned and cracked one eye open.

“I’m so glad you stayed.” He stroked my hair. “Thank you.”

“I don’t want thanks. I just want you, Merry. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”

Eyes wide and emotional, he nodded, pulling me in for another kiss. This one felt like a promise, a promise that there would be many more kisses in our future.