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CHAPTER TWELVE

CAMERON

Cameron’s nervousness swamped him as he lowered himself into the aisle seat after Rylan had settled into the middle seat and buckled himself in. Adding to his anxiety, he glanced at movement next to him and stifled a groan when he noticed the man who flirted with Rylan as they sat in the concourse waiting for their flight, take a seat one row up. He could look over his shoulder and would have a perfect view of Rylan.

And Cameron could only blame himself for being on the flight.

Successful in their shopping trips in New York City; buying close to a hundred bolts of fabric and other supplies. Cameron had gone a little overboard on pushing Rylan to buy more than he needed, sensing after a few days they were both overwhelmed by the crowded city.

Knowing they couldn’t bring the supplies on the plane, Rylan shipped them to Issa’s and they would pick up the boxes on their way home from the airport when they returned from Hawaii.

By Tuesday afternoon, four days since they arrived in New York, they let themselves into the hotel room and with one long look between them, they both spoke.

“How about we leave early?” Cameron asked.

“Can we cut this trip short?”

Both of them blew out relieved breaths. Rylan fell into Cameron’s arms and he carried him into the walk-in shower. Running around the city and checking out different stores had drained them both, so after cleaning up, Cameron called room service for dinner as Rylan lounged on the bed, watching an action movie with the sound turned down.

As they waited for their dinner, Cameron called the airline and changed their reservation. Even if he didn’t have money to burn, he still would have paid the five-hundred dollar change fee to leave the noise sooner rather than later. That done, he joined Rylan on the bed. Cameron smiled when Rylan lowered his head onto his chest and Cameron ran his fingers through Rylan’s soft hair until the knock came at the door.

After sleeping in, they had taken a cab to the airport, grateful for the late morning flight. He worried about the dark circles under Rylan’s eyes, but as soon as he sat down next to him near their gate, Cameron opened his arm and cuddled Rylan close, listening to his deep breathing as he fell asleep.

Cameron kept Rylan close to his side and hoped he’d made the right decision with their vacation in Hawaii. He decided not to worry about it. If Rylan didn’t like the island, then they would head home and enjoy their time there together.

After Cameron adjusted his huge body in the tiny seat and buckled his belt, he lifted the armrest and his arm, waiting for Rylan to snuggle close. He couldn’t help but smile as Rylan pressed his face into his chest and gripped his thigh, burrowing himself as close to Cameron as he could with his belt on.

The pilots started the engines, and they taxied, heading toward the runway. With every movement closer to takeoff, Cameron gripped the free armrest and hoped Rylan didn’t notice the tension filling his body.

On top of everything, Cameron sensed the man’s eyes on Rylan. He ignored it for the time being.

He took several deep breaths and forced his muscles to relax a little at a time. Fifteen minutes later, he exhaled a last ragged breath before he relaxed back into his seat. Cameron’s little freak out didn’t affect Rylan’s peaceful sleep, grateful his chest was rising and falling with deep, even breaths.

While Cameron was traveling for the first time without a true objective, it was Rylan’s first time out of the state and he wanted Rylan to relax and have a good time without the responsibility he had on his shoulders for so long. And he knew Rylan was excited to see Hawaii.

Cameron’s first visit to the island and it was with the most important man in his life.

One hour melded into another, then another as Rylan slept on. Cameron watched movies on his tablet to pass the time. He’d relaxed enough with his attention focused on something other than the plane, when there was a tap on his shoulder. Confused, he glanced up and spotted the man he hoped to avoid smiling down at him.

With great reluctance, he paused the movie. “Yes?”

“How long have you two been together?”

Cameron’s first thought was that he couldn’t remember a time without Rylan in his life. It seemed he only moved through life with little attachment or caring until Rylan smiled at him and he realized what he’d been missing.

He didn’t want to say any of this aloud to this man.

“As far back as I can remember.”

Not deterred by Cameron’s vague answers, he asked another question. “Do you invite others to join you?”

Cameron didn’t understand what the man was asking. Instead of stumbling his way through an answer, he kept quiet. Then he heard Rylan’s voice, harder than he’d ever heard it before.

“No, we’re exclusive.”

The man’s smile grew wider. “Oh, you’re awake.”

Cameron growled, low in his throat, but said nothing when Rylan laced their fingers together and leaned closer to press a kiss to his neck.