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CHAPTER FIVE

ALL THOSE things sounded fun, but there was something else Kannon really wanted to do. “I’m going to be here a few days, so maybe we could do that stuff later. What I’d really like to do is… um… You’re probably going to think this is silly, but what I would really like to do is take a long walk along the beach with… with someone.”

Nisha shot Kannon a strange look. “We’re on a tropical island with sandy beaches, gentle breezes, warm weather, and beautiful blue water. Why would I think that’s silly?”

“Well, it is kind of silly because I have a slight—shall we say—fear of the ocean.” That wasn’t completely true. He wasn’t afraid of the ocean, he was afraid of what was in the ocean—his destiny.

“I see.”

“I really don’t want to get into why, but I’ve avoided the ocean for the last fifteen years,” Kannon said. “Now that I’m here, though, I suddenly find myself wanting to get closer to it.”

“Then a walk down the beach is exactly what we’ll do.”

Kannon followed Nisha down to where the water met the sand. He didn’t want to just walk down the beach—he wanted to walk down the beach holding hands with another man. Where had this romantic side of him suddenly come from?

He slipped off his sandals. Holding them, he walked closer to the water as a small wave hit the beach. It was almost as though the water reached for him. Entranced, he moved closer. The water rushed up and splashed on his ankles, and then flowed down and back over his feet. The waves swirled around his ankles.

“Nice, isn’t it?”

Nisha stood next to him, his sandals held in his hand too. It did feel nice, but more importantly, he’d managed to get in the water this time.

“Yes.”

“Well, come on, then.” Nisha took Kannon’s other hand, and they slowly strolled down the beach. “As we walk along, keep an eye open for seashells. Maybe we’ll go to that arts and crafts event later.”

Kannon looked down at their hands, and then back up at Nisha. “Um…”

“Problem?” Nisha asked.

Kannon waited until several small kids ran past them before he answered. “No, not so much a problem—more of a question, I guess. Nisha, exactly what’s going on here?”

“What’s going on here is I find you attractive.”

“You’re attracted to men?” There wasn’t anything about Nisha that shouted gay to Kannon, but he knew better than to judge a book by its cover. Through his life he’d met several men he wouldn’t have pegged as gay.

“Yes, I’m attracted to men, but I haven’t been serious about anybody in a long, long time.”

Kannon’s stomach rolled uneasily. “You’re looking for a serious relationship?”

“Am I looking ? No. But I will say I know what I want, and I won’t let anything get in the way of my desires.”

Kannon couldn’t shake the feeling Nisha meant something when he said ‘looking,’ he just didn’t know what. He appeared very determined. Kannon could believe that once Nisha found the person he wanted, he’d do everything he could in order to keep that special someone. Kannon sensed the strong-willed, decisive personality that lurked under the charisma Nisha exuded.

Nisha shook their joined hands, drawing Kannon’s attention. “As I said, I’m attracted to you, very attracted. I want to get to know you, spend time with you. And yes, I want to fuck you through the mattress.”

Kannon stumbled to a stop as the sandy beach suddenly did a fine imitation of quicksand and sucked his feet in. His cock swelled in his shorts.

“If you’re agreeable, that is.”

“If I’m agreeable? Oh my God, am I ever agreeable.” Still holding hands, Kannon turned sharply and started heading back the way they came.

Nisha chuckled as Kannon pulled him along. “I take it you’re very agreeable.”

“Can’t get much more agreeable than what I’m feeling at the moment.”

“There’s no hurry, you know. I’m not going anywhere.”

“But I am.” He picked up the pace, pulling Nisha down the beach. Nisha didn’t try to talk to him anymore, and he was glad. He already felt like a dork.

Finally he saw the resort. Still holding Nisha’s hand, Kannon quickly made his way to where his golf cart was parked. He pulled the key from his pocket and faced Nisha. “I know you said there was no hurry, but I’m only here for a few days. That’s all the vacation I took. After Brett gets married on Saturday, I’m leaving. I have a job to get back to.”

Nisha lifted their joined hands and feathered a kiss across Kannon’s knuckles. “A lot can happen in a few days.”

“Maybe.” His hand tingled. Tingled.

Kannon let go of Nisha’s hand and sat in the golf cart. He put the key in the ignition, but he didn’t turn it on. “But I’m not worried about a few days. I’m worried about right now. Are you coming with me?”

Nisha walked around the golf cart and got in. “I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.”

When the straw hat Nisha had given him slipped off his head and landed on his back thanks to the air rushing past, Kannon reminded himself to slow down on the way back to his bungalow. The last thing he wanted to do to was run over some poor guest and have to stop and wait.

He didn’t want to sound uncaring, but… yeah, there was a sexy guy sitting next to him. His heart thumped and nerves bombarded him as he stopped in front of his bungalow. They were here. He was really going to do this. He was going to let some guy he didn’t know fuck him. And he was okay with that. Sort of. Maybe.

God.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Nisha covered Kannon’s hand with his own. “Nervous?”

“Yeah, as silly as it sounds, I am.” With a quick squeeze, he pulled his hand from Nisha’s, the crazy thing tingling. “I don’t make a habit of doing this.” No point in telling the other man he never did this.

“Me neither.”

If Nisha was telling the truth, that made him feel better. Of course, he had no idea if what Nisha said was true. Just because he didn’t take random men home didn’t mean… oh jeez. Kannon rested his head against the steering wheel .

“Aw, man.” He was sorely tempted just to beat his head against the dash.

“Let me guess.” Nisha ran his hand up and down Kannon’s back. “You don’t have any condoms.”

“Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. I’m so sorry, but no, I don’t. I don’t make a habit of doing this, so I’m unprepared.” Kannon did tap his head against the steering wheel a few times for good measure. “ Why didn’t I think about this while we were still at the resort?”

Nisha pulled him back away from steering wheel. “Stop that before you give yourself a headache.”

A slightly hysterical laugh bubbled out of Kannon even as his cock jumped at that authoritative tone. “That would be just perfect, wouldn’t it?”

Nisha’s lips twitched. “Let’s take a step back for a moment. Things got rather intense rather quickly. Why don’t I run back and buy condoms? There are several little shops at the resort that sells all sorts of items like that.”

Kannon scrubbed his hands over his face and peered at Nisha. “How do you know that?”

“It stands to reason, and it’s also good marketing. Tourists always run out of stuff or forget things. A good business manager makes sure the resort has everything a guest could need so they don’t have to leave and go to town.”

At least one of them was thinking. “Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. I guess I’m just not thinking straight.”

“It’s been a couple hours since we ate breakfast. While I run back to the resort, how would you feel about whipping us up something quick and light to eat?”

“I can do that.”

“We can eat, relax, and just talk. Kind of let things cool off. How does that sound?”

“That sounds perfect.” Well it would, if Nisha actually came back. Had he chased the other man off acting like an untried virgin? So much for being cool and suave. He got out of the golf cart and stood by the driver’s door, fighting to keep the defeated look off his face as Nisha approached him. He was such an idiot. “Okay, I— oomph !”

Kannon yelped as Nisha backed him against the golf cart. He slid one hand behind Kannon’s neck, and his other hand came to rest on the small of his back. Wide-eyed, he stared as Nisha boxed him in. Of their own accord, his arms came to rest around Nisha’s waist. Nisha tugged him even closer.

“I will be back.”

“H-h-how did you know what I—”

“It was as clear as the cute little freckles on your face. I will be back. Understand?”

“I… yes.”

Nisha slipped one leg in between his and gently urged him to widen his stance. He hadn’t noticed before now, but he was an inch or two taller than Nisha. Not that it seemed to matter. He might be taller, and a bit more bulky, but he was most definitely not the one in control.

Nisha leaned closer and let his lips gently brush against Kannon’s. The whisper-light touch sent tingles through Kannon’s body. He wanted more, but something told him not to try to take control. So he waited… and wanted. Oh, how he did want.

“Very good,” Nisha purred.

Nisha nipped at his lips, and he eagerly opened up. The kiss was sweet, slow, and sexy. Nisha’s mouth moved against his in a dance that excited him. Still letting Nisha lead, he waited. Eventually Nisha’s tongue slipped inside and slowly explored him. He moaned, urgent. Restless.

There was a hint of power, of restraint, that lurked just outside the bounds of the soft, sweet kiss. Kannon whined pitifully. The kiss was beautifully tempting, but he wanted that edge of danger he could feel Nisha holding back. He moved impatiently against Nisha. More. Please, more.

Nisha stopped the kiss, but didn’t pull back. Instead he spoke against Kannon’s lips. “Want more?”

“Desperat—”

Nisha grabbed his ponytail and jerked his head back, and Kannon’s mouth fell open. He groaned, delighted. This, this was what he wanted. Nisha’s mouth slanted over his again and again… demanding, taking.

Helpless to do more than to hold onto Nisha, Kannon stood in Nisha’s arms. The kiss was hot, demanding, and everything he ever dreamed of. He’d had other kisses before, but none like these. None were as overwhelming as this one. It wrecked him.

Nisha’s mouth moved to his ear, and he blew gently. Kannon shivered again as Nisha’s hot breath feathered across the sensitive skin. His cock throbbed, and he panted helplessly as Nisha trailed wet kisses across his jaw and down his neck. Kannon rubbed his stiff cock against Nisha’s.

“I will come back to you. I will always come back to you,” Nisha whispered as his hand dropped down and clutched Kannon’s ass.

Somewhere in the back of Kannon’s mind, a warning bell went off. He wasn’t sure why, but for some reason those words seemed like a threat. Maybe not a threat, but more of a promise—with teeth. Nisha let go of Kannon’s hair, and Kannon rested his forehead against Nisha’s. Both of them stayed there, together, inches apart, panting heavily.

“So much for letting things cool off,” Nisha’s voice wavered.

“Yeah, that didn’t work so well did it?” Kannon heard the slight quiver in Nisha’s voice. The kiss had affected him as much as it had Kannon.

“I better go. Hopefully the ride to the resort will help get rid of my, um…” He glanced down. “My problem.”

Kannon stepped back and gently rearranged his aching cock. He admired Nisha’s bulge. “While you’re at the resort, why not get your swimming trunks? This bungalow has an infinity pool.”

Nisha stepped into the golf cart but stopped and turned to look at Kannon. “You sure?”

“I, um, I’m not sure I’m ready for the ocean, but I have no trouble with pools.”

Nisha sat down in the golf cart. “We can do that. But will you at least think about going into the ocean?”

“I might. Maybe. I might go as far out as my knees. Maybe.”

“Okay.” Nisha turned the key and started the golf cart. “I really would like to go swimming in the ocean with you. I’ll grab my swim trunks while I’m at the resort. Maybe a change of clothes too?”

Kannon well understood what Nisha was asking. “Yeah, grab an overnight bag to bring back with you.”

“I will. Thank you.” With a wave, Nisha drove off.

Kannon stood by his bungalow, watching him drive away. He couldn’t shake the feeling something big was bearing down on him—that he was racing toward something he could no longer avoid. He was attracted to Nisha. Very much so. But there was something about the other man that made his nerves jangle.

“I am so overthinking this. It’s sex, nothing more.”

He planned to spend the next few days screwing, seeing his best friend get married… and then he’d go back to his life, where he intended to start living a little. He was cutting up a tomato for their sandwiches when he heard the golf car return. Nisha walked in the door. I could get used to this. The thought stunned Kannon, and he struggled to keep his face blank. Where did that come from?

“Hey. Hope I didn’t take too long.” Nisha held a small duffel and a plastic bag.

Kannon’s face heated. He had a pretty good idea what was in the bag. “No. Perfect timing, actually. I was just cutting up a tomato for the sandwiches.”

“Oh, good. I’m hungry. What should I do with my duffel?”

Kannon laid the knife on the counter, picked up a dishtowel, and wiped his hands. “Come on, I’ll show you where the bedroom is.”

Kannon was aware of Nisha following him. “Just set it over there on the floor by mine.”

Nisha looked around the room and whistled softly. “Nice. I particularly like the bed.”

Heat crawled up Kannon’s face, and he knew he was blushing. Again. “I said the same thing when I first saw it.” He also said he wished he had someone to share it with, and it looked like he’d got his wish. “So, you said you were hungry, right? Ready to eat?”

Nisha’s lips twitched. “I am, but I’m guessing you’re talking about real food and not what I’m thinking about.”

Kannon went up in flames.

Chuckling, Nisha walked over to Kannon and placed both his hands on Kannon’s cheeks. “Do you have any idea how much it turns me on when you blush?”

Kannon weakly smiled. “Good thing, considering you seem to make me do it quite often.”

“I intend to make you do it even more.” Nisha stole a quick kiss, grabbed Kannon by the hand, and led him from the bedroom. “Let’s eat.”