Page 13 of Free Wind (Lifeguards of Barking Beach #2)

Blake’s left fingers were still threaded through Damo’s long hair, and he gave a playful tug. And oh. Oh, fuck yes, because Damo gasped and bucked and clutched Blake’s shoulders as he muttered, “That’s it.”

Blake twisted the curls around his fingers tighter. “You gonna come all over my hairy chest?”

“Yes!” Damo strained, the muscles in his neck standing out beneath the simple purple cord necklace, sweat glistening on his forehead.

Blake loosened his grip on their shafts. “You really want to?”

Huffing, Damo dug his fingers into Blake’s shoulders. “Don’t make me beg.”

“Maybe that’s my goal.” He grinned, twisting and untwisting Damo’s thick hair on his fingers.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so much during sex.

Usually it was getting off, some small talk and a coldie, a thanks and see ya.

The order wasn’t always the same, but that was most of his hookups in a nutshell.

With Damo, he wanted to tease and play and make it last.

“Please let me come all over your big hairy chest,” Damo begged, laughing.

Their thighs were slick with sweat where their bodies pressed, and Blake caressed Damo’s spine. With his other hand, he gathered a bigger bunch of Damo’s hair and spun it around his hand slowly, tightly, watching pleasure flicker through Damo, his blue eyes intent with lust.

Now Damo wasn’t smiling.

Now he was breathing hard, rutting against Blake. “Please. Make me come.” He gripped Blake’s face and kissed him roughly. “Want this. Want you. Love being naked with you.” He laughed again, disbelieving. “I’m naked with you.”

The wonder and trust shining from Damo’s lust-dark eyes made Blake’s heart clench. He wanted to keep Damo safe in his arms, the protective urge knocking the breath out of him like being dumped on the sand by a shore break.

He gripped Damo’s hair and jerked him fast until he exploded in a shout, spraying Blake’s chest with jizz, shaking and clinging to him. As Damo heaved great gasps, Blake stroked himself, imagining what it would be like to fuck Damo’s arse, to see him split open on his dick…

Blake’s orgasm ripped out of him almost painfully, but then the beautiful rush of warmth flowed to the tips of his toes and fingers, which were still tight in Damo’s hair.

Sweaty and sticky, they caught their breath. “Wow,” Damo murmured.

“Uh-huh.”

“That was… Thanks, mate.”

“Anytime.” Before he could play it cool, Blake asked, “Like, tomorrow, for instance? If you’re not busy?”

Damo stiffened. Not a lot, but enough. He lifted his head. “I can’t. Working, and then I’ve got…uh, stuff.”

“Oh. Okay.” Blake tried to sound casual. “No worries.” Suddenly, Damo felt heavy on his lap, the sweat and jizz sticky and unpleasant as he fought his disappointment. Maybe this was a one-night thing? He took Damo’s waist to shift him off.

“I really do have plans.” Damo tightened his thighs around Blake’s hips and gripped his shoulders. “I’m not blowin’ ya off. Surf report for Sunday arvo looks sweet, though. You free then?”

Blake exhaled. “Yeah. Sounds good.”

“Cool. Because I… I liked this. A lot.”

“Same.”

Damo smiled. His slightly crooked canine was damn adorable. “Cool,” he repeated. “Are you volunteering tomorrow?”

“Normally I would, but my mate Rocky from work needs a hand building a new sunshade in his yard. I’ll be there Sunday morning. Then we’ll meet up?”

“Sweet.” Grinning, Damo looked down at himself and grimaced. “I’m a mess. I’ve got to be at work at nine. Can I use the toilet? Better get going.”

Blake pointed him to it and sat sprawled on the couch with jizz drying in his chest hair. He couldn’t get ahead of himself, but Damo wanted to see him again! He realized he was grinning and released a giddy little secret laugh.

Life was good.

He grabbed his phone to check that Sunday surf report, excitement building already. They could catch some waves, have dinner, then more orgasms. It sounded like paradise. He reminded himself again that this was only the first date.

The red number on the email app that Blake obsessively kept at zero was up to five. He tapped it open and listened to the water running in the bathroom, smiling at the thought of Damo scrubbing himself. Blake should have offered to help…

The unfamiliar email address was there at the top: [email protected]. The subject line read: “Important message for Blake Holbrook.”

Frowning, Blake opened it. Probably some scammer Nigerian prince or spam. He scanned the message, his eyes taking in key words.

A giant invisible fist squeezed his chest.

All the oxygen in the room was sucked out in a giant whoosh.

Mouth dry, his head spun.

He wasn’t actually reading this email. He couldn’t be reading this. It wasn’t possible. Was it a joke? He’d been waiting for a prank from the clubbies, but no. It couldn’t be.

Damo appeared, dressed. “I’d better get going. Do—” He was suddenly standing at Blake’s feet. “You right? You look pale as.” He bent and took Blake’s shoulder. “Gonna spew? Come on. Up.”

Damo had snapped into first aid mode, all commanding and bossy, and under other circumstances, Blake would have enjoyed it immensely. He shook his head. “I’m okay. Thirsty.” He dropped the phone face down, as if he could block out the contents of that email.

But if it were true…

Along with the shock, joy bloomed like a tiny spring wildflower in the sunshine.

Then Damo was pressing a glass into his hand. “You sure that’s all? Look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He sat beside Blake and watched him drink.

Blake gulped gratefully. “I’m good.” Was he?

Maybe? For a moment, he almost showed Damo the email, but what kind of end was that to a first date?

Way too heavy, and Blake needed to process.

Besides, Damo had to get some sleep. It was the middle of the night.

“You’ve got lives to save in the morning. ”

Damo frowned. “Your heart’s not racing?” He took Blake’s wrist to feel his pulse.

“I’m okay. Honestly.” Blake’s head was still spinning, but he was breathing again. “I’ll see you Sunday. Can I get your number?”

“Had your dick in my mouth, so I guess so.” Damo laughed, blushing and pulling out his phone. “What’s yours? I’ll text you now.”

Blake rattled off his number in a fog, his mind racing. His phone pinged on cue, but he left the screen face down on the cushion.

How is this possible? This isn’t… How?? Could it really be true?

He realized Damo was saying something, a frown creasing his face. Blake said, “I’m good. Too many orgasms.” He gave his head a shake. “This was an amazing night. Can’t wait for Sunday.”

“Me too,” Damo said. He bit his lip, then kissed Blake softly. “See you then.” He glanced down. “Better clean up or that’ll be murder to get out of your chest hair.” He giggled, and Blake was grateful to smile back.

In the shower after he’d kissed Damo goodbye again at the door, Blake’s mind whirled. He needed to read the email again. He needed to respond. Just when he thought his life was officially back on track, [email protected] had blown up his plan.