Page 7 of Free Wind (Lifeguards of Barking Beach #2)

“I think so. Always dreamed of living on the water. I wanted to come to Perth for uni, but I ended up in Melbourne with a scholarship.”

“Great city.” Why was he acting like he’d been anywhere near it? “So I hear.”

“Oh, yeah. The cafes, the culture. I had a great time. It’s just sadly lacking that oceanfront view.”

“If you went to uni, how’d you end up a garbo?” Wait, what did he just say? “Not that there’s anything wrong with it!”

Stop. Being. A. Dickhead.

“Nah, it’s a fair question, although these days a degree doesn’t guarantee a job, that’s for sure.

I studied English lit and art history. I knew going in that there’re few jobs in the arts except for teaching, so that was my plan.

Then I did a volunteer placement in a classroom and realized that even though I want kids, I do not want thirty of them at the same time. ”

Damo shuddered at the thought. “You made the right call on that one. Teachers should be paid millions like footy players.” He wanted kids too, but one at a time. The whole idea of kids seemed very, very far into the future.

“Definitely. So, I changed my plan. I love reading, and I decided to write the next great Aussie novel.”

“Wow. And?”

“Oh, I’m hard at work on it,” he said seriously. “I’m about two chapters in, and I haven’t written a word in seven years.”

Damo laughed as the word “hard” echoed in his mind.

“Writing’s not for me. Honestly, I didn’t even really want to go to uni that much, but I had top marks and needed a reason to leave home.”

Damo frowned. “Your folks expected you to stay in a town of forty-three people?”

Blake’s smile tightened. “Well, my older brothers and sister had already left. I’m the youngest.”

“Did your sister and brothers need a reason to leave?”

Shifting and looking away, Blake said, “No.”

Shit, Damo was stuffing this up. Why had he asked that? “Sorry, mate. I didn’t mean to—family stuff’s hard.” Didn’t he know it.

Blake gave him a smile. “It is.”

The fact that Blake had his own family dramas was weirdly reassuring. Probably couldn’t compete with Damo’s. Not that it was a competition!

Change the bloody subject!

“But now you’re here where you want to be.”

A smile bloomed on Blake’s handsome face, his cheeks dimpling. “I am. Getting my life back on track. Trying to take it one step at a time and not get too ahead of myself.” He laughed. “Imagine thinking I could just write a novel and make a living at it.”

Damo chuckled. “Easy as.”

“Fortunately, I realized pretty quickly that I needed a better plan. I got my heavy truck licenses during uni and drove during school breaks. I was picking up contract work again in Adelaide, but there’s a big shortage of drivers in WA the last few years.

Couldn’t believe my luck to get hired near Barking.

I’m working inland in Armadale, but it’s an easy commute, especially at four thirty in the morning. ”

“Long days, or do you get surfing time in the arvo?”

“Depends on the day. It can be ten or twelve hours, but I start early. Always try to get here for a few waves before sunset.”

“Sweet.”

“Yep. Barking’s where I want to be.” His eyes locked with Damo’s. “Exactly where I want to be.”

After gulping the rest of his beer, Damo squeaked out, “Good to have ya here, mate.”

“In all my glory. I should’ve warned you.”

“No! I’m not—I have no problem with—” He waved his hand.

“This. I reckon it didn’t go down too well in Blinman that you’re…

” Damo motioned to Blake’s sheer shirt—his eyes catching again on the shadowy discs of Blake’s nipples.

“I mean that you wear…” He waved his hand around, higher up at the level of Blake’s face where his mouth glistened and his eyes were lined. “That you wear lippy and stuff.”

Blake’s smile went stiff. “Oh, I don’t wear this at home. My parents wouldn’t like that. They know I’m gay, but…”

Shit, he was stuffing up again. Damo nodded and drank again from his bottle, finding it sadly empty. “Gotcha.”

He thought of his own parents and wondered what they’d say if he was Blake. His dad was in so much pain every day that Damo wasn’t even sure he’d comprehend it between the pills and the weed. Mum was so exhausted from working overtime that she’d probably nod absently and go back to the telly.

“How did you start dressing up? Like, in the day, you don’t seem at all…” Damo peeled the damp label from his beer bottle. “Never mind. I don’t know what I’m saying.”

Blake raised a thick eyebrow. “I don’t seem at all…girly?”

“Not that there’s anything wrong with it! But when I met you at Barking, you seemed totally normal.” He winced. “Shit, that’s not what I meant. Of course you’re normal. I just didn’t think you were—” He snapped his jaw shut before he could jam his foot in it any farther.

Blake only laughed softly. “All good. I know what you’re saying. At work and the beach, I’m not wearing lippy and see-through club wear. This is for going out. It’s fun to get glammed up.”

“Sorry to be a dickhead. I’m a bit out of my depth.”

Blake smiled. “Swimming outside the flags?”

“Something like that. Just so you know, it suits you.” Though he probably knew that or he wouldn’t be wearing it.

Blake tipped his head, silent, as if he was assessing whether or not Damo meant it. Finally, he said, “Thanks. I guess it’s like girls getting dressed up when they go out. It makes me feel good.” He glanced around the patio. “And everyone’s chill at this club. Not judgy like at some spots.”

“Right. I mean, I’m straight, and it doesn’t bother me at all.”

“Right.” Blake’s gaze dragged down Damo’s body and back up like he was actually using his hands. Damo struggled to take a breath as Blake said, “Let’s dance.”

“Oh, no.” Damo laughed, shaking his head and backing up a step. “Trust me. I’m the actual worst.”

“I’ve seen you surf. You can dance.”

“They are not the same at all!” How often have you seen me? When, exactly? Did I wipe out or catch some sweet rides? “I cannot dance for shit.”

“Will you try?”

How could he say no? He was here at a gay club on something that was feeling more and more like a date. What did he have to lose? Aside from his dignity.

Eyes on Blake’s arse in those skintight jeans, Damo followed him back downstairs.

The bass was alive in his bloodstream, and Blake’s heavy gaze drew him onto the dance floor like a rip current—undeniable.

A fog machine pumped dry air that snaked between the sweaty, writhing bodies.

The silver glitter of the disco ball circled, the strobes almost blinding Damo.

Transporting him.

Blake moved with the beat, his hips surprisingly loose given how solidly built he was. A little smile tugged at his glossy lips as he watched Damo attempt to shuffle. But it wasn’t cruel, and Damo found himself smiling back.

People flowed around them, the crowd surging and receding as songs changed, the beats all similar. They stopped to drink more beer and have another shot before dancing again. He spotted Kat grinning at them and he waved awkwardly.

There were only a few inches between them now, and Blake shouted, “Having fun?” His warm breath ghosted over Damo’s cheek.

“Yeah, even though I can’t dance. Now you see the proof for yourself.”

“But you are dancing.”

Damo scoffed, shifting his feet in an awkward shuffle. “Barely!”

“I’m really glad you came tonight.”

His stomach swooped. “Me too. I mean, I owed you that beer.”

Blake edged closer, their bodies brushing together in the crowd. He spoke loudly enough, but didn’t shout, leaning down to angle his mouth closer to Damo’s ear. “I don’t usually ask out men unless I’m sure they’re interested.”

Adrenaline spiked in a shower of sparks, Damo’s stomach doing a full backwards somersault like it was training for the Olympics. “This is a date?” he squeaked as someone bumped him from behind and he stumbled into Blake.

Blake steadied him, his hands heavy and hot on Damo’s shoulders for a long moment before dropping.

“If you want it to be? And if you don’t, then I’d love another mate in Barking.

” They weren’t dancing anymore, just standing really close as people jostled them, the smoke machine pumping again, Damo’s heart about to explode.

“This is really weird.” He quickly added, “Not that you’re weird. I’ve just never… I’m not…” He swallowed hard. “I’m heaps nervous.”

Blake’s rimmed eyes were intense in the flashing colored lights. “Me too.”

That was such a relief that Damo found himself grinning.

“We don’t have to do anything,” Blake said, taking a step back. He swayed as a dancer bumped into him. “Unless you want to.”

Did Damo want to? What exactly did “anything” mean?

Who was he kidding?

He was bloody dying to.

Head light, he nodded, praying Blake would get it. Blake raised his eyebrows, and Damo nodded again. He tucked his hair behind his ear, sweat damp on the back of his neck.

The curiosity had sparked when Cody and Liam had gotten together, and it had built steadily for months. And months. Christ, it had been more than a year.

Blake traced the tip of his finger up and down Damo’s arm, dipping under the edge of his short sleeve. It was barely a touch, but he might as well have been jerking Damo’s cock. Then he leaned in, his lips brushing Damo’s ear, breath gusting warm.

“I’ll take care of you.”

Shuddering with desire he couldn’t deny even if he tried, Damo held on as Blake took his hand and swept him out into the night.