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Chapter Fourteen

The next day, Jovian showered long and lavishly. It had always been the same for him. If his heart felt any pain, he concentrated on his looks. Makeup, skin treatments,

Setting himself on a path to go on the date and be assured he would not get hurt, he planned to be as snippy as he liked, and if Dixon couldn’t handle him, then he’d know.

Like everyone else, he’d tire quickly of Jovian’s true personality. Better now than later, he figured.

Looking his best, he headed out right after the Mess Hall was emptying of people after lunch. The smiles and greetings that were given by many, even by those he didn’t really know, surprised him.

When he got to the office, True and Bernie were outside, being playful together as they set up the grill. “Hot dogs and hamburgers around the dock tonight, and night swimming,” Bernie called to him. “Don’t be late!”

“O…kay,” he said, though hot dogs and hamburgers weren’t his idea of cuisine and him swimming in a lake full of smelly fish and smelly fish piss? No. Just no.

After he got to the back of the office cabin, he saw Dixon waiting there, wearing a camo muscle shirt, a black backpack slung over one shoulder. Why he expected one of those cute picnic baskets, he had no idea. “Hey,” Dixon called to him.

“Hey,” he said, trying to keep his voice as aloof as possible.

“Are you okay? Headache gone?”

“Yes, but…it might come back at any time. Just…just warning you.”

There was a definite smirk on his face, but all he did was nod and wave his arm to the road. “We’re crossing here and heading down the lake for a bit, then heading north a quarter mile. You good for that?”

“I suppose,” he said, trying to be as noncommittal as he could.

They walked slowly together, and Jovian didn’t want to meet his eyes and get that chill that he seemed to always get around the guy. The only other thing he could look at, then, was the scenery.

The lake to their left was as calm as it could be. There was a little breeze, and that showed on the still water that lapped lazily on the shore. There would be no waves at all if a boat wasn’t being rowed half a mile from them.

“Nice day for a leisurely row,” Dixon said, following his gaze.

“On the lake, just in that little boat? No, thank you.”

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s pretty relaxing.”

“So is a pedicure,” he said defiantly.

“I wouldn’t know.”

Head spinning to him, Jovian gasped loudly. “You’ve never had one?”

“No. I’ve never had one,” he said with a little chuckle.

“How do you live?”

“Differently than you’re used to, obviously. Maybe one day, you can take me for a pedicure, and I can take you on a boat.”

“If you’ve never had one, I’d be too embarrassed to take you! I can’t imagine the calluses!”

“Oh, for sure! My feet are like shoe leather. I usually walk everywhere barefoot. Then there’s the hair. It grows pretty thick on my toes on the tops of my feet.”

Jovian stopped walking. His jaw dropped until he saw Dixon shaking as he laughed silently. “You’re lying.”

“Yeah, I am, you little snob. Come on, we don’t have long until we turn off.”

The mountains stood towering around the lake, and the sloping hills were steep, decorated beautifully with ledges of stone and blankets of trees, shrubs and grasses.

The crunch of his shoes on the rocks as they turned from the sandy shore to a trail he’d never walked before reminded him, he was indeed in the country.

He expected the trail to be like all the others, ascending and wearing him out before he could get to the top of whatever mountain they were climbing, but when it never sloped up, he could enjoy the walk more.

The field the trail ran through was gorgeous, a lime green carpet of tall grass, some of it going to seed with the seed clusters rising above all the green.

The gentle sounds of a creek could be heard off to the left of them, and it all lulled his determination to be a prick. It was hard there, with all the beauty around them and the sky so big and blue above their heads.

Dixon stopped and nodded to the right of them. “No trail here, so be careful walking through the grass.”

“Why? It’s grass, and it, like…I don’t know, grows in front of most houses in America.”

“Jovian, shit, you really didn’t hear a damn thing I said, or True, or Bernie. If you walk off the trail, be careful of snakes and other critters.”

“Critters? Snakes? And you expect me to walk in there?”

What happened next would go down in his memories as one of the best of his life.

Dixon got the backpack over both shoulders and then he grabbed Jovian into his arms, holding him like a bridegroom holding his bride. “Excuse me,” he said, meaning to sound offended, but he was laughing too much for it to stick.

“Yeah, excuse you,” Dixon said, smiling. “My little princess needs to be carried.”

“I’m not a princess, but I would have made a fabulous one.”

“I’m not arguing that.”

The beautiful scenery was lost on him as he was carried over the tall grass. All he could see was Dixon, carrying him like he weighed nothing at all. It was one of the greatest moments of his life.

And the entire time he was being carried, he was heated right through, except for the chill that ran down his spine.

“Stop smiling, and don’t get used to this. I’m not carrying you on the survival camps.”

“Pity. I’m sure I’d survive much better.”

“Oh, I’m sure of it, but I can’t show bias like that. If I carried you, I’d have to carry everyone.”

“Not a chance! You’re my knight in…camo.”

They laughed and Jovian forgot all about how he was going to be aloof and dismissive of the man. How could he not? Dixon was giving him one of his dreams.

When he was set back on his feet, it was like they’d traveled through time and space to a completely different planet. They were in a valley, and there were so many purple, white, and yellow wildflowers, it was like Dixon had planted them all, just for their date.

There was a huge oak tree that made lovely shade, and yet another stream that was only feet away from the tree. The world around the little spot showed all the most beautiful mountains and to the south, the lake was a dark turquoise color that just added to the beauty of the spot.

“This is…amazing.”

“I told you. Actually, though, I lied. I said this was the most beautiful place on earth, but it is really in competition with a bunch of other places around here.”

“I don’t know. This is pretty great.”

The backpack slid down his arms and he caught it with one hand, then kneeled in the shorter grass under the tree and pulled out a blanket and containers of food.

Jovian sat on the blanket once it was placed on the ground, and he picked up the containers, smiling as he saw fresh produce and fried chicken. “This looks good. I’m hungrier than I thought I’d be.”

“Hold on a minute before you open anything,” he said, then sat a bottle of wine on the blanket. “This is against the rules, but we’re not technically at the camp right now.”

There was a strict no alcohol rule at the camp. He smiled, liking the bit of rebellion Dixon showed. “Nice. I’m a little surprised you didn’t make your own wine to bring.”

“Oh, I do, but it’s a little potent.”

“I was kidding! You make your own wine?”

“Sure,” he said with a shrug. “Beer too.” He leaned over and set a finger over Jovian’s lips. “Okay, now, I’m not trying to pressure you, but I have to know. That is for me, so I know…how to continue with…with us. If I’m continuing.”

The finger was taken away so Dixon could dig deeper in the bag, and Jovian’s jaw dropped hard when condoms and a bottle of lube were tossed onto the blanket by the containers of food.

“These…are one option. If you’re just after my dick, then there, we can get it over with today.

And that is fine, if that’s what you want.

I’m good in bed, I’m told, and I’m sure you’re fun as hell, too.

If not, I’ll put these away, and we’ll have a pleasant lunch.

We might kiss a little and talk a lot. Your choice, and I won’t fault you either way.

We’ll fuck and part friends, or…we’ll see where this is going to go. ”

To have it put so bluntly, it was like he had a target on his forehead. He wanted to duck and run, but for some reason, his voice spoke out while his mind was still racing for thoughts.

“Put them away.”

Dixon ducked his head almost shyly, Jovian thought, and became elated. The smile on his dark lips, the way his mustache twitched with those lips as he tried to not smile but smiled regardless…how sexy.

“Yeah?”

“Feed me, and let’s talk. Although, I’m not much of a talker. I’m more of a thinker.”

He laughed aloud about that and started stuffing the box of condoms and a bottle of lube deep in the backpack. “I’ll try to get through, somehow.”

As the containers were opened, Dixon held a cherry tomato out to Jovian, who moved closer, licked his lips before he let them part. Dixon pushed the tomato between Jovian’s lips and as soon as it disappeared into Jovian’s mouth, Dixon leaned in to press his lips tenderly against Jovian’s.

Like a bolt of lightning struck him, Jovian felt those lips leave his, and he couldn’t open his eyes for a long time, feeling Dixon’s lips long after they’d kissed him. For a chaste, sweet kiss, it was the best of his life.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Dixon getting two wooden plates from the backpack. “That’s all I get?”

“For now. I’m hungry. I thought you were too.”

“I am, but…now maybe I want more of that .”

Dixon reached for him after setting the plates on the blanket and took him by the back of his head, pulling him close. Jovian looked deeper into those cold eyes than anytime previously. They riveted him.

He’d seen the word a million times, mostly from critics about movies or books, but he’d never felt it until that moment. He was riveted.

“You want me to kiss you, Jovian?”