Page 15 of September’s Tide (Island Tales #2)

Chapter Ten

They barely made it through Taylor’s front door.

The late afternoon sun spilled through the hall windows, casting everything in gold.

David shoved the door closed behind them, and then they were on each other, mouths crashing together, hands tugging, gripping, desperate, the kind of kiss that had been waiting since that interrupted moment in the water.

Except it was more than a kiss. It was need, acute and unfiltered.

David grasped the hem of Taylor’s T-shirt and yanked it over his head in one rough motion.

Taylor gasped, then moaned when David’s mouth latched onto his throat, kissing, biting, sucking hard enough to leave a mark.

Taylor fumbled at David’s belt, all fingers and thumbs, then gave up and dragged him by the collar of his shirt down the hallway toward the stairs.

They stumbled once against the wall, David pinning him there with his weight, grinding their hips together. Taylor whimpered at the friction, his fingers tangled in David’s hair, still damp from their second swim. “Bedroom,” he managed to gasp.

David didn’t answer but kissed him again, harder this time, deeper, devouring.

By the time they reached the bedroom, they were half undressed. David stripped the rest of the way in seconds, then closed the distance with slow, predatory focus. Taylor was already backing toward the bed, his skin flushed, his lids heavy.

“On your back,” David said, his voice low and rough.

Taylor’s cock twitched at the command, and he dropped onto the mattress without argument, stretching out like a man offering himself up.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, flushed and glistening, a sheen of sweat already forming at his collarbone, creating a pearlescent glow in the late sun.

His shorts hung dangerously low on his hips, and the outline of his erection was unmistakable.

David climbed onto the bed with deliberate slowness, his eyes locked on Taylor.

He kissed him again, more leisurely this time but no less demanding.

He braced one hand beside Taylor’s head, and with the other he explored his chest, trailing lower and lower.

He pinched a nipple hard enough to make Taylor gasp.

“Yeah, you like this, don’t you?” David murmured against his lips. After four such encounters, he recognized Taylor’s hotspots, knew how to unravel him, how to drive him wild.

Knew what buttons to press.

Taylor nodded, his breath hitching. “Yeah. Harder.”

David grinned and pinched again, only rougher this time. Taylor arched up with a breathless moan, need rippling off him in waves.

David kissed his way down Taylor’s neck, chest, and abs, pausing here and then to suck and bite at the tempting, fragrant skin, his mouth all heat and tease while he kept Taylor pinned to the bed, spread wide across the sheets.

He slid lower, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to the waistband of Taylor’s shorts before tugging them off in one fluid motion.

Taylor’s cock sprang free, flushed and leaking, impossibly hard.

David wrapped one hand around the base, then leaned in and pressed a slow, dirty kiss to the head, his gaze flicking up to watch Taylor’s shudder course through him, his eyes fluttering closed, his thighs trembling, one hand fisting the sheet.

Then David took him into his mouth.

Taylor made a sound halfway between a moan and a gasp, his hips jerking up before David’s hands flattened him to the bed.

David set a deep, controlled rhythm, tracing the underside of Taylor’s dick with his tongue, his hand stroking it in sync, twisting slightly on each upstroke.

Every glide, every twist, had purpose. Taylor groaned, his hips twitching, his fingers gripping the sheets beneath him.

“Jesus,” he whispered. “Fuck, that’s good…”

David loved watching Taylor fall apart, undone by pleasure, his usual bravado stripped away. Taylor dissolved into short, staccato breaths, his head thrown back, legs falling open as he surrendered to the sensual onslaught.

“Fuck,” he whispered. “David— Jesus —don’t stop.”

David hummed around him in answer, and the vibration made Taylor cry out. He let himself go deeper, faster, until Taylor’s whole body was taut with pleasure. He paused only once, pulling off with a soft wet sound, to murmur, “You taste so fucking good.”

Taylor met his gaze, his pupils wide, his jaw slack. “If you stop now, I swear to God…”

David laughed before grabbing the lube from the bedside table. He slicked up his fingers, swallowed Taylor to the root, and slid a finger inside him.

Taylor’s moan rebounded off the bedroom walls, and David finger-fucked him, settling into a rhythm, his mouth and fingers working in harmony. Taylor’s hands found the back of David’s head, not pushing, just holding, grounding himself.

When David finally pulled away, Taylor was flushed and trembling, breathing in shallow bursts.

“If you don’t fuck me soon,” he said in a hoarse voice, “I’m going to lose my mind.”

David kissed his way back up, biting gently at Taylor’s ribs, his throat, the curve of his jaw. “Can’t have that,” he said, although it was an effort to keep his voice steady. “Not when you’re like this. Ready for me.”

Taylor pulled his knees up, his body wide open and eager.

David’s breath caught in his throat. “Fuck, look at you.” He slicked his shaft, lined up,

and pushed in with one deep, deliberate thrust. Taylor groaned, the sound loud and desperate, gripping David’s shoulders as if he’d fall apart otherwise.

David stilled for a breath, then began to move with long, fluid strokes, each one more intense than the last. The rhythm built fast, sweat-slick skin slapping against skin, hands clutching, mouths bruising, hips moving in lockstep.

“Don’t stop,” Taylor begged, his voice cracking. “Please, don’t stop.”

David couldn’t have stopped even if he’d wanted to. His cock was buried deep in Taylor’s body as he shuddered through his orgasm with a low cry, pulsing inside Taylor, his shaft imprisoned in tight heat, filling him.

He claimed Taylor’s mouth in a fervent kiss—and felt him stiffen.

Taylor opened his eyes, dazed but aware of David’s cock throbbing inside him. David hovered above him, braced on trembling arms, breathless, his brow furrowed.

“What’s wrong?”

Taylor stared at him. “We didn’t use a condom.”

David widened his eyes and froze. “Shit.” Then he lay on top of Taylor, still inside him.

It’s not as if pulling out now would change anything, right?

What filled Taylor wasn’t panic, but a sudden, sobering clarity filtering through the haze of afterglow.

David swallowed. “You know I’m on PrEP. I take it every day. I’m strict about that.”

Taylor nodded. “And you know I’m not. But there hasn’t been anyone in a while. Almost a year, actually.” He exhaled, gazing up at the ceiling. “Still. That was… not smart.”

“No,” David agreed in a soft voice. “It wasn’t.”

A beat.

Then Taylor cupped David’s face between his palms. “But I don’t regret it.” He wrapped his legs around David’s slick body, caging him.

Keeping him deep.

David smiled. “Me neither.”

They stayed like that for a time, both quiet, while Taylor’s heartbeat slowly stopped racing and settled down.

There was only one way to go that made sense.

“Since you’re sticking around for September… and since we’re clearly crap at slowing down…”

David arched his eyebrows. “You’re suggesting we do this properly?”

Taylor smiled. “I’m suggesting we get tested. Both of us. And if all goes well and we have nothing to worry about—” he trailed a hand over David’s stomach, slow and lazy “—we go bare. With intention this time.”

David leaned in and kissed him, not in a rushed way or with any hint of desperation.

In a way that felt kind of perfect.

“Deal,” he said, brushing his nose against Taylor’s. “I like the sound of intention.”

Taylor widened his smile, his body warm, tired, and glowing. “Yeah. Me too.” David’s cock began to slip from his body, and Taylor let out a plaintive whimper.

I don’t want this to end.

David pulled gently at Taylor’s hair until he was looking into his eyes.

“You feel damn good, too, but we need to move before we atrophy.” A heartbeat later, he sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the mattress, then grimaced.

“Can I take a shower? Because the combination of sea salt, sex, and cum is getting a little too heady.”

Taylor smiled. “Sure. You don’t need to ask. There are clean towels in the airing cupboard. Help yourself to my shampoo and body wash.”

David cocked his head. “What’s an airing cupboard?”

“It’s where I keep all the clean bedding and towels, in a cupboard in the bathroom. The hot water tank is underneath the shelves.”

David’s brow cleared. “Oh, you mean a linen closet. Why didn’t you say so?”

Taylor watched David stroll out of the bedroom, unabashedly admiring the view.

The man moved with the easy grace of someone completely at home in his body, unhurried and self- assured.

Taylor envied that. Maybe that quiet confidence came with age.

Maybe I’ll have that when I’m his age. Though probably not.

He stretched, relishing the delicious aching.

He loved the way his body felt after sex.

Too bad it wasn’t something he got to enjoy often enough for his liking.

But sex with David was another level entirely.

If this was how it was going to be for the next three weeks…

. Taylor was already anticipating David’s departure with regret. He shook himself mentally.

Don’t think like that. Just make the most of it while you have him .

He listened to the sound of the shower bursting into life, and for a moment, a vivid image flashed across his mind: David under the spray, water streaming over that strong, lean body, his hands slick with soap. The thought made something tighten low in his gut.

Jesus, Taylor. Get a grip. You’re like a dog in heat.

He snorted at himself and shook his head, but the grin lingered.

Thoughts of David ambushed him at all hours, and lately he’d been living in a near-constant state of arousal.

Not that he was complaining. It felt like stumbling out of a long, sexless winter into an endless summer, with no rules and no limit on indulgence.

Taylor glanced out the window. Over the bay, the sky had gone from gold to a dusky pink.

Tomorrow was forecast to be sunny, and that was good for business.

Except now Taylor was torn. From what David had said on the boat, he’d only scratched the surface of the island. Taylor wanted to show him more.

But that would mean stepping away from the equipment hire business for the day. Time off was a luxury when it was only him working.

Unless...

He grabbed his phone from the pocket of his shorts and scrolled to Brian’s name. His brother picked up after several rings.

“You always did have rotten timing, little brother,” Brian said, his voice warm with amusement.

“I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”

“Nah. Not like I could get up to much with Mum and Dad hovering around. They’ve taken to knocking on the bedroom door before ten like it’s some kind of curfew.”

Taylor laughed. “Bet that’s gone down well with Deb.”

Brian groaned. “She’s ready to smother me in my sleep if I don’t find a new place soon. What’s up?”

“I was wondering if you’re working tomorrow.”

“It’s my day off.”

Perfect. “Feel like spending it down here in the cove? Sunny skies, beer in the fridge, beach full of pretty girls...”

Brian snorted. “Wow, laying it on thick today, huh? I take it you need someone to run the business?”

Taylor didn’t bother playing coy. “Just for the day, yeah. If you’re free.”

“Sure. What’s the occasion?”

Taylor hesitated. Brian was easy-going, and their whole family had always been open-minded and supportive. Still, Taylor wasn’t in the habit of sharing much about his love life, not even when there was something to talk about.

“There’s this guy,” he said at last. “American. I want to show him around.”

There was that familiar chuckle again. “Ah. So he’s worth the detour.”

“Definitely.” Taylor could be that honest.

“Then consider it done, little brother.”

Taylor smiled. He didn’t care they were only two years apart: he’d always loved when Brian called him that. “Thanks. I owe you one.”

“Rubbish. You’re already babysitting all my crap. And if things go well this weekend, I might finally be able to move it out. I’ve got a few places lined up to look at.”

“Fingers crossed,” Taylor said. “Nine okay for tomorrow?”

“Perfect. Enjoy your date.”

After they hung up, Taylor leaned back on the bed, grinning. That had gone smoothly. Now he just had to hope David would be interested.

He realized belatedly that he hadn’t actually asked.

Impulse control, Taylor. Work on that.

He looked up just as David appeared in the doorway. His hair was damp, his chest bare, a white towel slung low around his hips. Taylor lapped up the sight of him, dripping water down smooth skin, the lines of muscle across his stomach, the sharp cut of his hipbones.

And then, of course, Taylor’s cock decided to weigh in.

Taylor groaned internally as he felt himself stir again, his body betraying him in real time. Naked and already hardening, there was no hiding it.

David’s gaze drifted lower, his eyes sparkling. “Jesus. The joys of being young,” he said, voice rich with amusement. “You’ve got a permanent erection.”

Taylor’s face flushed. “Well, what do you expect when you walk around looking like that…”

He trailed off, words failing him.

His body had already said plenty.

David was still staring at Taylor’s dick.

Taylor coughed, and David jerked his head up, grinning. “Yes, I’d love to.”

He frowned. “Love to what?”

David’s eyes sparkled. “You were about to ask me if I wanted to stay the night, weren’t you? I mean, I could’ve read you all wrong, but?—”

“You’re right, I was going to ask,” Taylor blurted. “Only if you want to, that is.”

David stepped closer, letting the towel fall away, and Taylor couldn’t help but notice he was already half-hard himself. “I thought you’d never ask.” He held his hand out. “Let’s go back to bed.”

Taylor didn’t need to be asked twice.

He took David’s hand and pulled him in, unable to stop smiling.

It was the smile of someone who already knew exactly how the rest of the night would go.