Page 41 of September’s Tide (Island Tales #2)
David stood at the gate to the café, framed by the soft afternoon light. He wore jeans and a navy jacket, and fuck , he looked windswept and beautiful. His smile was pure sunshine. His eyes locked onto Taylor as though he’d been waiting his whole life for this moment.
Taylor didn’t think—he moved , his heart bursting, feet flying.
He collided with David in a rush of limbs and laughter and lips, their arms tight around each other, their mouths meeting in a kiss that was all teeth and tongue and need.
David held him as if he were something precious.
Taylor couldn’t stop kissing him, his cheeks, his eyes, the bridge of his nose, his jaw.
He’s here . He’s really here .
“Oh God, I missed you,” David breathed against his mouth, their foreheads pressed together.
“I missed you too,” Taylor whispered. “So much.” He kissed him again, and again. He knew by the end of the day his lips would be swollen.
Who am I kidding? By the end of the next hour.
Behind them, Shane’s dry chuckle finally cut through the haze.
David smiled, still keeping an arm around Taylor. “Hey guys.”
His friends had gathered nearby, all of them grinning like fools. Mikey gave a low whistle. Jason waved. Eric mock-fanned himself. Sam and Mark stood back a little, both with shy smiles.
Taylor beamed, breathless. Then he scanned the ground. “Where’s your stuff?”
David groaned. “Still in the hire car at the top of the hill. No way was I lugging four suitcases down those steps by myself. I’d probably give myself a hernia or twist an ankle or something.” His eyes gleamed. “I was hoping to charm a few strong locals into lending a hand.”
Eric clapped him on the shoulder. “Consider yourself rescued. Give me your keys.” David started to protest, but Eric cut him off. “Mate, you look like you’d need surgery to separate yourself from Taylor right now. Let us do this.” He grinned. “You can owe us a pint.”
David laughed and tossed him the keys. “You’re all heroes.”
Shane patted Taylor on the back. “We’ll leave you newlyweds to whatever it is you have planned.” His eyes twinkled. The four disappeared up the path, still chuckling.
“We’ll see you tonight, okay?” Mark said. “What time?”
“Make it after eight.” Then it hit him. Of all the nights for David to return…
“Great.” Mark looked David up and down. “I look forward to chatting with you later.”
Sam tugged him by the hand. “Not now. Can’t you see they want to be left alone?” He waved at Taylor, then pulled Mark up the steep path.
David frowned. “Something going on tonight that I need to know about?”
Taylor grinned. “You guys celebrate Halloween over there, don’t you? Well, so do we. There’s a party at the house.” He cupped David’s cheek. “And you just became the guest of honour.”
David leaned in and kissed him on the lips, slow and tender. They walked toward West View, David’s arm never leaving Taylor’s waist.
“‘Newlyweds,’” David said with a huff of amusement.
Taylor gazed up at him. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
David’s smile was almost shy. “I wanted to see your face when I showed up. Worth it?”
Taylor’s grin could’ve powered the whole cove. “Best surprise of my life.”
He leaned into David as they reached the porch. The wind rustled the leaves of trees beyond the house, gulls cried overhead, and the scent of the sea filled his nostrils, sharp and familiar.
Taylor paused before opening the front door. “So how long are you here for this time?”
David exhaled, his eyes warm. “Until someone physically drags me out of the country.” He leaned down and kissed the top of Taylor’s head. “God, I missed you. I missed this place. Missed… us. ”
Taylor took his hand and squeezed it. “I made a discovery while you were away.”
“Oh yeah?” David quirked an eyebrow.
“That old band, The Police? They were right. when they said something about a bed being too big without you.”
David grinned. “Well, once the guys bring down my bags, and we do the obligatory polite chat, I plan to have you in that bed two minutes after they leave.” He sighed. “We have four weeks of catching-up to do.”
Taylor’s pulse raced. “Two minutes? You feeling generous?”
David pulled Taylor tight against him, his voice low and hot in his ear. “And two minutes after that, I’ll be inside you, making love to you.”
Taylor barely stifled a moan. “God, yes.” Then he froze. “Let’s hope we don’t have any guests turning up a couple of hours early.”
David chuckled. “I promise I’ll be dressed by the time they arrive. I might not be coherent, because jet lag is a bitch, but I’ll do my best. Right now I’m running on fumes and bad coffee.”
Taylor fumbled with the keys, his hands suddenly clumsy.
David stood behind him, looking out at the cove. “You’re not the only one who made a discovery.”
Taylor glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah? What was yours?”
David turned to him, eyes luminous. “That old saying? It’s true. Home is where the heart is. ”
Taylor’s chest swelled as he opened the door. He held out his hand, David took it, and they crossed the threshold together.
“Then welcome home,” Taylor said softly as he pulled David inside to where their future was waiting to begin.
The End