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Chapter Ten

LAIKEN

“That’s two-thirds votes for tulips, one third for daisies,” Taylor says. “Unless there’s any further argument, we’ll settle on tulips for this year’s firelight festival.” He looks around, waiting for someone to speak. When no one does, he inclines his head. “Very well. Tulips, Kellan.”

Kellan smiles. “Yes, sir.”

My eyes flicker to where Lie’s and Cash’s heads are bent together as they whisper about something. They have the last resident newsletter in their hands, which holds the agenda, so there’s a chance that they’re whispering about something coming.

My stomach flutters. Both with butterflies and guilt.

Beside me, Nason leans in and murmurs, “You think anyone really cares whether we have tulips or daisies? I feel like we’re stuck in a fifties show.”

I snort.

There are times over the last few days when I was sure Nason was going to call me on having my dick in his son’s mouth. Not that I thought Lie would tell him. But it feels like it’s written all over my face.

Lie sucked my dick at work.

Like a beacon on my forehead. A flashing sign hovering over me. Guilt shining out of my eyes.

But he hasn’t said a thing. There’s no indication that he suspects anything. God, I’m going to bust.

“Moving on to grass height on Keone Reef. It’s been proposed that we lower the regulation height to one inch, max to three inches before mowing,” Taylor says. “This is to keep a more uniform appearance. I will open the floor for discussion.”

Discussion is loud. I roll my eyes at the stupid shit we talk about. Grass height. Whether there should be metered parking at the docks when no one drives vehicles, anyway. Whether the change in menu at the diner on Bane is acceptable, as if anyone gets an opinion outside of the owner.

Resident meetings are always a source of entertainment. At any given time, half the resident population is working. There are ways to weigh in on topics that are important to those working, even when they’re not present.

It’s rare that there’s anything truly noteworthy and important that’s discussed. This is like a homeowner’s association on steroids. I’m always amused that the Calloways allow so much self-governing.

Then again, Taylor is a nephew by marriage. Technically family, right? I wonder how much the Calloways are involved in these little piddly things. Do they read the newsletters, too?

I don’t think Taylor himself has much influence or deciding power. I actually think they allow him to run these meetings to keep him busy. He’s a bit of a pain in the ass.

My attention drifts to Lie. He and Cash are no longer whispering but looking between the people talking. I have a good view of him right here. He’s in the row in front of the one Nason and I are in and a couple chairs to the right. Which means I have his profile when he’s looking forward.

I’m sure he feels me watching him. His lips twitch from time to time, probably because I’m staring.

My dick has been in that mouth. Between those lips. Touching the back of his throat. A thrill of excitement shivers down my spine. The event hasn’t been repeated and I haven’t had a chance to get him in my mouth over the last several days, but I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

I’m going to make him feel so good. I can’t wait to feel him explode in my mouth.

Nason nudges me and I wince. Fuck. Did he just catch me staring at his son?

I meet his eyes. He’s looking at me with amusement. When I’m clearly not following, he chuckles and nods toward the front.

Everyone is twisted in their seats, looking at me. Did they all catch me staring at Lie? Fucking hell.

“What?” I ask.

“You weren’t paying attention,” Taylor says.

“Sorry. Grass height is a waste of my time. I’m waiting for the important topics,” I deadpan.

Snickers fill the room. I can tell by the way Taylor looks affronted that the topic was his own. No one else gives a shit about how tall the grass is.

“You’re nominated for managing the bars on Kala,” Lie helpfully supplies. I meet his eyes and my heart jumps at the pride I see in his face.

“I’m sorry, what?” I look at Taylor again.

He’s looking rather smug as he repeats Lie’s words. “You’ve been nominated for the management position of the bars,” Taylor says, as if this is a huge honor.

It is. Management positions are kind of like elections on Kala. I feel pretty humbled by it. However, that doesn’t mean anything when I know Taylor is part of the hiring committee.

“No.”

The shock on his face almost has me smiling. “I’m sorry. I thought you said no,” he stammers.

“Correct. I’m not interested in your games or the hoops you make candidates jump through. Find someone else.”

Beside me, Nason covers his mouth to hide his laughter.

Taylor stares at me with his mouth open. Seconds pass in which the room fills with quiet laughter. Taylor isn’t used to being told no and that someone won’t play his games.

“This is a big honor,” Taylor says. “You should be?—”

“If there was anyone else offering it, I would be incredibly humbled and willing to consider the position,” I interrupt. “But I’m not going to play your games. I don’t care who you are on this island; your games are asinine, and I won’t participate. Find someone else.”

“Actually, I rescind my agreement to the nomination of Historic Committee Manager,” Frances Pillsworth says. “I’m with Laiken. I have no interest in games either. It’s far too exhausting and I have far more important things to do than stroke your ego.”

I guess I missed the part of the meeting where we moved into the open management positions.

I wonder how many people stepped back because they had to deal with Taylor regularly.

My wondering is slightly mollified when Eddy Derkin says, “I didn’t know this was an option.

I’m stepping down from Community Engagement Manager.

You’re far too troublesome to deal with daily. ”

There’s a moment when the entire room seems to speak at once. Taylor looks like there’s been shots fired, all aimed directly at his chest.

Oops. I might have just started a revolution. The crowd gets louder as people talk over each other. More stepping down. More backing out of their ballots for various management positions.

“Old man Calloway is going to love this,” Nason says, laughing.

Lie twists in his chair, a big smile on his face. “Look what you did, Laiken.”

“Were you even assigned the position to run these meetings?” someone shouts over the crowd.

“I almost feel bad for him,” I muse. “I wasn’t trying to make a statement. I’m just not kissing anyone’s boots. Managing is stressful enough. I sure as fuck don’t want the added stress of dealing with Taylor every day. No thanks.”

“I can tell you from experience that he has no boundaries,” Nason says. “He calls at all hours and expects you to be at his beck and call when he has questions, regardless of the time and day. Personally, I think it’s a good decision. I’d decline too if I’d realized it was an option.”

The meeting does not get back on track. It turns into chaos as everyone begins revolting against Taylor. It’s not that Taylor doesn’t mean well. He does. He just obsessively helicopters everyone and is stupidly nitpicky about dumb shit. Grass height is just tonight’s example.

We leave the meeting hall with the crowd. I’d say there’s always a good eighty to a hundred residents of all ages who attend the meetings. The entire community is very involved in everything. We’re a tight-knit group, which is one of the things I love about living here.

I don’t even despise the small-town island gossip. Most of the time, it’s silly things. Things that happen all over the world in all neighborhoods. Someone kicked someone’s lawn gnome. Someone threw a frisbee onto the neighbor’s roof. Someone’s dog is shitting on someone else’s lawn.

At the very least, it’s entertaining. Even the scandals. I don’t hate that. To be fair, if you’re having an affair in a place like Kala, you’re going to be caught. You’re asking to be caught.

My eyes flicker to Lie. He and Cash are walking ahead of us.

Does this mean we’re asking to be caught? It’s only a matter of time. Which means this thirst for my best friend’s son better run its course soon. We can’t keep doing this.

“I’m going to walk Cash home,” Lie says. He and Cash wave as they take a right down Mediterranean Drive instead of continuing straight down Tasker.

“See you at home,” Nason says.

“What do you think is going to result from tonight?” I ask.

Nason snorts. “I think that depends on what happens. Has all the management actually stepped down or was it a show of solidarity? Were they caught up in the heat of the moment?” He shrugs. “I think either way, Mr. Calloway is definitely going to need to address the Taylor issue.”

“He’s harmless,” I say. “I almost feel bad. He means well.”

“He’s a pain in the ass and has grown far too big for his britches. His self-importance has skyrocketed because we get tired of arguing with him and end up enabling him. This needed to happen, even if you started this by accident.”

“Sorry?” I offer.

Nason laughs. “Nah. Totally necessary. But for the record, you’d be a damn good manager for the bar network. I bet you’d make it boom.”

I’ve always had a few ideas that I thought would be cool. I’ve kept them in my back pocket for when there’s a manager who actually wants to make improvements. Not simply manage what’s already taking place.

Being the manager would allow me to bring some new and exciting ideas to life.

However, not at the expense of my sanity and patience. I’m not a violent man, but two hours in a town meeting has me ready to chop Taylor up and add him to the blender behind the bar. He’s maddening.

I yawn, and Nason shakes his head. “What’s got you so tired all the time? You seeing someone and not telling me?”

I know he’s teasing, but the way I nearly flinched has me cringing. That’s far too close to home. I contemplate not answering or telling him I don’t want to talk about it. Both are suspicious when I’ve never done either.

Nason shoves me, laughing. “You are, aren’t you? Why the secrecy?”

I rub my face, buying myself some time. Fuck.

“It’s someone you shouldn’t be seeing, isn’t it?” he asks, grinning at me. “You’re having an affair!”

“Nason,” I say warily.

“Okay, okay. I won’t push. But I expect details.” He turns off our path and down his walkway toward his house. “See you tomorrow.”

I wave, thankful for the night. He couldn’t see the dread on my face at this conversation. Or the guilt. Or that I was likely green as my stomach threatened to vomit everywhere.

My door isn’t fully closed when I hear footsteps that sound like someone’s running. I open it as a dark figure comes down the road in the opposite direction from Nason’s house. They sprint across my lawn toward me.

It’s not difficult to recognize his shape. I dream of his shape. Those short fucking shorts that cup everything exceptionally well. His long, lean legs. Dark hair and even darker eyes.

Lie doesn’t pause. He jumps into my arms, wrapping around me, his mouth crashes into mine. I take several steps backward and close the door. We’re plunged into darkness. I can feel his hunger, his need as he pulls at my shirt.

I fumble with the lock and then bring him into my bedroom, kicking the door shut behind me. His ankles unlock behind me and his feet hit the floor. We tear at each other’s clothes until we’re naked.

I want to examine his body. Memorize every inch. But it’s dark. He’s against me again, his mouth on mine, before I can reach for the light.

We fall onto the bed, rolling until I’m on top of him. Pressing his slim body into the mattress with my heavier one. His hips buck up, rubbing his hard dick against mine.

“Get me off,” he says. “Please, Laiken. I’m so fucking horny. I’m so desperate for an orgasm. Please.”

I mean to ask him what he wants. I mean to take my time and savor him. I have so many plans and fantasies for this moment.

But his legs wrap around me, his ankles hooking behind my thighs. He uses that position to jerk his hips against mine, rubbing our dicks together deliciously. My entire body tingles with need.

Reaching between us, I grip our cocks. He moans into my mouth, nodding his head. Telling me that’s what he wants.

I stretch to reach the nightstand and fumble blindly in the drawer to find the lube. His sinful mouth licks and bites at my collarbone while I’m in this position over him. Every touch of his mouth makes a lava flow of lust surge through my body.

I squirt a mess of lube all over us, but it’s definitely enough to make the movements between our dicks slick.

I squeeze my hand tightly, listening to the way Lie moans loudly.

His body arches and his head tips back. His body shakes as his hips continue to jerk wildly, rubbing our dicks together with desperate need.

All I can do is stare at him. How beautiful he is. How fucking sexy he is writhing under me. The sounds he makes, the line of his neck, the way his dick fits against mine. It’s the most erotic moment.

My heart races like I’m sprinting. All I can smell is Lie. Breathing him in until my lungs are saturated. He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever known.

I’ve been waiting for this. Waiting to have him in my bed. This may end far too quickly, but there’s no rule that says we’re limited to a single orgasm tonight. I still need to taste his dick. I still need to suck him as he did me in the break room at the bar.

Only this time, we’re not in a hurry. This time, we have all damn night and I’m going to spend every second making Lie feel so fucking good that he’ll keep coming back.