Page 24

Chapter Twenty-One

LIE

I wait until I’m sure Mom is out of sight before I run across the backyards to Laiken’s house. He’s waiting just inside the sliding door, though this time it’s open. He smiles, and it makes my heart jump. So hot.

I don’t slow as I run inside and into his arms, our mouths colliding almost painfully.

“Mmm,” he hums into my mouth.

It’s risky standing right here, in front of the open kitchen door, kissing with Laiken’s hands moving hungrily over my body. Anyone could look in. Mr. Jameson, whose yard abuts Laiken’s, could look this way. Mr. Persimmon, who’s across from my house. The neighbors on Laiken’s other side.

More risky is one of my parents coming home, having forgotten something, and walking across the yard and catching us. We’re getting more and more reckless, toying with our good fortune.

Deep down, I think maybe we want to be caught. Sneaking around isn’t awful. It’s definitely kinda fun. But we don’t want to do this forever. There needs to be a time when we can be together openly.

Then again, I’m not in a huge hurry for my dad to find out.

I know that’s not going to be easy to get through, and I have no interest in the day it happens.

While I don’t want to miss out on all the little moments and memories Laiken and I make in the beginning of our relationship, I’d really like to fast forward to the point where everyone knows and we live happily ever after.

“You ready?” Laiken asks.

“For your dick in me? Yes.”

His chuckle is low and sexy. I can feel the vibration of it travel through my chest, down to my groin, where it turns warm. “It’s been hours , Lie. Hours.”

“Why are you not sharing?” I grumble.

“When do I get to ride your dick?” he counters.

The image of him bouncing on me, that big cock waving like a flag in surrender, has me shivering. Yes, please. “When I get my fill of you. Then it’s your turn.”

“I hardly think that’s fair,” Laiken says. He kisses my lips quickly and pulls away. I watch as he slides the door closed. “You’re being selfish with your dick.”

One of my favorite things is that he’s completely opened up now that we’ve truly decided to pursue this between us. There’s no holding back. No hesitation. He’s as obsessed with me as I am with him, and he’s not afraid to let me know.

Laiken takes my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing the back of it, his eyes on mine. “We’re not in a hurry to do everything,” he says. “Our days aren’t limited.”

I sigh. Sometimes, it still feels like an ending is looming ahead of us, somewhere close yet so far off that we can’t see when we’re going to reach it. That’s always in relation to thinking about my father.

But comments like this assure me we’ll be fine. We’ll get through it all together. I nod, feeling a little choked up for some reason.

“Let’s go. We’re going to be late.”

Laiken releases my hand, and we leave through his front door, walking toward the docks. Bane Island and Keone Reef have a small number of private bungalows on the beach for the resort. There are checkpoints to reach them where all technology is handed over and not allowed within those boundaries.

There’s also a disclaimer that if one of the guests ventures into the residential part of the two islands, they’re forfeiting some of their privacy because residents have their own technology.

Over the years, I’ve gathered that those who choose to stay on Bane or Keone Reef do so to get away from the crowded, busy, and loud atmosphere of the other islands. They want peace and alone time.

I’ve never talked to many of the guests who stay on Bane or Keone Reef. Unless they stop in one of the restaurants or other businesses on one of the islands, there’s little reason to run into them.

“I can’t believe you have friends other than my dad,” I say as we walk down the road.

Laiken laughs. “Nason has more friends than just me.”

I look at him with horror, making him laugh again. “I’ve never seen a single one. That’s a lie.”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t say he hangs around with them, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have friends outside of me.”

“Yet, we’re going to hang out with a friend of yours outside of my dad. I think you’re cheating on him.” I sniff.

“You’re ridiculous.”

Smirking, I glance at him. “Tell me how you came by this friend? Someone you knew before moving to Kala, right?”

“No, actually. Deryke came into the Hinky Dinky one night a couple years ago when Whiskey Horizons was playing. He became a fan of theirs and returned frequently to listen to them over the course of a couple of weeks. As you can imagine, Benson got all up in arms and made sure to tell him they’re not gay, so Deryke can sniff around someone else.

That’s the one time I removed Ben from the bar for talking to a patron like that.

I apologized to Deryke, who assured me it wasn’t a big deal. We became friends.”

I shake my head. Ben is such a dick.

“He’s since learned that I’m serious about kicking his ass out if he pushes me.”

“You haven’t kicked him out for treating Cash like shit,” I point out.

He sighs. “I know. It’s a combination of it being family drama and not, you know, Ben attacking a patron, and Cash being unfazed by Ben’s tantrums. Maybe it’s also a little bit of letting him self-sabotage because people see what he’s doing and no one is going to sign that shit, regardless of how much talent they have. ”

“I really wish Onyx and Bryce would just replace him. He’s entirely replaceable. He may not believe it, but he is.”

Laiken nods. “Yep, agreed. If Cash wants me to kick him out next time, I will.”

“It’s sad that we’re talking about it in absolute terms.”

“Says a lot about his character.”

I nod absently, wondering if I can speak for Cash and have Benson removed next time. Just on principle. I think Ben needs a reminder of that lesson. Maybe having it happen again will open Onyx and Bryce’s eyes, too.

“So this is a guy you hooked up with, then?” I ask.

Laiken looks at me, laughter in his eyes. “You think I sleep with all my friends, Lie?”

“Except Dad, yes.”

He shakes his head. “Wow. No, I haven’t hooked up with Deryke. He’s not into guys.”

I narrow my eyes. “Please forgive me for not believing that a man who books habitual vacations on a gay resort isn’t into men.”

“He’s a public figure,” Laiken explains.

“All the more reason I don’t believe you. That’s news that would spread like fire.”

“Not in a place where there’s no technology to prove his presence here.”

I’m not convinced.

As we start up the winding path that weaves between palm trees and tall flora, Laiken takes my hand. I glance around, heart racing. We could be seen.

“You want to know why I asked you to join me today?” he asks.

I nod.

“Because Deryke is someone with no personal connections on Kala except me. We don’t have to hide our relationship in front of him. You have Cash to talk to about this. Deryke is probably the only person I can share this with, and I want to share it with someone.”

My heart beats all dramatically as I stare at him. “That’s really sweet.”

His smile is beautiful. “I don’t hate keeping this between us, but I’m really looking forward to sharing it with someone.”

“It’s so weird to think that we can just… be for a minute.”

Laiken nods. “It’ll be a taste of what it’ll be like in the future.”

Yep, there go the butterflies in my stomach.

The bungalows are small, one bedroom, kitchen, bath, and small living area buildings set within little flora alcoves to keep them private.

They open to the beach in the back, where you step off a shallow deck and straight into the sand.

They’re within a short walk to the Cantina, a couple of restaurants, and a small everything shop.

They’re cute. I’ve always thought they’d be fun to rent for a weekend. Just as a taste of what it’ll be like to have my own place.

A place where Laiken can come over without the threat of my parents walking into my room while we’re in a compromised position. Somewhere private, where no one is watching our every move.

Someday.

Laiken knocks on the door. It opens almost immediately. I’d be amused that he’s waiting just beyond the door, but when it opens, I can see the small living area with a couch, a chair, and a coffee table only steps behind him.

The space opens to the right where the big bed is. To the left is a hall that must lead to the kitchen and bathroom.

This isn’t how I thought they’d be set up. Where is the door to the beach? Must be down the hall.

One thing I’m happy I imagined correctly is all the windows. Every wall is covered in windows, and even though we’re surrounded by trees blocking our view of other buildings and people, it’s still beautiful. There’s beauty in privacy, for sure.

“Hey,” Laiken says, and I watch as they hug. Then Laiken’s hand is on my lower back, and he moves me forward a step. “This is Deryke. My boyfriend, Elijah.”

Oh my god, he called me his boyfriend in front of someone! I’m caught between looking at Laiken with wide eyes and trying to be polite to Deryke.

Deryke chuckles. “Does he know he’s your boyfriend?” Deryke asks, amused. I wasn’t expecting the accent. It’s really sexy. I’m such a sucker for accents.

Laiken grins, his arm wrapping around my waist. “He does. He just doesn’t hear me proclaim it often.”

“Or ever,” I say, and finally get myself together enough to offer Deryke my hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you. I thought he was making you up.”

Both men laugh, Laiken rolling his eyes.

Deryke takes a step back, letting us in. “I’m real.”

“You come to a gay island, but Laiken says you’re not into men. I’m trying to puzzle this out,” I say, eyes narrowed.

Laiken shakes his head, bringing me onto the couch.

“I play professional hockey,” Deryke says.

“So everything I do is plastered all over the internet, no matter what it is. There’s no straight place quite like Kala, where everyone signs an NDA and is not allowed personal electronic devices, which means, for just these weeks in the summer, I’m anonymous.

I’m just a person. Allowed to live my life without a camera in my face. ”

“You can have gay affairs!” I say, grinning.

“Or,” Deryke says, “I can be like you and everyone else here and simply exist.”

I study him for a minute. “That sounds like an exhausting life.”

“It is,” Deryke agrees. “That’s the price I pay for having the job I do.”

“Hockey.”

He chuckles. “I can tell by the look on your face that you aren’t a hockey fan.”

I think to argue, but instead, I just shake my head. “I’m not sure I’ve seen a game. I’m familiar enough to know you play it on ice with sticks and nets. That’s it.”

“Blasphemy,” Deryke mutters.

I grin, looking at Laiken. “You’re not a hockey fan, either. Does he curse you in a sexy accent, too?”

“Constantly. Also, I’ve made it a point to watch a couple of Deryke’s games when I can. For the most part, it’s about access to the networks that broadcast them. We get some West Coast U.S. channels, but Deryke isn’t on the west coast.”

“Where are you?” I ask Deryke.

“St. Louis.” When I look at him absently, he smirks. “Missouri.”

That’s only barely better. I gather from context that it’s not the West Coast at any rate.

“What do you do, Elijah?” Deryke asks.

“I work at the bar with Laiken right now. It’s not a forever job, but after my disastrous experience in college, and until I find what I’m passionate about, it occupies my time in a productive way.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened in college?”

“I failed?—”

“No, you didn’t. He was bullied for his sexuality, and when it crossed a line to a point where he no longer felt safe and the school was failing to protect him, he came home. As he should have. No education is worth risking your safety,” Laken says.

I shrug.

Deryke frowns. “What college?”

“Star State College in Texas,” I answer. “Are you familiar? You didn’t go there, did you?”

“I did not. I just want to make sure it’s not a school I support. I will also make sure it’s blacklisted within the NHL community. We do not tolerate bigotry and bullying.”

“No?”

He smiles, shaking his head. “There’s a good number of out players in pro hockey and while there is still hate from many directions, the leagues don’t tolerate it. They even have an initiative to promote equality.”

I smile. “That’s great. You just made me a hockey sport fan.”

He chuckles. “So tell me, what do you want to do, Elijah?” Deryke asks.

“You can call me Lie, like everyone has my entire life,” I say, grinning. Before I continue, I see recognition in his eyes. He glances at Laiken. I look at Laiken, too. “You’ve mentioned me to your friend before, haven’t you?”

“We catch up on each other’s lives when we get together,” Laiken says, inclining his head. “You, Nason, and Miranda are a big part of my life. So yes, I’ve mentioned you.”

“I’m afraid to know in what context.”

“As a proud… uh…” Deryke trails off.

“Father?” I prompt, amused.

“Yes,” Deryke admits. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” I snuggle further into Laiken’s side, wrapping my arms around his arm. His hand flexes on my thigh. “I can call him Daddy if it’ll help.”

“You will not,” Laiken says.

“Okay, Daddy.”

Laiken sighs. I grin.

Deryke looks between the two of us, smiling. “I see that things have changed.”

“It’s my ass,” I tell him. “I seduced him with my ass.”

Laiken sighs again, his hand tightening on my leg. I grin hugely, staring at Deryke as he tries to contain his laughter.

“Is this how it’s going to be when I introduce you to my friends?” Laiken asks.

“Oh, definitely,” I tell him. “You have to take the good with the bad, Daddy.”

His fingers grip my chin, bringing my face to his. My breath catches as I stare into his eyes. “I’ll take everything you have, Lie. I’ll take it and keep it forever.”

I can’t catch my breath.