Page 18 of Troubled Skies (Blue Skies #3)

Adrian nodded. “And?”

“And, what, poussin? I don’t understand what you are asking.”

Stepping back from Ren, Adrian’s gaze swept over the yacht and the city once more. “I told you about my ex.”

“I remember.”

“What I didn’t tell you is that he was the latest in a long line of assholes. I seem to have a knack for finding them.”

“And you wish to know if I am like all those other men who have hurt you.” Ren shook his head.

“I cannot say because I do not know everything that has happened to you, but I can promise that I have meant everything I have said to you. I have no expectations.” Taking a chance, Ren flashed Adrian what he hoped was a seductive smile.

“I have hopes. I will not lie to you about that. You owe me nothing, Adrian. But if you wish to leave as soon as the dinner I have offered you is finished, if you wish to leave right now or in an hour, all you have to do is tell me.”

Ren took a step closer to Adrian, gratified when the man did not move away from him. “I admit I am attracted to you, that I want you in my bed, but if you do not feel the same, if you do not trust me—”

“I do,” Adrian blurted. “It’s myself I don’t trust. I’ve made so many mistakes—”

“Then I will do my best not to become another, mon cher.” Ren put his hand on his heart. “On my honor.” When he reached out to pull Adrian into his arms, he was relieved when Adrian went willingly.

“You say all the right things,” Adrian said.

“That is a good thing, non?”

“It is, but it’s more important to do the right things as well.”“And have I not done them? Tell me what you need me to do, and it will be so.”

Adrian laughed, a glorious sound that made Ren realize how worried he had been that Adrian would leave. “It’s not that simple.”

“But why? Are you so complex you think I cannot satisfy you? Or are you so deviant and perverse, you fear you will shock me?”

“I’m sure you’re the one who will shock me.”

“Then let us stop these silly conversations and enjoy the time we have together, poussin, because it is so tragically short.”

“All right,” Adrian said, and Ren’s heart received its second shock as Adrian rose up on his toes and pressed their lips together.

Ren already knew the taste and feel of Adrian’s mouth, the way he yielded as soon as Ren touched the tip of his tongue to the soft lips he’d come to adore, but the way Adrian gave himself now, his body aligned with Ren’s, letting Ren feel all of him as their tongues tangled and stroked, was something else.

Ren’s hands moved to Adrian’s waist and pulled him closer while Adrian’s fingers tangled themselves in his curls, tugging ever so slightly, which Ren loved.

They kissed for what seemed like hours, hands exploring, sneaking under clothing to caress bare flesh.

All the while, Ren was aware of the ache in his cock and the press of Adrian’s hardness against his own.

He groaned when Adrian shifted away, but then Ren let his hands drift to Adrian’s, fingers flirting with the waistband of his pants as he pulled Adrian close again.

“You’ve been in these for hours,” Ren said as he continued to nuzzle against Adrian’s smooth cheek. “Would you like to join me in the pool?”

“Is this your way of telling me I stink?” Adrian teased.

“Non! Absolument pas. Je suis horrifié que tu penses ca.”

Adrian laughed. “I have no idea what you just said, but your expression says I’m right. You think I stink.”

In response, Ren picked Adrian up and threw him over his shoulder. “We are heading to the pool, poussin.”

“You know my bathing suit is somewhere in the UK, and we didn’t get a new one at the shop,” Adrian said as Ren carried him toward the elevator.

“Is this a problem? I may have one in my cabin, but it is not an issue if we are naked.”

“Of course, it isn’t,” Adrian laughed.

“Is that a yes, then?”

“Yes, it’s a yes.”“Génial!”

“It’s not like I have much choice here,” Adrian said as the elevator doors closed behind them, but he was still laughing.

Ren took that as a good sign, and slapped Adrian’s ass lightly, which made Adrian yelp in surprise. “Behave,” he said, and Adrian subsided as they descended.

“You can put me down now,” he said as the elevator settled on the main deck and the doors slid open.

“Non. I don’t think I will,” Ren said and marched out of the elevator with Adrian still on his shoulder. Adrian screeched at him and kicked his legs until Ren playfully slapped his ass again and told him to be quiet.

Ren gently lowered Adrian to his feet, then began stripping off his own clothing, eager to see Adrian’s reaction to his body. He was relieved to see that Adrian was also getting naked, though his hands hovered over the button to his pants without moving to undo them.

“I have already seen most of you, poussin.” Ren paused in his déshabillage, the sun a glorious warmth on his bare shoulders and chest that made him eager to shed the rest of his clothes.

Adrian nodded. “I know.”

“Then what is the problem.”

“Did you see my legs?”

“Your legs? Poussin, I am sure they are as perfect as the rest of you.”

“I was burned,” Adrian said bluntly. “In the crash. They’re still healing.”

In a flash, all merriment fled from Ren. This wasn’t the usual hesitation that accompanied a first unveiling of bodies. Non. Adrian was pulling at his fingers again and worrying the thumb of his right hand across the palm of his left. This would not do.

In three quick strides, Ren was standing in front of Adrian, taking his hands in his own, and placing a quick kiss on Adrian’s lips to distract him.

“You are beautiful to me, poussin, no matter what your legs look like.” His mouth curled up in what he hoped was a charming and devilish grin.

“Unless you are hiding tentacles or something else unseemly, there is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. I cannot imagine what you have been through, but you do not need to fear for my reaction.”

Adrian blinked at him, then shook his head slightly. “You’re too good to be true,” he said.

Again, Ren kissed him. “You wear your heart on your sleeve, poussin, anyone with eyes can see what is going on in your head and your heart.”

“Not in my experience, but I’ll take your word for it that you can.

” Adrian took a step back from Ren. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said as he unfastened his pants and pushed them down his legs, taking his briefs with them.

He picked them up, folded them, and placed them on a lounger, then pulled his shirt off over his head.

Ren had already seen Adrian’s flat stomach and the tops of his lightly muscled thighs in the dressing room, but it was one thing to see these bits and pieces playing peekaboo as Adrian exchanged shirts and trousers and quite another to see Adrian in totality.

He took Ren’s breath away. From the fiery hair that flashed red and copper and gold to his nicely toned physique and the smattering of equally fiery fur that adorned his chest, arms, and legs, and was neatly trimmed around his cock, Adrian was simply perfection in his eyes.

With his chin in his hand, Ren circled Adrian as if inspecting him from all sides, making small noises of appreciation even as he saw the shiny red patches that dotted Adrian’s lower legs.

At first, Adrian shifted on his feet as if uncomfortable, but as Ren came around his side, he noticed the way Adrian’s cock was beginning to fill and rise.

Keeping the tease going, he started a second loop pausing every couple of steps as if for closer inspection, then resuming his perusal.

He ran his fingers lightly across the top of Adrian’s ass, a low chuckle escaping as Adrian rocked his hips and shifted his weight.

“You do not know how happy it makes me that you are as fiery down below as you are up here,” Ren said as he brushed a lock of hair back from Adrian’s forehead. “You are magnifique, poussin.”

He took both of Adrian’s hands in his and raised them to his lips, kissing them one at a time as he said words of praise that made Adrian blush.

Then he stepped back in front of Adrian and slowly removed his own pants, dropping them to the deck and kicking them to the side.

Standing straight again, he held his hands out to his side and turned to let Adrian take in his body.

“You like being watched,” Adrian observed as Ren completed his circle.

Ren looked down at his now erect cock, his foreskin starting to pull back from the crown. “What can I say? I am only twenty-five. These things happen when someone I desire as much as you has his eyes on me.”

“Just my eyes?” Adrian took a step closer as Ren shrugged.

“Eyes, hands, lips, tongue, I will take whatever I can get of you, mon poussin.” He continued to hold his arms out to his sides until Adrian stepped into them, and then he closed them around Adrian’s slim body and pulled him closer so their cocks could finally touch. “Ah,” Ren sighed. “You feel so good.”

He bent his knees and lifted Adrian off his feet. Adrian gave a little shriek in surprise as he left the ground, but he quickly wrapped his legs around Ren’s waist, then bent his head to kiss Ren.

Ren opened to his questing tongue immediately, allowing Adrian to plunder his mouth, while he began walking toward the pool steps.

Adrian didn’t seem to notice until his feet skimmed the surface of the cool water, and then all he did was lift his head, nod, and go right back to work owning Ren’s mouth.

Descending another step, Adrian was up to his knees, and Ren paused their kiss so he could watch Adrian’s face as he stepped down again.

“Fuck!” Adrian shouted as his balls touched the water, and he tried to climb higher up Ren’s body, which made Ren laugh. “You shit!”

Still laughing, Ren launched himself the rest of the way into the water, Adrian still clinging to his neck.

He rolled onto his back, bringing Adrian over with him, and floated to the center of the pool.

He kicked lazily a few times until Adrian stretched his legs out allowing them to drift, their bodies aligned, Adrian’s head on his chest. Idly, Ren raised one hand and stroked Adrian’s head.

Neither of them spoke, content to relax with each other, only moving as much as necessary to keep themselves floating.

Eventually, Ren got out of the pool to retrieve sunscreen and an inflatable lounger for them to share, and that was even better because now his hands were free to explore and tease and caress, which he did without any agenda other than learning Adrian’s body.

As he found sensitive or ticklish spots, Ren tucked their location away in his memory intending to use them later if he was lucky enough to get the opportunity.

The warmth and smoothness of Adrian’s skin lulled him into an almost-trancelike state.

He closed his eyes against the sun’s glare and listened to the call of seabirds as they flew overhead, the scent of something delicious cooking nearby, the coolness of the water in contrast to the warmth of Adrian’s body lying on his, the smoothness of Adrian’s skin under his fingers, the rich blueness of the sky overhead.

When he opened his eyes and found Adrian staring at him, he smiled and tried not to think how much better the next two weeks would be if Adrian were with him for the entire trip.