Page 15

CHAPTER 15

OSCAR

T he ferry from Anapos to Makara is twenty minutes. We spend the ride on the deck watching the ocean for any sea life. The captain tells us there’s been a pod of dolphins hanging around the islands over the last few weeks. He suspects that people have been feeding them to keep them in the area.

We don’t see the dolphins, but the view as we move across the water is beautiful all the same.

At first glance, Makara is very different from Anapos. It’s surrounded by beautiful beaches on the perimeter, but the interior is full of lush, tall trees.

“Follow the paths,” a woman is saying as we fall into line to get off the ferry. “You’re free to explore the trees, but keep in mind that you can’t call for help. Be mindful, responsible adults! Gay beaches to your immediate right. Center right is lesbian beaches. If you follow the wood plant path straight then the curve around to the left, you’ll get to the every-body-part beach—AKA men and women and genderless and genderfluid and… You get the picture.”

“I haven’t seen many women on Kala,” Ruby says.

“It’s a misunderstanding that this is a gay resort, meaning gay men,” Alka says. “However, that tends to be the face of it. It’s actually an LGBTQIA+ resort. You’ll find women primarily head to the island Etsumi, and of course, there are women on the two residential islands—Bane and Keone Reef.”

“Huh,” Ruby says. “I guess I thought it was a gay island resort, too. Though now that I think about it, when I looked it up on the website, there were women pictured.”

Alka and I nod as we follow the group down the path. It’s as the woman said—wooden planks, like a dock or a pathway built over marshland. We follow the crowd, which mostly turns to the gay beach. There’s a cute road marker at the fork that reminds me of some pirate cliché. Broken boards roughly shaped in the directions they’re indicating.

Eggplant this way. Taco this way. Salad that way. Ruby laughs as we pass. “I wish I could take a picture of that,” he says.

“Make sure you take a look at the picture studio before you leave,” I tell him. “Scanning your bracelet will bring up all the images the island photographers have taken of you, but you also have access to the general island photos.”

“They’re pretty cool,” Alka says. “They take the same pictures from the same spot but on every single day so you can look up any date to see what pictures were taken. It’s a way of individualizing your trip without the ability to take pictures yourself.”

“They also take unique pictures if they come across something cool,” I add.

“I bet that’s fun,” Ruby says. “Going around the islands to take pictures all day. You’re in paradise, too. Surrounded by gorgeous guys, no homophobia or hate, island time, no pressure, and all you’re doing is taking pictures.”

“I agree. It sounds like a great job,” I say.

“I think there’s an entire army of photographers too,” Alka says. “They’re everywhere, making sure that they capture your memories even when you can’t.” He points to a shirtless, shoeless Speedo-clad man with a camera, who’s looking our way. He grins, holds up the camera, and snaps a photo. “They’re identified as employees by the red band around their biceps. If they don’t have that, report them.”

“ And you get to walk around half naked all day,” Ruby says, smiling at the man as we pass. “Yep, the perfect job.”

“It is,” the man agrees. “I also have great benefits and free food and drink when I’m hungry.” He shrugs.

“I’m sold,” Ruby says as we pass. He’s momentarily sidetracked, stopping in his tracks, as we get to another fork in the path. This isn’t the path that leads to salad beach. Down the heavily tree-lined path, the island curves uphill. From our position, you can barely see the walls of the fortifications.

“Is that a castle?” Ruby asks incredulously.

Alka laughs. “Yep. Back when kings built castles to live in and use as fortifications, this was a popular island chain within the Pacific Ocean for defense or offense, depending on the side you were on.”

“Damn,” he says. “Is it a place we can visit?”

“Yes,” I answer. “They have tons of activities, tours, authentic dinners, and you can even book a room to live like a king for a day.”

“You want to stop in?” Alka asks. “We’re not in a hurry, and we don’t have any set schedule.”

Ruby shakes his head, but I don’t think he’s actually convinced he doesn’t want to. “Another time,” he says. “But definitely on my list.”

I nod. It’s been on ours as well.

“There’s a lot to do on these islands,” Ruby says. “I think the catalog lists over 180 individual excursions, but they can be modified and customized in so many ways that there’s nearly 500 different things you can do. You’ve been coming here for years, right?”

Alka nods. I anticipate where this is going.

“Have you done a lot of them?”

“No,” Alka says, laughing. “We do very few, actually.”

Ruby’s surprised. “Why? ”

“Honestly, I don’t know.” Alka looks at me and shrugs. “I think we lead such busy lives for nine months of the year, always adhering to schedules and expectations, that by the time we get here, all we want to do is relax.”

I nod in agreement. “We do book things sometimes, but usually it’s things that will grab us last minute. Like if we’re walking by and something piques our interest. Otherwise, it’s nice to simply relax without having to be somewhere.”

“I get that,” Ruby says. “I suppose there’s a fine line between relaxation and running around on so many excursions that you entirely forget to relax.”

“Exactly,” I say.

“Then is that all you do? You just hang around the bungalow?”

“You’ve done some things with us that we usually do. Sometimes we hang out with the handful of friends we met on Kala over the last seven years who also come down during the summer. We’ve told you about them and you met Jake and Henry.”

“They seemed really cool. It’s nice that they still come to the islands even though they have little kids at home,” Ruby says.

“I think they need the break,” I say, grinning.

Alka smiles. “Blake and Joseph didn’t make it this year. I guess their oldest son, who’s a teenager though I don’t remember his exact age, got into some trouble at school, and they don’t dare leave him. Rebellious phase and all that.”

Ruby smirks, nodding.

“Thomas and Jack, who you met, have two young kids and one on the way. When we commit to a planned excursion, it’s usually with them. They like to have adventures when they’re out. Then there’s Isaac and Lewis. No kids. Young and excited and a little wild.”

“I think they make us remember that we’re not as old as our summer of lounging around might suggest we are,” I muse.

Ruby laughs. “Are there more? ”

Alka looks at me. I can see his hesitation.

“There are two other couples,” he says carefully. “We usually swing with them. Cole and James and Jake and Henry.”

Ruby tilts his head to look at us. “Swing? Like… swap partners for…”

“Yes. We had plans with them earlier this week, but we canceled,” I tell him.

Ruby’s footsteps slow down, and Alka wraps his arm around Ruby’s waist. “We canceled to be with you,” he says, pulling Ruby close.

Ruby’s eyebrows pucker. “You didn’t need to do that,” he says quietly.

“No,” I agree. “But we wanted to.”

“Do you do that a lot?”

“Swing or cancel?” I ask, teasing him. Trying to make him relax a little.

I’m rewarded with a small smile. “Swing. Although maybe both now that you mention it.”

“Only ever with these four men and only for a day on the island in the summer for the previous four summers,” Alka says. “We rarely cancel our commitments. But we wanted to spend the day with you, and it seemed inappropriate… given the circumstances?”

He ends it in a question, turning his eyes to mine. Those aren’t the words he was going for, but he didn’t want to be presumptuous or put pressure on Ruby. I nod. Ruby will understand what he means.

“Okay,” Ruby says as our feet finally leave the wood planks and step into the sand of the beach. “That’s cool.”

I’m not sure whether he really feels that way or if he just wants to be finished with the conversation, but for now, we let it go. I think we’ll need to have a bit of a longer conversation concerning this later, so he understands that it’s not something we do outside this one instance on the island during the summers .

I stop off to the right and grab a rubber bag that has towels, waters, a bucket, sunscreen, and some other odds and ends, then we step onto the nude beach. We’re instantly looking at naked men against the backdrop of a tropical shore.

“Huh,” Ruby says as he stares, his eyes darting all over like he’s unsure where to look first or if he’s even allowed to look.

Alka chuckles. “Come on. Let’s go find some sand.”

“We’re going to build a sandcastle,” I say.

Ruby flashes me a grin. “Cool.”

“Just so it’s clear, you don’t have to take off your shorts. You know that, right?” Alka asks.

Ruby nods, his cheeks flushing as we stop at the end of an unused lounge with a moveable umbrella to adjust the shade over us. He glances around before shoving his shorts down and stepping out of them. “It’s about the experience,” he says.

Alka grins. He cups both sides of Ruby’s face, so he’ll meet his eyes then kisses him. “You can put them back on whenever you want. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”

Ruby relaxes. “Thanks. I think this is a good way to see each other naked first.” A smile dances across his lips. “When there’s no pressure.”

“Ah. Well, be prepared to stare,” Alka says and turns to me as he shoves his own shorts down.

Ruby shifts, so he can see Alka fully naked. He smiles in approval until he looks at Alka’s face. Alka’s still looking at me. He’s not an arrogant man. I know he’s hot. Everyone around him knows he’s hot. But he doesn’t ever seem to get that memo. He wasn’t talking about himself. He was talking about me.

Sighing, I drop my shorts too. Alka’s smile climbs, and I see the hint of heat in his eyes before he looks at Ruby. Ruby’s lips part as he takes me in.

“Oh,” Ruby says.

Alka nods solemnly. “Right? I feel inferior beside my naked husband every single day.”

I roll my eyes. As does Ruby .

“Alright, that’s enough ogling for now. Let’s get sand in some uncomfortable places so we can wash it off each other later,” I say.

The showers are back toward the path. There’s a dozen lined up—large squares made out of decorative wooden panels for a tease of privacy, though the boards don’t line up, so privacy is definitely more of a suggestion than reality. The floor is probably some material that’s only made to look like wood. It’s always in such pristine condition, no signs of rotting or getting rough with splinters, so I doubt it’s real.

There’s a large rainfall showerhead and a shelf filled with towels. There’s no soap or shampoo, so the runoff doesn’t affect the natural environment around us, but there is a lube dispenser on the wall. The important things are covered.

We step into the outdoor shower, and I flick the handle to turn the water on. A burst of cold water rushes over us and Alka shivers, moving out of the spray. It doesn’t take long to heat up though, so I pull him back against me, his back to my chest.

Unsurprisingly, in this position, my dick immediately gets interested. I raise my eyes and meet Ruby’s. He’s hovering at the entrance to the shower, his hand over his dick. I’m not sure if he’s self-conscious or trying not to get turned on right now.

It might be a combination of both. His cheeks are flushed, but I can clearly see the heat in his eyes.

“Sorry,” Alka says as he steps away from me. “We didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Ruby bites his lip and shakes his head. “No. I’m not.”

He steps into the shower and drops down to his knees in front of Alka, turning his pretty brown eyes up to Alka’s. They flicker to me, holding mine for a second, then return to Alka’s.

“Oh fuck,” Alka says, gripping his cock.

I grab his hands and pull them behind him, crossing them at his lower back. His hands lock at his elbows, and I know he’ll keep them there.

I’m appreciative that there’s lube everywhere. I take half a step away to reach the pump on the wall and bring a dollop back to cover my cock. Hopefully, the water’s run over us enough that most of the sand has been washed away from unpleasant crevices.

Once lubed, I step into him, pressing my cock between his ass cheeks to rub against his hole. Alka makes a frustrated huff of a whine that catches in his throat when I reach around to take his hard dick in my hand.

Ruby’s eyes meet mine, and he licks his lips.

“Want to taste my husband?” I ask.

I think a shiver simultaneously runs through all of us. Ruby nods. “Yes,” he says, all breathy and sexy. “Can I?”

“Oh fuck,” Alka repeats.

I stroke Alka’s dick for a minute then push it down so I can tap his crown against Ruby’s lips. He opens his mouth, his eyes still locked on mine. Fuck, this is hot. Good lord, why haven’t we done this before?

I press Alka’s head into Ruby’s mouth then bring my hand to the back of his head, pulling him in and watching Alka’s dick disappear between Ruby’s lips.

“Fuck,” Alka whines, his body shaking. His hips thrust forward a little.

Ruby dives in, burying his face into Alka’s crotch, taking his dick in deep. I roughly thrust my hips between Alka’s crack, and he whines again.

Good fucking god, he’s so damn sexy like this. So is Ruby. Fucking christ, this entire moment is so much hotter than I think it should be. Because we’re sharing the first sexual experience with Ruby between the three of us? Is that it?

Ruby makes a choking sound and pulls back. I don’t stop him. I keep my hand on the back of his head for no reason except that I want to feel him. I want to touch him .

He dives back in and begins fucking Alka’s dick into his mouth, moving back and forth then pausing while Alka’s in deep. I match my rhythm to Ruby’s, letting him call the shots. Further down, his hand moves across his dick too. Rapidly. Harshly. He pauses and grips the base tightly before picking up again.

“He’s going to come soon,” I warn Ruby when I feel Alka tremble and hear him whimper.

Ruby’s eyes meet mine, and a wave of heat rushes through me. Holy fucking hell.

Alka comes with a choked cry as his body spasms. I hold Ruby’s face to Alka’s pelvis for a minute, though I don’t mean to. I hold him there tightly as Alka gasps through his orgasm. Ruby swallows, slurpy, wet choking sounds coming from his mouth.

Gripping his hair, I pull him backward momentarily. He takes a deep breath, swallows, and moves forward again before I can bring him back in. So fucking sexy. Seriously.

Alka pulls his arms from between us and grabs Ruby by his shoulders, hauling him to his feet, and kissing him roughly. My hands drop to Ruby’s ass, pulling him in tightly as I continue to bring my hard dick through Alka’s crack, using Ruby’s plump ass cheeks as a handle.

“Kiss Oz now,” Alka says.

I look up as Ruby turns his eyes to mine. I’m surprised when he practically climbs Alka to get to me over Alka’s shoulder and kisses me with the same force and enthusiasm as he had Alka a second earlier. I lose myself in his mouth, in the taste of my husband on him. I lose myself in the feel of Alka between us, his ass cheeks clenching around my cock, the way Ruby simultaneously takes control of my mouth and submits to my tongue.

I groan deeply as I come, sucking on Ruby’s lip as I do.

“God, that’s so hot,” Alka mutters .

I barely register him sucking on Ruby’s neck. Sloppily kissing along his jaw. Lightly chewing his ear.

Releasing Ruby’s mouth, I take a breath. My entire body becomes covered in chills. I’ve never before had the sense of rightness fall over me with anyone outside of my husband.

“Time to take care of you,” Alka murmurs.

Ruby nods wildly. “Yes. Please. I need to come. I’m so close.”

Alka turns him in his arms so he’s standing just as Alka is against me, back to chest. I adjust so I can wrap my hand around Ruby’s dick with Alka, and together, we jerk this sexy man until he’s shaking in our arms from his orgasm.

“You sound so breathtaking when you come,” Alka says quietly. “I can’t wait to hear all the other sounds you make, Ruby.”

Ruby hums as his body weight sinks into us. Alka grins, turning his head to look at me in his peripheral, and I kiss him.

We stand under the water for a while before finally, actually cleaning the sand from our bodies.