****
Wes
“What is the fucking rush, Luca?”Wes barkedas he was shoved out the door of his own house.He was in a shittymood, and Luca forcing him to head downtown to some high-octaneevent tonight was not helping.Despite the sunny spring evening,Wes wanted to wallow in his misery and loneliness.Jesus,dramatic much?
Three more days had gone by without a wordfrom Ryker, and it was driving Wes nuts.He couldn’t eat or sleep.He missed Ryker’s quiet, solid presence in his life—theirlate-night marathon phone calls, and silly, often sappy, textmessages.Wes had finally met someone who understood him, someonethat saw beyond the persona to the real man underneath, only tohave him pull away.
Wes missed Ryker so much that he’d dreamedof them together, and when he woke this morning, he could havesworn he smelled Ryker’s distinctive scent in his room.He’d alsowoken with a raging hard-on, but he didn’t bother to pleasurehimself.The body wanted, but the heart and brain were notcooperating, so he’d taken a cold shower and gotten on with hisday.He wrote furiously for several hours, using all his pent-upenergy on something he could control.He completed a couple ofchapters and vowed to send them off to Ryker tomorrow for hisinput.Then maybe he’d get some sort of communication from hissilent partner.
But for now, Luca was determined to get himout of his house and back to normal living, includingsocializing.
“Okay, all right!I’m going.What is yourproblem?You’re even more hyper than usual,” Wes whined as he wasmarched to the passenger door of his red Porsche.
“It’s called energy, Wes.Remember that?Youhad some a few months ago, but now you’re sad and hiding in yourhome like a big baby,” Luca said, slipping into the leather drivingseat, buckling his seat belt, and revving up the engine.
“I’m not hiding.I’m resting!I’ve had astressful month!”Wes yelled, crossing his arms and pursing hislips.
Luca turned slowly in the driver’s seat toface Wes and lowered his large designer sunglasses down his nose.“Wes, I know you.You miss Ryker, and you want to wallow in yourmisery.But that won’t help.You’re hurt, not dead.And he willcall you back.He just needs some time.So buckle up and put onyour happy face.We’re going to have a good time tonight!”
Luca grabbed the gearshift and shot down thedriveway.Wes suddenly remembered that Luca drove like a maniac,and he white-knuckled it all the way downtown.Twenty harrowingminutes later, they exited Lakeshore Drive onto Front Street.
“So, where are we going?”Wes finally asked,a little bit of his natural curiosity waking up again.
“It’s a fundraising event on a yacht at theHarbourfront marina.Dinner and dancing and a tour of the lake.Just what you need to take your mind off you-know-who,” Luca said,weaving in and out of traffic at an alarming rate until he found aparking spot.Luca slammed on the brakes and shifted into park.
“Jesus, next time I’ll grab stomach meds forthe drive in, never mind the boat ride,” Wes moaned.
Luca rolled his eyes and got out of the car.Wes followed, the wind blowing his hair in every direction as theywalked over to the marina and down the dock.Boats of varyingshapes and sizes bobbed in the water, with people onboard laughingand chatting and celebrating an early summer evening.Wes took adeep breath to appreciate the moment and decided to make the mostof the evening.
Wes and Luca walked to the end of the lastpier, where a large fifty-foot beauty calledSmooth Sailingwas docked.Wes didn’t notice anyone on or around the boat, savefor someone at the helm.Had they arrived too early?
“Luca, are you sure this is the right boat?There doesn’t seem to be anyone here yet,” Wes said as he raisedhis sunglasses to get a better look at the yacht and theirsurroundings.
“This is the one.You head on in.I need totalk to the charter captain,” Luca said as he waved at the man onthe top deck.
Wes stepped onto the boat, but he didn’t seea single person on the lower deck.He walked over to the door tothe cabin and opened it, peering inside to find a large lounge areawith two sofas and a coffee table.Beyond that, a dining room andbar and a galley kitchen.As he stepped inside, he noticed softmusic playing.
Wes wandered through, noting that the diningtable was set for two, with tiny lanterns creating a warm glow.We must be on the wrong boat, he thought as he started tohead back outside to find Luca.But just as he turned, he caughtsight of someone entering from the galley.
“Hey, Prince Charming.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ryker
Ryker was so nervous, he wanted to puke.Ormaybe that was the motion of the boat.Either way, he couldn’t waituntil Wes got here.
Everything was set for the evening.Now hejust needed his man.
Ryker watched from the small galley as Wesentered the lounge, his blond hair ruffled by the wind, his facetired but beautiful.He looked like he hadn’t shaved for a fewdays, and there were dark circles under his eyes.Ryker felt a pangof regret that he may have caused Wes sleepless nights.He took inWes’s slim dark jeans and white button-down shirt with the sleevescasually rolled up, his strong forearms on display.Ryker was onceagain blown away by the powerful feelings this man evoked, all ofhis senses lighting up again in his presence.It was time to letWes know how much he loved him and hope for the best.
Ryker saw Wes’s look of confusion as hepeered at the dining table, then pivoted to head back out to thedeck.Before Wes made it to the door, Ryker entered the room.
“Hey, Prince Charming,” he greeted Wes.Anod to the night at Mac’s when they’d stood together on the rooftoppatio under the stars.Back to where it all began.
Wes turned slowly, his hands tucked into hisjean pockets, his hazel eyes warm and glowing.Ryker felt his heartexpand and his body flush with heat.
“It’s about time you woke up, SleepingBeauty,” Wes said, smiling.
