“It’s okay, Caleb,” Cas says. The guy slips back, and Caswell closes the space to finish the hug. “I can’t believe we ran into you! It has to be years, Matt. You remember Nix?”
“Of course I do.” I shake her hand and give her a quick hug before I introduce Theo. Back in their college days, Nix, Baylor and Cas were inseparable. I had no idea Nix was still with Cas, but judging from the tablet and phones in her hands, she’s a PA for him now.
“I only have a minute—we are also on the show this morning, but I wanted to say hello, since I had the chance.” Caswell smiles. “Small world, huh? I couldn’t believe it when I found out we were on the same day.”
“It really is. I’ll tell Baylor we ran into you.”
Something flicks across his face, but he smiles just the same. “Do that. And Stanton’s review inThe New Yorker! I told everyone I know you, that you cooked in my shitty apartment years ago, but no one believed me.” Cas’s killer smile flashes, and his charisma is a palatable thing. “I got to go, but I love the videos, man. You two could do something special with that.” He ducks in for another hug, hanging on with his hand to my bicep. “It really was good to see you.” He looks like he wants to say more, but the same handler who led us backstage herds Cas to where he needs to go.
“He misses you guys,” Nix whispers as she leans in for her own hug before turning to following him.
“He’s welcome anytime, Nix. We should catch up.”
All I get is a quick smile. “We should. I have to go.”
“That wasCaswell Vaughn. You know him?” Theo whispers as we watch Cas retreat with Caleb and Nix.
In my mind Cas is the friend of my big brother, his former band mate, former housemate. But seeing him in person, he’s definitely the guy headlining sold-out stadiums these days, not college bars.
“Yeah, but Baylor knows him better.”
We get back to our hotel just in time to change and hit the beach. I booked us a bit out of town because the luxury beach experience in LA is not to be missed if you know where to go. Our flight back is early tomorrow morning. But Theo’s never been to the beach, and looking over at him stretched out in tiny red swim trunks and sunglasses in the cabana lounger makes me glad we made time.
He literally sighs as he sinks into the mattress, and under the black-and-white fringed awning, he looks like sin itself as a grin plays on his face. He shakes his head at the decadence, but kisses me with a “thank you” on his lips. I can’t hide my happiness; he is letting me treat him and doesn’t fight it.
“We are celebrating a positive Pierre Stanton review, sugar.” My reminder is met with another kiss and a shy smile.
“We are,” he agrees.
Dark sunglasses hide his eyes, but his lean frame is on display in the swim trunks I picked out for him. I was inspired by the ones he wore at the Big House, but these are tighter and sexier.
I have half a mind to kiss and tease him just so all the appreciative looks he keeps getting can register how he responds to me. Instead, I make sure there is a fresh bite on his neck and laugh when he gets squirmy and frustrated with my kisses.
“Matt, this suit shows everything,” he hisses. We are not in a private cabana because those were too far from the water for my liking, so instead we are out in the sun, with the top thrown back and the ocean roaring not far from our feet. The luxurious daybed with the half-moon retractable cover fits us snugly, and I have about a dozen different ways I think I could get my boy off and no one would notice. Not notice that much, anyway.
“I know, sweetness. I want all these guys looking at you to know what they are missing. And will never have.”
He turns bright red to match his shorts and carefully lies on his front, which only draws the attention to his ass.
I scoot closer, leaning down to whisper in his ear as I run a hand up the back of his thigh. “This side of you is just as hot.”
Theo shoots me a heated gaze over the top of his sunglasses and then up to a young woman in a polo shirt with our hotel logo stitched to the left side of her chest, standing with a soft-sided cooler. “Mr. Mann?”
“That’s me,” I tell her, reaching for the cooler. The luxury accommodations come with quite the cocktail menu, which we have been taking advantage of, and also food. I have spared no expense to make sure meals include a sampling of Theo’s favorites. He prefers tapas to big meals, and I have tipped very well to make sure they keep coming.
The young woman smiles warmly, and I search and find her name to use when I thank her. I can tell she has to deal with some entitled assholes from time to time. I intend to keep to her good side—and keep Theo full of food and drink and, later, me.
But maybe not that last part while out here in front of god and everyone.
Although I do have this cabana reserved into the evening. There’s a full moon tonight, and there are no beaches and warm sun in Bear Valley. No thank you to getting frisky in the sand, but Theo bathed in moonlight next to the beach? I’ll happily pay for that opportunity.
Maybe when things settle a bit, we could go down to The Wen in the Gulf of Mexico. Perrin knows a guy who has a resort down there, and we all met Lincoln and Ryke when they came to Bear Valley a few summers ago. It could be nice; me and Theo in the sun and the sand.
With a soft smile, Theo sits up and looks over the chilled fruits and pastries in this assortment. The last selection was full of hummus and olives and bread, so this one is sweeter, although there is cheese. Apparently, when left to his own devices, cheese is one of Theo’s major food groups.
“I can’t put my finger on it, but something is more settled about you,” I observe, sitting back in the pillows stuffed against the back of the daybed.
“Thank you, Matt. For all of this. For . . . space to think.”
