Two messages from a number not saved in his phone popped up instead, bringing Damien’s heart to a standstill.
Hey, um, it’s me.
When the reception starts, I’m going to head back to my cabin for some alone time. Do you want to come with?
15
Matthew
Heart racing over what he’d just done, Matthew set his phone screen-down on his lap and looked out across the ocean, seeking a distraction that wasn’t there. Damien wouldn’t want to go with him, the deprecating voice inside him said. Why would he? He could have a quickie any time. A party with the friends he rarely saw in Fiji was going to take precedence.
With a defeated sigh, Matthew worked down the knot of his skinny floral tie and stretched his neck. Yesterday, his blockers had finally decided to work, and today he barely felt his heat at all. It wasn’t like heneededDamien, but going back to his bungalow alone felt like a waste when they only had a few days left to spend with each other.
Matthew almost jumped out of his chair when his phone buzzed.
“Are you okay, Matthew?” Matthew’s father asked, turning his attention away from Alex to look at his son.
“Yeah. It was a, um, a crab or something. It bumped my foot and freaked me out.”
“Oh.” It looked like his father was about to say something else, but then Alex slid a hand over his thigh and whispered something in his ear that brought color to his cheeks. Matthew watched, partially disgusted and partially relieved, as Alex nipped his father’s ear and drew back to look at him with come-hither eyes. “Well, if you’re sure…”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” With his father distracted, Matthew wouldn’t have to worry about how bad of a liar he was. “It’s all good.”
“Good.” His father placed a hand on Alex’s lower back. “I think Alex and I are going to go help xV and Mal set up for the reception. We’ll be back later.”
“Sure.”
“See ya, Matthew.” Alex winked, then stood. Matthew’s father followed his lead and tagged along behind him with puppylike devotion.
Watching his father out of the corner of his eye, Matthew lifted his phone and glanced at his screen. Damien’s reply was waiting.
Fuck, baby boy… you have no idea how much I want to, but I can’t. It’s too risky
We can be quick
Baby, I can’t. There’s no way I can be quick with you
A punch to the gut had never felt so good. Matthew stared at the screen of his phone, distraught, while his thoughts spun like a pinwheel in a hurricane. Was there a way he could make their situation work? He could stay at the reception and fake an injury so Damien could volunteer to carry him to his room. No, forget that. Matthew was too bad a liar to make it work. If he stayed on the beach with everyone else, an opportunity would inevitably present itself. Charlotte and Isaac would wear themselves out eventually, and once they did, the group would start to split up. When people started to leave, Damien could slip off unnoticed and make his way to Matthew’s cabin.
Pleased with his plan, Matthew sent another text.Then I’ll stay and we can wait until the time is right. I don’t mind
I can’t
Is it me?Dread and disappointment sucked Matthew in and refused to let him go.If it’s me, we can try something different. I can be more active. I haven’t had sex in forever so I’m rusty, but I can learn
Baby, no. It’s not you
Matthew peeked at the response, then set his phone down. It wasdefinitelyhim. People who used that line didn’t actually mean it.
“Matthew?”
Matthew jumped. While he’d been moping, everyone else had been leaving. He was the only one left in his chair. Alex, who Matthew was sure would be too busy with his father to return, had come back for him. Concern showed on his face.
“What’s the matter?” Matthew asked. He stood and tucked his phone into his pocket as casually as he could. “I thought you and my dad were going off to spend some time together.”
Alex smirked. “Well, yeah, but I saw you were sitting here alone, so I told him that I needed to do something. He’s waiting for me. It’s no big.” With a nod of his head, Alex invited Matthew to walk with him. “The island resort people are trying to clear the chairs off the beach so they can set up for the reception. We should probably get moving.”
“Oh. Um. Yeah.”
