“You were number one on my list,” Joshua muttered, then shot him a wavering glance. “You don’t have to do it, you know. You can say no.” There was a pause—just a breath too long. Joshua’s gaze dropped for a heartbeat, like he was bracing for rejection.
Colin tilted his head back and laughed. He half-turned on the couch and swept Joshua into his arms, spinning him until he lay cradled across Colin’s lap. “You think I don’t know that? You think I feel coerced?”
“Doyou?” Joshua queried, carding his fingers through Colin’s thick hair.
“Seduced maybe, but not coerced.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Always, my darlin’. Your seduction strategies are top-notch.”
“I want it clearly understood that I never laid a hand on your dick.”
“You were thinking about it though, I can tell.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean anything. I’malwaysthinking about it.”
“We need to check out Verdun Adventure Bound,” Colin told him, then drew him closer and breathed out softly against his neck. “Campus police used them for a youth campground thing we did years ago. Their facilities were great, and, as I recall, they had several built-in, staff-run activities available.”
“See? Now, that’s why I wanted you to be my partner.”
“Ah!” Colin scoffed. “You just didn’t want to be alone in the dark, scary woods.”
“Well … thereisthat!”
“You scared of bears?”
“Who the hellisn’t?”
“Good point.”
“Verdun Adventure Bound?”
Colin nodded, leaning back from their embrace. “You should call them first thing tomorrow. We can’t develop a schedule of any kind until we have the location nailed down.”
Joshua touched his cheek. “Babe, you don’t feel coerced, do you?”
Colin grimaced and shook his head. “Oh, stop it! I was only kidding. Of course not. I’d be hurt if you didn’t ask me to partner with you. And I do want to coach baseball.” He squinted one eye and gazed over Joshua’s head. “And maybe rowing or some other outdoor activity.”
“You got it.”
“You ever made love in a tent?”
“No.” He snickered and brushed his lips against Colin’s cheek. “Have you?”
“Nope. But I bet I’d be good at it.” He gave Joshua a quick kiss, then gave his arm a nudge. “Up, you. I have things to do.”
But Joshua refused to budge. His arms tightened around Colin’s neck, and his face lost itself against his husband’s broad shoulder. He drew in a deep breath and felt his cock twitch as the scent of Colin’s skin, clothes, cologne, and sweat filled his nostrils—earthy, familiar, intoxicating. The cotton of Colin’s T-shirt, soft and warm beneath his cheek, worn thin in places from years of wear. He let out a low whine of resistance. “Don’t wanna move.” He heard Colin chuckle and felt one of his arms tighten while his other hand slid up his back and into his dark curls.
“I get it, bud. I really do. But one of the things I have to do is pee, so you’re going to have to move. Uh, unless you want a wet couch cushion.” He leaned back and smiled. “However, once that chore is done …” His words trailed off, and he arched his eyebrows, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Joshua clambered off the couch and reached to take both Colin’s hands in his. “OK. You pee. I’ll go upstairs and, um …”
“Get undressed?” Colin suggested with a snicker as he moved toward the stairs.
“Unless you’d prefer I didn’t.”
Colin’s head gave a half-turn, and his face twisted into an incredulous grimace.
