Surprisingly, Beckett didn’t bring up my predicament in front of the bakery when he arrived forty-five minutes after I left him and Lady on the sidewalk. Yeah, my damn dog went back home with herotherlove. Traitor. I could tell it wasn’t far from his mind though, with the lingering glances and slow kisses we shared through the meal.
The baked chicken turned out delicious and Beckett offered to take care of the dishes so I could finish putting my laundry away since I’d been devoting all my spare time with him. It was strange being so domestic with him around the house, yet I found myself loving it, too. It felt right somehow. It had only been a week since he first came over for dinner, but his presence was already imprinted on my home in a way I knew I’d never be able to look at it the same again. It was exactly why I’d been so hesitant to invite him over in the first place, but now I couldn’t imagine him not being here. It already felt too quiet without him and my bed was starting to feel way too big and lonely with just me in it.
It kind of scared me how badly I wantedmorewith him.I’d never really been a relationship kind of guy, but then again… that was only because my heart had always been latched onto my teenage crush. I never believed, even as a kid, that that crush could turn into something so wonderful or that it could lead to a new kind of life together for us. Now it almost felt like it was a real possibility, if we could just figure out the distance problem.
Beckett handed me a glass of wine as we moved to the back patio and held a mug with coffee and whiskey for himself. I’d started to keep a supply of his favorite cinnamon whiskey when I learned he liked it in one of our Ask Five sessions. We sat together on an extra-wide lounge chair. It had always been my favorite piece of furniture but was even more so now that Beckett shared it with me.
“You love Reedsport, don’t you?” he asked.
“I do. It’s become my home.”
Something passed over his face too fast for me to read. “The people are great. Tamera… what’s her last name, Hamilton I think?”
“Hampton.”
“Yeah, Hampton. She brought me a sandwich and chips today when she saw that I had been sitting outside on the patio all day. I thought that was so kind, especially since Sabrina could have made me something. I love how the people here try to make you feel at home even when you don’t live here, you know?”
I nodded. “Yeah. We have some wonderful people here. They’re pretty accepting of the LGBT community too.”
“That’s great,” Beckett said, threading his fingers through mine. “Your art is really what makes it beautiful here though, Ry. I love your little touches everywhere.”
My cheeks pinkened, but more from the warmth of his compliment than embarrassment.
“I have a question,” he said.
“Sure.”
“I noticed on some of the pieces that have rope, you’ve only been using the same three knots.”
I couldn’t decide if I was surprised he’d paid that close attention to the tiny details of my work or not, but I sure liked knowing he did. “Those are the only ones I know. I’ve wanted to learn more, I just haven’t had the time to.”
“I can teach you,” he offered.
“Really?” I asked, excitedly.
“Sure. I kind of became obssessed with knot tying while I was in the army. Helped keep my hands busy and pass the time, you know?”
He set his mug on the ground then turned toward me. I did the same, sitting cross legged in front of him. He pulled two three-foot long pieces of thin rope from his pocket, then walked me through three different knots. Once I mastered those, Beckett moved on to something called the sheepshank knot. He said it was fairly simple, but for some reason, I couldn’t figure it out. Each time I pulled it, the rope would unravel in my lap. After my third attempt, he dropped his own rope and covered my hands with his, trying to teach me how to hold the loops. His directions were backwards though, since he was looking at it from upside down, so it still kept coming undone.
“Turn around and come here,” he said, after yet another failed attempt.
I moved to sit between his legs and he folded his arms around me. I could have stayed enclosed in Beckett’s arms for the rest of my life and been perfectly content. It simply felt wonderful, especially with his strong chest against my back.
“Okay, that goes here,” he said, guiding me with much more confidence in the new position.
I finally saw the step I was missing and when I pulled tight, the knot stuck.
He slipped his arms around my stomach, resting his chin on my shoulder so he could watch. The deep cedarwood scent that was all Beckett filled my nostrils, making my body stir with desire. I was tempted to kiss him, but he spoke again before I could.
“Try again,” he whispered. His scruff felt soft and warm against my skin.
We both let out a small victory cheer when I got it right on the first try.
Beckett pressed a soft congratulatory kiss to my neck. “Great job.”
He reclined back on the lounger, giving me the freedom to leave if I wanted, but there was no way I was leaving him now. I laid back against his chest, turning to give him a small smile. He kissed me on the lips and slipped his arms across my chest, then tangled our feet together as I got comfortable.
I continued to practice each one of the knots while we watched the light continue to fade from the sky. Each time I got it right, he rewarded me with another kiss. On my lips, my cheek, my neck, my shoulder. Anywhere his lips could touch, he kissed, each time lingering just a little longer.
