His bicep on his bent arm bulged, and the one by his side was relaxed, his hand spread wide as if he was reaching for something. My eyes scanned his hard chest and the deep ridges of his abs. I was fit—I mean, we spent our days in the water—but Travis was something else. Every muscle primed to perfection, etched into him like he’d been carved from stone. A thin line of dark hair stretched from his belly button to the neatly trimmed ones that nestled at the bottom of his?—
Travis mumbled something and shifted slightly, his foot falling to the floor, spreading his legs, giving me a better look at everything that was between his muscular thighs.
My cock hardened as I stared at him. I tried to ignore the butterflies dancing manically in my stomach as I took in the vein that ran along the thick, semi-hard shaft and the burning ache in my core that forced me to slip my hand under my own towel, and fist myself.
Precum leaked as I slowly brought my tight grip from the base to the tip, a whimper slipping from my lips. My gaze fixated on Travis’ cock. It was thicker than mine, his balls large and heavy-looking. I remembered how I’d ended up on my knees for him on the boat and how good it felt to have my face pressed to his groin.
The movement of my hand got faster, the channel I was making with my fist tighter.
I’d stop in a second. This wasn’t weird. I was just horny. That was normal. I was just a normal, horny guy.
Trav’s back arched, and he moaned, and my mind exploded with a million thoughts that I’d never even considered until this moment.
Did he make noises like that in bed? Did he like being fucked, or was he the one who liked to be inside another man?
Images popped into my head without my consent.What would it be like to have that cock in my mouth, inside me, stretching me—I came so hard my legs almost gave way, cum covering the towel and my hand, a cry spilling from my lips that I had to swallow down, terrified Trav would wake and find me creeping over him like this.
Shame hit me as hard as my release. I turned and fled, grabbing my still-damp clothes from the floor and running to the bathroom, needing to put some space between me and Travis while I worked out what the hell was going on.
SIX
TRAVIS
I woke mid-morning,the sun blazing in a clear, blue sky, the storm just a memory. Stretching, I looked for Jasper, but all I saw was what looked like a pile of clean clothes. I sat up, realising that my towel was long gone, but I was draped in the blanket that still smelt like Jasper’s aftershave.
Standing, I wrapped it around me so I wouldn’t flash poor Jas and went in search of him, but he was nowhere to be found. Wondering if he’d gone back home, and that was where the clothes came from, I began to put them on. By the time I found the note and the bunch of keys left at the bottom of the pile, I was fully dressed, shoes and all.
I picked up the keys, my gaze falling to theLittle Mermaidkeyring I’d bought Jas years ago that he kept on his house keys. My hand covered my mouth as a terrible thought crossed my mind, but he wouldn’t do that to me.
He couldn’t.
Our friendship was too important.
I didn’t want to unfold the note, tears pricking my eyes as I stared at the paper. It had the power to wreck my life. I silently begged it to rewrite itself... to be a shopping list or a note to say he’d gone out on the boat without me... the boat I could clearly see out of the corner of my eye.
I put the keys down and lifted the note like it might explode, walking outside to sit on the dock. Nothing felt right. It was already like the world had shifted and my place in it didn’t fit anymore.
Sitting down, my feet hovered just above the water, the waves lapping gently against the wood. Sniffing down my emotion, I unfolded the paper, staring down at the familiar handwriting.
Travis,
Sorry to do this, but my new job needs me to start early. I had to leave. They booked me on a plane first thing.
I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye in person, but it was all last minute. I know you’ll understand, but we’ll talk all the time.
Jasper.
I read the note three times, but it still didn’t make any more sense. He was gone. Upped and left without a word. Years of friendship reduced to two lines. A tear rolled down my cheek, landing on the paper and making the ink run.
Just like that, the man I was in love with was gone.
And I didn’t think I’d ever forgive him for walking away from me so easily.
PART2
FLOOD TIDE
SEVEN
