“Firstdate,” Beau reminded him, as though that should explain everything.
“Goon.”
“So,halfway through dinner, Joe started talking about sex. He wanted to knowwhether I was a top or a bottom.”
“Clearlya top,” Ethan murmured, his eyes opening substantially as though he didn’t meanto say the words.
“Andyou would know this how?”
Ethanlaughed, the sound making Beau’s entire body hum to life. He loved the sound ofEthan’s laugh. Maybe because it was so rare, but the few times he’d heard itover the years, Beau had always noted it.
“You’renot a top?”
“Idon’t have a preference,” Beau said honestly. Considering he’d never been atop, and had only been with one man – a man who clearly wasn’t gay – Beaudidn’t know which he would enjoy more. “Anyway…,” he continued with a smile,“Joe was convinced that I couldn’t be the top because there was no way I’dfit.”
Ethanlaughed again, the warm, rich sound filling the truck and eliminating everyounce of tension that had been there since he put the truck in Park.
“That’swhat he wanted to talk about? Over dinner?”
“Yup,”Beau responded, laughing. “Needless to say, if that’s what you’re supposed todo on a date, I think I’m going to need some time to adjust before I do itagain.”
Neitherof them said anything for a minute or two, and when Ethan grabbed a third beer,Beau shifted again to face him more fully. “What about you? What was your firstdate like?”
Beaudidn’t think Ethan was going to answer when he focused his attention ondraining the beer bottle in his hand, but he waited him out. He was nothing ifnot patient. After all, he’d spent his entire life tagging along with Zane, theguy had the attention span of a gnat and Beau had learned to sit back and waitbecause likely things would change in an instant with him.
“Idon’t date.”
Beaufound that hard to believe. Sure, he got that Ethan didn’t intentionally formrelationships, but the guy was unquestionably monogamous. Over the years, therehadn’t been many that Beau had noticed, but Ethan had lovers. Admitting it ornot, it didn’t change the fact that he got close to people.
“How’dyou meet Blake?” Beau knew Blake wasn’t from Coyote Ridge.
“Byaccident.”
Beauwasn’t impressed with Ethan’s half ass response and considering he had openedup, he was going to insist Ethan do the same.
“Work?”
“Youcould say that.”
Beingthat Blake was a mechanic, it was logical that Ethan met him that way. Hedidn’t honestly care for the logistics. The less Blake interfered in their dayto day, the better off Beau would be. And that included in conversation.
“Mindif I ask you something personal?” Beau figured he would warn Ethan before heasked his next question. It didn’t matter what Ethan said, he was still goingto ask it.
Ethanglanced over, a sexy grin on his lips. “If I say no, you’re gonna ask anyway,aren’t you?”
“Yup,”he said easily and paused only briefly. “When did you realize you were gay?” Heknew the question was personal, but Beau didn’t have anyone to talk to abouthis thoughts and fears. He didn’t think Zane would understand, and he knewwithout a doubt that Zane was uncomfortable with the situation as a whole. Ormaybe he wasn’t, and Beau was. Either way, Ethan seemed like the ideal personto ask.
“Ithink I’ve always known,” Ethan said solemnly, his tone low and serious, hisattention focused on the blackness just outside the truck window.
“Haveyou been with a woman?”
Ethandidn’t look at him when he said, “No.”
Beauhadn’t thought he had, but he was curious.
Notwanting to push too far, he let the subject drop, figuring they could pick thatconversation up at a later date.
Stillstaring at Ethan, Beau had the sudden longing to get closer to him.
