Hope on the Rocks (Rainbow Cove)

“This is a pretty spectacular sunrise,” I agreed as I poked his shoulder. The sky was like something out of an Oregon calendar shoot, but it didn’t hold a candle to how he’d looked in my arms the night before, the way he’d let go and given himself over to me. “Should have gotten me up too. I would have made you the coffee.”

“You brought excellent beans and the French press. It was easy enough to use the burner on the gas grill to heat water.” His smile was so relaxed and fond that I wanted to keep him here in this place forever.

“I see how it is,” I teased, hand on his shoulder shifting to more of a massage. “Soon you’re not going to need my outdoor skills.”

“I’ll always need you.” The wind whipped through the porch, making me shiver and Quinn laugh. It was a sweet sentiment, but Quinn was one of the most capable people I knew.

“Ha.” I gave a laugh as goose flesh broke out on my arms. I was rather bare-assed, having not bothered trying to find underwear or jeans before hunting for Quinn.

“Sit with me? You can share my blanket.”

“Not gonna ever turn down you in my lap.” We rearranged ourselves to where I was sitting with Quinn on me and the blanket over us both, sky casting a rosy glow over the scenery. I snuggled him close, the scent of his shampoo filling my senses. “Now this is nice.”

“We’re probably pushing the weight limit for the chair, but I’m not complaining.” Quinn dropped his head to kiss my neck. “It’s so pretty here. Thank you for bringing me, Daddy.”

I lived for these little quiet moments where he trusted me enough to call me Daddy outside of a scene, where he was comfortable and content and not second-guessing himself.

“Anytime. Seriously. Anytime.” My tongue felt too thick for my suddenly dry mouth. “I know you don’t hunt, but you should see how pretty this place is in the fall and winter.”

“I’m sure.” It was as close as either of us had come to talking about life beyond this summer, and Quinn shifted on my lap, then grimaced.

“You okay?” I stroked my hands down his arms. Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed the sex. He’d been virgin-level tight, and even with my best efforts to prep him, I had still worried about hurting him. “I went a little hard last night.”

“I loved last night.” He nuzzled against my beard. “It’s the good kind of sore. I’ll feel it all day, even after we’re back in town, and I’ll remember. It’s like my own private little naughty secret.”

“Mmm. I like knowing you’re feeling me too.” Hell, simply him saying that was enough to make blood rush south. “And you can be naughty all you want with me.”

“I know. You make it okay to be naughty. Filthy even. Feels like there’s no fantasy too out there for you.” Cuddling in more, he pulled the blanket tighter around us.

“Well, I’m sure I’ve got some limits, but not many where you’re concerned.” I laughed, but I was also serious. There wasn’t much I wouldn’t do for him, and I trusted him to not ask for more than I could give. “Try me. What dirty thoughts were keeping you warm out here before I showed up to do the job?”

“Umm…mainly just replaying last night.” His cheeks turned pinker than the sky. “Thinking about how much I liked it. How good it felt. Wishing…”

“Come on.” I lightly tickled his ribs under the blanket. “You can tell me.”

“Wishing there wasn’t a condom.” He made a self-conscious noise that was half giggle, half scoff. “It’s kind of funny, really. A doctor who loves watching bareback porn. But I’ve never actually…”

“I haven’t either,” I admitted. Quinn wasn’t the only one who’d had those thoughts the night before, and knowing he shared my kinky tastes was enough to have me doing some squirming of my own. “Thought about it plenty but never done it.”

“Never?”

“Never. I play safe, especially since hookups and repeats have been few and far between. It’s not something that’s ever come up as a possibility before.” I knew people on PrEP and such, but I’d always been super cautious myself as to whose word I was willing to trust. “But I sure as hell love that variety of porn. Your fantasy is hot as fuck, not out there at all. “

Quinn made a thoughtful noise, hum vibrating through both of us.

“Next time we have one of our patented late-night phone calls, you want to play with that idea? Talk the fantasy out?” I liked how he could let himself relax more on the phone, get into the dirty talk and role play. The idea of exploring that shared interest with him, even if only in fantasy, had my pulse thrumming.