Reservations

“You have a good eye. They’re Kellus Hardin designs. He’s the resort owner’s husband. They’re newly married,” Thane said from behind him, wrapping both arms around his waist, drawing him back as Thane pressed the full length of his body against Levi’s. Levi’s body quivered, hyper-sensitive to Thane’s touch. So when Thane’s half-aroused dick aligned perfectly with his jean-covered crease, Levi grew hard himself, wanting that erection to be just for him. He resisted the sudden, slutty urge to grind himself against Thane.

“Gay?” Levi asked, looking over his shoulder. Thane was slow to answer as he laid a simple kiss on his temple. Levi’s heart almost beat out of his chest at the sweet gesture.

“Very. Out and proud,” Thane answered in a bit of a whisper.

“Mmm,” Levi muttered, looking back at the painting.

“Come on. Let’s eat so we can go back upstairs.” Thane’s breath burned his skin as he whispered the words in his ear; Levi’s eyelids slid closed of their own accord. Man, Thane had smoldering down. In direct contrast to his words, Thane didn’t let go. Instead, he placed another kiss on the skin just below Levi’s ear then slid his hand underneath the front of Levi’s T-shirt, his fingertips lightly tracing the valley between each muscle. Levi leaned in to the touch, resting his back against Thane’s chest. “Have I told you I have a thing for auburn-headed guys?”

Levi tucked his chin to his chest, smiling at the sweetly uttered words. “No, and I’m not sure I should believe you.”

Thane turned Levi while keeping him in the circle of his arms. “I don’t lie. I might omit, but I don’t lie. I’ve wondered if your hair color’s real.”

Levi slid both his arms around Thane, holding him tightly against his waist, hoping Thane could feel his desire. “I added some lowlights. Most of the time I do it on my own, but Julian made me clean myself up, so I went to his salon,” Levi added, uncharacteristically unconcerned that they were standing in the middle of the lobby, chest to chest, and could be drawing anyone’s eye.

“You cover the natural color?” he asked, his brow furrowing as if it were a crazy thought, making Levi laugh.

“I’m a weird contrast. My mom’s mixed Hispanic and Dutch, so that’s where I get my eyes, my height, and ability to tan. My dad was Brazilian, and I get my hair from him. I rarely freckle. My brothers both tend to freckle,” he explained. “I started adding darker to my hair because otherwise people ask about my heritage a lot. I’m not good at talking to people, if you haven’t noticed, so when I enrolled at Johns Hopkins, I added chestnut to my hair. With my skin tone and lighter hair color, I didn’t make sense to them.”

“I’ve heard you or Julian mention your dad and brothers. Where’s your mom?” Thane asked.

Levi had no way of knowing how much Thane knew about his situation, and he decided not to expand. Talking about his life turned people weird, so he decided less-is-more might be the best approach.

“She died when I was younger. Wrong place at the wrong time kind of deal.”

“I’m sorry. If it helps, I used to wish my father was dead…”

Levi’s brow lifted in surprise at such a confession. Thane’s face changed into something unreadable, and he immediately retracted those words.

“I didn’t actually wish he was dead. That was horrible. I’m sorry. I wished he was gone from my life. I’m sorry to have said it that way.” Thane grimaced and shook his head slightly.

“Have I not provided a very nice room where you two could get to?”

Levi turned to see a handsome man, grinning ear to ear, less than a foot from them. He hadn’t even heard him walk up.

Thane loosened his hold, keeping one arm wrapped firmly around Levi as he turned. “We were actually heading to the grill.” He noticed the arm at his back tightened, drawing him closer to Thane’s side. Just another in a long line of moments that made him feel special. “Levi, meet Arik Layne.”

Levi nodded, taking Arik’s outstretched hand.

“Kellus is coming. He got sidetracked in the bar.”

“I heard my name.”

Levi recognized the name from the art and looked back to see a dark-haired man a few inches taller than he, strolling casually toward them.

Kellus moved in beside Arik and quietly whispered, “You’ve got to stop telling people I do the art. They feel obliged to tell me how good they think it is.”

“I will, right after I introduce you to Thane Walker. He’s the one we’re doing the oils and vinegars with.”

Kellus’s face lit up as he looked over at Thane, taking his hand in one of those genuine thrilled-to-meet-you handshakes that lasted several seconds. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’ve made me a happy man. Just so you know, our first few months of getting to know each other, A here pretended to eat somewhat healthy.” Kellus gave Arik a critical look then started up again. “Anyway, he changed into a total foodie and his cravings were crazy and unhealthy, that is until he brought home your olive oils. Now he’s eating all sorts of vegetables and fruits just to use all your blends. Thank you,” Kellus said, grinning broadly.