Personal Entanglement (Thorne and Dash 2)

“I knew you were like that when I agreed to go out with you.”

Thorne ran a hand through his hair and looked out the window, unable to face Riley, knowing how unfair he’d been. “That doesn’t make it right.”

“The building. You really do see it as a gift, don’t you?”

Thorne nodded, still gazing out toward the lake. “I do.”

Riley cupped his chin, forcing Thorne to look him in the eye. “I don’t want to leave you. I never did. Not for a second. No matter how scared or frustrated I was.”

Thorne wrapped his arms around Riley again and kissed the top of his head. “Can I take you sailing now?”

“Is it this simple? We love each other, and as long as we accept each other’s issues we’ll be okay?”

Thorne kissed him with exquisite tenderness. “Maybe it could be.”

Riley initiated the next kiss, but Thorne pulled back when it started to grow more intense. “We use sex to keep from talking, so I think… God, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think we should wait.”

“You’re not talking about some lengthy abstinence kick, right? Because that is not going to work.”

Thorne shook his head. “Hell, no. I didn’t think I’d make it through last night. I meant we should go sailing, and then talk through what’s been going on with us when we get back. Once we’ve figured out where to go from here, we can fuck like animals.”

“We’ll just solve all our problems in one day?” Riley asked.

Thorne nodded. “That’s my plan.”

“And you truly expect everything to go according to your plan, don’t you?”

Thorne didn’t like how unlikely Riley made that sound. “Well…yes.”

Riley grinned. “I love your arrogant certainty.”

“And I love your stubborn independence even when it’s driving me fucking crazy.”

Riley grabbed some beers and placed them in the basket he’d packed for them. “You ready to see your boat?”

“We have to come up with a name.”

“I was thinking Swallow would be appropriate.”

Thorne smiled. “I’d thought of that too, but I was afraid it was too childish.”

“Not at all. Do we have to christen her with some champagne or something?”

“Not today. But later maybe.”

AS THEY WALKED down the path to the marina they held hands, and Thorne’s grip was warm and sure. Things weren’t back to how they’d been before Riley had moved in, but now Riley felt like they could be.

“She’s gorgeous,” Thorne said when he saw the boat.

He couldn’t have looked less like a calculating businessman in that moment. Letting go of Riley’s hand, he ran to the boat, scrambled aboard, and started touching various parts of the little craft reverently.

“I love it!” he shouted. “Come on aboard.”

Riley handed him the basket and stepped onto the deck.

“Isn’t she perfect?” Thorne asked. “So sleek and fresh.” He gave Riley a lascivious look. “I want to fuck you right here on the deck.”

“Do you now? I thought we were waiting.”

Thorne sighed. “We are, and I suppose we might get in trouble if we tried that while we’re docked, but one day…”

Riley studied Swallow with a critical eye. Unlike the boat they’d rented last fall, there was actually room to lie down on the deck, though it still wouldn’t be comfortable.

“Is that how we’ll christen her, instead of using champagne?”

Thorne laughed. “Maybe. Right now, I just want to take her out.” He looked up at Riley. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being fucking amazing.”

“Thorne, I—”

“Don’t.” Thorne laid a finger over his lips, obviously not caring if anyone else at the docks saw this tender moment.

“I want you to teach me to sail,” Riley said.

“Really?”

He nodded. “Yes, I want to be more than decoration on your boat.”

“Our boat.”

“Then make it truly ours by teaching me to sail it.”

Thorne frowned. “But last time you said…”

Last fall Riley hadn’t wanted to learn because Thorne was a client and Riley didn’t think he’d ever be more. “I was afraid.”

Thorne gave him a quizzical look.

“Back then I thought that if you taught me and then stopped seeing me, it would be even harder to bear. I would’ve taken on something that was yours, a part of you that let me see you in a way sex never could. That sounds stupid, doesn’t it?”

“No.” Thorne shook his head and took hold of Riley’s shoulders. “The fact that you want to now, does that mean—?”

“Thorne, I’m not going anywhere. I said that already.”

“Yes, but this somehow—”

“Means more than words?”

Thorne nodded, eyes shining. He turned away and wiped at them hastily.

“Let’s step the mast,” he said, his voice a bit rough.

“Aye, aye, captain.”

***

The lake couldn’t have been more beautiful. The spring air was still crisp, but as Thorne showed Riley how to tack into the wind, Riley kept getting distracted by the gleam of sun on the water and Thorne’s intense joy. His face was bright now that he was in his element.