Page 43 of Unexpected Boyfriends

JUSTIN

Riding pillion behind Axel is a wonderful way to spend our last night together. The rush of the wind, the speed, the throb of the engine beneath us, the exhilaration as we take the bends, and the thrill of being this physically close to this breath-takingly sexy man,… I feel alive and I feel wild. For a short while I can forget that we’ll soon have to part. Time enough to deal with the emotions around that tomorrow. Tonight we have each other and we have the whole night.

We ride as far as the road will take us towards the end of the sandspit, then we get off and walk along the darkened beach, playfully chasing each other, and wrestling each other into the sand, where we make out, ignoring the grains tumbling through our hair and scattering over our faces, and the scratch as an errant grain makes its way between our lips. After a long session of sloppy urgent kisses and desperately fumbling hands, we lie quietly, my head on Axel’s shoulder as we contemplate the stars.

“I don’t want to go,” I whisper.

I’m afraid I’m being too needy, but Axel murmurs softly, “I don’t want you to go either. But we'll text and email, Facetime too. And you'll be back in April, right?"

"Yeah, I'll be back."

We fall into silence, wrapped in each other on the sand still warm from the day, absorbed in our own thoughts. Then he points to some stars.

“See that constellation?”

“The one with the three stars in a line? That one?"

“Yes. That’s Orion’s belt. You’ll be able to see it in Melbourne too. If you look up at it and I look up at it, we’ll be connected.”

“I like that idea.”

I’ll feel less alone if there’s a way we can imagine ourselves physically connected like that. Emails and texts are all fine, but they can be a bit cold. The night sky holds memories and our secret hopes and dreams; I know that when I look up at our constellation, I’ll feel the warmth of our connection as it bridges the distance between us.

“After April, we’ll find another constellation to share because that one won’t be visible all year round.”

I roll onto my stomach, with my head supported by my elbow in the sand, and my other hand on Axel’s chest.

“Thank you. Now every time I see it, I’ll think of you. And when I’m missing you, I’ll feel a little less sad.” I stroke his chest idly.

“Don’t be sad,” he says. “It’s not the end for us. It’s just the beginning.” And he puts my hand over his heart. I feel the strong steady beat pulsing into my palm. It promises strength and reliability. I can trust him. I lay my head down over it, the warmth of his skin seeping through his shirt, comforting against my cheek. We have some obstacles, but maybe we can pull this off.

******

Axel takes me back to his house. The lights are off.

“What about your parents?” I ask, knowing they won’t approve.

Axel shakes his head.

“They went to the theater and they’re staying in the city overnight. We have the house to ourselves.”

My heart rate ticks up a little.

“And I’d like you to stay,” he tells me, but it sounds like a question. His eyes meet mine. I can see his hunger but there’s also softness and affection. He barely has to ask. I’m so head-over-heels for him, I would do anything for him.

“I can drop you back early in the morning,” he says hesitantly and I realize I haven’t answered yet.

“I want to stay,” I whisper a little breathlessly. A fine tremor runs through me in anticipation of being close to his body, and close to his heart. I don’t know what we’ll be doing, and I don’t really care. It’s our last night together for months, and he can have it all as far as I’m concerned. I want every memory of him that I can gather to keep me going through the months ahead. I want the sensation of our bare skin together seared into my brain, I want his tongue in my mouth taking it roughly, and I want his soft, affectionate kisses. And if he wants more, then I want that too.

His warm hand closes around mine and he leads me into the house.

We stop in the living room and Axel pulls me to him, covers my mouth with his and kisses the breath out of me. His warm lips consume me, his tongue teases, rasping alongside mine. His faint stubble grazes the skin around my mouth.

And I love it.

Everywhere our bodies touch, my skin burns, even through the fabric of our clothes: chest to chest, hip to hip, cock to cock. Everythingcombustingwith my need for him.

We pull apart, out of breath.

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