Page 34 of Secrets in a Sandstorm

He stills. And my heart explodes in panic.

“Is that okay?” I whisper, or did I fuck up?

He wriggles his hips. “Yeah. I wish you were in me.”

My hand skates up his chest, over the hard bulge of his pec, to pinch his nipple. I rock my hips. “Fucking you?”

I don’t want to fuck him without lube. I remember him talking about what it was like once after a few drinks. I must have been about sixteen and very curious about all things sex with something other than my hand. Jay hadbeen horrified that Harrison had done it. The next time I jacked off, I’d tried to find my prostate to see what he was going on about.

“Mmm. Yeah, we can figure it out.” His fingers brush the head of my cock each time I thrust between his thighs. “Learn what you like.”

He drags my hand away from his nipple and back to his cock. “No more teasing.”

“Pull off the sheet. I want to see you.” I rest on my elbow, watching as he flips the sheet back. I’m fucking him, and he’s rocking back, meeting each thrust, then fucking into my hand.

His eyes are closed, lips parted as if concentrating. The need to come tightens my balls. Each stroke is made slick as my pre-cum smears his inner thighs.

“Kiss me.” I need him.

Harrison turns his head, and I catch his lips. He swallows my moan as I paint his thighs and his balls with my cum. He gives a couple more thrusts, hips jerking, and I breathe in his groan as my hand becomes slick.

With a sigh, I lay down, pressed against him and still holding his dick even though neither of us is moving.

Around me, the echoes of the past fade away. This wasn’t the end of a holiday fling but the start of the rest of our lives.

SIX MONTHS LATER

MAX

Mum was a bit shocked when I got home and referred to Harrison as my boyfriend. She called it a holiday fling brought on by stress and said I’d feel differently the first time he went away. She’s coming around now that we’ve moved in together.

I can’t imagine being with anyone else. He knows me better than anyone. And always has. The wind skips over the waves and kicks up the sand as we walk along the beach. It’s not the best day to be at the beach, but the surfers are enjoying the waves.

I nudge Harrison with my elbow. “I missed having sand in my mouth.”

“I thought you might.” He smiles as if he isn’t going away in two days. I’m not looking forward to him leaving, but it’s only for a two-week training exercise. Two months ago, he was offered a posting as a trainer, and he accepted so he’d be home more. That’s when we decided to make the jump and get a place together.

But something has been on his mind all week, ever since we got a letter from Teddy and Cyril’s relatives,thanking us for finding them and how they wished they’d had a happier ending.

That’s when I told Harrison about what happened when I touched the statuette of Bast. It was a secret I couldn’t hold on to any longer, but finding the right time was hard. With each passing day, what happened in the cave became more like a dream or something I made up to convince myself to take a chance. The only reason I know I didn’t was because I knew where the letter was and what was written.

And now here we are, walking along a windswept beach, hand in hand. With him silent and chewing over something. I want to give him space, but I’m starting to worry that he wants to break up with me. It did sound pretty wild when I told him, and I experienced it.

We reach the rocky outcrop that marks the end of the beach. A disused lighthouse perches high above us. The keeper’s house is now a fancy restaurant. I turn to walk back, but he stops me.

His expression does nothing to soothe my fears.

I need to face them instead of hiding and waiting. “What’s wrong? Is it because of Bast?”

“No.” He frowns as if he’d already forgotten about the cursed cat. “I’m not surprised you didn’t say anything to me sooner. But I have been thinking about it, and the cave, and Teddy and everything.”

“This doesn’t sound good.” I tense, bracing for the worst. I’m not sure I’m breathing as I wait for him to say something.

He leans in and kisses me for an answer. “That we waited instead of taking the chance is what I’ve been thinking about. I know I said I’d wait for you, but…” He drops to one knee and holds my hand. “I’m not waiting any longer. Will you marry me?”

Once again, my heart is beating fast as the sand swirls around me. The wind lifts his dark hair, and he’s looking up at me. His dark eyes are filled with such love that I don’t need to take any time to consider my answer.

“Yes.” I’m sure the wind pauses for a breath so Harrison can hear my answer.

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