Page 30 of Deep Waters

He’d bounded back to the hotel with the lightest of steps, like he was walking on air. Giving Harry a blow job on the boat was the most impulsive thing he could remember doing…ever. What a time to surrender to his instincts. He was still on a high from that rush. If he concentrated, he could summon the taste of Harry’s cock and the rich scent of his groin.

He smiled again.

When he’d returned to the hotel, he had run a bath and luxuriated in the tub, listening to the busy sounds in the harbour below and thinking about Harry. Today was supposed to be a research trip for his book, but Christian had given little thought to his fledgling project. The investigations into the murders had also been pushed to the back of his mind, a concern for another day. Being alone with Harry on board the boat had reduced all other problems to nothing.

After his bath, he’d taken his time preparing for their date. He had trimmed his beard to a tidy stubble and put on his favourite underpants. He teamed his beige chinos with a pale blue, open-neck shirt and a pair of tan brogues. He hadn’t bothered with a jacket. He had no intention of leaving the hotel that night, and if he did, he could always come back to the room to collect it.

The bar had been busy with early evening diners, but he secured a cosy booth at the back of the room, where they could relax in comfort and privacy. As he sipped his gin, he kept a slightly nervous eye on the door. He didn’t think Harry would stand him up, not after the connection they’d made that afternoon, but insecurity was as deep at forty-two as it had been at seventeen.

Christian stifled a yawn. What a great day it had been. Harry had warned him that fresh air worked up an appetite, but he also suspected it had worn him out. He would need all his energy if the evening was to play out the way he hoped.

Harry arrived a few minutes later, and Christian’s fatigue vanished in a second.

Oh my God, he’s gorgeous.

Harry had also freshened up. He wore jeans and a pristine white T-shirt beneath a black jacket. His dark-blond hair had a damp, just-out-of-the-shower look about it. He stood in the doorway, glancing around. Christian stood and waved him over. Harry’s smile when he spotted him illuminated the entire pub.

“Hey.” They greeted each other.

There was a rosy flush to Harry’s cheeks that was utterly adorable.

“Did you get everything done?” he asked. Harry had been busy finishing off work on the boat when he’d left him earlier.

“Yeah. All good. I don’t have another charter until Friday, so I wanted to get everything secure before I left. I need to refuel at some point tomorrow and stock up on supplies, but that should be about it.”

“Are you hungry yet? Want me to get us menus?”

“Not really. It’s still a little early for me. I’d love a drink, though.”

Christian went to the bar and got a beer for Harry and another gin for himself. When he returned to the booth, Harry had taken his jacket off. Christian couldn’t miss the firm shape of his torso in the white T-shirt and the dark, delicious shadows of his nipples. A tuft of dark-blond hair peeked over the collar.

“What are you grinning at?” Harry asked as he sat back down, an infectious grin on his own face.

“I’ve been smiling nonstop since lunchtime, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

The flush in his cheeks intensified. “Yeah.Thatwas pretty special.” He lowered his voice. “I haven’t come like that since…well, ever.”

Christian sat back. “A hot young man like you. Really? That’s hard to believe. I imagine you have to fight men off everywhere you go.”

He shook his head and sipped the beer. “Nah. Not in this town.”

“Don’t you go out of Nyemouth? There must be gay bars up in Newcastle, somewhere you can meet other guys.”

“Oh, there are, but they’re not for me. I can’t be bothered with all that posing and effort. I’ve only been out there a few times, but I didn’t like it. No one talks to anyone unless they already know them. It’s hard to get noticed unless you’re a regular.”

Christian nodded agreement. “It’s like that most places now. The only way to catch the attention of a man across the room is to find his Grindr profile and message him.”

“Right. And I don’t go in for those dating apps and stuff. I’ve been on them three or four times, and it was a waste of time. I don’t know what most of those lads are even looking for, but I wasn’t it.”

“Then they must be blind…or stupid.”

“No, I was the stupid one for even trying. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not one of those regular gays.”

What a surprise to hear him talk like this. Until now, all Christian had seen of Harry was the strong-willed, confident seafarer. Out on the boat, nothing phased him. What a difference to see him in a more unguarded frame of mind.

“So, when were you last in a relationship?” Christian asked.

Harry widened his eyes.

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