Page 33 of Past Lovers

Adam smiled, but it faded a little. “Have you ever felt an attraction to a man?”

“Yeah, you.”

“Anotherman?” Adam corrected.

Clay shrugged. “There was a guy in high school. We messed around a little, but it wasn’t serious or anything.”

“Well, besides you, I’ve never felt anything foranyman. I’ve dated women. I like women… but I think I like you more. And I don’t know what that means. Does it make me gay?”

Clay sighed. “Why bother slapping labels on anything? I like you. You like me. We roll with it. Gay, straight, bi… whatever… it doesn’t matter. A label won’t change how I feel for you. I’m attracted to you. I don’t need a label to tell me that.”

Adam grinned. “No labels.”

Clay moved in closer and cupped Adam’s cheek. “Just love. And a lotta hot sex.”

Adam laughed before Clay kissed him.

“Amen to that,” Adam murmured between kisses.

* * * *

“Welcome, welcome,” Gillam said as he approached the car.

The sun was close to setting, the colors washing over the house and the beach beyond.

Clay could hear the crashing of the waves as soon as he’d turned off the engine. Clay slid from behind the steering wheel and stretched quickly before walking over and giving his godfather a bear hug. “Thanks, man, I owe you one.”

He drew in a deep breath as he stepped back, the salty ocean air filling his lungs.

“Don’t mention it,” Gillam whispered back before nodding and waving at Adam. “Hi there, young man.”

“Hey. Gillam. How are you?”

“Just fine, sexy,” Gillam answered with a wink.

Clay stiffened, hating the tiny bit off jealousy that washed through him. Adam had come with him a time or two to visit Gillam’s place, and the man always turned on the charm.

“And this must be Hayden,” Gillam said, turning to the third passenger in the car.

“Indeed it must,” Hayden said, offering Gillam a hand. “I appreciate you letting me get away and get my head straight.”

“Don’t mention it,” Gillam said. “Let’s get you inside and settled.” He turned to Clay. “I’ve got some fruit and cheese plates on the back deck. Antonio can get you a drink. If you need something a little more filling, I can help you when I come back down.”

“Antonio?” Clay asked, lifting a brow.

“This month’s flavor,” Gillam said with a smile before leading Hayden toward the front door.

“He hasn’t changed one bit,” Adam said after Gillam was out of earshot.

“I think he has a thing for you,” Clay murmured.

“No, you don’t say,” Adam muttered, rolling his eyes.

Clay laughed before pulling their bags from the trunk of Adam’s car. They’d taken it instead of his—his Camaro had almost no backseat, especially not for a guy as big as Hayden. Though Hayden had slept almost the entire way, so who knows if he’d have minded.

Maybe the sleep did him good.

“Let’s go meet the flavor of the month and get something to eat. I’m starved,” Clay said.

---