Page 69 of Poolside

Chuck stared at him, trying to make sense of what he was saying. “You know you’re so much more than your job, right? You’ve got all of us who love the hell out of you.” He reached out, brushing his thumb over the rough stubble on Tommy’s jaw. “You’ve got me.”

Tommy’s mouth curved into a slow smile. “Thanks,” he said, as he reached out and placed a heavy hand on Chuck’s thigh. “Wanna make out?”

Chuck snorted. “That wasn’t smooth at all.”

Tommy’s eyes crinkled in the corners as he grinned, showing his white teeth. “Sorry, that wasn’t my best work. Let me try that again.” He cleared his throat, and schooled his face into a stern but heated expression. “How about you go upstairs and put that jock on, and I’ll follow you and eat your ass, pretty boy.”

“Um,” Chuck said, trying to find the right words even as heat flooded his body. “That. That’s better.”

As Chuck ran up the stairs with Tommy’s footsteps heavy behind him, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was what he’d been missing out on. If the depression that had clung to the surface of every good thing in his life had kept him from this kind of happiness.

This is happening. My mind feels good, my body feels awake, my dick is hard and Tommy wants me.

This was a dream, and Chuck was living it.

* * *

“Okay. Lay back and try to relax.”

They were back in the water after reapplying sunscreen, this time only a few yards away from the floating dock. Chuck treaded water comfortably, egg-beater kicking his long legs in a familiar rhythm that kept his chest and head above the water.

He watched as Tommy laid back, his body floating on the surface of the water. He heard Tommy’s loud exhale as he relaxed into the position.

“The water is not out to get you.” Chuck spoke loudly enough that Tommy would be able to hear him from just below the surface. “You know how to swim, you’re strong, and if all else fails, you can rest and float.”

Tommy didn’t respond.

Chuck lifted his face to the sun, feeling the immediate warmth where the afternoon rays met his wet skin. He was happiest when he was in the water—always had been, even before swimming became a practice and a sport. Growing up in Central Texas, springs and summers were spent finding water wherever they could. There were public pools, rivers, and more natural springs than he could count.

“You look happy.”

Chuck grinned. “I am happy.” He opened his eyes, finding Tommy treading water in front of him. “How about we do a ten minute swim along the shoreline together? Five minutes out and five minutes back?”

Tommy nodded. “Deal. And then I want to make you dinner.”

“Twist my fucking arm.”

The swim was slow and leisurely, but Chuck felt like it was what Tommy needed. They ended up side stroking or breast stroking with their heads above water most of the way as they chatted about Tommy’s work and how Chuck’s team was looking for next year.

By the time they made it back to the house they were both exhausted. Tommy sent Chuck to shower, and when he came back downstairs there were burgers on the grill and sweet potato fries fresh from the oven.

After dinner and a quick clean up in the kitchen, they decided to retreat to Chuck’s bed. Chuck stripped down to his white briefs, and even as he yawned, Tommy looked appreciatively at Chuck’s body as he climbed into bed in just his boxers.

“Hey,” Tommy said softly, smiling at Chuck with a crooked smile. “Today was a really fucking good day.”

“Yeah it was.”

Tommy leaned over and kissed him. Chuck pressed his tongue into Tommy’s mouth, deepening the kiss and scooting over to close the distance between them. His breath caught at the soft slide of Tommy’s bare chest against him, and greedily Chuck pressed their hips together.

Tommy was already hard, his cock stiff against Chuck’s hip.

Chuck broke away from him. “Grab the lube,” he whispered, rolling his hips so his erection brushed against Tommy’s.

A second later, Tommy pressed the bottle of lube into his hand. Chuck slid off his briefs, and a tug on the hem of Tommy’s boxers was enough to get his point across. When they were both naked and Tommy’s lips were teasing the side of Chuck’s neck, Chuck reached down and wrapped his slicked-up hand around both of them.

“Oh,” Tommy breathed against his skin. Chuck tightened his grip, the hot slide of Tommy’s cock against his sending a sharp rush of arousal through him.

Their mouths found each other again as Chuck worked them, jacking them off together.

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