Page 96 of Refraction

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Tucker checkedthe pool, the filter, then turned on some music and grabbed towels and one of the floating chairs for Calvin later.

Then he jumped in, gasping as the cool water lowered his body temperature in a rush.

“You started without me!” Calvin stood at the edge of the pool, posing and showing off in tight black bathing trunks that were cut low, and high, in all the right places. “You have to do my sunscreen.”

“I will.” Oh man, his mouth went dry. “Jesus, honey.”

Calvin looked pleased and preened for him. “Told you that you would like it.”

“You did. I do.” He hauled himself up and out, shaking to get the excess water off.

“You should kiss me, then.” Calvin’s hands were warm on his hips.

“Oh, yessir.” He got himself a double handful of the sweetest ass in known history and took the kiss he seemed to always be wanting.

Calvin let him right in so he could taste that tongue and share a breath. That was a beautiful thing. Sunscreen. No lobster lover. Calvin would make a grumpy lobster.

“Oh.” Calvin made a sad little sound and trailed after him as he pulled away to get the sunscreen. “Right. Sunscreen. Le sigh. You always take such good care of me.”

“It’s my pleasure. Besides, you’ll love floating in the water with me. You’ll be able to walk for well over a third of it, so you can enjoy the cool.” He slicked his hands and started rubbing all those muscles.

“Are you sure I’m not going to sink?” Calvin picked up the sunscreen and put some on his face and ears.

“Well, you can sit on the bottom, but it’s just not deep on the shallow end, and I will be right there. I can swim.”

“You’re really good at it. It’s fun to watch.” Calvin stepped away again and looked at the pool. “I’m totally nervous, though.”

“I swear, I won’t let a thing bad happen. This is gonna feel good.” Tucker hopped in, then held his hand out. “Come on, honey. Believe in me.”

“Aren’t there supposed to be stairs or something?” Calvin sat on the edge of the pool first, feet dangling in the water. “I trust you. You know I do, tiger.”

“There are stairs there where the hot tub and the pool meet. Then there are ladders, four sets. Also, just so you know, the lip around the edge in the deep end is at five feet, so if you need to, you can perch.”

“All those ladders and you just jump in, huh? I don’t know, seems wiser to get in a step at a time, no? Gradually? Kind of ease into things?” Calvin was babbling. Tucker put his hands on Calvin’s hips, and when he got a nod, he lifted Calvin into the pool. Fingers dug into his arms, but Calvin stood there just fine. “Okay. I’m in. Right? Yeah. I’m in.”

“You are in.” He didn’t pull or anything. He just stood and let Calvin adjust. The water was cool and comfortable, the blistering sun finally easing.

Calvin’s fingers let up on his arms. “This is okay. I can do this. Feels good in here too.” Calvin took one step back and took his hands, then looked up from the water and smiled at him. “I’m good.”

“Cool. I can keep holding you, right?” This was a fantasy—touching and holding someone in the water.

Calvin raised one gracefully sculpted eyebrow. “You want me closer?”

“Please.” Always.

Calvin moved close again, really close, making the water splash between them. “Mmm. This is better, you’re right.”

Better didn’t start to cover it. This was perfect. “I think so.”

“So….” Calvin held his eyes. “You want to show me how to float?”

“I can do that. You just have to trust that I won’t let you fall. If you need a couple days to relax, that’s cool too.” Floating was all about relaxing.

“I trust you. I want to try it. I’d like to say ‘I ain’t scairt’ like you did, except I am a little.” Calvin smiled at him and winked.

“It just takes practice. I’m going to lift you up, huh, then help you stretch out. I’ll have you, the whole time.” He scooped one hand under Calvin’s butt.

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