Page 46 of Sass in the Grass

Jovian’ssmilewastrulyone of the most beautiful things Dixon had ever seen in his life. The real smile that he wore in that moment, as opposed to the fake one he wore most of the time.

Then, a scent caught him, and he moved closer, knowing it came from Jovian. He easily lifted Jovian off his feet and brought him close, and he chuckled silently as he saw Jovian’s lips parted and his eyelids slid shut.

He was expecting a kiss.

Dix didn’t kiss him. Instead, he moved his face to Jovian’s long, sleek neck and breathed in slowly, taking his time as he felt Jovian quaking in his hands. “You smell really nice. Like Candy. I’d like to eat you alive.”

Setting Jovian back on his feet, Dix saw that the smile had elevated. “Really?”

“Yeah,” he said sweetly, then his voice turned into a rough growl purposely. “Don’t wear that shit while you’re hiking or on the survival camps. The bears will think you smell like candy too.”

With that, he left before he saw the smile fade further, and he had a little skip in his step as he made his way down through the cabins and to the office.

He waved happily at those calling out for “Coach” and whistled as he climbed the few wooden steps to the office door.

Inside, he found Bernie and True bent over True’s desk, and both scowled, souring his mood immediately. “What’s wrong?”

True spat, “The one donor we thought would come through for us, well, he couldn’t. All his charitable contributions for the year have been promised. Fucking dick.”

Bernie elbowed his husband. “Babe, you missed the big, goofy smile he had when he came in.”

“Oh? And does that mean you and that little shit…?”

“Hey. That may or may not be my future man, so no name calling.”

Both had their eyebrows raise comically as Bernie asked, “Your future man?”

“Gotta admit,” he said as both palms raised to either side of him. “That guy is something.”

“That’s the least you could say about the little…sorry, about Jovian,” True said.

“Listen, you sent him here, and you hoped I’d be able to turn him around, but I can’t take the credit. Mike, Kathy, Alan, they’ve befriended him, and I’ll tell you, that night around the fire during the survival camp? Man, tears just ran down his face. I must say, you all did good by him, sending him here.”

True sat hard behind his desk. “Well, I’ll be goddamned.”

Bernie snorted, “Yeah, you and me both, baby.”

Dix sat and told them what had happened, and, by the end, both mouths had curved into self-satisfied grins. True admitted, “I knew there was a real person under all that sass and snobbishness, but to know I’m right? I figured I was only hoping.”

“Well, there is. I saw that right off. I’ve never seen someone so insecure and in need of something real. All covered in that false bravado.”

“He is pretty as a picture,” True gave. “And that little ass, my god…”

“Tell me about it,” Dixon whispered, thinking about it, that small perky butt, two round globes he knew would fit perfectly in his hands.

“But…Dix, come on, he’s…is he really cut out for this life? No manicures once a week, no facials.”

“I believe Dix would love to give him a few facials,” Bernie quipped and laughed heartily at his own joke.

Dix laughed with him, but True was not amused. “You two are disgusting.”

“I’ve given you a few,” Bernie said in his defense, and Dix got up slowly, knowing it was time to leave as True’s eyes narrowed at his husband.

“That’s not a bit funny, you ass!”

“I’m gonna take off now. See you all later.”

Jovianwaslyingonhis bunk, grinning up at the ceiling when Alan, Mike and Kathy found him. Others were in the cabin, gathering clothes to change, or just resting up for the evening’s events to come.

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