Page 52 of Bulletproof
“Oh, come on!” Derek slapped Cam on the back. “The last time we mentioned jumping out of a plane, you were crying like a little boy. As soon as your feet hit the ground, you wanted to do it again.”
Travis’ eyes widened and his pulse quickened. “I’ve never been skydiving. I would love to jump out of a plane.”
“I knew you would,” Derek replied. “Another day.”
“Next time.” Brandon nodded his head.
Travis nodded back, their words warming his heart. “Next time.” He was automatically included as part of their next adventure.
Four bodyguardsescorted them down to the lobby, where a herd of fans screamed as soon as the elevator doors opened. The reception that Bulletproof received whenever and wherever they went amazed Travis. He couldn’t imagine not being able to walk from one floor to the next or from the lobby to the car waiting outside without being surrounded by a group of bodyguards.
Derek’s hand slipped inside Travis’and their fingers laced together. Travis leaned his head on Derek’s shoulder for a moment, enjoying the closeness of being a couple. Someone yelled, “Oh my God! Derek and Travis!” causing a collective scream of excitement. They hadn’t really stepped out together in public before, and it thrilled the fans to witness them as a couple. Cell phones were shoved closer to capture them together. Thenewsworthy picture, ravaged by fans, would have been the paparazzi’s dream, and it was probably making its way across social media right now.
“Put on your life jacket.” The annoyed voice belonging to the driver of the boat bellowed from the dock.
“I don’t need that. I’ve been swimmingsince I was a baby.”
Derek let out an exasperated breath. “Wear the life jacket already.”
“It’s the law,” Cam said, as he tightened the straps on his own jacket and then checked to make sure Brandon’s life vest was fastened around his massive chest. It was a wonder they didn’t have to special order one large enough for the muscle-bound lead singer of Bulletproof.
Two other boats pulled up next to them, one on either side. Brandon and Cam climbed into one, Jeremy and Alan into the other, leaving Derek and Travis alone in the boat. “What’s going on?” Travis asked Derek. “Why aren’t we all going together in the same boat?”
“Because we all want to be in the air at the same time. We’re not gonna take turns. We do everything together. We playmusic together, we have fun together, and we fly high together.”
Of course. Everything Bulletproof did was about the fun they shared, not individually, but collectively as a group of friends. They were a pack. If you got one, you got them all. Travis admired and envied the connection, and his chest glowed with warmth, because he was starting to feel like part of them. The sense oftogetherness and inclusion boosted his ego, and the camaraderie filled him with a sense of harmony and belonging.
The boats took off one at a time and cruised parallel through Lake Coeur d’Alene until they were at a point where they were to launch the parasails. Derek was smiling at Travis again with that warm gooey look in his eyes. “Why are you always looking at me like that? Youmake me feel all tingly inside. No one has ever looked at me like that before, or made me feel so much just from a gaze.” A mere gaze from the gorgeous man gave Travis a contact high that he craved more each day.
“Because I’m not used to this. I was never really paired off with anyone. I was always the single guy. First Brandon and Cam got together. It was always the two of them.Inseparable. Then it was me, Jeremy and Alan. The three amigos. Turned out it was the two amigos and the third wheel, because Jeremy and Alan were secretly fooling around. I was the single guy. Alone.” Derek tilted his head slightly and his emerald eyes caught the sun and sparkled brightly. “And now I have you. If you weren’t here, I’d be sitting in that little seat by myself, while my friends allhave each other. Now I have you to hold my hand when I go parasailing 300 feet in the air.” He laced his fingers through Travis’. “In case I get scared, I got somebody’s hand to hold.”
Travis’ heart beat faster, sending a warm wave of emotion through him. The bulk of what Derek had just said mimicked the loneliness inside Travis. He squeezed Derek’s hand. “I got your hand. And youhave mine. But I don’t think you’re gonna need it. You’re a daredevil.”
“Right back at ya.”
Travis gave a short chuckle. “No fear. Gotta push it to the limit.” When Travis tried to release Derek’s hand, Derek held it tighter.
“I do need it,” Derek said, with an intense gaze. “Your hand. In mine.” With that, Derek brought Travis’ hand to his lips and depositeda lingering kiss. “But I’ll let you have it back long enough to fasten your life vest.”
Travis stilled, transfixed at this man who constantly turned his insides to mush. When he didn’t make any attempt to let go of Derek’s hand, Derek tightened up Travis’ life jacket for him, holding a smile that demanded to be kissed. The little peck Travis unexpectedly stole made Derek smile widerthan the sky.
“How’s your wrist?” Derek asked. “You’re not wearing your brace.”
Travis flexed the fingers on his right hand. “It still hurts a little, but the brace is annoying.”
They sat together in the small seat that would take them high into the sky, still holding hands. The wind picked up and they climbed higher into the sky, closer to the clouds, closerto heaven. Gorgeous mountain peaks jutted out from the landscape. Spruce trees dotted the tranquil lake with a deep green border of triangular beauty. The blue of the water matched the sky. It was the most breathtaking sight Travis had ever seen. The world sprawled in front of him, majestic and endless.
The parasail climbed further into the air and away from the lake below. A hawkflew by close enough to hear the low thunder of its wings, and Travis’ jaw fell open at the bird’s noble strength and grace. They shared the celestial space, along with the moon and the sun, just like Travis imagined when he was on the ground staring up at the stars. Up here, nothing mattered. No pressure. No one to answer to. No one to tell him what to do. He was free. Spreading his arms wide, hefelt as if he was flying without the aid of a parasail.
Travis turned to Derek, his hair blowing around his face like the feathers of a gorgeous black falcon, the dark pigment reflecting the sun like a shiny sheet of black glass. Derek wasn’t looking at Travis at the moment, though. He was giving Brandon and Cam the thumbs up, and then flashed a set of rock and roll horns at Jeremyand Alan. He finally settled his eyes on Travis.
The connection, the heat that seeped into Travis’ body whenever Derek was near, jumpstarted Travis’ heart like nothing before.
A loud scream bellowed from Derek and startled Travis. At first, he thought something was wrong and the guy was freaking out, until Derek threw his arms around Travis and gave him a big wet, sloppykiss on the cheek, then pumped his fist in the air and shouted, “Hell yeah!” at Jeremy and Alan, who were closest and who screamed back at him.
Travis had parasailed dozens of times, but today the thrill was magnified. Sharing the sport with Derek, and this crazy bunch of guys, enhanced the experience by a thousand fold. It meant the world to Travis that he was included in the groupactivity, and his jaw tightened with sentiment. He watched the enjoyment in Derek’s face and in his animated behavior. The simple parasailing ride took on new meaning. It was more fun, more exciting. It was dangerous and exhilarating.
Travis could see the water beneath him getting closer. He didn’t want the ride to end, but the descent was always the best part. He watched the darkblue lake ripple below. He wanted to dive in and feel the water on his skin. He slipped out of his harness, ripped off his life vest, and stood up, ready to jump. He heard Derek’s alarmed voice yelling for him to sit down and felt a hand yanking on his arm, but he ignored it. He was too overwhelmed by the mounting excitement and the thrill of the ride. His blood pumped harder as he readied himselfto dive into the water. He fed off the risk that he could easily hit the water wrong and slam into it as if it were a sheet of concrete. He could break his neck or every bone in his body. He could hit a sandbar. There was a list of things that could happen, but he knew none of them would. Worry was just an excuse, a phobia that would stop him from living his life to the fullest. Luck was alwayson his side. He’d been dealt a bad hand, but came through whatever life threw at him. Living on the edge was the only thing he knew and the only thing that satisfied the insatiable need in his heart. Just like the tattoo that had been branded on his body, he was bulletproof.
