Page 28 of Bulletproof
“But we’re stuck here on the patio in the hot sun,” Travis complained, squinting in the bright glare. “We can’t even go into the water to cool off.”
“If you want shade, I can have the hotelset up a canopy in a matter of minutes. These guys like the sun. That’s why there’s not one here already. As for the water,” Derek grinned, “this is how I go in.” He ran full speed toward the edge of the pool while screaming, “CANNON BALL!” at the top of his lungs. He jumped as high as he could, pulled his knees into his chest, and wrapped his arms around them. The crowd of people below scatteredas he fell toward them, and he broke through the water’s surface with a huge splash. Through the water that clouded his ears, he heard lifeguard whistles blaring and people shouting instructions. When he came up for air, two lifeguards were in the water, creating a barrier between himself and the crowd, who had been relegated to the other side of the pool, and security had moved closer to the perimeter’sedge on the patio. Derek watched them in their starched dark suits and laughed as he imagined them jumping into the water to ward off some unruly fans.
“You’re nuts!” Travis smiled down at Derek from the concrete. He looked adorable standing there, smiling and laughing, totally innocent and unsuspecting.
Jeremy and Alan snuck up behind Travis and grabbed him by the upperarms, while Brandon and Cam grabbed his legs. The four of them had Travis completely off his feet. They swung him backward. “One!” Forward. “Two!” Back again. “Three!” On four, they flung Travis into the pool, arms and legs flailing wildly as he sailed through the air.
The last thing Derek saw before Travis went under the water was the guy’s mouth wide open bellowing with laughter.
The look of surprise on Travis’ face when he resurfaced had Derek laughing so hard he needed to hold onto his side. “Don’t ever turn your back on those guys.”
“You think that’s funny?” Travis lumbered toward Derek, fists clenched and trying his hardest to hide his smile. “You better run.”
Derek took off, but the water slowed his legs and he ended up runningin slow motion, resembling a cartoon character. Travis caught him easily from behind, wrapping his arms around Derek and trapping him against his chest, which was exactly where Derek wanted to be.
“I give up.” Derek turned around to face Travis, expecting an aggressive dunk, but instead received a wet, chlorine-drenched kiss that echoed the gentle soul that resided inside Travis.The dual personalities that made up the charming man in Derek’s arms continually amazed him.
After 30 minutes of wrestling in the water and tossing a volleyball to each other, they all retreated to their lounge chairs so the rest of the hotel guests could enjoy the pool.
“Sorry about hogging the pool.” Brandon waved to the guests with his most magnetic smile. “I hopea round of free alcohol will make up for it!” Everyone around the pool cheered, and Brandon acknowledged them with a pair of rock and roll horns. He called the waiter over and told him to get everyone his or her drink of choice, including soda for those underage, and to put it on his tab.
“Is he serious?” Travis whispered to Derek. “Look at all these people here. That could be a thousanddollars.”
Running a towel over his hair, Derek smiled at Travis’ naivety. “Brandon doesn’t care about money. He tips the bus driver three times that at the end of the tour. And don’t even get me started on how much he tips the wait staff when they deliver room service.”
Travis’ eyes widened with disbelief, and it made Derek’s heart warm. The guy was still so new in thebusiness, unaware of the potential wealth that lay ahead.
Travis took the towel from Derek’s hands. “Let me do that.”
“You want to dry my hair?”
Travis nodded.
Sitting on the edge of the chaise lounge, Derek leaned his head back and reveled in the relaxing massage on his scalp.
“Your hair is beautiful.” Travis untangled it with hisfingers so that it hung straight down Derek’s back. “It’s down to your elbows. I’ve never dated anyone with long hair before.”
Derek froze, and so did Travis’ hands in Derek’s hair. He didn’t date. “Is that what we’re doing? Dating?” Derek couldn’t contain the nervous smile on his lips or the slight tremor of panic in his voice.
“No. I don’t know.” Travis’ smile was audible.“I’ll rephrase that. I’ve never screwed around with someone with long hair before.”
Derek chuckled, content with the definition of their relationship. He closed his eyes and relaxed while Travis continued to dry his hair with the towel and comb it with his fingers.
The light touch of Travis’ finger traced one of the tattoos on Derek’s shoulder, and then ran down his arm.
“I love all your tattoos. They’re so fucking sexy.” Travis dropped the towel and circled the lounger so he could squat down in front of Derek. “Let’s do something fun.”
“What do you have in mind?”
Travis fingered the tattoo on Derek’s left pec, and he was sure Travis felt his heart quicken.
“Let’s get a tattoo.”
“I’d love to get morework done. And I seem to have the day off.” Finding a reputable tattoo shop with availability on the fly was challenging, but after Derek made a few phone calls, Da Vinci Ink was ready to take them in a few hours. It would give them enough time to shower and make the 30-minute drive to the shop.
Da Vinci had the usual generic flash on the walls along with a variety of original oil-on-canvas work from the resident artists. Whispers in the background along with a few excited gasps caught Derek’s attention as recognition hit the patrons in the waiting area. Eyes were darting between Derek and Travis. Muffled voices came from mouths hidden behind cupped hands as people whispered to one another.Derek gave a small wave, and Travis mimicked the gesture, obviously waiting to follow Derek’s lead about when and how much to interact with fans. When Travis was alone, he readily greeted fans, but he respected Derek’s notoriety and waited for him to make the first interaction when they were together.
“Can I get an autograph?” a girl asked, shyly, extending a ballpoint pen towardDerek.
