Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 99918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“You don’t have a boyfriend?” Why had he just now thought to ask that question? He realized right then, the whole time they’d been together, every thought had been about him, he never considered Tristan in any of this.
“No. I haven’t had a lot of long-term relationships. I’ve worked ungodly hours most of my life. I just never had time,” Tristan explained.
“I get that.” He’d worked hard to get where he was, too. If he hadn’t had Teri by his side, who knows how his life would have turned out. She had pushed him to go for his dreams and stood by his side each step of the way. “And you don’t pick up closeted gay men and school them regularly?”
“Most definitely not,” Tristan said and then cut his eyes over to Dylan. “No offense, but the virgin closet guy usually comes with too much drama.”
“No offense taken. I can see that.” He kicked at the water some, staying quiet a little longer. “Why me, then? I’ve been nothing but drama.”
“I’ve been asking myself that question. Last night, the goal was to show you guys a good time. I wanted your business. I took you to the dinner club because I didn’t think you were really serious about being so hidden. Again, no offense, but I don’t know anyone that’s sacrificed as much as you have for his family. After I spent time with you, I realized besides being attracted to you, I liked being around you. I mean, I really like everything about you. I wanted to be your first. It’s silly, but you always remember your first. I still do after all these years. I wanted you to remember me.” Dylan didn’t respond. Instead, he just looked down, kicking at the water. He liked some of what he heard. It made him feel good that Tristan was attracted to him. He’d never really known how he fared in other men’s minds. Besides, Tristan turned him on like he’d never experienced before. No, Tristan hadn’t used those words on him, but it would have sucked for that to be completely one-sided.
“I think what has Landry the most pissed off is that I planned something completely different in my offer to you. You managed to change all that, and he doesn’t get it. I don’t change my mind very often, yet I’m standing in the cold surf with a closeted man who was able to get me to buy his company for twenty percent more than he asked. You’re pretty remarkable.” They slowed their pace. Tristan now looked down at the water as though thinking through what he’d just admitted.
“I’m with Landry. I don’t get it either, but you have to know I wasn’t gonna sell if you didn’t secure my people.” They were stopped now, letting the water lap around their ankles. Dylan turned to Tristan as he spoke. He was dead serious. He didn’t understand anything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
“I figured that out. It doesn’t take much to see that you live by an honor code. It’s real old school. I think it’s also why you’re so successful. You’re genuine. We’ve lost that in Wilder, if we ever even had it,” Tristan said, changing their course, pulling him back toward their blanket on the beach by their still clasped hands. The moonlight guided their path.
“Honor doesn’t mean always doing the right thing. I just try to do the right thing,” Dylan said, thinking over Tristan’s words.
“That’s a good point, and I can agree with that. So we have even farther to go as a civilization to reach honor and ethics. That’s great. Humanity has no hope. Want another beer?” Tristan asked, finally releasing his hand and dropping down on the blanket. “Here’s a towel, your feet have to be freezing.”
“Sure,” he said, reaching for the towel. His feet were cold, so he covered them more than dried them, trying to build a little warmth. Tristan handed him a beer before digging through the contents of the basket to set out a few things. There was some sort of candle. Tristan lit the wick and set it in the sand before pulling out a few more containers.
“I’m not sure I thought this through very well. We could go to dinner somewhere.” Tristan paused, searching for a place to set the food.
“I’m good. I’m not very hungry. What’s in there?” Dylan asked, taking a container and lifting the lid. “This is a pasta vegetable dish.”
“Oh, that’s Maria’s specialty. I have fruit. And some cold cuts, cheeses, and some sort of dessert.” Tristan lifted the lid and ran a finger across the top to taste the dish. “It’s some kind of pudding and whipped cream concoction, I think.”
Tristan put all that out and reached for the silverware. “Are you good with eating from the containers? I have plates if you’d rather have those.”
“This is fine.” He speared a piece of melon and ate it down. “The fruit tastes so fresh here,” he said, wiping at his chin.
“I guess it’s probably pretty fresh. Taste the pasta salad.” Tristan held a spoonful for him to eat. He hesitated. It was dark, and feeding someone seemed intimate, but he opened and Tristan’s aim was good. He took the bite. “She uses sweetened milk and vinegar. It’s my favorite.”
“It’s very good.” Dylan swallowed the food. Tristan handed him the bowl as he went for the cold cuts.
“You aren’t going to drink?” Dylan asked, taking a swig.
“I’ve got precious cargo to get back,” Tristan said, dropping a couple of cheese cubes in his mouth.
“So how does it work tonight?” Dylan questioned, taking another big bite of the pasta.
“What do you mean?” Tristan asked, leaning in, taking Dylan’s next bite. “Mmmm.” The smile the man gave went straight to his dick.
“I don’t know. Just how does it work?” Dylan asked.
“Well, I haven’t done anything like this myself in a while, but it’s all about the pleasure. It’s also amazing visual stimulation. You’ll like Julian. He’s a male model. You’ll set the pace for you. And you know, I’m up for just about anything,” Tristan said, opening a water bottle and drinking several gulps. “Here, try the cheese.”