Chapter 7: Taking Oxygen
757 Words
Chapter 7: Taking Oxygen
Kiwi Street
Downtown Naples
10:59 P.M.
Frankly, I don’t know how Cord had made it up to the pier if he was that afraid, but he did. He was facing inland. “You coming, Bradley?”
Not yet, I thought, but I wanted to be, coming all over his massive chest and face. I called up the last few rungs to him. “In a few. If you’re still nervous, close your eyes.”
“Okay, I will,” he called down to me.
I scrambled up to the top. I had a flashback to gym class in Standford Middle School, always the last eighth-grader to be picked for kickball, never able to climb the rope that hung from the rafters. Once I got to the pier, I stood and brushed myself off for a moment, looking at Cord. I walked up to him, wrapped my arms around his waist to tug him against me, and said, “I got you. You’re not going anywhere.”
“Kiss me,” he demanded, eyes still shut tight. “It’ll make me feel better.”
I knew it was bullshit. Maybe he just wanted my city-boy face against his because he liked the feel of my lips. Other guys enjoyed kissing me. Or maybe he enjoyed my breath, light scent of man-sweat, and the way he felt at ease next to me. No matter, I kissed him. The kiss was charged: lips and tongues danced, tips of noses brushed gently, chins bumped once or twice. It was a poetic kiss between men who were just starting to get to know each other, a helpless and heart-tugging exploration of our mouths and emotions.
He pulled away from me. It was a little disconcerting. His eyes still closed, he brushed his right palm over his lips to wipe away our saliva. He said, “Walk me to land, Bradley. I’m not about to open my eyes up here.”
“I understand,” I said, enjoying the feel of the wind blowing through my hair and the spectacular view. There weren’t any ships in sight tonight and all the mermen were dozing in their secret coves under the waves. Up here, the moon and stars didn’t seem as bright, and the night spread like a blanket over the beach, the Gulf, and as far away as I could see.
“Let’s move it, Bradley. I’m scared shitless up here.”
“I didn’t think cowboys ever got scared.”
“Real cowboys do,” he said bluntly. “Don’t let them fool you.”
“So you’re a real cowboy?” I teased him while taking his hand. We started walking back toward Kiwi Street and the rest of Naples.
“Your hand is sweaty, man,” he teased, his eyes still closed as he walked by my side.
“Don’t f**k with me, Cord, or I’ll leave you out here all by yourself,” I said, giggling like a schoolboy.
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would. Then you’ll have to crawl back on your hands and knees over these splintery boards.” I laughed and grinned from ear to ear.
“You just want me on my hands and knees like a horse.”
“I won’t deny that. Something tells me you’d be fun to ride.”
We both laughed, our hands tight together like Vise-Grips. Once we were safe on the pavement again, I said, “Open your eyes. It’s all good now.”
“You sure?”
“Why would I lie? I have no reason to hurt you.”
“A lot of guys would want to hurt me,” he admitted.
Even though he’d brought it up, I really didn’t want to question him on it. Why bring up dirt when you’re just getting to know each other? So I said, “I have a few enemies also.”
“Everyone does.”
Still hand in hand, we started strolling the three blocks back toward the Rawhide, back toward his rental. A parked police cruiser caught his attention as we made our way down Kiwi Street. “What’s The Manta Ray,” he asked.
“A diner. Homemade food. Open twenty-four hours. It has a pretty solid reputation.”
“Should we get some coffee and pie?”
“Is that what you cowboys eat near midnight?”
The smirk he gave me just about pulled the oxygen from my lungs. The guy was too sweet. Not only was he handsome, but he was charming, and I couldn’t stop staring into his onyx eyes. I had to blink a few times to be able to look away. He watched me, amused. Then he said, “Yeah, that’s what we eat. What do you city boys like?”
“Cowboy c**k,” I said, a little too quickly. It just slipped out, totally catching us both off guard. I felt rude. And pathetic. Cord was a nice guy and I’d just treated him like a piece of meat. Shame on me.
But he chuckled and winked at me, so I told myself that he was perfectly fine with my comment. Then he gave my hand a firm squeeze and said playfully, “I guess we’re going to skip the pie and coffee and go back to your place so you can munch on my cowboy c**k, right?”
I didn’t object. How could I, after embarrassing myself like that?
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