Tom joked, “Someone wants a wedding night.”
Colin jogged, almost tripping as he leaned behind Tag and accepted Tom's high five.
* * * * *
Colin stood between Tag and Tom and looked over the crowd gathered, proud and happy as hell for Jordan and Tag. He shifted, searching for where Jordan would emerge from the rented bungalow and walk down the “aisle” to her groom. Instead of Jordan, Colin froze on the face he crossed instead. Holding back a bit among the palm trees, Marek stood, looking right at Colin.
He's here.
Tall and fit, wearing Colin's tan suit, the man stole Colin's breath. Somewhere in Marek's schedule today, someone had given him a haircut. And his face, oh God, his face was shaved clean. No more beard. Just…Marek remained.
Holy shit.
Colin trembled where he stood.
He is stunning.
Chapter Nine
Colin crossed the expanse of beach and approached Marek after the ceremony, unable to believe the dryness in his mouth and the way he perspired. God, what the fuck is wrong with me? I've let this man inside me hundreds of times in my dreams.
The answer was simple. This was real, and Colin wanted Marek to like him, to be attracted to him in reality. The dreams didn't matter anymore.
Everything Colin did from here on out, in person, did.
He cleared his throat and stuck out his hand in greeting. “Hi. I'm glad you came.” His voice wavered when Marek engulfed his palm in a firm shake. God, he turns me into putty with hardly a look or touch.
Marek dipped his head and gave Colin a little smile. “Thank you.” He let go and slid his hands into his trouser pockets—Colin's trouser pockets. Damn, the guy looked good in Colin's suit. “It was a pretty ceremony, even from back here.” He looked over Colin's shoulder to the gathering behind them. “Simple. Nice.”
“Except for the clothes.” Colin reached up, undid the top button on his shirt, and loosened his pale blue tie, breathing a little easier when he did. “Leave it to Jordan to want a wedding on a beach, but at the same time want everyone in the party to look like they're standing in a traditional church wedding.”
“Right.” Marek eyed Colin's black suit and shiny shoes. “You look nice though.”
Heat flamed Colin's face. He could only pray the evening shadows covered his telltale sign of pleasure. “Thanks.”
“Everyone does,” Marek quickly added. He darted his attention off Colin once again. “And your friends look happy.”
“Oh, absolutely happy. They're a good match. Right for each other. All that kind of good stuff.”
“Right.”
Nerves ate at Colin, tripping up the wires in his brain that connected to form sentences. He couldn't seem to find the middle ground between innate rambling and utter silence. Fuck, though, he just could not get over Marek's trimmed, dark hair, and his clean-shaven face. No tan lines existed from the cover of facial hair, just smooth skin that looked prone to five o'clock shadow.
“Col!” Jordan's voice boomed across the night sky, bellowing from the deck of the house. “Bring your friend and come get food! I haven't eaten all day! Let's go!”
Colin turned, and Jordan beckoned at him like a traffic controller bringing in a plane on manual. With her veil thrown back, her strapless white gown, and her bouquet still in one hand, Colin had to laugh.
Shifting, Colin included Marek. “You want to go meet my friends?” He indicated the deck with a move of his shoulder. “I promise they're casual and cool and won't make a big deal or single you out for teasing.” He smiled wryly. “They'll do that to me alone later on.”
Marek's focus went from Colin to the crowd walking up to the rental bungalow's back deck. He studied the shadowed bodies for a long minute, and Colin could see his hand beating against his thigh inside his pocket. “Okay,” he finally said. “I'd like something to eat.”
“Good.” Colin evened out his voice and stamped down any visual excitement at his small victory. Inside, he whooped like a little boy. “Follow me.”
* * * * *
Colin lifted his face and for a moment closed his eyes. “The cool breeze feels nice, doesn't it?”
“Yeah,” Marek murmured, his voice hushed. “Your friends couldn't have picked a better night for a wedding.”
With bare feet and his dress pants rolled up to his calves, Colin walked along the darkened beach. The water lapped onto the shore and washed over his toes, up to his ankles, and tickled his skin. Marek strolled beside Colin free of his shoes and socks too; he had his tie now fully undone, hanging loosely around his neck. Colin had removed his before sitting down to eat, and his jacket remained back at the bungalow as well.
The bride and groom had left for a luxury honeymoon suite a short while ago to enjoy some privacy, and most of Tag's family had returned to their hotel. A handful of people remained talking, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. Soft strains of slow music from Sylvia's iPod drifted down the beach, snaking its haunting melody into Colin's marrow. The moon looked like it touched the water, he had a gorgeous-as-all-get-out man at his side, and Colin didn't think he had been in such a romantic setting in his life.
“Dance with me,” he whispered before he chickened out.
Marek jerked, looking like he came out of a trance. “What?” He glanced in each direction of the deserted stretch of beach. “I can't. I don't know how to dance.”
“I don't either. Not really. Just”—please don't turn me down—“try.” Colin lifted his arms in a waltz-type hold. He chewed on his cheek, waiting with his arms hanging in the air. “It's okay. Nobody can see us.”
Stepping in, Marek grabbed Colin's hand and slid his arm around his waist, tugging him close. Colin's free arm automatically came to rest across Marek's shoulders. His blood raced, tingling awareness of Marek all through his body.
“I
