Beyond the Sea (39 page)

“
Do it. Come for me and I’ll lick it up.”

Gasping, Brian unraveled, jizz spurting over his chest and belly. Troy milked him, getting every drop. Brian’s ass was a vise around Troy’s dick, and it only took a few short thrusts before Troy filled his hole with a primal sense of belonging.

The echo of their cries faded to labored breaths, and Troy eased out of Brian gently. He lowered Brian’s legs, but stayed between them.

Bending his head, he ran his tongue over Brian’s chest, lapping up the bitter, musky semen before it dried. The hair was rough on his tongue, and he loved it. Scooting back, he licked a trail down Brian’s belly, making him shiver and tremble. Troy gently sucked at the head of Brian’s cock until Brian tightened his fingers in Troy’s hair. “Okay, okay.”

Troy stretched out beside him, both of them on their backs. With sunlight dancing over their sweaty bodies, Troy was sated in every way possible, except for being rather thirsty. But he couldn’t move just yet. “I guess there’s one thing we definitely need to do today.”

“
What’s that?” Brian asked lazily, his eyes drifting shut.

“
Change these sheets.”

Brian laughed, that low rumble that made Troy’s toes curl. He rolled over and snuggled up to Brian’s side. The water and sheets could wait.
Everything
could wait.

After a dinner that night of ice cream and more freshly delivered pizza, they went for a walk by the water’s edge. One of his neighbors jogged by, and Troy gave him a little wave. The man—a Hollywood lawyer—nodded without breaking stride. That was the great thing about living in a gated community in Malibu. The other residents were so rich and often famous themselves that they didn’t give a crap about some boy bander and who he was dating.

He and Brian stood on the wet sand as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, a wave rushing around their ankles before retreating.

“
It’s surreal sometimes,” Brian said.

“
Hmm?”

“
Being here. Being rescued even though this is the same sun going beyond the same ocean.” Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. “I can almost imagine we’re back there. Except this time my belly’s full with real food and we get to sleep in a bed. No bugs. No parrots.” He looked at the orangey-red horizon. “But we still get sunsets.”

“
Best of both worlds.”

Brian smiled. “Lucky us.”

“
Hey, you know what else I miss? Let’s make a fire. We were going to do a bonfire party last winter but it never happened. The wood’s still piled up in the shed with the paddle boats and stuff.”

So they dug a little pit and made a fire, no need for a magnifying glass or to worry about conserving precious matches. Troy brought down a blanket and a couple of beers in little cozies that stayed in the freezer. He handed one to Brian. “Ice cold beer?”

Brian took it with a grin. “How did you know?”

“
Oh, you might have mentioned it a few hundred times. Here, hold mine too.” He spread out the blanket and they settled down under the stars, gazing at the Big Dipper this time. Troy sat cross-legged and sipped his beer, his knee brushing Brian’s.

“
This is still surreal. For the record.” Brian drank from his bottle. “Guess it will be for a while yet. Keep wanting to pinch myself. Hard to believe I’m really here. With you.”

“
You are.” Troy leaned over and kissed him softly. “You’re really here.”

After a minute of content silence, Troy asked, “Have you thought about what you’ll do? For work, I mean. Not that you have to work. I have money.”

Brian raised an eyebrow. “Are you proposing I be a kept man?”

Laughing, Troy took another sip. “Sure. Works for me.”

“
It’s a tempting offer.” His smile faded. “But yes, I’ve thought about it. I…” He sighed.

“
You don’t have to talk about it now. I’m sorry. We have time. Don’t need to rush anything. Don’t need all the answers this minute.”

“
I know. But I think I already have the answer.” Brian stared into the fire with a wistful smile. “I
loved
flying. But after Wisconsin… After Paula…” He went silent.

“
It wasn’t your fault,” Troy said quietly.

“
I know.” Brian looked at him. “I’m not just saying that. I
know
I couldn’t have done anything differently.” He picked up a handful of sand and let it run through his fingers. “I can forgive myself, but I still can’t forget. That joy is gone. I know I can do it. Could probably captain flights again now without panic attacks. But I don’t
want
to. I don’t think I’ll ever get back the love I had for it.” He snorted. “Maybe I just need to get over myself.”

“
No!” Troy shifted closer, slipping his arm around Brian’s back. “You need to do something you love. Something that gives you joy. I really believe that. We both need to find out what makes us happy.”

Brian rested his hand on Troy’s knee, warm and heavy. “Being your kept man fits the bill.”

Troy laughed softly. “The offer stands.”

“
What about you? The band?”

“
I guess I’ll have to deal with the consequences of quitting the tour. We were at the end of our contract and in the middle of renegotiations, and I can’t see myself doing another album. I was nineteen when we started. After seven years it’s time for me to move on.” He exhaled, his stomach fluttering. “Wow. That’s the first time I’ve said that out loud. And you know what else? I’m buying a guitar. Working on my folk songs. See what comes of it. Stop worrying about the past and be in the now.”

“
I love that idea.”

“
Yeah?”

Brian threw a piece of wood onto their little fire, sending a cascade of sparks into the air. “Yeah.”

“
I’m used to having a solid, detailed plan. My dad was very big on that.”

“
My grandparents too.” He smiled fondly. “Big planners. But right now, I just want to be with you. Reconnect with some old friends. Go to therapy and actually talk this time.”

“
That’s a good idea. We could both use some mainland therapy.”

Brian smiled softly. Peeling at the label on his beer, he said, “When we crashed, I started living again. Before then, I was sleepwalking. You woke me up, Troy. I don’t want to go back to sleep.”

“
Me either.”

Troy watched Brian take a long pull from his bottle of beer, his throat working. Desire coiled in Troy’s belly, a lazy tendril he knew would spread and grow as the night wore on. He smiled to himself, thinking of how he’d get to spend another night with Brian in his bed. And the next night, and the one after that, for as long as they wanted.

“
Sing me our song.”

Troy didn’t have to ask which one. “It’s sad, though. Don’t you think?”

“
Not when you sing it. There’s so much hope in your voice.” Brian took Troy’s hand, threading their fingers together. “It’s perfect.”

So Troy sang, and when Brian kissed him with such passion, Troy decided it was perfect indeed.

“
Troy, Brian. Thank you so much for being here today. It’s such an honor.” Anne-Louise Slater smiled beatifically. Not a single tawny hair was out of place, and her lips gleamed dark red.

“
Thank you for having us. It’s a pleasure to be here,” Troy replied.

Brian smiled and didn’t say anything. Troy was much better at dealing with the media and sitting there patiently before the cameras rolled as young women powdered their faces, combed their hair, and fiddled with the collars of their buttoned shirts.

Troy was in dark jeans and Brian khaki slacks. Brian had to remind himself not to cross and re-cross his leg anxiously. He folded his hands on his knee in what he hoped was a casual pose.

Brian certainly wouldn’t call the interview a
pleasure
—more like a necessary evil. They were in a television studio in LA that had been soft lit with an indistinct background. The network had agreed to their list of no-go topics, including Wisconsin, Paula, flying in general, and Troy and Brian’s sex life.

Anne-Louise beamed. “You’ve been together four years now. This unlikely romance certainly took everyone by surprise.”

“
Including us,” Troy replied with a smile. He pushed back a stray curl.

“
A lot of people said it wouldn’t last, but here you are.” She raised a perfectly penciled eyebrow. “Do we hear wedding bells in your future?”

Brian’s laugh was genuine, and he relaxed a few fractions. “You’ve clearly been talking to Troy’s mother. We don’t have any plans at the moment since we’re honestly too busy. But let’s just say it’s on our radar.”

“
Ah, intriguing. Troy, we’ve heard from you before about what it was like being stranded on the island. Brian, this is actually your very first interview. Did you have anything you wanted to share about that experience?”

“
I think Troy’s said it all.”

“
What did you think of him when you met?”

Brian hesitated, thinking of the answer he’d practiced. It was the truth, which made it easier to remember. “That he was surprisingly down to earth. A hard worker. I figured of all the people I could have landed with on that island, I was lucky it was Troy. Now I know just how lucky I was.”

“
Troy, after you finished Next Up’s world tour—which became a farewell tour for the group—you and Brian pulled up stakes and moved to North Carolina. Was it just Brian’s new job that brought you there, or were you feeling restless here in LA?”

“
Yeah, I think it was both. I was…” Troy paused for a moment. “I was ready for a new challenge, artistically. Ready to expand my horizons.”

Anne-Louise picked up a CD. “You certainly have. Your new album,
From Golden Sands to the Top of the World
, sold two hundred and fifty thousand digital copies its first week. It’s a real departure for you—very mature, folk-influenced, guitar-driven songs that you’ve called ‘deeply personal.’ How rewarding has it been to have this music embraced by the public and critics alike?”

Troy shook his head with a bashful grin. “It’s been incredible. Brian encouraged me to spread my wings, and this journey has been so rewarding. And it’s not over yet. I’m very excited to start working on my next album.”

Anne-Louise said, “Brian, your proud smile says it all.”

He hadn’t actually realized he was smiling at Troy, and Brian turned his head back to focus on Anne-Louise. “Yes, I’m very proud.”
Obviously. God, I hate interviews.

“
And you’re enjoying your work as an instructor at the new state-of-the-art pilot training center in Asheville?”

“
Very much.” She was still looking at him expectantly, so Brian added, “Flight simulators have never been this realistic. It’s like being up in the air, but I can stay close to home.”

“
And your home is in the Smoky Mountains above Asheville? Troy, this is what you refer to as ‘Top of the World,’ isn’t it?”

Troy nodded with a smile. “Yes, it’s our little nickname for our cabin. We have a hot tub on the deck, and the view is breathtaking. Some days, it’s like being in the clouds.”

“
Sounds like life couldn’t be much more perfect for the two of you. Troy, you’re nominated for five Grammy awards this weekend, including album of the year. Are you nervous for Sunday?”

“
I am, but it honestly is such an honor just to be nominated.” He shook his head. “I know, I know, everyone says that. But the reception this album has received has been beyond my wildest dreams.”

“
You performed a duet on one of the tracks with your brother Tyson.” Anne-Louise put on her serious face. “I think our hearts all broke for him when you went missing and were presumed dead, and it’s wonderful to see him healthy and working on his own solo album.” She lifted an eyebrow. “You also sang a song with your ex-girlfriend, Savannah Jones, which surprised many people.”

Troy shrugged. “We’ve remained friends, so I’m not sure why it’s such a shock. It was great spending time with her in the studio. As you know, she’s incredibly talented, and I hope I can work with her again.”

Anne-Louise didn’t relent. “Well, I think after you left her for a man, it must have been quite a blow for her. She did seem rather heartbroken.”