Fight the Tide (13 page)

“Not silly at all.”

“Even if I did, who would see it?”

Abby seemed to ponder it. “Would you still want to finish it? Even if no one ever saw it?”

“Yes.” He didn’t need to think about it. Even if it never had an audience, his images would be captured. They’d be real. He tried to smile. “Not that many people would have seen it anyway besides my advisor and the film department committee.”

“Well, if you make a new one, I’ll watch the hell out of it. We’ll find a way. With popcorn too. Double butter. I’ll churn it myself if I have to.”

The urge to hug her had his fingers twitching. “Thank you.”

“What kind of movies did you study?”

“All of them, but my master’s thesis was on documentaries. I was making one on found families.”

“Well, that’s an apropos subject.” She smiled widely and thrust out her chin with an exaggerated smile. “Do I have anything in my teeth?”

“Nope. You look beautiful.” And she did, her light hair caught by the wind and a blush in her dimpled cheeks.

“Okay, I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”

Adam switched on the camera and got her in frame at the wheel, bracing himself with one hand on the rail, keeping the focus as steady as possible on the swaying deck. “So, your third date with Craig. What did you do?”

“Well, he picked me up at my apartment. Came right up to the door instead of just texting that he was outside in the car. I was wearing a new dress with daisies on it, and he said I looked like sunshine.” She smiled. “It was corny, and Jacob was being a brat and making puking sounds in the background, but I loved it. Craig has this way. He’s always sincere, no matter what. You know what I mean?”

“I do. So where did you go?”

“There was one of those box store malls on the outskirts of town. You know, with a Target and Marshall’s, a big movie theater and some restaurants. We went to the Cheesecake Factory. I know, it’s not exactly gourmet, but I’ve always enjoyed a chain restaurant. And cheesecake. Anyway, we were munching away, talking about
House of Cards
, and time just flew. Our first and second dates had been for coffee. You know, during the day, only an hour or two. Low pressure. But things were different that night.”

“How so?” Adam asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the flow of her memories, but nudging her toward more details.

She laughed. “He kissed me before we left for the restaurant. Usually you wait until the end of the date. Traditionally, anyway. But nope, he opened the car door for me, then went around and got behind the wheel. He leaned over, and I elbowed him in the jaw trying to do up my seatbelt. Totally oblivious.” With a grin, she shook her head. “Poor Craig. I really dinged him. He said he was fine, that he could always use another scar on his chin. Said that’s what he got for trying to kiss me already. Told him if he wanted to try again, I wouldn’t mind.” She lifted her hand over her eyes and squinted across at the other boat with a tender smile. “Nope, I sure didn’t mind.”

“Then you had dinner?”

“Right.” Abby swung her focus back to the camera. “We’d been planning on seeing a movie, but we skipped it. Sat in that booth for hours, until we finally had room to share a slice of cheesecake.”

“What kind?”

Her arms out for balance, Abby closed her eyes, a blissful smile lifting her lips. “Lemon raspberry. Good God, I miss cheesecake. Did I mention that? It was divine.” She opened her eyes again, her smile fading. “It’s a good thing we didn’t make the movie. Once we realized something was going on—the servers were all clumped together, looking at phone screens, and you could feel it in the air, that something big was happening. Anyway, we were able to get Lilly from her little friend’s house, then get back to my place before the traffic got crazy.” She shivered. “Jacob was alone. When he turned thirteen, he insisted he didn’t need a sitter anymore, and he was right. Hell, growing up we’d be out miles from home and no one knew where we were. I decided to start giving him some responsibility, and I figured I knew where he was, so he’d be safe for a few hours. But if we hadn’t made it back, if the virus had spread in Winston-Salem that first night… He would have been all alone. Now he’s got people. whether he likes it or not. Thank you, Adam.”

He turned off the camera and slipped it back into his pocket. “For what?”

“For saving our lives. For all of this.” She waved her hand toward the other boat. “I know it’s only been, what, a week? But I’m so glad to know you. Both of you. I think Parker wasn’t too keen on us to begin with, but we’re wearing him down.”

Smiling, Adam looked over to where Parker was teaching Lilly knots, Craig at the wheel for the moment. “You are. He’s just…some stuff has happened. It’s hard to know who to trust these days.”

“It sure is. But we trust you. So thank you.”

“I should thank
you
.”

“For what? I haven’t churned that butter yet.”

“For…” He waved his hand toward her and then the other boat. “For this. It helps. Having you all here. We’re better this way.” They needed this. Maybe it was silly to call it “family” after knowing them such a short time, but Adam hadn’t felt so centered since his parents and sisters had been alive. Whatever it was—family, community, pack—it helped.

Eyes glistening, Abby took his hands, her small fingers gripping, and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

The wind shifted, flapping the sails, and she stepped back. “Okay, enough mushy stuff for one day. Let’s adjust this sail. Avast ye, matey! I have no idea what that means, but I think we should talk like pirates for the rest of the day.”

Adam laughed, low and deep. “Shiver me timbers, sounds like a plan.”

The radio came to life. “Hey, how are things going over there?” Parker asked. “Your sails are luffing. You need to—”

“Arrrr,” Adam growled. “Aye-aye, cap’n.”

After a beat of silence, Parker asked, “Are you talking like a pirate?”

“Yo-ho-ho.” Adam tried not to crack up as Abby dissolved into giggles.

“And a bottle of rum?” Parker laughed. “Okay, landlubbers. Trim your sails or I’ll make you walk the plank.”

“Arrrr.” He put down the radio and went to pull on the ropes.

Parker’s laughter reached him across the waves, and Adam worked contentedly by Abby’s side.

*

“You don’t have
to do this if you don’t want to.” Naked and rubbing a towel over his wet hair, Adam listened to the way Parker’s heart jumped all around. “It’s not like I don’t love the other things we do.”

Parker looked over from where he finished drawing the blinds over the last porthole by the kitchen. “No, we’re doing this.”

“But if you’re nervous…”

“Of course I’m nervous.” He came over to where Adam stood and picked up Adam’s hand, placing it on his chest. “But I want to do this. Okay?”

Adam’s fingers splayed on the cotton of Parker’s T-shirt, and he listened to his heart grow steady. “Okay.”

His mouth was dry, excitement sparking in his veins as he helped Parker undress, stealing kisses along the way. He’d gotten himself ready in the shower as night fell before six o’clock, and although his stomach growled, it would be worth the wait.

They turned off all the lights but one dim lamp in the bedroom, the radar’s green light casting shadows in the saloon. Across the water, he could hear the others playing Clue after their dinner. Jacob insisted on being Miss Scarlet, much to Lilly’s displeasure, since Miss Scarlet always went first.

“Adam?”

“Hmm?” He refocused.

“You had a goofy smile on your face. Not really what I expected before I shove my hand up your ass.”

He laughed and kissed Parker lightly. “Always such a way with words. I was just listening to the other boat. They’re playing Clue.”

“Oh.” Parker’s brow furrowed. “Cool. But you’re here with me, right? Just the two of us?”

He kept his tone light. “It would be pretty awkward to have an audience. It’s just you and me.” He drew him close, resting their foreheads together and trailing his fingers over Parker’s arms, raising goosebumps.

Parker swallowed thickly. “How do you want to do this? I think I know what to do.”

Adam had drawn a diagram and told him everything he’d learned about fisting from his reading over the years. “You’ll be great. You won’t hurt me, remember? I’m not normal.”

Parker frowned. “You’re
special
. There’s a difference.”

A warm flush in his chest, Adam kissed him softly and then piled up a few pillows and spread a towel over them. “From what I’ve read, the key is being relaxed. Obviously for me, it’s going to be a lot easier, but I think I should still try to let go. We don’t have a sling, so…” He leaned over the pillows, fidgeting until his legs were spread and his knees comfortable, his butt in the air and chest leaning down, his face turned to the side.

“
Fuck
,” Parker muttered. “Yeah, this works.” He ran his palms over Adam’s ass, caressing gently. “Look at you. You’re so beautiful.”

Adam had never felt more vulnerable yet completely safe at the same time. Parker kissed down his spine, wet and gentle, and he didn’t try to stop a whimper. He knew Parker understood.

Closing his eyes, he inhaled and exhaled deeply, willing himself to relax as Parker massaged his hole, licking into it slowly. The rough, wet lapping of his tongue sent pleasant tingles to Adam’s toes.

He’d always loved rimming, and had wondered more than once if it was something to do with being a werewolf. Not that humans didn’t enjoy it, but giving and receiving the act touched a primal instinct deep inside him he couldn’t name.

Now he wondered if being fisted was going to touch something even deeper. He’d fantasized about this for so long—had wanted to be truly filled.
But what if I still don’t feel it? Whatever
it
is. What if Parker doesn’t like it? What if—

“Hey. Relax, remember?” Parker smoothed his hands over Adam’s hips and flanks. “I can hear you thinking. Stop.”

He nodded against the sheets. “Sorry.”

“I’m going to use some lube now. Okay?”

Adam nodded again. He knew some people used Crisco or special lube designed for fisting. But as Parker edged a slick finger on his right hand in, Adam adjusted so quickly he barely needed it. Still, the glide felt nice, and as Parker worked up to three fingers, his limbs felt pleasantly heavy.

“Ready for more?”

“Please.”

When Parker tucked his thumb under his fingers and pushed them all in past his knuckles, holding Adam’s hip with his left hand, a moan escaped Adam’s lips at the wonderful stretch. He knew it wouldn’t last as his body accommodated too well, but for the moment he felt deliciously full.

“You like that?” Parker murmured. “I wish you could see how hot you look, all open for me like this.” He wiggled his slick fingers, brushing Adam’s prostate.

Gasping, Adam could only nod again. His dick was soft beneath him, the pleasure entirely centered on his ass. “More,” he whispered.

“My hand’s inside you,” Parker muttered, as if he couldn’t believe it. “Fuck, I never thought this would be so hot. I’m getting really hard.”

The way Parker moved his fingers, going in past his wrist, sent pulses of sensation waving through Adam. Lips parted, he concentrated on staying relaxed, on being swept away. But the fullness was fading, and he pleaded, “More.” He could hear Parker squeezing out more lube, momentarily retracting his hand.

“You want me to fist fuck you? Can you feel that better?”

“Yes,
yes.”

The movements of Parker’s fingers were magnified inside him, and Adam did feel it wonderfully as Parker made a fist and moved back and forth, stretching his rectum and rubbing his prostate. With a human, it would take much, much longer to get to this stage, and Adam already needed more. “Farther. Please.”

Laughter from the other boat sang over the water like a caress. When he was a kid, he’d liked going to bed early while his parents and sisters still had their lights on, the faint yellow glow around his bedroom door a comfort as he drifted off.

A similar sensation of peace filled him, the laughter a distant balm as Parker pushed into his colon. Parker was breathing hard, and he gripped Adam’s hip tighter with his free hand. There was another ring of muscle there at the entrance, and he hesitated.

“This is trippy. I mean, I don’t really know what I’m doing.” He took short, rapid breaths. “I might hurt you even if you heal. Are you sure?”

“
Yes
. Need it.” Tensing, a strange sort of panic clawed at him. Like he was so close to finding something just out of reach, something he’d craved for so long. A connection and peace he’d never been able to name until he met Parker. “Don’t stop.”

Even though his heart hammered and Adam could smell fear in his sweat, Parker said, “I won’t, I won’t. Shh. I’ve got you.” With his free hand, he petted Adam’s hair, bending over to press a kiss between his shoulder blades. His breath tickled Adam’s skin.

As Parker’s hand curved to the left into the bend inside Adam, easing into his colon, a tidal wave of bliss left him gasping and breathless, his whole body tingling. “Oh,
oh
, yes.” He was probably moaning too loudly given how sound traveled across water, but he couldn’t stop himself.