Jake stiffened at the loosening of fingers, and quickly clutched his around Maddox’s. He didn’t want the moment to end, especially when he knew it was his fault.
Maddox sat up with their fingers still linked. Jake knew he was squeezing hard, to the point his own fingers ached, but Maddox didn’t pull away.
“Do you see something?”
He fought off the need to manically laugh. He could see something, but not in a physical sense. His emotional reliance for Maddox had snuck up on him, and now faced with it, he had no clue how to react.
Maddox shuffled closer, but Jake didn’t turn. The tears, thankfully, dropped silently, he gagged himself with his teeth in his lip. Although he wanted to sniffle in his despair, he held it off to act as normal as possible.
“Jake?”
Maddox’s voice was stern, irritated. Jake hadn’t responded to his question, and he hated being ignored. Jake flexed his cheeks, readied himself to speak, but the second he released his lips, a tragic breath escaped him.
Maddox detached his hand from Jake’s and reached for his shoulders. He pulled Jake to his chest, cradled his head, but didn’t force Jake to remove the hand from his eyes. It was the only barrier left protecting Jake’s pride.
“What’s wrong?”
His tone was softer, gentle, and that made everything worse. Jake couldn’t speak, could only muffle his sob in Maddox’s shoulder.
He couldn’t tell Maddox it was the first time he had held someone’s hand. Couldn’t tell him that the messed up day of highs and lows had been the best of his life. Couldn’t tell Maddox he cared for him more than he cared for anyone. That the emotions he felt were the ones of stupid songs, and stomach churning movies.
Maddox didn’t ask him anymore questions. He rubbed one hand against Jake’s bare back and pressed Jake’s head to his body with the other. They sat like that until only the tip of the sun remained on the horizon, and the sound of the ocean rushed close by. Jake peeked a look through the gaps in his fingers to see both castles had been swept away, no sign they had ever been there with the sea so prolific at destroying the evidence.
Jake’s face felt puffy and tight from dried tears. He no longer stuttered for breath, and Maddox’s slow-moving hand had calmed his heart back to its normal thump.
“Better?” Maddox asked.
“Yes.” Jake croaked, then slid his hand from his eyes down to massage his throat, “I don’t know what that was. I—I just…”
“You don’t need to explain.” Maddox said, “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
Jake nodded, licked his lips, then lifted his head to face Maddox. He still wore his sunglasses, and Jake grimaced at his reflection before reaching and pulling them from Maddox’s face. He had never seen Maddox’s eyes so close, so clear with the sky still lit up by the stubborn sun. The shade wasn’t just dark green and captivating, but marbled with lighter pigments, and tints of gold. A dark forest, but a living one, a breathing one where the sun still reached. Jake held Maddox’s face, and rested his thumbs on his hard cheekbones.
The look Maddox gave him was softer, curious, on the edge of worried, and Jake didn’t blame him. He looked awful in comparison with his puffed-up cheeks, and his reddened eyes.
He pushed forward and brushed his lips lightly on Maddox’s.
Maddox didn’t deepen the kiss, or turn away, he waited patiently. Jake pressed their mouths together firmer. Maddox didn’t take control, he allowed Jake to set the pace. He was stuck between wanting to savour and devour. Maddox’s lips held the taste of salt, and Jake gripped Maddox’s chin, tugged it until he understood and opened his mouth. He didn’t want to taste the ocean, he wanted Maddox on his tongue.
Jake drew back to see Maddox opened-mouthed and waiting, and a thrill shot through his veins. He ducked down and licked, a stripe that started on Maddox’s bottom lip and ended by nudging his top. Maddox breathed shakily, and his pupils turned to ink blots, spreading into the green. Jake licked Maddox’s mouth again, tongue so light it barely registered, but Maddox’s low grumble did, and Jake smiled. He was teasing, and Maddox’s chest rose and fell quicker.
Jake moved his hands to Maddox’s jaw, scratching his nails over the bristles as he ducked forward again, pretending to give in to the pull of Maddox’s mouth. At the last second Jake pulled back and widened his eyes when he saw Maddox moving forward to connect their lips.
Jake straddled Maddox’s lap, and slipped his hands into Maddox’s hair, ruffling it as he stroked his nails against his scalp. Maddox shuddered, and Jake smiled against his lips. There were two ticklish places on Maddox he would have to exploit another time. Maddox followed his cues for more tongue, or more teeth, and the kiss got messier, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy either of them. Jake ground his body against Maddox’s erection, loving the heat he could feel through their boxers.
Maddox pulled away, and Jake whined, shaking his head. “Please don’t tell me to stop.”
They battled for the air between them, panting as if starved of oxygen. Jake wanted to kiss more than he wanted to breathe, wanted to push his lips to Maddox’s and breathe only his air, hope he would share it to keep Jake alive.
Maddox studied Jake, staring deep into his eyes. “Okay, I won’t.”
He lay down on the sand, and Jake went with him, slotting their mouths together again. Maddox’s arms came up and held Jake to his body, not crushing, or dominating, just insuring Jake was steady while their mouths got familiar after so long apart. Maddox kept his word and didn’t ask Jake to stop once. He surrendered his body to Jake’s mouth and clutching hands. By the time the sun faded, every sense of Jake was satisfied and deeply bound to Maddox.
The sight of destruction was behind them, the battered bodies of trees naked in the sand, and their leaves shredded. In front of them, the peaceful ocean lapped, and the sky was lit with the last stubborn orange and pink hues of the sun. Jake knew there would be more storms to come for him and Maddox, but at that moment it didn’t matter. With Maddox by his side, Jake was finally in paradise.
I hope you enjoyed Fire and Sand.
I’m an indie author and reviews are a great help, if you enjoyed the story, please think about leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon
Many thanks
Louise <3
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Adrenaline Jake reading list
Adrenaline Jake #1
Mad Dog Maddox #2
Festive Dog #2.5
Fire and Sand #3
Coming next: Guns and Shadows #4
My other stories:
Keeping the Caveman: Christmas time m/m romance Here on amazon.com
Here on amazon.co.uk
Saving the Super-man: Superhero m/m romance series Here on amazon.com
Here on amazon.co.uk
Louise <3
Fire and Sand Page 9
