Island Heat (7 page)

“French kiss,” Kevin told Troy, trying to keep his voice steady as he stepped behind the counter. Troy started to make the cocktail and Kevin opened the brightly-lit dessert cabinet. He realized quickly that his hands were shaking as he carefully drew the dessert plate onto his palm and set it on the counter.

“Is this a special one?” Troy asked, flashing a grin over at him while he shook the can and glass expertly in front of him.

“Make it a good one,” Kevin nodded.

“They're all good,” Troy snorted. He popped the seal and circled both hands behind his back to pour into a glass with a flourish. He
loved
showing off his bar tricks. “But you want this one to be particularly good, for the handsome devil over there eyeing you up and down?”

Kevin tried not to give it away. He didn't exactly
need
it to be a secret, but... he wanted a little more time to explore this on his own before he told Troy what was happening. “I talked to him while you were in the rental office, remember? He's rich and interested in the business concept.”

“Gotcha.” Troy was quick to accept the reasoning. He topped the cocktail with a candied orange slice garnish and carefully slid a straw into it, then handed over the glass. “Good luck.”

When Kevin reached the table, he found Eli leaning back in his chair. They were designed as tall stools with backs to make it more comfortable to stay and drink for longer. Everything on this island was designed for maximum profit, he was beginning to realize.

“Here's your French Kiss,” Kevin murmured, sliding the drink and dessert in front of Eli. “On the house, for you, tonight. Since I invited you here.”

“Oh, no,” Eli shook his head with a grin. “Not on your first night of business, you're not pulling that.” He winked and leaned forward to tuck a folded bill into Kevin's shirt pocket. It grazed against Kevin's nipple, and holy
shit
, that made nerves Kevin hadn't known existed light up.

“I-- okay,” Kevin gave in, mostly because he was breathless. “This time.”

“The next time you treat me to a French kiss, though... that one can be free,” Eli teased, his eyes slowly wandering down to Kevin's lips.

Kevin tucked his serving tray under his arm, suddenly unable to forget how they'd very nearly gotten that far on their first kiss. He hadn't been able to resist pressing closer to Eli, seeking more of those warm, wet lips sliding against his...

“Any time you want,” Kevin murmured, keeping his voice to barely more than a whisper.

Eli slowly smiled. He looked around the restaurant casually as he leaned back in his chair and sipped his drink. The sight of his lips wrapped around that pink straw drew Kevin's attention for a moment before Kevin caught himself and looked back into Eli's eyes. “Delicious,” Eli approved with a slight nod.

“Thanks.”

Eli tried a bite of the lemon bar and his eyes lit up. “Oh, it's... sweet, but acidic. Very nice.” He licked his lips. “Makes you pucker up, just like the name. Genius.”

Kevin blushed at the compliments. “Thanks,” he repeated for lack of anything better to say.

“I know this is forward,” Eli began, and an overjoyed thrill ran through Kevin's body. Kevin had a good idea what he was about to say.

“I don't mind,” Kevin assured him.

Eli smiled. “Would you come home with me after you close up here?”

Kevin didn't hesitate to nod. He might not have been completely sure what was going on with his sexuality, but he knew what he had to do to find out. He
wanted
to explore with this gorgeous guy.

“I'll wait for you outside after you close, then,” Eli offered with a smile. The door opened to the street and he glanced over Kevin's shoulder to redirect Kevin's attention. “You'd better take care of your other customers.”

“Okay,” Kevin nodded, resisting the urge to stare at Eli for a moment or two longer. He didn't know how he'd get this one past Troy, but he didn't care. He wanted to take up that invitation more than anything.

***

It turned out to be remarkably easy to keep his evening plans to himself, since Eli headed out a few minutes before they closed when he started turning the bar and dessert cabinet lighting off. A few others had to be gently persuaded to leave, and then they brought their cash to the back office to reconcile tomorrow morning with clear heads.

“I've got an invitation--” Troy began, looking at his watch.

Kevin laughed. “Go on,” he waved his hand. “I'll lock up.”

“Fuck, you're the best.” Troy reached out to half-hug Kevin and squeeze his shoulder. “It was great tonight. We're gonna be fine.”

After the sudden rush of business they'd had just after suppertime, Kevin could believe it now. Many of them had kept buying expensive cocktails without caring for how much they were spending, and they tipped unbelievably well, too. Troy had been a little less surprised at how good the tips were, but Kevin wasn't used to working in places where he could even
accept
tips. The one job he'd had as a waiter had been an unpopular chain restaurant where he'd racked up a dollar or two at a time, not tens and twenties.

Once Troy headed out, Kevin turned the office lights off and locked up, then walked through the premises to start the dishwasher for one last load and wipe down the tables and keep things sanitary until he could properly clean the next day. He worked quickly, nervous that if he left it too long, the handsome man who had shown an interest might get bored and wander off.

When he saw himself out of the premises and locked up, though, Eli appeared at his elbow.

Kevin jumped at how suddenly he seemed to be just
there
. “Oh, Jesus, you scared me,” Kevin laughed, pocketing his keys.

“I'm sorry,” Eli answered with a sincere little laugh, and Kevin felt Eli take his hand and squeeze for a moment before letting go.

Kevin's heart was light again with pleasure at the simple touch. All these small touches and gestures had left him aching for more, though; he didn't want to keep himself to just handholding and furtive kisses.

He wanted Eli to teach him
everything
he'd been missing.

“My place is up this way and up the hill,” Eli told Kevin, and they started walking together past small groups of friends, individuals, couples hurrying home with desperate intent, and the occasional large crowd of revelers laughing and wandering down the middle of the street.

The walk didn't take long, and Eli chatted lightly about Kevin's night, asking how business was and what the most popular items were – easy questions.

When they reached the mansion, Kevin tried not to stare at the outside of the house. It was lit beautifully even from outside with lights shining up along the walls and down from the top of the house to show off the gardens around it, the path down the hill, and the huge patio that seemed to wrap around the whole house.

“This is... wow,” Kevin couldn't help but comment.

“Dean and I really liked the look of this one. Different enough...” Eli trailed off. He cleared his throat and cast him a nervous little look. “Sorry, I'm going to be a little awkward. Like I said, it's been a while...”

Kevin nodded to show he understood; he was feeling nervous too. He still couldn't believe that someone as fucking gorgeous, and apparently wealthy, as this man hadn't been dating, and briefly, he wondered if he was a workaholic or something.

Once they stepped into the beautiful, airy surroundings of the living room, Kevin glanced upstairs to where he figured the bedrooms were.

“Don't bother with your shoes,” Eli told him, taking his hand again to rub the side of Kevin's thumb with his own. “Do you want a drink or anything?”

Kevin shook his head. He'd had a glass of water and several mints before starting the dishwasher. “We can go upstairs.”

Eli looked relieved to get this explicit permission. He led Kevin upstairs and around the corner to open the bedroom door and turn on the softest light in the room – the bedside lamp. Kevin kicked off his shoes and took off his jacket by the door, just as Eli did the same.

When he straightened up and looked around, Kevin caught his breath. The walls themselves were windows overlooking a moon-lit bay complete with white sand beaches glowing in the faint light. The stars were clearly visible despite the bright moon.

“Nice view, isn't it?” Eli murmured. He dropped Kevin's hand to close the door behind them, and while he did so, Kevin walked forward to the balcony door and opened it. He couldn't resist getting a proper view.

Kevin shook his head slowly as his gaze swept across the trail of the moon's reflection in the water, up to the myriad stars that twinkled down upon them. He'd never seen so many stars at once, and he hadn't been up late enough since coming here to see them before. “Is it always like this?” he murmured as he felt Eli step out behind him. He had such an enchanting presence.

“Often,” Eli agreed softly.

Kevin finally turned to face Eli, reaching out to carefully rest his hands on Eli's waist and pull him a step closer. Something about him looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. It was like he'd seen him before, but it was a fleeting moment.

Eli smiled, easily stepping towards him and lightly wrapping his arms around Kevin's shoulder and lower back. They swayed into each other as naturally as Kevin would pour cake batter or smooth icing over with a knife. It just
felt
right.

This time, Eli made the first move, leaning in and down an inch or so to close the gap between their lips.

Kevin let his eyes slide closed as Eli's lips found his, a quiet breath escaping his nose. He drew his lips apart slightly to slide against Eli's in a slow tease. One of Eli's hands rose to slowly comb through his short hair, and Kevin shivered with delight at the intimate touch.

Eli was warm against his front. As Kevin pressed close, he was afraid he'd startle Eli with how hard his heart was hammering. Surely he could feel it as their chests pressed together and their kiss heated up.

If he did notice, Eli didn't call him out on it. Instead, Eli was busy sucking Kevin's lower lip into his mouth and flicking his tongue along it in a way that made Kevin's knees nearly weaken, the heat in his body all starting to rush south.

Kevin couldn't help a quiet moan in the back of his throat when Eli gently slid a knee between his thighs as if to prop him up, his cock hardening in his trousers. He was more interested in Eli than he'd probably ever been in anyone, and his mind whirled with everything he wanted Eli to do to him: undress him with those large, gentle hands; taste every inch of him, whatever he wanted to kiss and lick; and most of all, push inside him and take his virginity.

Eli steered Kevin slowly backwards through the door of the balcony, his hands starting to wander up Kevin's back and down his thigh, caressing everywhere he touched. Shivers of heat seemed to build up under Kevin's skin with each little touch, and he realized that he was blushing with desire.

“You're beautiful,” Eli whispered against Kevin's lips, then started to slowly kiss along his jaw towards his neck. His stubble scraped against Kevin's skin, making him itch and burn, but not altogether unpleasantly. It just roughly awakened his senses, sending a sharp thrill of arousal through Kevin in a throbbing surge.

“Oh, god,” Kevin whispered unconsciously, tilting his head back and sliding his hand into the small of Eli's back. His other hand wandered up to Eli's shoulder, then dropped to tentatively rest on his backside.

Eli didn't seem to mind the touch. In fact, his hand wandered up Kevin's thigh to cup his backside. The backs of Kevin's knees bumped the bed just then, and Eli slid his hand away to help Kevin scoot backwards onto the bed instead.

Kevin found Eli straddling him and caught his breath as he gazed up at the gorgeous, dark-haired man. He looked even sexier on top of him. Kevin's body burned with the need to see how deep this attraction ran, his toes curling into the sheets as the slightest shift of Eli's weight made him brush against Kevin's erection.

“What do you like in bed?” Eli asked, a wicked little grin on those lips as he started to unbutton Kevin's shirt from the collar down.

Having his body revealed to his partner made Kevin's heart jump. He hoped he liked what he saw. “Pretty much... anything you want to do right now,” Kevin admitted, his cheeks burning. It was true, though; Eli's direction was what he really craved.

“I have so many ideas,” Eli murmured as he popped more buttons out of the holes, his hands already by Kevin's navel. He tugged Kevin's shirt out of his trousers to open the last few buttons. “Do you like to submit?”

Kevin wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what that meant. What was more, he found himself inclined to answer, “Yes,” and mean it.

Eli grinned. “How about a little something less vanilla? Something more... thrilling?” he murmured, pulling Kevin's shirt open and leaning down to start pressing kisses against Kevin's collarbone.

The warmth of his lips against sensitive skin was very distracting. “Mmhmm,” Kevin moaned, his lips pulling apart as he gasped for breath at one particular spot. Eli chuckled quietly and kissed there again, then sucked for a moment before licking a trail from there directly to his nipple.