Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
His embarrassed gaze collided with Chad’s. Not because of Greer, but more in worry that the video idea might take root in Chad’s head, and they’d quickly amass a collection of private viewing material.
“What, Dallas? You know I love watching our home videos,” Greer said loudly in the distance. Of course being inappropriate changed Greer’s mood for the better.
“You don’t just announce it to everyone out loud,” Dallas countered heatedly. “It’s private.”
“I didn’t say what we did in the videos. I just offered them a tip on how to make things…interesting.” Greer’s chuckling voice faded until it could no longer be heard.
“No video,” Ducky said. That was a hard pass for him. He saw way too many ways that could go wrong.
“Yeah, no video. We’ll live stream,” Chad teased, before taking his lips again. The quick, hot kiss curled Ducky’s toes. The scent of his hot, sweaty guy mixed with that sexy cologne had Ducky deepening the kiss for a few seconds longer.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Chad said, pressing his forehead against Ducky’s.
“Same,” Ducky whispered and leaned in to kiss Chad again.
Epilogue
Six months later
“It’s essential to know exactly where you are in the air compared to the water you’re falling into,” Kruger Towns, the newly signed Wilder Sports diver explained to Chad. It was hard to know who was more excited about his three-day crash course into the world of amateur cliff diving, him or Kruger, but he found himself jonesing to take his first dive doing something other than tombstoning straight into the water.
He nodded his understanding, analyzing in his mind the fifty-foot pike jump he planned to make. As high as it felt standing there on the edge looking down into the water, it was considered a low dive to the professionals. Kruger jumped eighty feet and higher regularly.
“Keep your vertical position in line with the water. You’re gonna crush it,” Kruger encouraged. The diver stuck out a hand for a quick, encouraging dap-slap.
He and Ducky had arrived in Krabi Province, Malaysia, a little over two days ago. Chad had become a globe trekker over the last few months, running after all the talent he wanted to sign to Wilder Sports. This trip, though, had been planned strategically to add a couple of extra days so he and Ducky had time together to do what they wanted. He’d signed Kruger within a couple of hours of arriving then spent the remaining time using Kruger as a coach, learning how to cliff dive properly.
“I keep my chin even, like it’s on a shelf,” Chad said absently, mentally ticking off the movements he had to hit in the five or six seconds he was in the air. He took the time to stretch his back and shoulders before mimicking the super aligned pose of the divers he’d watched. “I’m doing a pike this time.”
“Correct,” Kruger said, back to all business as he moved closer to the very edge of the protruding cliff for a safer dive. “And he’s jumping today?”
Kruger’s chin tilted toward Ducky, sitting quietly a few feet away where he’d planted himself over the last several days. Ducky rarely spoke but this wasn’t like the moments of meditation by the ocean in Hawaii. Ducky stayed attentive and focused, watching and listening to everything around him.
His gamer was getting back to his old self, at least if his hair was any indicator. The curls were back, and Chad loved them. Ducky sat with his muscular arms wrapped around his knees. He had a deep tan—Chad’s doing. They spent more time in the sun than in the gym, just the way Chad liked it.
Ducky wore a ball cap and sunglasses today. The dark curls sprang out the sides and the brim, refusing to be contained.
“It’s high,” Ducky called out.
Chad gave a pointed stare over his shoulder, locking on Ducky’s pouty lips.
“You promised you’d do a jump. There’s seriously nothing to fear. You’ll love the adrenaline rush. All you have to do is what they taught us. We practiced this morning,” Chad said in a rush of words. Ducky had opened his willingness to try new things. His boyfriend was the whole reason they extended their time here on this trip. Ducky was a pro diving off the high board at the swimming pool. He could do this with no problem, and Chad wanted to share the experience with him. “This is your last chance. Trust me. You’re gonna want to be diving all the time after this.”
Chad turned back to Kruger and nodded on Ducky’s behalf. “He wants to try. He’s just nervous. Talk him through it like you do me. I’ll stay at the bottom and meet him down there.”
He’d already broken all professional boundaries, insisting this diving team teach him how to properly cliff dive. If they were home, Chad knew how to ease Ducky’s anxiety. He’d done those things early this morning. Ducky had this.