Chapter 10: Beach, Surf & Love
Waves crashed along the shore of the beach. It was a soothing, tantalizing sound that lulled Greg into a lazy state. He sighed. There were no demands on him. Nobody bossing him around. No cases or deadlines hanging over his head. No blistering heat wave or hours spent beating the Vegas strip. Just the surf, the cool ocean breeze, sounds of crashing waves, and the beautiful blue ocean stretched out for miles on either side of him. He was completely and utterly relaxed. Everything felt right in his little corner of the world.
He could feel the sun beat down on his feet as he inched them deeper in the silky sand, letting his toes dig into the warm sand. He laid stretched out on his back, arm tossed causally behind his head and his sunglasses firmly planted on his nose. He inhaled the salty scent in the air and smiled lazily. This was what contentment felt like, he thought. He rested on his warm beach blanket under the umbrella he had set up, hiding him from the world, so it was only him with the ocean waves crashing down on the shore only a few yards away.
He chose this beach on purpose, knowing that he could be completely alone and at peace out there. His hideaway. His sanctuary. Growing up in California, on theses beaches, he knew where to go and how to stay hidden on his playground.
He heard footsteps in the sand approach then. Disturbing his moment of tranquility.
"So what? You gonna lay around all day? Or teach this Texan how to surf?" Nick asked in a husky drawl.
Greg, eyes still firmly closed, felt a smile tug at his lips. Nick sure was determined to learn how to surf. But Greg wasn't sure if this Texan would sink or swim.
He opened his eyes slowly, letting out a long breath. "Nick… do you mind? I was trying to relax."
"Relax? Man, you've been sleepin' out here all day." Nick replied.
Greg shrugged, still not bothering to get up. "Hey- I wasn't the one who took forever picking out his surfboard. So I figured I'd wait out here for you. I knew you'd find me… eventually"
"What? So you're blaming me now for your nap-time? Oh, c'mon, G. Why else did you bring me here if not to learn how to surf?" Nick countered easily.
Greg knew he was right. After Nick admitted to loving him a few weeks ago in the interrogation room, Greg had promised Nick a surprise. And it was a plane ticket to join him in California. Where they would sleep all day, surf and swim, hang out on the beach and drink ice cold beer. Yup, vacation in paradise. Besides, Greg wanted to show Nick his roots. He was proud of his California heritage and he wanted to share that with Nick.
He gazed up at him from under the umbrella. Nick's piercing dark eyes blazed down at him, amused and anxious. He seemed happy. The wrinkles around Nick's eyes had eased since they arrived yesterday. Greg had noticed that everyday Nick seemed to let go of his personal stress, sleeping better at night and laughing more often. It did help that Greg attempted to exhaust the man every night between the sheets.
Nick's happiness had become crucial to Greg. He wanted to make this vacation as perfect as possible for both of them. He smirked, remembering last night.
He had booked them in a fancy, very expensive but totally worth it, hotel room. In which they thoroughly enjoyed last night, especially the bed.
Now a lot of those wrinkles that had tensed around Nick's handsome face were erased after last night. Greg felt his gut tighten as he remembered how they devoured each other in scorching fire. It reminded him of the first time they kiss. Desperate, frantic, hot as hell. Greg and Nick eventually fell into a deep, coma-like sleep, their bodies whipped and muscles weak from all the exertion. Then they had some more fun this morning. They just couldn't keep their hands off of each other for more than an hour it seemed to Greg. And he wasn't complaining. He nearly got to handcuff Nick last night but somehow the sly Texan dodged it. It might have been when Nick's back rub down turned into a frontal rub and tug- that was when Greg's mind went utterly blank.
He hummed deliciously at the thought of last night. They were possessed with complete and utter abandonment. Freedom from Vegas, their job and the hot city liberated them. And the king sized bed helped too.
Now he stared up at his handsome lover, wondering when the next time he would get him naked and breathless. Imagining all the naughty things he wanted to do with him…
"Surfing was the farthest thing from my mind when I invited you, Nick. Trust me on that," Greg said with a boyish grin.
Nick cocked his head to the side and let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I figured. But hey- you teach me to surf and when we visit my family in Texas, I'll teach you to ride."
"Oh, I don't think so."
"Don't knock it till you try it," Nick replied coolly, eyes wondering over the refreshing cool ocean, beckoning him in.
Nick looked determinedly down on Greg once more, "All right, you win. What do you want in exchange for the lesson?"
Greg was hoping he'd ask that. "How about we play with your handcuffs when we get back to the room?"
Nick snorted, "I didn't bring my handcuffs."
"I did."
Nick shook his head, smiling incredulous. "You just don't give up, do you?"
"Not when involves you handcuffed to a bed and me ravishing you until my little heart's content." Greg said enthusiastically.
Nick rolled his eyes, looking absolutely adorable in that flustered, mean guy kind of way. "Fine. Handcuffs it is."
Greg sat up on his elbows, nearly dancing in delight.
"But I better get a good- long lesson from you, Greg. And if I can't get on a surfboard before we leave today, the deal is off." Nick said firmly as Greg nodded. "Let's shake on it," Nick's hand shot down to his. Greg accepted it and then helped himself to his feet. Nick and Greg picked up their surf boards and headed to the shoreline.
"I know you're determined to do this, but just be warned- it's gonna kick your ass." Greg said, holding his surfboard under his arm before plopping it down in the sand as he stripped off his cotton white shirt and stood in his red surfer shorts. Nick smiled, also peeling off his shirt, with nothing but his glorious muscled chest and a pair of black surfer shorts.
"Don't worry about me, Greggo. I plan on being an expert by the time we're done."
Greg rolled his eyes dramatically, "Whatever you say, dude."
They strolled into the ocean then, the cool water licking at their skin and excitement tingling down to their toes. Greg saw the happiness dancing in Nick's dark eyes and his heart beat faster. God, he thought, he loved him so much. A love he knew would stay with him forever. He reached out and grabbed Nick's hand and with a flurry of movement, they got into the water together, ready for their adventure.
Nearly three hours later, Greg and Nick were painstakingly exhausted as they both stumbled down on top of Greg's large beach blanket. Nick didn't feel like any expert surfer. More like trampled roadkill.
The umbrella shaded them from the sun as they laid in silence, both too tired to talk.
Nick reached for the ice chest and pulled out two wet bottles of water. Handed one to Greg and both men chugged the contents. Greg tossed the bottle aside and laid back down, Nick joining him and moving closer. Nick wanted to feel Greg's flesh, just to be comforted by it so he placed his head on his shoulder, snuggling deep into Greg's side. Greg hummed in approval, his arm coming up to stroke his fingers through his hair.
"So… nap?" Greg suggested, his tone heavy with amusement.
"My thoughts exactly," Nick said, already drifting off. His mind filled with waves, surfboards and Greg. They had fun out there. It reminded him of back in the lab before they became lovers. Lots of teasing and bickering. Greg was laughing and jovial with him.
Nick sighed. His heart swelling. Greg had such an effect on him, he wondered how they could have let years pass between them without ever being together. He was amazed by it. Yet Nick believed everything happened for a reason. Maybe they both needed time to grow and become the men they are now before having something as special as this.
Time was a fickle thing in Nick's opinion. And now that he had the time with Greg, he didn't plan on wasting a second of it.
Except maybe to nap.
They lay entwined for several minutes, damp from the water and aching from the physical exertion on their muscles. Nick loved this feeling washing over him, a languid contentment. He sighed, idly stroking Greg's naked flesh of his chest, wishing the world around them would just disappear and leave them forever on this beach, in this moment.
"How do you feel?" Greg asked softly.
Nick's lips curled into a boyish grin, "How do you think? It felt like I was surfing a pro out there."
Greg chuckled, "Yeah, I've got mad skills."
Nick rolled off him, propped himself up on one elbow, and caught Greg under his chin with two fingers. "Yes, you do…" he said deliberately emphasizing the final words.
Greg grinned, his eyes growing heavy with lust. Nick didn't have to read minds to know what his lover wanted. He leaned down and captured his lips softly within his own. It was hot but sweet. Each too tired to do much yet still give a rather wanting kiss. Nick opened his mouth with his tongue, sliding into his warmth and devouring him thoroughly. Greg let out a breath, fingers curling in the back of Nick's short hair.
They made out like that for several minutes. Taking and tasting. Nick pulled away and kissed Greg's forehead, noticing the weariness in his eyes. "Go to sleep," Nick whispered into the shell of his ear, tasting the salt on his skin.
Greg's eyes instantly closed, his hands and arms still firmly wrapped around him. Nick watched Greg drift off. He scooted up to allow himself a better view of him while he slept. Greg's face always held a boyish appeal, but in slumber the effect was exaggerated. He looked a perfect angel, without trace of the cynicism or stress that sometimes clouded his eyes. Nick caressed the tip of his finger over Greg's cheek.
He stirred, mumbling something in his sleep.
"Not yet," Nick whispered. "Keep sleeping."
Greg slept, and he listened to him breathe.
It was heaven.
He wasn't sure where they would be in a few years or even a few months. All he knew was that he planned on being with Greg Sanders. Forever sounded pretty good to him.
"I love you," Nick whispered.
A smile curved around Greg's lips, "I love you more, Nick…"
Nick smiled, sinking deeper into Greg's warm embrace and finally allowing himself to sleep. The sound of waves crashing against the shore lulled them to sleep.