AN: This chapter follows on directly from the last one and again the POV jumps around a bit. Enjoy!

Looking at Heath, the memory of the beach Liam visited yesterday popped into his head, of how the waves had reminded him of Heath.

"Did you bring your surfboard?" Liam found himself asking. Heath's smile changed to something less soft, something more like the Heath Liam knew.

"Did you bring your guitar?" Liam finally allowed himself to smile too.

"I found a great little beach yesterday, I could show you if you like..."

"Yeah, alright, I parked down here." Heath led the way to his truck, which did indeed have a surfboard strapped to it. They climbed in and Heath started the engine before either of them had time to really consider how strange this was or what all of it might mean.

"Head south," Liam instructed so Heath did. Now they were on the road Liam's brain kicked back into gear, making him wonder about Heath's sudden appearance.

"How'd you find me anyway?" It was the easiest question to ask, the one with the least potential emotional upheaval attached to it.

"Brax mighta let something slip..." Heath said as he shifted back a gear, slowing for the beginning of the unsealed road. Ah yes, a rookie mistake to let slip a detail to a Braxton when you didn't want another Braxton to know.

"Take a right here," Liam pointed out when they came to a fork in the road. Liam was surprisingly comfortable being here with Heath, he felt more peaceful somehow and the irony wasn't lost on him. Neither was the fact that this new found peace could end with one wrong word. "It's just here," Liam said pointing to the tiny parking bay at the trail head. Heath pulled the truck off the road and killed the engine. From here it looked like they were in the middle of the scrub, they were surrounded by trees which blocked the ocean from view. But Liam knew that at the bottom of this steep climb the pretty little beach was there, waiting for them. Heath climbed out and surveyed the situation. He saw the steep stairs that didn't appear to end, and imagined carrying his board down there.

"Are you serious? Down there?"

"C'mon, it won't kill you," Liam said handing the board to Heath. Liam led the way to the bottom and as they emerged from the trees onto the beach he slipped his sunnies on to combat the glare of the sand.

Heath gazed out at the water, irresistibly drawn to the waves, he wanted to be out there. But he was torn, there was a lure just as irresistible right here on the beach too. In the end Heath decided he would hit the waves, at least out there he couldn't fuck things up with Murphy. Besides, it was unnatural to go to a beach and not get in the water. Heath looked at Murphy one last time before heading into the water. The rock star looked content decked out in his usual jacket, jeans and boots, it was something that would never fail to amuse Heath, no matter how many times he saw Murphy like this.

Liam sat in the sand and watched Heath surf, now this this beach was perfect. Liam couldn't help the surge of warmth he felt towards Heath, he had come after him after all. Liam hadn't thought that Heath would go to this much trouble for him. Unbidden, Heath's stinging words came back to Liam, playing over in his mind and he reminded himself that Heath was a hothead and that often he probably spoke before he thought, but that didn't mean he didn't believe in what he said, those things had to come from somewhere. Suddenly Liam felt shitty and undeserving of anyone's affection, it was that old circular problem of wanting to be wanted, and then getting it and feeling like he was unworthy, and not believing it was possible for anyone to want him in the first place. Of pushing it away and wanting it back in the same instant. And he was tired of the struggle, he didn't want to get his hopes up to have them dashed again. Liam watched Heath come gliding out of the water, looking as alluring as he had last time Liam watched him do this. Maybe even more so because this time he didn't tense at the sight of Liam and his contentment didn't drain away. Heath plonked down in the sand beside him and Liam felt better the instant he did.

"Good waves?" Murphy asked. He was wearing his sunnies, Heath wanted to see his eyes.

"Yeah," Heath replied, but he didn't wanna talk about surfing. Slowly Heath reached across and lifted the glasses from Murphy's face, revealing his blue eyes. The look in them was a guarded one, but Heath saw through it.

As Liam locked eyes with Heath he let the knowledge that Heath had followed him here fill him. It made him want to kiss Heath, so he turned away, gazing out at the ocean again, he didn't want Heath to see how he felt.

"What're you holding back for Murphy?" Heath asked, resting his hand on the other man's cheek and turning his face back towards his own. He knew Murphy wanted him, he'd lured him out here to this deserted beach after all, and besides that, he could see it in his eyes.

"I don't want to make you angry," Liam admitted, reaching up and covering Heath's hand with his own, he'd had about all the angst he could handle.

"But that's the best part," Heath smirked, and then he leaned in and captured Liam's mouth in a slow, sweet kiss. Liam had been wrong before, now this beach was perfect. Liam moved his mouth against Heath's, tasting his sea-salted lips. And feeling Heath's eagerness, Liam finally allowed himself to admit that he could have this. And for the first time since all this started they had time because this wasn't fuelled by anger, but something altogether different.

Liam had only ever kissed Heath's mouth but now he had the tantalizing opportunity to explore more of Heath, so Liam let go, stopped over thinking it all, and just did what he felt like. He kissed his way along Heath's jaw and down his neck. He let his hands roam across Heath's bare skin.

Heath hadn't been wrong, Murphy did want him. He tilted his head, giving Murphy better access to his neck, loving the way Murphy used his teeth as well as his lips. Fuck this felt good, Heath loved bringing out this side of Murphy.

Strange voices caught Liam's attention and he realised they were no longer alone. It was probably a good thing that they'd been interrupted, Liam didn't want to push this too far. So with the hope of things to come, he managed to pull away for now.

It was almost dark by the time they made it back to the truck. Heath drove Liam back to his motel. When Heath parked his truck at the door Liam turned to him, not wanting all this to end.

"You got anywhere to stay?" Liam asked. The question hung between them, there was so much more than a place to sleep riding on Heath's answer.