Never Have I Ever…" pt. 2.15
Chapter 17
Steve and Bucky spend the afternoon swimming and enjoying each other's company and their intimacy moves a step forward to Steve's delight… and the neighbors stop by unexpectedly.
WARNING! Explicit sexual play M/M
"I like it," Steve said as Bucky handed him a towel on his way out the door. Bucky smiled at him as he passed by.
Steve turned and followed him off the deck and through the small patch of trees that stood between the cabin and the lake. He smiled with a thought and picked up his pace. He walked a little faster and then broke into a slow jog to catch up to Barnes before he got past the picnic table.
As he jogged up alongside his friend, Bucky turned to look at him with a smile and Steve reached out to tug on a braid and called out a challenge. "Race ya'!" he said, and took off at top speed.
"No fair!" Bucky shouted back as he took off, accepting the challenge, he was only a step or two behind Steve.
The two friends raced to the lake, both dropping their towels on the grassy shore before making it to the water line. Steve ran into the water until it was deep enough to dive into and Bucky was a second behind him. The two swam as hard as they could toward the floating dock and Bucky actually touched it half a second before Steve. They both reached up to grasp the edge of the decking and pulled themselves out of the water. Bucky spun around to sit on the edge with his feet in the water and smiled as Steve dropped down onto the platform on his back laughing.
"Man! You're fast!" Steve told him, still catching his breath.
"So are you," Bucky replied. Still smiling he leaned back on his hands, moving his feet casually in the water.
"Oh man, the sun feels so good," Steve mentioned as he closed his eyes. He positioned his arms at his side and Bucky watched him over his shoulder.
"Are you sunbathing?" he asked.
"Sure… why not?" Steve replied. "Come lie down next to me," he said, patting the warm wooden platform beside him. "Now this is relaxing."
Bucky grinned and slid back until he was beside Steve, but sat there looking around, enjoying the views around them.
"Lie down," Steve told him, reaching up to rub his hand across Bucky's back.
Bucky grinned and lay down beside him. The sun was warm and there was a light breeze coming across the lake. It really was a gorgeous day to just lie like a lizard in the sun. He closed his eyes and focused on the warm boards under him and the warming rays coming down on him.
"Don't fall asleep," he told Steve, "you'll burn… again."
"I won't," Steve promised.
Every twenty minutes or so one would nudge the other to roll over. When on their backs they positioned their arms by their sides. When they rolled onto their bellies, they pillowed their heads on their arms.
A couple hours passed and the afternoon sun became a little more intense, so Bucky urged him up and into the water to cool off. They lowered themselves carefully into the cool water and then swam casually out to the buoy line. They spent some time in the deeper water, feeling the cooler waters revive them from their sun soaked naps.
Bucky smiled at Steve and then slipped under the surface to dive down as far as he could go before having to return to the surface. Steve waited for him and let out a laugh when he felt Bucky's hands gliding up his legs as he surfaced.
Steve gave him a soft kiss on the lips and then tugged a braid. "Race ya' back to the dock." He didn't seem to mean it though as he lay back and floated as he waited for Bucky to decide.
"Okay," he said and disappeared under the surface again.
Steve kicked his feet and flipped over; realizing Barnes had gotten the jump on him yet again. He raced back to the floating dock not knowing where Bucky actually was because he couldn't see him.
As he neared the platform and thought for a moment that he actually beat Barnes to the finish line, he reached out his hand to tag it and Bucky surfaced between him and the dock, blocking Steve's attempt to land first.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Steve exclaimed and laughed along with Bucky as he turned to face him.
Steve moved closer to him, pretending to block Bucky's escape as he came in for another kiss. Their lips met and Steve hummed against his lips. When they parted, Bucky smiled at him and then turned away to pull himself up onto the dock. Steve followed.
Bucky sat on the edge again with his feet in the water and Steve fell backward onto his back. He relaxed for a moment looking at Bucky's back then sat up and moved closer to him. As he came to rest beside Barnes he noticed that he'd tugged the braid loose from the tie and it now hung down in front of his ear. It gave Bucky an almost native appearance and Steve couldn't help but stare at him. Bucky was the most beautiful person Steve had ever known; not just on the inside either. As Bucky leaned back on his hands, Steve studied him like an artist studying his model.
Bucky glanced at him and looked away again. He was well-aware of Steve's perusal; it always made him a little self-conscious but he had to admit that he always loved the way Steve looked at him. He looked at him again and gave him a small smile. Steve stared at Bucky's face, taking in every detail; his long dark hair dripping wet and pulled back off his face, his blue eyes sparkling and his lips curved into a small grin.
"Do you know how beautiful you are?" Steve asked; his voice soft and sincere.
Bucky glanced away and then sat up straighter, as if the question suddenly made him feel exposed and vulnerable. Sitting forward he brought his arms around to the front, resting his hands to either side of his knees he curled his fingers around the edge of the decking and looked out toward the cabin.
"I'm sorry," Steve said. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Bucky glanced at him again and shook his head. "You didn't. It's just -." He didn't know what it was.
"I know," Steve told him. He raised his hand and wrapped it around the back of Bucky's head. He watched Bucky's eyes close in response to the gentle touch. Steve stayed that way until Bucky opened his eyes again and looked at him. Steve pulled him gently toward him as he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Bucky's lips. When he pulled back a little, letting his lips brush against Bucky's, he whispered, "God… I love you so much."
Bucky leaned back a little more so he could see Steve's face and smiled at him. "I love you too," he told him and allowed himself a moment to stare at Steve; to take in every detail of his face just as Steve had always done to him. Steve watched as Bucky's gaze caressed his face. He couldn't help but smile because he knew exactly how much it meant to him to be able to do that when Bucky allowed it. He had to admit, being on this side of such intense scrutiny felt a little awkward, but it did allow him a moment to understand the way he always made Bucky feel when he did the same. 'All's fair', he told himself and just watched as Bucky studied his face.
"You're very handsome," Bucky finally told him and then took a deep breath and let it out.
Steve just smiled wider in reply and moved in for another kiss. This time he let his lips and tongue play over Bucky's mouth slowly until he responded. Bucky let out a soft moan and relaxed his mouth to let Steve in. The kiss lasted a few moments and when Steve felt Bucky gasping for air, he realized he too was breathless. He slowly ended the kiss and pulled away a little to give them space to breathe.
"Where'd you learn to kiss like that?" Steve asked. "You take my breath away."
Bucky leaned his forehead against Steve's as he caught his own breath. His heart was racing and it felt like his stomach was full of butterflies. "I don't know," he whispered. "I don't know what I'm doing. I really don't."
Steve still had one hand on the back of Bucky's head and he wrapped his other arm around him to draw him close and just held him. He could feel Bucky trembling against him so Steve just held onto him. "You're doing fine," he told him, his voice soft and soothing. "We're not in a hurry. I told you… if this, right here, right now, is all we ever do… I am good with it."
Bucky took a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm the nerves that he knew Steve could feel as he shuddered against him. He dropped his head to rest it on Steve's shoulder and wrapped his arms around him. He closed his eyes and began to relax as he focused on how it felt to have Steve wrapped around him; his strong arms holding him tight and his large hands now spread wide pressing against his back. He'd never felt so safe… so loved and he soaked it up.
Steve tightened his embrace; allowing himself to enjoy the sensation of Bucky's warmth against his skin. When Bucky drew in his next breath Steve could feel his chest hitch and he knew he was crying. He didn't say anything; he just wrapped him up a little tighter, leaning his head against Bucky's, and gave him the time he needed to process his emotions. As Steve tightened his embrace, Bucky responded by tightening his arms around Steve and a soft sob escaped him as he shifted closer to him.
Now that Bucky's tears had found release during the impromptu gathering with the WWII vets the other day, Steve knew the flood gates had finally been opened and tears would come a lot easier for him now. Steve began to rock gently and just held him, allowing him to feel safe at a time when he probably felt the most vulnerable.
About five minutes passed and Bucky took a long, deep breath and shifted in his arms. Steve took that as a signal that his tears were done… for now. Steve took all his cues from Bucky and kept his arms around him, only loosening them just enough to let Bucky sit up as he pulled back so they could sit face to face again.
"Sorry," Bucky said, keeping his eyes down he swiped at his wet cheeks.
Steve reached up and brushed away the dampness with his thumb then shook his head and pressed the side of his finger under Bucky's chin to lift his face to him. Bucky allowed his head to be raised but kept his eyes down. "Don't ever apologize for your emotions," Steve told him softly. He watched as Bucky's chin quivered and he drew in air through his nose. He was trying to fight another bout of tears, Steve knew. "Hey," he said, still keeping his tone soft, "look at me." He waited for Bucky to look up at him and when he did, he said, "You never have to apologize for being you."
Bucky dropped his head again and began to cry fresh tears and Steve pulled him back into his arms. He held Bucky's forehead against his shoulder and held him a while longer, leaning back he lifted his face toward the sky to feel the sun's warmth as he waited. A few minutes later, Bucky pulled away to sit in front of him again. Steve just looked at him and realized by the expression on his face that something heavy was going on in Bucky's head.
"What's going on?" he asked. He waited a moment and all he got in reply was a small shake of his head. "Buck? What's going on? Talk to me."
"There's just so much," Bucky told him. Steve didn't understand what that meant and waited. Bucky lifted his right hand, curling his fingers to make a fist and laid it against the side of his head. "In here… it confuses me…"
Steve reached out and took Bucky's metal hand in his and just held it as he listened.
"It's like… all I can see and hear sometimes… is Hydra," he said and Steve frowned, concerned. After two years out of Hydra's grasp, he'd hoped that had lessened for Bucky. "And all I want to see and hear… is you."
Steve squeezed the metal hand and the metal fingers squeezed back. That drew his focus for a moment; the fact that Bucky could feel a touch with his prosthetic arm was amazing to him. It responded to heat and cold and soft touches… so it must register pain as well, Steve realized. In that moment his heart dropped as he remembered having sliced through the upper arm with his shield during a fight with the Winter Soldier. He wondered if Bucky remembered that moment. He looked up from the hand he held in his when he realized Bucky had stopped talking.
"I'm right here, Buck," Steve told him. "Hydra is gone… they exist only in your head now."
"I can't stop it," Bucky told him. "I try to ignore their voices… the images…"
"I think you're trying too hard," Steve told him and Bucky looked at him with a confused expression. "You need to distract yourself when they start."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"It's like… ever had someone tell you to not think about elephants?" Steve asked.
"And then all you do after that is think about elephants?" Bucky asked.
"Yeah," Steve said with a smile. "So instead of trying to ignore the voices and the faces… try distracting yourself with something else."
"Like what?"
Steve shrugged, thinking. "Something that takes focus… like building a puzzle or… making out with me," he said with a smile.
Bucky smiled back and then chuckled. "Do we have any puzzles here?"
Steve thought about that for a moment and then raised his eyebrows. "I don't think we do."
"Well, then I guess making out with you is all I have to distract me," he said, and moved in for another kiss.
"Mmm, I guess so," Steve replied just before his mouth was captured in a surprisingly heated kiss. "Mmm!" was all he got out before Bucky pushed against him. They kissed deeply and passionately and Steve wrapped his arms around Bucky's neck. As Bucky climbed over his body, Steve had no choice but to lie back on the deck while Bucky devoured his mouth.
Steve was fully immersed in the kiss; the feel of Bucky's tongue dueling with his own. Bucky's soft, warm lips sliding over his, the power of the kiss nearly bruising in its intensity; the feel of Bucky's chin stubble scraping against his lips as the kiss was briefly broken in the heat of their passion.
With one hand curled around the back of Bucky's head, Steve's fingers played at the hair band. He wanted to remove it and let the long hair fall loose, but he knew that the band would stick to Bucky's wet hair and he didn't want to cause him pain. He brought his other hand around and gripped the base of the ponytail with his fingers and held onto it securely as his right hand worked to roll the cloth band down the length of the ponytail and dropped it on the deck. Bucky's hair flowed forward to drape like a curtain on either side of Steve's face, the braided strands had more weight to them and hung straight down toward him even as the loose strands moved gently with the breeze.
Bucky stopped kissing him long enough to pull away and smile. Steve looked up at him and smiled back before Bucky moved in to pick up where he'd left off.
Steve's senses filled with Bucky; the taste of his mouth on his tongue, the scent and warmth of his body as he held himself over Steve, the softness of his skin over rippling hard muscles, the wisp of Bucky's hair as it tickled his skin. He could feel one of Bucky's knees between his legs and hoped the evidence of his aroused state wouldn't scare Barnes away. Just as he finished that thought Bucky pulled away slowly, ending their impassioned kiss with soft, slow ones. He looked down at Steve and smiled and Steve smiled back then he reached up and gripped Bucky's biceps and flipped him over on to the deck then swung himself up and over to straddle him.
Bucky laughed as the wrestling move caused an image of their younger years to pop into his head. He would bring Steve to the neighborhood gym where the local, aspiring boxers would work out and spar… including Bucky Barnes. He had taught Steve how to box with the hope he'd be able to defend himself when Bucky wasn't around… but knowing the process and having the size and reach in order for it to do him any good was out of the question. Everyone was always bigger and faster than Steve… he smiled with the thought that that was one thing he didn't have to worry about anymore.
Steve just looked down at him, watching the play of emotions on Bucky's face. His eyes were focused inward and Steve knew he was following a good memory… a good one was certainly worth not interrupting. When the memory cleared, he watched Bucky's eyes refocus and he blinked, smiling up at Steve.
"Penny for your thoughts," Steve said. Bucky breathed out a soft laugh and his eyes took on that dreamy glaze that Steve loved so much.
"It wasn't really a thought," Bucky told him, his resting hands now wrapped around Steve's arms. "It was a memory… and it's worth far more than a penny. It's priceless."
Steve smiled softly. "It was a good memory?"
"The best."
"Was I in it?" Steve asked, keeping his voice soft and watched as Bucky's eyes shifted and focused on him.
"You're always in the best memories," Bucky told him sincerely then took a deep breath as the images faded.
Steve's eyes were drawn to Bucky's chest as it expanded beneath him. He still couldn't get over the change in him physically; the size of his muscles and his astounding speed and strength… but he supposed Bucky had the same thoughts about him too. He leaned down to place a soft kiss right over his heart and as his lips made contact Bucky drew in another breath in surprise. Steve smiled as he felt the muscles expand to lift him slightly with the motion. When he moved back into a resting position, he noticed Bucky staring at him with an intensity in his eyes that wasn't there a moment ago.
"You okay?" he asked. Bucky blinked and then nodded. "What's wrong?"
"I wasn't expecting that," Bucky told him, his voice nearly a whisper.
"I'm sorry. I should have asked," Steve said.
"No… it's okay," Bucky told him. "It's just… it's been a long… long… time…" Steve waited patiently as Bucky searched for the words. "That was… intense," he said. He took a few breaths and a soft sound escaped his throat as he tried to figure out how to explain. "It… sent a jolt through my whole body… I can't… explain it," he said. A tear rolled down the side of his face toward his ear and Steve reached out and wiped it away. "It's been such a long time since anyone touched me in a way that… felt good."
Steve lowered his face to rest his cheek against Bucky's and whispered close to his ear, "I know, but I want you to know… I'm dedicating the rest of my life to making you feel nothing but good."
Bucky turned his face into Steve's and when Steve lifted up to look at him, Bucky reached up to hold his head in place and kissed him again deeply. Steve could barely control himself, because Bucky's mouth was so erotic. He unconsciously pressed his hips against Bucky's and Barnes gasped when he felt Steve's arousal. Steve pulled back a little at Bucky's reaction to what he'd done and looked at him closely.
"Sorry," Steve told him. "I didn't mean to do that."
Bucky stared at him, his beautiful mouth slightly open. "Did I do that?" he asked, bewildered. Steve smiled at him but was successful in reining in the soft laugh that wanted to come out.
"Yeah, buddy… you did that to me." Bucky smiled at him and the smile slowly grew wider and wider. Steve smiled back at him, thankful that his physical response to their make out session hadn't frightened Bucky. "Can I touch you?" Steve asked. He so wanted Bucky to experience the sensation of a gentle hand touching him, but Bucky's smiled faded and he looked at Steve with a fallen expression. "It's okay," Steve told him. "I don't have to –"
"I don't… I haven't…" Bucky stammered.
"What?" Steve asked him patiently.
"It's been so long," Bucky told him. "I don't think I… I can… anymore…"
Steve swallowed, realizing how much Bucky was dealing with as they ventured into this new area of their lives together. "It's okay," Steve whispered. "We're going to do this together… right? No pressure… no demands… I just want to be with you, by your side… for the rest of my life." Steve told him and then tried to fight back his own tears and failed, as his lifelong desires overwhelmed him. Bucky reached up to cradle his face in his hands and used his thumbs to wipe away Steve's tears. "I love you," Steve told him again. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life telling you that, because I couldn't tell you that when I was twelve or when I was sixteen or when I was twenty-seven… but I can tell you now and I don't intend to ever stop telling you."
Bucky smiled up at him, his own eyes filling with tears. "Look at us," he said, "a couple of cry babies…" Steve laughed softly and Bucky chuckled, making Steve bounce a little then he shifted to a more serious tone when he asked, "Can I touch you?"
Steve was caught by surprise and just looked at Bucky for a moment and then slowly nodded. "Yes," he whispered, his heart now pounding against his ribcage.
Bucky moved his right hand from where it was wrapped gently around Steve's arm and raised it up between them to touch his chest. He watched his hand glide across Steve's pecs and then up over his shoulder. He glanced at Steve's face as he slid his hand back down to his chest and down to his rigid abdomen. Steve stared at him intently as he felt Bucky's hand exploring his torso. He tried to control his breathing, but the sensation of Bucky's hand touching him so softly was overwhelming his senses.
He felt Bucky's fingertip dip into the divot of his belly button and his fingertips grazed the waistband of his swim trunks. When Bucky realized what he was touching his hand stopped moving and his eyes slowly lifted to look at Steve; to see Steve staring at him with an intense expression. Bucky swallowed; his throat now feeling parched.
"May I…?" He wasn't sure how to ask without making it sound lewd or vulgar. Steve knew what he was asking and he nodded again slowly.
Bucky licked his lips nervously and then turned his hand over; he was afraid his palm and fingers would be too sensitive and he didn't want to be overwhelmed as he explored Steve's body. He let it glide over the fabric of the trunks, feeling the cold wet material on the back of his hand. He moved a little lower and felt Steve's hardened body against the back of his hand. He slowly moved his hand against it and Steve sucked in a breath and held it. Bucky looked up at him.
"Is this okay?" he asked. Steve looked down at him and nodded with a soft smile. Bucky moved his hand again, nervously exploring Steve's erection with the back of his hand carefully. "You're… really hard," he whispered and Steve couldn't help but laugh softly.
"Yeah," he replied. "You do this to me," he told Bucky. "You have always done this to me."
Bucky smiled again, imagining a sixteen year old Steve Rogers fondling himself in his twin bed alone in the dark and thinking about him while he did. Bucky actually, really liked that thought - a lot - and it gave him a little more confidence to turn his hand over to feel him with his finger tips. He flipped his hand over and caught a breath as he carefully molded his fingers around the hard length, getting a good feel for it through the material. Steve groaned softly at the sensation of Bucky's hand fondling him through his swim trunks. As Bucky's hand found a nice rhythm Steve couldn't help the soft moan that came out. He focused hard on not moving his hips and just letting Bucky explore, it was getting harder to maintain his composure though the longer Barnes stroked him. It felt so natural, to both of them it seemed, and Bucky's hand massaging him was making Steve's teenaged dreams come true.
His muscles began to tense up and his breaths became loud and ragged. He swallowed heavily, knowing he was not able to control himself. The way Bucky's hand stroked him, a little tighter... a little faster... the heat of Bucky's hand warming the cold, wet material gliding over him…. "Oh Buck…" he breathed out, a soft groan accompanied every exhalation.
Bucky stared up at him, watching Steve's face intently as his hand caressed him. Tightening his grip just enough to raise the intensity for Steve without hurting him, he studied Steve's expression as he stroked him a little harder and a little faster, taking his cues from Steve's reaction. A few minutes later, Steve gasped in surprise and his entire body tensed, pushing the air out of his lungs as Bucky felt his cock expand in his hand and then felt the heat of his release through the material.
Bucky's heart was pounding so hard that his hands began to shake as Steve's orgasm exploded in his hand. The next thing he knew, Steve leaned down to capture his mouth hard in an impassioned kiss. Bucky's hand stopped moving but held onto him with a snug grip as Steve's orgasm slowed. When it finally ceased he released Bucky's mouth and dropped his head to his shoulder, gasping for air. Bucky realized he, too, was breathless just watching Steve respond to him.
"OhmyGod," Steve mumbled against Bucky's shoulder.
"That was… really hot," Bucky told him. Lying under Steve's weight he became acutely aware that both of them were trembling from head to toe. Steve's arm slowly moved from where it had been holding him up over Barnes and now snaked upward to wrap around Bucky's head. Bucky closed his eyes as Steve's fingers curled into his hair, his fingernails lightly scraping his scalp.
They lay there together for several minutes and then Steve got his muscles back under his control and carefully lifted himself up off Bucky and rolled onto his back. They lay there side by side for a few silent moments and then Steve confessed, "That was... way better than I ever dreamed…"
Bucky smiled as he looked up at the sky, watching the fluffy clouds slowly drifting by. "That was awesome," he replied. "Can I do that again later?"
Steve breathed out a soft laugh. "Buddy, you can do that any fucking time you want to."
Bucky's eyebrows rose to the top of his forehead. "Steven G. Rogers… you kiss your mama with that mouth?"
"No," Steve replied and then rolled onto his side to look down at Bucky, "but I kiss my boyfriend with this mouth."
Bucky shifted his gaze from the clouds to look at Steve up close. "Boyfriend?" he asked.
Steve nodded and then said, "If you'll have me as your boyfriend."
"Boyfriend… lover… soul mate… punk," Bucky began and Steve laughed at the 'punk'. Bucky had been calling him a punk since 1934. "I don't think a single word could ever describe what we are… what we've always been to each other," he said.
"For each other," Steve added. "You're right," he said, "you and me… we just are." Bucky nodded with a grin. "So… you ready to race me to the buoy line?"
Bucky thought about it for a minute and nodded. "Yeah, you can use some cooling off," he rolled toward Steve, grabbed onto his arms and then rolled back again, pulling Steve with him. Instead of stopping with Steve on top of him again he kept rolling until Steve was under him and then he surprised Steve as he rolled them right off the edge of the dock.
They landed with a big splash, still holding onto each other's arms. Their combined weight of course caused them to go under the surface easily. They smiled at each other under the water and then slowly kicked back to the surface. As they came up, Steve leaned in to give Bucky a quick peck on the mouth and as they separated, a voice calling Steve's name caught their attention.
They both looked toward the shore to see two men standing there. Bucky recognized them as Steve's neighbors who had been out fishing the day they arrived at the cabin. They both waved when they realized they'd gotten Steve's attention.
"Oh shit!" Bucky exclaimed and immediately shrank back against the side of the dock, trying to hide from the two onlookers. Steve looked at him and realized Bucky looked panicked.
"It's okay, Buck," he told him. "They're my neighbors."
"I know," Bucky replied, looking terrified. "But they would have seen us… maybe what we did… they definitely just saw you kiss me."
"Buck, it's okay," Steve told him. "They're a couple too."
Bucky was still looking at him when his fearful expression shifted to confusion. "What?"
Steve smiled at him. "They… are a couple. Like me and you now."
Bucky pushed away from the dock just enough to peer around the corner of it to see the two men still standing on the shore. When the taller one saw Bucky looking at him he waved and Bucky ducked back behind the dock.
"What the fuck?" he asked. "Did you know they were coming by?"
Steve laughed. "No, I didn't. If I thought we'd be having company, do you think I would have let you jerk me off in front of an audience?"
"Oh my God," Bucky remarked, wondering if they saw that entire thing. He sank into the water until only his head was showing. "Steve…."
"I'm betting they've done a lot more than what we just did. Come on," he invited him, "I'll introduce you."
"What?" Bucky replied, looking fearful again. "No!"
"Why not?" Steve asked. "Come on."
"Steve, no," Bucky said, his tone had changed and it stopped Steve from swimming away.
"What's wrong? I told you… they don't care. And I don't care if they saw us."
"It's not that," Bucky told him. That's when Steve realized Bucky was using his right hand to push at the underside of the dock's edge to keep his shoulders under the water. He was hiding his metal arm from the two strangers.
"Buck," Steve said to get his attention. "I'll go first and get your towel… you come in after me and I'll hand you the towel so you can cov- so you can feel more comfortable. Okay?"
Bucky stared at him, considering if that would be good enough. Realizing he didn't have much choice in the matter, unless he wanted to spend the entire night in the water… that didn't sound half bad, actually… he nodded. He waited for Steve to get further ahead and then he slowly pushed away from the dock to follow him to shore.
