"Are you sure we're going the right way?" TK asked, glancing at Carlos for a moment longer than he should. There was just something about his husband with one hand on the wheel, his wedding ring glinting in the light, and his giant bicep flexing that made TK want to tell Carlos to pull the car over so he could jump his bones. Yep, he had the real hots for his husband.
"You're the one giving directions," Carlos replied, breaking TK's lustful thoughts. He took a quick glance at TK who was still staring at him, before returning his eyes to the road. "You're not even looking at the map!"
TK turned back to the large sheet of paper in his hands. They'd lost cell service a few miles back after they stopped for gas, so they'd had to resort to what TK had referred to as 'medieval' methods of navigation.
"Right, sorry!" TK paused. "I don't know, this just looks... wrong."
"What do you mean wrong?" Carlos' brows furrowed.
"I mean it looks wrong. Wrong, Carlos. As in not right?"
"I know what wrong means, Tyler. But how does it look wrong?"
"Oh," TK smiled to himself. "Uh, I don't know, I guess it looks backwards?"
"Backwards?"
"Yeah," TK replied, "I feel like we should be heading in the other direction."
"As in back there?"
TK peered behind them at the road and the stretch of trees on either side. There was virtually nothing for miles around, and every inch of road look the same as every other inch.
"Oh..." TK mumbled into the newfound silence of the car. When did Carlos switch off the music?
"Oh? What's oh?"
"Uh, nothing... well, it could be that I've had it upside down."
Carlos let out a groan. "TK!"
"What? I'm a nineties baby! Paper maps are prehistoric. How am I supposed to read one? I'm a google maps kind of guy!"
"I'm a nineties baby too and I can read a map! Also, you grew up in New York – you're supposed to have a good sense of direction!"
"Yes," TK said, "but navigating twelve blocks of New York City is very different to navigating twelve miles of open road!"
Carlos chuckled, sighing. "So, we are going the right way?"
TK flipped the map upside down, everything suddenly clicking into place like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle. "Yes," TK mumbled. Carlos smiled.
"We're here," Carlos announced. The gravel crunched beneath the Camaro's tires as they pulled up to the lodge.
"Woah," TK exclaimed in surprise, as they stepped out of the car. The fresh smell of the forest filled the air, and they both inhaled deeply, trying to breathe in as much nature as they could.
The cabin was larger than either of them had anticipated. Built of thick oak logs and surrounded by a copse of trees on either side, it was utterly idyllic. There were several wooden steps leading up to a decent sized porch, although it lacked décor aside from a Monstera in a giant pot, and a string of fairy lights on the awning.
But, they soon discovered that this was entirely intentional… because who would want to sit and face a drive lined with trees, when the rear view of the cabin was like a picturesque postcard?
They grabbed their duffels from the trunk of the car, and gently strode to the entrance. TK's brows furrowed in confusion as he watched his husband dig through the plant pot like a hungry squirrel, until Carlos finally found the key hidden inside.
He shook the dirt off his hand before he unlocked the door, a smile plastering his face as he heard the satisfying click.
The interior of the cabin was astonishingly beautiful – an open-plan space full floor-to-ceiling with natural tones, polished hardwood floors, and Scandinavian-inspired decor. In the living area surrounding a large glass-topped tree stump coffee table, sat a beige squared-armed couch, draped with a red and cream Nordic throw, with two matching love seats either side. Directly opposite this was the the west side of the cabin, where a grey stone feature wall jutted out form the horizontal log slats, the top of which held a large oil painting of a stag, and right below, a fireplace. The two alcoves on either side were kitted out with built-in wooden shelves, festooned with rows of books, woodland inspired ornaments, and decorative photographs – mostly related to deers; with one or two scented candles – why was a total mystery, as the smell of wood and forest air infiltrated every nook and cranny.
To the east of the living area was the open-plan kitchen – wooden counters with waxed wooden countertops, brass fittings and handles, and a double gas range. Upon the closest countertop stood a vase full of orange and red Calendulas, and a welcome hamper full of sparkling cider (at Carlos' request, having explained that his husband didn't drink), sweet treats, and luxury items. To the side of the kitchen stood a wooden staircase, leading to the second floor.
The most impressive feature, however, stood directly opposite the entrance. Large glass windows lined the north wall from one edge to the other, allowing a superfluity of light to flood the cabin – not the point where it was overly garish, but just enough to make the place feel welcoming and cosy. And yet, more impressive still was the view beyond the windows – a large wooden deck with cosy chairs and blankets surrounding a fire-pit; overlooking a background of a scenic turquoise lake embedded with a throng of green trees.
It was a sight that took their breath away.
"Holy shit, Carlos." TK said as he stepped over the threshold, his hands forgetting he was holding his duffel bag as he looked around in awe. It landed on the floor with a giant thud. "How-how did you afford this?"
"I called in a favour," Carlos replied with a cheesy grin on his face.
"Have you got another secret spouse I should know about?" TK joked, his hand covering his mouth in amazement, in the same way he had when he'd seen their loft for the first time after he was released from the hospital last year.
Carlos chuckled. "No, no more spouses for me. You're my one and done… well, technically you're my second and done, but the only one that really matters." TK smiled. "As it turns out, when you're a cop and people want to stay on the right side of the law, you can pretty much wrangle anything out of them."
"Hang on – Officer Reyes… are you telling me you blackmailed the owner into letting us stay here?"
"Blackmailed is putting it too strongly… I simply pointed out that they'd been leasing this holiday home without the proper paperwork. They fix that and let us stay here for free while they sort it, and I don't rat them out to the local authorities. It's a win-win for everyone."
TK laughed, strolling over to Carlos who was leaning against the now closed front door, his duffel at his feet. TK snaked his arms around his husband's waist, pressing a kiss to his lips.
"Have I told you how much I love you?"
"All the time, but I love hearing it."
TK captured him in another, but more passionate kiss, pressing him up against the wall; oddly reminiscent of their first hook-up almost four years earlier. Carlos hands found TK's hair, and he let out an unintentional moan before pulling away.
"Easy tiger," Carlos replied, smirking. "We've only been in the door five minutes."
"And I've had visions of taking your clothes off for the entirety of the car ride. Your constant flexing of your biceps got me all hot and bothered."
"Is that so?" Carlos asked, raising one eyebrow. He spun them around, so TK's back was against the door, pressing him into it and kissing him deeply, the butterflies erratically fluttering in his stomach. His head spun as Carlos' hands found his hair once again, giving it a gentle tug; every thought disappearing from his brain as he felt his husband's tongue slip into his mouth. He could barely savour the moment before Carlos pulled away.
"I'd love to fulfil your vision, Mr. Strand, but unfortunately it's going to have to wait until later, otherwise we're going to be late." Carlos gave him a mischievous smirk, his eyes sparkling. He picked up their duffel bags and traipsed them upstairs to their bedroom.
"Wait," TK asked, his thoughts suddenly rushing back into his head, as he followed the invisible trail his husband left behind. "Late for what?"