Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

thought, look at those low arches, long perfectly shaped toes and a sexy little hump along the top. I could spend hours licking these feet. For a split second Cole actually forgot there was an entire person attached to those feet. When he finally drifted back to reality, he pushed himself up off the blanket and followed the rest of the stranger's body with his eyes all the way to his smirking face.
    "Forget which end you're supposed to talk to?" Michael quipped. Michael stood at Cole's head, admiring the view and waiting for him to come back to reality. He felt a little guilty. He'd been able to observe Cole, without him knowing, for a brief time before his presence was noticed. Cole was long and lean. His skin had a healthy flush to it from lying out in the summer sun. He could see a head of mousy brown hair resting on sleek, muscular arms. And was he wearing Jaws swimming trunks? What the fuck?
    Cole shook his head and tried to bring his sun-dazed brain back online. He just hoped his blush wasn't showing. "Uhm. Sorry about that." He mumbled something about heat stroke as he stood to introduce himself. "I'm Cole, and you must be Michael. Elijah texted me this morning to say you would be staying here while you're in town." Cole held his hand out to Michael, and when their palms met, he brought his eyes up and had to stifle a gasp as the perfect All-American face came into view. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Cole thought, if his eyes are blue, I may just cream myself right here! Distracted by his sudden lust, it took Cole a moment to realize Michael's gaze was focused elsewhere. Holy fuck, is he looking at my crotch? Please don't let me have a hard on. Just then, Michael's eyes slid up to Cole's, an eyebrow raised in question. Sky blue eyes. He was so busted. Stammering, Cole started to apologize for his lecherous thoughts, "Sorry. I…."
    "Those are the most disturbing swim shorts I've ever seen. Good thing this is a private beach or you would be traumatizing small children everywhere." Michael slid his hand out of Cole's grasp and chuckled. The guy clearly looked flustered, and he was grateful for the distraction. It gave him a chance to deal with the insta-attraction he had going on. He had appreciated Cole's supine form with a bit of indifference but then he had noticed the way Cole was looking at his feet. He wasn't quite sure what to think of it, but it looked hungry and heated and made his blood heat a little. His toes curled into the sand just thinking about it.
    Cole let out a deep breath and got control of himself. "Thanks. I thought they were funny, and I rather enjoy traumatizing small children. How was your travel? Have any trouble finding the place?" He had been pissed that morning when Elijah flippantly mentioned Michael would be crashing at the house. He needed this downtime and didn't want to be forced into playing host and faking his way through useless conversation. His conscience got the better of him, though, and he quickly resigned himself to it. Now that he was face-to-gorgeous face with him, he wasn't upset in the least.
    Michael smiled to himself and thought, This guy is witty and adorable in that shy sort of way. He stretched his arms overhead, lengthening his body, trying to work out the kinks. "Traveling was the usual hassle. I made sure to double up on my socks 'cause walking through security without my shoes gives me the willies. No lost luggage or screaming kids, though, so I'm thankful."
    Michael actually hated travel altogether. He'd lived in the same house in the Cincinnati suburbs his entire life! He absolutely adored his mom and even enjoyed his nosy older sister's company. And since his dad passed away from a sudden heart attack three years ago, he had become even more reluctant to leave. "No problems getting here either since the rental has GPS. I could have spotted Elijah's house from a mile away, anyway! Only he would have a porch decked out with a rainbow of Adirondack chairs."
    "And just in case it didn't scream 'I'm here, and I'm Queer' loud enough for you to get the message, there's always that door knocker! Actually," Cole shook his head, "that just screams 'This is Elijah's House'."
    "Oh God," Michael bellowed, "I nearly cracked a rib I was laughing so hard when I saw it! Good thing I had a key and didn't actually have to use it to get you to answer the door."
    "Yeah, knowing Elijah, the thought of people having to reach between the legs and use those dangling balls to get his