“Complicate things.” Thorne finished the statement for him, certain Dash could feel his heart pounding heavily against his chest. He wanted to explain just how complex his feelings for Dash had become, but he didn’t have the nerve. Once said, the words couldn’t be taken back. They would change everything.

“Is this the first time you let yourself mourn him?” Dash asked as he stroked Thorne’s hair.

“Yes. At first I was afraid if I did, I’d never come back to myself, that I’d let grief take me. Now the pain has dulled, but it’s still there.”

“How could it not be? You lost someone you loved.”

“Who knows what would have happened, whether he would ever have left his wife. I was probably a fool to believe he would but…yeah, I did love him.”

Dash held him, and Thorne let more tears fall. What was the point in fighting them? When the storm of his emotions quieted, Dash slipped out from under him. “Stay there. I’ll be right back.”

What was Dash up to? Thorne propped himself on his arms so he could see. When Dash stepped into the boat and then out again with a coil of rope, a shudder of lust ran through Thorne.

“Raise your hands over your head,” Dash said, his voice low, commanding but not harsh.

Thorne’s cock hardened as Dash wrapped the rope around the thin trunk of the tree and then his wrists and secured it. Dash left the bonds loose, which was good since the rope was scratchy. Thorne could free himself if he wanted to, but he didn’t.

Dash shoved Thorne’s shirt up and lavished kisses over his chest. He teased Thorne’s nipples to hard nubs, sucking, licking, biting. Thorne arched up, wanting more. Dash kissed his way down Thorne’s torso as he unfastened his shorts. Then finally, he drew Thorne’s cock deep into his mouth. Thorne thrust into that inviting warmth as he fought the urge to tug his hands free so he could keep Dash right where he wanted him. Dash sucked him until Thorne was sure he was going to shoot in Dash’s mouth, but Dash stopped just in time.

Thorne watched as he pulled a condom from his pocket. He expected Dash to put it on himself, but he rolled it slowly down Thorne’s dick, the touch of his hands bringing Thorne right back to the edge.

When Thorne was covered, Dash stood and shucked his bathing trunks. He sucked on his fingers until they were slick with spit and then began to open himself up. Thorne bit his lip to hold in a moan. He needed to be inside Dash right that second. “Don’t make me wait. I don’t give a fuck about your anticipation theories right now.”