SAGE (Tales of the Merman Book 1) Page 6

  Sage covered his hand with his own. "Me either. Turns out, I won't be working for a few days. I had a bit of a disagreement with my father on how to run things and am taking a few days away to let us both cool off."

  Gary frowned. "Everything okay?"

  Sage reached for more food from the bag as he nodded. Gary noticed that he seemed tense anytime they talked about his father or family.

  "My father just refuses to see that times change and there might be new and better ways to do things. As I said before, I really don't want to take over the business, but if he insists, I don't see why I can't make a few changes and bring things more current and modern. Fork or chopsticks?"

  "Fork. I never could use those damn things." He took the plastic fork Sage offered him. "Your brothers agree with you?"

  "They do, but my father, well he is a different kind of man. He is powerful and he knows it. It's best we pick and choose our battles with him." Sage lifted a forkful of sesame chicken to Gary's lips. "Taste?"

  Gary kept his gaze locked with Sage's as he took the bite, slowly sliding his lips over the fork before pulling the chicken free. He chewed for a moment before swallowing and then licking his lips. "Thank you."

  Sage leaned in and brushed Gary's mouth with his own. "You're welcome. So, enough about me, what has you here at the shop so late?"

  Gary grinned, excited to be able to show Sage what he was working on. "I'll show you after we finish eating. I hope you'll like it. I decided to paint while it was slow today and I guess you could say I found my inspiration. I couldn't leave it unfinished."

  Sage glanced toward the back room. "I'm curious now what inspired you."

  Gary grinned and took a bite of his egg roll as he wondered what Sage's reaction would be to the painting. As he chewed, he hoped that it wouldn't scare Sage off. "I think you'll like it."

  "Is this one for the art show?"

  "No." He shook his head, suddenly knowing exactly what he wanted to do with the painting. He was going to give it to Sage. "This one is more personal, I'm going to give it to you."

  "Eat faster so I can see." Sage nudged his leg with his knee and smiled. "It's good to see you so excited about your painting. You seemed a bit scared of it last night."

  "I'm scared of others seeing it. Of their judgment. I think they're good, but what will others think."

  "Has anyone ever told you they were bad?" Sage glanced at him as he scooped up a spoonful of rice.

  Gary closed his eyes as he remembered the one time someone had said he wouldn't ever make anything of his art. "My father. He said I was wasting my time and that no one would ever want trash like that."

  Sage shook his head. "Your father was wrong. People are going to be begging for your work. You will go far with it. You shouldn't let his words keep you from your dream."

  Gary set his fork down. "Thanks. I guess I've just always wondered if he was right. I've kept myself from showing others because of his opinion. I don't know what I will do if people hate it. Painting is the only thing I enjoy."

  "I don't think you have to worry." Sage set his own fork down and wiped his mouth. "I'm going to love watching you sell all your work."

  Gary looked up at him. "Will you go with me? I know it's still a few weeks away, but will you be my date?" He prayed he wasn't looking too far ahead.

  "I would be honored." Sage reached for his hand. "I will be proud to stand by you that night."

  Gary grinned. "Keep me standing?"

  "I don't think I will need to. I think you will do fine on your own." Sage leaned in and brushed his mouth over Gary's jaw. "Now how about showing me what kept you working so late."

  Gary stood and went toward the back room with Sage following. He swallowed back the nervousness as he stepped into the room and around the painting. "I hope you like it."

  Sage stepped up beside him and gasped. "That's me."

  Gary nodded. "The day we met. It's etched in my memory. I started to paint and couldn't stop."

  Sage stared at the painting for several moments. "I can't believe how well you captured it. It's like a photograph of me."

  Gary smiled as he looked at the painting. Sage was just coming up out of the water, his long hair floated in the waves around him as the sunlight caught in the blackness of his hair causing a slight shimmer. Water dripped from his skin and eyelashes as he stared straight ahead. "I didn't include the child. It seemed sort of a depressing factor to add in."

  "Is this how you saw me that day?"

  "I wanted to reach out and touch you. You were… Are the most beautiful person I have ever seen." Gary bowed his head, embarrassed.

  "I don't know what to say." Sage turned away from the painting and placed his hands on Gary's hips. "I've never seen a painting of myself before and the way you captured me… I'm in awe, Gary."

  Gary lifted his head and shrugged. "I just painted what I saw."

  "Will you paint me again? I mean I want you to."

  Gary's eyes went wide, shocked by the request. "Of course. I would love to paint you."

  "On the rocks, down by the ocean. You do so well with the water, and since it's pretty much my home…" He smiled. "I like how you make me look."

  Gary lifted a hand to cup Sage's cheek. "This is how you do look. At least the way I see you. I could probably paint it a bit better, I mean, I did this in a day, but I'm sure if I took —"

  Sage's mouth covered his, cutting off his words. Gary reached out, wrapping his arms around Sage, more for support than anything as he deepened the kiss, opening his mouth and finding Sage's tongue against his own.

  He moaned as their bodies pressed closer and they swayed against each other, both hardening as their hips met. Gary slid his hand down Sage's back to cup his ass and pull him even closer. His other hand went under Sage's soft hair and up against his scalp as he fisted the hair in his hand and held Sage to him.

  "We need to stop. I didn't come here for this." Sage pulled back slightly.

  "I know you didn't." Gary rested his head against Sage's cheek. "It just seems to happen when we're together."

  Sage laughed. "Yes it does. But I don't want you thinking that is the only reason I come to see you." He stepped away, once again looking at the painting. "You want to finish this tonight?"

  Gary only had about ten minutes more work on it, but he had the real thing with him now, the painting could wait. "No. I want to spend it with you. This will be here tomorrow."

  "Want to take a walk on the beach?"

  "I'd like that. Let me just turn off everything and lock up." Gary rushed around the shop, turning off lights and locking the register. "Want to pack up the leftovers?"

  "I'm full, but you can take them if you want." Sage started putting the containers back into the bag.

  "It's Chinese. You'll be hungry again in an hour." Gary took the full bag. "We can set it in my car and eat it later if we want."

  Sage opened the door and stepped out. Gary locked the door and headed to his car. "Which way you want to walk?"

  "There's a nice cove that way." Sage pointed.

  Locking his car, Gary reached for Sage's hand. "Lead the way."

  They fell into step as they made the way toward the beach. It was already dark and the large streetlights offered them light until they hit the beach. Once there, the crescent moon gave them a little guidance, but not much.

  "Not scared of the dark are you?" Sage teased.

  "I feel pretty safe." Gary hip bumped Sage as they walked. "So what do you plan to do with your days off?"

  "Nothing. I'm going to lie in bed late, stare at the TV, and hopefully spend a little time with you when you can spare it." Sage grinned at him.

  "Like my schedule is so busy." Truth was, even if he had plans, he would have cancelled them to spend time with Sage. "I'm always free after work."

  "Then it looks like I will spend my evenings with you." Sage slowed and pointed toward the water. "Can you see the dolphin out there?"

  Gary squinted, tryi
ng to make out what Sage was seeing, but found only a slight shimmer of the water in the darkness. "No."

  Sage kicked off his shoes and rolled up his pants and then took his wallet from his pocket and slid it inside his shoes. "Watch." He stepped into the water and made several loud clicking sounds with his tongue.

  Gary watched Sage for a moment and then glanced up to look out over the water. Slowly, several shapes appeared. "How did you…" Gary watched one dolphin jump and then another as they swam toward them.

  "Come join me. We have to go a bit deeper if we want to say hi." Sage waded farther out into the ocean, stopping when the water reached his hips.

  Gary blinked several times as the dolphin swam up to Sage and allowed him to touch them.

  "Gary? You coming?" Sage glanced over at him.

  Gary kicked off his shoes and socks, and didn't bother to roll up his pants. Setting his wallet with his shoes, he slowly waded into the water. "I'll scare them," he whispered.

  "No you won't." Sage laughed as he made several more clicking sounds. "They are friendly. They enjoy the attention from those they can trust."

  The water rose up his legs with each step. He couldn't take his eyes off the dolphin as they swam around Sage, bumping his leg as if trying to playfully knock him down. He counted five of them.

  Once he was close enough, Sage reached out and took his hand. "See, they trust you."

  "How did you get them to come to you?" Gary reached a timid hand out and brushed the side of one of the dolphins as it swam by.

  "I just called them. They don't always respond." Sage shrugged as if it wasn't any big deal.

  "You talk to the dolphin?" Gary watched as the two in front of him played leapfrog with each other.

  "I guess you could say that." Sage smiled at him. "I've always been able to do it."

  Gary stared at Sage. How could he act as if this was nothing? This wasn't normal. Dolphins didn't just come up and say hi like these were. One of the dolphins bumped his hand, seeking attention. He softly rubbed his hand down his body and laughed when the dolphin pressed against his leg.

  Sage clicked his tongue again and one of the other dolphins rose up out of the water and jumped, landing beside Gary and splashing him with water.

  "You told him to do that?"

  Sage grinned, but rolled his eyes. "I'm not that good at communicating with them."

  For almost twenty minutes, they played with the dolphin. Gary laughed harder than he had in a long time as he watched Sage interact with them. He enjoyed seeing Sage so carefree. It was different from the refined and in control man he knew. He stared at Sage as he clicked his tongue several more times and the dolphin swam off.

  "That was amazing." Gary watched the dolphin disappear in the darkness.

  Sage turned to him and drew him close. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

  "I still don't understand how you did that." Gary placed his hands on Sage's hips as the water swayed around him.

  "I learned I could do it years ago. It's probably more instinct than anything that they know they can trust me." Sage kissed him softly. "I really just wanted to get you in the water with me."

  Gary closed the distance between them and rested his head on Sage's chest. "All you had to do was ask."

  "This was more fun." Sage's arms incased him.

  "You have any other special talents you haven't told me about?"

  A soft laugh rumbled through Sage's chest. "I think I still have a few tricks to share with you. I can't give everything away. I have to give you a reason to stick around."

  Gary lifted his head and looked up. "You are reason enough."

  Sage stared down at him. "I was going to try to stay away from you tonight. Give you space. I'm dangerously drawn to you, Gary. I've never met another who draws me in the way you do." Sage closed his eyes and shook his head. "We shouldn't be doing this."

  Gary frowned. "Why? If this feels so right, if the two of us both agree we want this, then why shouldn't we do it?"

  Sage sighed and turned, staring over the ocean. "So neither of us gets hurt later."

  "I'm willing to risk it." Gary touched Sage's shoulder. His stomach cramped as he tried to understand Sage's words. Was he trying to end what they just started? "No relationship is guaranteed. You have to take the risk to know if it will work. I'm willing to take that risk with you, Sage."

  "I wish things were different. I wish my job was easier. I wish we had time." Sage turned back to him. "I wish this could be easy."

  "I don't understand."

  "I know you don't. And I can't explain it." Sage shook his head. "Never mind. I don't want this to end. Even if our time together is limited, and we can't see each other as much as I like." He combed his fingers through Gary's hair. "We will find a way. Right?"

  Gary nodded. "I don't care if we can't see each other all the time. We will make it work. Find a way to see each other. I don't understand what you are worried about."

  "Just my father, my career, and how much it will keep me from you. You deserve better than me."

  "I want you."

  "And you have me." Sage pulled him back into his arms. "Forget I said anything."

  Gary met his stare. "We are okay? I know we just met, but I want this to work for us."

  "We're okay. Ignore my ramblings." Sage brushed his lips with his own. "Come on. Let's get out of the water, get you dry."

  Gary took his hand and let him lead them from the water, praying that whatever was bothering Sage wouldn't destroy what he hoped the future held for them.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Sage followed Gary from his car and into the apartment. The two of them were still wet, but when Sage mentioned going back to his place to get dry clothes, Gary offered a dry pair of sweats if they went back to his.

  Not wanting to admit he was in a hotel, Sage agreed. It wasn't like they would be wearing clothes most the night anyway. At least not if Sage got his way. He pulled the tie from his hair, allowing it to fall over his shoulders as they entered the apartment.

  Gary tossed his keys on the coffee table and glanced back. "Let me get you some sweats."

  Sage followed him down the hall to the bedroom. "Do we need them?"

  Gary smiled as he stopped by the bed. "No." He glanced at Sage. "Are you saying you're tired and wish to go to bed?"

  "I'm certainly not tired, but I think bed might be a good idea." He stepped closer to Gary. "I seem to have a problem keeping my hands off you and the thought of getting dressed just to get naked again seems like such a waste." He ran his nose up Gary's neck, inhaling deeply.

  Gary arched his neck. "I like us naked better, anyway." His hands fell to the button of Sage's pants and popped it open. "I didn't get to explore you the way I wanted to last time."

  Sage's cock pressed hard against his zipper as Gary lowered it. He groaned as Gary's hand slipped inside his pants to take his cock. "You touch me and we won't have time to explore." Sage looked down between them as Gary wrapped his hand around him.

  "I'm willing to take the risk." Gary lowered to his knees. "Shoes off." He reached for one of Sage's feet and tugged on the shoe.

  Sage had never had another man undress him. It had always been a mad rush to the bed where he shed his own clothes in his need for release. This was different. As he lifted his feet and Gary pulled off his shoes, his heart swelled, strengthening the emotions he already felt for the man.

  With a tug, Gary pulled Sage's wet pants down his legs and helped remove them. He tossed them aside and glanced up at Sage with his eyes filled with hunger. "I like this view." He lifted his hand back to Sage's cock, gripping it tightly.

  "As do I." Sage hardly recognized his own voice. A shiver ran through his body as Gary bent forward and took him in his mouth. Sage's cock pulsed as it was encased in the warmth and Gary's lips started to move over him. Sage gripped the back of Gary's head, guiding him over his cock.

  Gary's gaze locked with him and Sage shook his head as he pulled back. "No. I want to tas
te you. Get on the bed. We do this together."

  Gary stood and quickly stripped off his clothes as Sage removed his own shirt and let it fall to the floor as Gary crawled over the bed and lay down.

  "If I was a painter, this is just how I would have you pose." Sage moved beside him, caressing his hand down Gary's leg as he settled in front of him and lay down so that his head was at Gary's waist. Gary was eye to eye with Sage's cock, and at the same instant they reached for each other.

  Sage licked over the head of Gary's length as Gary sucked him into his mouth. Gary's salty flavor was like fire against Sage's tongue and he used his hand to stroke him, milking more of the clear fluid from the tip. It wasn't long before he had the cock in his mouth, sliding his tongue over him as he struggled to keep from thrusting his hips as Gary did the same.

  Sage's arm wrapped around Gary's body, holding him close as he swallowed him deep into his throat. He fought to keep his rhythm as Gary lavished his balls with his tongue and then nudged Sage's legs farther apart. When the tip of Gary's tongue stroked over his hole, Sage groaned as he closed his eyes at the pleasure.

  It was years since anyone touched him this way. His cock swelled at the feel of Gary's tongue slipping inside him, spearing him lightly as he cupped his balls and rolled them over his fingers. Sage worked Gary's cock in his hand, trying to lick over the head between his gasps of pleasure.

  "I need you." Sage rolled to his back, looking down at Gary.

  "You have me." Gary rose up on his knees and leaned over to the nightstand. He pulled the lube and a condom from the drawer and settled back between Sage's legs. He glanced up at Sage and smiled as he ripped the condom package open with his teeth and pulled the latex from it. Sage arched as Gary took his cock and slowly rolled the condom over him.

  Sage was surprised. He thought Gary would take him.

  Lube spilled over his cock, rolling down the latex to pool at the base. Several strokes of Gary's hand and he was fighting to keep his building arousal under control.

  Gary moved up, straddling his hips as he bent down and kissed him. Sage stared up at him as he placed his hands on his hips and lifted him over his cock.