Chapter Twenty-Three

THEN

 

That night, after their kiss, and after Lenox left him on the beach, Lyric stood rooted to the spot, watching his figure grow increasingly smaller until he disappeared into the shadows. His gut was screaming out in agony at his head for letting Lenox go, but it was fear that held him back.

Fear had become a part of his daily routine these days and he figured that Lenox was better off keeping his distance. The thought of getting close to someone and putting them at risk was too much for him to fathom.

And yet, later that night, it was all he could think about. No matter how brief their meeting had been, there was no denying the connection he felt towards him already. Their conversation had flowed so easily and it was the most at ease he had felt in a while.

Just like all those times before.

Perhaps it was simply his mind’s way of coping with the palpable loneliness he struggled with, but he was desperate to feel something other than fear. His heart ached for the touch of another. Something real and gratifying that he could hold onto. But he knew that if he let someone in then he put them at risk.

It was another sleepless night for Lyric, filled with endless tossing and turning. His head rocked back and forth with thoughts and questions and visions of Lenox.

The clock next to his bed read quarter to six the last time he checked, and the next time he opened his eyes, it was just past ten. Giving in, he pulled himself out of bed, quickly showered and left the house.

He wasn’t sure exactly at what point he had decided on seeing Lenox again during the night, but as his feet hit the pavement, he didn’t give it another thought.

 

WHEN HE ARRIVED at the beach, guitar in hand and wearing nothing but his usual board shorts and a tie-dye vest, he scanned the many different groups of people who were already on the beach at this early hour. It only took a moment for him to spot a group of four girls, each in tiny bikinis and with assorted coloured hair; the same group he had met on the beach last night with Lenox. He wasted no time in going over to them.

As he approached, his bare feet padding their way through the deep, golden sand, their animated conversation came to a close and they stared at him.

“Buenos días,” he offered to them with a wide, toothy grin.

A short silence filled the space between them before one of the blondes cleared her throat and returned his greeting.

“Buenos días,” she replied, her voice a mixture of what he imagined to be posh English and a half-hearted attempt at a Spanish accent.

“Please forgive me, señoritas, if I am bothering you,” Lyric added, his hands together in a prayer position in front of his heart.

“Not at all,” the ginger one said. “You looking for Lenox? ’Cause the lazy ass is still in bed…”

Lyric gave a gentle laugh, meeting her eyes with his own friendly stare before continuing.

“I’m afraid you’ve pinned me already. I was, in fact, looking for Lenox. Do you expect him to be joining you today?”

The ladies all looked at Lyric in awe, lapping up his chivalrousness and kind nature; exactly the way he had intended.

“Here’s hoping,” the ginger one said.

“I’m Bambi,” the blonde offered, licking her lips.

“Lyric,” he replied. “A pleasure to make all of your acquaintances.”

“Would you care to join us, Lyric?” another blonde asked, her voice much lighter than the first.

“I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“You wouldn’t be,” Bambi interjected.

“No. But thank you very much for the offer. Really.”

“It’s no bother, honestly. I’ll text Lenox and I’m sure he’ll come right down.”

“No, no, please. I’d actually like to surprise him. I wouldn’t want him to feel forced to meet me. After last night, I mean…”

The girls all exchanged confused glances before turning back to Lyric.

“I’ll just wait over there. Again, it was lovely to meet you. All of you.” Lyric took his guitar and moved away silently, flashing them all another quick smile before tossing his dreads over his shoulders and making his way over to a lounger.

A half hour or so passed before Lenox joined the girls on the beach. Lyric noticed his jet-black hair first, tied once again in a knot at the back of his head. He wore a casual pair of navy-blue swimming trunks and a black vest that framed his broad shoulders to perfection. He carried only a towel with him, draped around his neck, and spoke in an animated manner to his friends.

Lyric tried to play it cool, strumming his guitar casually as he watched the scene unfold from the corner of his eye. After a moment or two, he felt sets of eyes on him. Pretending not to notice, he continued playing, adding Spanish lyrics to a made-up song as he turned his own gaze to the sea.

After a few minutes, he spied a figure coming towards him in his peripheral vision. He remained draped across the sun lounger as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

When Lenox was finally a few feet in front of him, he turned to face him; a sly, sideways smile tugging at one corner of his lips.

“Buenos días,” he said in his raspy tone.

“Good morning,” Lenox responded in English.

“Your friends said you’d be along soon enough.”

“Have you really been waiting here for me?”

Lyric nodded, squinting up at him through the harsh light of the sun. He patted the seat next to him, inviting Lenox to sit.

“How are you?” Lenox asked, accepting the invitation and taking a seat next to him.

“I’m good, thanks, how are you feeling?”

“Yeah, feeling all right. I guess.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, and steepled his hands. “Look, I’m sorry for last night…”

“Sorry for what?”

“Sorry for shooting off in a huff…I guess I had a bit too much to drink.”

“No worries, I’m glad I got to see you again.”

“You are?”

“Sure! Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, I thought…I guess I just assumed when you didn’t want to…”

“What, get a bite to eat?”

“Well, yeah…”

Lyric felt relaxed, and very sure of himself. He could sense Lenox’s unease and he was finding it irresistibly sexy. He leaned in, closing the distance between them a fraction. With his hand, he pulled Lenox’s face towards his own until they were once again eye to eye.

“I just didn’t want to do something I’d regret and that you wouldn’t remember,” he whispered, his lips barely moving as they caressed each word.

“Something you’d regret?” Lenox repeated his words back to him.

“Well, less that I’d regret, and more that you wouldn’t remember enough to appreciate…”

And with that, Lyric pulled his face in for a kiss, planting his lusciously full lips on Lenox’s mouth.

Lyric sensed his nerves, Lenox holding back as if he was afraid to take it too far, or let himself go somehow. But he only pulled Lenox in closer as a way of trying to rid him of his doubt. Finally, Lenox met his intensity and returned it with the same fire.

Their lips parted and Lyric pushed his tongue into Lenox’s mouth. It was warm and wet and searching. Lenox found Lyric’s face with his hands and gently traced the line of his jaw from his chin to the back of his head until they reached his mane of thick dreadlocks.

The feeling of Lenox’s hands on his face switched Lyric on like a lightbulb and he returned the gesture, letting his hands find Lenox’s face, his fingertips dancing across his stubbled cheeks and tangling themselves in his long black hair. Lyric began to stiffen in his shorts, the material tugging and constricting as his erection grew with each stroke of his tongue inside Lenox’s mouth.

He pulled Lenox’s face in closer still, their noses touching and heads tilting to opposite sides to make room for their kiss. Lenox shifted his body, causing the chair to creak beneath their weight. He seemed to get spooked and pulled away from their embrace.

Licking his lips, he looked quickly away, scanning the beach for gawkers.

“I’m sorry…I’m not usually so…”

“Don’t be,” Lyric interrupted, casting a glance around him. “Take a look. I don’t think anyone even blinked an eye. This is Ibiza, after all!” He sat back in a casual pose, bending one knee and tucking it up underneath him on the chair.

Lenox turned to face him, smiling enormously.

“Listen, I don’t want to keep you from your friends, but I was wondering…do you have any plans for dinner tonight?” Lyric asked.

“Tonight?”

“Because I’d love to take you out for that bite.”

“That would be…Great.”

“Excellent. Shall I pick you up around nine?”

“Yes, sounds perfect.”

Lenox plugged the address of the villa where he was staying and his number into Lyric’s phone before wishing him a good day as Lyric stood to leave.

Lyric walked away elated, filled with happiness and wishing this feeling would stay with him. He closed his eyes as he wandered down the promenade, the stone warm beneath his bare feet. He tried to push his fears and nerves deep down into his core, projecting them and all other negativity out and back down into the earth.

Perhaps this time will be different. Perhaps this time, I’ll be able to keep control.

Perhaps this time, no one will get hurt.