Rumor Has It (Longwood U)

Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32

DAK

The Isle of Kala is like nothing I’d ever seen before. This isn’t just an LGBTQIA+ friendly place. It is a vacation resort specifically designed for the community. Everyone can feel safe. There’s no judgment. No assholes. Just peace and fun and parties. There are men everywhere. There are women here too, but they’re not quite at the numbers that men are.

My parents have mentioned it over the years. Mine and Ezlo’s parents have talked about their trips there from time to time. Actually, Ezlo’s been here a lot because his parents own a house on one of the residential islands. In a way, he grew up here, but I think they would’ve spent a lot more time here were Ezlo not in hockey. Hockey kept them away with all the travel it brought.

Even having been somewhat familiar with Kala, I was definitely not prepared for what I walked into. Not only do they remove any form of technology on your body or from within your luggage, but they make you sign some massive NDA and liability forms before you get beyond the port. It’s promised anonymous safety.

One of the things I asked when we arrived was if they took everything, how do we pay for things? The answer is a lot like Disney World where you can connect a rubber bracelet to your bank card. It’s not only attached to your identification (and age) and emergency information, but it also connects to your chosen card .

However, most things are prepaid. We pay a daily fee for food and beverage packages, and our room is already booked up front. When we do excursions, the office where we sign up charges the card on file.

We’ve been here for two days, and I’m simply floored by everything. The 95-page book of excursions and attractions that the islands offer had me staring in awe.

Sparrow is taking a lot of pleasure out of my reaction to this place. We spent all of yesterday on the nude beach where he fucked me no less than three times. Right out there in the open. In front of everyone.

We weren’t the only ones doing this, which made me feel a little better. But I realized one very important thing. It was 100% the cameras at Rumor that had me so on edge. Then again, I’ve also toyed with the idea that maybe it’s not just the cameras. Maybe it was a whole lot of mental stress about the entire situation and the cameras were just a trigger at the time.

I wonder if they’d bother me now.

The Isle of Kala is made up of six islands. The only port in the island chain is at Anapos, the biggest island. So that’s where our boat is docked. But we’ve been on Makara where all the nude beaches are located. There’s half a dozen from what I understand. One is strictly for women. Another strictly for men. The others are a free-for-all.

This morning we’re sitting on our balcony overlooking the water. It’s still early for most people, so there aren’t a lot of bodies on the beach. We’re without clothes, of course. I asked why we even bothered bringing them when we got here, and he said horseback riding with a bare ass and balls is not comfortable.

I absently mused if he knows that from experience.

He’s sitting in my lap, between my legs, leaning his back to my chest. I have my arms and legs wrapped around him.

I’ve never been incredibly touchy feely, but the way I can’t stop touching this man is insane. I might outwardly find it amusing that his hands are always on me, but in truth, my hands are equally always on him too. Anywhere. I don’t even care where I’m touching.

Sparrow’s head turns slowly, and I realize he’s watching someone on the beach. I stare at them, wondering what about them makes them interesting to Sparrow.

“What makes them attractive?” I ask.

“Who?”

“The guy you were just staring at?”

“Don’t be jealous. I’m definitely not interested in anyone else, Dak.”

I grin, pressing my face into the side of his head. “That’s not why I’m asking. I want to know what you find appealing about them.”

“I’d love to tell you, but honestly, they’re too far away. I wasn’t watching them specifically. I was just watching.”

“Okay, fine. What makes a guy appealing to you?”

“What makes a girl appealing to you?”

I think about it for a few minutes and eventually shake my head. “I don’t know. I’ve never given it much thought. I like pretty girls, I guess. Long hair. Pretty eyes. Not crazy.”

Sparrow snorts. “I like an athletic build without being bulky. Like a swimmer’s body. Yours, for example. You also have very pretty eyes. You make sexy sounds. You also have a very sensual voice I love listening to.”

“You have a body type you look at first.”

He shrugs. “Meh. That’s the first thing I tend to find sexually appealing, but it’s not a must have. Having said that, I’ve never looked at someone beyond sex so I guess I don’t truly have an answer for anything other than sexual appeal.”

“Are you going to lose interest if I lose my figure?”

Sparrow shifts to look at me. “I’m offended you would think that.”

Leaning down, I kiss his cheek. “I don’t think that. But I know how much you love how I look. You say so every time you fuck me.”

He sighs, shifting in my lap to look at me. His hand hooks at the back of my neck and he brings my mouth to his. One of the things that takes my breath away is how he handles me. He’s gentle, but he’s also… firm. There’s no question. No room for anything else but what he wants. I love the way he bends me to his will.

It’s even hotter because I’m confident I’m stronger than he is. And it feels like he makes me do what he wants .

Like right now. His kiss is consuming. Commanding. Owning. Between the way he holds me to him, not allowing me to move, and the way he kisses me, I’m putty in his hands.

“No,” Sparrow says, his mouth moving against mine as we share oxygen. “Your body is what made me choose you from the room at Rumor. Your figure is exactly what I looked for when I was looking to hook up. But everything else about you, Dak—you’re perfect. I’ve thought so since the moment you spoke. Since I first looked into your eyes. It was one of my first thoughts about you. You’re absolutely perfect.”

I sigh, resting my forehead against his. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hug him. The feeling of his skin, warm and smooth, is comforting. Familiar now. The way his soft hair glides through my fingers when I move my hand up is one of my favorite sensations.

“I’m going to be terrified of breaking this illusion of perfection now,” I mutter.

Sparrow sighs, his lips moving along my neck, and I can feel his smile. “Nothing is going to shatter it. You simply are perfect. My perfection, Flight Risk.”

My heart races and I’m sure I’m smiling embarrassingly big. I’m glad he can’t see it right now.

After we eat breakfast, Sparrow and I take a walk along the beach. Hand in hand. In Speedos. I’m thankful he doesn’t want me to walk around the island naked. Everyone here is at least eighteen, so we don’t risk running into minors unless we’re on one of the residential islands. I’m not self-conscious exactly, but I feel like everyone’s watching me and judging my junk when we’re walking around naked. Even if they’re naked, too.

Not that this little piece of tight cloth wrapped around my groin isn’t distracting. I’ve never worn something this small and tight before. Especially not in public.

There’s a small group of people in the distance. I’m not sure what they’re doing as we get closer until Sparrow stops and we watch from a couple dozen yards off. It still takes me several minutes to figure it out.

“They’re getting married?”

Sparrow nods. “Mm-hm,” he says, pulling me into him. Together we watch and maybe I’m feeling a little sappy, but it feels so much warmer now. My stomach flutters and I can’t help but imagine myself in that ceremony. On the beach. With the crashing waves and Sparrow…

“You want to get married?” Sparrow asks, his voice quiet. His lips right at my ear. His arms are wrapped around my middle, hugging me. A little sway to how we’re standing. As if he’s rocking me.

“Yes. I’ve always wanted to get married.”

He smiles. “Right now, Dak. Want to get married to me? Right now .”

My heart jumps and my breath catches. Did he just… I turn in his arms, staring at him with wide eyes. “I’m going to maybe sound like I’m talking you out of this, but… we don’t know each other. We basically just met. You’ve only been my boyfriend for like… a month.”

His smile is a little amused, but I swear, in his eyes, I can see everything. I can see how he feels about me. I can see that maybe he already loves me.

Before he can answer, I need to know. “Do you love me?” I blurt.

Sparrow’s smile climbs. “Definitely love you,” he says, brushing his nose against mine. “I absolutely, unquestionably, undeniably love you, Flight Risk. I think I fell in love with you the first time you said my name during your orgasm.”

My cheeks heat and I bury my face in his neck. “Fuck’s sake.”

He chuckles. “River,” he murmurs, his arms wrapping securely around me. “It’s the one and only time that someone’s said my name, and I felt… like it belonged to me. There was just something about the way you said my name—the way you always say my name when I’m inside you—that I could feel you tying yourself to my soul. I definitely love you, Dak Bozik. There’s no pressure, but if you’re ready to skip a whole lot of middle stuff and go right to forever, I want to marry you right here on the beach. Right now.”

I’m not sappy. I can’t even remember the last time I cried. While I’ve had tears in my eyes a few times these last few months, so caught up in emotion that I can’t help myself, I haven’t full on cried in years .

The way I can’t catch my breath right now. How tears obscure my vision. I instantly get congested. I’m ready to fucking bawl.

“Yes,” I whisper, hugging him tightly. I need him to support my weight right now. My knees are shaking. “I want to marry you right now.”

He hums. His fucking calm confidence is the only thing keeping me from crying.

“I need to tell you something first.”

“What’s that?”

“I first saw you months ago. Actually, a year ago. At the end of the last school year. I watched you every time you were around, unable to move or look away. I thought I was weirdly obsessed with you without understanding why. It’s because of that, I went to Rumor. I didn’t know you’d be there. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. The best secret, confusing obsession I’ve ever had.”

Sparrow’s arms righten. “You should tell a person you’ve stalked them from afar after you’re legally married, Risk.”

I laugh, closing my eyes. “I didn’t stalk you. Just… stared. Like a creep.”

He steps back, cupping my face in his hands. “You really want to do this? You want to marry me?”

Staring into his eyes, I’m taken back to that first minute I looked into them. Startled. Breathless. So damn overwhelmed by his presence. I nod. “Yes. I would give up everything to spend my life with you.”

His lips brush mine softly. “Let’s go see what we need to do to make that happen.”

As it turns out, we don’t need a lot. We’re directed to the right building and make arrangements for a ceremony in an hour, right where we saw the couple get married. The next thing I know, we’re looking at wedding bands.

It’s surreal to me. Everything is happening so quickly. Once again, I feel like I’m in over my head, but it’s not the same feeling as when I was surrounded by the dozens of people in Sparrow’s family. While knowing there were a whole lot more who didn’t come to his graduation because tickets were limited.

It’s not that kind of overwhelming.

I can’t catch my breath. The thought that this isn’t real and I’m going to wake up flutters around my head like annoying flies. He’s not real. I’ve imagined this whole thing.

When I need a minute, I turn away from the glass display to find Sparrow on his knee and holding up a band. This time, I hold my breath intentionally because if I don’t, I’m going to start sobbing.

He’s real. This is real. He’s about to be my husband.

“Will you marry me?” Sparrow asks.

I swallow around the lump in my throat and nod. My hand is shaking.

Obviously, I imagined this moment in my life very differently while growing up. But never once did I think I’d have tears. Maybe that’s because I’d always been imagining it wrong. I was never going to be the one on my knee, asking for someone to be my wife. This right here—this was always how it was supposed to happen.

Sparrow slips the band around my finger and gets to his feet. “For now, we’ll use it as your wedding band too, but I have something in mind for later.”

I’m too overcome to speak, so again I nod.

I laugh because we’re still in Speedos, standing in front of the officiant and the tears in my eyes never clear up. Sparrow’s lucky I don’t turn into a blubbery mess.

The moment the guy marrying us says we’re now husband and husband, I can’t hold back the tears anymore as Sparrow takes me in his arms and kisses me. I wrap my arms around him, hoisting myself up to lock my legs behind his back.

His hands grip my ass, holding me in place. Maybe copping a feel.

“I’m so fucking excited for this,” I whisper, wiping my tears away. “Thank you for loving me.”

Sparrow sighs. “Silly man. I just want to make sure you’re no longer a flight risk.”

I snort laugher and he grins.

“Thank you for not running when I acted like an idiot when you asked me to be your boyfriend. Fear of the unknown held me back and nearly made me fuck this all up.”

“What happened? What made you change your mind?”

“Xavi verbally kicked me in the balls,” he admits, eyes hooding .

I laugh.

“He’s going to for real once he finds out I got married without him here. In fact, I’m pretty sure we’re going to be yelled at for a long fucking time for this.”

“Oh yeah. My dads are going to be pissed.”

“That’s okay,” Sparrow says, kissing me again. “We’ll take their hurt and anger together. For the rest of our lives.”