Captain Silver Fox, page 17
They'd stopped fighting the current, but would it ultimately drown them both?
"Okay. Thanks, Brody."
Fox ended the call and turned toward Brantley. "We can rejoin in Miami. The cruise line actually preferred that to us flying in to the Bahamas, just so we could be there one day earlier, since it's a much cheaper flight both for us and for my replacement."
"And when you say us, you mean… What exactly?"
"I mean that the cruise line has told me to fly into Miami, and Brody has given you permission to extend your leave by one day as well." Fox didn't like the look on Brantley's face. "Something wrong? I thought you would like to spend another day together."
He couldn't help the edge of hurt in his tone.
"It has nothing to do with that. Of course I relish every moment I can spend with you."
"Then what is it?"
Brantley took his hand, linking their fingers together. "I don't like the idea of you asking for favors on my behalf."
Hmm, he hadn't looked at it that way, but he could see Brantley's point. "I get that, but maybe you could look at it as asking a favor on my behalf? It's not just for your benefit that I asked Brody if you could stay a day longer."
Brantley's face softened, the look of irritation gone. "That, I can live with. So we have one more day here together. What do you want to do other than visiting your dad, obviously?"
Fox lifted their combined hands and kissed Brantley's. "I would love to show you the North Sea."
Brantley threw his head back and laughed, the way he had laughed when Fox had first heard him in that club. "I should have known."
They went by the hospital first, where they convinced the nurses to let them spend a little time with his dad, who was slowly recovering. He was forced to retire now, which was unfortunate, since Fox had wanted his dad to be able to do that on his own terms. But it was what it was, and the time had come for his parents to shift to a slower pace in life.
His dad was excited to meet Brantley, Fox could tell, and he patiently translated back and forth for them as they chatted for a bit. But he could see it wore his dad out, so after ten minutes, he kissed him on his forehead and told him he'd see him later that evening.
The weather was gloomy, as it usually was in autumn, with intermittent showers and a gray sky. Fox didn't care. As long as Brantley was with him, it could rain cats and dogs for all he cared.
He took him to Scheveningen, the beach town that was part of The Hague. As commercial as it was, he'd always loved it. They parked a short walk from the beach in one of the ridiculously expensive parking garages, then strolled toward the beach with their arms around each other. Fox still got a thrill to have the freedom to touch Brantley in public.
"Wow, that's a gorgeous building. What is that?" Brantley asked.
Fox’s eyes followed where he pointed, and he smiled. "It's called the Kurhaus, which is the German word for a spa, and it's an expensive hotel now. It's an old building from the late nineteen hundreds, I think, and quite a few famous people have stayed there. The Rolling Stones once performed there and had to flee the building to escape the crazy fans outside."
Brantley chuckled. "It sounds like that building would have quite a few stories to tell if it could talk. But it's beautiful."
They walked past the courthouse toward the beach, and Fox breathed in deeply as soon as the sea air hit him.
"I can smell the ocean," Brantley said, mimicking Fox's deep inhale.
Their shoes were woefully unsuitable for walking in the sand, but they did it anyway, though they had to switch to holding hands, as the sand was too uneven to walk with their arms around each other. Waves crashed onto the beach with considerable force, guided by a strong wind. Their hair was a mess within seconds, but neither of them cared.
"It always amazes me that the color of the water is different everywhere," Brantley said. "The sea is such a different color here than it is in the Caribbean or the Pacific. It's almost gray here, a little violent."
Fox nodded in agreement. "The Dutch have learned firsthand how violent water can be. A large part of the country is technically below sea level, so we've built an intricate system of preventive measures to keep the water out."
Brantley squeezed his hand. "I love hearing the pride in your voice when you talk about this country."
"The Dutch are masters in water management and engineering," Fox said. "And yes, I am proud of that. We're a resilient people."
"Resilient, that's another word for stubborn as fuck, right?"
Fox yanked Brantley's hand, making him stumble into his arms, then kissed him to shut him up. That should teach him, right?
They let go of each other, laughing, then linked hands again as they walked as close to the shoreline as they could without getting wet feet.
"So," Brantley said a little while later. "Dare I bring up the subject of tomorrow? Or more specifically, what happens after tomorrow? As much as I enjoy the happy little bubble we’re in right now, we both know this can't last."
Fox's sigh got lost in the wind. "I know. It's been in the back of my mind constantly as well, and the truth is that I have no idea what to do."
"I could quit my job," Brantley said, and Fox came to a sudden stop.
He turned to him, lost for words for a second or two. "No! Absolutely not. Baby, you love your job, and you're good at it. I don't want you to sacrifice anything for me."
Brantley stepped close, then cupped Fox's cheek. "You'll never know how much it means to me to hear you say that."
"I mean it. This can't be the end of your career."
"Well, you're not going to quit either. So where does that leave us, because there is no way we can pull it off to keep this a secret for long."
Fox wrapped his arms around Brantley, needing to feel him close. Brantley seem to feel the same way, as he hugged Fox right back, putting his head on Fox's shoulder.
"There has to be a way for us to be together," Fox said softly. "We can't be the first ones to run into this issue."
Brantley leaned back. "I'm sure we’re not, but it's not like you can come right out and admit you've broken the rules, now can you?"
Fox's mind whirled. "Actually, that's not a bad idea."
Brantley pushed out of his arms, frowning. "What do you mean? Fox, they'll fire the both of us if we admit to what happened."
"Would they? If we explain the circumstances and show them this is not a fling but a serious relationship, do you really think they would fire us?"
"Not you, probably, considering your track record," Brantley said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Plus, you know, you're the captain and all that. But they'll fire my ass six ways to Sunday, trust me."
Fox considered it. "I think it's our best shot. Look, if we tried to keep it quiet and they find out, that's grounds for immediate dismissal. But if we come clean, explain what happened? I don't think they'll be so quick to pass judgment, to be honest. Especially not since we're two single men who want to enter a committed relationship, not some extramarital affair or ship thing."
The corners of Brantley's mouth pulled up into a smile, and Fox felt like one of those cartoon characters with little hearts in their eyes. "A committed relationship, huh?"
Fox felt his cheeks heat up. Was he going too fast? Had he misjudged Brantley's signals that he too wanted something long-term and serious? "I'd love that," he said softly, stripping himself bare and vulnerable. "What do you say?"
"God, baby, you need to stop saying these things. My poor heart can't take any more happiness," Brantley muttered before he kissed him so long and deep Fox didn't know which way was up anymore.
"So that's a yes, then?" Fox said when he finally got his mouth back.
"Are you asking me to be your boyfriend or your husband? Because that sounded an awful lot like a proposal…"
And Fox, for whom the word relationship had always been too much of a commitment, pictured himself twenty years from now with Brantley by his side and realized that husband sounded perfect.
"Boyfriend. For now."
And then he kissed Brantley again, because he looked like he would faint of shock if Fox didn't.
EPILOGUE
Six Months Later
“Honey, I’m home!”
Brantley jumped up from the couch where he’d spent the last hour impatiently awaiting his boyfriend’s return and ran into the hallway. Fox barely had time to put down his bag before Brantley launched himself into his arms, too excited to see him again to wait a second longer.
Fox’s arms caught him, then pulled him close, and their mouths met in a frantic, passionate kiss. “I missed you so fucking much,” Fox whispered when they were both out of breath.
Brantley went straight for Fox’s belt. “I missed you more.”
Fox helped him when his fingers were too impatient to make it work. “Impossible.”
“Are you calling me a liar?”
Within seconds, Brantley had undressed, then pulled at Fox’s shirt. He should’ve stripped before Fox came home and waited for him in the bedroom, naked. That would’ve saved them a few minutes.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Fox said with a grin, laughing even more when Brantley pulled him into the bedroom. “I see how it is. Did you miss me or my body?”
Brantley blinked all kinds of innocently. “About half-half?”
Fox pushed him down onto the bed. “Ouch.”
“Ten weeks without you is a long time,” Brantley pointed out.
“It’s just as long as ten weeks without you,” Fox said, still grinning.
“Yeah, but you’re older, so—”
He yelped when Fox found his nipple and twisted it. “That hurt!”
“Good,” Fox said before lowering his mouth to the throbbing bud to soothe it with his tongue. “That’ll teach you to make jokes about my age.”
“I like your age,” Brantley said appeasingly.
“I like your age too.”
“I also like your body.”
“Right back atcha.”
“But you know what I really like?”
“My sparkling personality?”
Brantley grinned. “Nope, but close. Your cock. And I’d like it even more if it was deep inside my ass.”
He turned on his knees, spread his legs wide, and bent low, offering Fox what he hoped was a tantalizing view. “I even prepped in anticipation.”
“Mmm,” Fox said in that low tone that Brantley loved. “I really like this view.”
“Enough to hurry the fuck up?” Brantley asked hopefully, shooting him a look over his shoulders.
“So you’ve been home for exactly one hour, and in that hour, you managed to prep?” Fox asked, dragging his index finger through Brantley’s crack, stopping just short of his hole.
Brantley bit back a growl of frustration. God, he was so damn horny. He hadn’t even had time to jack off that morning, since he had such an early flight out of Galveston back home. “Yup. That kind of dedication should be rewarded, right?”
“What if I can beat you in dedication? That means I’d get to pick top or bottom, right?”
“Beat me? What could you have possibly done that’s better and more eager than this?”
Fox grinned broadly as he rolled onto his side next to Brantley, bringing their mouths close together. “I prepped on the plane.”
Brantley’s eyes widened. “No, you didn’t.”
“I sure did. In the lavatory.”
“Dude, those spaces are—”
“Cramped? Dirty? Fucking impossible to move around in? Yes. And I still did it.”
Was it possible to feel deflated and elated at the same time? Brantley was pretty sure that was what he was feeling. He’d been craving to be fucked. “You win,” he said, not quite managing to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
“Oh baby, you’re a sore loser,” Fox said with a laugh.
“I just really wanted you inside me,” Brantley said, and yes, he was fucking whining. “I missed you so much.”
“I know, baby. Which is why I’ll fuck the shit out of you before you can have a go at my ass. You better make sure you have another round in you, though, because I’m craving cock as well.”
True to his word, Fox transformed Brantley into a whimpering mess with a fuck so hard and deep it made him clench his teeth and fist the sheets to hold on, but it was well worth it when he had an orgasm that nearly wiped him out without ever touching himself. To make up for being first, he took his time making love to Fox, showing him the entire universe before he himself came again.
They showered together, which had become one of their favorite things to do. It was why they’d renovated the bathroom in the beach house in Maine they had bought together and put in a double-wide shower with two showerheads…and a ledge at the perfect height.
The frantic energy was gone now, replaced by a deep contentment that they were together again. “My parents are looking forward to seeing us again in three weeks,” Fox said as they were toweling off. His dad had recovered slowly from his heart attack, and he’d never be the same, but he’d made it, and that was all that mattered.
“I can’t wait to go back there,” Brantley said.
They’d flown to the Netherlands on their last leave as well and had spent three wonderful weeks there. The weather had been miserable, but neither of them had minded very much since it was a welcome relief from the Caribbean heat. It was why they’d settled on a house in Maine rather than somewhere warm so they could at least experience some sense of winter and seasons.
“The tulips will be in full bloom, which is the most amazing explosion of colors you’ll ever see,” Fox said.
“Anything with you will be amazing,” Brantley said as he got dressed, feeling all sappy after that wonderful round of sex. Two, if one needed to be precise.
“Aw, baby, you say the sweetest things.”
It was just like last time, when they’d basically spent the first three days in bed before even venturing outside. This time, Brantley had been prepared by picking up a grocery order on his way home so they’d at least have something to eat. In fact, he was in the mood for that juicy steak he’d bought, which would be easy to prepare on the grill.
“How was life on the Persephone?” Fox asked, sitting down on the kitchen counter while Brantley made preparations for dinner. His man had many talents, Brantley had discovered, but cooking was not one of them.
Brantley shrugged. “It’s not as well managed as the Athena, but I still love it. We’re doing mostly longer trips, which I love, and we may actually be doing some trips from New York as well, which would be a first for me.”
Fox sighed. “I wish you were still on the Athena with me.”
Brantley smiled as he cut some bell peppers to grill. “No, you don’t. We’d distract each other way too much.”
“True.”
Fox had done as he had proposed and had contacted their cruise line, coming clean about their relationship. They hadn’t been happy, but it hadn’t been the shit storm Brantley had expected. A big reason had been that they’d met before the cruise—though Brantley wondered how truthful Fox had been about how long they’d known each other beforehand—and that they’d been open about it.
After some back and forth in which Brantley had let Fox do the negotiating for them both, they had agreed to transfer Brantley to his original ship, the Persephone, and have him work on the same schedule as Fox. Usually, crew members worked on a thirteen-weeks-on, four-weeks-off schedule, but the cruise line had granted Brantley a ten-weeks-on, ten-weeks-off schedule that ran parallel to Fox’s. It did result in a pay cut for him, since he’d be working fewer hours in total, and it could mean a slower rise to the next level, but he was fine with that.
They now spent ten weeks apart before reuniting again for ten weeks. The ten weeks apart were hard, though not as hard as Brantley had expected. The fact that Fox insisted on paying for continuous Wi-Fi for him on board so they could FaceTime made a big difference, as did the fact that he was often simply too busy to spend much time lamenting how much he missed his boyfriend. And the reunion made it all worth it, as did spending ten glorious weeks together.
They had an early dinner out on the deck, even though it was chilly in the spring afternoon. They wrapped blankets around themselves and cuddled on the swing, keeping each other warm. The ocean crashed below them on the rocks, a constant soothing presence. She was dark blue here and fierce, almost violent in the winter, but Brantley loved it.
“I can’t wait till summer,” he said. “I wonder how cold the water is here.”
“Cold,” Fox assured him. “You’ll freeze your balls off, but it’ll be refreshing for sure. And be careful, because there’s a powerful current here.”
Brantley dropped his head on Fox’s shoulder. “That’s okay, as long as it keeps pulling me back to you.”
PS Do you want to read a bonus scene with a sexy game Fox decides to play with Brantley? Grab it here!
Loved the age gap between Fox and Brantley? Read Coming Out on Top, a hot age gap romance about a lonely man, trapped in a town that hates him, and the stranger he gets snowed in with.
And if you’re curious about the Daddy and Boy Brantley encountered, read their story in Gentle Hand.
SIGNED PAPERBACKS AND SWAG
Did you know I have a web store where you can order signed paperbacks of all my books, as well as swag? Head on over to my web shop and check it out!
BOOKS BY NORA PHOENIX
If you loved this book, I have great news for you because I have a LOT of books for you to discover! Most of my books are available in audio as well.
Forestville Silver Foxes
Forestville Silver Foxes is a brand-new contemporary MM romance series set in the small town of Forestville, Washington, featuring characters in their late forties. These silver foxes think they missed their chance at happiness…until they meet the love of their life, right there in Forestville. A feel good small-town romance series!
