Daniel was used to being around big men, used to feeling kind of small despite his height of five eleven, thanks to the mountains strolling around Ward Security. He was built thin. Hours of working out would never change that. Taut and whipcord lean was what his ex-boyfriend called him. And Derek was the last person Daniel wanted to think about. Derek and his wandering dick.
Dark eyes turned his way, and the smile that stretched those full lips did something to Daniel’s chest. He smiled back as he settled on his stomach and closed his eyes. Wouldn’t do to stare at the hot man like some creeper. Though he couldn’t help but crack his eyes one more time. Those eyes—brown—were still on him, and they held interest as they ran down his form and locked on his ass. His ass was the one thing not lean about him. “A perfect, round bubble butt,” Derek had said.
It took all his effort to hold back a grin when the man looked at him and shrugged sheepishly. He held out a hand. “Might as well introduce myself now that I’ve come across as a complete tool. I’m Edward. Edward Raines.”
“Daniel Hendricks.” He took the man’s hand and suppressed a shiver when he imagined that rough skin stroking over his body. This guy looked like he wouldn’t mind holding Daniel down and going to town on his ass—something Daniel loved.
“On vacation?” The corner of Edward’s mouth turned up. He ran a hand through his black hair. “That’s probably a silly question. Of course you are. Like me.”
“Yes, I just got in last night from Cincinnati. You?”
“All over, really. I’m in telecommunications. Based out of DC, but I’m usually on the road. I took a couple of weeks to decompress. Already been here a few days, but this is the first I’ve seen you around. I would have noticed.” His tone dropped an octave with his last words.
Flattered, Daniel turned onto his back and sat up. “Flight came in late and I just crashed, happy to have a soft bed. I’m here for the week.”
“So, what is it you normally do, Daniel?” Edward took a drink of the beer in his hand.
“Nothing as exciting as telecommunications. I’m an accountant.” He waved down the beach server as he was returning to the bar and ordered another frozen margarita. When the server left, he looked at Edward, once again taking in the incredible body laid out before him. Damn. He picked up his sunglasses and slipped them on before he came off like a complete tool, too. Not that the guy had really come off that way. He was still flattered at the appreciation he’d seen in that dark gaze. “Where do you most often work?”
“I spend a lot of time in the US, but I also travel a lot. Just got back from China.”
“I’ve always wanted to travel, but this is as far as I’ve gone. Here and Mexico. Have you been to Bermuda before?”
Edward nodded. “This is a great vacation spot, and I prefer it over the places that get too hot, if you know what I mean.”
“I wouldn’t know. Mexico was about like this for me.”
“I made the mistake of being in Death Valley in the summer once. Never again.”
“I can imagine.” Daniel resisted the urge to squirm under that hot gaze. There was an umbrella over Edward’s lounge chair, and he hadn’t put on the sunglasses sitting on the small table between them. Every now and then, that gaze roamed over his chest.
Maybe he’d been a little hasty in brushing aside Dom’s comment about finding a guy to go with his drink. He kind of wished he could secretly snap a pic of Edward and send that back to Quinn. That would drive the hacker crazy. Not that anything was likely to happen between him and Edward. But maybe…this vacation would be a little more fun than he’d expected.
Anticipation zapped along his nerve endings. Though it was completely out of character for him, a vacation fling sounded like the perfect thing. Edward seemed interested, judging by the way he looked at Daniel.
When his margarita arrived, Daniel picked it up and cradled the cold beverage in his warm hands. He sipped it, noting that Edward still watched him. That frank gaze was a bit unnerving, though welcome. He took a chance.
“Are you here with anyone?”
“I’m not. You?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Nothing ventured and all that.” Edward sat up straighter, still holding his beer. “Would you be interested in having dinner with me tonight? There’s a fantastic bistro over on Water Street that serves excellent seafood.”
“I would love to have dinner with you.”
“Good. It’s a date.” Edward leaned closer. “I have a feeling this vacation just took a turn for the better.”Edward walked Daniel to his room after their dinner, unsurprised when the man invited him in. The shy smile on Daniel’s face had his heart racing and his hands itching to touch. The whole time through dinner, he’d watched him, alert for anything out of the ordinary and so far, this had been like any date he’d ever been on—not that he’d had all that many. His job kept him too busy.