#romantic af

It’s been another perfect day in paradise and the chef has gone back to the mainland. They’ve cleaned up from dinner and the sun is setting, throwing the most vibrant, gorgeous colors across the sky, and Alex is not about to fucking miss it.

“Come on, baby,” he says, pulling on Henry’s hand as he affectionately rolls his eyes and stands from his lounger. Henry wanted to finish his chapter of the book he was reading, but the sunset waits for no man. “Let’s enjoy it from the water.”

When they get to the beach, Henry pauses in his tracks. He looks down at himself, then at Alex, a sly smile taking over his face. He hooks his hands in the waistband of his swimsuit and shimmies it off, stepping out and taking Alex’s hand again. Alex takes the hint, pushing his shorts down as well and dragging Henry into the ocean.

Alex has skinny dipped a lot of places – Lake LBJ dozens of times, pools and hot tubs at houses and villas they’ve rented, and once, Nora’s grandparents’ pool in Vermont (but that’s a story for another time). But he’s never done it in open ocean and it feels fucking amazing. The salty water is smooth and refreshing against his skin and Henry’s palm is firm and centering in his. They wade out until they’re both in up to their chests and Alex scans the sky, watching the setting sun fling the most incredible colors across it. 

The warm oranges and pinks and purples make Henry’s skin glow when Alex glances over and sees Henry watching him.

“You’re not watching the sunset.”

“Am I not allowed to look where I want?”

“It’s only fucking romantic if we watch the sunset together, baby.”

“It is?” And with that, Henry tugs Alex closer, grabbing his butt as leverage to pull him up, forcing Alex’s legs to wrap around Henry’s waist as his arms come up around his neck. It leaves him a little breathless, the abruptness with which Henry can still surprise him and render him speechless. 

“Baby,” Alex groans, leaning in to kiss the grin off Henry’s face. It’s lazy and languid and deep and fucking everything and Alex wants to drown in Henry’s kiss, right here in this beautiful ocean. After several minutes or maybe hours, Alex pulls back, panting, and sees all the love he feels reflected back in Henry’s eyes. The intensity of his moment makes Alex shudder and he pulls Henry back to him again. “I love you,” he mumbles against Henry’s lips.

Henry tilts his head, mumbles, “I love you more” against Alex’s jaw.

“Lies,” Alex groans as Henry’s hands flex where they’re holding him and their hips start to move instinctively, seeking friction.

They rut together and Alex forgets about the sunset until Henry is licking along his collarbone and his head falls back. His eyes open for a moment and he gasps in wonder at the colors above him. 

“Henry, baby. Look.”

Henry removes his lips to look up, their bodies still moving together in perfect, practiced rhythm. 

“Beautiful,” Henry whispers. Alex’s eyes drop down to find Henry staring at him instead of the view. He has no words left, just noises of pleasure as their mouths slot back together once more. 

When Alex comes, it’s the reverent look on Henry’s face that lives inside his head. When he starts to come down, it’s the rainbow of colors painted across the sky that make this moment singular. When Henry’s eyes open after his own release, it’s the perfect blue that reminds Alex that he’s home, even in the middle of an ocean on the other side of the world. 

After the trip ends, they’ll tell people about this sunset. How vibrant it was, how breathtaking. But the moment they shared during it… that’s just for them.