Armand
After we reachedthe summit of the Lanikai Pillbox Hike, the dark of night was warming up to a gray dawn. I had heard the view of the sunrise was spectacular from there, so I was excited to bring Zio with me. Although he had been quiet so far, having his company made waking up early a less onerous task to see nature at its finest.
I used an oversized hotel towel as a makeshift blanket for us to sit on as we waited for the sun to crest the horizon.
Since the dawn air was crisp, he once again had on his Japanese woodblock-print, pink-and-purple clouds hoodie he wore when we first met. He blinked owlishly as he stared out over the ocean below. “Why is getting up and going to bed at this hour so different?”
I chuckled at his adorable grumbling. “If you wished for me to keep you up all night, you should have said something yesterday.”
His cheeks flushed a becoming shade of pink, even as he grinned at me. “If I had, we probably would have missed the sunrise.”
“Ah, this is quite true.” I crossed my legs under me as I made myself comfortable. “You would have been too exhausted to get out of bed.”
“That sounds like another one of your big promises that you swear are guarantees.”
His reaction amused me. “See? You already know me so well.”
We sat in silence for a few moments before he worked up the courage to speak again. “Can I ask you something?”
I turned to give him my full attention. “Of course.”
He caught me by surprise when he leaned over and kissed me. It was a gentle, lingering kiss of sweetness. His shyness when he drew back only endeared him to me further.
I couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “Did that answer your question?”
He bit his lower lip as he fought not to smile. “Yeah.”
Encouraged by the display, I tempted him in the hopes of getting one more taste of him. “Do you have any follow-up questions?”
“Maybe a few.”
“Ask away to your heart’s content,” I invited him, hoping he took me up on the offer.
To my delight, he gave me a second kiss. He entangled his fingers in my hair as it grew more heated, making me burn for more. A soft moan escaped from him as he teased me with a hint of tongue. I wanted to guide him onto his back and lay claim to him, but it wasn’t time for that yet. Instead, I enjoyed indulging his curiosity as he took the lead.
We were both breathless when he stopped. He stared at me with wide eyes, trembling as he tried to process the experience. When he spoke, there was a sense of awe in his voice. “I never want to stop doing that.”
I reached out to trace his jawline. “You’re welcome to kiss me as much as you like, anytime you wish.”
He ruffled his hair with a cute huff. “Why is that so tempting when I’ve never felt that way about a guy before?”
“That’s because you hadn’t met me yet,” I said with my most charming smile.
“My brain can’t comprehend how it’s possible for me to be attracted to you after only liking women. But when we’re kissing, the rest of me doesn’t care about that. All it desires is more of you.”
“Perhaps that is the side you should listen to, eh?” I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and drew him closer to curl up next to me.
He nuzzled against my neck, breathing in with a moan. “It’s not going to give me much of a choice in the matter. Even if I don’t understand why, everything in me believes I need more of you.”
“Then it’s fortunate I have the same conviction about needing more of you.” I rested my head against his as the first rays of sunlight peeked through. “You can take all of me if that’s what will make you happy.”
He murmured in agreement but said nothing as the sun began its colorful ascent into the sky. Pinks and purples illuminated the clouds like on Zio’s hoodie, providing a stunning contrast to the yellow light and blue ocean. I had seen a lot of sunrises in my lifetime, but never one as magnificent as what was happening in front of my eyes. It was a moment of such magnitude, I didn’t want to ruin it with a camera that could never capture the grandeur. Savoring the experience for my memories was enough for me.
“Wow,” Zio breathed in awe as the colors of the sky grew more vibrant. “This is incredible!”
“Oui.” I didn’t say it, but it was better because he was nestled at my side as the sunrise exploded the world into a technicolor spectacle of light.
We remained in a companionable silence after that as the vermillion brightened into a vivid shade of blue. The colors were extra brilliant when contrasted with the white clouds drifting through the sky. Combined with the ocean, it was a landscape that made one feel grateful to be alive and witness to such splendor.
