“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Taking her side?”
“Taking her side?Seriously? I’m not taking her side. I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m simply stating a fact. You told me an online magazine reporter spoke to Jenny and wanted copies of your photo, that they were going to do an article about the calendar.”
“Afterspeaking to me.”
“Ah. I see,” said Jaymes, holding both palms up, his face registering comprehension. “Okay, in which case I apologise. You didn’t tell me that part. Now I understand why you’re pissed.”
“I—” began Nathan, but then realised he’d only assumed the reporter would want to speak to him. “Actually, no. You’re right. We didn’t arrange to speak. I just assumed… Hell, I don’t know what I assumed.”
Jaymes let out a deep sigh and studied Nathan.
“Doesn’t it bother you that people are going to see your—me—naked?” asked Nathan.
“Honestly? It makes me proud as long as I’m the only one whose bed you’re sharing. Look, are you having second thoughts? Because if you are, then that’s what you need to talk to Arlene about before—”
“I’m not having second thoughts,” said Nathan, pushing a hand through his hair. “I just—I was thrown. What am I supposed to say when some random person walks up, asks me if I’m thenaked baker, then says something inappropriate like me having hot buns?”
At least Jaymes had the decency to put a hand over his mouth to mask his laughter.
“Apart from warning them to keep their hands to themselves, I’d tell them they have bloody good taste.”
“Jaymes,” said Nathan, not seeing the humour in the remark.
But Jaymes strode forward and pulled Nathan into a hug. At first Nathan resisted, but after a few moments, he relaxed into Jaymes’ body warmth. Perhaps Jaymes had a point, he thought. Soon the whole world would be able to buy the calendar online, and he would have to learn to live with the consequences.
“You should be more concerned about the voice rant I just got from Polly. Apparently she was tidying up this morning and found a pair of my underpants and a used condom wrapper under your bed. I think we might owe her an explanation.”
* * * *
On their last morning, they sat naked on top of the bed, facing each other and sipping mugs of tea that Nathan had brought back to bed. After a few minutes of enjoying the drink and grinning at each other—they seemed to be doing that a lot lately—Jaymes reached over, plucked Nathan’s mug from him then took Nathan’s hands in his own.
“It’s time we talked. As you know, my stint in Malaysia will last around six months. I can’t do anything about that now. But I wrap things up there at the end of November. Then I’ll be home, Nate, and back to you. New Zealand isn’t until the end of January. Another six-month contract. If I am going to be totally honest, I wish I could get out of that, but I don’t want to muddy the waters. They’ve been being really good to me, and the pay is excellent.”
“Don’t change a thing. I don’t know how many times I need to say it, baby, but I’m really pleased you’re doing what makes you happy.”
“The thing is, Nate—and I’m sorry it’s taken so long for me to say this to you—I feel as though I can be myself around you. I’ve never had that before. Not with anybody. People always want me to be somebody I’m not, to be more serious or tone down my personality—”
“I love your personality.”
“My point exactly. And as I’m going for honesty, you should know that I used to get bored with the few partners I had. Pretty quickly. That might have something to do with them mistaking me for somebody I’m not. But with you, Nate, every time I see you, my heart feels lighter, like someone’s switched the sun on.”
Nathan smiled down at his hands.
“Same for me, Jaymes,” said Nathan, making up his mind. “But I need to ask if you’ll do something for me. And you can say no, I won’t be offended.”
“Does this involve fruit-flavoured lubricant?” asked Jaymes, smirking playfully.
Nathan laughed and shook his head. After leaning over and pecking Jaymes on the lips, he reached down to get his trousers from the floor, rifling through each pocket until he found what he wanted.
“Doris gave me these.” Nathan held two rings in his palm. “They’re called Claddagh rings.”
“I know what they are,” said Jaymes, staring reverently at Nathan’s outstretched palm. “And they look pretty darned expensive.”
“Would you wear one of these for me? If I wear the other?”
