Torn Between Tides

Chapter Six

Roman could recall the exact moment he saw Colt for the first time. It wasn't two days ago at the swimming tournament, but rather a few months ago at the university's parking lot.

Colt was dropping off Trevor at college, as it seemed, and even though Roman was quite far away, his eyes somehow landed on said man. And goddamn, Roman had never wanted anyone more than he wanted that hunk.

Roman himself was over six feet, and Colt seemed to be taller than him. The tight black shirt that he wore fitted him so well, his muscles bulging out. It was even better when Roman saw him shirtless at the beach, all he wanted to do was pull him aside and have his way with him.

Roman wasn't a virgin, he was nowhere near close to it. But the attraction he felt towards Colt that day was so intense, so raw that he didn't know how to justify it. He was hooking up with one of his friends, Jeremy, before that, but after seeing Colt he broke it off. He didn't know why, he couldn't explain it at all, he simply lost interest in his fuck buddy. He hadn't been with anyone since. All he could think about was that mystery man.

Roman asked Trevor, and Trevor was quick to dismiss the question and simply told him that he was a friend. Roman tried to push the topic a little, but Trevor tensed up, said that his friend was a really busy man, and quickly made some excuse to leave. Roman didn't bring it up again, he didn't want to seem desperate or weird, but he still couldn't get him out of his head.

That was why when Roman saw Colt again at the tournament, he couldn't resist walking over to him and inviting him to the party. Roman wasn't stupid, nor was he blind. He could tell from the way that Colt was looking at him that the other man was into him too. Or at least that's what Roman hoped for.

However, when he tried talking to Colt at the party, he was rather dismissive. That made Roman feel... unsettled. Not because he couldn't take rejection, but because he had never wanted to be around someone as much as he did with Colt. He was hurt when Colt didn't seem to share the same sentiment, something that Roman would probably never admit.

At the beach, again, Roman felt Colt's eyes on him all the damn time. He was getting just about sick by the mixed signals, hence why he pulled Colt away and asked him straight up what he wanted. Roman didn't like beating around the bush, clearly.

The men remained at the beach until sunset, and then one of them came up with the idea to hit up a nearby pub, and suddenly all ten of them were looking for someplace to go get sloshed. Typical.

Much to Roman's delight, Colt joined them. Even though he said he wouldn't be drinking as he was driving.

Sexy and responsible.

It didn't take long for half of them to end up on the dance floor, and some of them were in different corners chatting up potential one-night stands. Roman found the perfect opportunity to be alone with Colt, who was sitting at the bar nursing a diet cola.

"This isn't very good for your body," Roman said, pointing at Colt's glass.

"And drinking alcohol straight for two nights is?" Colt retorted, making Roman chuckle. He was already on his fourth beer, which wasn't counting the ones he had at the beach.

"At least I'm having fun," Roman replied, pulling his stool closer to the other man as he sat down next to him. "Can you say the same?"

"Why would I be here if I wasn't having fun?" Colt muttered.

Roman wondered whether that was sarcastic or not. From the looks of it, Colt didn't know the first thing about having a good time. Not to sound too thirsty, but Roman would volunteer any minute to be the one to show him.