Books from G.A. Hauser > The Adonis of WeHo

Book: The Adonis of WeHo EXCERPT FROM BOOK Reese sat on the beach, his arms around his knees, watching the tide and surfers. Beside him Elvis was reclining on his back on his surfboard, his arm lying over his eyes, deflecting the sun. Reese was about to suggest they head out for lunch when he noticed in the distance a game of volleyball. Scooting around so he could watch, Reese enjoyed the game and the men who played. Though it was a few yards away, he noticed on young player with long brown hair, hitting the ball with enthusiasm against his opponents. Just before Reese commented on the pretty man to Elvis, he blinked and shook his head to clear his vision. "No way." "No way what?" Reese didn't know what he just saw. He knelt upright and narrowed his eyes, trying to decide if what he had just seen was some weird trick of reflections, or…if he was losing his mind. Elvis leaned up on his elbows. "What?" He looked in the direction Reese was staring. "Reese. What?" Reese touched Elvis' arm. You see the guys way down there playing volleyball?" Elvis sat upright and shielded his eyes. "Yeah. Why?" "I thought—" Reese stopped talking. What he was about to say sounded absurd. "Thought? Celeb spotting?" "Come on. Let's walk closer." Reese brushed off the sand from his skin and picked up his board and wetsuit. ~ "Wow! Smith!" James laughed loudly. "I have never seen a guy move like you!" He was glistening in sweat. "Yeah?" Adonis held the ball, his turn to serve. "Oh my God, dude!" Leon also laughed, wiping the sweat from his face. "It's like you have wings!" Adonis blinked and his smile dropped. He looked over his shoulder. "Wings?" "Yeah!" James said, smiling brightly. "You jump so high and quick. What are you on, springs?" Adonis spun around showing his back to James. "Do you see wings?" "Huh?" James kept smiling but tilted his head curiously. "Do I see wings? You're funny, man." "No. Really. Anything odd back there?" Adonis tried to look down at his ass, but all he saw was big white feathery wings. "Other than an ass tighter than a snare drum…" James drew closer, seduction in his eyes. "Nothing odd at all." Adonis blew out a breath in relief and held the ball up to serve. Right before he did, he noticed two men standing to watch them, both holding long surfboards. Trying not to be distracted, Adonis leapt up and punched the ball over the net. He heard a gasp and stopped in his tracks to see one of the men with the surfboard, gaping at him in what Adonis thought was fear? Awe? What? The ball was nailed by Leon and landed at Adonis' feet. James asked, "You okay?" The look on the man's face was so disorienting, Adonis backed up from the game. "I'm done. Thanks." "Smith?" James picked up the ball and appeared worried. "What happened, dude?" Adonis kept backing up to where Heath and Doug were lounging on the towels. The look in the man's eyes was scaring Adonis. He touched the feathers of his wings and the man's jaw dropped. ~ "What?" Elvis nudged Reese. "Reese! What?" The words were struggling to come out of Reese's mouth. Elvis passed his hand in front of his face to snap him out of it. "Reese!" "You didn't see that?" Reese watched the long-haired man back away, looking straight at him. "See what?" "The guy with wings!" "What?" Elvis spun around and held up his hands in question. "Dude. Are you getting sunstroke?" "The…" Reese watched the man looking at him in paranoia. "You see that guy?" "Which guy?" "He…" Reese caught something in the man's stare. A bolt of electricity that raced over him. He nearly got the wind knocked out of him and held his chest, trying to breathe. ~ Adonis panicked. He looked skyward and thought, You said no one could see them if I didn't allow it! Hera! He grabbed Heath. "Look! Anything on my back? Tell me!" Heath held Adonis still, sensing his anxiety. "Smith, dude. There's nothing here. What is it you think you have on your back that you are so worried about?" Doug stood beside them, running his hand from Adonis' neck to his bottom. "Smooth as silk, dude. Not even a freckle." He spun around to the surfer again, seeing his fright. They locked gazes. The fire Adonis felt from his stare terrified him. What are you? What trickery is this? "I have to go." Adonis grabbed at his belongings, peeking back at the man in terror. This had to be Hera's doing. She was going to expose him. ~ "Reese?" Elvis held him up as Reese's legs gave out. "What is it? Are you passing out? Do you want me to call over a lifeguard?" "You don't see it?" Reese gripped Elvis so hard, Elvis flinched and dropped the surfboard. "See what?" Reese watched the young man leave the beach in a hurry, looking back at him in fear. "What are you?" Reese whispered to himself. "That's it. I'm calling the lifeguards over." "No." Reese stopped him. "I'm okay." He dropped to his knees on the sand and stared until he no longer could see the young man. "Maybe you did get a touch of heatstroke." Elvis brushed his hand over Reese's hair. "You're really hot. Let's go." "Yeah. I must be seeing things." Reese was hauled up to his feet and Elvis brushed the sand from his legs. "Can you pick up your board?" "Yeah." Reese could no longer see the man. He tucked his board under his arm and Elvis did the same, holding both their wetsuits and leading Reese off the beach. When they were back at Elvis' truck, Reese thought more and more about what he had seen, and knew it was impossible. "Hey." "Yeah?" Elvis looked up from putting the boards into the truck bed. "Sorry about that. I think I'm just over tired. And I smoked some weed last night. I never do that." Elvis laughed softly. "You had me nervous, man. I thought you were tripping." "I was." Reese felt slightly better and rubbed his face. "Maybe I just need food. All that caffeine has me jumpy." Elvis hopped out of the truck bed, opened the truck door, and sat behind the wheel, starting the engine and turning on the air conditioner. "Two hours of sleep. No good, man." "No. No good." Reese gave him a smile, but the sensation of butterflies was slow to leave his mid-section.