Before The Storm

Rain pounded against the windows of the cruise ship with a ferocity Evan hadn't seen or felt since he started working on the ship almost two years earlier.

Passengers scrambled along the corridors, searching for their rooms... or a safe place to ride out the lockdown before the storm hit full force. Tensions grew as the PA system blared warnings, piercing loudly across all decks. 

Outside, the horizon blurred, the ocean rolling up and down like a carnival ride gone haywire. Thunder cracked, lightning flashed, setting the stage for a night none of them would soon forget.

Inside, Evan felt the fierce swells rock the ship beneath his feet, as he worked diligently to secure the last of the merchandise in the gift shop. The ship's intercom echoed with the captain's steady voice, assuring everyone that the crew was doing everything possible to keep them safe, before the truly storm hit.

A sudden pounding on the glass door interrupted his duties. Lifting his eyes, Evan met those of a terrified stranger, who must have thought seeking refuge in the small, cramped gift shop, was his only option.

Evan crept over to the heavy glass door, sliding it open enough for the handsome, yet drenched, man to slip through. He'd obviously been somewhere outside before the storm got really bad, seeking shelter once the captain deemed it too unsafe for passengers to be on the outside decks.

"Come on in," Evan motioned him in, relocking the door. "It's warm and dry in here."

The man looked around, a hint of panic in his eyes. "Tt..thanks," he stuttered, shivering as he peeled off his wet jacket, revealing a tight green t-shirt that clung to his muscular frame. Rainwater dripped from his hair and clothes, leaving a large puddle on the floor.

Evan offered a comforting smile, trying to ease the stranger's nerves. "It's okay. Don't worry too much about the storm... they happen sometimes. We'll get through it okay." He grabbed a towel off one of the shelves, taking it out of its plastic wrapping and handed it to the man. "Here, use this to dry off."

The man took it with shaking hands, drying off his face and hair. He then wrapped it around his wet body, trying to warm up. His eyes searched the room before landing on Evan again, as if looking for an anchor in the chaos. "You work in here?" he asked, seeing the other man had a shirt with the name of the cruise line on it.

Evan nodded as he leaned against the back counter. "I'm Evan."

"Jeremy," the guy said flicking his dark hair out of his eyes. He looked around the shop again, his gaze lingering on the bottles of alcohol behind the counter. "How long do these lockdowns usually last?"

Evan shrugged, "Could be a few hours, could be until the storm passes by us completely." He noticed Jeremy's eyes lingering on the alcohol and had a sudden idea. "You know what? I think we could use a little something to pass the time. What's your pleasure?"

Jeremy smiled gratefully. "I think tequila would probably be best right now," he said, shaking from the cold.

Evan nodded, grabbing two small souvenir shot glasses and a bottle of tequila from the shelf. He poured them each a full shot, sliding one across the counter. "Cheers to unexpected company," he said, raising his glass.

Jeremy clinked his glass against Evan's, a sparkle of humor in his eyes. "And to not getting seasick," he added, tossing back the liquid with surprising ease. "Too back we didn't have limes," he joked, making a face.

Evan grabbed the bottle and walked around the counter. He slid to the floor next to where Jeremy was standing, back against the counter, his long legs nearly touching the glass doors. The wind outside screeched like a banshee, adding a dramatic soundtrack to their little room of refuge. "So, Jeremy, what brings you on this wild ride?" He sipped his tequila, savoring the heat as it slid down his throat.

Jeremy sighed, finding his own place to sit on the floor. He swallowed the rest of his shot, poured another, then sighed again. "My friends booked this cruise for me. Said it'd be a perfect 'getaway'." He used his fingers to air quote the word getaway. "A singles cruise, they said... something to cut loose and forget about... things, they said."

Evan's heart skipped a beat at how animated the dark-haired beauty had become. "Well, Jeremy... it looks like you're on a cruise to remember now." He laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood. "A raging storm, a lockdown, and a bottle of tequila with a complete stranger in a gift shop. I don't think it gets more 'cut loose' than this."

Jeremy couldn't help but agree. He peered at Evan from under his lashes. "Do you do this a lot?"

Evan blinked. "What? Hide out in this shop during a storm?"

Jeremy shook his head. "No... I meant, drink tequila with random guys on the floor of the shop." He took another sip, his eyes not leaving Evan's.

Evan blushed, not knowing what to say. Did he admit to just how new he was to all of this; how he'd never felt even a spark of genuine interest in a random stranger like this before? He swallowed, took another shot and shook his head. "Honestly? Nope. Never done anything like this before," he said waving his hand between them. "Ever... really." He looked down, wondering if he should've said that out loud.

Jeremy glanced over at Evan, taking in his youthful appearance. The guy couldn't have been more than twenty-five, with a body that was seriously amazing. He was utterly adorably, with piercing blue eyes and wavy blonde hair that made you think of a surfer. Was it that he just realized he was gay, or... was he just playing hard to get? "Well," Jeremy cocked his head to the side, "you're doing it with me. Why am I different? Is it the storm?"

Evan blushed shaking his head. "No, nothing like that." He closed his eyes briefly. "It's... I've never been comfortable about my body, or my looks. I never thought I was the type to attract anyone." He took a deep breath, the alcohol loosening his tongue. "But when I started working on a gay cruise... I started noticing the looks I got from both my co-workers and... well, the guests as well." He stopped and swallowed down more of the golden liquid.

Jeremy wondered if Evan had enjoyed having his choice of so many gay men. "Have you ever acted on any of those... looks?" He asked, curiosity piqued.

Again, Evan blushed a deep red, his eyes darting to the floor as he took another shot. "A few times, but nothing more than... some mutual groping, I guess," he mumbled, feeling incredibly young and inexperienced. He took a deep breath. "I just haven't met anyone that made me want to... explore that deeper. I'm not really good at... hook-ups, I guess," he admitted, his voice quiet.

Jeremy studied Evan, his eyes lingering on the younger man's flushed cheeks. The storm outside seemed to mirror the growing tension building between them. "Evan," he said, his voice thick with desire. "You're fucking beautiful, and I'm not just saying that to hook-up with you. It's just the truth."

Evan ducked his head. "Thanks... I think," Evan said, not sure whether to be embarrassed or not. They clinked glasses again and drank to the awkward toast.

The wind outside grew stronger, sending sprays of ocean water against the windows. Inside the shop, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation, the air charged with their building desire. They talked about odd and random things, until the topic of the cruise ship came up, the storm outside forgotten, in the intimacy that growing between them.

Jeremy smiled when Evan finally laid his head on his shoulder, lost in the story of his first week working on the ship. He explained how different it'd been, coming from a 'straight' cruise line, to this one, where his co-workers didn't just accept his sexuality, they embraced it. It was like he'd found a family. "I realized then, that maybe this was a much better fit for me," Evan told him, his voice trailing off.

"Freeing, wasn't it? Being accepted," Jeremy murmured, his voice low and warm. He reached over, taking Evan's hand in his own, giving it a gentle squeeze. The connection was sudden, but it felt right.

"Oh my god, yes!" Evan became animated, his eyes shining with the excitement. He hooked his leg over one of Jeremy's, breathing in the older man's scent, the salty ocean and faint cologne, still clinging to his mostly dry t-shirt. "I didn't realize how... stuffy and closed off everyone was on the other ship, how many rules there were. Here, it's like everyone's on vacation... even the crew."

"Are there any 'no-fraternization' rules for the crew?" Jeremy asked, his voice a gentle rumble in the small space. His thumb traced circles on the back of Evan's hand, sending shivers down the younger man's spine.

Evan turned and laughed into Jeremy's shoulder. "I hope not. I walked in on the Captain and Chef having sex in the walk-in cooler once," he whispered conspiratorially, his cheeks flushing darker. "I couldn't eat the food for an entire week... just in case."

Jeremy howled with laughter. "I can't even... " Jeremy struggled to regain his breath, amused by Evan's innocent revelation. He took a deep breath. "I'm guessing you never looked at either of them in quite the same way again, after that," he chuckled, his hand wrapping back around Evan's.

Evan just shook his head, laughter dancing in his blue eyes as he stared into Jeremy's handsome face. He leaned in closer, his hand still in Jeremy's, feeling the warmth of his palm, the roughness of his fingers. "Well, I was never afraid of Chef in quite the same way, that's for sure."

Evan held Jeremy's gaze as he switched topics. "So... you're on this ship, because your friends booked you on a singles cruise?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Or... is there a story there?"

Jeremy sighed, but didn't look away from the hypnotic blue eyes that held his gaze. He felt a storm raging in his chest, echoing the one outside. "There's a story," he whispered, hurt flickering behind his eyes. He took a deep breath, leaning back a little, shrugging. "I thought I had it all figured out. Nick and I had been together for almost five years. We talked about marriage, kids... the whole nine yards." He broke the connection for a minute and decided to swallow down another shot of tequila, the pain rearing up again... Nick's betrayal flaring to life, like a fresh wound cutting deep.

"But, then one day he suddenly decided he wasn't in love with me anymore. He claimed it wasn't anything I did... he just didn't love me like that anymore. There had been changes, sure, but I never saw it coming... he completely blinded-sided me." Jeremy took another deep breath, his thumb still tracing circles on Evan's hand. "It was like he had been living in a whole different life... and just forgot to tell me."

"That's rough," Evan murmured, offering silent comfort. He was suddenly glad he'd never been in a relationship if such pain was a part of it. Yet, watching Jeremy's face, he couldn't help but feel a pang of something... a hint of yearning, perhaps.

"I didn't understand," Jeremy said, his voice tight with emotion. "One minute we were planning our future, the next... I was watching him pack his things." He took another shot, the alcohol burning away the bitter taste of his words. "After he left, I spent six months moping, crying into his pillow, barely eating... only able to go to work and sleep. I hardly saw my friends, until they got so fed up with me, they decided to book me on this cruise." Jeremy sighed, rubbing his face, the betrayal still fresh.

"I think they really believed I would use this cruise as a way to 'fuck him out of my system'... or something," Jeremy said, his voice laced with bitterness. "Problem is... I'm not really a 'fuck 'em and leave 'em' kind of guy," he admitted quietly, linking their fingers together. "You'd think at least one of them would know that about me." 

Evan nodded, his eyes never leaving Jeremy's face. He could see the pain in the man's eyes, the way he held his shoulders slightly hunched, as if bracing for another disappointment. He brought Jeremy's hand up and kissed his knuckles. "I'm not... that type of guy either."

Jeremy leaned his forehead against the younger man's, the warmth of the tequila making him bold. His skin felt on fire... his soul aching for the passion he thought had been lost. "So, what do we do then?"

Evan's heart hammered in his chest. He didn't know what he was supposed to do, but knew he wanted to kiss the older man. And it was clear from the way Jeremy's eyes searched his... that he felt the same way. "Right now?" Evan whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "Right now, I think we should just... enjoy the moment."

Jeremy nodded, his eyes dropping to Evan's lips. The desire in his gaze was unmistakable, and it sent a bolt of electricity through Evan's body. They leaned closer, the space between them shrinking until their lips were a breath apart. The only sound was the pounding of their hearts and the distant thunder. "I can do that," Jeremy murmured, trembling with want.

And then, the moment was upon them. Jeremy closed the distance, pressing his lips to Evan's in a kiss that was tentative at first, but grew more insistent with each passing second. The taste of tequila mingled between them... the sweetness of Evan's lips driving Jeremy crazy and found himself falling into the sensation.

This was something Evan hadn't ever experienced before. This was passion, raw and undeniable. He moaned into the kiss, kicking the shot glass over as he climbed onto Jeremy's lap, his arms wrapping around the other man's neck.

Jeremy broke the kiss. "Fuck," was all he got out before diving back in, licking and nipping at Evan's lips, tasting the sweetness of the tequila and Evan's own unique flavour. The storm outside had nothing on the tempestuous passion building between the two men.

Their kiss grew deeper, more urgent, as if trying to drown out the chaos of the world around them. Evan felt his body responding, his heart racing in his chest. Jeremy's strong arms wrapped around him, holding him tight as if he might float away if he didn't.

Through the haze of passion, Jeremy realized that this wasn't the right place, nor the right time, for their first real encounter. He didn't know why, but Evan felt... different... special, and he didn't want to rush him. He gently broke the kiss, panting slightly, pressing his forehead to Evan's "We should... we should stop," he murmured, though his body screamed to continue.

Evan peered up at him, confusion clouding his features. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice thick with desire.

Jeremy took a deep breath, his grip on Evan's waist tightening. "Nothing's wrong," he assured, his voice gruff with passion. "It's just... " he looked around the small, cluttered space, the reality of their surroundings setting in. "I want more for us than... this." He brushed a thumb over Evan's swollen bottom lip, his eyes searching the younger man's face. "You're worth more than a quick hookup on the floor of a gift shop."

Evan blinked up at him, his eyes tearing up slightly. "But what if... what if this is all we get?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"No way, Evan," Jeremy said with a soft smile, stroking Evan's cheek. "You're worth a proper date... some place special... and maybe not in a place where anyone can walk by and see what's happening between us." He took Evan's hand and helped him stand. "I don't want voyeurism involved during our first date."

Evan blushed, his heart swelling with a hopeful warmth. "Okay," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "A date sounds nice."

Jeremy grinned; his eyes alight with promise. "It's a date then," he said, raising Evan's hand to his lips and kissing his knuckles again. "As soon as we get through this storm, and you're off duty... I'll make it happen."

Evan's cheeks burned, his heart racing at the thought of seeing Jeremy again. "I'd like that," he murmured, the words barely audible.

They stood close together, and leaned in, their lips barely touching, when a voice suddenly boomed through the intercom, causing them to jump apart.

"Attention please, this is your captain. The lockdown has been lifted. The worst of the storm has passed over, and it is now safe to move around the ship. Thank you for your patience during this time."

Evan and Jeremy stared at one another for a few seconds before bursting out laughing, the sudden release of tension leaving them gasping for breath. It was the kind of laughter that came from unbridled and genuine elation.

Evan leaned into Jeremy, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Well... I guess that's our cue. Reality looms," he murmured against Jeremy's lips.

Jeremy's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Fuck reality," he whispered and closed the distance between them once more, capturing Evan's mouth in a fiery kiss that made his toes curl. It was a kiss filled with promise and passion, a kiss that said... 'you're mine'.