The Adonis of Weho (6 page)

Doug hopped in, sitting on Heath’s lap and they headed to the coast.

“Ya got wood, Kalish!” Doug wriggled on his crotch.

“I’ve been sporting one since I met this guy.” He thumbed at Adonis. “Never seen a man that handsome. Sorry, Smith, don’t mean to swell your head.”

“No,” Doug snickered, “he’s swelling his own head.”

Adonis had no idea what they were talking about.

“Park there!” Doug waved frantically. “Park there!”

Adonis pulled into the open space and shut off the loud roaring engine.

Doug opened the passenger’s door and hopped out, tossing his towel over his shoulder.

“Beauti-muss!” Heath opened his arms to the view of sand and surf.

Adonis locked up his car and stood on the paved walkway.

“Nice. Looks like the coast of Greece.”

“Really?” Heath asked.

“No.” Adonis giggled playfully.

As they navigated the soft silky sand to find a spot to relax, Doug said, “I bet starring in movies you get to travel a lot.”

“I have seen every continent. Yes.” Adonis pointed. “How about there?”

“Sah-weet!” Heath dropped his towel and removed his T-shirt and sandals.

“Check out the surfers, dude!” Doug pointed down the beach to a large pack of surfers—some in wetsuits, others not—beyond a flagged barrier.

“It is rough, man.” Heath stood tall, checking it out. Adonis spread out his bamboo mat and sat on it, adjusting his sunglasses as he gazed at the horizon. “Beautiful.”

“I’m goin’ in.” Heath began walking to the water.

“Smith?” Doug asked, reaching out for him.

“In a bit.” He waved for him to go.

The two men trotted to the water enthusiastically. Adonis gazed around him at the hundred or so people sunning, digging sandcastles, throwing discs, and wading in the water.

A mate. How was he to know which man was his match?

There were so many, many men here.

Who was a man-liker, like himself? Which man would make him happy eternally? One he could be proud to bring home to Dad? Forget Mom. She’d send the poor thing off to do twelve labors or torture them.
A man. Yes, Hera, sorry. I am going to
find a man.

You didn’t specify. You just said marry
.

“Marry. Mate? Details, details.”

His wings fluttered in the warmth but he didn’t notice anyone staring too queerly so he figured if he didn’t want them to be seen, then…

Where is my man? My mortal partner
?

Searching the multitude of humanity, Adonis had no idea how to pick him out.

“I will never find him.” Adonis pouted. “Thirteen days?

That’s impossible!”

~

Out on the water, Reese rested on his stomach on his long board as Elvis stood, balanced on his, riding a wave for a few seconds and toppling into the water soon after. The exertion was not waking him up, it was killing him.

Seeing Elvis standing in the shallows, Reese gave one last attempt at surfing the next wave to call it a day. Peering behind him, seeing more men on the boards lazing in the sun than standing on their surfboards, Reese knew this sport was exhausting and for most of them who were novices, the challenge outweighed the thrill on some days.

After waiting out a few sets, Reese spotted a decent-sized wave and got ready, paddling to catch it. He crouched on his board and rode it for what it was worth, jumping off as he drew closer to the shore.

Elvis seemed to get the message and unhooked his ankle strap, holding his board upright as he waited.

Reese picked up his board and carried it out towards him. Standing with Elvis, looking back at the surfers who continued to ride the waves, Reese caught his breath and wiped the salty water from his face. “I’m done.”

“Me too.”

He reached down to unhook the ankle strap and tucked the board under his arm. Taking a few steps into the deep sand, Reese said, “Hang on. I need to sit down for a minute.” He tossed the board onto the ground and turned his back to Elvis.

“Get me out of this thing.”

Elvis dropped his board beside Reese’s and unzipped his wetsuit, helping him peel it off his torso. Reese stepped out of it and folded it in half, laying it across his board, then helped Elvis remove his.

Once they were comfortable in just their bathing suits, Reese fell back onto the sand and inhaled deeply. “I have no idea why I’m so damn tired.”

Elvis relaxed beside him. “Two hours of sleep and three hours surfing.”

“Yeah.” Reese narrowed his eyes at the glare and struggled to find energy.

~

Adonis enjoyed the refreshing water and the clowning of his two friends. They walked back to their towels, Heath pushing Doug playfully as they pointed out handsome men or pretty women.

It seemed these two young men admired both.

Using his towel to wipe his face and hair, Adonis dried off and slowly turned in a complete circle to take in everything around him. It was a carnival of color and sounds—laughter, music, children screaming in joy, the seagulls’ raucous calls competing with the waves, and the endless stream of hotrods and motorcycles cruising along the coast.

A large white ball rolled to his feet. Adonis picked it up and found a handsome young man coming to claim it.

“Hey,” the young man gave Adonis a dazzling grin.

“Hello.” Adonis tossed his towel on his bamboo mat. “I assume this is yours?”

“Yeah.” The young man took the ball. “You…uh, you wanna get in on the game?”

“I love games.” Adonis looked to where the young man gestured. There were three men near a net, staring at him. Adonis turned towards his companions. “Do you mind if I play?”

“No, dude,” Heath replied, “Go for it. We’ll chill.”

Adonis followed the young man to his group and admired their bronze bodies, looking like triathletes at the Olympic Games.

“What’s your name?” the young man asked, tossing the ball to a delightfully handsome dark-skinned man.

“Smith.” Adonis wondered if any of these men would be his husband.

“Smith. Cool. I’m James, and that’s Ken, Mitch, and Lewis. And these two guys are Leon and Brad.”

“Lovely.” Adonis felt his crotch tingle.

“Do you play volleyball?” Leon spun the ball on his finger.

“I play everything.” Adonis wanted to lick his dark skin from his nipple to his lips, loving his braided hair. Both Leon and Lewis had fabulous dark brown complexions.

“Right. We do two to a side.” James stood beside Adonis, as if claiming him. “We rotate around. You know.”

“Good. Yes.” Adonis liked this game already.

Lewis and Leon stood on the opposite side of the net from him and James. Ken and Mitch sat down to watch.

“Ready?” Leon held the ball up.

“Am I!” Adonis wondered how he would choose his husband with so many delicious male mortals to pick from. Leon aimed the ball directly at Adonis and slammed it over the net.

Adonis deflected it upwards, giving James a clear shot at spiking it over the net, which he did.

When the ball hit the sand, James held up his hand in victory.

“You rock, Smith!”

“I rock!” Adonis slapped James’ hand.

~

Reese sat up on the beach, his arms around his knees, watching the tide and surfers. Beside him Elvis was reclining on his on his board, 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 one 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 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.” He climbed into the passenger’s side of the pickup.

Elvis hopped out of the truck bed and sat behind the wheel, starting the engine and turning on the air conditioner. “Two hours of sleep. No good, man.”