The Blue Eyed Visitor

The Way You Look At Me

Welcome to the first chapter of this new book! I've been having a lot of fun with this story in the last few days I've been working on it, but I'm not alone, because I have the amazing Enterthetadpole here writing this story alongside me. It's been amazing getting to work with her and I really love what we've came up with so far, and I really hope you do to.

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The sun was just beginning to set when the slightest of breezes picked up and blew gentle gusts of cold air throughout a small camping sight in the LA National Forest, ruffling leaves and creating a quiet whistle as it blew across tents and other outdoor equipment, but it didn't bother a young couple sitting before a campfire in the slightest. The smaller man was settled in his older partner's lap, his strong arms wrapping around his waist to keep him warm and close, a thin blanket laid across their shoulders, and in the younger man's hands he held a polished roasting stick with a very badly burnt marshmallow on the end.

“I think it's done baby.” The deep chuckle was enough to cause the smaller of the two to turn his head and flash his boyfriend a smile, smiling wider when he leaned in to steal a quick kiss. They pulled away with grins and a soft giggle, green eyes turning back to the sugary treat, which was both charcoal black and on fire.

“I know, I just thinks it's funny watching them catch on fire.” Ethan finished with another one of his heart melting giggles, and while it caused Tyler’s stomach to fill with butterflies at the sound he couldn't help but roll his eyes and snort, pressing a soft kiss to the twenty-three-year-old’s neck, sending a shiver through his body.

"If starting a forest fire is what you wanted, then you're on the right track." Tyler whispered into the other man's ear. Ethan giggled again as he removed the gooey clump of sweet from the stick, and shoved the entire thing into his mouth. Tyler wrinkled his nose as his boyfriend head floated in closer for another kiss.

"I'm not a napkin, Eth," he chuckled, his larger thumb pushing away bits of cooked marshmallow from the corners of the thin lips.

Despite the mess, Tyler loved the fact that Ethan had suggested this trip away from the city. Inside their little apartment together gave them too much time to see what was wrong with their relationship, and not enough about what was right. No dishes were here for them to forget to wash, and no shower for them to take too long in. Just the two of them surrounded by trees and each other's arms. Like it used to be.

"We should take another walk on that wilderness trail before it gets too late," Ethan said, beginning to wiggle out of the taller's man's grip.

Tyler couldn't help but chuckle at his enthusiasm, removing his arms from around Ethan's waist so he could push himself up off his lap and stand, reaching above his head to stretch his sore muscles. There was enough light from the campfire for the older man to not-so-subtly check his younger boyfriend out; he decided to tease him just a little bit by placing his hands on the small curves of his hips, pressing his lips against the section of skin on his back that had been revealed by his stretching. Ethan gasped, biting his bottom lip when he felt Tyler's light stubble rub across his spine, he hadn't saved in a few days and the smaller man absolutely loved it, but right now he really wanted to go on a walk.

“Tyler not . . not now, okay? I really want to go on that walk.” At the request Tyler moved his hands to a more respectable place on his lovers waist, standing up behind him so he could press a quick kiss to his cheek, before he stepped over the log he had been sitting on and moved towards the tent.

“Okay angel. Just let me get the barespray and the gun, the bigger animals are gonna be moving around at night and I want to make sure you're safe.” He knew Ethan wasn't terribly comfortable with the weapon, even though he'd come from a hunting family, but he had seen his fair share of black bears and really didn't want to see how mean Californian bears and wolves could get.

The look of annoyance on the smaller man's face made Tyler wince, but only slightly. Ethan hated that gun, but Tyler did have a valid point about the animals in the area. The last thing that either one of them needed was to get hurt, so he gave a tight nod of his head and moved quickly to the tent to grab a couple of bottles of water for them to drink.

The trail was already getting a little harder to see with the dwindling light, so Tyler grabbed a flashlight as well. Ethan's smaller legs were already zipping along with Tyler striding just a foot or so behind him making sure to keep the light trained just up the path. Ethan began to whistle a tune as they walked, his interlaced fingers tightening against the palm of Tyler's hand to help him keep up the pace.

The blue eyes of the taller man looked in all directions for anything that moved in the shadows, and his ears opened for strange noises. Ethan glanced back, his whistle faltering at the concentrated frown on his boyfriend's lips.

"You act like we're in a slasher movie, Ty. Just relax and enjoy the walk, please?”

The shadow of a frown on his lips was enough to make Tyler sigh, taking a few larger steps to catch up to Ethan, standing by his side as they continued to walk.

“I'm sorry darling, I'm just a bit paranoid.” The younger man knew that very well, it was something that he both loved and hated about Tyler, seeing as it made him very protective of Ethan, and while that did make him feel loved, sometimes it was just annoying. He stopped abruptly, causing the larger male to knock shoulders with him and slightly tug on his hand, but he stopped a second after and turned to look at Ethan, a confused look on his face.

He offered nothing but a smile, stepped forward so they were flush against each other, his head tilting up as he stood on his toes.  Tyler smiled when he saw that, leaning down enough for their lips to lightly touch, his large thumb rubbing over his knuckles as they kissed. When they finally pulled away Ethan could immediately see the tension had left Tyler's once stiff muscles, and when he knew the man had finally relaxed he grinned and started pulling him across the path.

“Come on Ty, I wanna see what the lake looks like in the moonlight!”

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The area surrounding the lake was slick and wet, and the gentle squeak of both of the men’s sneakered feet echoed in the darkness. Tyler took a tighter hold on both the gun along with Ethan’s hand. As much as the cool night air didn’t help with the pressing worry that Tyler flet in his bones, the shimmering beauty of the lake all but evaporated all of his fears.

The moon reflected the still water like a picture, and the smooth sounds of nature just magnified how gorgeous the woods were.

“Isn’t it just beautiful?” Ethan asked, his small face turning towards the other man. His green eyes sparkled in the light of the full moon.

“Yeah,” Tyler whispered. “You really are.”

Ethan's eyes widened at the comment, his cheeks flushing as though a bright scarlet had been painted across his skin, when he realized how hard he was blushing he made a soft groan of embarrassment, ducking his head down and hiding it against Tyler's broad chest, which was now rumbling with light laughter.

“Shut up, I can't believe you just used that cheesy ass line.” But he couldn't keep the girn off his face, and the older man could tell by the way his round cheeks pressed against him. Ethan all but melted when Tyler's large fingers began moving through his hair, his eyes slipping shut as his whines turned into quiet hums. He loved having his hair played with.

There was so much Tyler did that he loved: how he would always call him by some sweet lovey dovey pet name, how he'd always offer to rub Ethan's back when he was stressed out, how he went out of his way to make sure he was happy, the sappy romantic scenes he would set with candles and dim lights, the random flowers and gifs he would shower him with, the way he held him at night, the way he kissed him, the way his stubble felt as it brushed across his thighs and the tight grip he'd hold on his hips when-

Ethan's train of thought instantly stopped, his body tensing up as he sat back.

“Did you hear that?”