"In front of God and everyone?" Adam stopped shaving long enough to raise one eyebrow. "I don't think so, Seb."

 

Seb flushed. "It isn't in front of God and *everyone*," he argued hotly. "It's just in front of God and the rest of the people on the beach and God already knows what you look like! I don't know why you're being so difficult. You said you wanted us to experience new things on this vacation!"

 

"I was thinking more along the lines of food and culture," Adam replied mildly. "Not a gay nude beach."

 

"So that's a no?" Seb asked bitterly, pulling a t-shirt over his head angrily shoving his dark hair out of his eyes.. "You don't want to do it so it doesn't matter what I want. As usual."

 

"That's enough, Sebastian. Watch your mouth or you'll be experiencing the taste of French soap," Adam ordered.

 

"Sorry," Seb muttered, aware that he wasn't being fair. Adam did consider his feelings most of the time but there were times when being in a DP was just so-- unequal! He bet Josh didn't have to get permission from Greg to go to the beach. He would just announce that he was doing it and that would be it.

 

"And don't put words into my mouth," Adam continued. "I said I didn't want to do it and I don't think Greg will. But if you and Josh want to go to the beach, feel free."

 

"You mean it?" Seb asked hopefully. "You really don't mind me being nude in public?"

 

"I'm not thrilled with the idea," Adam admitted. "But I guess it isn't really any different than showering at the gym. When do you want to go?"

 

"This afternoon?" Seb asked tentatively. "We could all go to the public beach and then have lunch together. After that you and Greg can go on the winery tour and Josh and I could go to the nude beach."

 

"And you don't have to go to the winery with us," Adam said shrewdly.

 

"I went to the last three," Seb protested guiltily before he realized Adam was teasing him.

 

"We're a couple, Seb," Adam said gently, "not Siamese twins. We don't have to do everything together. Go to the beach, have fun with Josh. I want you back here no later than 4:00, though."

 

Seb made a face. "Why so early?"

 

"Because we have tickets for the theatre tonight and I want to allow plenty of time to get ready and have dinner first."

 

"All right," Seb sighed." But that doesn't allow us much time on the beach."

 

"I mean it, Seb. You'll be back here by 4 or else. I don't like the way you've been slipping into old habits lately. I don't want to deal with it while we're on vacation but I will if I have to."

 

"Yes, sir." Seb sighed again, then brightened. Adam had said yes and even allowing for the 30 minute trip each way, they'd still have two or three hours on the beach.

 

~~~

 

"What do you think?" Seb asked, nervously clutching his towel and wondering if it was too late to go to the winery.

 

"Don't be such a wuss, Seb," Josh ordered, reading his friend's mind with ease. "You haven't even taken your shorts off yet."

 

"I know, it's just--" Seb took a deep breath, trying to avert his eyes as a well-endowed couple walked by. He found a spot a little way from the other sunbathers, spread his towel and quickly shucked his shorts and t-shirt before he lost his nerve. Sitting down on the towel, he drew his knees up and put his arms around them, feeling self-conscious and very exposed.

 

"Come on, Seb!" Josh tossed his towel on the sand and stepped out of his shorts. "Let's go in the water."

 

"In a few minutes," Seb replied. "You go ahead."

 

As Josh shook his head and walked off, Seb tried to watch the men around him without being obvious about it. They weren't all models or body-builders, by a long shot; they seemed to come in all shapes and sizes and many obviously hadn't seen a gym in months. As he watched them having fun, he gradually relaxed and uncurled from his tight, defensive position. .

 

"Seb! Are you just going to sit there all day?" Josh demanded. "Come on, I rented a couple of boogie boards for us."

 

Taking the hand his friend held out, Seb got to his feet and followed Josh into the surf, feeling less self-conscious about his nudity, if not totally comfortable with it.

 

An hour later, he had lost the last vestiges of discomfort, laughing and playing in the surf and then joining in an impromptu game of volleyball on the beach.

 

"I need to return the boogie boards," Josh said when the game was over and their new friends had dispersed. "Want to go along and get ice cream afterwards?"

 

"Not really." Seb flopped down on his towel. "Why don't you return the boards and then we'll get ice cream on the way to the shuttle?"

 

"Ok," Josh agreed. "See you in a few minutes."

 

Seb turned over and stretched out on his stomach, enjoying the warm sunshine. He didn't know why he had been so worried, he thought drowsily. It had been a great day.

 

"Seb, wake up. We need to get going or you'll be late."

 

"I'm awake, stop shaking me," he muttered irritably. "What time is it?"

 

"Almost 4. We're going to have to hurry to make the shuttle. Sorry, I was talking to this guy and I didn't notice--"

 

"FOUR! Why didn't you wake me earlier? I told you I have to be back by four!"

 

"No, you said you have to leave by four," Josh contradicted.

 

Seb rolled over and sat up, trying to control his panic. Adam was going to kill him! "No, I said-- Fuck!"

 

"What happened? Did you sit on something? Did something bite you?" Josh asked.

 

"No, I think I sunburned my butt!" Seb groaned.

 

"Let me see." Josh checked the damage and let out a low whistle. "You sure did. Didn't you put on sunblock?"

 

"Yeah, on the other beach." But not on his butt, he realized dismally. It had been covered at the time.

 

Josh chuckled. "It could be worse. At least you were sleeping on your stomach," he tried to console his friend.

 

"That's not funny, Josh," Seb protested. God, Adam was going to be pissed. Being late, probably ruining their plans for the evening, and after Adam had specifically warned him about it, was a spanking offense at best and he'd be lucky not to be pad-- His eyes widened. "FUCK!"

 

"What now?" Josh paused, one foot in his shorts.

 

"Nothing," Seb muttered shortly. "Just thinking about how pissed Adam is going to be." No way was he explaining to his friend what the problem really was.

 

"Come on, we can make the 4:00 shuttle if we hurry," Josh urged. "So you'll only be 1/2 hour late and I'll tell him it was all my fault. That way he'll be pissed at me instead of you and you won't have a big fight and ruin your vacation."

 

"No, that's all right," Seb replied dejectedly. "It was my responsibility, not yours." 

 

He was quiet on the way back to the hotel, troubled by both the current pain in his butt and anticipation of the one to come.

 

"You sure you don't want me to come with you?" Josh asked as they entered the hotel. "I have time. Greg doesn't expect me for another half hour."

 

"No, thanks anyway," Seb told him. "And thanks for going to the beach with me. I had a great day."

 

"So did I. Good luck with Adam."

 

"Thanks." Seb trudged down the hall to their room, rehearsing a speech that he forgot as soon as he saw Adam's forbidding expression. "I'm really sorry, Adam," he apologized as he closed the door behind him. "I really meant to be back on time but Josh was returning the boogie boards and I fell asleep and he thought we had to leave at 4, not be back at 4, but I accept full responsibility for my actions and we can still make it to dinner on time if we hurry and I swear it won't happen again so please don't spank me this time. Please?"

 

"You know the rules, Sebastian," Adam said implacably. "And they're the same on vacation as they are at home, something you seem to have trouble understanding. I warned you this morning and, for whatever reason, you ignored that warning. Take your shorts off, please."

 

"Adam, please don't spank me," Seb begged again as he reluctantly slipped his shorts off and allowed himself to be drawn over his partner's knees. "I know I was wrong and I'll accept any other punishment but you can't spank me!"

 

"I decide on the punishment, not you," Adam sternly reminded the young man. There was a long pause as he surveyed the already-scarlet bottom before he continued. "But you're right, it looks like you already took care of it. What the hell were you thinking, Seb? Why didn't you use sunblock?"

 

"I put it on at the other beach and forgot to re-apply it," Seb explained plaintively. "You really aren't going to spank me? Can I get up now?" he added cautiously.

 

"Go ahead," Adam told him, releasing his hold. "Get a shower and let's see if we can salvage our evening."

 

Seb showered quickly, wanting to remain under the cool water as long as possible but not daring to. He couldn't believe he'd gotten off so easily; he didn't want to do anything that would make Adam change his mind.

 

"What are you doing?" Adam asked a few minutes later, watching Seb rummage through his suitcase.

 

"Looking for the sunburn lotion. I want to put it on before I get dressed."

 

"No."

 

"No?"

 

"Do I allow you to put lotion on after a spanking?"

 

"No, but--"

 

"Then why would I allow you to do it now?"

 

"Because-- You wouldn't." Seb replied gloomily, ending his search and pulling clean underwear out of the suitcase instead.

 

"I think some cornertime would also be in order - you can do it in the morning - and I'll be applying your sunblock from now on, since you seem to have trouble remembering it."

 

"Yes, Adam," Seb sighed in resignation.

 

~~~

 

"Don't lean," Adam warned and Seb obediently straightened up.

 

He had still gotten off pretty easily, he admitted to himself as he stared at the wall. True, sitting through dinner and a three-act play had been pretty uncomfortable, especially since Adam had placed a warning hand on his knee whenever he had shifted his weight too much. But it was over and the cornertime was almost over and they could enjoy the rest of their vacation without worrying about it and there were advantages to having your partner rubbing lotion all over your body every morning.

 

Definite advantages, he thought smugly as Adam called him to have his sunblock applied. He hoped Josh and Greg didn't mind waiting. He wanted to make sure Adam did a thorough job...

 

The End