by C. L. Miles
“Yes—” Before Aaron could say more, Craig reared up over him and took his mouth in a long, lingering kiss.
Immediately Aaron took control. He grabbed the back of Craig’s head and forced the kiss deeper. Craig moaned into his mouth, accepting everything Aaron gave him and returning it.
The need for air finally broke them apart, and Aaron dropped his head back to the pillow, breaths coming out fast and hard.
Craig looked down at him, his eyes bright with arousal. “Always love the way you kiss.”
Aaron smiled at him, brushed the back of his fingers along Craig’s jaw, and then once again took hold of the headboard.
One more kiss to Aaron’s lips and Craig moved away, settling back on his heels.
Aaron spread his legs wide, placed his feet on the mattress, and gave Craig easy access to his ass. When Craig slid a fingertip against him, Aaron sucked in a breath, arched his back, and tightened his hands around the wooden slats.
Craig moved his finger back and forth, teasing and enticing the muscle at Aaron’s hole to relax and open. Once it did, Craig slowly pushed in, backed out, and then pressed in deeper. Shifting the angle of his finger slightly, Craig lightly swirled his digit against Aaron’s prostate.
Aaron cried out as a blast of pleasure surged through his lower body, making his legs tremble and back bow off the bed.
“Yes.” The word burst past Aaron’s lips. “Again.”
When Craig did as asked, Aaron grunted and thrust his hips forward against Craig’s hand, seeking more of that wonderful sensation until it became too much.
“S-stop,” Aaron panted. “In me. Now.”
Craig chuckled and leaned over Aaron, brushing damp curls away from Aaron’s eyes. “Good?”
The laugh escaped him in a breath. “You know it is.”
After picking up the tube again, Craig squirted some liquid onto his palm, and smoothed the lube all along his stiff length.
Moving over Aaron, Craig settled between his open legs. The feel of that large body covering him caused a shiver of anticipation to flow through him.
“I’m going to push in now.” Craig’s breath was warm against Aaron’s ear.
Craig grasped Aaron’s buttcheek and spread him open. The head of Craig’s penis pressed against Aaron’s opening, and when Craig pushed forward, the tiny pinch of pain that usually came with the first penetration made Aaron gasp. But that pain soon turned to pleasure, and he let out a long moan, which he released into Craig’s mouth as his lover claimed his lips.
“Feels so good,” Aaron rasped. “Don’t stop.”
“Don’t plan to,” Craig murmured and kissed him again while he drove his cock farther inside.
Wanting to touch Craig, Aaron let go of the headboard, slid his hands over Craig’s shoulders, and circled them around to the strong back. Craig’s skin was hot and slick, his muscles bunching and releasing as he pushed his hips forward and pulled back.
Craig moved slowly at first, each push perfectly angled to nudge against Aaron’s prostate. The powerful wave of pleasure surged through his abdomen and went directly into his balls, making him cry out.
Aaron felt Craig’s body shudder, and his movements staggered a little. “I wanted it to last longer, but I can’t…. You feel too good.”
“No, no, this is perfect.” Aaron gasped as another wave of pleasure rolled through him. “Faster… go faster… harder.”
Placing his hands on either side of Aaron’s shoulders, Craig pushed his body up and then slammed his hips forward. He drove into Aaron again and again, harder and faster. A blast of white-hot heat tore over Aaron’s nerve endings, driving his need to come higher and higher.
“Touch yourself,” Craig ground out.
Aaron reached between them, wrapped his fingers around his cock, and stroked in long, hard pulls. It didn’t take long before his balls tightened, and he could feel his climax quickly approaching.
“So good,” Aaron gasped. “I need to come.”
“Do it,” Craig demanded. “Come for me.”
Two strokes were all it took, and Aaron’s orgasm ripped through him, the intensity of it making him cry out. His eyes squeezed shut, and he trembled as the heat of his climax spilled over his hand.
“God… you feel amazing.” Giving one more hard thrust, Craig arched his body and threw his head back, shouting Aaron’s name. Craig’s arms suddenly gave out, and he collapsed on top of Aaron. Not caring that Craig was heavy, Aaron lifted his arms, wrapped them around him, and held him close.
“I love you,” Aaron whispered.
“Love you.”
Craig licked his way into Aaron’s mouth, the kiss slow and gentle but still full of the passion that was always there. When Craig pulled away, he moved to lie on his back and brought Aaron against his side.
“That was incredible,” Craig said, his voice soft.
Aaron couldn’t agree more. “I’m glad we waited. It made being with you even more special.” He nuzzled the side of Craig’s neck.
“It was very special.” Craig caressed Aaron’s cheek and tilted Aaron’s head up until their lips met in a soft, easy kiss. “You’re very special.”
Aaron smiled, the words filling him with joy.
Craig got up, went into the attached bathroom, and soon came back with a wet washcloth. He gently wiped away the evidence of Aaron’s climax from his body and then rid them of the cloth. When Craig got into bed again, he pulled the sheet over them as he lay down next to Aaron. Craig wrapped his strong arms around him in a warm, comforting embrace, and Aaron rested his head on his lover’s chest, closed his eyes, and savored the moment.
Just then the ringing of church bells filtered in from outside. “Sounds like midnight mass has just ended,” Craig said.
Listening to the musical sound, contentment flowed through Aaron, and with a sigh, he snuggled closer to Craig.
“Oh!” Craig suddenly sat up, startling Aaron out of his light doze. “I have something for you. Stay right here.” After pushing the sheet aside, he got out of bed and quickly left the room.
Aaron wondered what Craig was up to, but he didn’t have to wait long. Craig, in all his beautiful naked glory, strolled back into the bedroom, and in his hand was a small box wrapped in colorful Christmas paper.
Sitting on the bed next to Aaron, Craig held the present out. “This is for you.”
“A gift?” Aaron looked back and forth between Craig’s face and the box. “For me?”
“Of course for you.” Craig kissed Aaron’s nose.
Aaron shifted up against the pillows until he was sitting. “But I don’t have my present for you. It’s at my place.”
“You can give it to me tomorrow night.” Craig paused and then said suggestively, “While we’re in your bed.”
Aaron smirked. “I can’t say no to that.” He took the gift and shifted himself closer to Craig.
Carefully, Aaron slid his fingernail under the tape, slowly peeled it back, removed the paper, and folded it neatly before setting it aside. Craig chuckled, and Aaron glanced up at him.
“What?”
“It’s nothing,” Craig said with a wink.
Aaron raised his eyebrows, gave Craig his tell-me-now look, and waited silently for an answer.
“God, your eyes.” Craig laughed. “I swear they could bring the most hardened criminal to his knees and beg to confess.” Craig kissed Aaron and sat back again. “You’re one of those people.”
Aaron frowned, not understanding. “One of what?”
“The kind who slowly unwrap their gift, taking care not to rip the paper.”
“Oh.” All the joy and excitement left Aaron. He lowered his eyes, his heart dropping as he put the box down on the bed. “I’m sorry.”
That was one of the things he did that drove Tom crazy. Anytime Aaron received a present from Tom, he took his time unwrapping it, loving the unveiling almost as much the gift itself. Tom had always wanted him to rip the paper off and get to what was insi
de. And when Aaron didn’t do that, Tom would tell him he was an idiot and leave the room in a huff. It got to a point where Tom no longer bought him gifts. Not on Aaron’s birthday. Not for special occasions. Not for Christmas.
“I swear to God,” Craig muttered, “if I ever run into your ex, I’ll kill him.”
“You can’t,” Aaron said quietly. “Then you’d have to defend yourself in a courtroom.”
Craig snickered, wrapped his arms around Aaron, and held him tight.
“I wasn’t putting you down, sweetheart. I think it’s adorable the way you opened your gift and a pleasure to watch. Most people, myself included, rip into the paper, shredding and tossing it away, not giving it a second thought. But you take your time. You enjoy the wrapping paper as much as you do the actual gift.”
“That’s it exactly.” Aaron nodded quickly. “I enjoy it all.”
“And that is so very much like you.” Craig placed a soft affectionate kiss against the side of Aaron’s head. As he moved away a little, he kept one arm around Aaron’s shoulders. “Go on, open your gift.”
Picking up the box and holding it in his hands again actually made him giggle like a little kid. He reached for the lid, slowly slid it off, and peered over the edge.
Inside sat a black leather bracelet, the braided cord wrapped around to connect on each rounded side of a silver infinity symbol.
“A friend of mine makes these,” Craig explained. “It’s genuine leather, and the infinity symbol is titanium.”
“It’s beautiful.” Aaron took the bracelet out of the box, the leather soft in his hand, and when he used his fingertip to slowly trace along the metal symbol, it felt cool and smooth to his touch. “Craig… this is….” Words failed him as the meaning behind the symbol suddenly hit him.
“Do you know what the symbol means?” Craig asked.
Aaron nodded slowly. “Eternity, completion, everlasting love,” he replied quietly.
“Exactly.” Craig nodded. “You complete me, Aaron. I will love you for eternity.”
The beautiful words touched Aaron deeply, warming his heart. “I have never loved anyone as much as I love you. You complete me too, Craig,” Aaron said with fierce conviction. He kissed Craig deeply and passionately, full of all the wonderful emotions flowing through him.
Craig smiled and touched Aaron’s hand. “May I put it on you?”
“Yes, please.”
Craig took the bracelet, circled it around Aaron’s right wrist, and linked the clasp together. Once Craig was done, he took Aaron’s hand in his and drew him closer.
“It looks perfect on you,” Craig said.
“You make me incredibly happy. You have no idea.” Tears slowly trickled down his cheeks.
“I know exactly how you feel.” Craig used the tip of a finger and gently wiped away the tears. “Would you spend Christmas morning with us? With me and Grace.”
“Oh, Craig, I would love to.”
“Thank you.” Craig held Aaron close. “Shelly, that’s Grace’s mom, will come by in the morning around nine to drop off Grace, then come back later in the afternoon to take her to her grandparents’ for Christmas dinner.”
“Don’t you go with them?”
“Sometimes. Depends if I have plans or not.” Craig paused a second. “And I definitely have plans.” His heated gaze roamed over Aaron. “Plus I want our first Christmas dinner together to be just the two of us. I’ll cook us dinner here, and then we’ll go back to your place. That okay with you?”
After sliding his hand down Aaron’s back, Craig slipped it around one buttcheek and gave it a light squeeze.
Aaron groaned and pushed into the caress. His voice was husky when he replied, “More than okay.”
“Good.” Craig pulled Aaron against him and took his mouth in a long, breathless kiss.
Gently Craig brought Aaron down to the mattress, covered him with his big body, and made love to him again.
ONCE THEY were cleaned up and tucked back into bed again, Aaron turned to Craig.
“You sure it’s okay for Grace to see me tomorrow? I wouldn’t want my being here to upset her.”
Craig ran his fingers through Aaron’s hair. “It means so much to me that you’re taking her feelings into consideration. But I do think it’s time for you two to meet.”
The thought that Craig wanted him to meet his daughter made Aaron’s heart jump in his chest with happiness.
“Okay.” Craig eyed him. “Ask me.”
“Ask what?”
“I can feel you vibrating with curiosity. And I know you’ve been wanting to ask me about Grace since you came back here.”
“I did, but we got a little distracted.” Aaron smirked.
“We certainly did.” Craig leered, his expression blistering hot. He grabbed hold of Aaron’s wrist and sucked a finger into his mouth.
“Hey!” Aaron cackled and pulled his hand back. “Cut that out!” He pushed at Craig playfully. “You’re insatiable.”
“When it comes to you, I am.” Craig brought their lips together for a moment, but when he moved away, his voice grew more serious. “You can ask me anything, Aaron. I’ll tell you.”
“Okay. Um…. You and Shelly…. How did she…?”
“Get pregnant?”
Aaron met Craig’s eyes and nodded.
“Remember I told you about Isaac Reynolds?”
“Of course. Your best friend.”
Craig had mentioned Isaac a few times. They’d known each other since they were six, when Craig’s family moved next door. They were pretty much inseparable until Craig went off to college and Isaac joined the military. Isaac was now a marine and, for the past two years, had been serving in Afghanistan, so Aaron hadn’t had the chance to meet him yet.
“Shelly is his older sister. She and her girlfriend, Amanda, wanted to have a baby. Shelly asked me if I’d consider being a sperm donor.”
“Oh! So the two of you didn’t actually—” Aaron waved his hand around. “—have sex.”
Craig burst out laughing, the sound making Aaron smile.
“God no!” Then Craig turned serious for a second. “I have never been with a woman, Aaron. Nor do I ever want to.”
“I believe you.” Aaron took hold of Craig’s hand and slowly stroked his fingers.
“I have never been interested in getting up close and personal with a woman’s private bits.” Craig gave an exaggerated shudder. “I much prefer the bits you have.” Pinning Aaron to the bed, Craig kissed him again, and then ran his hands teasingly over Aaron’s body.
“Okay, enough.” Aaron snickered and slapped playfully at Craig’s arms. “You’ll distract me again, and I want to know a little more first.”
“Spoilsport.” Craig placed a little peck on Aaron’s cheek.
“So you obviously said yes.”
“I did. But not right away.”
“You had to think it through.” Aaron knew it wasn’t something Craig would have just jumped into; he was the kind of man who would take the time to think and come at it from every angle until he was 100 percent sure what he was doing was right for all involved.
“Absolutely. Bringing a baby into this world is a big responsibility. It took me a little while to decide, but finally I told them I would do it, on one condition…. That I had to be part of the baby’s life,” Craig said. “They agreed and assured me that Gracie would always be a part of my life, that I would be her dad. Once she was born, I knew I had made the right decision. I fell in love with her immediately and was thrilled to be a father.” When Craig smiled it was easy to see how much he loved his little girl.
“So she has two moms and a dad. That is so awesome.”
“I think so too.”
“I bet you make an awesome dad. Has it been complicated? With Grace having three parents?”
“Not really. There’s been a few issues, but we’re open and honest with Grace and with each other. If any problems pop up, we come together as a family and work things out.”
Craig sat up a little, taking Aaron’s hands in his. “I want you to be part of our family too.”
“You do?” Aaron blinked at him, more than a little stunned. “Oh, Craig….” Emotions choked him, and he found he was unable to speak.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“I’m not sad. I’m extremely happy.”
“Come here.” Craig held open his arms and Aaron quickly went into them, sighing when Craig soothed him with a gentle caress.
At sixteen years of age, Aaron lost his family when his parents kicked him out for being gay. He’d been on his own since then and never thought he’d be part of a family again. Now this wonderful, amazing man was inviting him into not only his life, but wanted Aaron to get to know his little girl and her family as well.
“I’m taking your silence as a yes.”
Quickly Aaron found his voice again. “Oh yes! Definitely yes!” Suddenly worry gnawed at him. “What if Grace doesn’t like me?”
“Like you?” Craig slid his fingers along Aaron’s side. “I think she’ll more than like you.” He paused a second. “She knows about you.”
“She does?” Aaron asked astounded.
“Yes. She doesn’t know a whole lot, but she does know you’re my boyfriend. I wanted her to get used to the idea that I was dating someone and prepare her for when she would finally meet you. I honestly wasn’t going to keep her a secret from you forever.”
That Craig told Grace about him filled Aaron’s heart with so much love, he thought it would burst.
Lifting himself up, Aaron looked at Craig and smiled. “You’re an amazing man, and I’m more than excited to meet Grace.”
“It makes me so happy to hear you say that. For the longest time, I’ve thought about the two of you getting to know each other. I just had to be sure you were the one for me.”
“It’s okay, Craig,” Aaron said, running his fingers through the soft hair on Craig’s chest. “I now understand completely why you didn’t say anything at first.”
Craig lifted Aaron’s hand and placed a kiss across the tops of his knuckles. “Thank you for understanding.”