by J. S. Finley
He reached up and stroked Mike’s cheek. “I love you. You have my support, always.”
Mike nodded. “I’ll need to find work.”
“I know. And we’ll make sure you get the help you need.”
“Thank you.”
He knew the look in Mike’s eyes, but they were in public, and it wouldn’t be right to push Mike to the bench and have his way. Instead, they walked around the lawn then headed inside where they drank a little coffee and played a card game. When visiting hours were over, he didn’t want to leave but knew Mike needed this time to heal. He’d been through too much. It was a sad reality of life for some. They’d seen things which couldn’t be unseen. War was harsh and desperate; it changed people, making them vulnerable to out of control emotions.
There was no question, he would stay with Mike through anything. Now, they only needed to make their life easier so Mike could focus on staying well.
19
The day Mike was set to go home, his nerves were on edge. He’d come a long way and knew tricks to manage his emotions, but being faced with having Lane alone excited and chilled him.
Sharron stopped by to say goodbye, and he chatted with a few of the orderlies while he waited. Then the door opened, and he saw Lane. His throat closed with emotions.
They met with a huge hug and a sweet kiss. His life with Lane was good. He might have had a few hiccups, but Lane wasn’t holding back. They were still a couple.
“Are you ready?” Lane asked.
“Sure am.”
Lane carried his bag, and he walked out of the facility feeling more hopeful than he had when he’d arrived, which wasn’t hard to do. Lane had arranged for a car to drive them home so they didn’t have to bother with switching trains or busses. Once home, he stood in the doorway to the apartment and glanced around. His gaze met Lane’s, and they both smiled.
“I’ve already started packing,” Lane said.
“I can see that.”
“I got the job.”
Lane’s words were music to his ears. He and his lover were moving to be with their friends. No more night shifts, no more sleeping during the day. They would have a life together and be with their friends. “That’s great.”
“If you don’t like it, we can—”
He closed the distance and pressed his lips to Lane’s, stopping his words. The kiss sent a thrill to his cock, and he tugged at Lane’s shirt, exposing his skin. He breathed in, loving the way his man smelled. Holding him close and loving him was the most important thing in his life. He could find another job, something he enjoyed, he could move to different cities, but without Lane, it would mean nothing.
Lane started working on his pants, and Mike removed his own shirt. In a flurry of hands and stolen kisses, they were both naked. He sighed and pressed his body against Lane’s. This was where he was meant to be, next to his man, holding him close.
“Thank you for sticking with me,” Mike said.
“I love you.”
He sighed and closed his eyes, drinking in the moment. He had a man who loved him. He could survive anything as long as he had Lane with him. “When are we moving?”
“A week.”
“Do we have a place to live?”
“I rented an apartment for four months. It was the shortest rental I could get. We can look for a house once we get there.”
“You’re the best.” Mike pushed Lane to the wall and held him there, devouring his lips. Their bodies rocked gently until he thought he would go insane. Then Lane bent to retrieve a condom and some lube from his pants pocket, handing them to Mike, before turning and shoving his ass back.
Mike rolled on the condom and lubed up before positioning himself at Lane’s entrance. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.
Slowly, he eased forward, sinking into Lane. He enjoyed the moment and stayed still as he grabbed Lane’s hands, which were pressed against the wall. Their fingers wove together as he slid in even deeper. This was the perfect way to celebrate being home.
He plastered his chest against Lane’s back and stayed close as he gently rocked his hips. He didn’t want hard and fast; he wanted love.
His lips sought out Lane’s neck, nibbling on his soft flesh. He bit down on Lane’s earlobe, and tugged on the fleshy nub, drawing out a low moan from Lane.
“Fuck, Mike, so fucking good.”
Heat rose between them, and he had to force himself to stay calm. He’d wanted this to be slower, but Lane was too delicious, and he went crazy, slamming into Lane. Lane’s body clenched and bucked as he drove in, taking his pleasure.
His hands were shaking as he fought the need to come. He wanted to stay like this forever, but he was too excited. This wasn’t their only perfect moment, and he knew there would be more, but he wanted to draw it out as long as possible.
Lane was grunting and gasping for breath, his hips rocking. Then he stilled and came, his cum splatting on the wall. Mike followed closely behind. They were both breathing hard, their skin slick with sweat. He slid out, and Lane turned, cupping his cheeks.
“That was amazing.”
He chuckled and brushed his lips over Lane’s. “I can’t believe we get to do this. It’s awesome.”
Lane’s fingers drifted over his neck and lower to his chest. “I love being with you.”
“I’ll go anywhere with you.” And he would. If Lane got a job in London, he would follow him there.
Moving again was a little weird. He’d just come to Jersey, and he liked the city, but they could always visit. Being in the same place as the rest of the guys would be amazing and well worth the pain of packing and moving.
After a short nap, they packed more boxes then went out for dinner. Only once did he need to employ a relaxation technique to get him through a rough moment. Lane needed to stick to sleeping during the day, but Mike had adjusted to being awake when the sun was up. He’d worried how that would work, but when Lane noticed him yawning, he suggested they turn in.
The fear of doing something wrong hit, and his hands started to shake. Lane squeezed his shoulder and he met his gaze.
“Let’s meditate,” Lane suggested.
Mike nodded. “Are you okay sleeping in the same bed with me?”
“Yes. We’ll meditate, and I know you’ll be fine. You’ve been working hard, and Sharron has high hopes.”
“I think I’ll be okay.”
“Good. Now, let’s get ready for sleep and meditate.”
When Lane joined him in bed, he rolled close and held his man. He was an anchor in this crazy world. Meditation took him under fast. When he woke, he was happy to realize he’d just slept through the night. Nothing had happened, and he hadn’t attacked Lane.
He watched his lover sleep and realized that maybe if he couldn’t get this under control, they could just sleep in different rooms. An extra bedroom was something to look for in a house. They could buy some place and have a guest room he could use if he was stressed out. He loved falling asleep next to Lane and waking to this, but his life—all of it—was more important than where he slept. Once they were in Florida, he would mention the idea to Lane.
Packing wasn’t too difficult. They still had to live, so they weren’t able to pack everything. Lane’s last day, or night really, at work was uneventful. They spent the next three days helping Lane adjust to being awake during the day.
He had an event he coordinated but didn’t go to. His earlier event in DC went off without a hitch. It was weird arranging everything but not participating in the principal security role. He wasn’t sure if he would be comfortable running his business in the background though. Being a part of the action was a part of him, but maybe that was the part that got him in trouble. He liked being in the middle of it all, but that also caused some stress. After his time in the hospital, he realized he had to adjust everything. The adjustments weren’t horrible, but it wasn’t how he wanted to do his job. When they got to Florida, he would shift what he did for income and find someth
ing else that fit but didn’t increase his anger.
The last full day in Jersey, they were free to spend their time playing tourist in Manhattan. They wound up on the top of the Empire State building a little after the sun went down. It was beautiful, near magical. He turned to Lane and cupped his cheek.
“Every day with you is amazing. I love spending my life with you. Moving to Florida is going to be wonderful.”
Lane’s lips stretched wide in a beautiful smile. “Thank you for being willing to move. I’m sure we’ll have difficult days, but we’ll make it through because we’re together.”
He leaned in and brushed his lips over Lane’s. This was the most romantic place, at least it was for him. He had his man; his life was falling into place, and he would be near his friends. Life was good, and he was going to enjoy it.
20
Thomas had taken the day off because Lane and Mike were coming in. Lane had called the night before to tell him they were stopping in Brunswick, Georgia, because they were both too tired to keep going.
Brunswick was about two and a half hours away, so Thomas thought they would show up close to nine, maybe ten. He had woken early and mowed the lawn before making sure the hot tub was perfect.
Clay stepped out of the house in his underwear looking incredibly cute. He stopped his task and just stared at his man as he moved in close.
“Hey, sexy, you excited about Lane getting here?”
“Hell yes. I’ve been up for hours.”
Clay chuckled and shook his head. “I stayed in bed.”
“Obviously.” Thomas rolled his eyes. “By the way, thank you for not being weird about how close I am to Lane.”
“Hey, I know what benefits I bring to the table. I’m happy you have someone close.”
Thomas chuckled and reached for Clay, pulling him into a hug. “You do have benefits.” He lifted his hand and ran his thumb over Clay’s lower lip. “This mouth, it’s amazing. Fuck, this mouth.” He groaned as he ran his thumb over the lower lip again.
“That’s what you did last night.” Clay sucked Thomas’s thumb in while maintaining eye contact with him.
“Oh fuck, man We may have just enough—”
A horn honked outside, and Thomas groaned. “You fucking tease.”
Clay laughed and spun away from him, racing into the house. Thomas pushed at his dick, willing it down. He loved Clay, but the man worked him up something fierce. He’d never been with anyone who left him feeling so turned on at nothing really.
He could hear Clay in their bedroom and smiled to himself at the thought of pushing his man to the mattress later and having his way. He had to shove at his dick again, but he was going to be hard, there was no way around it.
When he stepped outside the front door, the sight of Lane and Mike together warmed him. His buddy had found someone who made him happy. They might have had some issues, but Mike was getting those taken care of.
“Thomas,” Lane called out.
The smile was fast on his face and made his cheeks hurt. This wasn’t just a visit, he would have Lane close for years to come. He took a couple of huge steps and pulled Lane into a tight hug.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Thomas said.
“I missed you.” Lane’s voice cracked with emotion.
He pulled Lane closer. “I’m so glad you’re moving here.” Thomas leaned back and found Lane’s gaze. “It’s going to be good having you close. We’re gonna get into so much trouble.”
Lane laughed and stepped back, holding out his hand to Mike. It was so different than before. He’d not seen Mike after he’d had his last PTSD episode and though he’d been angry, he knew Mike hadn’t wanted to hurt Lane. What they’d seen in war had affected each of them differently, and Mike had seen the worst.
He pulled Mike into a hug, holding him tightly. Mike sniffled then sobbed as his fingers twisted Thomas’s clothes.
“I’m so sorry,” Mike said.
“You know what the issue is and you’re working to make it better.”
“I swear I never wanted to—” Mike choked on a sob.
Thomas pulled back and looked Mike in the eyes. “I know. We all know. I love you man. You’re not just my friend, I feel like you’re really my brother. Lane is special to me, and that makes you special.”
“Thank you,” Mike whispered.
Lane came over and hugged both of them, then he felt Clay’s arms around them. It was one big man hug, and he loved it. He’d always loved being with guys, but now he knew it wasn’t just the camaraderie. His partner, Clay, had made it all so crystal clear. Having Lane close by made everything perfect.
21
Brent stretched and felt Jake beside him. He sighed and rolled over, snuggling close to his man. They’d spent the night making love and testing out the new bed they’d purchased.
“Morning.” Jake’s voice was rough.
“Mmm. Last night was good.”
Jake chuckled and stretched again. “My ass is going to be feeling you for a while.”
“Yeah, you will.”
“Are you ready to go see Mike and Lane?”
“Oh yeah. I can’t wait. It’s amazing; we’re all going to be living here together—well, not together.”
“I know what you mean. That apartment isn’t too far from us. Maybe they’ll find a house closer though,” Jake said.
“Yeah, it would be cool if we could jog over or ride our bikes to their house and spend the evening just hanging out.”
“True. We should have everyone over on Sunday for a pool day.”
“I’d like that.” Brent sat up and pulled Jake up too. “Come on, I want to get over there before they roll into town.”
Jake followed and pinched his ass as he entered the bathroom. He squealed then spun. Jake grabbed his arms and pressed him against the door.
“You’re the best, you know that?” Jake said.
Brent rolled his eyes and leaned in to kiss Jake. “I think you’re the best.”
“Ha, that’s an argument neither one of us is going to win.”
“Love you.” Brent flipped on the shower and stepped in. Jake followed him in and helped him wash. It wasn’t the fastest shower in the world, but he was satisfied and clean after he was done.
Brent tossed some cinnamon rolls into the oven to warm while they dressed. He was looking forward to seeing his friends. When he was living in Tampa, he’d been miserable. Who knew a few emails and a trip to Tennessee would change everything. He’d never believed he and Jake would be together, but they were. Maybe life had more surprises in store for them, or maybe things would stay as they were. Having Lane and Mike close would make everything better though.
They were out the door in fifteen minutes. A few minutes later, they pulled up to Thomas’ house. Satisfaction wove through him.
“I think they’re already here,” Jake said.
“Looks like it. God, I’ve missed them.” He opened the door to his truck and stepped out. The front door to Thomas and Clay’s house opened and Lane stood in the doorway. Then Mike was right behind him. His heart filled with joy and love. Mike may have suffered the most of all of them, but he was doing amazingly well after his time in the hospital. He knew Mike had been embarrassed about needing to be admitted, but he had nothing to be ashamed about. Maybe now that they were all together, life would smooth out for him.
“Hey,” Lane called out.
“God, I missed you both,” Brent said.
Mike didn’t move from his spot on the porch, and Brent guessed he was still a little embarrassed by what had happened. Brent went to him and pulled him into a tight hug.
“Hey, it’s good to see you,” Brent said.
“Thank you for coming up to help Lane.”
Brent kissed the side of his head. “I would do anything I could to help you.”
Mike sniffed and pulled him tighter. “Thank you.”
After more hugs and back slaps, they all headed into Thomas and Clay’s pl
ace. He’d been over here a bunch since moving to Florida, and he appreciated being so close every single time.
“It’s not the mansion where we all stayed, but it’s home,” Thomas said.
“I’m happy to be here,” Lane said.
“So you’re not going to miss New York?” Clay asked.
“No, not when I have Mike with me and then you all as a bonus.”
They all laughed while Thomas grabbed the coffee carafe and set it by the mugs. The cinnamon rolls smelled amazing, and Thomas and Clay had provided an egg casserole dish. He moved closer to Mike and wrapped his arm around his buddy’s shoulder.
“You guys are the best friends anyone could ever have. I love being here together,” Brent met their gazes and warmth spread.
Having Jake in his life was better than anything he’d ever experienced, but being this close to their friends was better than anything he’d ever been a part of before.
“Thank you for moving here,” Jake said to him.
Brent squeezed Jake’s shoulder. “Thank you. I’m glad we took a chance to move here.”
“It wasn’t at all what I thought it would be at first. I mean I was afraid, but everything seems to have worked out.”
Thomas lifted his mug. “I think it’s going to work out for all of us. I know it’s not alcohol, and maybe it’s just a sign of age—”
“I’d like to think maturity,” Clay said.
They all laughed before Thomas continued. “Whatever it is, I know you guys are here for me, just like I’m here for you. Lane, Mike, we’re all glad you’re here with us. We love you guys, and we can’t wait to spend days together, hanging out, fishing—”
“Hear hear!” Brent called out.
“—or just having fun.”
“Guys, I feel truly welcomed; maybe that’s not the right word. I feel accepted.” Mike glanced around the group, meeting each of their gazes. “I have some stuff I have to get through, and I know being with you all will make it easier. You’re the best men I’ve ever met.”