by Alex Berry
"Just a few minutes, that's all I'm asking." Darryl had caught up and now stood behind him. In front of him, the front door opened and Travis walked out. His dreads were loose around his head, his chest and feet were bare. His jeans were still unsnapped; it was obvious he was naked beneath. He glanced at Ron and then behind him; he wasn't smiling.
With one hand he pulled Ron toward him, and faced Darryl and Blake. "What's up?"
Darryl's gaze shifted from Ron to Travis. "We needed to talk to you guys for a minute." Blake walked up and stood next to Darryl, but he locked a desperate gaze with Ron. Travis hadn't told him what he and Blake discussed. Now he was curious.
"Okay, come on in."
Travis's head swiveled toward him, a frown clearly in place.
"Just for a few, Babe," Ron whispered. Travis threw up his hands and stormed inside.
Ron glared at his cousin. "Make it quick and make it good."
Chapter 6
Ron walked inside and waved for the two men to sit down. He and his cousin had never been close, why he felt the need to talk to him was a surprise.
"Talk." Ron sat in the chair facing them on the sofa and the hallway. He hoped Travis wasn't too mad at him, but once he got these two out of the house, they'd have the rest of the night alone. He had a feeling they'd be having another heart-to-heart talk and wondered if he'd just thrown away his reward for the tattoo. That pissed him off. Just as he opened his mouth to tell them to leave, his cousin spoke.
"Blake thinks I'm cheating on him. He said Travis told him to kick me to the side and change the locks on the door." His face reddened as he frowned.
Ron nodded, surprised Travis offered an opinion to the younger man. "He told Blake what he'd do. The only thing he left out was to put your foot up his ass. I believe that's the advice he gave his friend back home."
"I'm not cheating," Darryl said adamantly.
Ron shrugged, watching the closed bedroom door and wondering what Travis was up to. "Okay."
"He doesn't believe me." Darryl looked pissed.
"Can't you guys talk this out between the two of you?" He really didn't care and wanted to join his partner. Now he was more curious just what Travis was about to do when the doorbell rang. Besides, they needed to talk about their rings. His cousin drew his attention.
Darryl stood and stared at Blake. "I've been doing that for the past three hours. It's like talking to a wall. He's not listening to me." Ron watched the theatrics unfold with amazement.
"Oh, I'm listening," Blake said, his voice testy. "I just don't believe you anymore. You've cheated on me before, I recognize the signs and I'm tired of it." Ron's head snapped toward mild mannered Blake. Well damn. What the hell did Travis say to cause such a change so soon?
"What do you mean you're tired of it? I'm not doing anything." Frustration ripped through Darryl's voice.
Blake shrugged, which surprised Ron. "I've been waiting for you to change, to stop walking over my heart, to be faithful to me for the past two years, and you've used every excuse in the book to explain away your behavior. I don't want to do it anymore." Normally, whatever Darryl wanted, he got, especially with his partner. Something had changed. A sneaky suspicion rose in his gut, had Travis coached Blake?
Darryl shook his head and blinked as he stared at his lover. "Blake. I have not cheated on you. I swear."
Blake smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Not because you didn't try. You went out last night looking to try a black stud, didn't you?"
"What?" Ron gasped. He couldn't believe his cousin was that dumb. Well, on second thought he could. The man was too competitive. If he thought he could show Ron up, he'd do something crazy like that.
Blake nodded as his eyes watered. "He wanted to know what it was like to be with a black guy. Isn't that right?" He sneered at a red-faced Darryl.
"No." He ground out. "Last night I went to the sports bar with Herman. We watched the game and caught up. He left this morning. I invited you, but you said no."
Ron looked at both men. Tired of the drama and stupidity, he figured they needed to take a break before someone's heart suffered serious damage. Despite Blake's words, the man hadn't fully succumbed to his cousin's charms. No one could desperately love someone and stand by for years as they cheated. "You guys need to talk."
Darryl swerved to look at him. Ron was shocked to see he really seemed upset that Blake was going to leave him.
"We've been trying. That's why we're here, maybe I'm missing something."
"Why doesn't Blake trust you?" Ron figured they weren't leaving until they solved their problem, so he'd help speed it along, and then go placate his own lover.
"I admit, I messed up a time or two in the beginning, but I swear, I haven't cheated on him in the past year." Darryl stared at Blake who stared at the rug. Ron didn't believe that for a minute.
"Why don't you believe him?" Ron gazed at Blake.
"I saw how he stared at Travis. He's done that before."
"I'm not interested in him, are you crazy?" Darryl growled as Blake flinched backward.
"Why were you staring at him all the time?" Blake asked.
Since that was a good question, Ron waited to hear the answer.
Darryl sighed and pointed at Ron. "Look at him." Blake looked at Ron.
Ron stared back at Darryl and hoped he didn't say anything stupid that'd get his ass whooped.
"He's happy," Darryl continued. "I've never seen him look like this. Never. But I've never seen you look like that, either. Happy, I mean." Darryl's face reddened as he talked. Blake finally stared at him, his mouth dropped opened and then clicked shut.
"I asked myself, how does he do that? In a crowded room, you'd never put the two of them together, and yet they fit. When I watched them, they just clicked." He turned to Blake. "I want to see that look on your face when I see you. That look that says there's nowhere else in the world you'd rather be than with me. But I don't. So I wonder, what is he doing to put that look on my cousin's face."
For a moment no one spoke. Ron was too shocked to say anything. He'd never pegged his selfish cousin as a romantic, but he'd just earned major cool points in his book. And judging by the look on Blake's face, he'd won points there as well.
"So you aren't curious about being with a black guy?" Blake asked again.
Ron wanted to yell and tell him to drop it. First, even if Darryl did want to bone someone else, he wouldn't admit it. Secondly, the man had just made a seriously romantic overture that deserved a reward. Third, they needed to leave so he could be alone with his man.
"No, I'm not. I don't know where you're getting this from, but you're pissing me the fuck off." Darryl moved closer to Blake and took his hand. "What are we doing? I love you. You know that. I haven't cheated on you or done anything wrong and you're breaking up with me over bullshit. What's that about?"
Blake leaned against Darryl's chest and sighed, a long whistling sound. "I'm not going to stay in a relationship with you if you stray. I've never cheated on you. I expect you to respect me enough to commit to what we have and stay true. If you can't, well, yeah, I'd rather we separate."
Darryl's eyes widened at Blake's quiet words. He looked at Ron, who shrugged at this new ballsy Blake. Whatever happened, Darryl's normal rap wasn't working this time. Blake was holding the line for what he wanted.
In a twisted way, Ron was proud of him.
Darryl dropped a kiss on his lover's brow. "Okay, no problem, since that's what I've been doing anyway." Ron glanced at his cousin, his words sounded hollow and in that moment, Ron knew they weren't true. Darryl had cheated on his partner. Disgust rolled through him at his cousin's duplicity. This was a complete waste of his time, the only person who'd changed was Blake, and he wasn't sure how long that'd last. With silent well wishes to the damaged couple, Ron stood, ready for them to leave.
"Yeah, right," Blake drawled, looking at Darryl. "But I mean what I said. There will be no next time. If you fuck up, we're through and I'll mo
ve."
Darryl's face turned white. "Why?"
"Because if you cheat again, I plan to start over somewhere else with someone who'll appreciate me. Staying near you would be too much of a temptation."
"You're serious." Darryl looked at him in surprise.
"Very. I want a monogamous commitment and if you can't give that to me, it's cool. I'll move on and meet someone who will, no matter how long it takes." He stood, nodded at Ron, and walked toward the door. Darryl sat, watching as though hypnotized by the sway of his lover's hips.
Slowly, he turned to face Ron, a stupid grin on his face as he stood. "Damn, that's hot." He followed his partner out the door.
Ron followed at a clipped pace, shut the front door, and locked it. Rubbing his hands, he opened his shirt and headed to the bedroom. He had some making up to do.
Chapter 7
Finally, they were home. It seemed the sun shined extra hot, just for them. Ron smiled as Travis disarmed the security system to their large home. They walked through the house and placed their bags in their bedroom. Warmth invaded his chest as he stared at their king-sized bed. No interruptions.
"I'm glad we're home." Travis glanced at the clock, then called his supervisor to see if he could take an extra day off. He was tired and didn't want to get up in a few hours to go to work if he didn't have to.
"Me, too," Ron said as he headed to the kitchen to make a couple of fruit smoothies.
Travis walked into the kitchen, frowning. "I have to go to work." He plopped on the stool. "Thanks," he said as Ron handed him his drink, and sipped on the fruit concoction.
"It was a long shot." Ron said as he sat next to him. "What did you do to Blake?" Travis looked at him. "Don't give me that innocent look. The lamb turned into a tiger, which was probably the best thing to happen in that relationship."
"Why? Because Darryl took a job he didn't really want?" Blake had called to let them know Darryl had accepted a job in a nearby town and they'd decided to stay in their apartment.
Ron shook his head. "No, he needed to work and help pay the bills, but Blake flipped a switch. He threatened to cut Darryl off if he cheated."
"He'll cheat. It's in him."
"You don't think he loves Blake?"
"I think he does. But Darryl doesn't love himself, so what he gives his partner is flawed. He cheated on him during the funeral, Blake was right about that." Travis pulled out a couple of oatmeal cookies from the pantry and popped one in his mouth.
"What makes you say that? Did you see him?"
Travis's brow rose. "Would you be able to tell if things were different between us?"
Ron stared at him. "I'd like to think I could. But I'm not sure. You're not a good liar."
"That's because it's easier to tell the truth and the hell with the rest. But, Darryl lied through his teeth. He cheated on his partner and Blake knew. That's why he gave him the ultimatum and didn't fall for the bullshit this time."
"Do you think they'll make it?" Ron asked before taking the last sip of his drink.
Travis shrugged. "Ask me the real question."
Ron smiled as he touched Travis's arm. "Do you care?"
"Hell, no. I care about us making it." He opened Ron's shirt and pulled him close. "So, when do you want to go look at rings?"
Ron wanted to do a happy dance. He was getting his ring. Tingles swept through him as Travis licked his tattoo. Hands down, it was the scariest thing he'd ever done. But he'd do it again just to see the pleasure on his partner's face.
"Actually, I've been looking in some stores and found a few I really like. Maybe we can go tomorrow after work and check them out," Ron spoke fast, in between kisses.
"Yeah, that works for me. Let's go to bed." Travis pulled him between his legs, and kissed him long and hard.
Oh yeah, rings tomorrow, wedding bells next year. Ron smiled as they left the kitchen.
***End***
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