“Let’s go upstairs,” said Awais. “You can have me then.”
Kevin fumbled in his pocket for his keys as Awais stepped back. It took him a few tries to get them into the lock because Awais’s hand had managed to slip under Kevin’s shirt. His fingers were brushing the bare skin of Kevin’s back. The sensation was maddening, sending ripples of heat straight to Kevin’s groin.
Finally the lock clicked, and Kevin yanked the door open, tugging Awais inside. They took the stairs quickly, stopping in front of Kevin’s apartment, laughing and flushed as Kevin managed to open that door more quickly than the previous one.
Once shut behind them, the mood shifted. Awais’s deep-brown eyes were dark, his pupils dilated wide enough that Kevin could almost see his reflection in them. He reached up and tugged Kevin’s coat off, tossing it aside, then untucked his shirt completely to stroke his bare sides. “Hey,” Awais said, and Kevin brought his hands up to his face, brushing his thumbs over Awais’s soft beard. “You’re sure you want this?”
Kevin nodded. He ran a thumb over Awais’s lower lip, feeling the silky hair of his mustache give way to skin. Awais’s tongue flicked out to brush over Kevin’s thumb. “Yeah,” said Kevin. “I am. I want you.”
“Good,” said Awais. He leaned into Kevin’s touch. “You’ve got me.”
Kevin pulled his hands reluctantly from Awais’s beard and tugged his sweater up instead, pulling it over his head. He emerged tousled and his button-down slid out from his pants, a hint of skin showing as Kevin tossed the sweater after his jacket. He went to work on Awais’s buttons, crowding him toward the bedroom. They stumbled over the threshold, kissing, and he pushed Awais onto the bed, sliding to his knees between Awais’s own. Awais’s shirt hung open, baring his chest; Kevin pushed his shirt from his shoulders, kissing the revealed skin. He pulled back to run his hands over Awais’s shoulders and down his chest, sliding over his peaked brown nipples and through his chest hair.
“You’re gorgeous,” he said, voice low. Kevin felt suddenly free looking at Awais like this, letting himself stare and letting his body respond. He hadn’t realized he’d been suppressing this his whole life, not until he let it out. But now he wanted to look, wanted to take his time.
Awais reached for Kevin’s belt, unbuckling it and pulling it free. It slithered from the loops, the end cool and sharp against his oversensitized skin. Kevin abruptly couldn’t wait any longer to feel Awais’s body against his. He climbed to his feet, kicked off his loafers, and pushed Awais back to lie flat on the bed. He slid Awais’s shoes off and set them against his own in a messy pile. He liked the look of that—his classic loafers against Awais’s fashionable brown boots. He liked it a lot. And he liked the way Awais looked, shirtless and spread out in front of him like a feast. It felt different than being with a woman already, something in the expectations his brain had or the way they looked at each other or something. It wasn’t better or worse, just different. Last time he’d been nervous, been panicking a little bit deep down inside. This time, all he wanted was more. He stripped out of his pants and socks, leaving him in only his boxer briefs, and helped Awais do the same until he was kneeling on the bed between his legs.
Awais’s boxers were tight, the hard line of his cock tenting them obscenely. He lifted one leg, bending it at the knee to spread his legs farther apart. Kevin palmed his cock through the fabric, and Awais rutted up against his hand.
“I want you to touch me,” he said.
“I’m going to,” said Kevin. “Can I take these off?”
“I’ll be pissed if you don’t,” said Awais, already lifting his hips and shoving his boxers down his legs. Kevin helped pull them down, shuffling his own knees to slide them down to Awais’s feet. He couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him as he stood awkwardly, yanking them free from Awais’s feet, and tossing his own aside, but the laughter died quickly as he knelt back down to look at the whole long line of Awais laid out on his sheets. Last time he’d been too nervous, too caught up in the moment, to really look at him. So he took his time, relished the moment, and let it linger.
Awais shifted on the bed, spreading his arms out to either side and cocking a knee, spreading himself out. His cock bobbed, hard and free of the restraining cotton, from a tangle of thick dark hair. His balls sat nestled below. His thighs were muscled and thicker than they’d looked, hard from years of walking miles a day. Kevin wanted to touch him. He wanted to press his whole body against him, inside him, to touch him and taste and smell him. He bent down and claimed Awais’s mouth with his own.
Awais groaned into his mouth, his tongue hot against Kevin’s, his body taut. Kevin dragged his mouth away to kiss his cheek, take his earlobe between his teeth, lap at his neck, as his body moved against Awais’s.
Suddenly Awais tensed, pushing at him, flipping him over, and Kevin found himself under him, being devoured. They had rhythm together now, grinding, and Awais sat up to straddle his hips. He groped at the nightstand, finding the lube Kevin had left out after their last time together, slicking their cocks. He dropped back down to cover Kevin with his body and the slide between them was incredible. Awais’s belly was hot and slick and his cock was pressed between them, sliding tightly. Kevin’s legs were spread around Awais’s, and he brought his knees up to get leverage, thrusting upward. He could feel his orgasm coming, feel it building in his pelvis and in the tingling wracking his body down to his toes.
He pulled Awais closer, pressing him down, his hands gripping tightly against Awais’s taut ass. He could feel smears of lube getting everywhere and he didn’t care—he wanted to be closer. He curled one leg around Awais’s hips, grinding up, and oh, there it was—there was the hot spurt of Awais coming against him, the gasping, whimpering moan in his ear pushing him over the edge as he rolled them back over, shoving himself against Awais and shuddering with his own release.
Kevin collapsed down against Awais, his head fitting neatly into the space between his shoulder and ribs. His face pressed against his chest, and he nosed at Awais’s sweaty hair idly as Awais looped both arms around him. His chest was heaving as rapidly as Kevin’s, his heart still pounding.
Kevin fumbled over the edge of the bed, reaching over Awais, and grabbed for a discarded piece of clothing to wipe them off. Awais grumbled sleepily and tightened his arms. Kevin smiled and mopped up the lube and come splattered over them both, then tossed the shirt aside. He’d deal with it in the morning. Maybe.
He settled back down, throwing a leg over Awais’s thighs and letting himself be held. His body relaxed almost effortlessly into sleep.
*
The first thing Awais noticed as he came to awareness was bright sunlight arcing across his face. He squinted, rolling over and burying his face in the warm body beside his, welcoming the darkness and letting himself drift. His body was pleasantly sore, and he could feel the hangover hovering just outside his reach. Kevin’s arms tightened around him, stroking his back. Awais nuzzled against his bare chest, the sparse hair tickling his nose. After a moment, he lifted his head.
Kevin was smiling at him, his head propped against the pillow, his silver hair mussed and falling over his forehead in loose, messy waves. His blue eyes sparkled, catching the shafts of light coming in through the half-open shades. His smile was breathtaking, the hint of a dimple in each cheek, faint stubble speckling his chin in gray and white, crinkling lines fanning out from his eyes. His irises had hints of green at the center, right around his pupil, Awais saw, now that he was looking from so close.
“Hi,” said Kevin. “You’re here.”
“Yeah. So are you.”
“Well, it is my apartment.” Kevin’s voice had a hint of hoarseness that Awais loved, a little reminder of the night before. He bent and pressed his lips to Kevin’s bare collarbone. “It’s where you should expect to find me.” Awais could feel his heart starting to speed up under his hand. He bit gently at the ridge of muscle that connected Kevin’s shoulder to his neck.
�
�Mm,” he said. “I’m glad I found you.” He slid down a little farther, pushing himself up on his elbows and kissing first Kevin’s sternum, then the soft flesh below, making his way along the trail of pale, graying blond hair that led to his navel. He made sure to press the bristle of his beard against the sensitive skin of Kevin’s belly and was rewarded with Kevin’s shuddering breath above him.
Kevin put both hands tentatively on the back of Awais’s head, petting at his hair. Awais pushed up against them, urging Kevin wordlessly to be firmer as he kissed along the waistband of his boxers. He didn’t remember Kevin putting them back on. He tugged at them to pull the front down until Kevin’s cock slid free, bobbing up, hard already from the morning and—Awais hoped—from him. “Can I?” he asked, meeting Kevin’s eyes.
“Like I’d say no,” said Kevin breathlessly, his hands weaving tighter in Awais’s hair.
Awais grinned and nuzzled along his shaft, fingers petting Kevin’s hips and the soft creases where thigh met groin. The hair around his cock was soft and groomed, silver-blond like the rest of him, and he brushed his lips across the spot between his cock and balls.
Kevin groaned. Awais did it again, opening his mouth a little against the hard base of his cock. He mouthed upward until the head brushed his lips. Kevin lay flat, chest heaving, an arm thrown over his face, but Awais could see the glitter of his eyes watching from under his forearm. He grinned, then opened his mouth and curled his lips around Kevin’s cock.
Kevin gave a punched-out gasp as Awais took him halfway, then bobbed up and slid back down. He wrapped his fingers around the base, sliding his hand in counterpoint to his mouth, the skin slicked with saliva. His other hand slid back and cupped Kevin’s balls, tugging lightly. Kevin’s hands tightened in his hair, his hips twitching.
Awais pulled off just enough to say, “Go ahead and thrust,” then lowered his head again. Kevin shuddered, a full-body shiver, and pressed up into Awais’s mouth, moving in time with Awais’s mouth and hand. Awais could feel his balls drawing up, tightening against his hand, and he tugged again, then brushed his fingers against Kevin’s perineum and then farther back.
“Oh,” said Kevin. “Awais, I’m going to—” He tugged on Awais’s hair, but Awais slid down farther, swallowing against him and relaxing his throat until his nose met Kevin’s pubic hair. He smelled like sweat and musk and like the two of them together and Awais loved it. Kevin gasped, a whimper escaping his lips, and his torso lifted up in a half crunch before he collapsed back, shooting down Awais’s throat.
Pulling back and wiping his mouth on his wrist as he cleared his throat and took his first deep breath in a while, Awais rested his chin on crossed arms over Kevin’s hips. He smiled up at him, enjoying the dazed expression in those wide blue eyes.
“That’s a hell of a way to wake up,” said Kevin. “I feel like I owe you coffee after that.”
Awais pushed himself up on hands and knees and crawled up the bed to drape himself over Kevin’s body, his own hard cock nestling in the crease of Kevin’s hip. “Maybe later,” he said, rolling his hips and kissing Kevin’s neck.
Kevin shivered and wrapped an arm around Awais, the other reaching down instead. “Later,” he agreed. “And maybe after that, a date.”
“That sounds good,” said Awais as Kevin’s hand stroked his belly before catching the head of his cock and rubbing his thumb over its slickness. “I’d like that a lot.”
Epilogue
Awais hadn’t been sure what to expect when Fatima had tried to explain the Swanley May Day festival to him. Dancing and food, he understood. Bonfires, sure. But a big pole people wove ribbons around? It all sounded a little bit Wicker Man to him. He was sure she was right, that he’d attended a few of them as a child, but he’d remember something like this.
The whole town had come out, a bigger crowd by far than the New Year’s Eve party, and after the dancing and music had quieted down, he’d settled in a chair to watch.
Fatima was signing with Ray in the flickering light of the bonfire, too far away from him to parse. Joe Mitchell’s nephew was dancing with a group of small children. Maurice had disappeared into the shadows an hour ago with a man Awais didn’t recognize and had not reemerged.
The chair beside him creaked and he glanced over to smile at Kevin. In the three months they’d been trying this relationship out, he’d only come to like him more. Kevin was suave when he wanted to be, impatient with bullshit, easily annoyed, and sometimes absolutely brilliant. He was just enough of an asshole that Awais didn’t get bored with him, but with a sweet center that melted Awais when it showed.
“Having fun?” he asked.
Kevin leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, his lips warm against Awais’s skin. “I’m going to regret some of those dance moves tomorrow,” he admitted. “But yes. Are you?”
Awais nodded. “Rana wants to invite us over for brunch in the morning,” he said. “She and Marianne are cooking, but she wants us to bring champagne.”
“I like the sound of that,” said Kevin. “You look ready to fall asleep right here.”
Awais shrugged. “I’m comfortable. I’m almost fifty, you know. I’m getting to that napping age.”
“You’re an asshole,” said Kevin fondly.
“I know,” said Awais. “You like me anyway.”
“I really do,” said Kevin. He looked up at the sound of footsteps. Awais followed his gaze. Kathy and Ray were trooping over, carrying folding chairs.
“May we join you?” asked Kathy.
Awais waved in welcome. In the distance, children roasted marshmallows and let out indistinct squeals.
“I just talked to Joe,” said Kevin. “He said he wants you on his route more often.”
“Tell him to tell Lorraine to stop hogging the overtime, and I will,” said Awais, laughing. “I’d love to see him more often.”
Ray shook his head. “I hope I’m half as energetic at eighty as Joe is at nearly a hundred.”
Kevin eyed him. “Ray, you’re not that spry now, and you’re barely sixty.”
Kathy burst out laughing as Kevin looked smug and Ray sputtered. “He’s not wrong,” she said, still chuckling. “At least Joe’s seen a vegetable in the last decade.”
As the two of them bickered back and forth, Awais caught sight of Marianne and Rana across the bonfire from them, heads bent together and bodies curved into each other. Beside him, Kevin took his hand and squeezed it.
“I’m glad you came back to Swanley,” he said quietly, low enough that it was only for Awais’s ears. “I’m glad I met you. I’m glad you’re here.”
“It’s a good place,” said Awais. “I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned over and kissed Kevin’s cheek, then rested his head against Kevin’s shoulder. In front of them, the fire crackled, the first fireflies of the warm spring flickered to life around them, and Awais finally felt like he was home.
Acknowledgements
First of all, as always, I couldn’t have done this without my spouse, Mike, my first editor and best cheerleader. Thanks as well to the Human Interaction discord, who kept me accountable and functional during *waves hands* all of this. Thanks to Tasha, who gave this a fantastic scrubbing and who loves Swanley as much as I do! And I couldn’t have done this without the folks at the post office, both my fellow staff and our customers: you’ve inspired me and infuriated me in equal measure. Sorry I stole all your names for this town.
About the Author
Valentine lives in Boston with her partner and child. She mails things all day and writes all night. She serves as Fiction Editor and Logistics Manager for Wizards in Space Literary Magazine, and will someday have a garden that actually makes vegetables.
Her life’s ambition is to eat the cuisine of every single country.
Twitter
@ghostalservice
Other NineStar books by this author
Checked Baggage: A Thanksgiving Romance
Surface Tension
No Parking
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