True Blue
Page 24
“You go too far, barbarian!” Blue gasped as Heydn fondled his rising shaft.
“Goddess help me!” Peyton exclaimed as his head appeared through the hatch. “Are you two still playing that lame Barbarian and the Slave Boy game?”
“Yes, yes we are,” Heydn said. “Or we were, until you interrupted.”
“The film is starting.”
“You came all the way up here to tell us that?”
“Well, I beg your pardon,” Peyton started back down. “I thought you’d like to be included, that’s all. Forgive me for intruding in my own house.”
Blue laughed and Peyton looked up at him from the bottom of the ladder, gladdened by the sound of his friend’s laughter. “Come on,” Peyton said. “You can canoodle later.”
“Hollywood has ruined your vocabulary,” Blue said, as he started down. “Canoodle? Really? I don’t believe I’ve ever canoodled and it doesn’t sound like something I’d like to try.”
“What an accomplished liar you’ve become,” Peyton replied. “You should’ve stuck with acting.”
Blue shook his head as he watched Heydn descend. “Two experiences with the film-making machinery in front of the camera were enough for me. It’s much more fun making pixel monsters and heroes.” “Well, it seems to suit the both of you and Heydn still has an excellent bubble butt.”
Heydn stuck his ass out before he stepped off the ladder. “It’s what’s kept us together,” he said. “Blue just can’t get enough of that bubble stuff.”
“It’s true,” Blue shrugged. “I’m his sexual slave.”
“Yeah, I can see how you’re suffering by that cloying aura of lovey-doveyness that surrounds you. And I’m jealous as hell, of course.”
“I don’t know,” Heydn said. “I think I see a little light in your eyes when you and Rolly connect across the room.”
Blue gave Peyton a hug. “Me too.”
“I don’t want to jinx it by hoping too hard, but I feel the same way.” Peyton led the way back down the stairs. “Rolly’s so different now. He takes charge, you know?”
Heydn raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Blue.
“Oh, stop it,” Peyton said without looking over his shoulder. “Come and watch my tribute and try to be decent in public, will you? Just because the lights are off doesn’t mean you’re obligated to canoodle.”
“Good one,” Heydn smirked as they joined the rest of the group.
Blue groaned. “Great. Now I’m going to have to hear this ridiculous word in all its permutations.”
“You love it when Heydn teases you.” Peyton kissed Blue’s cheek and went to the projector.
Heydn found a seat and patted his knee.
“You don’t think I’m going to sit on your lap, do you?”
“Please?” Blue settled himself across Heydn’s thighs with an arm around Heydn’s neck. Heydn supported Blue’s back with one arm and draped the other across Blue’s legs. Despite Blue’s protest, he was happy to sit so close to Heydn and he didn’t feel self-conscious about it among his friends. He snuggled in and Heydn automatically held him a little tighter, turning his head to kiss Blue just below the jawline as the lights dimmed. Caught in the spell of Peyton’s talent and the fellowship of the group, Blue and Heydn felt a resurgence, a reaffirmation of the love that had never faltered in ten years together.
“Thanks for taking me back,” Heydn whispered in Blue’s ear.
“Thanks for never making me regret it.” Blue’s eyes glimmered in the scant light as he turned to look at Heydn.
“Want to make it official and legally binding?”
“You’re such a romantic.” “Shhhhhhh,” Peyton shushed them.
Blue stifled a snicker. “Okay,” he said, his breath warm on Heydn’s ear.
“You’re not shittin’ me?” Heydn said loudly.
“Come on!” Peyton yelled.
“Sorry, but I think Blue just accepted my long-standing proposal to make him an honest man.”
“I did,” Blue managed to say before Heydn swept him into his arms. To the applause and cheers of their friends, Heydn and Blue made a vow with their kiss. It was the same promise they made to each other each time they kissed, but this time, it included the people they loved most in the world. When their lips finally parted, little Annabelle informed Blue that he should stop kissing Heydn because she was going to marry him. Her pout became more pronounced when the grown-ups laughed. Heydn picked her up and gave her a kiss and a wink before her mommy took her to the kitchen for the instantly accepted husband substitute of chocolate ice cream. Glasses were filled, toasts were made, and Blue and Heydn basked in the golden nimbus of camaraderie.
And when the evening drew to a close, they pledged their love with their bodies once more and fell asleep in a joyous tangle. The moon shone in their window, a silver sentinel keeping watch through the night, reviewing an army of stars, until the sun returned to duty with the dawn.
Life was good, and there was still so much of it left to be lived.
Connie Bailey I was born on an Air Force base and I’ve been in flight ever since. My father took the family with him wherever he was stationed; Spain, Morocco, Turkey, and Alaska were among his postings. While studying commercial arts, I married a musician who turned out to be a pilot in disguise. Having no burning ambition of my own at the time, I devoted myself to his dream. His job as aircraft designer and competition pilot has taken us all over the world. I have now set foot on almost every continent (a personal life ambition), but I don’t hold out much hope for Antarctica anymore.
I have always loved to read. Since I was four, reading has been my favorite diversion and books my best friends. A few years ago, with my husband’s support, I set out to become a writer. I wrote every day and posted what I wrote at various Internet groups and later on LiveJournal. I cannot recommend this school of writing highly enough. The candid feedback I received was invaluable to my development. I kept working at it, and one day I received the most exciting e-mail ever. A publisher wanted to talk to me.
That’s pretty much it so far. There are a few fun facts like: my only child is a rescued Greyhound named Lizard, I live at a small grass airfield with a hang gliding school, I have what’s commonly referred to as a “photographic memory”, I collect words as a hobby, and my only nickname is “The Judge”.