Constructing the Soul

by Annabella Michaels

  “Show me that you’re mine,” I told him.

  Flames burned in his eyes as he snatched the condom from my hand and crawled down the bed. I lifted my head to watch as he grabbed the bottle of lube and poured some onto his fingers. He wrapped his lips around the head of my dick at the same time his arm reached around behind him. I could tell the moment his fingers found their mark because he groaned low in his throat, the vibrations sending delicious sensations down the length of me.

  My cock grew harder, almost to the point of being painful as I watched him rocking back and forth, pleasuring himself while also pleasuring me. When I couldn’t take it one more second, I reached under his arms and dragged him up my body.

  “I need to be inside you. I need to feel a part of you that no one else will ever touch,” I whispered, not caring how vulnerable it made me sound.

  Akio’s expression was serious and his eyes never left mine as he slid the condom down my cock and slicked it with lube. His legs straddled my sides as he lowered himself onto me. I saw him struggle to relax enough to take me all the way, but still his eyes remained locked on mine. He eased down slowly until his ass rested on my lap. He sighed and it was the sound of home and love and finally. He reached for my hands and I held them out to him, threading my fingers with his.

  “Every single part of me, everything I have to give, is yours and no one else’s,” he promised.

  “I know. I knew all along, I just needed to be reminded,” I told him.

  “Good,” he said and my eyes rolled up inside my head as he began to rock his hips back and forth. He continued that for several minutes, each of us relishing the feeling of our bodies being joined together. Suddenly he stopped and my eyes sprung open, only to find his face inches away from mine.

  “Who do you belong to, Morgan Greene?” he asked, throwing my words back at me.

  “You, always you,” I swore. A devilish smirk formed on his lips and he leaned down so his mouth was next to my ear.

  “Show me,” Akio whispered.

  My body suddenly felt like it was on fire and I quickly pulled him off of me and flipped him over so that he was on his stomach, ass in the air. My hand came down hard across his backside and he moaned as his body jerked.

  “Yes, please, Morgan, more,” he cried.

  I lined my cock up at his entrance and my hand flew through the air, connecting with his flesh at the same time I slammed into him. Akio screamed his pleasure and his hands clawed at the sheets as he tried to find something to anchor him. I grabbed his wrists and pulled them behind his back, clasping them in one of my hands as I continued to thrust in and out of him.

  He continued begging me for more until his words turned into incoherent little whimpers and I felt my balls drawing up tight against my body. I adjusted my angle, guaranteeing that I’d hit his prostate with every forward thrust and he screamed at the exact moment I felt him tighten around me, squeezing my cock in a viselike grip.

  I shouted his name as my orgasm hit and I spilled over into the condom, wishing for a day when even that wouldn’t come between us. I knew it would though, with a surety that I’d never felt before. It was as if through that experience, we’d found a way to connect with each other on an even deeper level and the burdens of the past no longer carried the same weight.

  I cleaned us both up and then curled around Akio and held him as we both drifted off to sleep. I knew that no matter what else came our way, we would face it together. We’d weathered a storm of monstrous proportions that night and we’d come out the victors.

  Akio fought a laugh as he helped straighten my tie, but the twitching of his lips gave him away. My hands were on his hips and every time I dipped my head forward to get a kiss, he’d pull back, just out of my reach, teasing me. I tried again and growled as he darted out of the way.

  He yelped as I yanked him towards me, sliding a hand around the back of his neck and pressed our lips together. Our tongues swirled around each other and I felt him melt into me. After a few minutes, I released him, pleased at the dazed look in his eyes. He shook his head as if to clear it and then finished fixing my tie.

  “There, all done. Tell me what you think,” he said, admiring his handiwork. I stood up from where I’d been leaning against the bathroom sink and turned to look in the mirror.

  “It’s perfect,” I replied, looking at his reflection instead of my own. He blushed when he caught my stare. He was dressed in a black suit with a pale purple shirt and a tie that was a deeper shade of purple. I thought he looked stunning, but I still would’ve rather seen him out of the suit.

  I checked my hair quickly, and ran my hands down the front of my tie. I was also dressed in a black suit, but I was wearing the blue shirt and darker blue tie that Akio had picked out for me. He’d been excited to choose my outfit for the day, saying that we needed to look our very best because it wasn’t every day that we got to go to a wedding at a mega-mansion. I wasn’t sure what the big deal was since Lachlan and Rylie had only invited their closest friends and they’d managed to keep the paparazzi from finding out so there was little chance of getting our picture taken, but it was a big deal to Akio so I went along with it and let him dress me.

  It had been a month since the incident at the club and Akio still hadn’t spoken to Garrett, not that he hadn’t tried. At first, I’d baulked at the idea of Garrett being anywhere near him, but then I noticed how sad Akio looked whenever he mentioned his friend and I realized that I was being selfish. I told Akio that his happiness meant more to me than anything else and if keeping Garrett as a friend was that important to him, then I would understand and support him.

  Akio had shown his appreciation many times that night and the next day he’d begun calling Garrett. He’d left dozens of voicemails and text messages, but he hadn’t responded. I hugged Akio and told him to be patient, that Garrett probably just needed some time, but a part of me wondered. All I knew was that I hated seeing Akio so upset.

  Garrett was the only dark blemish on our otherwise happy life together. Akio and I had moved the rest of his things into the cabin the day after the club fiasco and he’d let his landlord know that he was giving up his lease. I’d asked him if he was alright with moving outside of the city and he assured me that he already thought of the cabin as home and that he’d gotten used to the quiet at night. Then he’d informed me, in a very sassy tone, that I would just have to agree to be his errand boy if he got a craving for sushi in the middle of the night since there were no sushi restaurants that would deliver that far out. I’d agreed and then proceeded to spank the sass right out of him.

  The Agape House project was nearly complete with only a few finishing touches needed before I could schedule the final inspection. Everyone had been busily preparing for the grand opening, set for two weeks from then.

  I held Akio’s hand as we left the house and on the way to the wedding. I blew out a puff of air as I pulled past the iron gate and got my first look at Lachlan and Rylie’s home. The place looked like it belonged on the cover of Forbes magazine and I finally understood why Akio had been so excited to go there.

  The wedding was held in the backyard where white silk had been draped throughout the trees, creating an elaborate canopy overhead. It was small and intimate and perfect for the couple who didn’t seem to like having attention drawn to themselves. When the preacher asked who was giving the grooms away, Kerry and Benjamin, the older couple who I’d been told were like parents to Lachlan growing up and then to Rylie as well, stood together and presented the two men to each other.

  Micah stood beside Lachlan and Rylie’s bandmate, Steve, stood beside him as the grooms exchanged their vows. I squeezed Akio’s hand as we listened to them promise to be each other’s strength in times of weakness and to fill their home with love and joy and children. Everyone laughed when Rylie amended that maybe not every room needed to be filled with children, considering the size of their home.

  There wasn’t a dry eye in the house though as Micah sa
id a few words in memory of Lachlan’s brother, Spencer, who had died while serving in the military, followed by Lachlan and Rylie lighting a candle in his honor.

  The reception was held near the massive swimming pool with tables and chairs set up along its edges and beautiful white candles floating on top of the water. Caterers served a delicious dinner and a live band provided quiet background music. We stayed until late into the evening, everyone content just to talk and spend time together, until I noticed Akio yawning into his hand and then we excused ourselves and headed home.

  I lay in the dark, long after he’d fallen asleep on my chest, running my fingers through his hair and thinking over the perfect evening we’d had. Listening to Lachlan and Rylie recite their vows and seeing the love and happiness between them had started a yearning inside of me, a longing for something…more. Akio mumbled something in his sleep and then burrowed his face into my neck and in the wee hours of the night, with the sound of Akio breathing evenly in my ear, an idea began to take shape.

  I hung up my phone and sighed before starting my car and pulling away from the curb. I’d been running errands all morning and decided to try calling Garrett again, just as I had every day for the last month and a half, but like each of my previous attempts, it went straight to his voicemail.

  I hadn’t told Travis or Jasper what had happened, figuring that it should be Garrett’s decision to tell them if he wanted them to know, but I had asked if they’d heard from him. Garrett had told them that he was very busy working towards a deadline and couldn’t be disturbed. They’d bought his story because they didn’t have any reason not to, but I knew better; I knew he was avoiding me and it hurt.

  My mind raced with questions like had I done or said something to lead him on or that would make him think I felt the same way. When had his feelings for me started and why? Could our friendship survive what had happened? I’d turned those questions and more over in my head until I had begun to make myself crazy. There was only one person who had the answers, but he was refusing to speak to me. My phone rang just as I was finishing up at the bank and I fished it out of my pocket as I unlocked my car and climbed inside.

  “Hey, sexy!” I said.

  “Hey, baby! I missed waking up with you this morning.” My heart skipped a beat at the sound of Morgan’s deep voice through the phone.

  “Believe me, getting out of a bed that I’d been sharing with my warm and snuggly man was the last thing I wanted to do, but I had a million errands to run before the grand opening later,” I explained.

  “Well, it just so happens that I had some errands of my own to run. I’m in the city if you have time to meet me for a cup of coffee,” he said and I smiled for the first time that day. Any time I got to spend with Morgan sounded perfect to me. He wasn’t far from where I was so I told him to sit tight and I’d be there soon.

  I parked along the curb near the coffee shop and made sure I had my phone before locking my car and walking up the sidewalk. I pulled the heavy door open and breathed in the delicious aroma of freshly ground coffee. It wasn’t too busy at that time of day and my eyes scanned the few patrons for Morgan. My eyes widened though when they landed on Garrett instead.

  He was sitting at a small table at the back of the shop and he quickly stood when he saw me. He started walking towards me and I swallowed hard, my head turning from one side to the other in search of Morgan. I knew he was fine with me talking to Garrett, but I didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings if he were to walk in and find me with the man who had kissed me.

  “Don’t worry, Morgan’s okay with us being here. In fact, he’s the one who set this whole thing up,” Garrett explained.

  “He did?” I asked, shocked. Garrett motioned for me to sit down and so I joined him at the table. A waitress came over and took our order and then left. He had dark circles under his eyes like he hadn’t slept in days, or even longer and he looked thinner than usual.

  “Yeah, Morgan started pounding on my door early this morning and basically told me that I needed to get my head out of my ass and talk things out with you before I lost you for good. Then he said some other things, but I’m not going to repeat them. Suffice it to say, your boyfriend can be a scary man when he wants to be and he has some pretty strange ideas about where he can shove his foot.” I chuckled and Garrett smiled although it didn’t reach his eyes.

  “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you,” I said.

  “I wasn’t ready to talk yet. I’m still not, but I owe you some answers,” he said quietly.

  The waitress came back with our coffees and placed them in front of us on the table. I picked mine up and held it in my hands to give them something to do. Garrett paid closer attention than necessary to the stir stick in his cup.

  “Did I cause all of this? Was it something I did wrong?” The questions that had been plaguing me ever since that night came out before I could stop them. Garrett looked up in surprise and his eyes softened when he saw my distress.

  “Yes and no, Akio,” he answered and I felt even more confused than before. “Yes, it’s because of you, but no, you didn’t do anything wrong. My feelings for you started simply because of who you are; an amazing, kind, funny, and gorgeous man,” he whispered. We stared at each other for a few seconds and then we both dropped our gazes to the table.

  “When?” I breathed. I didn’t have to say anymore because I knew Garrett would understand.

  “I’m not sure when exactly. You and I have always been close. For some reason, I’ve found it easier to talk to you than just about anyone else in the world and I guess somewhere along the way, the connection I’d always felt with you turned into more.” He shrugged his shoulders. I remained quiet, letting him tell me in his own way and time.

  “I kept waiting for the right time to say something, but I was afraid of ruining things between us,” he admitted with a humorless laugh. “Then Morgan came into the picture and I could see how much you liked him and it scared me. It scared me because I could feel you slipping further and further away. When I saw you at the club that night and saw how close you and Morgan had gotten, I knew that if I didn’t take a chance and tell you how I felt that I’d regret it forever. Turns out, I do anyway,” he murmured.

  My heart ached as I watched my friend struggling. I wanted to go to him and hug him and that’s exactly what I would have done in the past, but because of what had happened that night at the club, there was a wall between us, a line that couldn’t be crossed. I hated it, but I respected it too.

  “You know I care about you, right? You’re my friend and I love you,” I said, looking at him so he’d see how much I meant it. He looked back at me and I saw sadness in his eyes.

  “Just not the way I want you to, right?” His gaze held with mine as if challenging me to deny it.

  “No,” I whispered. He nodded his head, his lips pressed into a thin line.

  “I need to get going,” he said suddenly and I grabbed his wrist without thinking, afraid that would be the last time I’d see him.

  “Where are you going?” He looked down at where my hand held his wrist and I let go, sliding my hand back.

  “I’m not sure. I need some time away from everybody and everything,” he told me.

  “Will you be back?” I asked and my voice sounded scratchy around the tears I was holding in.

  “Do you want me to?” His head tilted as he studied my reaction.

  “Of course, I do. You’re my friend, you idiot,” I blurted without thinking. Garrett laughed and that time it sounded genuine.

  “Then I’ll be back. Eventually,” he agreed. I watched him as he got up to leave, but then he stopped and stared down at me. He seemed to be weighing his next words carefully.

  “I’m really sorry if I caused any problems between you and Morgan,” he said.

  “We’ll be alright,” I assured him and he sighed.

  “Good. You’re a great guy, Akio, and you deserve to be happy.” Garrett bent down and kissed my fore
head, just a gentle sweep of his lips and then he was gone.

  I sat there for a while. My heart felt heavy, yet a little lighter after talking to him. I hoped that Garrett would be okay and that we’d be able to reestablish our friendship at some point, but only time would tell. I took a sip of my coffee and grimaced when I found that it had turned cold. I stood up and walked towards the door, the sunlight hitting my face as I stepped out onto the sidewalk. I took a deep breath, a small smile beginning at the edges of my mouth. Garrett had told me to be happy and I knew just where to start.

  I stood in the shower and let the warm water beat down on me, easing the tension in my muscles. I’d come home and taken one look at Morgan’s loving face and I’d fallen apart, the emotions of the day overwhelming me. He let me cry on him until there were no more tears and then he listened as I told him everything that had happened between me and Garrett.

  I could see the worry in Morgan’s eyes that he’d done the wrong thing by getting Garrett to meet me at the coffee shop so I’d rushed to assure him. If he hadn’t gotten Garrett to talk to me, he may have taken off without a word and I may not have ever heard from him again. As painful as it had been to see my friend in pain, at least I’d had the chance to try and smooth things over and to let him know I cared and with any luck, Garrett would come back someday.

  I tilted my head and sighed as Morgan’s lips pressed against the side of my neck. He reached around me and poured soap into his palm then began lathering my skin, washing my stress away. I leaned my head back on his shoulder and closed my eyes, just letting the feel of his hands on my skin soothe the jagged edges of my soul and put me back together. His hands moved lower and I gasped as he wrapped his soapy hand around my cock. My hips punched forward of their own accord and I slid through his tight grip and then back again.

  His palm splayed across my stomach and then moved up to tweak my nipple as his fist continued to stroke me. I moaned loudly and the sound echoed around the walls of the shower. Morgan’s hand moved faster and his grip tightened around my shaft and then loosened with a twist of his wrist every time he reached the head.