Because of You

by David Horne

  "This place I found, I stepped inside, this place was small but could easily be homey. It had a big kitchen that begged to be filled with the smell of tasty cooking. It even had a fireplace to cuddle in front of. It has a bedroom to fall asleep in, in the arms of a loved one but see Tom, this place only needs one last thing to make it truly home." Zack looked into Tom's eyes.

  "What does this place need?" Tom's voice cracked with the thick emotion it carried.

  "You. It needs you, Tom. I need you to be there when I get home, I need you to fill the kitchen with the smell of your amazing food and fill my body with its warmth. I need you next to me as the fireplace crackles and pops with burning wood, making the whole house warm. I need you to hold me at night, keep my nightmares at bay as you keep me safe. I need you to be home, Tom." Zack's speech had the whole room in an emotional state of smiles and tears.

  Tom's heart felt like it was about to burst through his chest with joy, he slowly took the keys from Zack's hand and pulled the man close to kiss him full on the lips. The room cheered as the two separated and smiled at each other.

  "I'd love to make a home with you."

  Chapter Eleven

  The chirping of birds was the first thing to wake Tom up. It took him a while to fully wake up as he usually did on a Sunday, his only day off. The next detail to filter through his sleep filled mind was someone jogging past with very hard footfalls, someone who only just started to jog probably.

  Movement next to him, made Tom aware that Zack had not left the bed to go for his own daily jog. Seemed it was a lazy day for everyone. Light started to slip into the room, making it as light as it could be with the thick curtains drawn shut.

  It was enough to slowly get his eyes to peel open, one before the other, a small frown marring his brows as he blinked the sleepiness from his eyes. He was met with a dark mop of hair, the crown on Zack’s head right under his nose.

  With a smile, Tom pulled Zack closer and snuggled a bit deeper into the sheets. For his efforts he got a gravelly groan and a face rubbed into his chest. Nothing was said after that, they just slowly woke up in each other’s arms as the world around them did the same.

  Tom soon got busy with ideas on what to make for breakfast, Sunday breakfast was always special as it was the day that they could spend the whole day together. Just relax and maybe go to a market nearby to scour for new ingredients or just some inspiration.

  So caught up in his idea for what to make for breakfast, Tom didn’t realize that Zack was now looking up at him, those golden-brown eyes gleaming with mischief.

  The sudden slide of a hand up his chest, collarbone and up his neck made Tom look down to see Zack looking up at him with a smile on his face.

  “Good morning.” Zack greeted with a sleepy smile, the same smile he had been giving Tom for over three years now. The same smile Tom felt his day would be ruined without. A smile he loved to kiss every morning. Slow and deep, morning breath be damned.

  Zack would always throw oil onto the slow burning fire that was Tom’s desire for his husband. The man he had married a few months after officially dating.

  Tom had decided to do something private, something with just the two of them. It was the same kind of day as today, a relaxed Sunday. Tom had snuck out of bed that morning, he had made sure that Zack would be asleep for a while the night before, he made sure the man orgasmed at least three times before allowing him to pass out with one final sloppy kiss goodnight.

  It worked as Tom had more than enough time to make a few heart-shaped pancakes, fresh coffee and some fresh fruit. He made a plate full enough so that they both could eat from it but made sure to make a special strawberry. He chopped off the tip so it could stand up on its own, he then hallowed the strawberry. He placed the all-important ring into the strawberry, making sure the right part of the ring was on top.

  Tom had placed the lid of the strawberry down so it showed that it was cut, he didn’t want Zack to think the berry was to be eaten whole. After making a good stack of pancakes, placing fruit around the pancakes and also a small wall for the important Strawberry to use as a crutch to remain upwards, a small bowl filled with honey. Two cups of coffee and he was ready to go. He slowly ventured up the stairs as slow and steady as possible.

  By the time he was in the bedroom Zack was halfway sitting up, rubbing his eyes with a curled fist. His neck and chest were littered with bite marks and love bites, his hair was a mess, the long tresses were all mused and standing in which ever direction. He was adorable.

  Zack’s face brightened when he saw the pancakes. He shuffled around to allow Tom to put the tray between them but facing Zack. The man’s mind was always been one to wake up fast. He noticed the odd strawberry instantly and looked up at Tom with a questioning look swimming in his eyes. Tom just gave an indulgent smile but didn’t say anything, he merely watched as Zack slowly reached for the strawberry with a slightly trembling hand.

  The sudden intake of breath Zack gave when he saw the ring made Tom feel his heart was going to break free from his chest. Tom watched as Zack slowly took out the ring, it was made out a gunmetal, a smaller band of silver was in the middle, the silver band had a chain pattern engraved into it, the chain connected to a single diamond.

  “I remember you telling me that you wanted to wake up to me every day, go to bed with me as the last thing you see and that you’d love me until you’re dust and even beyond. Well see, I wanted that too, I’m so incredibly happy to have you in my arms every night, that I see you every morning, we eat breakfast and dinner together. We made this place our home. There is only one thing I need from you Zack.” Voice filled with emotion, Tom reached over and stroked Zack’s scarred cheek.

  Clearing his throat a few times to dislodge the lump in his throat stopping him from speaking, he got it cleared enough to croak out.

  “And what’s that?”

  “I need you to say yes, I need you in my life in such a way that no one could ever doubt what I feel for you. I want to be yours officially and I would hope that you share the want to be mine too. Zack Mason, my question for you is this. Will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”

  The silence in the room was as if the very room was holding its breath in anticipation for the answer.

  Zack gave Tom his left hand, his mouth moving to say yes but his voice was stuck in his throat unable to come out with the sheer happiness he was feeling. Tom seemed to understand however as a large smile, bigger than any grin Zack had ever seen on Tom’s face blinded him with its brilliance. The ring was luckily not covered in strawberry juice on the inside, it slipped onto Zack’s finger and looked right at home.

  Lifting the tray up and to the side, Zack climbed into Tom’s lap and held his face as he showered kisses all over it, a smile he couldn’t wipe off his lips as he went. Tom flopped back, taking Zack with him, to keep him close, to kiss him deeply.

  After the kiss they ate and fed each other. Once breakfast was finished, the tray was placed on the ground scooted farther with a foot before Tom shoved Zack back and kissed him deeply again, only this time with more heat.

  They only wore sleep pants to bed so they were easy to slip down muscular thighs, soon breathing became labored as Tom kissed his way down Zack’s chest, giving each scar, no matter how small, a kiss. He nipped and licked his way down Zack’s stomach, dipped his tongue into his belly button, feeling the muscles shift, jump and quiver.

  Going lower he was finally at his destination. Zack’s dick was leaking precum down the hard shaft.

  Not wasting a moment more, Tom went to town and licked the dripping precum from the root to tip, swirling his tongue around the head before dipping his tongue into the slit like he did with Zack’s belly button before, it got the desired result, Zack arching his back and groaning deep in his throat.

  “T-tom I want more.” Zack groaned and tugged at Tom’s hair to get him to release. Tom pulled back with a pop, licked his lips and smiled at Zack, he rummaged in the sheets
, from what he remembered the bottle of lube was around the bottom of the sheets. He found it and sat up. He wasted no time in lubing his straining dick with lube after shoving his pants off.

  Zack hiked his legs up so his calves rested on Tom’s shoulders. Gripping the strong thighs tightly, Tom released one to guide himself back into the still loose hole. Zack hissed slightly at how sensitive he was. The pace was slow and deep, Zack tugged Tom closer, his legs falling on either side of Tom’s waist. Tom leaned forward and plundered Zack’s mouth with his tongue, making sure to go to every nook and cranny, making Zack moan louder as the speed of his hips increased till the sound of slapping skin was heard.

  Their love making ended as it always did, them as a pile of sweaty limbs and cum leaking out of Zack.

  Their wedding was low key

  They made it personal, small with their guest list. They chose to hold their wedding in a small venue near some woods, their scheme all nudes, greens and a splash of silver. Zack wore a dark green suit with a black button up and a light cream tie while Tom wore a black suit, cream button up shirt and a dark green tie. They both looked so handsome and there were tears all around when the vows were said.

  Zack looked up at Tom, Tom looking more visibly nervous than Zack but he cleared his throat and took Zack’s hands in his.

  “I can still remember seeing you for the first time, looking out of the window to see the new neighbors. I remember thinking that you were the type of cute where old ladies would pinch your cheeks.” That got him a burst of chuckles and an eye roll from Zack, lips still pulled into a fond smile.

  “Then I got to know the boy next door. I got to know that you are so smart, brave and such a good friend that I couldn’t help but slowly fall in love with you. When you were to leave for the battlefield I was hit with the fact that I might lose you, I knew that I had to tell you how I felt and you made my life when you came back to tell me that you love me too. Zack, you are the love of my life, I can’t live without you, you make my life full of smiles, jokes and laughter. I know that there will be times where we don’t see eye to eye and we will argue but I want you to know that I will always love you no matter what life throws at us.” Tom coughed again when he saw the glassy look in Zack’s eyes.

  Zack rubbed his thumb over the back of Tom’s hands.

  “I made mistakes, I made choices out of comfort instead of having the courage to say what I really felt, to do what I always wanted to do but after going to the army, having friends there tell me that what I feel was worth more than I gave it. You were more than what I could ever hope to find. In the hardest time where I thought I could and probably would die, you were the one to keep me going. Even now that I’m no longer in a battlefield situation, you make me feel safe when my mind becomes too much at times. You are my harbor when the winds of life threaten to blow me away, you hold me close and keep me safe. You’re what keeps me sane, your love for me was my lighthouse in coming home. Without you, I’d be a lost soul. I love you with all my being.”

  There wasn’t a dry eye in the building, even the pastor marrying them had to swipe at a rebel tear.

  The reception was also low key, muted shades and an abundance of greenery, it was open and had a big dance floor. Helen had made their wedding cake with glee, she made it two tiers with an ombre from dark green at the bottom to a pale green up top with pale creamed color buttercream piped roses and leaves.

  What brought more tears was the slideshow of photos of those who had fallen and could no longer be with them, honoring them. Zack stood straight with all his other army buddies, all standing at attention and saluting at the screen that was playing the photos.

  After tissues were used to dry the tears, more happy times came as dinner was served and cake was eaten, the DJ did his thing and they danced the rest of the night away.

  Zack and Tom took a weekend long honeymoon.

  When they came back it was to the invitation to Cassandra’s wedding. They were more than happy to go.

  Steve and Taylor married shortly after. They adopted a kid of their own, Cody and Maria got married a year or so after. After saving up enough money to have a lovely private wedding and only four months after that gave the news to an expecting baby girl. They called her Rose and she was loved by them all.

  Greg had tried to make amends in doing small things at a time. He took what had happened and everything everyone said to him to heart and did some soul searching, realizing he was not a person that was actually liked and he was heading down a path that would be a lonely end.

  He stopped his late-night partying and went back to college to finish his degree, he passed with honors. He quickly got a good job, made a name for himself in the business industry by shooting up the corporate ladder.

  It was where he met his future wife, Miranda. She was a woman who took no-nonsense but had a heart of gold. They were the next to marry. Greg had asked Zack to be his best man, a roll Zack accepted with joy.

  Rebecca had tried a few times more to come between Zack and Tom. She continued to party and get involved with the wrong people. Sadly, her free-spirited lifestyle came to a crashing halt. Quite literally. She had been out drinking with her friends. Losing control of the car was bound to happen, but Zack in the past has always nagged her to buckle her seatbelt had stuck with her, even in her drunken state.

  Being the only one to survive a car crash seemed to shock the woman into seeing her life was going nowhere fast.

  After being released from the hospital, she knocked on Zack's door that same night, still battered and bruised. When Zack opened the door, he was shocked to see the state of Rebecca and asked if she was okay. Zack was soon followed by Tom, who asked the same question before Rebecca could answer Zack.

  "Can I come in?"

  Neither Zack nor Tom had the heart to say no, and so they found themselves in the kitchen, each with a cup of tea.

  "I know this might sound silly, considering everything, but I…" Rebecca rubbed her arms, honestly lucky to have all four limbs. She shivered as she remembered the bits and pieces of the crash.

  Zack leaned forward and gently patted her hand. "It's okay, take your time." He spoke in a gentle tone, soft and deep.

  Smiling, Rebecca held her cup again and blew on it softly.

  "I always knew you'd made a good dad."

  Zack and Tom smiled.

  "I just wanted to say thank you. I don't remember much, but somehow, when I was so shit-faced drunk, I… heard your voice… telling me to buckle up. You sounded so annoyed with me, that tone of voice that usually had me complying with what you wanted. It was only used when I was stupid. If I didn't listen to you… Zack, you saved my life. I can never thank you enough for that." Rebecca smiled a little broken smile and drank the last of her tea before placing the cup down and patting Zack's hand.

  She walked out the door, they never saw her again, but through the grapevine, they heard she got her life together as well.

  Zack and Tom’s studies were going swimmingly, they were both giving it their all.

  Tom finished before Zack did as his degree had less years and he started a year early. Once Tom was finished and had gotten his degree, he was snatched up by a fancy restaurant where the chef wanted to mentor Tom into something greater and one day taking over his business as he had no kids himself. Tom took to it like a fish to water.

  Life was seemingly going well; everything was seemingly perfect. Zack had finished his degree soon after but sometimes Tom would catch Zack looking into the guest bedroom with a look of longing. There was something that Zack wanted but had yet to talk to Tom about but he had an inkling he might know what it was.

  Everyone around them were having kids in some shape of form. Zack being an adopted kid himself, Tom wondered if he wanted to give the same happiness to a child.

  One night, while they were lying in bed, Tom turned to Zack and gently took his book from him, placed the place-holder in between the two pages and leaned over Zack to put the book on th
e bedside table.

  “I think there is something you want to ask me, why you have yet to ask me I don’t know but I want you to ask me.” Zack looked Tom in the eye as he spoke, a small smile creeping on his lips.

  Zack shook his head with that ever-lovely fond smile.

  “I want to adopt a kid, we both have good jobs now, you in the restaurant and me working for the government, designing new vehicles for the military. We have a great house and an empty room.” Looking at Zack, Tom saw he had a sad look on his face for a few seconds.

  “I looked at what we would need to do, talked to my parents about it. I was going to bring it up but for some reason it just never felt like the right time.” Admitting it seemed to help Zack release more of what he was holding back.

  “I look around us and everyone has a family and I know that we don’t need to have a kid to be a family but I’ve always wanted a child…” Zack mumbled the last bit into his chin.

  Smiling, Tom scooted over and held Zack to his chest.

  ***

  Tom blinked from his trip down memory lane when the pitter patter of tiny feet came closer to their door. A tap rap noise against the door made them both smile, the tapping continued for another two times before a tiny voice called out.

  “Dada, can I come in?”

  “Yes Adrian.” Zack called out, the moved into a spooning position. Both Zack and Tom faced the door, Tom behind Zack, holding him close. The door opened and a little dark blonde-haired boy came in, his eyes, big doe brown eyes. He was around five years old now, they had gotten him just as he was about to turn five. The little boy walked up to the bed and blinked at Zack.

  Smiling, Zack lifted the sheet and chuckled when little Adrian hopped into the bed, scooted closer and cuddled up to his t-shirt clad chest, all in a matter of seconds.

  Clutched to his own superhero themed PJs was a small plush toy. It was a panda with a pair of big eyes. It was the first thing Zack had gotten Adrian, not the toy itself but getting it fixed was. They had been on their trail period with Adrian when the old panda plush toy finally ripped open. Adrian was beside himself as he cried hysterically.