by Harper Logan
Adrian took Chandler’s face in his hands, and gently pulled him into a kiss. “I do know. I do know, because I feel the same way for you.”
As Chandler grinned, a few more tears sparkled down his cheeks. “Where is she?” he asked. “Where do we need to go?”
“West Point. New York.”
“That’s a long drive. We’ll have to make a weekend of it.”
“I’ll call them tomorrow morning.”
Chandler had momentarily forgotten about the Duster, and when he remembered he was flooded with another surge of happiness. He grabbed Adrian around the waist and heaved him up in the air. Adrian shouted in surprise and wrapped his legs around Chandler’s waist.
“Woah!”
Chandler grinned up at him. “I think this deserves a celebration. Why don’t we take this to the bedroom?”
Adrian smirked. “I dunno. We aren’t gonna have this tree up for much longer. I think we should enjoy the season while we can.”
“I hear you,” Chandler said, and he craned his neck back for a kiss, still holding him up around his waist. He melted into it, savoring the feeling of Adrian’s lips on his and the tickle of his stubble against his skin. He slowly lowered him down to the floor so that Adrian was straddling his crotch, never breaking from the kiss. He could feel Adrian’s bulging excitement, barely contained by the squeeze of denim that stood between their naked bodies.
As Chandler worked to undo the buttons of Adrian’s shirt, he felt the warm caress of Adrian’s breath on his ear as he kissed and sucked his earlobe. A flick of his tongue sent an electric shiver running down through Chandler’s body, all the way to his cock. He tugged Adrian’s shirt off his chest and dropped it to the floor in front of the Christmas tree. Then, holding the back of Adrian’s neck with a calloused hand, he licked, sucked, and kissed his neck, down to his collarbone and then to his nipples. Adrian moaned softly and tugged Chandler’s shirt free. They hugged each other tightly, feeling the reassuring warmth and press of each other’s bare skin.
They were here, together, safe, and they’d always be together. Their love was a damn miracle. Adrian was a damn miracle. He loved him so much.
Chandler whispered that into his ear. Adrian responded in turn, his voice cut with ragged passion and impatient excitement. Adrian’s hand plunged down to Chandler’s waist, his fingers fumbling eagerly to open his belt. Chandler helped him, pulling open his jeans, and then pushed Adrian down to the floor onto his back with a loud thud. He didn’t need to be gentle. They were military, and gentle took a backseat to fervor. Adrian struggled out of his jeans, kicking them off. Chandler tugged down his underwear, freeing his cock. He ducked down and took him into his mouth, swirling his tongue across his head and tasting the drip of precome waiting for him there. He was delicious. He could never get enough.
Adrian groaned as he pressed his fingers through Chandler’s hair, slowly moving his hips to thrust his cock down his throat. Chandler took him, loving the feeling of his man’s cock. His own dick was aching for Adrian, dying to feel him, and when Adrian breathed out a strained plead for him to fuck him, he wasted no time. Adrian got on his knees and bent over the couch, sticking his ass out for him. Chandler removed his underwear, taking his tumescence into his fist and, after lubricating Adrian, pressed up to his entrance. He pushed in slowly, eyes fluttering back as his warmth engulfed him, squeezing tightly around his cock and drawing him in. With one hand he gripped Adrian’s waist, the other his shoulder, and he thrust into him, going in all the way to the hilt. Adrian tossed his head back and gasped out a moan before throwing a hand over his own mouth.
As he fucked him, Chandler reached around Adrian’s waist and grabbed his cock and stroked it in synchronization with his thrusts. He felt Adrian tighten around him in response, drawing him closer towards an electrifying climax. He gritted his teeth, pounding in hard, doing everything he could to keep himself from coming right then and there. Adrian’s moans were still muffled by his hand, but he had to let go to steady himself. He grabbed on to the couch cushions and bit his lip, trying his hardest to restrain his voice.
Chandler was going to come. He couldn’t hold on any longer. He tried to tell Adrian, but it came out as a labored groan, like some kind of animal. He thrust in hard and deep as the orgasm exploded through his body. At that same moment, Adrian cried out, unable to hold his voice. Chandler felt his cock flex in his hand, and his hot finish spilled out across his fingers.
The two of them collapsed onto the floor together into each other’s arms, their chests heaving with exertion. Chandler’s head swam, and he saw stars flitting around his vision. They reminded him of the swirling snow during the drive to Wolfeboro. Neither of them could speak a word. They sat there trying to catch their breath, staring into each other’s love glazed eyes. They kissed, and pressed their foreheads together.
A smile spread across Adrian’s lips. “Merry Christmas,” he whispered.
9
Adrian buckled April into her car seat in the back of Chandler’s truck. “Are you excited?” he asked her, and she nodded.
“I hope she likes me.”
“I hope so too, honey,” he said. He was trying not to think about it, but in the back of his mind, Adrian couldn’t shake this nagging worry about Koko. She may not even be the dog you and your husband remember. The man’s words echoed in his head.
Adrian wondered what she’d gone through in the years since they’d last seen her, and how the stresses of her service may have changed her. He’d seen what could happen to men in shorter who’d been out there for less time than her. What could that stress do to a dog, especially one who’d lost her hearing? Koko hadn’t been able to be adopted by her handler because she’d responded negatively to his young son. Would it be the same with April?
“What if she doesn’t?” April asked.
“It’s hard to imagine anyone not liking you,” he said, tweaking her on the nose. “Dog, or otherwise. Just give her space. You read those books we got at the store, right?”
“I read them four times.”
“Of course you did. Then you know how to act around her.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright,” he smiled. “Let me see where Daddy is.” He shut the door and turned towards the house. “Chandler! What the hell are you doing in there? We got a long drive, let’s get on the road!”
A moment later, the front door open and Chandler jogged out, duffle bag slung over his shoulder, his boots crunching on the snow. “Yeah,” he said. “Let’s go.”
They hopped in the truck and Chandler fired up the engine, pulling them out of the driveway. The snow had let up the day before and the weather had completely cleared. It was gorgeous Saturday, with blue skies and crisp sun that made the snow twinkle like diamonds. They’d booked a hotel down in West Point, with plans to return to Rosebridge on Sunday—Christmas Eve—hopefully with a new member of the family.
He glanced at Chandler, who’d been oddly fidgety. He seemed nervous, and Adrian reached over and placed a hand on his thigh. “How’re you feeling?”
“Fine,” Chandler said. “Great.”
“Are you excited to see Koko, Daddy?” April asked from the back seat.
“Of course,” Chandler said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her.” He chuckled. “I hope she still even remembers us.”
“After all we’ve been through together? She’ll remember us,” Adrian said, though he wasn’t entirely sure either.
“A dog’s short-term memory is two minutes long,” April said, matter-of-factly.
“Thanks, honey,” Chandler said.
They’d driven a few miles when April said, “I gotta pee.”
“Right now?” Adrian asked. “Why didn’t you say something back at the house?”
“I didn’t have to pee then.”
He sighed. “Fair enough.”
“We’re pretty close to the garage. I’ll just swing by there, real quick.”
They pulled into
the lot, and Adrian went around to get April out of her car seat. “I’ll take care of her,” Chandler said. “Hey, would you do me a favor and roll up the garage door? I wanna check on something.”
“Sure,” Adrian said. He unlocked the office door first and went inside to disarm the security alarm before coming back out open the garage. Chandler and April walked over as he removing the padlock. “Better go pee, honey,” he said, looking at her as he rolled the door up. He turned back to face the garage, and his eyebrows nearly lifted off his forehead. Sitting in the bay was a mint condition, ’72 Plymouth Duster in the same color blue Dad’s had been in. He stared at it open mouthed for a few seconds before turning to Chandler, who was grinning. “Holy shit. When did this thing come in? This wasn’t here yesterday.”
Chandler said nothing, but Adrian was too taken to really care.
He paced around the car, his fingers hovering reverently above the paint, but never touching it. “Damn. This is just like the one my dad used to have. Same exact color, same year. Wow.”
“Why don’t you get in?” Chandler said.
“Get in?”
“Yeah.” Chandler went over and opened up the driver’s door. “See if it brings back any memories sitting inside.”
“Whose car is this, anyway?” Adrian asked, sliding into the driver’s seat. He wrapped his hands around the steering wheel, and then froze when he saw what was sitting on top of the steering column. It was a photo—the photo of him and his father standing next to the Duster. The connections were forming in his head, but they didn’t make any sense. He grabbed the photo and looked at Chandler, who was still grinning. “Wait… Wait, no. No. No.”
“She’s taken a long journey to get back to the family,” Chandler said.
“No, this can’t be the same car,” he said, stunned.
“The very same.” Chandler stuffed a hand in his pocket and pulled out something silver. He tossed it over, and Adrian caught it. He looked at it. It was a key. “And she’s yours. Merry Christmas, Adrian.”
April jumped up onto Adrian’s lap, squealing excitedly. “Merry Christmas, Papa!”
“What…?” Adrian breathed in disbelief. “Oh my god.” He got out of the car, setting April onto the ground, then threw his arms around Chandler. “Oh my god. How the hell is this even possible? How did you find it?”
“I’ll tell you all about it later, but why don’t you start her up?”
Adrian got back in the car. He pushed the key into the ignition, and after a second’s pause, turned it. The engine shuddered and then roared to life. It was amazing how a certain, specific sensation could bring on such strong memories. The sound of the engine, the vibration that pulsed through the seat, the sharp pang of gasoline, all of it brought him back in time to his childhood. He remembered Dad, sitting right where he sat now, smiling down at him in the passenger’s seat. Memories of driving with him came back, the windows down, wind rustling their hair. All those wonderful moments and memories, revitalized with the turn of a key.
And the love of his husband.
Tears flowed down his cheeks, unrestrained. He was crying and laughing at the same time. He revved the engine, and laughed some more. “You’re incredible, Chandler. I don’t even know what to say except, thank you. And, I love you.” He kissed him, again and again. “God, what a Christmas. She’s exactly how I remember her.”
“Let’s see if she feels the same on the road, too,” Chandler said. “We got a long drive ahead of us, and I’ve got a hell of a story to tell you.”
Koko was living with a foster family close to the Military Academy at West Point, and when the three of them arrived it was mid-afternoon. It was a four-hour drive, but as far as Adrian was concerned, it wasn’t long enough. Driving Dad’s old Duster was a dream come true, literally. He had a piece of Dad back. He also hadn’t realized just how much the loss of the Ford had affected him mentally. Being behind the wheel of a vehicle he could proudly call his own again, especially one as magnificent as the Duster, Adrian felt energized and revitalized.
They parked in the driveway of the house, and a man unlocked the chain link fence surrounding the property and came out to greet them. April, who’d been glued to one of the dog books nearly the entire ride, clung to Adrian’s leg, the book tucked under her arm.
The man shook their hands, a friendly smile on his face. “Hello, everyone,” he said cheerily. “I’m Sean. Good to finally meet you. And this must be April?”
“Hello,” April said, extending a hand. Sean laughed and shook it.
“I hope the drive wasn’t too bad for you. Nice car!”
“Thanks,” Adrian said, grinning.
They followed Sean back to the house, and he stopped at the front door. “Now, I don’t know how Koko will react to little April, here. She’s not aggressive in that she’ll purposefully bite someone, but she will decide very quickly whether she likes someone or not. And if she doesn’t, then she won’t like it if they get too close to her. It’s very rare, though. Very rare.”
“April’s been studying up,” Adrian said. “She’ll give her her space.”
Sean nodded and opened the door. The living room floor was scattered with dog toys, its walls covered with framed family photos, including many pictures of various dogs. “Wait right here,” Sean said. He walked forward into the middle of the room and stomped his foot twice on the ground, heavily.
Adrian felt Chandler’s hand sneak into his. April stood next to him, her arm around his thigh. After a minute, a shaggy German Shepherd walked slowly into the room. Her tail wagged slowly, and perked up when she saw the three of them standing by the door. She sniffed the air.
Chandler stepped forward and crouched down. “Koko,” he said. “Do you remember me, girl?”
Koko didn’t hesitate. She sprinted over to him, stuck her nose in his face, and after two sniffs to confirm his identity, started to lick him happily. Chandler laughed and fell back as Koko continued to kiss him, her tail wagging sharply.
“Hey, girl,” Chandler said, hugging her. “Hey. Hey. Yeah, it’s really me. You do remember me, huh?” He stood up and went to Adrian. “Do you remember Adrian?”
Adrian held his palm to her, and she sniffed and licked it and let out two sharp barks of excitement. Adrian ruffled her fur. “Good girl,” he said. “Good girl!”
April stood confidently, but slightly behind her fathers. She held out a hand, palm turned down, waiting patiently. Koko turned to her and hesitantly moved forward, her head held down but her tail wagging curiously. Chandler moved next to his daughter, crouching down and putting his hand on the small of her back.
“It’s okay,” he said.
Koko came up to April and sniffed her hand. Then she licked it. April giggled. Koko then sniffed at her face, and April gently stroked the top of her head.
“Good, good,” Sean said, clasping his hands together. “She knows this means ‘good’.” He passed some kibble to the three of them. April fed Koko a piece and clasped her hands together.
“Good girl,” she said, laughing happily. “She likes me!”
Chandler stood and raised a hand in the air. Koko turned to him, perked to attention. He brought his hand down so that it hung extended by his side, and Koko quickly sat down. He smiled and clasped his hands together before feeding her a treat. “We learned how to give her non-verbal orders,” he said. “Being deaf isn’t going to hold her back at all.”
“No, I don’t think so,” Sean said. “She’s as sharp as they come. Well, I don’t think there’s any question about it. She’s your dog, if you want her.”
“Damn right we do,” Chandler said.
Chandler ran his hands along Koko’s head, rubbing her next to her eyes and pulling his fingers until they reached the tips of her ears, just as he used to do. She gazed at him, panting happily. He could see how much older she was now—her fur was wiry, her muzzle lined with white hair. The burst of excited energy she’d had greeting them would fade, and she’d becom
e slow again. She was tired. Just like the Duster, Koko had been on a long journey. She’d been through a lot, far more than any dog—or human, for that matter. She’d changed hands many times, and never had a place to call home. But that was going to change. She’d completed her journey. She was with them now. She was going home.
Adrian touched Chandler’s back. He turned to face his husband, and kissed him. “Here we are,” he whispered. “Our little family. Complete.”
Adrian smiled and squeezed his hand. This Christmas would be a memory that he knew he’d remember and treasure for the rest of his life, and he knew both Chandler and April would too.
Epilogue
“Okay, ready?” Adrian called. “Three, two, one!”
He pressed the shutter button and the camera’s timer flashed as Adrian hurried over to where Chandler, April, Mom, Lexie, and Isabelle were standing. Koko lay in front of them, patiently enjoying the snow. Chandler tapped her gently on the back of her neck, and she looked up to him for instruction. He made a signal with his hand, and she sat up and looked ahead towards the camera.