Page 80 of New Year

“Fuuuuck.”

“Soon. I need to feel you for a minute, so hot and tight around my dick. I could fall asleep like this, holding you, part of you.”

Nat’s belly quivered. “I’d let you.”

“I know. When we do that, it’ll be without a rubber between us. Just my dick in your ass, no barriers, and when I come, I’ll fill you up. Mark you. Make you mine.”

He loved when hints of the dirty Dom Zack used to be peeked out, reminding him that even without scenes or a D/s relationship, Zack would always protect him. Keep him safe—from Nat’s own fears, and from anyone else who would dare do him harm. “Yes. I want that. I’m yours.”

“And I’m yours. We’ll get tested on Tuesday.”

“Okay.” Nat didn’t have to think about his answer, not at all. He wanted everything Zack was promising, and he wanted it more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. Except maybe for Zack to move his hips and relieve some of the intensity building inside Nat’s abdomen. He clenched his hole, and Zack bit his shoulder.

The first, sharp thrust erupted inside Nat like an orgasm, and he screamed into the pillow. Everything Zack had held back for that long, torturous entry surged forth in every slam of Zack’s hips against his ass, every deep slide of his dick inside his channel. Working them both into a frenzy. Nat wasn’t hard, and he didn’t care. All he needed was this claiming. This promise they were making with their bodies, sealed when Zack thrust deep and hollered as he came.

Nat imagined Zack’s seed pumping deep inside him, coating his insides, marking him as Zack’s, and no one else’s. Never before had the mental image of someone’s come leaking out of his well-used hole made him almost giddy with excitement. Eager for the future when that would be real, and not just his imagination.

Zack wrapped his arms around Nat and rolled Nat onto his stomach, squashing him into the mattress without smothering him. They lay there for a long time, Zack’s cock slowly softening inside him, until Zack had to hold the rubber and pull out. He tossed it away, pulled the sheet up over them, and spooned back up behind Nat.

The warm room smelled pleasantly of sweat and musk and sex, and Nat basked in the afterglow of everything they’d done. The secrets and promises and physical pleasure. Their life together wasn’t perfect, but whose was? No one’s. They’d have challenges, and Nat welcomed them. He welcomed every future day he got to spend with Zachary Matteson in his life, in his bed, and in his heart.

Because for the first time in twenty-three years, Nathaniel Hawking was home.

EPILOGUE

New Year’s Eve

“It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here,” Angelo Voltini groused from his seat on Nat’s left.

“And what would you know about the temperature of a witch’s tit?” Nat whispered back, amused by both the off-the-cuff comment, and also Angelo’s discomfort in what wasn’t technically extreme cold for their city this time of year. Yes, it was colder than predicted two weeks ago, but that’s what happened on a burning planet. Temps fluctuated and best-laid outdoor plans had to be improvised.

Said plans was today’s outdoor wedding, held under the pavilion at Neighborhood Shindig, of general manager Clancy Jons to his boyfriend, Samir Ford. Shindig was closed to the public until noon, so the couple could marry in the place they’d re-met after a years-long separation, and where they both worked. Every tenant who rented space at Shindig had been invited.

Zack had scored an invitation through his connections with the Reynolds restaurant industry—and because River Bistro had helped sponsor a Halloween event back in October. Nat was his plus-one, and while Chase had also been invited, he was attending solo. He sat on Zack’s right, bundled up against the winter chill in thermals and two coats. Chase didn’t handle the cold well, but he’d wanted to attend. Angelo and his boyfriend Bryan were there. Nat wasn’t sure who Angelo knew or how he’d gotten an invite, but it didn’t matter.

It was amazing to hang out with his friend again.

Several patio heaters were set up around the pavilion’s perimeter, throwing off heat to the gathered guests, and they were burning incense that gave the illusion of wood smoke, creating a homey, wholesome atmosphere. Everywhere in the crowd of people seated at picnic benches and on folding chairs, Nat saw familiar faces, both from Shindig, Tim’s, and other places around Reynolds.

More than finding a home with Zack, Nat had also found a much larger, more diverse family than he’d ever hoped for.

The ceremony began with the upbeat belting of “Marry You” by Bruno Mars, which set the tone for what was to come. The happy couple emerged from Clancy’s office on the far corner of the lot, and they danced—actually danced—their way to the pavilion and down the path toward the podium, where Thomas Morrell stood, dressed in a smart black suit, and holding a small book. Thomas was co-owner of Shindig, along with his adult son Isaiah. Rumor was Thomas had gotten ordained online six months ago, and this was his third time officiating a same-sex wedding since June.

Once Clancy and Samir reached the pavilion, the music changed over to “Because You Loved Me,” and they began a slower walk down the center aisle, taking time to smile and nod at friends and coworkers as they passed. Nat watched them with longing in his heart and tears in his eyes, the love they shared radiating in their smiles and eyes and even their body language. Hands clasped, shoulders brushing, bodies turned slightly toward each other at all times. Perfectly in-love and in-synch.

Nat wanted to be them one day, marrying the love of his life, surrounded by people who loved and supported him. Even if those people numbered fewer than ten, it would be enough. As long as those most important showed up, like Chase and Angelo and Sasha.

Once Clancy and Samir reached the podium, the song dimmed, and a faint trickle of melodic pan pipes took its place. “Family, friends, neighbors, and party crashers, welcome,” Thomas said, his deep voice booming even without a microphone. “We are gathered together on this gloriously cold day to celebrate the love of Samir Ford and Clancy Jons.”

Nat joined the crowd in light applause. Someone wolf whistled.

Zack reached over and clasped Nat’s hand in a firm, familiar embrace. Nat covered Zack’s hand with his left, and held them in his lap. Thomas didn’t speak long, mostly introducing the pair, and then inviting each man to speak their vows.

“Samir, I have loved you for five years,” Clancy said, his normally steady voice quivering with emotion. “Ever since I saw you across the campus quad, trying to balance too many textbooks and a cup of coffee, I wanted to know more about you. I fell in love with your courage, your humility, and your deep desire to always do what’s right. And then I lost you, all because of my own ingrained prejudices and fear. Fear of losing what was familiar, instead of embracing something new.

“I’d say fate brought us back together again, but truly, it was a job posting made by Mr. Morrell, looking for a new general manager for Shindig. Finding you here was simply the universe giving me a second chance. Giving us a second chance. You, Tariq and Aunt Sera, Declan and Jack, the Morrells, and everyone here at Neighborhood Shindig are all the family I need. I love you as deeply as the ocean and as high as the heavens, and nothing, not even death, will change that.”

Samir wiped his eyes and cleared his throat before speaking. “Clancy, you helped me understand the power of forgiveness. You helped me understand the generosity of second chances, and that sometimes we do meet before we’re ready. We each walk our own path, and while those paths may briefly intersect, it takes the right circumstances for those paths to truly converge and become one road, leading both people toward a united destination. Our individual paths had a lot of roadblocks and detours, but they finally merged into one. This is our united destination.

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