Page 61 of Gym Bros (Bay Area Bros #2)

Samuel

M y mother’s toast at our wedding reception makes me cry. I’ve long suspected I was her favorite son, but I’m sure of it tonight. While my father looks on from a crowd of people at Calyx and me holding hands to listen to the speeches, I give him a small nod.

His smile trembles at the edges. It’s been a rough few years for him with the divorce and my mom’s new marriage, but it all had to happen for us to get to where we are today. Giving each other the mutual respect and honesty we all deserve.

The only secret we’ll continue to keep is Calyx.

Rachel was right all those years ago when she told me it wouldn’t help anyone to know he was casually involved with my father.

It hadn’t helped him and me, and it certainly wouldn’t do us any favors now that he’s a permanent fixture in my life— my husband .

It’s my understanding that my father did name names upon her request when he told her about his infidelity, but he left out Calyx’s—at my request. It was the first of many steps he and I both had to take to salvage a relationship with each other, and so we’ve managed.

He’s here without a date, cheerfully mingling in the group settings and going off alone on long walks in his downtime.

I joined him for one yesterday and we talked about a lot of things. Marriage and family, traveling, and our futures. It was good. If my mother weren’t so happy, I doubt I’d have been as generous with my forgiveness as I’ve been, but her new husband is awesome.

Apparently he’d been waiting in the wings awhile, pining for her. An old college friend who went through two wives before he realized he wasn’t going to be happy with anyone but my mom.

As soon as the divorce was final, he was stating his intentions, and my mother was shocked. We were on the phone with each other every night for two months while she tried to figure out what to do about him.

I call him Green Flag Greg. There was no question once I saw the two of them together. He’s perfect for her. She was just scared that it was too good to be true, and I get that.

“Sam. I’m so happy for you. You’ve made me so proud, and you finally proved me right after all those years visiting the principal’s office. You really are the sweetest boy. You just have a lot of energy, but you were just busy weren’t you? Looking for where you belonged.”

I pull Calyx in front of me now and put my arms around him. He leans back against my chest, his hand on mine. Our wedding rings connect with a slight clink. His fingers thread through mine.

He smells like jasmine and sea breeze.

My mother lifts her glass as a tear streaks down her face. “To Samuel and Calyx and the home you’ve built together. May it keep you warm and safe. May it be blessed with all the love you bring to it. May it always be the place you belong.”

Everyone claps as my mom wraps up the final toast, and we all drink a sip of champagne. Calyx and I take turns giving her long, grateful hugs until Green Flag takes her hand and asks her to dance.

We cut the cake. We dance with each other and everyone else.

It’s not a huge wedding by any stretch of the imagination.

Two dozen friends who made the trip, and my family, including my brothers.

Calyx didn’t invite his. Not his biological one anyway.

He says everyone he considers family is here.

Ryan and Mal. Bailey, Rachel and Pri. Even Marcus.

There are a few models he’s remained close with who are also based out of San Francisco.

He goes shopping with them a few times a month.

Evan was my best man, and Ryan was Calyx’s. They both did great keeping us on time and throwing two very good parties last night.

All told, the wedding day is the best day of my life. I’ve never felt so much love in one room. I’m on oxytocin overload as I lift Calyx over the threshold to our bungalow and set him down just inside the door. He drags me inside and immediately begins unbuttoning my shirt.

“Hey now, I’m going for a more romantic vibe here,” I say as I let him tug at the fabric.

“What’s not romantic about this?” he asks, entirely focused on each new swath of skin he exposes. “I’m entitled to see my property.”

“Was it a long day without me, angel?”

“Yes. God.”

The wedding was at five, and we didn’t see each other before it, but we’ve been smashed against each other’s sides ever since.

“I made a playlist,” I tell him.

He sighs, letting go of my shirt. “Fine. Let’s hear it. ”

“Meet me on the terrace,” I tell him, nodding toward the French doors.

We’ve stayed in the same place each time we’ve come to Hawaii, mainly because the terrace can’t be beat.

With it’s enclosed deck and small infinity pool with a view of the ocean, there’s no place in the world I’d rather be, though Calyx thinks that’ll change once I see the place he booked in the Maldives.

I watch him walk outside as I connect my phone to the bluetooth and cue up the playlist. He shrugs his linen shirt off his shoulders, the bright moon making him glow as the water sparkles just beyond him.

I don’t doubt there’s something special underneath his pants. It’s an occasion, and he never fails to dress for an occasion. I’m imagining all kinds of things already. Thigh highs. Lace. Cut outs. A garter, maybe? Garters?

His bare upper body gives nothing away. His wide-legged linen pants blow in the warm breeze that catches me now, too, through the open door.

I finish taking off my shirt to the tune of the first song we danced to at Fantasma.

The playlist is chronological, to the best of my ability, with some sentimental favorites of his and mine thrown in here and there.

We don’t have a song, per se, but we have a vibe. Carnal. Hungry. Sexy. Soft.

On the terrace, I put my hands on his waist and drop a kiss to his neck. He leans his head to make more room for me, his hand sliding up my cheek.

It’s hard to make sex between us all that “special,” even here.

There’s no spot in this suite of rooms we haven’t gotten off on.

The pool is a favorite, meaning the appropriate lube is already out here, but I need a moment just to breathe him in first and enjoy this incredible feeling.

That we belong to each other. For real. Forever. For good.

“What did you think of it?” I ask him .

“Perfect. Every second,” he says. “You?”

“A hundred percent. Thanks for going through with it.”

He turns to face me. He’s older now—almost thirty, and it shows in the sharpness of his jawline, a new crinkle around his eyes when he smiles. None of this makes him any less stunning. He still turns heads everywhere we go, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

But there’s a warmth and playfulness in his eyes now—one that wasn’t there when I met him.

There’s a deeper understanding of himself that speaks of maturity and maybe even wisdom.

Most of all, there’s a gentleness that shows his innocence—his willingness to keep learning, keep trying, keep dreaming.

The flame that was so burned out when I met him has long since come back to life, and he’s all light and love. Curiosity and adventure.

“Was it that hard to talk me into it?” he asks.

“You had me sweating for hours,” I remind him.

“I just wasn’t expecting it. I thought I was getting a new watch, and you handed me a ring.”

This all happened last year, a few feet from where we’re standing now. “I was on a knee.”

“You’re on your knees all the time,” he laughs, the sound like pure joy on the cloudless night.

I kiss him, trying like hell not to unleash all my lust at once.

I can feel his restraint, too, like he’s determined to keep pace with me and not rush this night.

My hands explore his arms and face and hair while my lips move slowly with his.

If I thought winning the UFC title was a good feeling—it’s honestly got nothing on this.

Because no one can take this away from me. I’d die before I let that happen.

I guess love isn’t all that hard for me.

I’m used to it, but Calyx taught me not to take a second of it for granted.

He’s still teaching me that in all kinds of ways from mindful breathing to the long, quiet conversations in bed where he’ll talk about his mother or father and his ongoing struggle to forgive them.

Watching my parents get divorced after a twenty-eight year marriage taught me a few rough lessons, too, and Calyx has certainly spent his fair share of time listening to me go on about that, as well.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” I tell him.

“I know. You mentioned that earlier—in front of all our friends.”

“I meant it.”

“I hope you always think that,” he says.

“Are you saying there might be something better out there for me? That’s kind of an exciting thought.”

He tickles my sides to shut me up, and it works because my mouth lands on his again, but this time, I don’t stop there. I can’t. I need to know what his pants are hiding. I already know it has to be white—his pants are nearly see through.

I bend to kiss my way down his neck and chest, and then I’m on my knees, opening him up like a wedding present.

White lace, silky to the touch. Boy shorts that fit him perfectly. The prefect blend of masculine and feminine, just like he is. “These feel expensive,” I say, glancing up at him.

He gives me a fond smile. “I hope they’re not too boring, but yes—very expensive.”

“On you, nothing’s ever boring,” I assure him. And then, when I pull his pants down his legs, I find two matching lace bands around his thighs. Garters. I bite my lip and run my thumbs over them, taking in the whole, beautiful picture. I might even growl.

His hand moves through my hair, pushing it back as I lean in and run my open mouth along the bulge of his cock. His hand curls into a fist, giving a slight tug on my scalp.

I get busy touching him, running my hands up and down his legs, over his ass. I mouth his balls and lick at the lace. I kiss his thighs and slip my fingers beneath the lace garters, snapping them against his smooth skin. It’s simple, but Jesus, it’s sexy. Beautiful, even.

He’s so fucking beautiful.

I want to worship him at the same time as I want to bend and break him, reduce him to a sobbing mess coming repeatedly on my driving cock.

I tongue him through the lace as I feel him up until he’s gasping and telling me he’s too close. I’m pulsing precum in my pants, so I hit pause and stand, taking a minute to get naked.

“Will you leave the garters on?” I ask.

He winks at me as he slides the lace panties off and tosses them onto one of the deck chairs. I give myself some lube while I watch him move, knowing I want to spend the rest of the night inside him, starting now.

The water is slightly warmer than the weather, and we sink into it together.

I gather him in my arms, and he wraps his legs around my waist. We kiss as I position my erection at his hole, which opens readily for me.

He gasps as I bury myself inside him, and I crush my mouth to his, needing to feel him everywhere.

He comes in less than a minute, and I have to laugh. “I’m going as slow as I can.”

He’s panting against my neck and shaking in my arms. “You’ve been edging me all day.”

“Not on purpose.”

He kisses my throat before he works his way back to my mouth and starts to move with me again. “The one thing you constantly underestimate, Samuel, is how unbelievably hot you are.”

“Maybe someone doesn’t tell me often enough.”

“Mmm…and your cock is fucking perfection. ”

“Yeah—I definitely don’t hear that enough.”

“I love you so fucking much.”

“Fuck, angel.” I turn us around to let him hang onto the edge of the pool. After one more long, deep kiss, I plow into him until the water is splashing all around us, and I’m coming fiercely inside him.

He grabs onto my shoulders and works his way back up against my chest where we kiss again and again and again. He says, “I think this is gonna turn out okay, after all,” he breathes.

“Yeah?”

He nods, giving me a hug and resting his face against mine. My softening cock slips out of him, and I manage to squeeze him a little closer. “If you wind up breaking my heart after all this, you know Rachel’s never gonna let you hear the end of it,” I tell him.

His lips curve against my neck. “Why isn’t anyone ever worried about my heart?”

“Because they all trust me to take very, very good care of it. All the days of my life.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” I say.

“That’s pretty amazing,” he says.

“And you know what else?”

“What?”

“It’s gonna be so. Much. Fun .”

Calyx screams as I tickle him, and we just barely manage to keep him from drowning.

THE END