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CONNOR

M y head was spinning. Would this change things between Mason and me? How would Mom and my brother react to this news?

After I’d listened to what was said, I was convinced Mason and I were destined to meet. We fit so well together, and the love I felt for him was just as much an obsession for me as it was for him. He meant the world to me, and it felt like we’d be together no matter what.

I was taken from my thoughts and Mason’s question by the sound of a gentle knock at the door, and then Mom and Kyle strode in with a potted bamboo plant.

“Mom, Kyle!” I exclaimed in a surprised tone. With all that was revealed, I’d forgotten Mom said they might swing by later tonight.

Kyle took the plant from Mom and placed it on the ledge by the window. “We spent the day shopping and passed a florist downtown that had these beautiful lucky bamboo plants on display. I figured since flowers aren’t the best for good wishes in hospital rooms, a plant is the next best thing. And being a lucky bamboo, it fits perfectly,” Mom touted proudly. Personally, I thought luck had nothing to do with it.

I introduced Jack and Sylvia and gathered a couple more chairs. The sight of Mason sitting on the edge of the bed with an audience in front of him was quite humorous. It looked like he was about to conduct a class. But as I gazed at the people in the room, I knew that once we told Mom and Kyle our revelation, everything would be fine.

And it was. I could see Kyle trying to comprehend what Mason had revealed, but there was more of a sense of wonder emanating from him. I sat on the bed next to Mason while he spoke. Mom and Kyle didn’t say anything at first, but then Mom stood up and moved to where Sylvia was seated. Mom offered her hands to Sylvia, who stood and faced her as she took them.

I felt the emotion in my mother’s voice as she spoke directly to Sylvia. “Thank you for the gift you and your family gave our family. Your daughter’s brave decision to give birth to Connor gave me this beautiful boy to raise, who’s grown into this magnificent man,” Mom said through tears as she gestured to me and then hugged Sylvia. “And now you have the grandson you had to give up back in your lives again.”

I looked at Kyle, who remained quiet but had a gentle smile on his face when he returned my gaze. There was no jealousy or ego, only brotherly love. I returned the smile. As I sat next to Mason, I took his hand and intertwined our fingers.

Kyle stood and faced us. “What Mom said is true. I’m incredibly lucky to have you as my brother. I know the past year was strained, but that’s water under the bridge.” He looked at Mason and said, “Get better so you can take care of my baby brother.”

Mason chuckled. “Oh, you can bet on it,” he replied as he leaned into me. I pinched my brow briefly at Kyle for the ‘baby’ description but didn’t complain. I felt we’d done enough chiding over the past year.

It was getting late, and I could tell Mason was tired, so I brought our conversation to a close. There would be plenty of time for more questions now we all knew the secret of my existence. My last question to the group was about Mason’s recovery and rehab and where he’d be able to go. Crescent City didn’t have the facilities he’d need, and since we’d all be headed home, or in my case, back to school, that was the million-dollar question.

Sylvia immediately piped up. “Oh, he can stay with Jack and me, if Mason is willing, of course. It makes sense with all the resources he’ll need for rehab. We’ll take good care of him.” Jack put his arm around his wife and gave her a light squeeze in agreement. It had totally slipped my mind that they lived here in Seattle. Problem solved. Mason knew he didn’t stand a chance of refusing Sylvia’s offer, so he smiled and nodded in agreement.

Visiting hours were about over. I ushered everyone out, and hugs and contacts were exchanged. Mom and Kyle were headed back to Portland in the morning, but I made plans to meet them for breakfast. Eli said he’d be staying one more day to see what else he needed to do for Mason’s hospital and rehab plans, and then he’d head home to Crescent City. Jack and Sylvia said they’d work with the doctors and learn all they could to help Mason’s recovery and check with Eli in the morning.

I talked to Mason’s nurse in the hallway once everyone had left and asked her to give me about half an hour of privacy with Mason, which she agreed to with a wink. I walked back into his room, and he was still sitting on the edge of the bed. I closed the door behind me and pulled the privacy curtain around to block any prying eyes, and it reminded me of our first night together in his rig with its window shades. Mason’s eyes went wide.

“Let’s get you a bit more comfortable,” I said with a Cheshire cat grin. I helped get him back into bed and raised the head section slightly. I stood on his good side and leaned over to kiss him on the lips. He greedily accepted my advances and reached up to touch the side of my face with the back of his hand. Our hungry tongues sought each other while he moaned deeply into my mouth.

I pulled back, keeping my face close to his. “I love you so fucking much it hurts, Daddy,” I whispered, planting soft kisses on his face. He hummed in pleasure, and I could see his arousal taking shape under the bed sheet. It had been a long time since we'd been together, and tonight, no matter what, I wanted to taste my man.

“Mmhmm,” Mason replied as I saw his neck and face flush with heat. He knew what was going to happen, and he didn’t try to stop me. I figured that once I got his endorphins going, it would help with any pain as well as help him sleep a bit more soundly.

I stealthily moved the sheet down and the edge of his hospital gown out of the way. He stood at full mast, and it was a sight I’d missed for weeks. His rigid, veiny cock twitched in the air-conditioned room. I looked back at his face and placed my hand on his cheek, brushing my thumb over his lower lip. He opened his mouth and sucked my thumb in, greedily running his tongue around it. He was going to enjoy this…and so was I.

“You’re so beautiful. Mason,” I said in a breathy voice. He looked at me with hooded eyes, and I figured it wasn’t going to take long.

I took my hand from his face and brought it down to his right nipple, pinching it. He moaned and arched his back at my touch. My other hand was wrapped around his shaft, and I slowly pumped his cock. It revealed a bead of precum at the slit, so I bent over, licked it off, and swirled my tongue over his crown. More moans and a whimper escaped him.

Mason eased his legs apart when I rolled his heavy balls in my hand. My heart was pounding, and I wanted to climb on top of him and ride his cock deep in my ass. I knew better, of course, and thought a loving blowjob would do just fine for now. I continued to inch my mouth further down his erection until I hit his musky bush with my nose.

“Oh…fuck,” he cried out as he grabbed my hair with his good hand.

I was going to milk it as long as I could, but I knew he could blow his load at any moment. I gently brushed my little finger against his taint, still rolling his balls in my hand. I worked my throat muscles around the head of his cock just the way he liked it. My cock was straining against my jeans, but I kept my attention on my guy. All of it was for his pleasure. I could jack off later with the memory of what I’d done to him tonight.

My head bobbed up and down in a steady rhythm, and his musk was intoxicating. His balls tightened in my hand, and I felt his dick swell. I gently grabbed his balls and tugged them down as I awaited my reward.

“Connor…oh, God…Fuck, I’m gonna come.” He huffed out in a labored breath, and I was sure his breathing was far from comfortable with fractured ribs.

It had been so long since he’d had a release. His first spurt hit the back of my throat hard as waves of cum went down my throat. I loved the taste of him, and as he came down from his orgasm, I lapped up the rest of his release as his cock softened.

I went in for a lusty kiss so he could taste himself on my tongue. He savored my mouth, and we both groaned in blissful appreciation.

“Wow, that was a surprise,” he said happily as we broke our kiss.

“Be right back,” I said, brushing his arm.

I walked into his bathroom and found a washcloth to get the remnants of his release cleaned up. Since he’d been incapacitated for most of his stay here, especially in the ICU, I had to laugh at the thought of the nurses giving him sponge baths while he lay there. I wasn’t about to bring it to his attention and have him relive the indignation he might have endured.

I snickered when I returned to his bedside with the washcloth. “I knew you were tired, but I figured that my oral gift might help you sleep a little better. My trucker daddy needed to have a special treat after all that was said today. And don’t think I only did it for you. I haven’t had my hands or mouth on you in a long time.”

Mason took hold of my free hand and kissed it. “Thank you, babe. I-I love you so much,” he said with a hitch in his voice. I finished wiping his dick and balls down before lowering his gown and placing the sheet over his lap.

“You know that goes double for me, Daddy,” I said as I tossed the washcloth to his side table. I then sandwiched his hand between mine. We continued to look at each other until I saw Mason’s eyes begin to droop. “I’m sure by now, visitor hours are over, and I’m skirting the time limit Sonja allotted.”

“Sonja?” he questioned.

I snickered. “Yes, she’s your night nurse and gave me permission to have a private moment with you. She knows the score. I’ll see you in the morning after I meet Mom and Kyle for breakfast. They’re headed back to Portland.”

“Okay,” he said sleepily.

I kissed his forehead before I retreated, pulling the curtain open. I looked back at him once I got to the door and could tell he’d already fallen asleep. “Sweet dreams, trucker Daddy,” I said in a low whisper so as not to wake him.

Mom and Kyle were already at the restaurant when I arrived the next morning. They’d just ordered coffee for the table, for which I was grateful. I’d woken up later than I wanted and had to rush to meet them.

When I settled in the booth next to Kyle, neither brought up what we’d learned the night before, so I broke the ice. “I’m sure you guys have questions, so lay it on me,” I said after I took a swig of coffee.

Mom was the first. “How are you feeling, sweetheart, about learning who your biological mother was?” She reached across the table to touch my hand. I could see Kyle looking at me, but I didn’t turn to acknowledge him right away.

I thought before I answered her, sipping my coffee as I pondered my reply. “It was a shock at first, especially about his near-death experience and his chat with Claudia. The timeline and pieces fit. Her becoming pregnant at fifteen, having me at sixteen, and then putting me up for adoption in Portland, where you and Dad adopted me.” I pulled my gaze from Mom and glanced at my brother, who looked concerned. I appreciated his caring.

“When Mason was married to her, she didn’t reveal anything about having me. That seemed to sting the most when he said it like I was a forgotten piece of her past she wanted to get away from.” Mom reached to grab my hand in support. “But I know that’s not really true and she did the responsible thing for me. I wasn’t forgotten because you took me into the family you’d already started. I guess I’m grateful she gave me up because look at what we have now. I just wish I could have known Dad.” Mom nodded and reached for Kyle’s hand along with mine. “They were the same age, married for fourteen years before she passed at thirty-eight. Ten years later, I met Mason, and I’m almost twenty-two. It all adds up. And the clincher was my eye color.” I snickered when I said that andsubtlyshook my head with a semi-pained smile, my attention on my coffee cup.

I was surprised at Kyle’s reply. “You know that your eye color is a blessing, not a curse.” I looked at him with a slight pinch to my brow. “Your green eyes were a green light for Mason to connect with you, and look at what you have now,” he said as he nudged my arm with his. My brother was not one for deep thoughts, and it made my throat tighten.

“The weird thing is the connection Mason and I have,” I said, looking down at the table. “There’s no family blood involved or marital ties around any of it. People might question what our relationship looks like socially, but it’s nobody’s business. We’re not going to go around telling everyone how fate brought us together. Only the closest people in our lives will know our story.”

Once we’d had breakfast and made our way out of the restaurant, we hugged goodbye. Kyle could only take the weekend away, so they needed to hit the road back to Portland. I filled them in on the plan for Mason, how we were going to finalize everything today, and that I’d be headed back to the university tomorrow. Christmas break would soon be upon us, and I needed to stay caught up on my thesis. I told them I’d probably plan on coming back to Seattle for the holiday and hoped they’d understand, which they did, of course.

When I got back to the hospital, Eli was already there, talking with one of the nurses in the hallway. He acknowledged me as I walked into Mason’s room. A beaming smile greeted me when I leaned over for a kiss. When his lips met mine, I felt the front of my jeans become tight. I realized I still hadn’t taken things into my own hands after my oral work on my man the night before.

Eli walked in, holding a handful of papers as he pulled up a chair. “They gave me a list of instructions and facilities where they’d like our patient here to complete his rehab. He has another operation scheduled in a few weeks to replace the piece of his skull. I asked if, once they did that, Mason would lose his open-mindedness,” he said, with a straight face.

I looked at Mason, who kept a steady frown, and I laughed so hard I almost lost my balance. “Okay, that was a good one,” I said to Eli, slapping my leg. I knew he had a dry sense of humor, and I was sure it helped Eli cope, knowing he had to leave and head back home too. We were both leaving tomorrow, and I felt apprehensive. I knew Jack and Sylvia would be great caregivers during Mason’s time in Seattle, and that alleviated some of my anxiety.

As if on cue, the older couple arrived, and Eli and I stood and greeted them. They said they were meeting Mason’s neurologist in about an hour and would be told when he’d be discharged. Mason had yet to get his protective helmet, but it was scheduled to be delivered in a few days.

Mason was antsy to get out of the hospital, and I couldn’t blame him. The food alone got tiresome, but we brought in takeout to give him a break. I was sure Jack and Sylvia would do the same, especially considering what I had been told about her incredible cooking skills. I was so grateful for them and had them promise to keep me updated, even by text if necessary. Since Eli held Mason’s power of attorney, they all made sure he was contacted regularly as well.

The day went by quickly. The doctor gave instructions, so we all knew the plan. I didn’t want to leave Mason's side right away, so the rest of them said their goodbyes, and Eli told me he’d see me at the hotel later.

I stood by my trucker's bedside and held his hand, brushing my thumb over his fingers. Our conversation was relayed with touch and gazes. We both knew how deep our love had grown and even though tragedy had struck, it brought our hearts closer. It brought everyone closer. My family and chosen family had grown here in the hospital. We had great people in our lives, and I felt everything was where it was supposed to be.

I told Mason I’d reach out every day to check on his progress and that I planned to be up for Christmas break. Jack and Sylvia were thrilled I’d be spending the holidays with them once I told them my plans. I was sure Mom and Kyle might come up for a brief visit as well. We said goodbye with kisses and tears. I blew him a kiss as I backed out of his room, my eyes filling once again with moisture.

The next morning, Eli and I checked out of the room. True to Eli’s nature, he paid the entire bill, and I had to argue with him. I figured I’d send him money by a money app in a few days anyway. Luckily, we’d exchanged that information by splitting takeout orders.

I had already made bus reservations over the weekend and was soon on the road back to La Grande. It felt like I’d been away forever, but I knew I needed to buckle down with research and classes to stay caught up. Spencer was kind enough to help the students I was tutoring, so I didn’t feel overwhelmed by that. I was also excited to see my bestie again. I didn’t tell him I was on my way back, only that it might be in a day or two. I thought it would be fun to surprise my golden retriever today.

When I got to the dorm, there was a paper banner across my door that read, ‘Welcome back!’ in rainbow colors. It was no surprise who’d created it, and it made me laugh. I quickly threw my bags on my bed and headed down the hall to Spencer’s room. His door was unlocked, and habits being what they were, I barged in.

Before me, standing in plain view, were Spencer and Evan in the middle of a heavy-duty make-out session. All three of us were caught off guard by my intrusion. I stared, mouth open wide, and they looked like deer caught in headlights. I burst out laughing as Spencer pushed away from Evan and rushed over to throw his arms around me, which was fine, but in doing so, I felt his arousal pressed against my thigh.

Evan, on the other hand, seemed mortified and held his face in his hands. I could see the crimson blush through his fingers, which had me laughing again. I backed away from our friendly embrace and pointed at Spencer’s crotch. “That’s one hell of a weapon there, Spence,” I said as I tried to stifle my laughter.

Spencer didn’t seem fazed in the least and shrugged. “Hey, nothing like being a versatile bottom with a huge dick,” he snorted as he grabbed my arm. “I’ve been told my choice of being a submissive was a bit of a waste. I think Evan here would disagree, though,” he said rather proudly. Evan sat down and shook his head, but his embarrassment was still evident. I figured he took the preventative approach by sitting down so his manhood could subside and not be drawn into our dick discussion. I knew he was a hugger when he greeted people, just not at this precise moment.

“So, you’re back?” Spencer asked as he pulled me into the room and shut the door.

My arrival was rather obvious, but I replied, “Yup, at least until Christmas break. Mason is still in Seattle and will have weeks, if not months, to recover. I plan to head back up there for the holidays. He’s doing great, though, and will probably be released from the hospital later this week. His ex-in-laws are taking him in and helping as caregivers for a while.” Evan looked confused. “It’s a long story, Evan. I’ll catch you up later.” He seemed satisfied with my explanation. “Why are you here? You graduated last spring.”

Evan finally stood up and said, “I took a few days off to see this guy.” He motioned to Spencer. “He’ll be back in Boise for the holidays, but I wanted some selfish time with him. You know…no parents around.” He smiled, and I saw his blush return. I completely understood what he meant.

I addressed Spencer with a chuckle. “Well, you’re gonna be sore come finals. Will you be able to sit to take the exams?” He swatted my arm, and Evan snickered. “By the way, there are some things I’d like to chat with you about sometime this week. I need to catch you up on something,” I said as I retreated to the door.

“Sure thing. Just let me know when,” he replied. With that, Evan finally got up, gave me a big hello hug to welcome me back, and I left them to the privacy I’d so rudely interrupted.

“Uh, next time you’re both in the throes of passion…I think locking the door would be appropriate,” I chided with a snicker.

As soon as I closed the door and took a few steps, I heard the lock click behind me.

I huffed a quiet laugh on the way back to my room.