Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2012 Marie Medina

ISBN:

978-1-77130-032-2

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Karyn White

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or
reproduced electronically or in print without written permission,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are
fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To Howard, who knows where to find me no matter how far
I run.

SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW

Marie Medina

Copyright © 2012

Chapter One

Gabriel gripped the bedpost to keep from crossing the room to

Sam, who stared out the bedroom window and refused to turn and
face him. Sam fingered the blue curtains and intently studied the
pattern on the material. Gabriel had been waiting all night for Sam to
say something, to somehow explain himself. He didn’t understand
how Sam could stay silent. Gabriel felt like screaming at the top of his
lungs.

“Sam, I want an explanation from you. I’ll get it from Laura if

I have to.”

Sam finally turned around. “What do you want me to say? I

didn’t think she would tell everyone tonight at the party. I thought I
would have a chance to talk to you first and somehow explain what’s
happening.” He fixed his eyes on the unmade bed.

Gabriel’s eyes flicked over the bed and the hunter green

comforter bunched at the foot. The bed hadn’t been made since the
last time they had made love two nights ago. He set his gaze on Sam
again, unable to keep the bitterness out of his tone. “Well, an
engagement is big news.” He moved closer to Sam. “It was huge
news to your boyfriend.”

“Gabe, just listen to me. Laura is pregnant—”
Gabriel cut him off. “Yes, everyone knows! It’s a very poorly

kept secret that Michael knocked her up. But you dating a guy?
Fucking a guy? That’s been kept well under wraps, and now I see
why!”

Sam looked into his eyes. “You don’t see at all. Gabe, I love

you, but Michael has abandoned her. I don’t just mean he dumped
her. He has left town. She has no job and no one to take care of her.”

“She should have thought of that while she was fucking him

without a condom. Tell her to go home to her parents.”

Sam shook his head. “Her mom’s dead. And her stepdad?

They don’t need to be alone, if you get what I mean.”

Gabriel cringed. His anger lessened a little because he’d

always suspected Laura had had a rough childhood, but how was she
their problem? “Sam, just be honest with me. If this was just about
helping her, you’d ask her to move in with you, not marry you.”

“She…she loves me.” Sam turned away again.
Laura had always flirted with Sam, but she’d never made a

hard play for him that Gabriel had seen. “Since when?”

“Since freshman year of high school. I never liked girls, ever,

so I didn’t notice for a long time. Lots of other people knew she liked
me. To them it makes sense I would come to her rescue now. How
can I make you see? Colbert is my hometown, Gabe.”

What did that have to do with it? Gabriel shifted his stance

and crossed his arms over his chest. “I know. I never get a chance to
forget. It’s the reason I’m the only one who knows you like guys. I
sure as fuck hope you don’t think we’re going to still be together after
this. I don’t care if the marriage isn’t real. It’s just another way for
you to hide from who you really are. With a wife and kid, no one will
every look at you and wonder again. Your family won’t have to worry
you’re a perverted freak anymore. They’ll all heave a huge sigh of
relief and dance at your wedding.”

“That is not why I am doing this!” Sam said, putting his hands

over his face.

Gabriel grabbed Sam by the shoulder and turned him around.

“Yes, it is. Now, I have something to tell you.” He loosened his grip a
little, letting his fingers massage Sam’s shoulders. “I’ve gotten into
the grad program at Stony Brook University. For anthropology, I can
hardly do better, so I have to go. I wanted you to come with me. I was
going to ask you tonight, but then…” He let his voice trail off as he
released Sam.

“That’s great. Did they offer you money?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about what’s going on with my

funding. I want to talk about what’s going on with my life. My
future.”

“I promised her.”
The simple, placid answer infuriated him. “Why?” Gabriel

screamed. “Why the fuck would you make such a promise? Is that the
best explanation you can give me? I’m sorry she’s had some tough
breaks. I’m sure she is in love with you because I know I am.” He
sighed heavily. “You’re going to enter into a fake, loveless marriage
because she loves you and you pity her. But me? You can’t even
touch me in public.”

“You know why we have to be careful.”
“After four years, that excuse is getting old. What did you

think would happen when we graduated?” He’d endured four years of
hiding and lying because Sam made him happier than any other man
ever had, but continuing the deceit would eventually destroy that
happiness.

“I don’t know.” He gave a tight shrug. “I guess I hoped

something would happen.”

Gabriel ran his hands through his hair. “Like what? My getting

into Stony Brook is perfect. We’d be getting away from your family
and their judgment.”

Sam didn’t say anything.
“But you’ve made a promise.” He shook his head. “There’s

something wrong here. You’re not telling me something.” Before
now, Sam had never kept any secrets from him. He’d always told
Gabriel the things he couldn’t tell anyone else.

“It’s complicated. She turned to me, and I couldn’t live with

myself if I turned her away. The baby deserves a chance. It’s
innocent. What can I say to make you understand?”

“What can you say?” He put his hands on Sam’s shoulders

again. “Tell me you don’t love me. If you’re not hiding anything, you
must be able to turn your back on me this easily because you don’t
actually love me.” He gave him a little shake and whispered, “If it’s
true I can take it, Sam. You’ve always been honest with me before.
I’ll accept all of this if you don’t love me.”

Sam shook his head.
“Come on. Tell me.” Gabriel backed him against the

bookshelf next to the window. “Tell me you don’t like me touching
you.” He ran his hands down Sam’s shoulders, wanting to toss him on
the bed and take him right then. He needed to be inside him, to feel
Sam’s flesh encompass him as they both moaned.

Sam shook his head again.
Gabriel brought his lips to Sam’s for a tender kiss. He brushed

them gently, and then licked Sam’s lower lip. When Sam softened and
parted his lips, Gabriel left the tenderness behind. He pressed Sam
against the shelf and kissed him hard, his tongue invading his mouth,
possessing it. Sam’s arms snaked around his neck as he moaned, and
Gabriel rubbed his erection against Sam’s thigh, knowing how much
Sam liked for him to be aggressive. He loved Sam’s reactions, loved
the way they came together.

When the kiss broke, Gabriel ran his hand between them. He

looked into Sam’s blue eyes as he stroked Sam’s cock through his
jeans. It strained against the material, wanting Gabriel’s touch. “Tell
me you don’t want me to suck your cock.”

“Gabe, please.” The words came out in a whimper of need.
“Please what? Please suck you off until you scream?” He

unzipped Sam’s pants and freed his cock. “Scream the way you did
the last time?” He got down on his knees and tongued the head,
licking a drop of pre-cum from the slit. Then he took Sam’s dick into
his mouth. Working his tongue along the underside in slow circles, he
looked up into Sam’s eyes as he pulled him deeper. Sam gazed down
at him for a moment, but then he closed his eyes and pressed his lips
shut.

What did he want to say? What was he holding back? Gabriel

held Sam’s hips firmly in place as he bobbed his head back and forth.
Taking the head to the back of his throat, Gabriel breathed in Sam’s
scent as Sam bucked forward and groaned. Then he raked his teeth all
the way along the length of Sam’s cock before sitting back on his
heels to look at him.

Sam’s breaths came in gasps as he looked down at Gabriel.

“This isn’t fair, Gabe.”

Gabriel stroked the shaft. “It isn’t fair? You fuck me four or

five times a week and tell me you love me, and then I come to a party
you invited me to only to find out you’re engaged to marry someone
else?” He leaned forward and nipped at the head of his cock, then
licked it slowly. Peering up into his face again, he asked, “How in the
fucking hell is that fair?”

“I didn’t have time to tell you.”
Another short, meaningless answer. Something had changed,

but Gabriel didn’t know what. The openness he’d always loved in
Sam was gone now. Gabriel stroked harder and faster, loving the way
Sam swelled in his hand. He wanted to make him come hard. “Didn’t

have time? Telling me must not have been very important.”

He pushed Sam’s jeans down so he could play with his balls.

He sucked one into his mouth as his fingers strayed back to Sam’s
hole. Gabriel massaged the tight ring of muscle as he licked Sam’s
cock. Then he swallowed it again, deep-throating him right away.

“Gabe! God, please don’t!” he whispered, trying to push

Gabriel away.

Gabriel held Sam against the shelf and sucked hard. Sam cried

out again and shot into his mouth. Sam nearly doubled over, tangling
his hands in Gabriel’s tousled brown hair. Gabriel sucked until he got
every drop of cum from Sam’s cock. He pulled back and moved up
Sam’s body. Immediately Sam’s lips sought his, but as much as
Gabriel wanted to give in, he pulled away.

“You can kiss me when you tell me what you just felt,” he

said. Avoiding Sam’s lips, he nuzzled his ear. “What just happened
between us.”

“Gabe, please don’t go.”
Gabriel pulled out of his arms. “How can I stay with things the

way they are? I won’t reject the university’s offer. Break it off with
her. Figure something else out. The people in this town aren’t as
heartless as you think. Even your father’s church wouldn’t shun an
unwed mother. If she stops acting like a spoiled brat, people will have
compassion, for her and her baby. Her friends won’t abandon her.
They’ll help her find some work, a place to live.” He touched Sam’s
cheek. “I love you. Come with me.”

Sam searched his face silently. He closed his eyes and said,

“You don’t understand. I have to stay.”

“And I have to go.” Gabriel turned and walked out of Sam’s

bedroom, leaving his heart there at Sam’s feet. “Don’t call me. I
won’t answer, not tonight, not ever.”

“Ever?” Sam called, the word coming out as a high-pitched

cry.

Gabriel felt the panic in Sam’s plea, but he didn’t turn. He

stopped in the hall and called back. “I’ll talk to you when you’re
ready to be honest with yourself and really be with me. Face-to-face.
Until then leave me alone.” Gabriel forced himself to walk out of the
apartment and get in his car. If he spent the whole night packing and
cleaning, he could be out of the little house he’d rented for the last
four years by the next morning. He had nothing to stay for anymore.

Chapter Two

Five Years Later

Sam felt the heat rush to his face when he caught a glance of

Gabriel with the other mourners. He managed to look away before
they made eye contact, and he forced himself to stare at the ground.
After a few moments, Sam turned slightly and watched Gabriel
walking across the grass to stand at the very back of the crowd. Sam
turned back to Laura’s coffin and tried to breathe evenly. How had
Gabriel found out? Who had called him? Had Sam’s parents tracked
him down somehow? He wished everyone else would go away. They
kept trying to comfort him, but no one except Gabriel could do that.
He couldn’t tell anyone but Gabriel the truth.

He could see the tiny bump under the green mat a few feet

from Laura’s grave. His son’s grave wouldn’t be so lonely and
isolated now. His mother would be with him. None of the people
standing around him knew he and Laura had been preparing for a
divorce, that she had been sleeping with another man for three years.
She’d met him at a conference for work, and since their son’s death a
year earlier she’d been traveling back and forth for long periods to see
him while he built up the courage to ask his own wife for a divorce.
Even though deep down Sam had been happy they would soon be
divorced, he’d told the guy he’d kill him if he showed up here. As
poisonous as Laura had been toward him, she had loved their son in
her own broken way, and his entire little world had revolved around
his beautiful mother. Sam didn’t want her reputation damaged for that
reason and that reason alone.

Everyone had admired him for raising another man’s son for

almost four years. No one knew little Gabriel had actually been Sam’s
biological son. It was best that way, Sam cast as the faithful and
loving hero, the man willing to step up and sacrifice, and Laura as the
poor victim of a broken home and the seduction of a heartless older
man. Now that Laura was dead, he would keep the secret forever. He
would never let the vicious gossips of the town know that Laura had
gotten him drunk and fucked him, then blackmailed him into
marriage. She was the only woman he’d ever had sex with, and he
could hardly remember it.

Sam felt Gabriel’s eyes on him, and then the tears started

flowing. He wanted to tell the minister to shut up and make everyone
go away. He wanted to turn and run into Gabriel’s arms. Sam felt his
mother and father embracing him. Laura had been a bitch to them so
many times, but they were both genuinely sorry she was gone because
they believed Sam had loved her. But his tears weren’t for Laura. His
tears were for his son and the years he’d spent wanting Gabriel. He
tried to hold back the tears and get through the ceremony, focusing his
mind on Gabriel and what he’d say if they got the chance to be alone.
He could trust Gabriel with his secrets, all of them, if given the
chance to finally tell him the truth.

Everything went by in a blur. Once the funeral was over, he

told his parents to go home. He stood by Laura’s grave, simply
nodding at everyone as they gave their condolences. He could still
feel Gabriel there. When he saw the workers pull up in their truck and
park on the dirt road running behind the cemetery, he moved away to
let them begin their work. He turned toward the trees and saw Gabriel
there. He slowly walked over to him, not daring to look him in the
eye.

“Thank you for coming,” Sam said, staring at Gabriel’s shoes.
“Are you okay, Sam?” he asked.
Sam nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
Gabriel came forward and put his hand under Sam’s chin. He

forced Sam to lift his eyes and face him. “Are you okay?” he
repeated.

Sam shook his head. “But not for the reason everyone thinks.”
Gabriel dropped his hand and shifted his stance. “No one

called me about the little boy last year. I found out when I arrived in
town. I’m sorry. You should have called. I would have come to the
funeral.”

“Gabriel,” he said, his voice shaking. “My son’s name…was

Gabriel.”

Gabriel cleared his throat. “No one told me that. I just heard

people talking about how hard it was going to be on you, doing this
all over again.”

“Laura called him Grover. She said it was because he liked

Sesame Street so much. But she didn’t like calling him Gabriel.”

“She knew?” Gabriel asked, running his hands through his

hair as he glanced at the departing cars.

“Yes.” He moved forward before his courage had the chance

to evaporate. “Gabriel, there is so much to explain. Please let me do
that before you leave.”

“We have plenty of time. I’m not leaving, Sam. I live here.

That’s how I knew about Laura’s death, in case you were wondering.
I’ve been back for a month. I got a teaching job at UGA. I’ve tried to
keep a low profile. I wanted to offer condolences for your son, but I
couldn’t make myself go to your house and see you and Laura
together. I was a coward.”

No, you were never a coward. It’s always been me. His heart

thudded as he realized what Gabriel had just told him. “You live here?
You should live in Athens with all the other professors.”

“I like it here. It’s only fifteen miles. Colbert isn’t so bad. I

like the country. It’s why I rented a house here instead of living on
campus.”

“Is that why?” Sam asked, almost afraid of the answer.
“Well, that and I met someone interesting during orientation,

and it was fun to carpool with him.” He looked into Sam’s eyes.
“Those were good days.”

“They were.” Sam felt tears building again. “Why didn’t you

tell me you were back?”

“I didn’t want to cause you more pain. People said you had a

rough time after your son died.”

“Yes. He fell, hit his head. I blamed myself. I wasn’t watching

him well enough. I didn’t realize Laura had gone in the house.” She’d
gone into the house to take a phone call from him, the man she’d been
fucking for half their marriage. Three tears spilled down his cheeks.

Gabriel took him by the shoulders. “It’s okay. You can tell me

later. You’ve had a long day.”

Sam wanted Gabriel to hug him and hold him close, but

Gabriel didn’t move any closer. Then he released him.

“I hope we can be friends, Sam. I want that.”
Friends. The word singed at Sam’s heart. Gabriel had finished

graduate school and built a life for himself. Maybe he had met
someone. It had been five years, after all.

“Yes. I really need a friend right now.”
Gabriel smiled at him, as if trying to reassure him. “Then I’m

here.”

As usual, Sam couldn’t read past the surface of Gabriel’s

expression. He wanted to ask so many questions, but instead he wiped

his cheeks and tried to smile back. He looked into the distance and
saw his parents hovering by the three remaining cars.

Dammit, I knew they wouldn’t leave. “Come say hello to my

parents,” Sam said, at a loss for any other way to keep Gabriel close.
****

Gabriel followed Sam’s line of sight. “Sure. I’d love to see

them again.” What Gabriel would really love though was pulling Sam
against him and kissing him. Five years of pent-up lust and longing
brewed deep inside him. There had been other men, but none of them
had been Sam. No one had come close, and deep down Gabriel knew
no one ever would. There had hardly been even one day when he
hadn’t missed Sam’s smile, his laugh, his dry sense of humor.

He’d spent a month listening to Sam’s praises all over town.

Gabriel had taken the job at UGA because of Sam. He’d returned
hoping Sam and Laura’s marriage would be over. He’d prayed every
night Sam would be single, and he’d felt physically sick when he
heard they were still married, but he hadn’t wanted this. A drunk
driver had plowed into Laura’s car. The remorseless bastard still
publicly said the accident was Laura’s fault, even though over a dozen
witnesses could confirm otherwise. The man had walked away
without a scratch even though Sam had been forced to have a closed
casket funeral for Laura. He would likely go to prison, but that
wouldn’t change what he had done.

Laura’s unfortunate death certainly complicated things. Sam

was indeed single, but he was so loved and respected in the small,
conservative town that Gabriel suspected he would be unwilling to
come out of the closet even if he did still have feelings for him. The
tears he’d seen today told him lots of things might have changed in
five years. Gabriel had heard so many people declare Sam to be the
most faithful, loving man in the world to put up with the beautiful but
“ornery” Laura. According to most of the town, he’d been devoted to
her from day one. Gabriel felt his stomach churn as he wondered for
the dozenth time how much of that might be true. The idea of never
kissing him again, never making love to him again, drove Gabriel half
crazy.

Sam’s mother Abigail held both of her hands out to Gabriel.

“Oh, Gabriel, thank you for coming! I heard someone say you’ve
moved back?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, grasping her hands. “I teach

anthropology at UGA now.”

She smiled genuinely, the joy reaching her swollen eyes. “I’m

so glad. Sam has missed you so much. You two were inseparable in
college. I think God brought you back here just at the right time.”

He smiled as she let go, and tried to fight the uneasiness he

always felt around Sam’s ultra-religious parents. His father was the
minister at the largest church in town. They were very kind people,
but he suspected their kindness might frost over a bit if they ever
learned what he had done with their son. “I like to think such things
are possible.”

Sam’s father Gregory clapped Gabriel on the back.

“Mysterious ways, son. Mysterious ways. One day, we’ll all
understand. Five years ago, Laura was in trouble, but God had a plan.
That Michael was no good, and she was better off without him. Her
own family was no good, too, so God brought her to ours. Who
knows where we’ll all be five years from now?”

Sam shifted, his face red. “I’m sure we’ll all be happier than

we are now.”

“Of course we will be,” Gabriel said, willing Sam to look at

him. Instead Sam looked off into the distance.

Abigail gave Gabriel an apologetic look. “I know Sam was

never much for writing, even over email. Did he tell you they named
their son after you?”

“Mom, I don’t want to talk about him.” Sam stormed away,

and his father went after him.

Gabriel looked at Abigail and nodded, doing his best to hide a

smile. Seeing a display of Sam’s petulance comforted him in a strange
way, though it had driven him crazy when they were together. He
could almost believe he’d missed the annoying trait. “I found out
today. It was a pleasant surprise.”

She shook her head. “You should have been his godfather. I

kept telling them that, but Laura wanted some friends of hers to be the
godparents. She didn’t like the fact that you weren’t married.” She
shrugged, an odd look on her face, as if she had more to say. After a
moment, she added, “So I kept my mouth shut.”

“That’s probably best. But thank you for thinking of me.”
She took his hand and slowly led him over to where Sam and

his father stood arguing. “I always liked you. Sam just wasn’t the
same after you left. Even now he hardly has any friends.”

“I’m here for him now. I’ll always be his friend.” Even if that

was all they could have, he wanted it more than anything.

“Come to the house this afternoon. You see how he is now,”

she said, pointing toward her son. “Sam can’t stand everyone trying to
comfort him. You two can go for a ramble in the woods or a drive or
something. Give him a reason to get away from everyone.”

“Thank you. I may come by later.” They stopped beside Sam

and his father, who had both gone silent.

Abigail spoke up. “Gabriel’s going to stop by later. Why don’t

we go have some lunch? There’s so much food at the house. I asked
everyone to give us a couple of hours to ourselves. We’ll all feel
better after some food and a rest.”

Sam nodded and walked to his car. He got in and pulled away

before anyone could say anything else.

“I must apologize for my son, Gabriel. It’s bringing the boy’s

death back to him,” Gregory said. “It’s been less than a year. He
loved that boy as if he truly was his son.”

“He was a good boy, so sweet and loving,” Abigail said. She

released Gabriel’s hand. “See you later?”

“Yes. I’ll be there.”
Gregory shook hands with him. “Good to know. He needs

someone steadfast in his life right now, someone who’ll see him
through this.”

“I hope I can.”
Gregory nodded and turned away to open his wife’s car door

for her. She waved at Gabriel, and he waved back before walking to
his own car. He sank down into the driver’s seat and stared at the
road. He put the key in the ignition, but he didn’t crank it. He couldn’t
even see the asphalt as everything that had just happened swirled in
his head.

Chapter Three

Sam kept looking out the living room window. He couldn’t

stand being inside anymore, but he didn’t want people to congregate
outside. He wanted to be alone with Gabriel. When he spotted him
coming down the sidewalk, he made his way to the front door. He
slipped outside as quickly as he could and met Gabriel on the
driveway.

Gabriel glanced past him. “Rough crowd in there?”
“I’m going crazy. Come on.” He turned and led him around

the back of the house. They crossed the bridge over the duck pond,
and Sam kept walking until they were deep in the forest. He turned
and looked into Gabriel’s eyes.

Gabriel stopped and leaned against a tree to catch his breath.

“You running from something specific?”

“Yes. All those people who think they know what I need right

now.”

Gabriel hesitated. “What do you need?”
“You.”
Gabriel nodded and stuck his hands in his pockets. He leaned

back against the tree and asked, “When did you figure that out?”

“I knew it five years ago.”
“Didn’t feel that way to me. Your body said you wanted me,

but your mouth didn’t back that up.”

Sam came forward and touched Gabriel’s cheek. He leaned in

for a kiss. Their lips touched, and he wanted Gabriel to wrap his arms
around him and never let him go. He wanted to lie back on the ground
and feel Gabriel on top of him. Gabriel’s lips opened, and their
tongues touched tentatively. The kiss was slow and sweet, but then
Gabriel pulled back.

“Is this why you ran so far into the woods? So no one would

see us?” he whispered.

Sam stared at him. “Well, it wouldn’t have been a great idea to

kiss you like this out on the front lawn.”

Gabriel bit his lip. “Those tears I saw today. Were they for

Laura?”

Sam shook his head. “They were for him.” He squeezed

Gabriel’s hands. “You wanted an explanation five years ago. I’m
going to give it to you. But first promise me you will never tell

anyone.”
****

Gabriel didn’t want to make such a promise, but he had little

choice. Sam looked so pained, and Gabriel had spent five years
wondering what had kept the man he loved from coming with him. “I
promise. Please tell me the truth. I won’t judge you.” He meant it.
He’d tried to live without Sam but had ended up back in Georgia
because he knew that he couldn’t. No matter what the truth was, he
would find a way to get through just to have Sam in his life again.

Sam brought Gabriel’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. He’d

actually started shaking. Gabriel opened his arms and embraced him.
He held him tight against his body until the trembling stopped. “Tell
me.”

Sam pulled back and looked into his eyes. “One night, Laura

told me how she felt. She said she was gonna dump Michael. I
rejected her. Two months later, she got me drunk.”

Gabriel felt icy tendrils wrapping around his heart, inching up

his throat. “And she seduced you?”

He nodded. “The weekend you were presenting that paper in

Kansas City. I couldn’t go because I had to work.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about the first night she said

something?”

“I didn’t want you to worry. You were the only one I’d ever

been with. I didn’t want you to think I might get curious one day.
You’d had sex with a girl. I hadn’t.”

He nodded. “Go on.”
“I hardly remember it. A guy can’t exactly report something

like that to the cops, can he?”

“Bullshit. You still could have gotten a restraining order or

something.”

“I think I blacked out part of the night. She was upset, crying.

I missed you, and she had been extra annoying since she told me
about her feelings, so I kept right on drinking. I wish I could blame
youth and inexperience, but part of me knew she’d try to hit on me. I
stayed and got drunk anyway,”

“That doesn’t make it your fault. It also doesn’t make her

actions okay. Reverse the genders, and they call it rape.”

Sam sighed. “I know, Gabe. I’m just trying to tell you

everything. Be one hundred percent honest. She kept saying she loved

me, that Michael didn’t treat her right. She told me about her stepdad
raping her. I held her for a long time. Then she started stroking me.
Nothing happened, but she kept on. We were fooling around. Kissing.
I was touching her breasts. I wasn’t getting hard, but it felt so
different. Then things got fuzzy. I came around and felt a mouth on
my cock, and then something…different. I managed to open my eyes.
She was riding me. She wouldn’t get off, and she got me to come.”

Gabriel looked off into the trees, letting the story sink in. “But

that was just one time.” He looked back to Sam. “How did you know
the baby was yours?”

“Michael acted so macho for a very specific reason.” He

moved away a little, his hands on his hips as he took a deep breath.
“He had issues getting it up. When she found out she was pregnant, it
had been like five months since they’d…uh…been able to finish, if
you get my drift? She told me first, and then she had me come over
when she told him. She was afraid he’d hit her.” He shook his head.
“His face. You could see it wasn’t his. He went nuts.”

“But you’re sure? Absolutely sure?”
He nodded. “I knew it was true when I saw the way Michael

reacted, but we went to Atlanta and very discreetly had blood tests
after he was born. He was my son.”

“So that’s the part you couldn’t tell me? You weren’t even

sure when I left, but you were willing to risk it and stay here?”

“Yes.”
Gabriel felt the anger at Laura’s actions warring with the grief

of knowing Sam really had lost a son. “That’s a lot for me to take in
right now, Sam.”

“I know. You can have all the time you want. I stayed for the

child, but there were other reasons, too.”

“Like what?” What else could there have been? Gabriel was

almost afraid to find out.

“She knew about us. Because of how she felt about me, she

watched us. She figured it out. She threatened to tell everyone. She
said she would use it to keep me from ever seeing the baby.”

“She couldn’t do that legally. Maybe she could have kept you

from having custody if she played her cards right in front of the right
judge, but she couldn’t deny you the right to see him.”

“I was so scared, Gabe. I couldn’t risk it.”
“I would’ve helped you fight. She wasn’t exactly innocent

herself.”

His face went red. “She said she would claim we raped her in

some perverted sex game. You and me both. You know how this
fucking town is! They would believe the local slut over two gay men
any day of the damn week!”

The anger surged again. “Christ, how did you live with

someone who could make a plan like that? How could you even look
at her?” Sam’s tenderheartedness had always been one his most
endearing qualities, but this revelation blew Gabriel’s mind. He
simply couldn’t wrap his head around Sam’s reasoning. They could
have found another way. He knew they could have.

“I had to be there for Gabriel. I named him while she was still

dazed from the drugs. She never forgave me.”

“She never forgave you? That’s a good one.” Gabriel wanted

to punch something. He wanted to race across town and spit on her
grave. Part of him wanted to dig her up and get her away from little
Gabriel’s grave.

“You promised not to tell, Gabe, please. For my son, don’t

make the town think less of her than they already did. She was a
bitch, but somehow she loved him. Her feelings for me faded fast
when she saw she repulsed me, but she never took anything out on
him. He loved her so much. I don’t want any gossip. I know he’s
gone, but I just want both of them to rest in peace. I don’t want
ghosts, Gabe. I want peace.”

“And what about me?”
“I do want you. If you’ll have me.”
Gabriel couldn’t help staring at Sam. “Then I’ll have to turn

that question right back on you. Will you have me? I’m not going to
sneak around. As much as I love you and need you, I can’t do that
again. It’s the one thing I will not do. We can wait, but when we pick
up where we left off, we’re doing it in front of this whole damn
town.”

“Gabe, I can’t.”
Gabriel pushed him away and turned his back on him. “How

can you say that? These past five years obviously haven’t been as bad
as you say.”

“I can’t begin to tell you how awful they were.”
“As bad as they were for me?” He turned back to him and

pointed an accusing finger. “The man I loved sent me away without

an attempt at a decent explanation so he could marry a blackmailing
bitch!”

“I did it for my son!”
“I’m trying to understand, and in a way I do, at least a little,

but you aren’t even attempting to see things through my eyes.” He
walked over to Sam and took his face in his hands. “Do you know
how much it hurt when that giggling, simpering idiot announced your
engagement? I wanted to die right there.”

“I’m sorry,” Sam whispered.
“Is that all you can say to me?” Gabriel asked, unable to keep

his voice from rising and cracking.

“I made a mistake, but I’ve been over it a million times in my

head, and there was no other way.”

“There’s always another way.” Gabriel released him and

walked away.

“Gabriel, don’t go!”
He ran his hands over his face. “I need some time, Sam. I need

to think.”

Sam ran around in front of him and threw his arms around

him. “Just a few more minutes, please.”

Sam’s lips met his, and this time he gave in. He greedily

plundered Sam’s mouth as his hands slid down to grab his ass. Sam
sighed, and the sound made Gabriel hard. He pulled Sam down to the
ground with him and pushed him onto his back. He spread Sam’s legs
and rubbed his body against Sam’s groin. Sam got hard, too. He ran
his fingers into Sam’s blond hair and gave it a tug. He bit down on his
lower lip and then sucked.

“I need you inside me, Gabe,” Sam whispered.
Gabriel pulled back and gazed down at him. “Here? In the

middle of the woods? In the bathrooms of bars? In dirty motel rooms
out of town?” He shook his head. “Come to my house and stay the
night, the entire night. Until then, please don’t tempt me.”

“Me tempt you? The way you were just grinding against me?”

Sam groaned. “Gabe, don’t leave me here needing you like this,” he
said, his fingers locked on Gabriel’s shirt as he tried to get up.

Gabriel wanted to give in. He wanted nothing more than to lie

down right there and make love with Sam, but he’d be a fool to give
in now. He’d only get hurt again. “Let go.” He tried to gently loosen
Sam’s grip on him. “Please, just let me go.”

“No. I shouldn’t have let you go before.”
Gabriel yanked his shirt free and stood. He stared down at

Sam, wanting to stay but knowing he needed to go. “I hope you mean
that, hope you truly see it that way. I told you the same thing five
years ago. Come to me when you’re ready to be honest about who
you are.”

He forced himself to walk away, and it was even harder than it

had been five years ago.
****

Sam threw the mail on the couch and went to his bedroom. All

of Laura’s things were in the master bedroom, which he had never
even once slept in. He had to get up early the next day to see the real
estate agent. He couldn’t stay in the house any longer. The agent had
promised to do everything in her power, thinking she understood
Sam’s urgency and promising to talk the property up to a couple of
good prospects in Atlanta.

He’d actually found out Gabriel’s address and driven by his

house. He’d slowed to look down the long driveway to catch a
glimpse of the white farmhouse, but then he’d sped away. He couldn’t
do it. One day Gabriel would understand. One day, he sincerely
hoped, Gabriel would give in and they could be together.

He licked his lower lip, thinking of Gabriel’s kiss. His cock

hardened as he remembered the feel of Gabriel’s body on top of him,
the brush of his erection against his thigh. It had been too long since
he’d had that glorious cock in his mouth. Driving hard into his ass.
Making him come. Had Gabriel been with other men? How many?
Gabriel had been so experienced even when they were eighteen. He’d
known exactly how to touch Sam, how to seduce him.

He kicked his shoes off and shed his pants, and then his shirt.

He stretched out on his bed, imagining Gabriel there with him. On top
of him. Caressing him. Licking his cock. He massaged his balls and
then began to slowly stroke himself. He remembered their first time.
He and Gabriel had been out in the woods in his dad’s deer stand,
watching birds for one of their freshman classes. They’d been sitting
so close, and it hadn’t taken Gabriel long to realize Sam wanted to
touch him but was afraid to.

They’d kissed for a long time, Gabriel being gentle and

patient. Then Sam had brushed his hand against Gabriel’s cock.
Gabriel had unzipped his pants and pulled his large, engorged cock

out, and then he’d reached over and pulled Sam’s out as well. Sam
moaned as he remembered how they’d kissed and jerked each other
off. Gabriel came first. Sam had been so aroused when the hot cum
covered his hand.

He grew harder as he thought about Gabriel getting on his

knees and taking his cock into his mouth. That first touch of Gabriel’s
mouth and tongue on his cock had taken his breath away. Then
Gabriel had trailed his hand up Sam’s chest and looked into his eyes.
The memory made Sam jerk, and then he came, his cum squirting
high before coating his hand and stomach. He lay there a long time,
thinking about Gabriel. Thinking about how wonderful it would be to
have Gabriel beside him, to be able to roll over into his embrace.
They had never slept in the same bed, and Sam regretted that now, but
he’d been so afraid back then.

He was still afraid now. His parents would disown him. His

neighbors would shun him. The entire town would reject him and
never say a word in his favor again. He didn’t have many friends, but
the few he did have were good ones. Of course, they didn’t know the
real him. What would they say? What would they do? Would they
ignore him? Would they tell their kids to stay away from him?

He couldn’t stand the thought. He didn’t know how Gabriel

dealt with it. He’d grown up in a small town in Tennessee, not much
bigger than Colbert, yet he’d lived as openly gay his last two years of
high school and had even dated a couple of guys. Sam couldn’t
imagine what his life would have been like if he’d done that. He
shuddered at the very thought. He’d probably have been strung up by
the football team or taken out in the woods by a bunch of rednecks.
Being an adult didn’t calm his fears of what might happen to him and
Gabriel both if people found out.

“Why the fuck couldn’t you have moved to Athens, Gabe?” he

asked the silent room around him. “At least there we’d be a little less
conspicuous.”

He got up and went into the bathroom. He washed his hands

and turned the shower on before going back to set his alarm. He
needed to focus on getting his life straight, getting settled in a new
place. Gabriel would have to wait. Again.

Chapter Four

Gabriel couldn’t stop staring at Debbie, the department’s very

young secretary, standing in his office doorway. She held a dozen
lavender roses. The smile on her face almost overshadowed the
impressive bouquet.

“The delivery guy said he would bring them up, but I thought

it would be easier if I brought them.” She set them down on his desk,
still beaming at him. “They’re so beautiful.”

He stood and touched one of the large blooms. “They are.” He

searched for a card, but he didn’t see one.

“I think you have a secret admirer.”
“I guess so.”
She kept standing there. “You know what lavender roses

mean, don’t you?”

He shook his head.
“Someone is enchanted by you. You send this color to

communicate enchantment. Or love at first sight.” She actually
clapped her hands together twice and pressed them to her lips to
suppress a squeal. “It’s so romantic! I’m sorry. It’s just so exciting!
Do you know who it is?”

He couldn’t help laughing at how happy she was. “I think I

have an idea. It’s not someone on campus. It’s someone I went to
school here with.”

“Really? Have you seen her since you came back?”
He took a breath, deciding to get the awkwardness out of the

way. “He, actually. Yes, I saw him a few weeks ago.”

“Oh,” she said, giving him a quick appraising glance. Her

smile actually broadened. “Well, he’s obviously glad to have you
back.” She backed out of the room. “I better get back down to the
desk. See you later!”

“Thanks for bringing these up.”
“No problem. The pleasure was all mine.”
He smiled when she shut the door. He wondered how long it

would be before the entire department knew that he’d gotten
roses…from a man. He leaned forward to breathe in their sweet scent.
He checked again to make sure there wasn’t a card. But what did this
mean? Had Sam changed his mind? Was it an apology? An
invitation?

He sat down at his desk again and stared at the quizzes he’d

been grading. Should he call Sam? He worked for the Emergency
Management Agency in Athens, so he probably wouldn’t be hard to
find. The phone number and address were easy to locate online, but
Gabriel just sat there looking at the screen. He’d told Sam they
couldn’t be together if Sam couldn’t be true to himself, to both of
them. He decided against calling him. If Sam wanted something to
happen, he needed to be the one to initiate things.

Gabriel sat back in his chair and swiveled it to look out across

campus. He smiled as his eyes fell on the all the spots on the large
quad where he and Sam had sat for hours talking. He’d spent four
very happy years here. College life had been great, and he’d been in
love, certain he’d met the person he would spend the rest of his life
with. He wanted that certainty back. He’d never felt as complete in
his whole life as he had when he was with Sam. There was no doubt
in his mind he still loved Sam, but Sam had to love him back. More
importantly, he had to be willing to show the world that he loved him.
He’d never understood how Sam had believed they could just go on
year after year hiding from everyone. How could Sam still believe
that? Sam was twenty-seven now, and he’d be twenty-eight in three
days. He was old enough to face the world and tell the truth. Gabriel
had to convince him their love was worth facing any challenge for.
****

Sam pulled up in front of Gabriel’s house. And sat there,

staring down at the steering wheel. He still didn’t know exactly what
he wanted to say to Gabriel. He’d expected a phone call or some other
kind of contact after sending him the flowers, but he’d gotten nothing.
The flowers had been an apology both for their argument and for the
fact that he’d had so much occupying his time in the weeks after the
funeral.

Today was also Sam’s birthday. Had Gabriel forgotten? He

felt pathetic coming here just to see if he remembered, but the lack of
response to his flowers had gotten to him. He jerked his head up when
someone tapped on his window.

Gabriel stood there gazing down at him, his face blank.
Sam got out of the car. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Gabriel leaned forward and kissed him briefly. “Come

for a birthday spanking?” Gabriel’s eyes said he’d be more than
willing to give one if Sam were here for the right reasons, if he said

the right things.

“You remembered?” he whispered.
Gabriel backed away, breaking the erotic spell, and rolled his

eyes. “Of course I remembered.” He turned to look at the setting sun,
folding his arms across his chest. “Did you have a good one?”

“We didn’t do anything. I didn’t want to. My mom brought a

cupcake to me at work, but that was all I’d let her do.”

“She must be worried about you.”
Sam moved to stand by Gabriel. “Are you?”
“Am I what?”
He took a breath. He’d known Gabriel wouldn’t make this

easy, but part of him knew he deserved it in a way. “Worried about
me.”

Gabriel turned to him. “Of course I am. I just figured you’d be

with your friends today.”

“I only have a few. And I knew they’d all be focusing on

Laura’s death. I only wanted to see you. I kept looking up over my
cubicle all day at work every time someone came in.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure you’d want us to be seen together.”

Gabriel’s neutral expression wavered a little, his frustration with Sam
showing through for a moment.

Sam didn’t like seeing that pain in his eyes or the accusation

that went along with it. He swallowed. “Did you get the flowers?”

“Yes. Enchantment? Love at first sight, huh?”
Sam shrugged. “I thought their meaning fit. I knew I was

different when I met you. I just didn’t have the courage back then to
let anyone but you see it.”

Gabriel’s eyes flicked up to his. “Back then?” He reached up

and stroked Sam’s cheek. “You’ve had time to think, then?”

Sam leaned into his hand, covering it with his own to press it

to his cheek. “Yeah. I’m selling my house. A guy in Atlanta wants it,
in fact, so I’m gonna go ahead and move out. I’ll need a place to
stay.”

Gabriel lowered his hand but let it linger over Sam’s neck.

“You don’t want to stay with your parents?”

He shook his head. “I want to be here, and it would be unfair

to ask if I’m not willing to…compromise.” He wanted to tell Gabriel
just how much he wanted to be here, to be with him every waking
moment, but his own fear held him back. The need to go slow

publicly weighed on him, and he worried Gabriel might not
understand, might not agree at first. He didn’t want to lay his
emotions out so plainly if it proved to be a deal breaker for Gabriel.
That kind of vulnerability would be too hard to deal with right now.

Gabriel lowered his hand, but when their gazes met Sam saw

the heat in his eyes. “What does that mean?”

Sam took several deep breaths, glad that Gabriel seemed

prepared for some conditions. “We work up to it. Telling everyone, I
mean.”

Gabriel inched closer and ran his finger along Sam’s belt, then

hooked his finger into it and pulled Sam against him. “So we get
groceries together now and then? Maybe meet for lunch? Then go out
to dinner? One day you don’t flinch if I kiss you good-bye in a
parking lot?”

“Yes. One day, we reach that point. We don’t flaunt it, but we

stop hiding it.” He swallowed, his throat feeling tight. “And then, one
day, we tell my parents.”

“One day?”
Sam gripped Gabriel’s shoulders, and his voice came out

strained. “I’m giving a little here. How about you?”

“And if people whisper? Will you back down? Back out?”
He shook his head. “I’m not saying I’ll handle everything

exactly the way you want me to, but I will try.”

“Try,” Gabriel repeated, slipping his fingers into the waist of

Sam’s jeans.

Sam drew in a sharp breath when he felt them against his skin.

If Gabriel pulled away and said it wasn’t good enough he didn’t know
what he’d do.

“I should say no,” Gabriel said, “but I want to be inside you

too damn much.”

His words made a shiver of desire run up Sam’s spine. He’d

missed Gabriel making love to him every night for five years. “I’ll
stay the night. The whole night. I took tomorrow off because I
checked the class schedule and saw you don’t teach any classes
tomorrow. I didn’t want to share my birthday night with anyone else.”
He meant it, every word of it, and he hoped Gabriel could feel that.

Gabriel pulled his fingers out and slid them over Sam’s cock

through the jeans. “Been stalking me?”

“A little. I couldn’t get you out of my mind, even with all the

shit I’ve had on my plate since the funeral.” He sighed as Gabriel
rubbed him, making him even harder.

Gabriel leaned in and lightly kissed Sam’s neck. Then he bit

him. “Get in the house,” he said, his voice dropping to a low growl.

Sam obeyed, loving Gabriel’s rough tone. Once they were in

the house, Sam turned to Gabriel, who pushed him through the foyer
and pointed up the stairs as he closed the front door. Sam went,
turning every few seconds. At the top, Gabriel pushed him against the
wall and kissed him hard. Sam moaned, almost unable to believe how
good Gabriel felt. Gabriel began unbuttoning Sam’s shirt, caressing
his chest and pinching his nipples. Sam melted against him, wanting
more of his touch.

Gabriel led him into his bedroom and pulled his own t-shirt

over his head. He toed his shoes off and then pulled Sam into his arms
again. Gabriel finished unbuttoning Sam’s shirt and pulled it off of
him, then started with his pants. Sam groaned when Gabriel gripped
his cock. Gabriel pushed him down on the bed and yanked his pants
off. He took Sam’s cock in his hand again and stroked. Sam threw his
head back, moaning again, and then he sat up and undid Gabriel’s
jeans. Gabriel encouraged him, placing his hands on his shoulders and
squeezing. Sam pushed Gabriel’s pants and boxers down and let him
step out of them. Sam licked the head of his cock twice. Then he felt
Gabriel’s hand grip his hair. He took Gabriel’s dick all the way to the
back of his throat, and then he relaxed. Gabriel began to guide him. It
was as if no time had passed since they had last made love.

Sam used his tongue on the underside of Gabriel’s cock,

stroking hard. He tasted the pre-cum, salty and hot, and he began to
hum.

“God,” Gabriel said, pulling Sam away and looking down into

his eyes. He tugged his head back by his hair and kissed him deeply.
“I need to fuck you,” he said against his lips. Gabriel went into the
bathroom and came back with a jar of lube. Then he went to the
nightstand for condoms.

Sam bit his lower lip. They’d never used them before, yet

Gabriel had them. How many men had he been with? Gabriel
obviously noticed the change in him. He got on his knees and looked
into Sam’s eyes. “I guess I got used to using them. I did get tested
before coming back though, and I’m clean.” He paused and caressed
Sam’s thigh. “I didn’t know what I’d be coming back to, but I hoped

I’d have a second chance with you.”

“Have you been with many people?” Sam whispered.
“Two in the past year. Five total since I left.”
Sam smiled, relief flooding over him. “Okay. It’s fine. I’m

sorry.” He hoped his hesitation hadn’t offended Gabriel.

The smile that crept over Gabriel’s face made Sam’s cock

twitch. “How many did you think?” Gabriel stroked his own shaft
while teasing his fingers over Sam’s.

He kissed the edge of Gabriel’s mouth, then sucked on his

lower lip for a moment. “I’m sure there were plenty who wanted you.
Way more than five.”

“They didn’t work out because none of them were you.”

Gabriel nipped at his neck. “I couldn’t forget you.” He bent down and
sucked the head of Sam’s cock. He leaned back and squeezed it, then
licked away the liquid at the tip. “None of them tasted this good.”

“Fuck me, Gabriel.” Sam needed to come, needed to feel

Gabriel inside him. “And we don’t need the condoms. I want to feel
you.”

Gabriel ran his tongue over Sam’s cock once more, meeting

his gaze during the slow tease. Sam groaned, which made Gabriel
laugh. He lubed Sam up, taking his sweet time and stretching him
with first one, then two, and then three fingers. Sam closed his eyes to
focus on the pleasure. Gabriel pushed him back a little farther on the
bed, and Sam opened his eyes and watched as Gabriel rubbed the lube
on his own cock. Gabriel hooked his hands under Sam’s knees and
nudged at his entrance. Sam reached for him as he penetrated.

Gabriel leaned down as he went deeper, stroking in and out

until he filled Sam completely. He ran his hand up Sam’s chest and
kissed him hungrily. Sam gasped for breath when Gabriel released
him. He’d waited five years to feel Gabriel inside him again.

“You feel so good,” Gabriel said.
“I’ve missed this.” Sam gripped his shoulders. “I’ve been

sleeping alone for five years. In a tiny twin bed, spending too many
nights staring at the ceiling and wondering…” He let his voice trail
off.

“Wondering where I was? If I was thinking of you?” Gabriel

thrust against his prostate, massaging deep the way Sam loved.

Sam sighed. “Yes.” The pleasure built as Gabriel worked in

and out of him. He dug his fingers into Gabriel’s shoulders. His cock

ached, bobbing between his and Gabriel’s stomachs, but he wanted
Gabriel to be the one to jerk him off.

Gabriel brushed his lips over Sam’s. “I was thinking of you. I

kept hoping you’d show up one day.”

“Gabriel, I’m sorry.”
Gabriel shook his head fiercely and began pounding into him.

“Forget it. None of it matters now.” He sat back and began stroking
Sam’s aching cock.

Sam gripped the bedspread in both his hands, moving to meet

every thrust. He’d missed Gabriel’s touch so much. His fingers
wrapping around Sam’s cock were sheer bliss. Gabriel ran his thumb
over the head of Sam’s cock, and then he began fisting him even
faster. Their eyes met, and Sam shot, the cum spilling forth in a hot
stream all over his chest. He arched up at the ecstasy of it, trembling
as Gabriel’s thrusts compounded the joy of his release.

Gabriel growled deep in his throat, which sent even more

pleasure shooting through Sam, and then Sam felt him jerk and come,
too. Gabriel stilled above him, thrusting one final time, and then he
pulled out and covered Sam’s body with his. He kissed him with so
much force Sam was both elated and deliciously terrified all at once.
Their lips finally parted, and they both gasped for breath.

“Gabe,” he whispered, his voice ragged.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Meant it,” Gabriel said, running his fingers through Sam’s

hair and then down his cheek. “Forget it all. You did it for your child.
I forgive you.”

How could he say that? How could he put it all behind him

just like that? “You have every right not to forgive me. We can talk
about it.”

Gabriel shook his head. “No. I don’t want to talk about it. I

don’t want to fight about it. I want to hear every wonderful detail
about your son. And that’s all.”

Sam tried to smile, but his lips trembled. “That makes me feel

like more of a shit for sending you away.”

“I chose to leave. I could have stayed to fight for you, for us.”
“But you had your own life to live, opportunities you couldn’t

pass up. You didn’t know everything.” He sighed. “Because I didn’t
tell you.”

“That was wrong, but so was my leaving. I’m not going to let

anything keep us apart ever again.” Gabriel held his face firmly in his
strong hand. “Do you hear me?”

Sam nodded. “Yes. I don’t deserve you, but I’m never letting

you go again.”

Gabriel stretched and sat on the edge of the bed. “So do you

still have as much stamina as you used to?”

Sam smiled as Gabriel glanced at him over his shoulder. He

sat up and kissed the back of his neck. “Let’s find out.”
****

Gabriel woke up with Sam sprawled across his chest. He could

feel Sam’s hot breath on his skin, as well as his hand resting very
close to his cock. He rubbed the back of Sam’s neck, stirring him
awake, and then he took his shoulder and rolled him onto his back.
Sam sighed and opened his eyes, and Gabriel gave him a long, slow
kiss.

“This is the first time we’ve woken up together,” Gabriel said.

“I like it.”

“I do, too.”
“I hope you enjoyed your birthday.”
“I did,” Sam said. “I loved knowing you were here all night.

Hope I didn’t crowd you.”

“You certainly did, and I loved it.” He captured Sam’s mouth

in a long kiss and let his hand roam down Sam’s naked body.

Sam groaned beneath him and arched up. Gabriel broke off the

kiss and worked his mouth down Sam’s body. He pumped Sam’s dick
and licked the head. He’d never enjoyed sucking a cock more. He
loved the way Sam fit in his mouth, the way he moaned with every
lick and stroke. He’d never forgotten that beautiful sound in five
years. Sam arched up again, and Gabriel moved his hand and began
sucking hard as he took Sam’s full length between his lips.

“Oh, God, Gabriel!” Sam cried.
Gabriel massaged Sam’s balls and ran his finger over his

pucker. Sam continued to writhe and moan beneath him. He let Sam’s
cock slide into his throat. When he felt him swell and jerk, he pulled
back a little and let him come. Sam’s hand roamed over Gabriel’s
back as he spilled into his mouth. Gabriel swallowed every drop and
let his tongue and teeth tease over Sam’s cock, knowing the friction
across his sensitive skin would send shivers running all over Sam’s

body.

Sam tried to get away from him, backing across the bed, but

Gabriel grabbed him by the waist and pulled him beneath him.

“Did you think I’d forget about that?” Gabriel asked.
Sam slid his arms around Gabriel’s neck. “I knew you

wouldn’t.” He kissed him. “I’ve missed all the things you used to do.”
Pressing his cheek against Gabriel’s shoulder, he let his lips rest on
his neck. “I remember the first time you ran your teeth over my cock.
I nearly jumped out of your arms.”

Gabriel pushed him down onto the bed. “And then the next

night you begged me to do it again.” After one more kiss, he got up
and pulled Sam to his feet.

“What about you?” Sam asked, stroking Gabriel’s cock.
“You can work on that in the shower. Then we can go to

breakfast.”

Sam’s eyes lowered for a moment, and Gabriel paused outside

the bathroom door. Would it be like this every day? Would he have to
convince Sam their love was worth whatever came their way?

“Sam?”
Sam looked up and smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
Gabriel sighed in relief and pulled Sam close. “No one will

give a shit. I’ll behave. Okay? I promise.”

Sam nodded. “Okay.” He pulled Gabriel into the bathroom.

“Come on. I didn’t get to suck you enough last night.”

Gabriel pushed all his fears aside and focused on the man

moving his sweet mouth down his body.

Chapter Five

Sam maneuvered over to the diner’s counter to grab the two

empty stools at the end while Gabriel went to the bathroom to wash
his hands. Every guy he passed either nodded or patted him on the
back, and every woman either smiled in an encouraging way or
reached out to briefly clasp his hand. He wondered how many people
knew the day before had been his birthday. Everyone who attended
his father’s church would probably know. He hoped no one would say
anything. What would he say if someone asked what he had done? He
would need to tell the truth, but he wasn’t ready for any raised
eyebrows or wary expressions today. Of course, he wouldn’t have to
say he’d spent the night with Gabriel or reveal what they had done.
He could just say he’d spent the evening with Gabriel and leave it at
that.

Sam sighed as he sat down. Shaking his head, he grabbed a

menu. He was thinking too much and worrying about ridiculous
possibilities. If he’d been seeing a girl, he wouldn’t tell anyone they’d
spent the night together and had sex three times. He would simply say
that he’d spent his birthday with his girlfriend, and the questioner
would just nod politely. No one had any reason to think spending his
birthday with Gabriel meant anything more than hanging out.
Everyone in town he had more than a passing acquaintance with knew
he and Gabriel had been best friends in college. They’d move in
together, and maybe by the time anyone began to wonder, he’d be
comfortable enough to tell anyone and everyone the truth. He just
needed a few weeks to work up to this.

Sam jumped when Gabriel sat down beside him and reached

for a menu.

Gabriel sucked in his lower lip, most likely trying to politely

hide his smile or keep from laughing. “You okay there?” he asked in a
low, teasing tone.

Sam looked into his eyes and nodded, then let out another

sigh. “Thinking too much.”

“Friends have breakfast together all the time.” He glanced

over the menu. “Just as often as people in other kinds of relationships
do.”

Sam turned slightly to the man beside him, but he was turned

with his back to Sam telling a story to a teenage boy. He blushed a

little under Gabriel’s gaze.

“Sorry. I’m building all this up in my mind and making too

big of a deal out of it.”

“You are indeed,” Gabriel said as he signaled for coffee.
After they ordered, Sam remained silent until someone

touched him on the back. He turned and saw his mother standing
there.

“Don’t get up,” she said. “I was just leaving, but I had to stop

and say hello.” She shifted her gaze to Gabriel and beamed. “Hello,
Gabriel.”

“Good morning. How are you today?” Gabriel asked.
“I’m very well, thank you. What are you boys up to today?”
Sam cleared his throat. “I took the day off. We’re going to go

hiking. Gabriel doesn’t have any classes on Fridays.”

His mother’s smile broadened. She looked so happy. Had he

really changed so much after Gabriel had left? Had everyone else
noticed, too? And how would she feel when she learned the truth?
When they told her exactly why Gabriel made him so happy?

Gabriel smiled, too, and glanced at him. Sam could tell he was

on the brink of saying something about these plans that Sam had only
made up that very moment.

“Well, you boys have fun.” She dug her keys from her purse

and started to move away, but then she stopped. “Oh! I saw the sold
sign this morning. The man from Atlanta?”

Sam nodded.
“How soon do you have to be out?”
“I’ll be moving out very soon.” He took a deep breath and

nodded at Gabriel. “Gabe has the Abbott farmhouse now. I’m gonna
move in with him.”

His mother actually let out a delighted squeal and leaned over

to kiss both him and Gabriel. “Oh, that’s perfect! That place is so big
and rambling for anyone to live in alone. That’s so kind of you,
Gabriel. I think it’s a marvelous idea.”

“It’s my pleasure. Sam and I should have done it in college. It

would have made so much sense.”

Sam felt his face flame red, but he kept his smile in place.
She held her finger up to him in a mock scolding way. “You

know, you should have.” She beamed at both of them again, then
looked up at the clock. “I better get to the church office. See you boys

later.” She kissed Sam one more time and then left the diner.

Sam swiveled on the stool and clutched at the counter.
“Are you still breathing?” Gabriel asked.
“Yes.”
Gabriel leaned in close. “You haven’t changed a bit.” He

pulled back and playfully hit him on the shoulder. “Still an uptight
freak.”

“I know.”
“But now that I’m back, you’ll loosen up soon enough. I plan

on devoting a great deal of time to the project.”

Sam blushed again, thinking about how good it had felt that

morning when Gabriel had fucked him in the shower. “I think you’re
enjoying this too much.” He’d meant it as an accusation, yet by the
time he got all the words out, he was laughing.

Gabriel laughed, too. “I’m loving every moment.”
Sam shifted to focus on his food as it was set in front of him.

Despite the blush still lingering on his face, he couldn’t resist saying,
“I’ll get you back later.”

“Will you?”
He met Gabriel’s brown eyes and placed his hand on his thigh.

“Oh yes.”

Gabriel’s eyes warmed at the brief touch, and Sam felt braver

and stronger in those few seconds than he had in a very long time.
****

Gabriel picked up two letters from his departmental mailbox

and went back outside to find Sam. He scanned the quad and found
him leaning against a tree. Breakfast had been fine once Sam had
calmed his nerves. Gabriel hoped being back on campus wouldn’t
make Sam retreat again.

Sam raised his eyes. “This is where I was sitting when you

looked over at me. You just kept looking at me, and I didn’t mind.
When we talked later, I started to get it.”

“You were the cutest guy in my orientation group. I couldn’t

ignore you.” His heart skipped a couple of beats as the memory
washed over him. He still remembered the shy yet longing look in
Sam’s eyes when their gazes had locked that day. It had made his
heart thud then, too.

Sam smiled, and Gabriel could tell he wanted to kiss him. He

stayed where he was and waited for Sam to move. After the longest

fifteen seconds of his life, Sam straightened and came over to him.
His brushed his lips over Gabriel’s, and then he took his hand and
started walking.

Gabriel felt a surge of joy as they walked, and he squeezed

Sam’s hand. “That’s the first time you ever kissed me on campus.” He
let out a contented sigh. “The first time you’ve kissed me anywhere
outside.”

Sam looked out across the parking lot, then over at the

buildings to their left. “The universe doesn’t seem to have imploded.”

“I told you it wouldn’t.”
They walked over to the campus coffee shop and sat down

outside with their coffees. “So tell me about your son.”

Sam reached into his wallet and pulled out a couple of small

photographs. Handing them to Gabriel, he said, “These are baby
pictures.” He pointed to one of a very small baby in a blue romper.
“This one is three months.” He pointed to one of him sitting up on a
yellow blanket. “This one is a year.”

Sam went through his phone. “This one is a week before he

died.”

Gabriel took the phone at looked at a very happy little boy

with big dimples and curly blond hair. His big blue eyes were even
brighter than Sam’s. “He had your eyes.”

Sam smiled sadly. “He did. People seemed to notice

sometimes, but no one ever dared to say anything.” He shrugged. “He
had the greatest laugh, and he loved being read to. He wouldn’t go to
sleep without a story.”

“What was his favorite?”
“‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, with sound effects.”
“Sound effects?” Gabriel asked, smiling.
“Yeah,” Sam said, blushing a little, but laughing after a

moment. “Voices for all the characters, a crash when the chair breaks,
when the porridge bowl dropped, the bears roaring, all that.”

“You did that? I’d love to have seen that,” he said seriously,

the sweet image tugging at his heart.

Sam took his phone back and gazed down at the picture. “It

was fun. He loved everything. He was so happy. The whole world
revolved around me and Laura. He thought she was so beautiful. He
lit up whenever she walked into the room. And he wanted to be
exactly like me. He wanted clothes just like mine. Exact same color,

same style.”

“I’m glad he was so happy.” He cleared his throat. “Do you

want more children?”

Sam looked shocked. “What?”
“It’s not a trick question. Do you?”
Sam put his phone down and took a long sip of coffee.

“Honestly, I don’t. I’d love every moment of it if I could have Gabriel
back, but I don’t want other children.”

“There would be options if you did.”
“Are you saying you do?”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, but I’d be willing if you did.”
“I just have one thing to say about her. Okay?”
Gabriel tried to keep his expression neutral. He never wanted

to talk about Laura. Ever. But he wouldn’t stop Sam from sharing
something if he felt the need. “Okay.”

“She loved him so much. Since we slept in separate rooms, he

thought our distance was normal. We both gave all our love to him. I
don’t know what we would have done when he got older. We
probably would have divorced, especially since she met someone else.
It’s hard to say. But she did her best to do right by Gabriel. She
actually overcame her selfishness in some ways, at least for him.”

Gabriel remained silent. He found that incredibly hard to

believe, but he wouldn’t argue with Sam, who it seemed somehow felt
better defending her because of their son.

“She met that other guy, and, well, she could have left. But

she didn’t, even though I think she was in love with him. I hate what
she did to me, and it made me think less of her as a person, but I can’t
hate her. The few good qualities she had were part of Gabriel.”

Gabriel cleared his throat. “We’ll never agree on this, but I

understand why you feel…what you feel.” He gripped Sam’s hand
and whispered, “You’re so damn tenderhearted.”

“I know. I just wanted to clarify. We’ve left the subject alone

since the day I told you. I won’t bring her up again.” He looked deep
into his eyes. “If you won’t. My parents knew our marriage was bad,
but they saw her as a lost soul and for some reason believed I loved
her, I think. They feared she would end up with an abusive man or as
a prostitute or drug addict if she left. I guess they always saw how
poor her decision-making could be. They never speak against her
because of Gabriel. I asked them never to bring her up after her

funeral, and I believe they’ll honor that promise.”

Gabriel nodded. “I meant what I said. I don’t want to fight

about it.” He gave Sam’s hand another squeeze before releasing him.
“As long as we’re done talking about it.”

Sam nodded. “We are. I want to look to the future, not the

past. No ghosts, like I said.”

Gabriel nodded. “Good. Though there is one part of the past I

wouldn’t mind exploring.”

Sam raised his eyebrows. “What?”
“Is your dad’s deer stand still there?”
Sam smiled. “Yeah. I did some repairs last year.”
“You hunt now?”
He shook his head. “No. I just still like going there.”
Gabriel felt the desire stirring in his groin, despite the subject

they’d just left. “You said we were going hiking. That would be a
decent hike.”

“Yeah, it would. It would be a fabulous hike.”
Gabriel stood and took Sam’s hand as they walked to his car.

He couldn’t wait to get Sam alone again and show him just how much
their future happiness was going to eclipse every bad memory from
his past.
****

Sam climbed up into the tree, very aware of Gabriel right

behind him. He balanced on the second and third rungs of the ladder
as he slid the key into the padlock. Gabriel caressed the back of his
thigh.

“This ladder is getting old. My dad made it when I was about

twelve. If I fall, you’re going to have a lot of explaining to do,” Sam
said.

“I’d catch you,” Gabriel said in a teasing voice as his hand

moved closer to Sam’s ass.

Sam couldn’t help laughing as he pushed the door in, and he

turned slightly to look down at Gabriel. “Catch me? You’re that
strong?”

The desire in Gabriel’s eyes made his legs shake. “You

remember exactly how strong I am.”

Sam hauled himself up into the tree stand and quickly rolled

onto his back because Gabriel came charging up right behind him.
Gabriel pinned him to the floor and captured his mouth in a hot kiss.

Sam opened to him, loving the invasion, and worked his hands free.
He unbuttoned Gabriel’s shirt and let his hands roam with abandon.
He explored every muscle, every curve and contour. Then he moved
his hands down to Gabriel’s belt, unbuckling it. His fingers teased
over Gabriel’s stomach before slipping further. Unzipping Gabriel’s
jeans, Sam let his knuckles graze his cock. The groan that filled the
air made Sam smile.

“I love you,” he whispered against Gabriel’s mouth.
“I love you, too.” Gabriel sat back and stroked himself.
Sam eyed him for a long time, enjoying the sight of Gabriel’s

slow strokes. He caressed himself through his jeans before changing
positions, getting on his knees so he could suck Gabriel’s cock. Sam
loved the soft sigh that escaped Gabriel’s lips. He enjoyed giving
Gabriel pleasure, reassuring him of his love and desire. He’d always
felt that kind of reassurance in Gabriel’s touch, and he wanted to
make up for the mistake of not trusting in that feeling years ago.

Sam took Gabriel to the back of his throat and let him slide

into it a few inches.

“No one ever felt this good, ever,” Gabriel said as he ran his

fingers through Sam’s hair.

Sam pulled back and kissed a trail up Gabriel’s chest, letting

his tongue tease each nipple on the way. He raked his teeth across the
soft skin of Gabriel’s neck.

“Sam,” Gabriel said with a groan, “I want you to fuck me.”
Sam placed soft kisses across his cheek and over to his mouth.

“You do?”

Gabriel nodded.
Sam deepened the kiss. Gabriel was usually the dominant one

when they had sex, and Sam had only fucked him in the ass a few
times. Gabriel always wanted it at very emotional times, when things
were changing for them in some way.

“You want me inside you?” Sam asked, hoping it meant what

he thought it did, that Gabriel was trusting him to truly try.

“Yes.”
“You want to feel me claiming you?”
Gabriel practically growled at him. “Yes, Sam. Now!”
They stripped, and Gabriel stretched out on a blanket that had

been shoved in the corner. Sam moved above him, tentative. They
kissed gently for a few minutes before Sam said, “We don’t have any

lube.”

“This’ll do.” Gabriel rolled him over and bent to suck his

cock. Sam cried out in surprise.

“I won’t hurt you?” Sam asked, his voice very soft.
Gabriel ran his tongue up and down Sam’s length. “Just you

try.” The words made Sam’s cock go hard as steel. He ached to feel
Gabriel’s body around him even as he continued to enjoy the pleasure
of his eager mouth.

With one final lick, Gabriel released him, massaging his balls

for a moment. They moved back into position, and Sam lowered his
body between Gabriel’s legs. Gabriel spread himself, and Sam held
Gabriel’s shoulders as he entered him. He had to inch in because of
the resistance, but he soon moved deeper and deeper. Gabriel’s hot
channel squeezed him deliciously, and the friction went from
unpleasant to blissful in no time.

“Wow,” Sam whispered.
Gabriel held his face between his hands. “Just what I was

thinking.”

Sam felt Gabriel’s cock bob against his stomach, and he

moved one hand to stroke him. Gabriel kept his eyes open, never
looking away.

“I promise not to shut you out again,” Sam said. “I know I can

face anything with you because I don’t want to face even one day
without you.”

Gabriel chuckled, the sound low and seductive. “You never

used to say such sweet things.”

“I’ve had so long to think about unsaid things.” He surged into

Gabriel, who tightened around him. He began to fuck him harder, his
own orgasm very close. The pleasure built deep within him, and he
knew he would burst forth any moment. Being inside Gabriel felt so
perfect as they looked into each other’s eyes. Gabriel’s cock jerked in
his hand.

Gabriel pulled him closer, meeting him halfway off the floor

for a surprisingly delicate kiss. Then hunger overwhelmed the
embrace. Gabriel moaned as he came, his hot, thick cum spilling over
Sam’s hand. Sam gasped as Gabriel’s body squeezed him repeatedly,
and he came with a whimper when Gabriel sucked on his lower lip.

He collapsed onto Gabriel, still buried deep inside him.
“I’m gonna have to let you do that more often,” Gabriel said.

They both laughed as Sam snuggled into his embrace,

envisioning all the happy years to come.

Chapter Six

One Month Later

Gabriel looked up when Abigail came in the back door. She

seemed nervous and distressed. He moved to her side quickly.

“What’s wrong? Has something happened?” he asked.
“Yes. Where’s Sam?”
“Upstairs in the shower. Anything wrong?”
She pulled him outside and led him to Sam’s car. Gabriel had

changed the oil in her car and put in a new air filter and fan belt the
day before, and she had been using Sam’s car. He looked it over and
didn’t see anything wrong with it. She led him around to the driver’s
side.

“I don’t underst—” The words died on his lips when he saw

the word faggots in red paint on the side of the car.

“I came right away, hoping not many people would see it. I’m

not sure who did it, but I have ideas. I already called the sheriff. He
said he would come over and take pictures and file a report.” She
made a frustrated sound. “Poor Sam, he’s going to be so upset.”

Gabriel didn’t know what to say. “About being called a

faggot?”

“Yes, but it’s his father. He’s going to be so worried about

Gregory’s reaction.”

Gabriel couldn’t do anything but stare at her. She seemed to

be assuming there was truth behind the hate-filled accusation. His
mind filled with memories of her smiling at him, squeezing his hand,
and telling him how she was he’d come back. Finally, he said, “You
know.”

Abigail sighed and met his gaze. “Of course I know, Gabriel.”

She reached over and took his hand. “It’s why I was so happy about
your return. Sam was never going to love anyone else.”

He squeezed her hand before releasing it. “How bad is your

husband’s reaction going to be?”

“I won’t lie. It might be awful. If he says some of the things I

suspect he might, they may never speak to each other again.”

Gabriel stared at the paint for a long time. “There’s nothing

you can do? I’d offer to help, but I sense I’d make things worse.”

“I think we should both stay out of the confrontation, however

big or little it is. I’ll talk to him when we’re at home, but he may just
nod and ignore every word that comes out of my mouth.” She turned
back to the house. “I wish this hadn’t happened. This is the kind of
stuff he always feared.”

“How soon did you know?” He couldn’t hold his curiosity

back anymore.

“I suspected in high school. Sam had no interest in anyone. I

even had his doctor sneak in a few tests to see if his hormones were
out of balance or something. Then he met you, and I was worried.
You were the best friend he’d ever had, and I didn’t want his heart
broken.” She laughed lightly. “I hope you’re proud to hear you aren’t
a stereotype. I had no idea if you were gay or not. After about a year, I
noticed how happy you two were when you were together and figured
something had happened.”

“Were you happy?”
She nodded. “Yes. Sam was a quiet, withdrawn child and

teenager. You brought him out of his shell, and your confidence and
charisma seemed to give him strength.”

“So it doesn’t bother you at all?”
“No,” she said without hesitation. “I honestly don’t give a…”

She paused and lowered her voice. “…damn.”

He couldn’t help laughing. “I’m glad to hear that. Sam will be,

too.”

“Sam will be what?” Sam asked as he came to stand with

them.

“Sam, there was a little…incident today,” Abigail said.
Sam’s eyes locked on the side of the car. He swallowed, but

he didn’t say anything.

“The sheriff is coming to file a report. He said they would be

on the lookout around the property—”

Sam cut her off. “Has dad seen it?”
“No. I haven’t even told him.”
“We can’t tell him. We’ll tell the sheriff to keep it quiet. We’ll

take the car to Atlanta to fix the paint.”

Abigail touched his arm. “Sam, I was at the church. I had to

drive through town. At least thirty people saw it, maybe more.”

“Fuck!” Sam screamed.
“Sam, just calm down,” Gabriel said.
“You calm down! Your father didn’t disown you when he

found out you were gay. He didn’t tell you that you were going to
hell.”

“You don’t know that he’ll do that.”
Sam turned away from him, folding his arms over his chest.

Abigail touched his arm, but he wouldn’t look at her.

“Sam, did you expect me to say those things? Well, if you did,

you were wrong.”

He finally turned to look at her. “You seem pretty calm about

this. Aren’t you upset?”

She held his face in her hands. “Sam, I’ve known for years. I

started crying when you told me you were marrying Laura. Did you
think I was happy?”

“I thought you felt sorry for her and the situation.” He

squeezed his lips together and took a deep breath. Tears glistened in
his eyes. “You don’t care?” he whispered.

“No. I love you. Nothing could ever make me stop loving you.

You need to be happy, Sam. You’ve spent so much of your life trying
to please others. I never understood why you made such a sacrifice for
Laura, especially when she proved to be so ungrateful in the end.”

Sam pulled his mother close and hugged her. Then he finally

looked at Gabriel. “Can you give us a minute? There’s something else
I need to tell her.”

Gabriel went back into the house and waited. After a few

moments, he heard them both crying. He sat down on the couch,
feeling a little shaky himself. What kind of difference would this
make to Sam? Would the support of his mother be enough if his father
actually rejected him? He felt relieved to know that someone would
stand by them, but he wondered how many people might stand against
them. If the town’s reaction was as bad as Sam imagined, would he go
back on his word and give up? Would he run away from the one thing
that actually made him happy?
****

“Disgraceful!” Gregory said. He stood by the sheriff and

looked at the car.

Sam held his breath. What would come next?
“Honestly, does everyone in this world have a filthy mind?

Two men can’t live together without being eyed with such
suspicions?”

The sheriff glanced at Gregory, and then he cleared his throat

and walked over to Sam without responding. “You can pick up a copy
of the report tomorrow. I have to get back, but one of the boys will
drive by a few times this evening.”

“Thanks,” Sam said.
They all stood silently as the sheriff left. Sam watched his

mother wringing a handkerchief in her hand. She had known for
years, yet his father was so clueless he couldn’t see it even now. She
looked up at him briefly.

Sam cleared his throat, fighting a tightness welling there.

“Gabe, why don’t you get some tea ready?” He went to his mother
and took her hand. “Go in and sit down, mom. You’ll feel better.”

She hesitated, but then she nodded. Gabriel gripped his

shoulder, but he didn’t say anything. Sam looked into his eyes for a
long time before stepping back from both of them. Gabriel led her
inside, and he looked back twice before going inside as well.

Gregory shook his head. “And on church property. How could

they do such a thing?”

What was he supposed to say? He took a cleansing breath and

said, “Some people aren’t very good at tolerating what is different.”

“That is not an excuse. What does this accomplish?”
“They wanted to scare us. Whoever did this doesn’t want two

men like us living here.”

Gregory turned his eyes to him, his expression suddenly much

harder. “Samuel, what exactly are you saying?”

“I can’t believe you have to ask. When have I ever looked at a

woman? My marriage to Laura was a joke!”

“Because she wasn’t a loving person. You sacrificed to

provide for the boy.”

“Gabriel. I named my son Gabriel, after the man I loved.” He

took another breath. “And he was my son. I already told mom. The
only time I ever touched a woman was when Laura got me drunk.
And I got her pregnant. I sacrificed because I messed up.”

The stern look on his father’s face softened a little. “Then

he…he really was our grandson?”

Sam nodded.
Gregory looked away. “He looked like you. We tried to ignore

it. We never discussed it.”

“We never discuss anything. Mom knew. I bet you wouldn’t

have guessed that. Mom’s known I was gay for years.”

Gregory turned back to him. “Sam, stop this. I don’t wish to

discuss it.”

Sam couldn’t believe his father wasn’t yelling at him,

condemning him. “What do you mean?”

“If you—” He cut himself off, rubbing his chin. “This is your

business, and I want nothing to do with it. I do not wish to discuss it.”
He looked up at the house. “But, I do not wish to see Gabriel ever
again. You’re still welcome in our house, of course, but only if you
come alone.”

“Then I am not welcome in your house because I will never be

without Gabriel again.”

Gregory did not look at Sam. He walked over to his car. “Tell

your mother that I will come back for her if she does not feel like
driving.”

“You’re just going to leave?” he cried. A single tear fell from

the corner of his eye.

Gregory opened his car door, but he still did not look back.

“I’ve had a couple of shocks today, Samuel, so you’ll simply have to
forgive me.” He got in his car and slammed the door. He sped down
the driveway, barely stopping when he got to the road.

Sam went into the house and found his mom and Gabriel

sitting at the kitchen table. “He didn’t even yell at me. He just shut me
out. The subject, according to him, is forbidden. And we’re not
welcome in his house anymore.”

“Ridiculous! You’ll come there when I invite you. It’s my

house as well,” Abigail said.

Gabriel didn’t say anything.
“He’s not going to bend on this, mom. It’s best I just accept

it.”

“Time can change anyone’s thinking, Sam,” Gabriel said.

“Maybe one day, he’ll feel different.”

“I don’t think so.”
Abigail stood up. “Forbidden or not, he has no choice but to

talk about it with me, whether he believes that or not.” She kissed
Gabriel on the cheek and then hugged Sam. “It could have been
worse, Sam. Give him time.”

“I wish I had your optimism.”
“Try.” She kissed him, too. “You never know. It might work.”

She breezed out the door before he could say anything else.

“Are you okay?” Gabriel asked.
He laughed bitterly. “It’s barely noon, and already it’s been a

shit day.”

“Then look on the bright side. There’s nothing left to go

wrong.”

Sam looked at Gabriel. “I don’t know what to say.”
Gabriel stood and took him in his arms. He whispered in his

ear. “You don’t have to say anything.”

Sam hugged him closer, knowing what he said was true. That

comforted him, but he wanted to say something, needed to find the
right words. Hard as he tried, all he could do was cling to Gabriel.
****

Gabriel woke up alone, and wondered if he’d spent the entire

night in bed by himself. Sam had gotten ready for bed only to sit on
the edge of the mattress rubbing his hands together. He’d gone
downstairs to watch television, and Gabriel had tried to wait up but
had fallen asleep before Sam came to bed.

Gabriel rubbed his eyes again and looked at Sam’s pillow,

which was smooth and undented. He got out of bed and hurried
downstairs, but the house was empty. The television was turned off,
and Sam’s car was gone. Gabriel looked around for a note, but didn’t
find one. He gave up and went to make coffee, and was relieved to
find a note there shoved under the bean grinder.

I had to leave. I need to think.
Gabriel stared down at the note. Leave? What did he mean?

He understood Sam needed to think, but where could he go? He
couldn’t go to his parents’ house, and Gabriel doubted Sam would go
to any of his friends right now, especially with his car in the state that
it was in.

He put the note down, trying to think. He called Sam’s cell,

but of course it went straight to voicemail. Looking on the fridge, he
found Abigail’s cell phone number and dialed it. After four rings, he
started to hang up, but then he heard her voice come over the line.

“Hello?”
He cleared his throat. “It’s Gabriel. Have you heard from Sam

today?”

“Oh dear, no, I haven’t. He’s gone? Is his car there?” she

asked.

“He took his car. And he did leave a note, but it’s so vague I

don’t know where he is or how long he’s going to be gone. It says ‘I
had to leave. I need to think.’ After what happened, I can’t imagine
where he might be now. And I don’t know how long he’s been gone. I
fell asleep waiting for him to come up to bed.”

“He couldn’t sleep? I figured he wouldn’t be able to.”
“He calmed down, but I could tell it continued to bother him

all evening.”

She sighed. “I talked to his father. Or perhaps I talked at him.

I didn’t get much of a response. But I will not give up, Gabriel.”

“We appreciate that. Sam promised me he wouldn’t let

anything like this come between us, and nothing he did yesterday
really made me think otherwise.” He hesitated. “But I’m worried he
won’t come back.”

“Oh, Gabriel, don’t think that! He loves you.”
Gabriel sat down at the table and looked out the window. He

believed that, but he couldn’t make the worries niggling at the back of
his mind go away. “I know he loves me. When I left five years ago, I
thought he didn’t, but of course now I know what really happened.”
After a brief silence, he asked, “How are you handling that?”

“I’m glad he finally told me the truth, but it does make it

sadder. That feels wrong, in a way. He was the same sweet little boy
whether Sam was his father or not, but I can’t help it. I wish I’d been
able to hold him and know he truly was my grandson, just once.”

“You shouldn’t feel bad about that.” Tears burned his eyes,

but he fought them. He didn’t want to upset her further.

“I’m sure Sam is okay, and I’m sure he’ll come back. I’ll call

you if I hear from him.”

“Thank you. Good-bye.”
“Bye, Gabriel. Take care.”
He put the phone down and stared at the table, running his

hands over the glossy wood. After a moment he stood and filled the
bean grinder. As he put in the filter and began filling it with the
grounds, he realized where Sam was. He finished pouring the grounds
and filled the maker with water. After he turned it on he ran upstairs
and jumped in the shower.

Fifteen minutes later he was dressed and heading out the door

with a thermos of coffee and two mugs. He drove to Sam’s parents’
house and continued on about a thousand feet past their house before
turning down a narrow dirt road. He sighed with relief when he found

Sam’s car in the clearing. He took the coffee and mugs and began
hiking into the woods. When he reached the deer stand, he paused.

“Sam?” he called up.
Some shuffling came from inside, and the door opened. Sam

poked his head out and looked down at Gabriel.

“How did you know to come here?”
“This is where it all started, in a way. I hoped I was right.”
“Why?”
He stared into his eyes. “Because if you came here to think

about us, maybe you’d decide in my favor.”

Sam rubbed his eyes, looking adorably sexy. Gabriel wanted

to climb right up there and kiss him, but he didn’t move, waiting.

“In your favor?” He linked several times. “You brought

coffee?”

Gabriel held up the thermos.
“Come up.”
Gabriel did so. He handed the thermos and a mug to Sam,

fishing sugar packets out of his pocket. As he poured his own coffee,
Sam continued.

“Did you think I came here to think about me and you?” He

sipped his coffee.

“What else would you be thinking about?”
“My father’s reaction. What this might do to my mother. How

they will both feel knowing the truth about my son, their grandson.”
He reached out and took Gabriel’s hand. “We aren’t in question
anymore. We’re a fact. Other people can get over it. All other people
can get over it.”

Relief flooded through Gabriel. He put his mug down and

moved to Sam’s side. Sam put his coffee down, too, and touched his
cheek.

“I’m sorry you thought I was rethinking us. After the last few

weeks, I thought you’d know I’m really committed to—”

Gabriel stopped him with a kiss. Sam put his hands on the

back of his head and deepened the kiss. Gabriel moaned against
Sam’s hungry mouth and ran his hand over his chest. When they
parted, Sam looked into his eyes and pushed Gabriel’s hand down to
his stiff cock.

“When I got out here early this morning and climbed up here,

all I could think about was you.”

Gabriel rubbed him through his jeans, then slowly unzipped

them. “What were you thinking about?”

“The first time you did this,” Sam said as Gabriel freed his

cock and began to fist it.

Gabriel bent and took the head into his mouth.
Between gasps and sighs, Sam said, “The first time we

kissed…the first time you fucked me…the first time I came inside
you.”

Gabriel took his entire length and sucked, hollowing his

cheeks and increasing his speed. Sam’s body quaked, and then he felt
him jerk. Sam released into his mouth, and Gabriel swallowed. He
wiped his mouth as he leaned back on his heels.

“That has me more awake than any cup of coffee could.”
Sam laughed and reached for him. Hugging him close, he said,

“We’re going to be fine. I’m going to be fine. The people who accept
us are the only ones that matter from now on.”

They kissed gently, and Sam began to stroke Gabriel’s thigh.

“Your turn now.” He gently pushed Gabriel back against the wall and
ran his hands down his chest before stroking him again. Then he
released him, fisting Gabriel’s cock the way Gabriel had fisted his.

Gabriel leaned his head back and sighed, joy washing over

him as his lover took him into his mouth. They were both exactly
where they belonged, and it didn’t matter if anyone else understood or
not.

Epilogue

Three Months Later

Sam met Gabriel’s eyes when he walked into the room. Then

he returned to his phone conversation. “We’ll be there. See you then.
Bye.” He hit the End button and slid his phone back into his pocket.
He let a smile slowly spread over his face as he walked over to
Gabriel.

“What?”
“That was my father.” He put his arms around Gabriel’s neck.

“We’ve been invited over for dinner.”

“We? Both of us? For dinner?”
Sam nodded.
“Just like that?”
“Not that simplistic, but in a way. As the weeks went on, he

realized something was missing from his life. Mom obviously saw
this, and based on what he said she seems to have gotten him to listen.
I’m not sure how far that listening has changed his attitudes, but it’s
had enough of an effect for him to want the four of us to have dinner
together.”

“Most of your friends and coworkers reacted well. No one else

has bothered us in months. The town in general has been pretty
accepting. Maybe he sees that, too.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Sam said. “We can only hope for the best.

This in and of itself is more than I’d hoped for.”

Gabriel ran his hands up and down Sam’s back. “Are you

nervous? Scared?”

“A little,” he said, “but I’ll have you beside me.” He leaned in

for a kiss.

“Is that really so important?” Gabriel teased, letting his hands

drift down to Sam’s ass.

“Oh yes. Every minute of every day, beside you is where I

want to be.” Their lips met again, and no more words were needed.
Gabriel’s touch, his devotion, and his love were all Sam would ever
need for the rest of his life.

The End

www.mariemedina80.blogspot.com

Other Books by Marie Medina:

Be My Bad Boy

Reaper’s Reward

In the Wolf’s Tower

Phantom Lovers

Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com