Playing with Fire
Page 17
Who gave a fuck about a stupid rhyme anyway?
Pete gave the tie one final tweak, then turned around. “Done. Out of sight, but I know it’s there.”
“Does that feel better?” Like I didn’t already know. His eyes shone, and there was a glow to him that had been missing before.
“Much.”
A light tap at the door was followed by Max’s loud voice. “Come on. You must be ready by now. Save the shenanigans for later.”
“Shenan—” Pete huffed. “As if we’d be fucking now.”
I coughed. “Before you get all self-righteous and indignant, may I remind you why we got up so late this morning?”
It was Pete’s turn to cough.
“Guys,” Max whined. “If I get you there late, it won’t be you Mom kills.”
I helped Pete into his jacket, before kissing him on the lips. “Ready?”
“Ready.” He grinned. “Time for me to marry this old man.”
His yelp as my hand connected with his ass was very satisfying.
~ 0 ~
Pete
The best advice for the day came from Mama. It had taken me three months, but I could finally call her that without feeling uncomfortable. I guess marrying her son made it as permanent as it could get.
Her advice was to take a mental step back and let it all sink in.
We couldn’t have picked a better day. The sun was shining, the sky was a gorgeous shade of blue, and the temperature was a pleasant sixty-two. We were standing in the Shakespeare Garden in Golden Gate Park, at the end of the long aisle where the sundial sat, a canopy of trees lining the way. Fifty or so guests sat on white chairs on the lawn, and beyond them was the terracotta facade where a table had been set up for the register.
Mama was on the front row, and with her sat Damon’s siblings. Actually, Damon’s family took up most of the seats, but that was fine: I had no family of my own, but I was about to become an official part of his.
On the other side sat our friends, gay men for the most part, looking extremely elegant. Damon’s colleagues were there too, and I looked forward to speaking with them at the reception.
Speakers had been set up, and soft piano music filled the air. Everything fitted together perfectly, and—
Someone cleared their throat.
Two someones—the officiant, and Damon, who was staring at me, amusement in those dark eyes. “Can I put the ring on now?”
I held out my left hand, and he slid the ring into position. “I think we need to work on your concentration,” he murmured.
The officiant cleared his throat again. “You have both declared your love for each other. You have both committed your lives to each other.” He smiled. “You may kiss your husband.”
“With pleasure,” we both murmured, before laughing, our guests joining in, applauding. Damon put his arms around me, pulling me into him, and our lips met in a lingering kiss, like we had all the time in the world.
“Get a room!” someone yelled, amid more laughter as the applause ebbed away.
“Get a bucket of cold water!” That was Max, and without looking, I knew that Mama was the cause of the loud “Ouch!” that followed. More laughter, this time at Max’s expense.
I didn’t care. I was lost in a kiss.
When we finally parted, the officiant gently guided us to turn to face our guests, and the applause began again, swelling to a crescendo as we joined hands and walked into the midst of our family and friends. Mama was wiping her eyes with one hand, and throwing rice with the other. People came up to us and hugged us, or patted us on the back, and from the rear, servers appeared with trays bearing glasses of champagne.
I don’t know how long we chatted with our guests. It was a wonderful bubble of time. Eventually Max did his best man thing, and informed everyone that it was time to move on to the reception, which was taking place in a hotel not far from the park.
“All he needs is a dog, and he could herd them towards the exit,” I muttered.
Damon snorted. “Apt image.” He let out a happy sigh. “That went well.”
“And we still have tonight to look forward to,” I reminded him.
Tate appeared at my side, grinning. “I’m looking forward to the party at the Eagle. Of course, you know what we’re all wondering.”
Damon arched his eyebrows. “No, but I’m sure you’ll enlighten us.”
“Well, it’s not so much a case of wanting to kiss the bride, more like…” Tate leered. “Do we get to bang the bridegroom?”
Damon chuckled. “I guess that will be up to Pete.”
I snorted. “And I guess that would depend on which bridegroom was getting banged. Seeing as there are two of us.” I smiled sweetly. “Aren’t you going to answer Tate’s question?” As if I didn’t know what his response would be.
Before either Damon or Tate could reply, I leaned in and kissed Damon on the mouth, before turning to Tate. “Sorry, but Damon’s ass is out of bounds. As of now, it’s all mine. And if you think we’re having a gangbang at the Eagle, think again. I am not getting arrested on my wedding night.”
Tate pulled a face, and looked to Damon, who shrugged.
“What he said.” He waited until Tate had trudged away, before giving me a speculative glance. “My ass is all yours? Where is my boy, and what have you done with him?”
I smiled. “You get your boy in your bed, or the basement, or wherever, anytime you want him. The rest of the time, I’m the man in your life.”
Damon’s broad smile told me my terms were just fine.
A note about this story
Times are changing. Sex is changing too.
Being HIV positive used to be a death sentence. Not anymore.
We are living in the days of fantastic meds, and u=u. Undetectable means Untransmissible.
Yes, condoms prevent STIs in a way that PrEP doesn’t. No one is going to argue that. But frequent testing, knowing your partner–and honest communication–mean going bare is an option for those who want it.
In case you’re not familiar with u=u, here’s a link
https://www.plushealth.org.uk/undetectable.html
For online support for those living with HIV, their partners, close family friends and carers, there’s Plus health.
https://www.plushealth.org.uk/index.html
About the author(s)
(Because now we are three!)
K.C. Wells, writing as Tantalus.
For those who like their stories intensely erotic, featuring hot men and even hotter sex…
Who don’t mind breaking the odd taboo now and again…
Who want to read something that adds a little heat to their fantasies…
…there’s Tantalus.
Because we all need a little tantalizing.
AMAZON PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Tantalus/e/B01IN33IZO
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Tantalus-1603064599937503/
K.C. Wells started writing in 2012, although the idea of writing a novel had been in her head since she was a child. But after reading that first gay romance in 2009, she was hooked.
She now writes full time, and the line of men in her head, clamouring to tell their story, is getting longer and longer. If the frequent visits by plot bunnies are anything to go by, that’s not about to change anytime soon.
If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT
You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
https://www.facebook.com/kcwells.WildWickedWonderful/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6576876.K_C_Wells
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B00AECQ1LQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.c.wells/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/K_C_Wells
Blog: http://kcwellsworld.blogspot.co.uk/
Website: http://www.kcwellsworld.com/
Writing MF as Kathryn Greenway
Kathryn Greenway lives on the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of the UK, in a typical English village where there are few secrets, and everyone knows everyone else.
She writes romance in different genres, and under different pen names, but her goal is always the same - to reach that Happily Ever After.
Pulled by a Dream is Kathryn’s debut novel, although in a whole other life, she is K.C. Wells, a bestselling author of gay romance.
Website: https://www.kathryngreenway.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathrynGreen...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KGreenwayauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kgreenwayau...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17633635.Kathryn_Greenway
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0795VY3TM
Coming next from Tantalus
Learning the Notes
Steven Torland is about to reach his fiftieth birthday, and to celebrate the occasion, his publicist decides it’s time someone wrote a biography of the famous composer and musician. When writer Kyle Mann is approached with the idea, he’s flattered and leaps at the chance. It will be his first biography. The idea of spending six months getting to know Steven and researching his history excites him, but there is the added frisson that Steven is sexy as hell. Kyle has always had a thing for older men, and it’s no secret that Steven is gay. In his heart Kyle knows it’s just a fantasy, but he can still dream, right?
It doesn’t take Steven long to realize he wants Kyle in his bed, and Steven usually gets what he wants. But Kyle proves to be more than a convenient fuck. There’s something about him that leads Steven to think maybe it’s time to let Kyle see the real Steven Torland, the one who is no stranger to the leather community of San Francisco. Steven aims to take things nice and slow, because he doesn’t want this one to get away. He wants it all – a lover in his life and a boy in his bed – and he wants to see just how far he can push Kyle, and what Kyle is prepared to do to please him.
Kyle has no idea how much his life is about to change….
Titles by K.C. Wells
From Dreamspinner Press
Learning to Love
Michael & Sean
Evan & Daniel
Josh & Chris
Final Exam
Love Lessons Learned
A Bond of Three
Le lien des Trois
A Bond of Truth
First
Prime Volte
Debt
Dette
Il Debito
Schuld
Waiting for You
The Senator’s Secret
Le Secret du Sénateur
Der Verlobte des Senators
Step by Step
Pas à Pas
Schritt für Schritt
Un passo alla volta
Out of the Shadows
Bromantically Yours
BFF
Truth Will Out
My Fair Brady
Collars & Cuffs
An Unlocked Heart
Trusting Thomas
Someone to Keep Me
(K.C. Wells & Parker Williams)
A Dance with Domination
Damian’s Discipline
(K.C. Wells & Parker Williams)
Make Me Soar
Dom of Ages
(K.C. Wells & Parker Williams)
Endings and Beginnings
(K.C. Wells & Parker Williams)
Un Coeur Déverrouillé
Croire en Thomas
Te Protéger
Secrets – with Parker Williams
Before You Break
An Unlocked Mind
Threepeat
Avant que tu te brises
Self-published
Personal
Making it Personal
Personal Changes
More than Personal
Personal Secrets
Strictly Personal
Personal Challenges
Une Affaire Personnelle
Changements Personnels
Plus Personnel
Secrets Personnels
Strictement Personnel
Una Questione Personale
Cambiamenti Personali
Piú che personale
Segreti Personali
Strettamente personale
Sfide personali
Es wird persönlich
Persönliche Veränderungen
Mehr als Persönliche
Persönliche Geheimnisse
Streng Persönlich
Persönliche Herausforderungen
Confetti, Cake & Confessions
Confetti, Coriandoli e Confessioni
Connections
Connexion
Saving Jason
Jasons Befreiung
A Christmas Promise
The Law of Miracles
Truth & Betrayal
Island Tales
Waiting for a Prince
September’s Tide
Submitting to the Darkness
Le Maree di Settembre
In Attesa di un Principe
Piegarsi alle tenebre
Lightning Tales
Teach Me
Trust Me
See me
Love Me
Lehre Mich
Vertrau Mir
Sieh Mich
Liebe Mich
Il Professore
Fidati di me
A Material World
Lace
Satin
Silk
Denim
Pizzo
Satin
Seta
Spitze
Satin
Seide
Double or Nothing
Back from the Edge
Switching it up
Anthologies
Fifty Gays of Shade
Winning Will’s Heart