Conquering Love (The Santorno Stories)

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  Heath and Caleb were getting the kids ready and packing their bags when they heard the front door followed by Damon’s whistle.

  “Who cleans this house?”

  Heath laughed. “Back here, little brother.”

  Damon and Tyler headed to the back bedroom. “Where are Nico, Stefan, and Lily?”

  “Stefan went to go get Phoebe. Lily left a while ago, but Nico’s here. He was hoping you guys would come here first.”

  “When don’t we?” Tyler smiled.

  They all looked out the window and saw Nico walking toward Tanner, who was sitting on the grass. Caleb smiled.

  “Look how cute they are.”

  “Okay, let’s stop peeking on our kids.” Heath laughed.

  Damon pointed at him. “You’re still paying for that wedding.”

  “Hey.” Tanner looked beautiful.

  “Hi.” Tanner stood up and Nico put his arms around him.

  “God, I missed you.” Nico palmed his face. “Does that sound stupid? I just saw you last night.”

  “No, it doesn’t. I had this hot dream about you.” Tanner blushed.

  “Oh. yeah? Was I kissing you?” Nico leaned in and let his lips run over Tanner’s. “Was it something like that?”

  Warm feelings ran though Tanner as he closed his eyes and smiled. “There was tongue.”

  “Oh, really?” Nico stroked his face, rubbing his thumb over his bottom lip. “Let me see if I can recreate it.”

  Tanner felt Nico’s lips on his and he let out a small whimper. When his tongue trailed his bottom lip, he opened his mouth and Nico’s hand went into his hair as he slid his tongue in, tasting him. His arms came up around Nico’s neck and Nico deepened the kiss. Tanner was getting dizzy and Nico pulled away to study his face.

  “Was it something like that?”

  “Wow.” Tanner was breathing hard. “You were touching me, too.”

  Nico chuckled. “Not out here.”

  Tanner looked at him. “Do you want to touch me?”

  “Every second of every day, Tanner.” Nico smiled.

  “You guys ready?” Tyler called from the house.

  Nico took Tanner’s hand. “Yep.”

  Colin was pacing back and forth across Stefan and Jordan’s kitchen and Jordan finally had to laugh. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor, Colin.”

  “Sorry, Grandpa.” Colin blushed.

  “I think a limo is coming up the drive,” Stefan informed them.

  Colin ran to the window and smiled. “It’s them!”

  Everyone rushed from the house and Nikolai zeroed in immediately on Colin. If anything, he was even more handsome. The chocolate brown eyes were so bright, and he had gotten taller and a lot bigger. Nikolai’s hands began sweating as the limo came to a stop and he jumped out of the car.

  “Colin!”

  They ran into each other and hugged tightly.

  “I missed you!” Colin whispered.

  “I missed you too.” Nikolai hung on; he had missed him so much.

  The urge to kiss him came over Colin and he backed away hoping it didn’t show.

  “Vince!” Tyler ran out of the house and jumped on him.

  “Hey!” Vince grabbed him and hugged him tight. “How’s my range buddy?”

  “Kicking your ass.” Tyler smiled.

  “Oh, yeah?” Vince laughed. He had missed Tyler.

  “I am jealous now.” Andrei pouted.

  “Come here.” Tyler hugged him hard and grabbed his ass. “Oh my, you’ve been working out, Andrei.”

  “Hey now, that’s my job.” Chris called as he and Dimitri pulled up.

  “Christophe Voronova!” Andrei grabbed him and kissed him on both cheeks. “How have you been, old friend?”

  “Flat on my back with a huge Russian pounding me.”

  “Oh my.” Andrei laughed loud.

  “Christophe.” Dimitri rolled his eyes at his husband.

  “Oh, come on baby, after all these years you’re still not used to it?” Chris laughed.

  “I know I am.”

  Chris looked up as Josh came out of the house. “Reynolds, look at you all hot and sexy.”

  “Oh, I know.”

  “I was talking about Jason.” Chris cocked an eyebrow.

  “Ha!” Jason laughed at Josh.

  “And there’s the man whose ass I’d love to bite! Come here, Mark.”

  “Uh, have you had your rabies shots?” he snickered.

  Chris grabbed him and squeezed both ass cheeks. “God, I love these.”

  “Chris, you never change.” Paul was shaking his head.

  “Yes, I have. I’m married now.” Chris smiled innocently.

  “Yep, with a kid. Whom he unfortunately forgets about sometimes before he pounces my father.” Evan leaned against the car and winked at his uncle.

  Paul smiled at him. “How do you put up with him?”

  “I listen to music a lot and watch porn.” Evan laughed.

  “Okay yep. You’re Chris’ son all right,” Tyler observed.

  “Evan!” Lily squealed.

  “And it starts.” Chris smiled.

  Dante smiled as soon as he saw Jake and Parker Greco pull up. They hugged and Jake laughed. “Wow, haven’t seen you since yesterday.”

  “Yeah? Did you get your quality time?” Dante laughed.

  “Eww. Daddy.” Katiana rolled her eyes.

  “Well, well. So nice to see you.” Kyle hugged his daughter. “Where’s Jim Joe Bob?”

  “It’s Joe, Dad.” Katiana narrowed her eyes at him.

  “Landon here?” Dante inquired.

  “Yes.” Katiana studied her father. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Dante coughed.

  “Uncle Dante!” Landon ran to them and hugged Dante and Kyle.

  “Wow, Landon! What happened?” Parker smiled.

  “According to Damon, I ate a wrestler.” Landon laughed

  “You’re looking like your father more and more every day.” Jake hugged him.

  “He does, doesn’t he?” Greg smiled, walking out of the house with Jay.

  “It’s like twins.” Jake cocked his head, studying Jay and Landon side by side.

  “Not quite.” Jay flexed his muscles.

  Dante looked around. “Where are Brandon and Justin?”

  “On their way. They had to pick up Jensen.”

  “I haven’t seen him in a while.” Kyle leaned up against the car.

  “School. Brandon’s trying to talk him into coming here now.”

  “Well, we’ll help.” Katiana and Landon chimed in.

  “Yeah? You’re back for good, Landon?” Jake hugged him hard.

  “Yep.” Landon smiled.

  “Isn’t that nice, Katiana?” Dante winked at her.

  “Daddy.” Katiana narrowed her eyes at him.

  “Hey people, let’s hit the pond!” Little Stefan bounced out of the house, clapping his hands together.

  “Geez, Stefan, no hello for your uncles?” Kyle put his hand on his hips.

  “Uncle Kyle.” Stefan walked over with his arms out.

  “No, it’s too late now.” Kyle turned around, pouting. He whooshed out a breath when Stefan picked him up from behind.

  “I missed you!’ Stefan laughed, bouncing him up and down in his arms.

  “Okay, okay, put me down! I’m going to be sick!”

  “Group hug!” Stefan took them all in his arms. “I missed you guys.”

  “I’m here, the party can start.” Nico walked up holding hands with Tanner.

  “Nico!” Jake grabbed him and smiled.

  “Hey, Uncle Jake.”

  “Is that my nephew I see?” Lorenzo smiled.

  “Uncle Lo!” Nico ran to him and gave him a huge hug.

  Lorenzo closed his eyes and held him. “I have missed you, Nico.”

  “I missed you, too.”

  “You are with Tanner?” Lorenzo raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes, we went out on a date.�
�

  “Oh, is that right?” Lorenzo smiled and hugged him again. “I am happy for you both.”

  “I love you, Uncle Lo,” Nico whispered.

  “I love you, too.” Lorenzo tightened the embrace. He always saw the little boy in Nico— the boy he had rescued from an abusive father, who had been raised by Heath and Caleb and become quite an extraordinary man.

  “Okay, people. Hello and we are off to the pond.” Nikolai trotted out in swim trunks.

  “Nikolai Markov!” Andrei’s voice boomed out. “You will say hello to everyone.”

  “Chill, Dad.” Nikolai chuckled. “I was just playing.”

  Vince laughed at Andrei’s face. “We raised him right, babe. Don’t worry.”

  “I wish I could put him over my knee but he is too big.” Andrei sighed.

  “Indeed. That would be my fault.” Vince winked.

  Nikolai made the rounds and Parker stared. “Jesus, you look just like your father.”

  “Yeah?” Nikolai chuckled. “A fashion model?”

  “Very funny, Nik.” Vince looked at him.

  All the kids had come out to go swimming by now and they all made the rounds saying hello to everyone.

  Jordan pulled out the grills and they got ready to start the barbecue. Vince kissed Andrei and they watched their son run off with Colin.

  “I think he has a crush.” Andrei observed.

  “Yeah? He’s probably bisexual, like his Pops,” Vince mused. He had heard Nik on the phone with Colin. It was a lot more than a crush; they were in love.

  “Yes, but you chose me.” Andrei put his arms around Vince’s neck and kissed him as Vince’s arms wrapped around him and picked him up.

  “And I will always choose you.” Vince smiled and kissed him.

  “It has been hard on him. All his friends are here.” Andrei watched Nikolai laughing with the kids. “He is happy here.”

  “What are you thinking, babe?”

  “I think we will stay here for quite a while. Victor and Ivan can run things for a while in Russia and if I am needed, they will know where to find me.”

  “I will go with you.” Vince took him in his arms again. “And we will watch Nik.”

  Noise behind caught his attention and Vince turned to see Dylan and Alex Cannon.

  “Oh, my God!”

  Dylan smiled as Vince plowed into him and swooped him up.

  “Whoa, you’re going to break me.” Dylan fairly squeaked.

  “Andrei.” Alex hugged him tightly.

  “How have you been?” Andrei palmed his face.

  “I’m good.” Alex winked.

  “Well, I see no one cares about me so....”

  Vince eyed their son, Ryan. “Get over here, you.”

  “I don’t trust you, Uncle Vince. Last time, you gave me a swirly.” Ryan narrowed his eyes.

  “It was a brand-new toilet, no one had ever even peed in it!” Vince cracked up.

  “Seriously, Vince?” Dylan cocked an eyebrow.

  Ryan looked from one uncle to the other. “Yeah, I’m running.”

  “I am fast, little one.” Andrei smiled and took off after him.

  Landon grabbed Ryan and they hid in the woods watching the rest of the fathers hunt them down. Landon looked at him and smiled. “Did you bring it?”

  “Yeah, it took me forever to find it but it’s in my bag.”

  “Awesome, dude.” Landon laughed.

  “I hear you!” Vince crept through the trees.

  “Aw, shit. I forgot what Uncle Vince and my dad do for a living,” Ryan cracked up.

  “Got ya!” Vince grabbed Ryan around the neck.

  “Uncle Vince!” Ryan squealed.

  “You’re lucky I love you.” Vince gently rubbed the top of his head with his knuckles.

  “Hey! What about me?” Landon pouted.

  “I love you both.” Vince hugged them. “Now, go have fun.”

  ‘Yes, sir!” Ryan smiled.

  “I have got you.” Andrei wrapped his arms around Vince’s waist.

  “Oh no, someone help me,” Vince whispered his cry for help.

  “You are very sexy right now.” Andrei growled into his ear.

  Vince turned and took Andrei’s mouth, as he pushed him up against a tree and rubbed the front of Andrei’s jeans.

  “How long can we stay out here?” Andrei smiled as Vince ran his tongue over his bottom lip.

  “Not long enough for me to really appreciate my husband.” Vince smiled and ran his fingertip over Andrei’s lips.

  “Now, I am sad.” Andrei pouted.

  “After dinner we can go home and have fun. I think Nik is staying here with the rest of the kids.”

  “We will be alone?” Andrei ran his hand down Vince’s chest.

  “Oh, yeah. baby.”

  Tanner stretched out on the dock watching Nico in the water with Stefan. They were all playing volleyball now and Phoebe dropped down next to him. She smiled and waved her hand in front of his face.

  “Hello, Tanner.”

  “Oh. Hey.” Tanner smiled.

  “Watching Nico, I take it.” Her eyes caught Stefan’s and she felt the blush stain her cheeks. God, he was absolutely stunning.

  “Are you and Stefan back together?”

  “We’re on our way there.” Phoebe smiled.

  “Tanner.” Nico was sloshing his way over.

  “Yes?” Tanner smiled and sat up.

  “You don’t want to play?” Nico grabbed his ankles.

  “Volleyball?” Tanner gave him an evil smile.

  “You’re killing me Tanner.” Nico leaned over and kissed him softly.

  “But what if I want to play with you?” Tanner ran his hand through Nico’s wet hair.

  “Dudes. I’m sitting right here.” Phoebe cocked an eyebrow.

  Nico pulled Tanner off the dock and into his arms. “Well, then I’ll just take him somewhere else.”

  “Rawr.” Phoebe swiped her hand through the air like a tiger paw.

  Colin was getting ready to spike the ball when he cried out and pulled his foot up. There was blood seeping out.

  “Shit, I think I hit a rock.” Colin limped toward the dock when Nikolai’s arms embraced him.

  “I got you.”

  “Yes, you do.” Colin couldn’t help but stare at his lips.

  “You okay?” Nikolai put him on the dock and checked out his foot. “It’s not too bad. I’ll go get Uncle Reece.”

  In the two months they hadn’t seen each other Nik had gotten bigger and Colin hadn’t thought that was possible.

  “Thanks.” Colin smiled.

  “No problem.” Nikolai palmed his face.

  Colin swore his heart was going to beat out of his chest. His breath quickened and he looked in Nikolai’s eyes. “Thanks.”

  Nikolai fought the urge to kiss him. “I’ll be right back.”

  Stefan and Phoebe joined him, along with Conner. Stefan looked at his foot and smiled. “It’s going to have to come off.”

  “Quit!” Phoebe smacked him.

  Conner grinned. “Now Colin, did you have an ‘accident’ in order to have Nikolai pick you up and rescue you?”

  “No, jackass. I actually stepped on it by accident.” Colin flipped him off.

  Reece and Nikolai joined him. He looked over Colin’s wound, cleaned it with alcohol and applied antibiotic ointment and a bandage.

  “Ow!” Colin looked at Reece, his bottom lip out slightly.

  “Are you okay?” Nikolai sat next to him.

  “Wasn’t prepared for the alcohol. Thanks, Uncle Reece.”

  “It doesn’t help when I warn people, either.” Reece rechecked the bandage and told him, “No more pond for today. Let it close up. Okay?”

  “Great.” Colin sighed. “I’m going to sweat to death.”

  “Let’s go watch a movie, then.” Nikolai suggested.

  “You don’t have to suffer with me, Nik.”

  “Who’s suffering? Air-conditioned house,
soda, and popcorn? Oh, how you torture me.” Nikolai rolled his eyes, hand flung dramatically against his forehead.

  “Fine.” Colin laughed as he gave in.

  “Come on, let’s get you up. Don’t put pressure on that foot,” Reece warned.

  “I got him, Uncle Reece.” Nikolai picked him up in one swoop and Colin’s breath caught in his throat.

  “Bye-bye, guys.” Phoebe smiled wide and winked at Colin.

  Tanner was pressed up against Nico under the dock, hands stroking his back, lips and tongue against his throat.

  “I want you to touch me, Nico,” Tanner whispered.

  Nico lightly kissed his way up Tanner’s neck to his mouth. His fingers slid under the waistband of Tanner’s swim trunks sliding their way across. Tanner’s stomach was getting warm and Nico hadn’t even made it into his shorts when he came.

  “I can’t believe I just did that.” Tanner blushed furiously.

  Nico kissed him and smiled. ‘I love it that you came that fast; it tells me you really do want me.”

  “I do, Nico. I have thought about you every day.”

  “Time to eat guys!” Jordan’s voice boomed out.

  They broke from the kiss and Nico tried to reposition his cock. He was so fucking turned on he could barely stand.

  “We have to go,” Tanner whispered. “But I think I need a minute.”

  “Um, yeah.”

  A few minutes into the movie, Colin had fallen asleep and Nikolai was lightly stroking his face and hair. He wanted so badly to kiss him but he knew at any time someone could walk in. They wanted to tell people they were a couple, but Nikolai wanted to announce it with Colin, to do it together.

  “Pssst.”

  Nikolai looked up at his father. “What?”

  “You want me to bring some food in here for you two?” Vince smiled.

  “Can you, please?”

  “Yep. Stop fondling Colin.”

  “Pops!” Nikolai whispered.

  “Be back in a minute.” Vince smiled and closed the door.

  One they’d gotten inside Reece had given Colin some antibiotics. Nik was wondering if it had something that put your ass to sleep. Colin was out like a light. He grinned at the sleeping face. Colin was adorable.

  “Nik,” Colin mumbled.

  “Are you awake?” Nikolai whispered as he brushed back Colin’s hair.

  The urge to kiss him was overwhelming and it took everything he had not to do it. He leaned over and kissed his forehead instead. He was about to say screw it and kiss Colin anyway, when the door opened again.