by Jake Biondi
Episode #50
The moonlight danced on the surface of Lake Michigan without a care in the world. It sparkled and twinkled on each ripple and wave of the lake’s dark waters. As some dances ended when waves hit the shore, new ones began farther out on the lake. Eventually, they too would make their way to the shore and be replaced by others.
Close to Lake Michigan, the Mancini brothers -- Emmett, Justin, and Derek -- reclined casually in the living room of Derek’s condominium. They had decided to have a brothers’ slumber party on the night before Derek’s and Justin’s weddings.
Each wearing a tank top and pajama bottoms, the three men lay on the sofas and the floor drinking wine and exchanging stories about their childhood. Two empty wine bottles stood on one of the coffee tables next to two half-full bottles.
“If you would have told me even just a year ago that the three of us would be here tonight getting along this well, I would have said you were crazy,” Emmett said. “And yet here we are.”
“It’s nice,” Justin said. “Thank you both for giving me a chance to be a better brother and a better person.”
“We all have reasons to apologize to each other,” Derek said. “It’s not necessary. We’re here together -- that’s what counts.”
“Agreed,” Emmett said, drinking from his wine glass.
“You know, Gino really does love you two,” Justin said. “He views you as extended family.”
“He’s a good guy, even for a Ciancio,” Derek joked.
“I’m worried about him, though,” Justin continued. “He hasn’t really accepted that Marco is dead and he’s under so much stress at work, fighting with Camille about everything. I’m afraid he’s going to crack.”
“Camille is a piece of work,” Derek said.
“You have to be there to support him,” Emmett added. “Let him know he’s not alone.”
“I have and I am. He just keeps things bottled up inside sometimes.”
“Then you need to get him to open up more,” Emmett said.
“Speaking of opening up more. What’s up with you and Patrick?” Derek asked Emmett.
Emmett smiled. “Nothing, we are just friends.”
“Really?” Justin asked. “Do you always turn red at the mention of a friend’s name like you are right now?”
Emmett touched his hand to his face. “Am I?”
Derek nodded. “Come on, tell us.”
“We’re just hanging out and getting to know each other, that’s all.”
“So you haven’t slept together yet?” Derek asked bluntly.
Emmett tossed a pillow at his brother. “No. And it would be none of your business anyway if we had.”
“What I know of Patrick, I like,” Justin stated. “But what about Max? You really don’t think you can forgive him and move forward? Of all the people I know, you are the most forgiving.”
“It’s not that I can’t forgive him for cheating with Dustin. I already have. But I can’t really get over it. And what happens when Dustin gets out of the institution? How do I know Max just won’t go running back to him?”
“Hopefully, he won’t be out for a very long time,” Derek mumbled
“Have you spoken to Max about it at all? I mean, you’re together all the time at the club.”
“We’ve talked a little. He says he still loves me, but he also can’t describe his feelings for Dustin. As much as I hate being alone, I deserve more than to be with someone who doesn’t know if they really want to be with me.” Emmett took another drink of his wine. “I think Patrick knows what he wants and has his shit together.”
“He seems to,” Justin agreed. “And he’s hot as fuck, I might add.” Derek shot a look at Justin, who added. “I’m getting married, but I’m not blind. He’s a hottie.”
Emmett smiled. “I agree. Totally different look than any guy I have ever dated before.”
“Maybe he’s ‘the one’?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Emmett said. “Right now we are just getting to know each other and I really need to be single for a while.”
Derek raised his glass. “Well, here’s to finding the right man for you.”
Emmett and Justin joined in the toast and all three drank more of their wine.
“And what’s the house update?” Emmett asked Derek.
“I put an offer in on the one on Hawthorne Place.”
“Oh, wow,” Emmett said. “That place is gorgeous.”
“Best block in the city.”
“Cole doesn’t want to move in here with you?” Justin asked.
“He feels like we need a new place to call our own.”
Justin raised his glass and looked at Derek, then Emmett. “Then cheers to you getting the right house and cheers to you getting the right man.”
Derek and Emmett smiled, raised their glasses, and drank more wine.
Inside the condo above The Boys and the Booze, Jensen Stone toweled off after taking a shower. He wrapped his towel around his waist and headed into the kitchen. He grabbed a cookie from the jar on the counter and filled a glass with water.
The knock on the front door startled him. He put down the cookie and water and opened it, facing Hugo Martinez when he did.
“Hugo,” Jensen said. “Come on in. Is everything okay?”
Hugo entered the condo and hugged Jensen. “Everything is great. I was just wondering if I could spend the night here. I’m fine sleeping on a couch.”
“You don’t have to sleep on a couch, but are you sure you’re okay? Why aren’t you going home? Did you and your father have a fight?”
“My father? No. I haven’t seen him tonight. I think he’s with Joyelle. I just want to be close to you, that’s all.”
Jensen smiled. “That sounds great. We’ll have our own little sleep over. Do you want something to drink?”
Hugo pulled Jensen close to him. “What I want is you.” He kissed Jensen deeply running his fingers down his back and releasing his towel so that it fell to the ground.
Standing naked in front of Hugo, Jensen ran his hands up the quarterback’s torso as his dick quickly began to harden. He stood tippy-toe so that he was eye-to-eye with Hugo and pressed his lips to his.
Hugo stepped back for a moment, perusing Jensen’s naked body from head to toe. Then he wrapped his big arms around Jensen and kissed him aggressively. His tongue explored Jensen’s mouth inside and out as Hugo lifted his boyfriend off the floor. Cradling him in his arms, Hugo carried Jensen to his bedroom, kissing him the entire way.
Once inside Jensen’s room, Hugo placed his boyfriend on the bed. Jensen sat up on his knees and helped Hugo remove his shirt and pants. Standing at the foot of the bed wearing only his briefs, Hugo modeled his quarterback body for Jensen.
“Holy shit,” Jensen whispered as he inspected Hugo’s naked body for the very first time. Every inch of him was a turn-on, from his gorgeous face to his chiseled, hairy chest to his tight abs to his monster cock, which Jensen could see bulging beneath the cotton briefs.
As the head of Hugo’s penis emerged from under the waistband, Hugo pulled them off and crawled onto the bed with Jensen. Putting his large hands on Jensen’s face, Hugo kissed Jensen softly, then more passionately. He leaned forward, pushing Jensen backward onto the bed. He straddled his hairy legs over Jensen’s hips and pressed his chest down onto Jensen’s.
“You’re my first guy,” Hugo whispered, looking deep into Jensen’s eyes.
Jensen smiled. “I like that.” Jensen pointed toward the night table. “Open the drawer.”
Hugo did and pulled out a box of condoms and lube. He put them on the bed next to him and leaned forward to kiss his man again.
Jensen ran his fingers along Hugo’s big forearms and biceps, then over his shoulders to his neck, which he gently pulled forward. He leaned in to kiss Hugo’s neck, softly at first, then letting his tongue explore the area.
Hugo stretched out his legs, his toes running the length of Jensen’s legs
as they extended. His hairy legs intermingled with Jensen’s smooth ones as his hard cock pressed against Jensen’s. He kissed Jensen’s chest and nipples, then slid down his stomach to his cock. Wrapping his mouth around Jensen, Hugo initially gagged, underestimating Jensen’s size. But he quickly adjusted and soon Jensen’s entire cock disappeared into his throat.
Putting his hands on Hugo’s head, Jensen moaned with pleasure as he slowly thrust himself into his mouth. He ran his feet up the backs of Hugo’s hairy legs and shifted his position on the bed slightly.
Hugo released Jensen’s cock from his mouth and watched it slap back against Jensen’s abs with a soft thud. He kissed his way up to Jensen’s chest, caressing his nipples with his tongue. He firmly grabbed Jensen’s ankles, spreading his legs apart and lifting them over his shoulders. Working his hips between Jensen’s legs, his mammoth cock immediately found his hole and started to penetrate it. Hugo looked deep into Jensen’s eyes, showing him love without saying a word.
Jensen looked up at his lover, anticipating entry and wondering if Hugo intended to ignore the condoms lying on the bed beside him. He slid his hands down Hugo’s back and grabbed his firm ass tightly, pulling him toward him.
Quickly, Hugo grabbed and tore open a condom package. Trying to pull the condom over his cock, he tore it and tossed it onto the floor. He grabbed another and this time successfully wrapped it over his throbbing dick. Carefully, he lubed Jensen and pressed the head of his penis into him.
Digging his fingers in Hugo’s arms, Jensen cringed as his boyfriend entered him. He adjusted his legs and tightened his ass around Hugo, who kissed him deeply. His hands slowly walked down to Hugo’s ass, holding it firmly upon arrival.
Using the power of his legs, Hugo pumped Jensen harder and harder, his cock hitting deep into Jensen each time. He looked into Jensen’s wide eyes with a serious expression, gritting his teeth occasionally as he thrusted. Quickly wrapping his arms around Jensen’s back, Hugo flipped them over landing on his back with Jensen riding him.
Jensen smiled down at Hugo as he rode his throbbing cock. His own dick slapped against Hugo’s abs as well as his own as he bounced up and down on Hugo’s pole. Leaning forward, Jensen massaged Hugo’s chest, then grabbed his wrists and raised his arms over his head. He licked one of Hugo’s armpits and then the other before sitting back up on his cock.
Hugo put his hands on Jensen’s hips and pushed up into him harder and harder. His breathing quickened as he prepared to erupt. He leaned forward and held Jensen tightly, kissing him and then burying his face in his chest.
“I love you,” Jensen whispered into Hugo’s ear.
Hugo responded with a ferocious groan that accompanied his climax. His entire body shaking, Hugo shot over and over and then fell backwards onto the bed.
Jensen slowly climbed off of Hugo as his cock relaxed. He carefully removed the condom from Hugo’s penis, making sure to contain of all his cum within. Then he gingerly dropped the condom to the floor as he felt Hugo grab his dick tightly.
Hugo changed positions on the bed and helped Jensen lie down beside him. Lying on his side, Hugo stroked Jensen’s cock rapidly. He smiled as he watched Jensen’s facial expressions evolve from simple pleasure to erotic frenzy. He felt Jensen’s entire body shake and watched his toes curl as Jensen prepared to shoot.
With a soft moan, Jensen looked into Hugo’s eyes and released a stream of cum that flooded his chest, stomach, and navel. Two or three additional bursts forced more sperm from his dick.
Hugo kissed him and watched the cum settle on Jensen’s torso. Then he smiled as Jensen used the sheet to clean himself off.
Lying on his back, Hugo wrapped his arm around Jensen and cuddled with him. Jensen tucked his head against Hugo’s shoulder.
“Was I okay?” Hugo asked.
“Okay? Fuck, you were amazing,” Jensen replied. “You know, in a lot of ways, that was my first time, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I was stripping and hooking, that was about survival. I was living on the streets and I did whatever it took to live. Whenever I had sex with someone, it was about money and it was just that, sex. Nothing more,” Jensen explained. “But with you just now, it was so much more. It was emotional and passionate, loving. It was completely different.”
Hugo smiled and kissed his boyfriend.
“I do love you,” Jensen added.
“I love you, too,” Hugo said. He held up his left hand and removed the plain, silver ring from his pinky finger. “Give me your hand.”
Jensen obeyed and held up his left hand.
Hugo slipped the ring onto Jensen’s finger. “Will you wear this for me?”
Jensen’s face lit up. “Of course, I will.” Jensen kissed Hugo. “Thank you so much.”
“No,” Hugo said, “thank you...for showing me what this is all really supposed to be like. It’s all new to me and it’s all so wonderful with you.”
Jensen put his head on Hugo’s chest and remained close to him until they both finally fell asleep.
Not far from The Boys and the Booze in Logan Pryce’s condo, Jesse Morgan crawled into bed and wrapped his arms around Logan.
“Fun night,” Jesse said, kissing his boyfriend deeply.
“It was.”
Jesse ran his fingers gently over Logan’s neck and shoulder. “You’re healing really nicely.”
“Thanks, babe. It is such a relief to me.”
“You looked sexy beforehand, but I know you’re more comfortable now that the scars are gone.
“I love you so much,” Logan said, kissing Jesse. “I just wish you and your father could work on things a bit.”
“Do we have to talk about him now?”
“The way you dropped the fact that you’re moving in with me on him at the party was a bit harsh.”
“Harsh? He cheated on Emmett.”
“That’s their business, Jesse, not ours. Besides, you and I have overcome some big issues, like Ben.”
“I thought you had forgiven me about all the Ben stuff.”
Logan kissed Jesse. “I have, and if I can forgive all of that, can’t you forgive your father and try to get along better? You two were doing so well.”
“It’s complicated, Logan. You know that. But, for you, I’ll try.”
Logan put his head on Jesse’s chest and cuddled up next to him. “Thanks, babe.”
At St. Joseph Hospital, Joyelle Mancini lay in bed, holding her newborn baby girl in her arms. Sound asleep and wrapped in a pink blanket, the girl seemed to fit perfectly in her mother’s arms.
Mateo Martinez stood near the bed, gazing at the beautiful girl and her mother.
“She’s perfect,” Mateo said.
“She is,” Joyelle said, looking up at him. “Thank you for being here with me. She’ll grow up knowing that a very special man brought her into this world.”
“It was an honor to be here,” Mateo stated. “Any name ideas?”
“I have a few, but I need to think about it a little more. I’m so tired that I’m not exactly thinking straight.”
“Well, how about I take this little gem from you and let you get some rest? Don’t worry, she’ll be well taken care of while you rest.”
Joyelle smiled. “Thank you, Mateo. For everything.”
Mateo carefully took the child from Joyelle and left the room.
Once he was gone from the room, she reached for her phone and texted Gino: “You have a new niece. She’s beautiful.”
Joyelle returned her phone to the table next to the bed and closed her eyes. Before long, she was sound asleep.
When the moonlight’s dance on Lake Michigan was over, it was the sun’s turn. The new day brought with it bright sunshine and a blue, cloudless sky, the perfect day for a wedding. Chicagoans rose early on the gorgeous September day to grab their morning coffee and read the morning news. One headline, in particular, had everyone talking.
As Hugo snuck into his father’s home that mo
rning, Mateo was waiting for him. Standing at the kitchen counter, Mateo sternly greeted his son.
“I’d ask where the hell you’ve been, but I think the morning news answers my question,” Mateo said angrily. He pointed to the newspaper on the counter in front of him. “Is it true?”
“Is what true?” Hugo asked.
“The phone has been ringing off the hook. The university has been calling. Everyone wants to talk to you.”
“About what?”
Mateo picked up the newspaper and threw it at his son. “This!”
The newspaper fell to the floor and Hugo picked it up to read the headline: “Notre Dame’s QB is gay.” Hugo looked up at his father and then back at the newspaper. “Oh, my God.”
“Is it true?”
Hugo’s eyes filled with tears as he looked at his father.
Mateo pounded his fists into the counter. “Dammit. After the wedding, I want you out.”
“What?” Hugo asked, tears streaming down his cheeks.
“Go live with that Jensen. He is your boyfriend, isn’t he?”
“Dad, you--”
“Get out of my sight!” Mateo declared and stormed out of the room.
Hugo stood at the counter, silently crying and staring at the newspaper.
At his apartment, Rob was getting dressed in his bathroom. His tuxedo pants already on, he checked himself out in his bathroom mirror. He picked up a prosthetic beard and moustache from the counter and put it on. He inspected it carefully to ensure it was in place properly and looked realistic.
He pulled on his tuxedo shirt, put on his bowtie, and walked into his living room. Approaching his wall collage of Cole’s photos, he stood before it and smiled. He ran his fingers over a few of the photos as if caressing Cole’s face.
“Today is our day…”
To say that Gino Ciancio and Justin Mancini’s penthouse looked exquisite with its elaborate wedding décor would be a gross understatement. Huge floral arrangements and candelabras stood throughout the living room, dining room, library, great room, and outdoor terrace. Floral garlands were draped over the main staircase railings, terrace walls, fireplaces, and musicians’ area. Chairs were arranged for the ceremony on the terrace and the dining tables were dressed in beautiful linens, elegant china, and fantastic floral arrangements containing candles.
