by H J Perry
Slowly, Carlos lowered himself on to one knee, still holding Harry's hands, and watching his face for a reaction. Harry's mouth fell open in surprise.
Carlos feared his actions might be too soon, but now it was too late to stand up.
"Harry Carter, will you marry me? Be my lover and my best friend for life?"
"Yes, Carlos Garcia." There was no hesitation.
Carlos stood up, but Harry held him at arm's length.
"Yes, I want to marry you despite your terrible timing. How are we supposed to go to dinner now, and act like it's just another day at the office? Go our separate ways tonight as we do in hotels?"
"Hiding how I feel about you is tough every day. In some ways, it will be easier when we're on different teams, and not having to work together.
"So why ask me right now?"
"I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. Even if you had said no, I just need you to know that's how I feel about you."
Harry nodded. "I've had an offer. All relevant parties are interested so the deal could be done in the next few days."
"And given what you've just asked me, I think it's pretty good news."
"You are going to another Birmingham team?"
"Not that close. But West London is not so far away. You'll be able to give me a run down on your ex-teammates." Harry grinned. Less than a two-hour drive between the two clubs, if they were lucky. They could live together halfway between the two.
"They are a great bunch of blokes. I'm sure they will be fine about hearing we're together."
"Good to know. But I'm not fine with sharing it. You know that."
"I'll be honest Harry. I want to make a big announcement to celebrate properly. I know you don't want that but can I tell my parents today? And are you going to invite your family?"
"I'm not going to change my mind. Yes, you can tell your parents." Harry's eyes twinkled as he grinned and then his face fell.
"What's the matter?"
"Your family will be overjoyed. My family might never speak to me again."
"In a perfect world Harry, everyone would know. They'd update our Wikipedia pages with our spouse status, and everyone would be happy for us." Carlos took Harry's hand and led him to the bed, they sat down holding hands.
"It's not a perfect world. Whatever you decide about your family I'm right there beside you. You can you can tell your mom and your brother. Invite them to the wedding and any of your friends—anyone who is important to you. But if you choose not to, if you wish to keep it a secret, I will go along with that too."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
June 2013
CARLOS
For months they avoided the issue. Carlos would do anything for Harry, but there were some things he couldn't do. All the fame, success, and money in the world could not solve some problems. Carlos offered to be there, but ultimately this was Harry's burden. Harry's decision to make.
Finally, he could put it off no longer. Harry had left it to the very last minute, and he'd gone alone to confront one of his greatest fears. Just one woman. Feeling helpless, all Carlos could do was wait in his parents’ home. The whole time he kept his cell phone handy; on call if needed.
No matter what, with or without Harry's mom to witness the occasion, the next day they'd be married.
The first same-sex marriage of a celebrity professional footballer.
Their wedding photos would be worth a fortune.
Wealth at the level that Carlos had already amassed ensured complete privacy at their wedding location. No paparazzi, no undercover journalist, no opportunist member of the public could get close to the most well kept Spanish gay wedding of the twenty-first century.
The only unknown variable in the entire wedding plan was the woman meeting Harry at the airport that morning. They both knew they should have told her sooner, but it always seemed easier to put it off.
Mrs. Carter was under the impression that she was coming to meet her son in Spain for a brief vacation.
They had given her clues. She had met Carlos many times, and she knew this trip to Spain involved Carlos and included meeting Carlos's parents. Could she really believe they were just buddies?
HARRY
Harry met his mom at the airport and accompanied her in a taxi to her hotel. He'd kept the conversation on bland details. She'd asked about their plans for the next few days, but he could tell her nothing more than that they were invited to the Garcia family house that afternoon if she wanted to visit.
He didn't tell her that dinner in Spain is normally eaten at a time that is bedtime in England. Or that in order to welcome their British guest, the Garcia family were having dinner at a very strange time of day, to them. He didn't tell her they were dining at the hotel where she was the sole guest for this night.
Carlos had booked the entirety of the hotel. Most of the staff were given paid leave, and only a skeleton staff of the most trusted employees were given a substantial bonus and trusted with the confidential arrangements. In fact, the staff didn't know there'd be a wedding or the names of their famous clientèle. Only the hotel owner, a friend of the Garcia family, had this information.
The wedding would take place on its grounds the next day, witnessed only by a small gathering of their friends and family. Rooms were booked for everyone to stay after the wedding.
After the hotel porter had left them alone in the room, it was time for Harry to finally do what he'd put off for so many months.
"Mom, I have something vital to tell you. Please come and sit down." The hotel suite was about as big as Mrs. Carter's entire home and far more luxurious. Harry guided her to an armchair and sat down opposite her.
"There is no easy way for me to tell you this."
She raised her brows with curiosity and placed her hands on her lap, palms down flat.
Harry continued, "I know you like Carlos, and I'm pleased you do because I love him. And tomorrow we are getting married, Carlos and I, right here in Spain."
She sat as still as stone, showing no reaction at all.
Harry waited anxiously in silence for her to process what he'd said.
"We'd like you to come to the wedding and share our celebration with Carlos's family."
There was no point in babbling on.
"You didn't need to come to Spain. They are making it legal in our country." That was way down on the list of responses that Harry had expected. His mom was clearly in shock.
"I know Mom. They are going to change the law in England, eventually but we can marry in Spain right now. Do you remember Carlos telling you?"
"The two of you will be homosexual husbands." She appeared neither delighted nor shocked as she made the statement as a matter of fact.
"Yes. Mom, we love each other. And I know that might be hard for you to understand because we're both men, but it's still love, just the same."
"It's not the same." She looked down at her hands. They were white and gripping onto her knees tightly.
"God made men and women to be husband and wife. But I know these views aren't popular anymore. I'm old-fashioned. You can marry who you please."
"You don't seem surprised about Carlos and me?"
"My son is getting married tomorrow. Of course, I'm surprised about that. But about you and Carlos, I'm not so surprised. You've never had a girlfriend, I've noticed that. And then, since you've been bringing Carlos with you every time you visit, you've looked so happy and, yes, in love."
Her hands had released their tight grip. As she spoke, Harry noticed the tension seemed to leave her, bit by bit.
"But still I would never have suspected anything if it wasn't for him talking about his brother. I don't know if these things run in families. The way he talked about his brother being married to a man as if it were perfectly normal. Listening to him talk, I realized that for Carlos, homosexuality is normal. Perhaps it's because he's Spanish."
Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Mom, we just say gay. Homosexuality sounds like a medical condition.
"
"I can't change my religion or beliefs, Harry. But I don't expect everybody to believe in the same things that I do. You have your own mind. You're my son, and I still love you. You are not breaking the law of the land. Only God may judge, I do not have that right."
Relief flowed through Harry's body, and tears ran down his cheeks.
"You will attend our wedding tomorrow?"
"Of course, why didn't you tell me sooner? Carlos is a charming man and very handsome, I did notice."
His mother caught him further by surprise when she winked.
"What about your brother?" she asked.
"I didn't tell him I'm getting married, but I did ask him if he could join us in Spain. He said he couldn't."
"He would've come for your wedding."
"I don't think he'd approve. My impression is quite the opposite."
"So you've tricked me into coming to Spain with nothing suitable to wear to a wedding. In fact, this hotel is so fancy I don't feel I even have fitting pajamas."
Harry laughed, mostly out of sheer relief. He would've told his mother weeks ago, had he known she'd be so understanding. He'd been dreading words and damnation that hadn’t come.
"The wedding is in the afternoon. In the morning Bella will take you to get whatever outfit you want. Any shopping at all. I think you'll like Carlos's mom."
"Whenever you are ready, I'll take you to meet the Garcia family. They live not far from here."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
June 2013
CARLOS
Carlos awoke in the luxurious honeymoon suite of the almost empty hotel that he'd booked for his wedding. Spooning Harry, now his husband, who lay in front of him. Carlos's morning wood already seeking a way toward that special place.
While it wasn't the first time he'd awoken like this, it was the first day that such a position held promise for going so much further.
The wedding itself hadn’t required as much pre-planning as preparing for after.
Harry and Carlos decided on a honeymoon in the United States where famous international footballing heroes could walk freely along streets, passing largely unrecognized. The only country in the world where the word “football” meant an entirely different sport.
Not only had they been planning their honeymoon, wedding and where they'd live, but over the past few months, there had been something else they'd researched thoroughly.
Carlos wanted to learn to give Harry pleasure in all ways possible. Despite all his experience, there were things he hadn't done. Things they hadn't done together—yet.
For a variety of reasons, they chose not to rush into every sexual activity. They had plenty of time ahead of them. They intended to spend the rest of their lives together and had plenty of time to find new ways to love each other.
Carlos wrapped his arm more tightly around his husband and kissed the back of his head. Deliberately hoping to wake him. When Harry seemed to stir, Carlos whispered, "Husband dearest, I want to make love to you. To take full advantage of my conjugal rights."
"You have such a way with words my darling, how can I refuse?"
They'd done their research. There was no shortage of reliable online resources for men who wanted to learn how to love men without having to trust in the fiction that is pornography. They got tested and purchased lube—which was an essential. They also bought condoms so as to have the option to use them if they chose to.
They both got tested, of course, but preventing STDs and pregnancy aren't the only reasons for using condoms.
The night of their wedding they collapsed into bed with barely enough energy to share their first goodnight kiss as husbands. It was more accurately the early hours of the day after their wedding. Many hours later, when the daylight was bright outside, the day after their marriage, they had hours to spare before their late flight to the United States.
Hours and hours in a hotel room with lube and new things they wanted to do. Facts and details from their research at the front of both their minds. Things neither of them had done before. Activities that they agreed they'd wait to try as if a wedding present to each other.
The question of who was going first, top and bottom hadn't been discussed. Carlos was eager and nervous.
"Do you want to use the bathroom first or shall I?"
"I don't mind. Whoever isn't in the bathroom needs to put in a room service request for coffee."
After morning constitutionals, a caffeine pick-me-up, and lube placed with handy reach, both men were back in the same position between the sheets without a stitch of clothing.
HARRY
Just as he knew he was gay, without ever having kissed a guy. As with so many things in his life, even though he'd never done it before he knew he was going to like it. When turned on, he wanted to feel Carlos inside him. There had been times over their months together that Harry had almost begged.
After years of fingering himself when alone and regarding it as his most shameful secret. He wanted so much more than just his own fingers and the shame surrounding this lonely act of self-pleasure that he'd not shared with Carlos.
Carlos who had been so open and honest about his feelings, so considerate and respectful of Harry's religious background.
His husband.
This morning, with a ring on his finger, everything became legitimate. Carlos would give him the pleasure he craved, and he'd no longer have to feel ashamed.
On top, Carlos thrust against him. A familiar position that they both liked. Their dicks trapped between their bodies.
"Which way round?" Carlos asked.
"Really? You need to ask like this is a serious question?"
The confused look on Carlos's face said it all.
"You have no idea how much I want you to fuck me. Please."
Carlos smiled, and Harry thought his dick got harder and bigger against his stomach. "Really? Are you sure?"
"Fuck yeah. I want you to make love to me, and I want to feel you inside. Please, I've wanted it for such a long time."
The desperation in his voice made Harry squirm with embarrassment. He had to be honest with his husband about want he wanted, needed.
Carlos reached for the lube. "Do you expect me to use a condom?"
"I don't mind."
Carlos flicked the lid open and coated his fingers. "Then I won't."
Harry turned on to his stomach. "Can we do it this way first?" They'd both studied the karma sutra of gay sex positions, but this way around was one of his favorite fantasies.
Over his shoulder he watched Carlos, his lust-filled eyes darker than usual. His hand working the slick lube along his glistening dick.
Harry watched as Carlos coated his fingers again with the transparent silicon based lube ready to prep him. At this Harry had to look away, and bury his face in the pillow. He had a good idea of how this would feel.
Fucking amazing.
And even better that someone else was doing it to him.
As if Carlos's fingers penetrated Harry easier than expected, he said nothing.
Carlos was so gentle, and Harry felt wanton as he gave in to his urge to thrust back onto those fingers. Thankfully, there was a soft pillow in which to hide his face.
Carlos's fingers inside him felt nothing like his own, and he was rapidly propelled to a level of ecstasy that he hadn’t known was achievable. And how much better would it get with Carlos thrusting inside him?
"Fuck me. Please. Fuck me with your dick."
Carlos didn't need asking twice.
His fingers vacated Harry immediately, and he felt something so much bigger pushing at his entrance.
The stretch, the burn. It was more than Harry was ready for. It hurt. But there was no way he wanted it to stop.
"More lube. Please."
He hated having to wait those few seconds while Carlos pushed more lube around the entrance and just inside and presumably applied it to his dick. But the next time his cock slipped in. Carlos moved slowly, incredibly slowly unt
il Harry could feel Carlos pressed up against him. He was all the way in.
"Is this okay?"
"Yes. Fucking amazing, but stay still for a minute." As he said it, he knew he didn't mean a literal minute, timed. But Harry had lost the concept of time when moments later he was begging Carlos to fuck him, slowly at first but then faster.
Carlos's dick was doing amazing things.
Hitting all the right places.
With the physical things that were actually happening and the things going on in Harry's mind, he was unraveling all too quickly.
"Fuck me, Carlos. Hard."
"Harry, I'm not going to last. This, it's so fucking hot."
That's what Harry need to hear. Carlos loved fucking him as much as he loved it. There was no holding back. Harry lost all self-control, and he called out louder than he intended as he coated the sheets in front of him with his semen, fairly sure that he could feel Carlos doing the same.
Coming.
Inside him.
CARLOS
There was no doubt in Carlos's mind that he and Harry were perfect for each other and could completely satisfy each other when it came to sex.
He already felt more connected with Harry than he could ever have imagined. But fucking was fucking amazing, like he could never have had imagined. He couldn't wait to do more.
His first day as a married man had started well.
What he wasn't expecting was to discover he loved his husband more this day than on the day they married.
Epilogue
2022
"As the nation prepares to grind to a slowdown when all stop to watch the 2022 World Cup, we are meeting today for an exclusive interview with three former premiership footballers, now retired—two of whom have played in previous World Cup matches for their national teams."
