Personal Challenges

by K. C. Wells

  Ed turned to face Colin, his eyes wide. “’Ow come you know all this?”

  Colin smiled. “It’s amazing what you pick up by osmosis in a staff kitchen. One of my colleagues was talking about his little girl.” He returned his attention to Blake and Will. “Even if they diagnose Nathan with glue ear, they will wait to see if it clears up on its own. That was what was frustrating my colleague, Den. He was complaining that while they were waiting, his daughter’s education and speech development were suffering. Granted, she’s older than Nathan, so that’s not such a worry right now. But Rick’s right. It might not be as bad as you think.”

  “First thing Monday morning we’re taking him to the paediatrician,” Will said, his tone resolute.

  “What I don’t understand is how quickly this has developed,” Blake said, staring into his glass. “He was tested when he was born and everything was normal. And he’s been in perfect health.”

  Will’s hand covered his. “Worrying about it isn’t going to achieve a single thing, except waste our energy. We wait and see what the doctor says, all right? We stay hopeful.” He gave a half smile. “And we act less like drama queens.”

  “Do you want us to go?” Ed asked.

  Blake widened his eyes. “God, no. Right now we could use some good company. Right?” He looked to Will for agreement.

  Will nodded. “And please, don’t think you have to rush off tomorrow. Stay in bed as long as you like, and I’ll make us all a leisurely brunch. We were going to have a quiet Sunday, and we hoped you’d share it with us.”

  Rick glanced at Angelo, who nodded. “You can have us until late afternoon. That’s when we need to see my mum.” Angelo smiled. “Wedding plans.”

  “Rather you than me, mate,” Ed said with a snicker. He peered at Blake. “An’ what exactly is your definition of ‘quiet’? More garden clearing?”

  Blake smiled. “I was thinking more along the lines of taking a walk by the river after brunch, helping Sophie feed the ducks, not to mention the squirrels in the park, stuff like that.”

  Colin let out a quiet sigh. “That sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday.” He squeezed Ed’s thigh. “When was the last time you fed ducks?”

  Ed guffawed. “Never. I don’t feed the bloody things, I eat ’em. Preferably crispy, in those little pancakes.” Colin rolled his eyes and smacked Ed’s leg.

  Will glared at him. “You do not say that anywhere near Sophie, do you hear me?”

  Ed gave him a pained look. “As if I would.” He gazed around the room at the men seated on the three couches laid out in a U shape in front of the fireplace. “You know what we need right now? A distraction. Anything to stop us dwellin’ on something we can’t do anything about.” He looked over at Will. “Got a pack of cards?”

  Blake arched his eyebrows. “Cards? Seriously?”

  “Hey, strip poker! Now there’s an idea.” Rick gave an evil chuckle.

  Blake shook his head. “No. Worst case scenario: we’re all naked or semi-naked and Sophie strolls in, clutching Mr. Bunny, and complaining that she can’t sleep.”

  Will chuckled. “Wouldn’t you like to be a fly on the wall when she tells her nursery school teacher about that?” He got up from the couch and went over the drawers below the bookcases. When he came back to them, he placed three black boxes on the table. “Cards Against Humanity, anyone?”

  “I’ve never played this.” Colin peered closely at the boxes.

  “I have.” Will grinned. “I went to a readers’ convention last year in Chicago, and one night another author suggested playing this. There were about eight or ten of us in the bar, and it was hilarious. Although I will say, it’s not for the faint hearted.” He came over to where Blake sat, and knelt beside him. “Ed’s right. There’s nothing wrong with a little distraction, right?” he said in a low voice, his eyes focused on Blake’s face. Will swallowed. “Because I’d rather not think about worst case scenarios right now.”

  Blake knew that feeling all too well.

  * * * * * *

  Will pulled back the sheets and climbed into the bed, moving immediately to curl up around Blake’s body. He kissed Blake’s neck and shoulders. “All quiet. I’ve just looked in on Sophie and Nathan. Both fast asleep.”

  Blake turned in his arms to face him. “Who drew the short straw for the sofa bed?”

  Will smiled. “Rick and Angelo, except that it was more a case of them suggesting Ed and Colin take the king size bed. Rick figured they needed the room.”

  Blake chuckled. “One of these days Rick will push Ed too far with one of his remarks, and then stand back.” He stroked Will’s chest, his touch gentle. “Are we making too much of this?”

  The iron fist squeezing Will’s heart that he’d done his best to ignore all evening, was back with a vengeance. “I keep thinking about how quiet he’s been. No little cute noises like Sophie made, no gurgling or anything. When you add that to what we saw today…” He shivered. “I meant what I said earlier. I don’t want to think about what might be until we have all the facts. We’ll get the doctor to test his hearing again, and then we’ll see where we stand.”

  “The one thought that won’t leave me alone is that somehow we missed this. We didn’t pick up on the signs.”

  Will couldn’t miss the pain in Blake’s voice. “Now stop that. We don’t know right now that we’ve missed anything, do we? Let’s just wait and see, okay, babe?” He kissed him on the lips, his hands on the warm skin of Blake’s back. “Is it wrong that I just want to block this out for a while? I keep turning things over and over in my head, until I can’t think straight anymore.”

  Blake kissed the tip of his nose. “I have news for you, Will Davis. You never could think straight. Gay, remember?”

  Even Blake’s attempt to use humour wasn’t enough to pierce the layers of dread and fear that surrounded him. Will grabbed hold of him and rolled onto his back, taking Blake with him. He reached up to hold Blake’s head between his hands, and gazed into those azure eyes he loved so much. “Make the world go away for a little while? Please, babe?” He swallowed. “I need you.”

  Blake nodded slowly. “I need you too.”

  Will brought his legs up to wrap them around Blake’s waist and held onto him. “Show me,” he whispered. “Show me how much you need me.”

  Blake did just that, employing his lips, tongue, fingers and cock, and for a short while they rocked together in a bubble of sensuality that sent Will soaring.

  A temporary bubble that burst when he awoke in Blake’s arms, his fears assaulting him in a fresh wave.

  Chapter Ten

  Angelo stared in dismay at the A4 sheet of paper in his hand. Didn’t she listen to a word we said? The sheet was covered in her small, neat handwriting—thank God it only covers one side—and contained a list.

  A very, very long list.

  “Mum,” he began, after meeting Rick’s agonized gaze and returning it with his own, “We can’t invite all these people.” There had to be three hundred names, easily, and he didn’t recognize most of them.

  “Why not?” Mum sat facing him across the dining table, her lips pressed together, her jaw set. “There will be plenty of room at the venue. I looked at it on Maria’s laptop. And I read what it said. They can cater for large weddings.” She stiffened. “I know you have organized this, but I assumed I was going to pay for this. You think I cannot afford to have so many guests? Is that it?”

  Whoa. What?

  “Mum, who said anything about you paying for any of this?” Angelo glanced at Rick beside him, who was looking as baffled as he felt. “You didn’t pay for Vincente’s wedding, or Paolo’s. Why should you feel you have to pay for mine?”

  “Their weddings were paid for by the families of their brides, and you’re…” She broke off, her teeth worrying her lip.

  Angelo arched his eyebrows. “Do I look like a bride to you?”

  Rick snickered. “I did say it was time to get rid of the long, curly hair.”
>
  Angelo gazed at him with narrowed eyes. “Not helping,” he muttered. He returned his attention to his mother. “Seriously, Mum, we don’t expect you to pay for our wedding. Rick and I both have a good income, we can take care of this ourselves.” He gave her what he hoped was a gentle smile.

  Mum sighed. “This wedding confuses me.” She stared at the table’s varnished surface.

  This was new. “In what way?”

  She raised her chin and met his inquiring gaze. “Will Rick’s father walk him down the aisle to give him away? Or will you walk to meet him?”

  The penny dropped. “This whole two grooms thing is what’s confusing you?”

  “Yes!” she wailed. “I have no idea who will be doing what!” She lowered her gaze to the table again.

  Quickly Angelo fired a glance at Rick, who had stuffed a handkerchief into his mouth, and tears of laughter sparkled in his eyes. It didn’t help that he knew exactly what Rick was thinking.

  There are so many ways to take that last statement.

  Angelo regained his composure. “Okay. Yes, there will be an aisle of sorts, and we will be walking down it—together. No one is giving anyone away. And when the ceremony is at an end? Franco will pronounce us spouses for life, Mr and Mr… etc… ”

  Rick grinned. “I rather liked, ‘I now pronounce you happy and in love.’”

  Warmth filled him. “I liked that one too.” They’d had a few giggles with Franco when they’d discussed vows. Angelo cleared his throat. “Anyway, back to you. Are you okay with us paying, Mum?”

  She levelled a firm stare in his direction. “Would it matter if I wasn’t? You will go ahead and do what you want anyway. So like your father.”

  Angelo wasn’t sure if he was appalled or flattered by that remark. He tapped the sheet with his finger. “Let’s get back to this list. I’ve never heard of half these people. Who are they?”

  “Family.”

  Angelo arched his eyebrows. “Whose family? Ours?” He sighed. “Mum, let’s whittle this list down to less than a hundred people.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Are you serious? Think of all the people we will offend if we don’t invi—”

  “I guarantee that the vast majority of these people have never even heard of me,” Angelo stated flatly. “And I am not having Sicilians taking over our wedding.”

  “Here comes the mafia,” Rick whispered. Angelo reached under the table and gripped his thigh—hard. Rick’s stifled yelp was cute.

  “You speak as if being Siciliano was a bad thing.” Mum’s eyes flashed.

  Angelo met her stare. “And you and I both know how scary Nonna can be when she’s in full flow.” When his mother opened her mouth and then snapped it shut, he grinned. “See? You know I’m right.”

  “This would make a great film, you know?” Rick gave him a wicked smile. “My Big Fat Italian Wedding.”

  Angelo leaned closer to whisper in Rick’s ear. “And if you carry on, when we get home, it will be my Big Fat Italian hand across your pale, smooth, bare arse.”

  Rick’s eyes gleamed. “Promises, promises.” He nodded toward Mum. “But, er… not in front of the children, eh?”

  Mum’s cough claimed his attention. “When you two have finished… ” She leaned across the table and picked up the sheet. “I will try to do as you ask.”

  “Thank you, Mum. We do appreciate it.” Angelo gave Rick a meaningful stare. “Don’t we?”

  “Oh, sure.” Rick nodded enthusiastically.

  “Now can we discuss the reception?” Her face lit up. “I had an idea. I would like to put a miniature olive tree on every table, with little lights all over them.”

  Angelo stifled his groan. Out of the frying pan…

  * * * * * *

  “I hope there’s nothing seriously wrong with little Nathan,” Rick said as he undressed for bed.

  “They’re doing the right thing by getting him checked out as soon as possible.” Angelo hoped with all his heart that it turned out to be something simple. Nothing as heart-breaking as Nathan being deaf.

  “At least we accomplished something today with your mum,” Rick noted. “If she chops that list of hers down to a manageable size, that’s one thing less to worry about.”

  Oh yes. His mother. Rick wasn’t forgiven yet.

  Angelo removed his jeans and briefs and stood by the bed, letting Rick get a good, long look at his body. “I do believe I owe you a spanking.”

  Rick’s gaze jerked from Angelo’s groin, where his cock had already begun to fill, to Angelo’s face. “Er, excuse me?”

  Angelo wagged his finger. “Don’t come the innocent with me. All those muttered remarks this afternoon. It’s a good thing Mum didn’t hear any of them.”

  “Oh, come on.” Rick chuckled. “You have to admit, even you thought that comment about not knowing who does what was funny. I could see it in your face!”

  Angelo nodded. “Yup. Not denying it. But the cracks about cutting my hair? Our big fat Italian wedding? ‘Here comes the mafia’?” He grinned. “Yes. They call for a spanking.” Not that he’d ever spanked Rick before. That was something for the porn videos they watched together sometimes.

  Maybe it’s time to try it. See what all the fuss is about.

  Rick stared at him for a moment. “Oh my God. You’re serious. You… you want to spank my arse?”

  Angelo waggled his eyebrows. “Might be hot.” The thought of Rick, stretched out across his lap, his arse firm and round and ripe for Angelo’s hand… His dick jerked upward.

  And Rick noticed. “So I see,” he said with a hint of a smile. He stood up from the bed, unfastened his jeans and shoved them past his hips, taking his boxer briefs with them. One look at his stiffening dick told Angelo he wasn’t the only one who thought it might be hot.

  Angelo climbed onto the bed, stuffed pillows behind him and leaned against them, patting his thighs. “All aboard.”

  Rick snickered and got onto the bed, his cock bobbing. “We’re really doing this?”

  “Why not? Those guys in the videos seem to enjoy it. They make enough noise about it. Why don’t we see if it’s as good as they make out?”

  Rick gave a shrug and stretched himself out over Angelo’s lap. Angelo could feel his hard dick against his thigh. Rick twisted to glance over his shoulder. “So… we just… start?”

  Angelo laughed. It felt so weird to be doing this. He rubbed the firm globes of flesh before him and smiled. “Here goes.” He brought his hand down with a loud smack as it connected with Rick’s arse cheek.

  “Ouch!” Rick stared at him over his shoulder. “That smarts!”

  “Aww, poor baby.” Angelo rubbed where the blow had landed, and then tried another, aiming for a different spot. To his surprise, Rick giggled. “That was funny?”

  Rick snickered. “Sorry. I’m just finding it hard to take this seriously. Go on, do it again.”

  Angelo smacked him, harder this time, and Rick laughed. Another strike, and Rick was laughing harder. Angelo stopped and stared at him. “Why are you laughing?” He landed another couple of smacks, but Rick’s laughter didn’t diminish. Angelo gave up. “Okay, this is a waste of time if you’re not going to take it seriously.” He had to admit, he wasn’t finding the experience as much of a turn-on as he’d anticipated.

  Rick sat up, still chuckling. “I’m sorry, babe. It sounded so hot, and it always looks hot when you see it on screen, but if I’m honest? It just feels ridiculous. Maybe it’s just not for us.”

  Angelo sagged against the pillows. “I’m going to have to agree with you on that.”

  Rick moved across the bed to lie next to him, his head on Angelo’s chest. “Now I’m all disillusioned. There goes a hot fantasy out the window.”

  Angelo laughed quietly. “Any other hot fantasies I should know about?”

  Rick craned his neck to peer up at him. “Why? Do you think we need to spice things up a bit in the bedroom?”

  Angelo shrugged. “Nothing wrong with a l
ittle experimentation. I’m sure there are lots of, er, bedroom activities that we haven’t tried yet. Just because spanking wasn’t for us, doesn’t mean there won’t be others that are more to our taste.”

  Rick’s eyes gleamed. “Such as?” He prodded Angelo’s belly with his finger. “Go on, you started this. What have you seen that you thought might be worth a try?”

  Angelo shifted, getting comfortable. “The obvious seems to be bringing in a third person. Ever wanted to have a threesome?” He hadn’t even once considered it, but knowing Rick’s history, he was curious to hear his thoughts on the subject.

  “Nope.” There was no hesitation in Rick’s voice whatsoever. “We don’t need anyone else. Just you and me.”

  The declaration warmed Angelo’s heart. “Okay then. Your turn.”

  Rick giggled. “Ever wanted to suck on my toes?”

  Feet? Angelo shuddered. “Not my first choice, no.” He searched for a suggestion to elicit a similar reaction from Rick. “There’s always bondage. I could tie you to the bed. Maybe borrow some of Will and Blake’s toys?” Their toy box was no secret among their closest friends.

  Rick guffawed. “Hell no. You are not tying me to the bed while you have your wicked way with me.”

  Angelo chuckled. Tying each other up didn’t do it for him either.

  “Ooh!” Rick grinned. “I could be your puppy!”

  “Excuse me?”

  Rick got up on all fours and wiggled his arse. “You know! I could get a puppy tail butt plug, and you could put a leash on me. Hey, I could wear one of those dog masks, the leather ones.”

  Angelo burst into laughter. “If I want a puppy, I’ll go to a kennel or a rescue centre.” Then another idea came to him, and he grinned. “There’s water sports.”

  Rick grimaced. “And you can keep your golden showers, you got that? Ew.”

  He laughed out loud. “You’re safe, babe. Definitely not my scene.” But this was getting to be a fun conversation. He thought quickly. “Ooh, how about I fist you? That seems a pretty kinky thing to do these days.” He held up his hand and waggled his fingers. “You think your tight little arse could take my hand?”