Sweet and Sexy

by Jeff Adams

  “Jerk,” he said as he grabbed a napkin to wipe a bit of coffee from his lips. “Maybe I’d be bossing you around.”

  “And maybe I’d like that.” I cocked an eyebrow at him as his smirk became less silly and more sexy.

  “Kiss me,” he said.

  “Yes, sir,” I said, with a bit of a growl to my voice.

  I leaned over the table and locked my lips on his. He tasted of maple syrup. Matty grabbed my head as our tongues fought for position. I leaned in and hungrily kissed him. Shudders ran through Matty, and this time they weren’t related to his job. This was about us.

  We were both stubbly, and while I generally preferred Matty’s smooth face, something about his scruff turned me on. I slowed the kissing down and then moved from his mouth down to his neck, where I nibbled and licked, causing him to squirm in the chair.

  “Oh, Leo. Yesssss.”

  Hitting his magic spots always made him breathless and I loved that. I maneuvered myself, without breaking contact, so I could straddle him in his chair. A range of noises came from him as I gently ground against his stiffening cock.

  I started sucking in one place, just under his ear, and got a low growl back. The growls were an incentive to keep going. I knew I’d leave a mark, but I couldn’t stop.

  When I finally pulled off his neck we sat, nose to nose, looking at each other.

  “My God, you’re sexy,” Matty said with a flirtatious grin.

  “Me? What about you with those growls.”

  “All because of you.”

  He reached for the hem of my shirt and lifted it up. I raised my arms so he’d have no trouble pulling it off. He dropped it on the floor.

  “I don’t get to look at you enough,” he said as he nibbled across the top of my hairy chest.

  “We were in the same bed last night.” I had to egg him on a little.

  “Same bed, yes, but we weren’t like this.”

  “I love you, Matty.”

  I crushed my lips against his, kissing him with everything I had.

  “Come on,” I said, standing up, grabbing his hand, and pulling him with me. “Let’s go. I think we’re spending the day in bed, which’ll be easy since we’ve got all this food ready when we get hungry.”

  He growled more as I pulled him towards the bedroom.

  Chapter 10: Matt

  Sweat collected on the palms of my hand and under my arms. I was driving to the rink with the AC on and even though it was chilly out, I was still sweating like a silly teenager on a first date. It felt ridiculous.

  On the other hand, I had good reason to sweat. I’d thought for a couple weeks about how to get this done right. Leo’d been so great as I worked through all the crap with my dad after I’d given notice. It was time to move forward to the next part of the plan and make sure Leo knew I was in this forever.

  The rink seemed the perfect place to do it. I bought out the eight o’clock time slot, since it was right around eight when we’d first met. The rest of the rink would be busy, but we’d have the original sheet of ice to ourselves.

  I only had one trip left to Miami, and it was set for next week. I’d go down to transition a few last things over to Margaret and then I’d come back and finish up in the office. Dad was pissed, but didn’t try to talk me out of it, either. Maybe he hoped I’d change my mind.

  That wasn’t going to happen.

  I arrived at the rink with ten minutes to spare. The lot was about half full, not surprising given the adult leagues were playing. I didn’t see Leo’s car, which was good, as I wanted to be in the rink and in my skates before he showed up. I also wanted the music plugged in and playing.

  My nerves were rattling for no reason. He was going to say yes. He’d made that clear. I had no doubt he’d like the way I was proposing, too. It was kinda perfect. Hockey had always played such a large role in our lives, so the rink made the most sense.

  As I walked in holding two pairs of skates and a picnic basket, Jarrod met me. It helped knowing the manager of the place.

  “It’s all yours, Matt. You’ll be left alone until nine-fifteen. Good luck.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  The rink was in half-light, which was perfect. If it’d been a roller rink, I’d have had them add some disco lighting, but here it was full light, half-light, or nothing. At least half gave some ambience.

  My phone buzzed, letting me know I had a text from Leo: I’m here. Where are you?

  Rink Two. In the first row of bleachers.

  I tucked the basket away where he couldn’t see it. It wasn’t time for that yet. I quickly got into my skates since I knew he’d be here in seconds.

  “Hello?”

  “Here.” I stood up.

  “It’s darker in here than I’m used to,” he said as he approached. “You’re in skates? Was I supposed to bring skates?”

  I held his up so he could see. “Taken care of.”

  He looked surprised and delighted, which was exactly what I wanted. “What’s the occasion?”

  “Random weeknight skate. I figured why not?”

  “I like it.”

  Leo sat down and quickly laced up as I sprinted across the ice to the scorekeeper’s area to cue up the playlist. The music wasn’t so loud that we couldn’t hear ourselves talk. I hadn’t yet decided when to pop the question. I hoped I’d just find a natural moment to do it.

  Leo joined me on the ice before I got back to the bleachers.

  “Great song,” he said. “I haven’t heard this in forever.”

  I didn’t tell him when the last time he’d heard it might be. It was Christina Aguilera’s “Let There Be Love.” It was the first song we danced to. Even though that was a decade ago, the moment was burned into my brain. I took his hand and we skated around the circle.

  “I can’t believe that as much hockey as we’ve played together,” he continued, “that we’ve never gone just skating.”

  “Right?” I said.

  “Hell, I can’t remember the last time I’ve skated without a stick in my hand. This is kinda…” He stopped talking and looked at me. “Wait a minute. I know this. We danced to it. Maybe the first dance.”

  Instant goosebumps spread across my already sweaty skin. I didn’t know how he was not grossed out by my hand. It had to be clammy.

  “Exactly. It seemed appropriate since this is sort of dancing.”

  He raised an eyebrow at me. I spun around backwards and skated in front of him and took his other hand. Carefully I drew him closer to me.

  Luckily he played along and didn’t make it too difficult. He continued forward as I went backward. I finally added in some movement to the rhythm and he followed along.

  “Better?” I asked.

  I hadn’t felt like this in a long time. Happiness radiated through me.

  “Yeah. You’re kinda surprising. Not just a mid-week skate, but dancing, too.”

  As the song shifted to something slower, I released his hands and spun around so I could skate next to him. We were shoulder to shoulder, skating around the oval, with a little bit of sway to match the Kelly Clarkson song.

  “Did you pull the whole playlist from that night?” Leo asked. “I remember this one, too.”

  “A lot of it, yeah. It was an important night.” Leo smiled and squeezed my hand as I answered. “Just like this is an important night.”

  “Really?” He looked confused.

  This was the moment. It had to be. It was even a good song to do it to. I brought us to a stop near the bench that we’d shared for that game ten years earlier. I stepped on to the bench. He looked at me for a moment like I’d lost my mind.

  “Come on,” I said and reached out for him.

  The look of confusion remained, but he did as I asked. I moved us along between the boards and the bench and finally sat down in the same spot we’d been in that night. It occurred to me that I hadn’t left myself enough room to kneel down, so sitting would have to do. Some combination of nervousness and exciteme
nt rushed through me and I thought I might hyperventilate.

  “Leo, we met right here just over ten years ago.” My voice quivered as I spoke. “You sat down next to me after warm-ups and said ‘Hi. I’m Leo.’ It was as normal as anything.”

  “Oh my God,” Leo said quietly, a small smile on his face.

  He was clued in and that was okay. I needed to stay focused on what I wanted to say so I wouldn’t lose it. I took his hands into mine and pivoted more towards him.

  “We danced that night to these songs. We got to know each other on the phone and on a few dates in those months before you graduated. The years after that have been a whirlwind. I can’t believe it’s been a decade, but here we are.”

  I took a deep breath because it was time for the big question. I let his hands go as I fumbled in my jacket pocket for the ring box.

  “Leo Morris,” I said as I opened the box, “will you share the future with me as my husband?”

  My hand trembled as I took the thin gold band out of the box, but I didn’t drop it. He held out his hand so I could slip it onto his finger.

  “Yes,” he said very quietly. As if that wasn’t enough, he cleared his throat and yelled “Hell yes!” so it echoed through the rink.

  He hugged my neck and gave me a sloppy kiss on the lips.

  “I can’t believe you just did that. And here, too. I love you, Matty.”

  He looked at the ring, turning his hand as it glinted in the low light.

  “But I didn’t get you anything. We’ve got to get you a ring.”

  I held the open box out to him. “I took a play out of the Simon and Alex book.”

  He shook his head and smiled. “You thought of everything.”

  Leo placed the matching ring onto my finger.

  “Now we’re official,” I said. “I love you, Leo. Forever.”

  “Let’s make it even more official.”

  He pulled his phone from his jeans pocket and held it out. We positioned ourselves on the screen and held up our hands so the rings were visible.

  “Here we go.”

  He snapped off a couple of pictures and typed out a message and soon our engagement would be known by friends and family all over.

  “I don’t think you could’ve planned this better,” Leo said, pocketing his phone. Jason Mraz’ “I Won’t Give Up” came on. One of the songs we’d slow danced to. “Dance with me?”

  “Of course,” I said as we left the bench together. I went to push off to go around the oval, but he held me back. “What?”

  “Not skate. Dance.” He moved us towards the face off dot. “Right here.”

  He pulled me close and we moved as if we were on a dance floor and not a sheet of ice. Neither of us danced well, and this was very much like our slow dance of ten years before—holding on to each other and swaying. It was perfect, just like it had been then.

  As the song switched to up-tempo I silently kicked myself for not putting two slow songs together. Leo didn’t seem to care. He didn’t let me go and we acted like it was another ballad playing.

  “This is the most perfect night. Most perfect moment.” Leo whispered in my ear. “I kinda want to stay here forever.”

  “Just to let you know, there’s champagne, too.”

  “Oh, okay then. After this song,” he said, and I nodded in agreement.

  When the song finished, Leo lifted his head from my shoulder and looked at me. The piercing but loving gaze spread a warmth through me. I led us off the ice and revealed the basket with the champagne that I’d put out of sight.

  “You really thought of everything,” Leo said.

  “I tried.”

  “I’m so happy you asked,” Leo said as I handed him a glass. “You know it’s been on my mind lately, but I wasn’t sure if it was the right time.”

  “It’s one of the many things that makes me love you so much. You know when to give me the time I need.”

  I unwrapped the foil from the champagne cork and, holding it tight, I twisted the bottle to gently release the cork. The satisfying “pop” made me jump because it was so loud. Vapor rose from the champagne bottle and I was proud that I didn’t lose a drop or send the cork flying. Leo held out the glasses as I poured.

  “To forever,” I said, taking a glass.

  “Forever.”

  We clinked glasses as Pink played.

  Bliss replaced my jitters. We were engaged and I wanted to run down the street shouting it out so everyone would know.

  “Skate some more?” I asked, once we’d finished our drink.

  He stood and reached for me. I let him pull me up and we headed back onto the ice and started making circles again.

  “I’m the happiest guy on the planet right now,” Leo said.

  “It was time to take the plunge. Now that it’s done, I’m not sure why I held out for so long. It’s like some missing piece has suddenly locked into place.”

  I got the sweetest smile as Leo looked over at me. “I feel it, too.”

  We skated until the Zamboni driver opened up the big doors. It was nice that he didn’t honk, which was the usual clue that time was up. As we packed up, the lights came up to full brightness.

  We moved our celebration home, where we finished the champagne and spent the rest of the night indulging in each other.

  Chapter 11: Leo

  Being engaged was the best. I could only imagine what it’d be like once we tied the knot.

  It was just a few words from Matty, but it was like the world had shifted. We woke up in the morning like we always did. But the invisible connection that runs between us—that magic thing that makes me feel him even if he’s not next to me—seemed stronger than ever before.

  “When are you home tonight?” Matty asked as he was darting around our bedroom getting ready to start his last week of work. I was in bed watching him, since I didn’t have to be anywhere until ten.

  “Should be by six.”

  I repositioned so my head was at the foot of the bed, lying on top of the covers with my bare butt exposed.

  “Nice. Let’s go out to dinner and celebrate.”

  “Yes! Let’s keep the celebration rolling. Although I don’t know how we’d top last night.”

  Matty pulled on one of his dark blue shirts and grabbed a matching tie from the closet.

  “You realize I’ll want to rip that off of you tonight?” I asked.

  “Of course. Why do you think I picked it? I know it’s your favorite.”

  “You’re evil. Now I’m going to think about it all day.”

  I got on all fours and crawled to the edge of the bed. I was close enough to touch him as he knotted the tie, using the mirror over our dresser.

  “I could strip you now.”

  I peered around him so he could see my face in the mirror.

  “It’s so not fair you’re still in bed,” he said as he turned to face me. “Or that you’re naked.” He cupped my cock, which was rapidly growing. “Or that you’re getting hard.” He didn’t stop fondling me even as he said it wasn’t fair. “I’ve got to get going.”

  He leaned in and we kissed, which sent shivers through me.

  “It’s going to be a long day without you,” I said. “But I’ll make sure to save this.” I put my hand over his and helped with the grope. “Hopefully you’re not going to get tired of it before we’re all official and married.”

  “Unlikely. In fact, I plan to get a lot better acquainted with it.” He leaned down and planted a kiss on my hardness. “Now I’ve got to get out of here. I’ll see you at six and we’ll head out to dinner.”

  This time the kiss landed on my lips and we embraced.

  “See you tonight.”

  And he then was gone. I snuggled back under the covers, warm, happy, and excited about life.

  It was coming up on eight, early for most people even if they were getting ready for work. I knew the person I wanted to talk to would be awake, and probably on his way to work. I grabbed my phone from the n
ightstand and dialed.

  “Good morning, mister engaged,” Simon said after a single ring. “We loved the picture. You must be ridiculously happy.”

  “I am. I had no idea I’d be this happy. And the way he did it was crazy romantic.”

  I gave him the rundown of the night and got all quivery and excited again, almost as if I was reliving it.

  “I’m glad it finally happened.”

  “Me, too. Listen, important question time.” I paused and let that hang for a second. “You’ll be one of my best men, right?”

  “For sure. I’d be honored.”

  “I’m going to ask Alex, too, unless Matty wants Alex. I should talk to him about that. I’ll share Alex, but not you.”

  Simon chuckled. “You can share me if you need to. You’ve got two brothers to get up there with you, too. How’d they react?”

  “I honestly haven’t looked. I know the picture got all kinds of attention last night, but I haven’t read any of it.”

  “You called me first? I’m honored.”

  Simon and I had been through so much over the years that he was practically family. I loved my brothers, but Simon had a special place in my heart as a friend, confidant, and teammate that no one else had.

  “Best friends sometimes get the attention before family. I gotta call my parents, too. They’re not the best at keeping up with online stuff.”

  “I take it Matty’s figuring things out since he went ahead and proposed?”

  “Working on it,” I said, rolling out of bed and pulling on my sweatpants with one hand. “He quit his job so he can figure out what he wants. He’s even talking about us working together, which sounds pretty rockin’ to me.”

  “I love hearing you so happy. I was worried after Ben and Sam’s party.”

  “Me, too. Luckily we got our shit together.”

  The phone beeped, letting me know there was another call coming in. According to the screen it was Ben.

  “I should take this, it’s Ben.”

  “Okay. Later, Leo. Congrats.”

  “Thanks. Hugs to Alex.” I clicked over to the other call. “Benjamin!”

  “So you get engaged and don’t bother to call either of your brothers? What’s up with that?”