Of Love

by Sean Michael

  He heard loud cheering, someone chanting his name and then other people joining in. He raised his arms up, pumping the air before he started going down—he’d left everything on the racetrack.

  A bottle of water was pressed into his hand, a towel wrapped around his shoulders.

  “I’ve got you, Dex. You did so well.”

  He tried to open the bottle twice before he realized the cap was already off. Tilting the bottle, he poured the water down his throat and let Kent support him.

  His legs were like jelly. “Yeah?”

  “You amaze me.”

  Dex tried to give Kent a smile. He didn’t feel very amazing just at the moment. Kent stroked his back, touching him, petting him. He wanted to collapse, but he knew he needed to walk it out, to cool down. For his heart, for his muscles. It felt amazing, having Kent there for him.

  “How’d I place?” he asked.

  “I have no idea. I didn’t see a single person that wasn’t you.”

  He laughed breathlessly at that. “Hard one today.”

  “You did great, though. Perfect.”

  “Thanks, sweet. I’m glad you think so.” He’d worry about his time and placement later, when he had his breath back and he didn’t feel like collapsing in a heap. He knew the importance of keeping moving.

  “How can I help?” Kent asked.

  “This is great.” He was leaning on Kent as they walked, and for now that was keeping him upright. “Just gotta keep moving.”

  “You got it. Great job, by the way. You’re totally upright and moving.”

  He laughed again. “God, you make me happy, Kent.” It was the truth, the man did.

  Kent kissed his cheek, the touch featherlight. He was too tired, not to mention stinky, to return the kiss or turn it into more, but it made him smile and put a little extra into his walk. He was still a little wobbly-legged, but it was getting better.

  “More water, honey?” Kent asked.

  “Is there Gatorade?” He’d brought some, he thought.

  “Totally. You okay for me to run to the cooler?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I think I can stand on my own now.” He was still exhausted, but his legs were going to hold him.

  “Cool. Give me two shakes.”

  He grabbed Kent’s hand and shook twice.

  “Butthead.” Kent was laughing, though, smiling at him.

  He grinned back, holding the blanket closed around him as he kept slowly moving.

  Kent brought him a drink, opened it for him. He took down about half of it in one go. He felt it hit his belly and knew it would help his recovery, even if he hated the flavor.

  “Better?” Kent was right there, supporting his shaky ass.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I think I’ll live.”

  “Well, good. If you died in my car, you’d start to smell.”

  Dex laughed again. “That would suck. And I’d miss out on a fancy dinner with you.”

  “See? Fancy dinner, lots of candlelight and laughing.”

  “Sounds perfect.” And give him an hour and a shower and he would enjoy it.

  “Do you need to keep walking?”

  “Yeah, and I should pick up my end-of-race packet. Then we can go back to the hotel and I’ll shower.”

  “Sounds perfect. I’ll get the cooler loaded up,” Kent offered.

  “You rock.” Dex headed for the participants’ desk, moving better already.

  One of the young men behind the desk clapped for him. “Great job, Dex. You were looking good.”

  “Thanks, Jim.”

  The young volunteer was at most of the local and semilocal runs. “Do you happen to know where I placed?”

  “You came in at 3:35. Not bad.”

  No, but not good. Dex sighed. His head had not been where it should have been for days. Honestly, he needed to get over himself. Kent had his own life and was doing his own thing. Dex loved their friendship, loved being with the man. That was more than enough. It had to be, right?

  He liked Kent too much for it not to be.

  After picking up his paperwork, his finisher T-shirt, and his medal, he headed off toward where Kent had parked the car, still moving a little slowly. He needed a shower, a snack, and a predinner nap, he thought.

  He looked around for Kent. They had left the car this way, hadn’t they?

  Kent honked, waved. “I moved closer!”

  Oh thank God, he’d thought he was losing his mind. He waved back and headed for Kent’s SUV.

  He crawled in, and Kent handed him more water. “Drink up.”

  “You rock.” He took a good long gulp. “I’m glad we decided on the hotel and making a trip out of it.” It was an hour and a half or so home, but it felt good knowing that he’d be shower and napbound in a matter of minutes.

  “Yeah, this makes it a real celebration.” Kent was all smiles.

  “It does. I can’t wait for that shower.”

  Kent chuckled. “I bet. Thank goodness for valet service.”

  “Yeah. You gonna join me and wash my back?”

  “You know I will. You’re the king of the universe today.” Kent reached over, patted his leg.

  “You’re certainly making me feel like I am.”

  “I try.” Kent gave him another one of those quick, happy smiles.

  “You do better than try.”

  They pulled up at the hotel, and he got out, letting Kent deal with the cooler and the valet. It was damn nice not to have to worry about anything. He headed into the hotel, hit the button on the elevator, sort of moving on autopilot. Kent joined him just as the elevator arrived, and they got on together, taking it to the sixth floor.

  He followed when they got out, admiring Kent’s ass.

  Their room was at the end of the hall in an amazing suite with the world’s best private Jacuzzi. He couldn’t wait to have his shower, let Kent get him clean, and then melt into the hot tub.

  Kent managed to get the door open to their suite, even with the cooler. Oh man. He sucked, not even helping a little bit.

  “Sorry, sorry. I am just out of it.”

  “Huh? For what?” Kent shooed him. “Go get in the shower, and I’ll get the hot tub started.”

  “For letting you deal with everything on your own—I couldn’t even open the door for you!”

  “You ran a million miles.”

  “A million and one. And I swam for a million more. The biking doesn’t count, it was barely any work.” It was the easiest of the three parts of the race.

  “There you go.” Kent patted his ass. “Go on, honey. I’ll be right in.”

  Dex stole a kiss, then went in and started the shower, which was about twice the size of his at home. Awesome.

  It felt amazing to stand under the hot water, let it beat down on his tired muscles.

  The scent of soap hit his nostrils before he heard the shower door close. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” He turned and leaned back against the tile, finding a warm smile for Kent.

  “So proud of you.” Kent rubbed the little hotel bar of soap between his hands, making suds.

  “Thanks, sweet. That means a lot.”

  “It’s true.” Kent began to wash him, hands sliding over his skin.

  Moaning at the touches, he simply leaned back and enjoyed it. “I’ll do you next time,” he promised.

  “Shh. Just let me love on you.”

  “I can do that.” His eyes fell almost closed as he watched Kent.

  The touches were steady and gentle, not demanding anything but peace and ease. He let his eyes drift completely closed, letting Kent make him feel good. There was nothing sexual about the hands on him, but he found them as necessary as any touch he’d ever had. A low moan bubbled out of him as his muscles all relaxed beneath Kent’s gentle ministrations.

  “Mmm. Better,” murmured Kent. “There you go.”

  The water felt amazing, the heat and pressure perfect. “Yeah. Yeah, thank you. You’re hired.”

  “Woo-hoo!” Kent’s lit
tle cheer cracked him up.

  He took hold of Kent’s arm and tugged him close, stealing a lazy kiss. “I honestly feel better now than I ever do after a race.”

  “Well, you deserve a little care, huh?”

  “I’m serious. I’m going to bring you to all my races.” It was awesome, having Kent here with him.

  “Sounds perfect. I can lather you up and hose you down.”

  “Oh yeah, baby.” Laughing, he gave Kent a kiss. “Now somebody promised me a nap and dinner.” Although technically dinner had been his idea.

  “You got it, running man.” Kent kissed him back, then turned off the water, started to dry him.

  Even though he knew he should help Kent out, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to let Kent pamper him. He’d get the guy next time Kent had a bad day. Kent didn’t seem concerned at all. He honestly could get used to this. Totally.

  They moved from the bathroom into the hotel room, and Kent turned back the covers, tucking him in with a kiss. Oh yeah. Totally.

  “Rest for me. I’m going to sit here and play Candy Crush,” Kent told him.

  Dex started chuckling. Of course candy hound Kent would be a fan of Candy Crush. He was still chuckling as he fell asleep.

  Chapter Ten

  “SO ARE you still dating Dex?” His sister Kari poured him another cup of coffee, her hair dyed a shade darker than his more-blond-than-red hair. Their eyes, though, they were the same weird brown, the color of sherry.

  Kent had to wonder if his baby’s eyes would be the same or a darker brown like its mom’s.

  “Yeah. He’s a good guy.”

  “So he’s on board with the whole baby-daddy thing?” she asked.

  “Not even a little bit.” He wasn’t lying to himself; he knew better. Dex never asked about the baby, about Liz. It had been two months, and they never spoke about it. Not even when they’d gone to the big Thanksgiving Triathlon in California together. That had been Dex in training mode, then running, recovering, and two whirlwind days of sightseeing. It had actually been a lot of fun.

  “Oh, honey….” He could see her trying to come up with what to say.

  “Shh. It’s cool. We’re having a good time. It’s not like we’re going to be a family or anything. He’s a friend with benefits. That’s all.” And that was okay. It really had to be.

  She gave him a look. “I saw what your face did when I mentioned him, what it does whenever you talk about him.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, you old bitch.”

  His phone rang. Dex’s ringtone.

  “’Scuse me a sec, honey.” He grabbed his phone and his coffee cup and went to stand on the deck. “Hey, you.” Speak of the devil.

  “Hey, sweet.” Dex’s words sounded like a hug.

  “What’s up?”

  “I was thinking of you and decided I wanted to hear your voice.”

  “Oh.” How dear. “I’m having coffee with my silly sister.”

  “Do you have one who isn’t silly?”

  “Nope. Just this one.”

  The girls came into the backyard, waving and carrying Hula-Hoops.

  Dex chuckled. “I didn’t think so. You busy tonight? I wanted to take a drive out to the Greenford River, check out their water entry for that race in May. Signup opens tomorrow, and I want a good idea of what I’ll be getting into before putting my name down.”

  “I’m not. You want me to pick you up in an hour or so?” That would give him time to say his good-byes, finish his coffee, and they could still hit the river as well as stop somewhere for supper.

  “Oh, that’d be perfect. There’s a restaurant out near Greenford I wanted to try, and the timing should work well.”

  “Perfect. I’ll be there in a bit.” He felt a happy warmth fill him. Dex made him happy, simple as that.

  “Cool. I can’t wait to see you.”

  Like they hadn’t had a lazy afternoon in bed together just yesterday. Still, he got what Dex meant. He was in love. Stupid, because this love affair had another five months, tops, and it would be over, but there it was.

  “There’s a nice little shopping area there too. Open late now for Christmas shoppers. We could fit the bill, eh?” suggested Dex.

  “Sounds like a plan. See you.”

  “Bye, sweet. ’Til later.”

  Kari was standing outside, leaning against the wall. “You could have put on a coat.”

  For some reason—possibly Dex related—Kent didn’t feel the cold at all.

  She grinned. “And you’re making that face again.”

  “What face?”

  “That goofy I’m-in-love face,” she told him.

  “Don’t be silly.”

  “I’m not. You need to be careful, honey. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “That’s inevitable.” If he’d known Dex before… but he hadn’t, and this was his baby; he wasn’t changing his mind about having it.

  She came over and hugged him hard. “You should talk to him, convince him to get on board.”

  “Oh, lady, you know better than that. You can’t make someone who doesn’t like kids want one. That’s just a heartache waiting to happen.”

  Hell, he needed to make sure Elizabeth was still on for the ultrasound Friday. She said the doctor was insisting that he come, and God knew, he wanted to see his baby. The doctor had had an emergency just before her nine-week appointment, after which he’d been away on business, Elizabeth’s kids had gotten sick. Then she herself had, and so they hadn’t been able to schedule the replacement ultrasound until now.

  “I just don’t want to see you hurt, brother.” She sounded fierce.

  “Me either.” Still, it was what it was.

  She patted his cheeks. “It’s too late anyway. You feel what you feel.”

  “I do. Friday is the ultrasound. Expect pictures.”

  “I will. I’m ready to see my niece or nephew!”

  Then she turned to shout, “Girls! Come say good-bye to your uncle Kent!”

  “Bye!” They waved, but they were busy playing, talking about snow and dolls and gymnastics.

  Chuckling, Kari gave him a kiss and sent him on his way.

  Kent headed off, looking at the sky. Yeah, it did look like snow. Very cool. That could lead to a romantic walk. Did fuck buddies do romance? Well, they must, because he and Dex had romance in spades.

  Maybe this was supposed to hold him until the baby was old enough for him to date again. Maybe they were just supposed to be friends, like genuinely friends, forever. That worked okay. It wasn’t great, but it didn’t suck.

  When he pulled up in front of Dex’s place, Dex was right there, bounding out of his building and climbing in. “Hey, sweet. Mmm, you’re looking edible.”

  “Hey, you. How goes it?” He admired Dex. Fine fucking man.

  “Great. Especially now.”

  Kent leaned over the console for a kiss. “Let’s go check out your entrance.” That had come out sounding perverse.

  Dex obviously thought so too, dissolving into laughter. Kent rolled his eyes, cackling along with Dex, tickled as all get out.

  “So how’s your sister?” Dex asked when their laughter had died down.

  “Fine. She’s happy, busy. Just like always.”

  “Cool. You spending Christmas with them?” The words were super casual.

  “We do Christmas Eve with the whole family, and then Christmas is quiet. Do you have plans?” Would you maybe like to come?

  “Nope. I was hoping to maybe spend time with you.”

  “Well, then. You’re welcome to spend the evening with the crazy folks and then come home with me.” Kent would love that, even if it meant he was digging himself in deeper.

  “Yeah? I wouldn’t be intruding?” Dex asked.

  “At my folks’? Nah. They’re neat.” And utterly desperate to meet Dex.

  “Yeah? Okay, cool. You’re going to have to tell me who all will be there and what they’d like.”

  “Sure. W
e have time.” He needed to get a little tree for his place if Dex was coming over. Put it up and buy some decorations. Maybe he’d just hire someone.

  “Yeah. I don’t usually do much for the holidays. It’ll be nice to do something different, more holiday-ish.”

  “You don’t hang with your mom?” He knew Dex and his mom weren’t that close, but it was Christmas after all.

  “We’re bigger on New Year’s than Christmas. Back to that no money thing, you know? Like my birthday, it was just easier to downplay it.”

  “Ah, right.” He didn’t get it, but whatever. They’d never been poor. Not rich, just comfortable. Now that he was wealthy, it was way more fun.

  “We could start our own traditions,” Dex suggested.

  Could it be a tradition for only one year? “We totally could.”

  “Excellent.” Dex plugged something into the GPS. “Okay, this should get us exactly where we’re supposed to be.”

  “Rock on.” Kent found something easy on the radio and took off.

  “So who all is going to be at this family Christmas thing?” Dex asked.

  “My sister and her husband and their kids, Mom, Dad. My aunt Harriet and her partner Bessie.”

  “So that’s eight plus us?”

  “Yep. Lots of goodies, singing, silly cartoons, board games.” His folks were big kids, still.

  “Sound like a fun time.”

  “It should be.” His family wasn’t the big blowout at Christmas type. It was about getting together with the ones you loved.

  “Good, good. And then we get to have Christmas morning together.” Dex waggled his eyebrows.

  “All day long.” He chuckled softly, then made a turn, led by the GPS.

  “Yeah. Mmm. Long.” Dex chuckled. “Sorry, I’m feeling horny.”

  “Had a good day, did you?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I did.”

  “Excellent.” Kent headed away from the traffic, the city.

  “We could maybe find a place near the lake for the night…,” Dex suggested.

  “Somewhere with room service?” He could handle that. Totally.

  “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. Room service, a huge tub, and those fluffy bathrobes.”

  “Get on your phone, stud. Find us somewhere.”