Alaska, With Love

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  “I’m ready, got all the stuff. “ Mark knelt down and Dakota trotted over to him. “I’m going to miss you ya know?” Mark ran his fingers through Dakota’s soft fur. “Josh and I will come back to see you and I’ll bring a nice big juicy steak.” Mark laughed when he got a lick up the side of his face.

  “ Okay well, we better get a move on before it gets dark.” Josh took Wayne’s hand and shook it tightly. “Thanks for the back up, I don’t know how you got the whole pack behind us but I won’t forget what you did for me and Mark.”

  “ I didn’t do anything.” Wayne smiled. “Dakota rallied the troops, ain’t that right Dakota?” Wayne winked at Dakota.

  “Bye Wayne.” Mark hugged him. “Take care of Dakota.” “ Will do,” Wayne winked. He watched as Josh and Mark took off on the snow mobile and sighed. He opened the cabin door and took his pack off, he grabbed jeans and a t-shirt out of the pack and smiled at the man standing next to him that had just been in the form of a wolf. “You did good Dakota, I’m damn proud of you.”

  Dakota smiled and grabbed the pants being offered. “Thanks Wayne.”

  ~~Chapter Ten~~ Mark was nervously watching the scenery fly by in the rental car. Well, not really scenery, Kansas was flat as a board. No mountains, just hills. It was cold too, the minute they had exited the airport in Manhattan the air had punched into his lungs. It wasn’t Alaska cold, but it was cold. The ground had a white dusting of snow as they drove down the freeway towards Milford Lake. Josh’s Mom owned a house out there and she had already been informed that Josh was bringing home a guest for Christmas. He just hadn’t said who.

  Mark wanted to chew his nails he was so nervous and he hadn’t done that since med school. What if she hated him? Worse, what if she blamed him for turning her son gay? Mark let out a loud sigh and felt Josh’s hand on his thigh. A soft gentle squeeze had Mark looking at the gorgeous man next to him. “What?”

  Stop it. I can hear your mind working a thousand miles “

  an hour. I don’t care what she thinks and I’m never giving you up, not for anything or anyone okay?”

  “ Okay,” Mark watched as they merged off of 1-70 and onto highway 77. The road was a two lane highway and Mark watched all the bait and tackle shops fly by along with the occasional gas station. The lake came into view and Mark looked at the water rippling, the sun casting a shimmer off the water. They drove another few miles before going over a bridge and then Josh finally turned off. Mark’s heart was beating in his throat as they passed a residential neighborhood and the end of the line was finally coming into view. Josh turned down a long driveway and then the house came into view. Surrounded by trees, the older Victorian home had been remolded and looked crisp and fresh. “It looks like something out of a magazine.”

  “ Thank you,” Josh smiled and took Mark’s hand. “I painted it a year ago.” They came around the circular driveway and Josh parked facing the way out. “Just in case you know,” Josh chuckled and took Mark’s face in his hands. “Don’t look like that, I was joking Mark. She’s going to love you.”

  Josh got out of the car and before Mark could even get his door open, Josh was there opening it for him. He put his hand out to Mark and Mark looked up into emerald green eyes and felt his heart beating hard in his chest. Josh’s eyes said that no matter what happened he would be there, by Mark’s side come hell or high water. He took Josh’s hand and they walked up to the front door, fingers threaded together. Mark took a deep breath and steeled himself for the worst possible scenario, either way he would be leaving with Josh by his side. “Okay, here goes nothing.”

  Josh knocked on the door of his Mother’s house and the door flew open. His mother’s eyes went wide with surprise and she looked over Mark. Josh held his breath as her eyes noticed their hands. “Hi Mom, this is my boyfriend Mark.”

  Mark smiled and hoped this wasn’t going to be bad. “Um, Josh. Catch her.” Josh grabbed his Mother before she hit the ground. “Christ Mom!” Josh picked her up and took her to the couch laying her down gently. Josh looked at Mark. “What the hell?”

  “ She fainted, where’s the bathroom?”

  “Bathroom?” Josh looked incredulous.

  “Yes, you know where people go to pee.” Mark rolled his eyes at Josh’s open mouthed look.

  “Down the hall to the left.” Mark found a washcloth in the bathroom and wet it with cold water, he made his way back out the living room and put it on Josh’s mother’s forehead. “What’s her name?”

  “Rebecca.” Mark looked down at Rebecca Montgomery and smiled. “I can see where you got your beautiful looks.” Mark cooled her cheeks and took a magazine off the coffee table to fan her. “I think she’s coming around. Rebecca, can you hear me? Do you have any pain anywhere? Numbness?”

  “Are you a doctor?” Rebecca opened her eyes looking at the man her son had brought home.

  Why yes, I am.” Mark smiled and helped her to sit up.“

  Rebecca looked at her son. “You landed a Doctor?” Josh rolled his eyes. “Mom really? This isn’t the best time for this. Are you okay? I am sorry I sprung this on you but I figured a phone call was a shitty idea.”

  “ Joshua Grant Montgomery! You watch your mouth.” Rebecca sat up and looked at the two men hovering over her.

  Mark looked at Josh and mouthed‘Grantheig?

  “Shut up,” Josh smiled at Mark and winked. “You okay Mom? Do you want a glass of water or something?” Rebecca sat back on the couch and smiled. “Yes, thank you that would be lovely.” Josh left the room and Rebecca turned her attentions to the man seated next to her. “My lord you are beautiful.” His eyes were a beautiful shade of blue and his skin almost looked like a porcelain dolls, the perfect shade of pink outlined his cupid bow lips. “No wonder my Joshua brought you home. He’s never brought anyone home.”

  Mark smiled and took her hand. Josh looked just like his Mother, emerald green eyes looked him over and her hair was a beautiful shade of blonde. Tendrils fell around framing her face. Mark realized what she had just said. “He’s never brought anyone home? Ever?”

  Rebecca smiled and took Mark’s hand. “I’m sorry if it looked like I didn’t approve. I was just a little taken aback when my son brought home a man. It never occurred to me that he would be gay, not with the lifestyle he’s led.”

  Mark had to smile he had never thought it was even possible that Josh could be gay. “When I first met him I didn’t think he was either, but then I hoped,” Mark felt the blush creeping into his face. “I never thought for one moment he’d be interested in me when I first saw him. He just screamed manly.”

  of water. He sat next to Mark and took his hand threading their fingers together. “So mom, now that you have met my other half what do you think of Mark?”

  “Why thank you,” Josh smiled bringing his Mom a glass Rebecca looked at her son, he looked so happy. His face glowed when he looked at Mark and his eyes sparkled. “I approve honey. He’s just beautiful and a doctor to boot.”

  “ He is isn’t he?” Josh caressed Mark’s cheek. “The second I laid eyes on him Mom, something changed inside me and I don’t know how to explain it but I knew somehow that I wanted Mark to be mine.”

  “ And I am.” Mark felt Josh pulling him into his side and nestled into him. Josh’s strong arms encircled him keeping him close, and safe.

  “ Well I’m glad you two are here for the holidays, are you staying for New Years?” Rebecca looked at her son and saw the smile on his lips. “I never agreed with your father on his views on gay’s honey, I just never argued with him about it. You could have told me you were a purple alien and I wouldn’t have batted an eyelash because I love you with all my heart honey. Nothing will ever change how I feel about you.” Rebecca took Mark’s hand and smiled at him. “I welcome you into our family Mark, you make Joshua very happy.”

  “ Thank you Mrs. Montgomery.” Mark smiled as Rebecca hugged him tight. He could have cried. His own parents had disowned him, turned their backs on him an
d here was Josh’s mom welcoming him into her life even though she had no idea her son was gay. The warmth of her touch had Mark holding back the tears. This was what he had been missing. Josh filled the void when nothing else had.

  “ Oh shush! You call me Rebecca.” Rebecca held Mark’s face in her hands. “With your looks and my son’s you better give me grandkids.”

  Josh spit his water out. “Mom!” “ I won’t hear of you not having children. You were both blessed with the beautiful gene and you must pass it on, you are too beautiful not to make babies. Now, I’m going to go check on dinner. Go wash your hands.”

  “Mom,” Josh rolled his eyes and sighed. He stood up and out his hand out to Mark. “Are you ready for dinner with the Mom?”

  “I sure am.” Mark smiled wide. ~~~ The next few days passed by in a blur of fishing, baking and hunting, which Mark had no idea how to hold a gun and his patience stalking deer was nil but all in all he was having a wonderful time with Josh and Rebecca. They had sat around the first night and Josh told his mother all about how they had met. Thankfully Josh had left out the really bad parts about Manuel. Mark was actually surprised that Rebecca knew what her son did for a living. She explained that Josh had always been honest with her and she had known he had been a sniper in the Army. Being an assassin wasn’t much different except for the pay.

  Christmas had them gathered around the tree as Mark looked through the photo album of Josh as a child, even then he was beautiful. They weren’t the traditional family either. Instead of gifts they did nice things for each other. Josh had painted the house and Rebecca had stopped bugging him to get married. That was last year, this year she was bugging him to get married. Mark had to smile, they fought like little kids. This was his family now. After dinner Mark and Josh helped clean up and then fell into bed at midnight. Even though they were allowed to sleep in the same bed together, Mark was keeping his dick in

  his pants. Theywerein Josh’s mother’s house for cryin’

  out loud. Josh, on the other hand was testing Mark’s limits of sanity.

  “Joshua Grant Montgomery!” Mark whispered. “Keep your fingers at your side.”

  “But, I wanna put my fingers in you.” Josh chuckled. Mark wrapped his arms around Josh’s neck. “You can kiss me.” “ Can I lick you?”

  “Joshua…” Mark growled playfully.

  “ Fuck that’s hot.” Josh whispered pulling Mark into his chest. “If kissing is all I can do, I’ll take it. I love kissing you.”

  Mark whimpered as Josh dove into his mouth, his dick wept in his briefs and the kiss became downright scorching. He broke for breath panting and looking into Josh’s eyes. “Holy shit.”

  “I’m just getting started.” Josh descended on Mark.

  ~~ They were out on the lake for New Year’s Eve; every star was out in the sky as Josh maneuvered the boat out to the middle of the lake. It seemed as if all of Kansas was out that night. Boats of all sizes were out and people whistled and hollered as the time grew closer to midnight.

  Josh looked at Mark’s face. He was looking up at the sky with a smile on his face. “Hey,” He said softly, his hand caressing Mark’s face. “Didn’t you say you wanted to take a cruise?”

  “ I did say that,” Mark smiled and wrapped his arms around Josh’s neck. “Are we going on a cruise to Alaska?”

  “ Yes we are, for our honeymoon.” Josh watched Mark’s eyes as the words registered. “I’m in love with you Mark Patterson and I would love it if you would do me the honor of becoming my husband.” Josh pulled the box out of his pocket and opened it, the platinum band sat on a bed of cotton. “I know we don’t give gifts for Christmas but you are mine this year.”

  Mark tried to form words but the shock of being proposed to on New Year’s eve had him fumbling, not only that but the words were coming out of Josh’s mouth. His brain kicked in screaming at his vocal chords.” I… Yes,” Mark sputtered. “I will marry you Josh Montgomery because you saved me in more ways than one. I love you, more than anything or anyone and I would love to spend the rest of my life in your arms.”

  Josh let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God, I thought you were going to say no.”

  Mark tilted his head and looked at Josh. “Are you nuts?” Josh smiled and picked Mark up in his arms kissing him hard and thoroughly until they were both out of breath. “Yeah, I am nuts for you.” The first firework went off sending a brilliant white light into the sky with a burst of blue. Josh wrapped his arms tightly around Mark and looked into his eyes. “When do you want to get married?”

  Anytime, anywhere Montgomery,”“

  ~~~The End~~~