Aftermath

by Bailey Bradford

  “Yeah, but just for a minute or two. Virginia will skin us both if we take any longer than that.”

  “It’d be worth it.”

  Darren thought it likely would but he wasn’t going to put it to a test. As soon as he got Lee inside the office, Darren pinned him to the wall—not the door, he wasn’t going to close that or all his not too dirty intentions would crumble under the weight of his desire for Lee. Darren grabbed handfuls of Lee’s hair and started a trail of nipping kisses from Lee’s lips to the base of his neck.

  “Let’s just get one thing clear,” Darren muttered between the kisses, “I’m the only one who gets to hear you beg.”

  Lee arched his neck and slid his hands over Darren’s backside. “Ah, got it. So if I beg you to lock the door and fuck me…”

  Darren bit the sweet spot under Lee’s ear, making his lover moan and writhe. “You’re trying to get me in trouble, aren’t you?”

  “I’m trying to get you in me!” Lee rubbed his groin against Darren’s. “Please? I swear I’m not gonna last two minutes anyway.”

  Darren smiled as he reached for the door. “Well, in that case…”

  * * * *

  Stefan watched Lee and Darren a lot, but not when they were having sex. That would be creepy and wrong. But he liked to see them and visit, and it made him happy to know they were so in love they practically glowed when they looked at each other. He’d wanted to know what that felt like and Johnny had tricked him and done horrible things to him. Stefan didn’t think he’d have been able to ever try the whole love thing with anyone else, even if Johnny hadn’t killed him. Maybe that’s why seeing Lee and Darren so happy together made Stefan happy, too.

  “Whatcha doing, Stef?”

  Stefan blinked and was able to focus on the blond man beside him. Conner was really cute and he was nice and sometimes mean in a funny way—like when he hid Laine’s hat or when he slapped someone on the butt. And Conner had made sure Johnny went to prison for killing Stefan, how amazing was that? Sometimes Stefan still had trouble wrapping his head around the fact he had such a good friend.

  “Let me guess, you were watching Lee and Darren and they snuck into the office for a little…” Conner waggled his eyebrows and Stefan giggled—and stared at Conner in shock. “Excellent, dude! I heard you make an actual noise! I knew you could do it! Let’s go give Laine and Severo a hard time, hopefully they aren’t busy— Oh! If they are, you can giggle! That would be hilarious!”

  Yeah, until Laine did the cussing and Severo did the yelling, although that could be funny, too. Just thinking about it made Stefan giggle again, which must have made Conner happy because he started laughing.

  “C’mon, Stef, let’s go have some fun!”

  Well, that sounded like an excellent plan to him. He’d some back and try his new skill out on Lee and Darren later—much later considering the sounds coming from the office. Darren was probably going to end up getting in trouble with his boss again. Or maybe not, he thought as he saw Virginia standing in the hallway with a huge smile on her face. She chuckled and headed off and Stefan decided he needed to do the same. His friend was waiting for him, wanting to spend time with him. How cool was that? Then a thought occurred to him that made him giggle from sheer happiness as he raced toward Conner.

  Life—the afterlife, Stefan corrected—was actually pretty awesome, and he really was one very lucky spirit.

  * * * *

  “You know, I’ve been thinking…” Lee began, letting the silence prickle at Darren until Darren couldn’t handle it. He always gave in and asked, even after almost a decade with Lee.

  “What have you been thinking?” Darren prodded, leaning back against the couch and propping his feet on Lee’s lap. “Rub my feet while you tell me, pretty please.”

  Lee snorted but began massaging Darren’s feet. “Well, you know how we said we’d discuss having kids?”

  Darren’s heart began to beat faster. “Uh huh.” It’d been a topic they’d danced around a few times in the past, neither one of them wanting to push the other on it. Darren studied Lee’s expression, looking for hints as to what he wanted to do.

  “Well,” Lee drawled. “I want to talk about it again.”

  “We didn’t rule it out,” Darren said. “It’s not like it’s a taboo subject.”

  “Right, but we haven’t decided anything, and I want…I want to decide.” Lee bit his bottom lip.

  “Decide—what? If we want to have a family? How we want to have a family?” Darren asked.

  Lee pressed on the arch of Darren’s foot and Darren groaned at the blissful sensation. “God, you know that’s my favorite spot when you do my feet.”

  “Yes.” Lee raised that foot and kissed Darren’s big toe.

  “Ick.” Darren tried to yank his foot back but Lee held tight. “I haven’t showered, and I was on my feet all day.”

  Lee waggled his eyebrows at Darren. “And I love a man who smells, hmmm, manly.”

  Darren laughed. “Manly, huh? I’ll remember to call my stinky feet odor masculine pleasure instead.”

  “You do that.” Lee kissed his toe again, then lowered Darren’s foot back down. “Since you changed the subject, does that mean you don’t want to talk about it?”

  Darren sighed and pulled his feet out of Lee’s lap. “No, it means what you were doing felt so good it was all I could think about. Now. No distractions. Let’s talk.”

  Lee cleared his throat then said, “Well, I think…I think we should go for it.”

  “Go for it which way?” Darren asked. He thought he knew, but clarification was key.

  “I want kids,” Lee blurted out, tensing up as if he thought Darren would object.

  Darren felt a bit lightheaded because his heart and pulse trebled. “Okay.”

  “Okay?” Lee repeated, blinking at him. “That’s it?”

  “Do you want me to argue?” Darren scooted closer and took Lee’s hands in his. “Why would I argue? I want what you want.”

  “Because I want it?”

  Darren bit his tongue to keep from laughing. The conversation wasn’t funny, but the question Lee had just tossed at him struck him as such. “Yes and no. Yes, because you want it, and no, because I want it, too, I just hadn’t decided when to broach the subject with you. We’ve been so busy lately, and I didn’t want to push.”

  “Am I?” Lee gently squeezed his hands. “Pushing? Am I pushing the matter?”

  “Neither of us are getting any younger, Lee,” Darren pointed out. “I think, if we want kids, we should get started on figuring out the how of that before we reach retirement.”

  “We’re not that old,” Lee grumbled.

  Darren winked at him. “But time flies. Ten years, Lee. We’ve been together almost ten years now, and it seems like only yesterday we found each other again.”

  “That’s true. Time flies when you’re happy.” Lee frowned. “Not that I’d rather be miserable and have time drag.”

  “No kidding. So.” Darren eased his hands from Lee’s and picked up his glass of sweet tea. He took a long drink then set the glass on the coaster. “So. What do you want to do?”

  Lee shrugged. “I haven’t gotten that far. I wanted to talk to you first and make sure this is what we both wanted. With what we know about the afterlife, I— Well, I wouldn’t assume anything on your part.”

  “What we know about the afterlife is that some people remain in this world on some level, and some don’t. Nothing we do or decide together will change that,” Darren added.

  “I’m aware.” Lee grimaced. “I didn’t mean that bitchy.”

  “I know. I’ll be right back.” Darren gotten up then went to get his laptop. He returned and sat down on the couch closer to Lee. “Let’s see what our most viable options are. The laws in this state aren’t going to be in our favor, I can guarantee you that.”

  “Okay.” Lee sounded so eager with just that one word.

  Together they read through as much information as they c
ould handle in one evening. With many of the courts in Texas refusing to allow an adoption to two parents of the same sex—only one could be listed as a parent—they risked having only one of them on any legal papers.

  “But it says in this article that it depends on the judge,” Lee pointed out. “I think we might be okay if we got Judge Ashe. She’s not bigoted, and if she can legally have us both listed as parents, she’ll do it.”

  “We need a lawyer to start with, I think,” Darren muttered. “I like the idea of adopting kids who are in foster care, giving them a good home. If—” He flinched a little but forced himself to go on. They needed to be very honest about what they wanted. “If you wanted to, I’d like to adopt more than one. Maybe siblings if we can?”

  “Age limits?” Lee responded with.

  Darren had no idea. “Um, not adults?”

  Lee laughed and gave him a one-armed hug. “Yeah, that’d be good. Come on, we’ve talked enough of this out tonight. Come take a shower with me so we can de-stink your feet.”

  “Hey,” Darren said. “What was all that about smelling like a man?”

  Lee winked at him and stood up. “You’ll be smelling like a clean man soon.”

  In the shower, Darren soon found himself pinned up against the wall.

  “Can I?” Lee asked, fondling Darren’s balls.

  “Anything,” Darren told him.

  Lee kissed him, licking Darren’s lips then sliding his tongue into Darren’s mouth. He cupped Darren’s jaw and canted his head to the side, then sucked on Darren’s bottom lip.

  Darren ran his hands over Lee’s wet skin, shivering with anticipation as he thought of Lee fucking him.

  “Gotta do this as often as we can, before we’re parents and exhausted from our kids’ antics,” Lee said.

  Darren agreed, though he didn’t speak since Lee turned him around to face the wall.

  “Brace yourself,” Lee warned. He moved the showerhead aside so the water didn’t touch them much. Then he grabbed the bottle of conditioner and opened it before pouring some into his hand. “Mmm. Coconut scented. Seems appropriate. Makes me think of the beach, and sex.”

  “You should get on with that sex part,” Darren teased.

  “Patience,” Lee replied. “And spread your cheeks for me.”

  Darren reached back and parted his buttocks, exposing his hole to Lee. Once, he’d have been shy about it, but Lee knew every inch of his body intimately, just as Darren knew Lee’s.

  “Sweet,” Lee murmured as he rubbed slick fingers over Darren’s hole. “So sweet.”

  “And sexy,” Darren reminded him. “Don’t forget sexy. Ungh!”

  “Of course.” Lee grinned and Darren closed his eyes as his hole was stretched quickly, Lee starting with two fingers. In short order, he was pulling them out and lining up his cock. “Can you put one foot on the side of the stall?”

  Darren lifted his right foot and propped it up. He arched his lower back and gave Lee his ass.

  Lee held him by the hip and the shoulder while thrusting in to the hilt.

  “Yes,” Darren hissed, wanting a hard, fast ride.

  Lee gave it to him, never once holding still. He withdrew almost completely then slammed back in, then did it again and again, until Darren lost track of everything but the way Lee’s dick filled him so perfectly, pushing more and more pleasure into him with each rub of Lee’s cockhead over his gland.

  When Lee reached around to fist Darren’s dick, Darren was unable to do more than keen, his body awash in the perfection of their lovemaking. He lasted all of a half dozen strokes, then he was coming, his body flushing hot with ecstasy as he jetted cum onto the wall and his belly.

  Lee growled and drove in faster. His balls slapped against Darren’s skin, then Lee clutched at him tightly. Darren felt each spurt of Lee’s spunk warming his inner walls. It was beautiful and perfect, and he wanted the moment to never end.

  And maybe, he realized, it didn’t have to end. What they had done was a part of a whole, the joining of their lives and love. He was turning into a sappy fool, but Darren didn’t mind it at all.

  * * * *

  “I’m so nervous I think I might puke,” Lee said, pressing a fist to his stomach. “I know everything’s been done, but still. I keep thinking, what if.” Those two words had haunted him this past week as the court date had drawn closer.

  “Everything’s going to be fine,” Darren said, taking hold of Lee’s left hand. “Judge Ashe loves us.”

  “Because you’ve charmed her.” Lee smiled at Darren. “You do that to everyone, though.”

  “Not everyone,” Darren scoffed mildly. “There are a few people who don’t see how awesome I am.”

  Lee knew Darren was joking, though Darren’s confidence had grown over the years. He wasn’t an egotistical man, though he had every right to be. “Well, those people are fatally flawed.”

  Darren laughed but cut it off short when their lawyer walked through into the courthouse.

  “Larry, how’s it going?” Lee shook Larry Aimes’ hand then stepped aside so Darren could do the same. Larry was a little older than Lee, gay, and an expert on adoptions for gay couples. He was expensive, but worth every penny as far as Lee was concerned.

  “It’s going great.” Larry beamed at them both, his teeth unnaturally white, just as his skin was too tanned, his hair too slick with product. But despite his appearance, he seemed to be a good man, just one who was perhaps fighting against aging a little too hard.

  “We’ve gotten the social worker bringing the girls in about five minutes. They’ll meet with Judge Ashe first, then we’ll all convene in the court room.” Larry checked his watch. “Ah. In three minutes. We’re fortunate that you both know Judge Ashe. I’d never met her until you hired me. Then again, I’d never heard of McKinton, Texas, either, and it’s not too far from Fort Worth.”

  “It’s a good place to live.” Lee loved it there.

  “A good place to raise a family,” Darren added. “Inez and Taylor will have as idyllic a childhood as possible.”

  Larry nodded. “Yes, I’m sure they will. Just remember, even idyllic childhoods include scratched knees and the occasional broken bone. Kids will be kids.”

  Since Larry had four kids of his own, he was the voice of authority amongst the three of them as they stood in the hallway, waiting to enter the courtroom.

  When the social worker, Terry Braden, arrived with Taylor and Inez, both girls called out happily to Darren and Lee. A bond had established between Lee, Darren and the girls, after more than five months of meetings and visits. At three and two, Inez and Taylor were smart, happy girls and Lee knew Darren loved them as much as he did.

  “Everything’s going to be fine,” Darren assured him. “Just fine.”

  And it was. The girls must have been very enthusiastic about having two dads, because Judge Ashe was glowing with joy as she signed off on their adoption, listing Lee and Darren both as parents. There might be some problems with that in certain places, but it’d be dealt with should the need arise.

  When Judge Ashe pronounced them dads, Lee couldn’t hold back the tears any more than Darren could. Taylor and Inez ran to them and Lee met Darren’s gaze as they each hugged their daughters.

  This is life, and love, and happiness. This is my family. “I love you,” Lee whispered, to Darren, Taylor and Inez. And he did, and would, forever.

  Also available from Pride Publishing:

  What’s his Passion?: Unexpected Moments

  Bailey Bradford

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  Carter tugged at his shirt cuffs. He shouldn’t have been as nervous as he was, but his heart fluttered and his pulse raced. He touched his tie. Reassured it was straight and that he was as attractive as possible, he entered the restaurant.

  The host glanced up at him and smiled warmly. “Good evening, sir. Are you meeting someone or dining alone?”

  Carter’s cheeks warmed. “Er, meeting someone. Carter
Hausemann is the name the reservation is under. Another gentleman, Mr. Canales, will be joining me shortly.” I hope.

  The host nodded. He ran his finger down a paper in front of him then checked Carter’s name off it. “There you are, right here. Very good, sir. I’m Rogelio and I’ll be seating you tonight. Follow me, please.”

  There was no reason for him to be so edgy. He’d spoken with Eddie the night before and confirmed their plans. Still, Carter kept thinking, what if. They didn’t really know each other, besides having had sex a few times.

  Spectacular sex. And we did talk during the hiking trip. Carter had been stunned to discover the park ranger leading the group on the hiking adventure was one of the same men he’d hooked up with for a threesome just a couple of days earlier—the one man he’d really been into during that fun little orgy. Yes, Eddie Canales was everything Carter wanted in a man—hopefully. Carter had no problem imagining the two of them hiking along the Appalachian Trail. That was his dream vacation, the one thing he was determined to do above all else. He’d love to share the experience with Eddie.

  “You could seat us both.”

  Carter turned and couldn’t keep back a smile when he saw Eddie standing there. “Hey, you made it.” He immediately felt like a fool for saying that. My insecurity must be showing. “You look good,” he added, before Eddie could respond.

  ‘Good’ was an understatement. Eddie was sexy as hell in a black suit and blue shirt. No tie for him, which was fine. Carter liked the dressy-casual attire on Eddie almost as much as he liked him in leather or naked. Not quite, though.

  “This way, sirs,” Rogelio said. “I have the perfect table for you.”

  Carter gestured and waited for Eddie to step in front of him. Eddie gave a slight shake of his head. “No, after you.” He leaned forward and whispered, “I want to watch you walk and see your cute ass move beneath that jacket. Think about what I’m gonna do to it, and you, later.”

  Carter sucked in a shaky breath as he flushed hot from his head to his feet. He couldn’t meet Eddie’s gaze or else his burgeoning erection might turn into a full-blown hard-on that even his suit jacket couldn’t hide. Carter stepped back then turned to follow Rogelio.