“Mark, can I talk to you, please?”
“Well, we’re off to class. Later, Mark.” Damon grabbed Tyler’s hand and pulled him away.
Tyler sighed. “You’re always dragging me off just when things are about to get good.”
Damon pulled him in for a side hug. “Will it help if we sneak in a few kisses before class?”
“Now you’re talking!”
“What is it, Heather?” Mark leaned back further on the hood, trying to gauge her expression.
“Look, I just wanted to say I’m sorry about how things went down with Tanner. I never wanted to hurt you, and I’ve already hurt you once before with Damon. I hope that someday you can forgive me.”
“Look, I’m not mad at you, Heather. I met someone who makes me happy. So if you and Tanner are happy, then it’s all good.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Mark smiled and got up. “Well, off to class, and since school is almost over, I hope you have a good summer, Heather.”
“Thanks, Mark.” Heather sensed a presence behind her and glanced over her shoulder at Tanner.
“So? How did it go?” Tanner inquired.
“It went great. He’s not mad. He said something about meeting someone.”
“Really?” Tanner’s brows furrowed.
“Come on, we have class.” Heather took his hand.
~*~
Damon and Tyler arrived at the coffee shop first. They were meeting the rest of the guys there. One by one, everyone arrived and crowded into the booth. They were jabbering about the last day of school, and what their summer plans were. Tyler wanted to have a party at the house and swim in the pond. Stefan had already agreed to throw a party; he had left the date up to the kids.
“Your dads are so cool, Damon. Did you know they told me I had to be home by midnight?” Tyler laughed.
“Yep, that’s the standard curfew.”
“Yeah well, mine was eleven. I’ve got a whole extra hour to spend with you now.” Tyler smiled.
“Where are we going to go? We live together,” Damon laughed.
“We can do a horror marathon and fall asleep together.” Tyler waggled his eyebrows.
“Oh, you slut,” Damon laughed.
“So, what’s the news?” Mark asked Damon.
“Party at the Youngblood house — as always.” Damon winked.
“Big shocker!” Mark laughed.
“I hope you come, Paul,” Damon invited.
“Yep, right after I graduate.” Paul laughed.
“Oh fuck, that’s right!” Damon laughed. “Well, we’ll all be there.”
“Really?” Paul asked, astonished.
“Fuck yeah, we will.” Tyler affirmed.
“I know I’ll be there taking pictures.” Mark leaned into Paul, kissing his cheek.
“Awwwww.” Tyler smiled.
“Oh shut it, Tyler,” Mark chuckled.
They were laughing and trying to out-talk each other, so no one noticed when Tanner and Heather came in. They were hanging out at the counter, waiting to pick up their food.
Heather was watching Mark and Paul.
“Well, now we know who he met,” she announced, tilting her head toward a very happy Mark next to Paul.
“Paul? Jesus, he’ll chew Mark up and spit him out,” Tanner spat.
“Yeah, somehow I don’t think so, Tanner.” Heather observed Paul’s face when he looked at Mark. That wasn’t the face of someone using anyone.
“Whatever...” Tanner grabbed the bag of food Henry had put in front of him.
“Jealous much, Tanner?” Heather grinned.
“Oh stop it, Heather.” Tanner took her hand.
~*~
Paul was nervous; he readjusted his cap for the millionth time. He looked in the mirror and smiled when he saw Mark’s reflection.
“Hey, you.” Paul turned, grabbed him and kissed him.
“You look great!” Mark took a picture.
“Yeah? Bet you say that to all the guys in dresses.” Paul smiled.
“Nope, just you.” Mark kissed him softly. “And it’s a graduation gown, goofy. I’m more of a 1950s cocktail dress guy.” He hugged Paul one more time. “Good luck out there.”
Mark found his seat beside Damon and Tyler. He was shocked to find Stefan and Jordan there, along with Caleb and Heath.
“What are you all doing here?” Mark looked at them all in amazement.
“Paul’s graduating right?” Stefan smiled.
“Well, yes but…” Mark started.
“You’re part of this family, Mark, and if Paul is important to you, then he’s important to us,” Jordan agreed.
Mark discreetly wiped at his eyes. Damon’s family had always been there for him, now they were here for Paul, someone who had no family.
“I read about Paul. It’s sad that he lost his parents so young. They prosecuted his aunt for stealing his inheritance. He really has no one, Mark. But now he has you and he has us.” Stefan reached across and patted his hand.
“Thanks, Mr. Youngblood.”
They watched the graduation proceedings and all cheered and whistled when they called Paul’s name. He gave his valedictorian speech and Mark was shocked when Paul referred to him in the speech.
“I want to thank the one person who has made me a better person, who opened my eyes to so many new things, and made me feel again.”
Paul went on to name Mark, and finished his speech to a standing ovation from his class. They made their way down the bleachers to find him, smiling from ear to ear, surrounded by classmates.
He noticed Mark and grabbed him.
“Did you hear my speech?” Paul practically shouted.
“I did! I can’t believe you mentioned me.” Mark blushed.
Paul looked around at the people surrounding him. Stefan and Jordan hugged him and congratulated him on graduating with honors. Hugs smothered him from all directions and, for once, he felt like part of a family again.
They headed to the Youngbloods for the graduation/last day of school party. They had decorated the house, provided loads of food, and put out plenty of towels on the deck. The kids dashed off to the pond.
Stefan and Jordan were in the kitchen setting up the food and drinks.
“Wow, why do I feel like we have so many more kids?” Jordan chuckled.
“We keep adopting them somehow. You know, I looked at Paul’s bio. He is smart as hell. I could use him at Santorno.”
“Stefan…” Jordan warned.
“Hey, it’s an idea. I won’t push,” Stefan laughed.
Paul was standing by the pond watching everyone swim. He sensed Mark come up behind him.
“Hmm, not going in, huh?”
“Okay, don’t laugh — I can’t swim.”
“Really?” Mark asked astonished.
“Yeah.”
Mark grabbed his hand. “Come on, you’re going to learn how.”
“Mark…” Paul pulled him back.
“Don’t you trust me, Paul? I’d never let anything happen to you.”
Paul searched Mark’s eyes and saw the reassurance in them.
“Okay.”
Paul let Mark lead him to the water. When it got up to his chest, he started to panic and Mark’s arms came around him.
“Hey, I’m right here.” He guided Paul onto his back. He put his arms under Paul’s back and floated him. “Just relax.”
Paul lay on his back in the water, supported by Mark’s secure arms. He closed his eyes.
“Just breathe slowly and relax. You have to learn how to float on your back, okay?” Mark kept his hands steady; the tension slowly left the other man’s body.
Paul’s body suddenly felt different. He opened one eye to see Mark standing a few feet from him. “Am I?”
“Yep, you’re floating all on your own.” Mark grinned.
Paul planted his feet in the sand and grabbed Mark, hugging him tight. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“Come on! Let�
�s teach you some other stuff.” Mark practically bounced with excitement.
They spent the next hour in the pond, with Mark teaching Paul how to swim with no assistance. When they got to the deepest part, Paul kept an eye on Mark as they swam further out. They got to the other side and Paul was short of breath.
“Look at that! You swam all by yourself!” Mark enthused, smiling at the look of almost childlike wonder on Paul’s features. They pulled themselves onto the dock.
“Mark?” Paul twisted his hands.
“What is it?”
“I wanted to know…well…if you would consider dating me?” Paul smiled nervously.
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
“Well, dating me and only me.”
“So, like, exclusively?” Mark smiled. Inside he was beaming like the Cheshire Cat. He knew what Paul was saying; he just wanted to hear the actual words.
“Yeah, like boyfriends.” Paul closed his eyes and waited. Mark’s lips touched his and he brought his arms around him and pulled him in tight.
“I would love to be your boyfriend, Paul.” Mark smiled.
“Well I’m not going to lie, from time to time we’ll run into people I’ve slept with, but I want you to know I never felt for them…”
“What you feel for me?” Mark finished.
“Yes,” Paul breathed out.
“I’ll handle it, as long as I know you want to be with me, and only me.” Mark kissed him.
“I do, Mark. You mean a lot to me, and that’s not easy for me to say.”
“I know, but somehow you manage to say things to me, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Paul searched Mark’s eyes as his fingers trailed his jawline.
“I’ve never felt this way.”
Mark wrapped his arms around Paul’s neck. “Right back at ya.” He kissed him slowly, loving the feel of Paul’s strong hands at his waist.
“We should get back to the others.” Paul smiled.
“Yep, and you’re going to swim there all by yourself.”
Damon and Tyler were watching Paul and Mark at the far end of the pond. Heath and Caleb had joined them and turned their attention in that direction.
“Wow, Mark’s got some serious powers,” Heath observed.
“Huh?” Damon glanced over at his brother.
“Are you kidding? Paul Greystone? Even when we played them in football, Paul was ruthless. He never dated anyone seriously and he made it a point never to get involved with anyone. I heard the stories about him. But damn could he play football.”
“Is Mark safe with him?” Tyler asked.
“I think Mark is just fine. Paul is so far gone,” Heath laughed.
“I remember that look. I had it when I met Heath.” Caleb kissed Heath’s forehead and smacked his ass lightly.
“What do you mean?” Damon inquired.
“Paul is one hundred percent in love with Mark; he just hasn’t realized it yet.” Caleb smiled.
“How do you know?” Tyler watched Paul swimming back to shore.
“I just know.” Caleb took Heath’s hand.
Everyone cleaned up and made their way back into the house. Stefan and Jordan had bought a huge cake for Paul’s graduation. Mark loved that it looked like Paul might cry, but he pulled himself together and said thank you. When Stefan and Jordan hugged Paul, Mark glowed inside. He loved the look on Paul’s face; he looked at home.
Paul was in shock when there were gifts for him. He hadn’t expected anything, but they had all gotten him something. Damon’s father had actually offered him a job. It wasn’t huge, but it was a job, and Paul said he would think about it. The party wound down and Paul said his goodnights. He and Mark left and the rest of the family got busy cleaning the kitchen. Paul and Mark offered to stay and clean, but Stefan sent them on their way.
“Thanks, Dad, this was fun.” Damon hugged Stefan.
“It was good to see Mark so happy. I think Paul is good for him, and it seems Paul needed someone in his life. He’s been alone for four years; that’s a long time.” Stefan smiled sadly.
“Yeah, from what I hear of Paul, he hasn’t let anyone in since his parents died. I’m glad they found each other.” Damon was putting the silverware away after Tyler washed it.
“You guys head to bed, your father and I have this. You guys have an early morning wake up call for football camp, and we have to pick up Mark, too,” Jordan pointed out.
“Night, Dad.” Damon winked.
Chapter 8
Damon fell asleep quickly. Being active outside, swimming most of the afternoon had wiped him out. He awoke when a hand touched his chest and then lips pressed against his.
“Mmmm. Tyler?” Damon whispered.
“Well, if you’re expecting someone else, we need to talk,” Tyler laughed quietly. “Just wanted to kiss you goodnight.”
Damon pulled him on top of him. “Really? That’s all, huh?”
“Yep. Your dads are down the hall.”
Damon moved his hips against Tyler. Tyler’s dick hardened immediately and his own cock responded. Tyler rocked back and forth, licking Damon’s lips and sneaking inside to taste him. Both cocks had long since snuck out of the confines of their boxers and the skin-on-skin friction was driving Damon insane. They glued their lips together in an effort to keep the moans silent. They came together, mostly successful in remaining quiet.
“Dammit, now I have to clean up!” Damon joked.
Tyler grabbed a T-shirt off the floor. He cleaned Damon and then took care of himself.
“Goodnight, Damon.” Tyler smiled as he left.
“Night, Tyler.” Damon rolled over and smiled. They were leaving tomorrow for football camp, but at least they would be together. Mark had to go to camp without Paul.
~*~
Paul was absently running his fingers through Mark’s hair as they sat in bed in their boxers. Mark was tired. He was barely watching TV.
“Mark?”
“Mmm hmm?”
“I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too. I hope you can come visit me.”
“Oh, I will; you can count on it. I heard Tanner’s going, too.”
“Wait — you’re not worried are you?” Mark leaned back to meet Paul’s eyes.
“Should I be?”
Mark straddled Paul. “You have zero reason to worry. I want to be with you. Only you.”
“I trust you, Mark.”
“Make love to me, Paul,” Mark pleaded softly.
“Oh, Mark, I would love to. You have no idea how much, but I want us to wait. I know that sounds stupid, but you’re special to me. I don’t want us to rush it. Besides, you don’t have to sleep with me to convince me you want to be with me.”
“Really?” Mark searched his face.
“Yes. Really. When we make love, I want it to be everything you want it to be. So tell me your fantasy.” Paul settled back and waited.
“You’re going to think I’m stupid and girlie,” Mark laughed.
“No I won’t. Now, tell me.”
“Okay. I always thought my first time would be with glowing candles and soft music playing.” Mark searched Paul’s face from beneath his lashes. “You think it’s stupid, huh?”
“No, I don’t. And I promise I’ll do my best to make it that way for you.”
“You said when you ‘make love’ to me — you didn’t say ‘fuck’.” Mark’s cheeks heated as he said it.
“The way I feel about you, I wouldn’t fuck you, Mark. That comes after you make love for the first time. Then I’ll fuck you — everywhere.” Paul laughed.
“Aw, that’s so romantic.”
“I know. I’m a warm and fuzzy guy.” Paul winked.
“I’ll be turning eighteen soon. Maybe that can be my gift.”
“Hmmm.” Paul pushed Mark to his back. He ran his knee between his legs and across Mark’s crotch, and then pulled his boxers down.
“Fuck, Paul!” he croaked.
; Paul’s mouth suctioned the head of Mark’s dick, running down the length and twirling his tongue around the girth. Mark’s fingers grasped for purchase, his back arched and a bomb went off in his balls. His body shuddered as Paul drank greedily. He’d barely taken a breath when Paul’s lips covered his. A warm, salty tongue played with his own, sucking him softly. Paul finally broke the kiss and Mark pried his eyes open.
“Hey you, you need to go to sleep. You have an early morning.” Paul placed a kiss on Mark’s forehead.
“Okay, I’m going to cuddle with you,” Mark sighed softly.
“Oh, all right. If you must.” Paul sighed heavily for dramatic effect.
He eased Mark closer and wrapped him in his arms. Mark’s even breathing signaled the younger man’s sleep. Paul threaded his fingers in Mark’s soft hair with a smile.
“Night, Mark.”
~*~
They had been gone for almost a month and Mark was going crazy. Even though he talked to Paul every night, it was killing them being apart. To make matters worse, Tanner was flirting with him every day; it was starting to piss him off.
They had all headed to the lake after practice that day and Damon and Tyler started a water fight. Mark was splashing Damon relentlessly and Tyler was laughing his ass off, refusing to come to his aid.
“Oh, you think this shit is funny?” Damon tackled him and they went underwater, surfacing and spitting out lake water.
“Damon, you’re begging for it!” Tyler eyed Damon wickedly and he wiped water from his eyes.
“I thought you said I never had to beg!” Damon winked.
Someone shoved Mark from behind, sending him underwater. He came up and Tanner was inches from his face. Mark pushed him back and turned to get away from him. Tanner grabbed his hand and pulled him into his chest.
“Come on, Mark.” Tanner smiled seductively.
“Let go of me, Tanner.” Mark loosened Tanner’s grip and moved away.
Tanner grabbed him again pulled him in tight to his chest. “I know you miss me.”
Mark kneed him in the nuts. Water slowed the impact, but Tanner doubled over in pain nonetheless.
The Harder They Fall Page 9
