Petrichor

by L. J. Hamlin

  Rowan’s throat feels tight. “You want to get married?” His heart feels caught in his throat.

  “Yeah, I do. Now that we finally can, I’d really like to. So will you? Will you marry me?”

  Ash actually moves so that he’s kneeling on one knee, and it’s stupidly romantic, and it makes Rowan’s stomach flutter like he’s a teenager again about to have his first kiss.

  “Yes, God yes. Of course, I’ll marry you.” He all but lunges at Ash, mashing their lips together, kissing him hungrily, and probably screwing up a few of the recipes from sprawling on top of them, but right now he couldn’t care less.

  Ash’s arms wrap around his waist, pulling him closer, fitting their bodies together, their kisses soft and sweet. Rowan feels them all the way down to his toes, and he pants out against Ash’s lips: “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, and I’m going to buy you a ring. I want everyone to know you’re mine.” Ash grins.

  “Won’t take a ring for me to be yours, but I’ll be more than happy to show the world that I’m yours. But like you said, the timing isn’t perfect with Gemma, so maybe we won’t tell anyone for a little while?” Rowan says.

  “Yeah, we should probably keep it a secret till after Gemma’s wedding,” Ash replies.

  “Wow, it’s going to be so weird, talking about weddings, helping with the planning, but not mentioning that we’re getting married, too. But I can keep a secret. My mom will go crazy when we tell her.” Rowan grins.

  “What do you say we leave these recipes till the morning and go to bed, fiancé,” Ash purrs.

  “Oh, say that last part again.” Rowan is shocked by how breathless his voice comes out.

  “Fiancé, my fiancé,” Ash chants, and then he grins.

  Grabbing the front of Ash’s T-shirt, Rowan drags him close and kisses the breath out of his lover, his fiancé. “Bed sounds good,” he says, smiling when he lets Ash go.

  “I’m glad you like me better than dessert research,” Ash laughs, his eyes bright with amusement.

  “You are better than any kind of research and definitely better than even a five-star dessert,” Rowan says happily, standing up, reaching out to take Ash’s hand to help him to his feet.

  They walk to their bedroom hand in hand. They move to the bed and start kissing gently. It’s late, and they have an early start at the bakery, but he can always make time for Ash, not just to have sex with him, but to be with him. Rowan strips off his own shirt and then reaches out to take off Ash’s. When they’re shirtless, he grabs Ash by the back of the neck and draws him close, kissing him hungrily, their chests pressing together, skin on skin making him moan.

  “I was so afraid you’d say no,” Ash admits as Rowan lies back on the bed.

  “Fuck, Ash, I’d never say no to that. I’ve been in love with you since I was nineteen…Of course I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I kind of wish I’d had the balls to ask you first, but I don’t really care. I’m just glad we’re engaged.” He reaches out and strokes Ash’s chest, up and down over smooth skin, and then to the silky trail of hair—soft and coppery—that starts at his nipples and leads all the way down to his cock. He loves the way the curls feel under his hand.

  “I know we don’t need a ring and a piece of paper to promise each other forever, but I want it, so thank you for saying yes.” Ash leans in and kisses him.

  “You’re never getting rid of me,” Rowan says.

  “Good,” Ash grins.

  “Get the lube out.” Rowan unzips his jeans and wiggles out of them, throwing them on the floor. Normally he’s pretty tidy, but right now he’s not worried about a little mess. By the time Ash has got the lube out of the drawer, Rowan has ditched his underwear as well.

  Ash drops the lube beside him on the bed and strips off the rest of his own cloths, leaving them in a pile on the floor alongside Rowan’s. Ash kneels above him on the bed, kissing him deeply, their bodies moving together in a slow rhythm as they work each other up.

  Pleasure sparks beneath his skin everywhere Ash touches him. They kiss deeply, their cocks pressing together. Rowan groans into the kiss, wanting more, but at the same time not wanting to rush. If they rush, this will be over too soon, and he doesn’t want this to end yet. He doesn’t care if he’s exhausted in the morning, with huge bags under his eyes—it’ll be worth it.

  “Touch me,” Rowan moans.

  “I am touching you,” Ash replies.

  “You know what I mean. Get your fingers in my ass,” Rowan says.

  “I love it when you get all bossy in bed.” Ash grins, but he opens the tube of lube and slicks up his fingers, kneeling between Rowan’s legs.

  “But not when I get bossy out of bed?” Rowan asks with a laugh.

  “You can tell me what to do whenever you want,” Ash says, his slick fingers circling Rowan’s hole, teasing gently, and Rowan’s breath hitches and he squirms a little bit.

  Ash pushes in two fingers slowly because they had made love in the shower when they had gotten home from work, covered in flour and cocoa powder. Rowan moans, arching into the touch, gasping when Ash hits his prostate dead on, rubbing over the gland and sending sparks of intense pleasure all through his body.

  “Yeah, you always make me feel so fucking good,” Rowan says. He can get pretty vocal in bed, but Ash never seems to mind, and in fact encourages it.

  “You always feel fantastic,” Ash says as he pushes a third finger in beside the first two.

  Groaning loudly, his hips buck into the touch, trying to take more, wanting more. He can never get enough of Ash’s touch, of the stretch of Ash opening him up.

  “I don’t need any more prep—just get inside of me,” Rowan begs. He’s impatient, but he doesn’t care because Ash is his, and Rowan desperately wants him.

  “Okay, just wait a second.” Ash squirts more lube onto his hand and coats his cock with it before tossing the lube away from them. His hands rest lightly on Rowan’s hips, his knees spreading Rowan’s legs wide.

  Ash presses inside of him, the blunt head of his cock spearing him open—the ache, the pleasure—Rowan loves every part of Ash working his cock inside of him, he always has. He clutches at Ash’s back, holding him close and rocking his hips up into Ash’s thrust, taking every inch that Ash presses into him.

  “Fuck me,” Rowan groans.

  “I thought I was,” Ash says with the cutest fucking smile that Rowan has ever seen. He has to reach up and kiss it off of Ash’s lips.

  “You’re fucking adorable, but no more jokes, just move. I need you,” Rowan pants.

  Ash grips his hips tighter and pushes Rowan’s legs so that they are closer to his chest, almost bending him in half. This sets Ash’s cock even deeper inside of him and he can’t hold in the choked-off moan that spills from his lips. He loves this, the pleasure, the closeness. He never knew letting another person into his body could mean so much to him, not until he started sleeping with Ash.

  “So tight,” Ash moans, thrusting smoothly in and out of Rowan’s body. Ash always seems to know just what Rowan needs and everything he likes—he knows Rowan’s body so well, has learnt it as well as he has any recipe.

  “Kiss me,” Rowan pants.

  Ash moves closer, fucking Rowan with his tongue in the same rhythm as he is fucking Rowan with his cock. Fast and dominating, consuming Rowan completely.

  They move together, kissing and touching, their bodies joined. Rowan moans into the kiss, his hips thrusting, his cock desperate for friction, and like Ash knows, his hand comes to circle Rowan’s cock, jacking him steadily, sending shock waves of pleasure through Rowan’s body.

  “Oh God, Ash,” Rowan gasps out as he rushes closer to climax. His nails dig into Ash’s back, probably leaving marks, but Ash won’t care. He never does.

  “Come for me. I want to feel you come,” Ash growls out, and the gravely tone of his voice goes straight to Rowan’s cock and he comes hard, warm seed spilling between them, running down Ash’s fingers. He s
lows his hand, gentling his touches to draw out the pleasure for Rowan, but he’s always careful not to over stimulate. Ash has always been a generous lover, always manages to blow Rowan’s mind, and he’s still panting, body shaking a little from the pleasure when Ash comes. They have been having sex bareback for years, but Rowan has never quite got used to the shock of the way it feels to have Ash come inside of him without a barrier. Rowan has never had sex without a condom with anyone else. He knows he was Ash’s first lover, and if he has anything to say about it, he will be Ash’s only lover, his last lover.

  “I love you so much,” Rowan says softly, his heart feeling almost too full for his chest. He is so lucky. He found a man to love, who loves him back, a man he can share his life with, share his every passion with, including baking.

  “I love you too.” Ash kisses him sweetly. His heart still flutters, just like it did the first time they kissed.

  * * * *

  “Why, why, why, did I ever agree to make cupcakes for forty-five people?” Rowan asks, rubbing some flour off his arm and looking around his mess of a kitchen.

  Their work day is over, and Gemma’s engagement party is tomorrow, so they have made a start on the cupcakes for the party, which after a day of baking from dawn, the last thing he wants to see is more dough and icing.

  “Because you’re a nice big brother and a soft touch,” Ash says as he grins, holding a big bowl in the crook of his arm and whisking the egg whites inside.

  “At least no one had any special dietary requirements. No vegan’s, no allergies, nothing to stress about there. And Gemma liked my idea for a vanilla cupcake with strawberry frosting, but this is driving me mad. And I hate that you’ve worked all day and now you’re stuck here with me baking more.” Rowan groans.

  “She’s my family too. I really don’t mind, Rowan.” Ash puts down his bowl and comes in to claim a quick kiss before grabbing the mixing bowl and whisk again.

  “I think my Mom suspects…She says we’re way too happy for two people busy with their own small business. Apparently we should be stressed out all the time and gray by now.” Rowan grins. He wants this to be perfect for everyone, especially for his sister, so it is stressing him out, but at the same time, he’s happy to do it.

  “And what did you say?” Ash asks.

  “I told her the sex had just been really good lately.” Rowan shrugs.

  “You did not say that to your Mother.” Ash gasps, his mouth hanging open in shock.

  “I did. She thought I was joking, which I kind of was, but the sex is always excellent.” Rowan laughs and then yelps when Ash spanks him with what he suspects is the spatula that had been laying off to the side. “No starting kinky sex in the kitchen…You know the rules.” Rowan laughs again.

  “Do you think most people have to actually make a rule about no sex at work? Or are we just really horny all the time?” Ash asks.

  “I’m sure we’re not the only people who have to make themselves resist having sex at work.” Rowan doesn’t think they’re doing it more than any other couple, but it’s not like he asks people about how often they have sex, even if a lot of their friends are pretty open about talking about their sex lives.

  “Okay, I’ll save the spanking for latter.” Ash grins.

  “Promises, promises,” Rowan says happily.

  They get the cupcake batter finished and put together, poured into the cupcake pans and into the oven. They clean the kitchen a bit while the cupcakes bake. While those are cooling, they go to work on the strawberry frosting, taking a few tastes to make sure it’s perfect. Rowan can’t resist using the spoon to smear a glob of the frosting onto Ash’s cheek.

  Ash wrinkles his face up, his nose scrunching up adorably, and Rowan laughs, moving close so that he can lick the frosting off Ash’s skin.

  “You said no sex in the kitchen,” Ash reminds him.

  “I couldn’t waste good frosting. Not my fault if it turned you on,” Rowan says with his best fake innocent expression, which he knows won’t fool Ash for a second.

  “We’ll have to make some frosting at home,” Ash suggests with a stupidly pleased smile on his face.

  Rowan goes to check on the cupcakes. Things never get boring between them, and he hopes like hell that fact never changes.

  The cupcakes are ready and he sets them out to cool. He snags one of the extras to taste, smiling when it proves to be light and fluffy and absolutely delicious.

  When they have finished eating a few, Rowan kisses the crumbs off of Ash’s face, cupping Ash’s cheeks gently in his hands, and knowing him, probably leaving flour all over Ash’s face.

  “Thank you for doing this with me and stopping me from going crazy with the planning and prep work. You’re the best,” Rowan says, his voice thick with gratitude. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “What are business partners and fiancés for?” Ash asks, pulling him into a long, lingering hug.

  Rowan pecks Ash one more time and then gets back to work. They talk while they wait and get the boxes for them ready. Then they frost the cupcakes, clean up, and store the cupcakes.

  They manage a quiet dinner and then they fall into bed, both exhausted from their long day. They don’t have enough energy to do more than cuddle up under the covers and fall asleep.

  * * * *

  “Everyone loves the cupcakes,” Rowan’s mother says happily, hugging him and then Ash.

  “You should have seen Rowan stressing about picking a recipe. I don’t think he ever would have chosen if I hadn’t made him.” Ash rolls his eyes, slipping his arm around Rowan’s waist and leaning against him a little. It’s been killing both of them not telling anyone about their engagement, but today is not their day. They will have one soon, though. A party for their friends and family, to celebrate their love, the fact that they are going to make yet another commitment to each other.

  “I wasn’t that bad,” Rowan says.

  “Do you believe that for a minute?” Ash asks.

  “Not one, my little perfectionist.” His mom smiles and kisses his cheek before leaving to go talk to the other guests.

  The party is being held in his parents’ house and garden, and the place is packed. Their family, obviously, the groom and his friends and family, and there are children everywhere, running around, most of them on a total sugar high.

  “I’m more than happy to bake for parties, but I’m glad this is over,” Ash says, his hand running gently over Rowan’s back. “I don’t like when you’re stressed.”

  “I loved doing it, but you’re right about it being nice that it’s over.”

  “Rowan, Ash!” Gemma comes bouncing over, looking beautiful in a pale blue dress, her hair pinned up elegantly.

  “Enjoying yourself?” Rowan asks.

  “Yes, and everyone loves the cupcakes. I cannot thank you enough,” Gemma says as her fiancé, David, comes over to join them.

  “They really are amazing.” David agrees.

  “Thank you.” Rowan grins.

  “We do what we can,” Ash says happily.

  “I’ve just had an amazing idea,” Gemma says, her smile so bright that Rowan is worried. Years as a big brother have taught him that when his sister smiles like that, he is in trouble.

  “What?” Rowan asks hesitantly.

  “You should make the wedding cake!”

  “Oh God.” Ash groans.

  “I’d love to.” Rowan smiles because what else is he going to do? He can’t say no to the people he loves.

  “Softy,” Ash says gently, kissing him sweetly.

  Lover’s Lane

  The last of the sun is beaming down on Danny’s back when he stops to look at his reflection in a store window, leaving him overheated. His hair is still perfect, though, even after a day of school. With his jet black locks greased back, white T-shirt and jeans, he looks a lot like the other greaser guys in his school. His mom says he’s handsome, but he prefers to think he’s tough, cool.

  He’s abo
ut to turn away from the store front when he catches sight of a group of guys heading toward him. Normally a group of greasers wouldn’t be an issue, but Timmy Raymond is leading the way.

  “Hey, I want to talk to you,” Timmy calls out, and Danny turns so he’s facing Timmy and his four friends, but he takes a step back, keeping some distance between them in case Timmy has a knife.

  “What’s going on?” Danny tries to sound casual, to show no fear, but he’s outnumbered. One-on-one in a fight with Timmy, maybe Danny could win. He could at least hold his own, come out of it mostly okay, but here and now, five guys, he’s going to get his ass kicked at best. They’ll probably put him in hospital for the rest of his senior year.

  “You know what’s going on. You slashed my wheels at school.” Timmy growls.

  Danny isn’t the one who did it, but he knows who the culprit is: his friend Adam, because Timmy was dating a girl he liked, a pretty little thing called Amy. Adam had bragged about it to Danny. But Danny isn’t a snitch. He’s not going to serve Adam up on a platter. Adam’s on the track team. He can’t afford to get hurt. Running might get him into college.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Danny says. “I haven’t been near your car. I don’t drive; I don’t even go into the student parking lot. I have no reason to. Why would I want to do that to your car? You’ve never done anything to me or my friends. I thought we were cool. Not buddies or anything, but no bad blood.”

  “I don’t know why you did it, shit head, but someone saw you near my car, and someone else heard you talking about it,” Timmy hisses.

  Danny doesn’t know what to say. It sounds like someone’s screwed him over, is setting him up, even. Danny is no angel. He’s probably pissed the wrong person off, and now they’ve decided to get even by setting Timmy and his friends on him.