Better Have Heart

by Andy Gallo

  Isaiah leaned forward carefully and kissed Darren. “God, that was awesome. You’re awesome.”

  Another kiss, and he slowly moved up. They both drew ragged breaths as Darren’s cock eased out and dropped against his stomach.

  Isaiah rolled off to Darren’s left, and Darren wrapped his arm around him and hugged him close. Isaiah traced patterns in the pools of come on Darren’s torso.

  “You’re a mess.”

  “Totally worth it.” He grinned before kissing Isaiah again.

  Isaiah’s cock twitched. God, Darren could kiss the come out of him if he kept this up. “Yeah, totally.”

  Darren reached down and grabbed Isaiah’s mostly hard cock. “Almost ready to show me what I’m missing?”

  Isaiah, laughed, but didn’t move Darren’s hand. “Let’s give it a few minutes there, tiger. You need to recover first.”

  “Don’t you mean you need to recover?”

  “That too, but . . .” He grabbed Darren’s cock and pulled the condom off. Darren shuddered. “You’re still too sensitive for me to try. I don’t want to turn you against being versatile by rushing this.”

  “Is that right?”

  Isaiah snorted. “Yes, really. I want you to enjoy it so much you come back for more.”

  “So much neither of us can decide if we want to pitch or catch?”

  “Exactly.” Isaiah dropped the condom on the floor. “I want it all with you, Darren. Everything.”

  “Good.” He kissed Isaiah. “I want it all, too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Darren

  Darren stirred under the sheets, foot bumping against Isaiah’s heel. He blinked in the dark room. They’d fallen asleep.

  Moonlight leaked between the gaps in the curtains and over the bed. Isaiah hummed in his sleep, and Darren smiled. He looked so peaceful.

  Wriggling closer, cutting the gap between them, Darren propped himself on his arm and admired his boyfriend. When Isaiah murmured sleepily again, Darren bent down and dropped the softest kiss on his lips.

  He pulled away and rested back on his pillow—

  A hand shot out and palmed his chest over his nipple. “More.”

  Darren lifted a brow and curled over Isaiah, who still had his eyes shut, but his lips were twisted in a smile.

  Darren laughed and dropped another kiss on his lips.

  This time when he pulled back, Isaiah followed him, hands dancing over Darren’s body, waking him up in other ways.

  The heat of Isaiah’s naked body sliding against his sent Darren’s lust spiraling. Isaiah deepened their kisses and rubbed his hard cock against Darren’s. There was a question forming between them, and Darren trembled.

  This was Isaiah. He wanted this with him.

  Isaiah caught his gaze and held it. He spoke softly. “We don’t have to. There’s a thousand ways to get you off.”

  Darren raised his head off the pillow, jaw grazing Isaiah’s cheek, and whispered in Isaiah’s ear, “I want you to fuck me.”

  Isaiah’s breath hitched. He found the lube and a condom and kissed him with tantalizing promise.

  Darren surrendered to his touch, parting his legs, hooking a foot over Isaiah’s shoulder. Baring himself.

  Isaiah groaned a curse and slowly fingered lube into him. Too slowly.

  Each thrust of his finger felt incredible, and not enough. Darren eagerly helped Isaiah along, cocking his hips up, begging for more.

  God, Isaiah looked hot as hell between his thighs, his tattooed muscles flexing as he finger-fucked Darren with lube.

  Damn sexy.

  Isaiah lowered himself on him, and Darren plunged his tongue into his mouth, showing Isaiah just what he wanted.

  He gripped Isaiah’s waist and slid his hands toward Isaiah’s firm ass. He thrust against his stomach. “Please. I’m ready.”

  Arousal pulsed through him, and Isaiah nudged Darren’s thigh, spreading his legs further apart. Air funneled over his balls as Isaiah knelt between his legs, hurrying to open the condom and sheathe his cock. Adding lube, Isaiah lowered himself, all that warm skin pressing against Darren as he kissed him gently. The blunt, slippery head of Isaiah’s cock bumped teasingly against Darren’s lubed entrance.

  Darren cupped Isaiah’s cheeks and lifted his head into the kiss, deepening it.

  Isaiah whimpered and left frenzied kisses along the underside of his jaw. He paused at Darren’s ear, and his hot breath tickled. “You’re fucking amazing, Darren.”

  Isaiah reached for his cock and lined it up. He sank slowly into Darren, filling him. Darren dug his fingers against Isaiah’s ass as he rode through the burn.

  “Oh God, you feel so good,” Isaiah moaned. He held himself still, letting Darren grow accustomed to him.

  Darren’s cock flagged, and Isaiah gripped him. His warm hand steadily fisted his cock, and Darren groaned. He clenched around Isaiah and urged him to move. “Keep going.”

  Isaiah thrust gently, and Darren lifted his hips to meet him, needing more. He pinched Isaiah’s nipple, eliciting a soft, ragged curse. The sound spurred Darren on, and he did it again, harder.

  Isaiah surged into him needily. His thrusts quickened, and pleasure built in Darren every time Isaiah rubbed over his prostate.

  Their skin slapped together, the headboard rocked against the wall, and Darren gripped Isaiah’s sides, steering him to move harder. Faster.

  The air thickened. Moonlight shimmered over Isaiah, displaying his limber, flexing muscles. Darren’s cock rubbed against his stomach, and the friction added to the ache that rapidly mounted.

  “Fuck, I’m gonna come,” Darren moaned.

  “Me too.” Isaiah pounded into him.

  Darren cried out as his orgasm slammed into him. He came over Isaiah’s stomach as Isaiah thrust into him with a deep, guttural groan.

  Isaiah collapsed on top of Darren, warm and sweaty, Darren’s come mashed between them.

  “You felt incredible,” Isaiah whispered over Darren’s lips, still seated deep in him. “How are you feeling?”

  Darren kissed him. “Good.”

  “Like, how good?”

  “Like it’s definitely going to be hard to choose between pitching and catching.”

  Isaiah smiled into the kiss and pulled back just enough to look Darren in the eye. “That’s the perfect amount.”

  Isaiah

  After a midnight shower, another round of sex, and sleeping as the little spoon, Isaiah woke to an empty bed. Somewhere in the half-daze of early morning, he thought Darren had murmured to him.

  He didn’t understand the allure of getting up before the sun.

  He certainly didn’t understand the allure of leaving this enormous bed. It was easily the largest, most comfortable bed he’d ever slept in.

  Though, that might have had more to do with who he shared it with than the bed itself.

  Isaiah couldn’t imagine a better match. In or out of bed. They simply harmonized.

  Their suite door closed, and Isaiah rolled toward the bedroom door just as Darren stepped through.

  “Good morning,” Darren said cheerfully. His big smile made Isaiah forget the insanely early hour. “Feeling rested?”

  “You seem to forget how little we slept last night.”

  Darren chuckled. “Guilty, but in my defense, my boyfriend is hot as fuck.”

  Boyfriend. Isaiah liked the sound of that. He lounged back against the pillows with a contented sigh. “If this is a dream, don’t wake me.”

  “It’s definitely my dream come true. Now, up. Or we won’t have time to eat before class.”

  Isaiah groaned, but he was too happy to protest and rolled out of bed.

  Darren

  At the end of a delicious breakfast—made infinitely better by Isaiah’s delighted moans—Darren’s phone rang.

  It took him a moment to recognize his father’s ringtone.

  He shot up, earning a look from Isaiah. “My dad’s calling.”

  He struggled to
get the phone out of his pocket and answered, a slight break in his voice. “Hey, Dad.”

  “Good morning, Darren. How are you today?”

  He smiled so wide his cheek pressed against the screen. “Happy doesn’t begin to describe it.”

  “Well, good. Good.” His father paused for a beat. “I assume I didn’t wake you?”

  “Nah, been up for a while. We’re just eating before class.” We. He liked the sound of that.

  “I won’t keep you two long. Wouldn’t want you to be late.”

  Darren snorted. “No, you of all people wouldn’t stand for that.”

  “It’s a good habit—”

  “—to learn at an early age. Yes, I know. A certain father of mine made sure I got that.”

  “Yes, you did. If only I’d been more successful with Cody. Ah, well.”

  Darren felt giddy. He’d missed this more than he remembered. He waved his fingers at the food to encourage Isaiah to eat more. “What’s up, Dad?”

  “Your grandfather is already looking into the things you mentioned. It would be good if you don’t tell anyone what he’s doing. We don’t want to tip anyone off.”

  “Okay.”

  “He is going to want to talk to anyone who’s willing, so if you could get a list together and give it to him, he would appreciate it.”

  “I’ll get a list.”

  “The other two things are related. You mother and I are coming to your game on Friday.”

  His heart clenched. “Really?” he murmured. “That’s . . . awesome.”

  Isaiah beheld him curiously, mouthing “You okay?”

  Darren gave him a thumbs-up.

  His father cleared his throat. “I’m glad you’d want to see us. Me. But I know this doesn’t magically mend the bridges between us.”

  “It’s a start, Dad. I’m excited you’re coming.”

  “Good. We’d like to take you and Isaiah out to dinner on Saturday, too.” Emotion made his Dad’s voice ragged. “We always go out after the game. I want to restart that tradition. Also, we want to talk to Isaiah about our expectations for dating our son.”

  What the fuck? Darren nearly dropped the phone. “What?”

  His father snickered, and Darren growled. That brought on a full belly laugh. “Gotcha. We hope Isaiah can come.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, Darren, I’m sure.”

  Darren started to choke up. “Thanks, Dad.”

  “Now get to class,” Dad said gruffly.

  “Say hi to Mom for me.”

  “I will. And Darren?”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “I love you.”

  Heat built behind his eyes, and Darren blinked and nodded.

  “Take care,” Dad said. “We’ll see you Friday.”

  “Bye.”

  Darren dropped heavily onto the bed.

  Isaiah moved over, pushing the tray to the side. “You look upset.”

  “Mom and Dad are coming to my game Friday, and they’re sticking around for the weekend. They want us to join them for dinner.”

  “Us? As in you and me?”

  Darren raised his hands and smiled. “What can I say, they like you.”

  “Really?”

  Darren motioned for Isaiah to lie next to him. “Mom thought we were dating after the weekend you were at the house. She said we made a cute couple.”

  “What made her think that?”

  “I let you drive my baby. I don’t even let my brother do that. I think that said everything.”

  “You don’t let anyone else drive your car?”

  “Isaiah, it’s a classic in mint condition. No replacement parts. If you’d crashed it . . .”

  “And you let me drive? Darren!”

  Darren laughed, leaned in, and kissed him. “What can I say? I was head over heels for you.” He stole another kiss, this one slow and lingering.

  He pulled back, humming. “I just had a thought.”

  “Do you usually announce all your thoughts before saying them?”

  Darren shushed him with a kiss, feeling Isaiah’s lips turn up into a smirk.

  Isaiah shoved his chest back an inch. “Tell me your thought.”

  “I think Dad wants to send Jenkins a not so subtle message to leave you alone.”

  “By taking me to dinner?”

  “Mm-hmm.” Darren dropped for another kiss. “Jenkins will be sure to show up once he finds out my parents are on campus. If you’re with us, my mother will totally introduce you as my boyfriend. ‘Oh hi, Ted, how are you. Do you know Darren’s boyfriend, Isaiah. Silly me, of course you do.’ Something like that.”

  Isaiah laughed at Darren mimicking his mother. “I thought you said your dad was sending the message.”

  “He is, but Mom’s got that mama bear mentality. She loves me. She knows how much you mean to me. She’s going to make sure nothing happens to you, because that would make me sad.”

  He made a stupid sad face, and Isaiah snorted. “That’s the most ridiculous sad face I’ve ever seen.”

  “That’s because I can’t even pretend to be sad when I’m with you.” He tried to steal another kiss, and Isaiah playfully ducked away from it. Darren tried again, and Isaiah laughed, rolling inch by inch toward the edge of the bed.

  Darren caught him by the waist before he toppled off and pulled him close. “So, will you spend the day with us?”

  “Yes.”

  “What?”

  “I’d love to spend the day with you and your parents. I’ll sit with them at the game Friday, and I’ll go to dinner with you.” He pressed his lips against Darren’s. “I’ll go anywhere, so long as you’re there.”

  Darren grinned. “How about we save water and time and shower together?”

  “Rather optimistic of you.”

  “You did say you’d go anywhere, so long as I’m there.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows and suggestively cocked his hips against Isaiah’s, then rolled Isaiah onto his back, nipped a kiss, and leapt off the bed. “I’m going to shower.”

  Almost immediately, footsteps thumped behind him.

  A pair of hands snaked around his waist and unfastened the button of his pants. He leaned his head back. Isaiah didn’t disappoint him and grabbed Darren’s earlobe with his teeth.

  “Anywhere, so long as you’re there.”

  Epilogue

  Isaiah

  The crowd for the Gage Scholar fundraiser was far bigger than he expected.

  Together, Darren and he had worked hard to sell every seat of Harrison Hall. They even had a wait list.

  Darren stood off to the side of the foyer, chatting with some of the musicians.

  God, he looked ridiculously adorable in his tuxedo. A look he could totally get used to. Although next time he’d make them dress up like Mummers. Just like Darren had scrawled on his notes all those months ago . . .

  Darren must have felt Isaiah staring, because he flashed him a world-stopping smile. A smile only Isaiah was privy to.

  Tingles raced through his body. Isaiah smiled secretly back.

  Darren excused himself from the group and sidled up to him.

  “I think it’s better if you stay on the other side of the hall,” Isaiah joked. “I have a wicked urge to strip you of that zoot suit.”

  “Hold that thought until after the show? Now, don’t kill me, but—”

  Darren’s gaze flickered over Isaiah’s shoulder, and Isaiah jerked around.

  His mother was threading down a crowded aisle, waving at him.

  And—Ian and Isabelle, too.

  “No fucking way.”

  “They had to be here,” Darren said from behind. “Merry early Christmas.”

  “Oh my God.” He spun and kissed Darren quickly before rushing to meet his family. Mom looked stunning in an evening dress, and Ian was wearing a tuxedo.

  “Oh my God, Isabelle,” Isaiah gushed. “Look at you. You look amazing!”

  “Do you like it?” She preened i
n the pretty white-and-blue dress that made her look so much older than thirteen.

  “I love it.” He spun his finger. “Turn around and let me see it all.”

  His sister happily did as asked under their mother’s amused gaze.

  “You look good, bro,” Ian said, clapping their hands together before a shoulder bump. He’d grown and was maybe even a half-inch taller than Isaiah now. “But you still need a haircut.”

  “I can’t believe you’re all here.” He turned and motioned for Darren to join them.

  Darren walked over and hugged Isaiah’s mother. “You look wonderful, Mrs. Nettles. I’m so glad you could make it.”

  “You are too kind, Darren. Thank you and your parents for making it possible for us to be here.”

  Darren smiled. “Well, my mother wouldn’t stop nagging about meeting you. So—”

  “Darren!” Peg laughed, startling her son. She beamed and looked every bit like the heiress she was. Freeing her arm from her husband’s, she gave Isaiah’s mother a warm hug.

  Isaiah was on cloud nine right now.

  Darren’s father stepped closer. “Josh Gage. Wonderful to meet you.”

  As his mother introduced his siblings to Mr. and Mrs. Gage, Isaiah stepped back, drawing Darren with him.

  Isaiah bubbled as he met Darren’s dimpled grin. He whispered, “I love you so much.”

  Darren stuttered, a flush creeping up his throat. He crushed their lips together, hand gently knotting in Isaiah’s hair. He pulled back just enough to speak, their noses bumping. “I love you, too.”

  Isaiah beamed and kissed Darren again, and again, and again—until Ian pointedly cleared his throat.

  Isaiah and Darren pulled back slowly, grinning.

  Ian stepped closer, and Darren backed toward his parents, smiling.

  “Darren really loves you, huh?” his brother said. “I hope I find a girl to look at me like that one day.”

  Isaiah blinked. “Who are you and what did you do with my brother?”

  “Shut up.” Ian punched Isaiah’s shoulder. “Mom has gotten all teary a million times since Mrs. Gage called to set this up. She kept talking about how wonderful it was that you found someone who loves you. I have to say, it’s weirdly cool watching you two.”