That night Brian and AJ stood in the center of their kitchen, looking around at the freshly done countertops. “We did good, babe. It looks great.” AJ said. He slid an arm around Brian’s waist. In return Brian put his arm around AJ’s waist, resting his hand on his hip. It really did look good. Just like they had envisioned it. No one else may have understood their excitement about this, but they both felt like, as parts of the house came together, so were parts of their life.
“Now we just have to get the furniture and the dishes and such to fill this part.” Brian said with a grin.
AJ tossed him a look and a smile that instantly had Brian asking “What do you want?”
“Nothing!” AJ tried to say innocently. When that failed and Brian just quirked an eyebrow at him, AJ sighed. “Ok, ok. Geeze. I uh, I sort of already ordered a table for here in this dining room, not the formal one.” At the curious look Brian gave him, AJ rushed to explain. “When we were looking online and such, that one table that you fell in love with but didn’t want to get yet. Well, I went ahead and ordered it.”
Brian did the only thing he could think of. He tilted his head and kissed his love’s lips. He sighed into the kiss, loving the feel of AJ’s lips against his. It had been too long, far too long, since they’d been able to be together in the way he wanted. First his surgery and then the recovery time. They had to wait until his sternum was healed enough and his heart had time to heal over. But he’d been to the doctor just the other day and he now had the green light. Start slow, he’d suggested. Work your way up to the actual act.
Right at that moment, it didn’t sound like a bad idea. He knew that they had both been holding back, wanting to make sure things were safe. Yet when their kiss stopped and they were looking into one another’s eyes, Brian could see all the lust he felt reflected back at him in AJ’s gaze.
He wrapped his other arm around AJ’s waist, pulling them together so that they were chest to chest. AJ’s arms came around his neck, those long fingers fiddling with the hair at the nape of his neck. Without breaking eye contact, Brian told him “You know, at my appointment the other day, Dr. Lorry and I talked a little about certain things.”
“Oh yeah?” AJ murmured. His eyes were warm, liked melted chocolate.
“Yeah. Basically, he told me that if I could walk up two flights of stairs without getting winded, it was safe to resume certain parts of our relationship.” Brian smiled as he spoke. Until he’d met AJ, he’d never been so brave about talking to his partner about their sex life.
AJ’s lips curved. “Did he now?”
“Mmhmm. He also said that if we were nervous to go ahead and start small. Work our way back up, you know. That way my heart can gradually get used to speeding up its beat. But he said that it’s doing really good right now.”
“Sounds like good advice.”
Still they didn’t move. AJ’s hips were swaying slightly to a beat only he could hear. Eventually Brian realized that he was swaying with him, slow dancing in the center of their newly renovated kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AJ looked down into Brian’s eyes and read everything that his lover was feeling in them. The love, the lust, the fear, the concern, the excitement, happiness. All of it was swirling there in those beautiful blues. Before they even tried to do anything, AJ knew he had to relax him. To do that, he had to do what Brian least expected. After news like that, Brian would expect him to jump on the opportunity. Well, that just meant he had to do something different.
“Come upstairs with me.”
Everything in Brian’s eyes jumped, flashing through there before love took over. “Ok.” Brian said softly. He moved so that they were holding hands and walked side by side with him upstairs. AJ could tell that Brian was excited, but also that he was nervous. That wasn’t what he wanted. He didn’t want this to be forced. He wanted Brian comfortable.
So, when they went in the bedroom, he kicked his shoes off by the door and, instead of doing what Brian thought he would, he sprawled out on the bed on his back with his feet propped against one of the tall four posters. “So, come tell me about your call with Kevin today. If it’s anything like mine with Howie, it’ll be pretty interesting.”
Just as he’d planned, that threw Brian off. He gave AJ a surprised look. Moving to join him, Brian stole the pillows to make a back rest and propped himself up in bed. Though he could lie down comfortably now, it was still more comfortable to be able to be propped up somewhere. Especially if they were going to be talking. But it put his feet down toward AJ’s head. “Howie tell you what Kevin’s planning on doing?”
“Leaving? Yeah.” AJ brought one of his hands up to rub idly at Brian’s pant leg. “D wasn’t sure what to do. He doesn’t feel quite right continuing on without Kev there.”
“I don’t know. I agree with Howie. It just doesn’t really feel quite right. I mean, it’s always been the five of us. But, are we ready to let go of our band?”
The question had AJ rolling his head across the comforter to look at Brian’s face. The older man looked lost in thought, his eyes far away. “What would you do if we did?” AJ asked softly.
For a few minutes the room was quiet. Then, very softly, Brian answered him. The answer was a surprise. “I’d release a Christian album, I think. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, but we’ve always been wrapped up in our group. I think it’d be a nice experience. There’s no saying we can’t ever go back. But, a break, for a few years maybe.”
Though it was exactly how AJ felt, he was surprised to find that it was what Brian wanted. He brought his head closer, resting his cheek against Brian’s calf as his hand still rubbed across the thigh of Brian’s pants. “You continue to surprise me.” He murmured softly.
“Why do you say that?” Brian asked. Without even looking, AJ knew that Brian was smiling as he spoke. It was in his voice.
“That’s exactly how I feel, but I wasn’t sure you’d agree with me. I’d like to take a few years, maybe make an album of my own. See where things go for us. I want a chance at a life for us, on our terms, before I commit to going back to the band.” As AJ spoke he kept up the light rubbing against Brian’s leg. He wondered if his lover even noticed he was doing it. “I’d like to give our life together a try. Without all the band BS and such like that. Just us, as a family.”
He knew the words were right to say when Brian’s eyes locked on him again. They were so bright with love that AJ could feel the warmth straight to his soul. He moved his hand, placing it between Brian’s legs and braced on it, sitting up so that he could kiss him. He didn’t think about it, but just ran off that feeling of love.
There was no hesitation in Brian’s kiss. None of the things that had been there for the past two months. Just love. AJ slowly deepened the kiss, pouring more and more of himself in to it. As he did, he brought his free hand up, letting it trace over Brian’s stomach. He nipped at the older man’s lip, just lightly, but he felt the small moan that Brian gave in response. Trusting in that, AJ let his hand slide up and under Brian’s shirt, running over his side. Purposely he kept his hand at the stomach area, not wanting to go farther and touch the scar, or cause Brian to think of it any more than he already did.
He opened his mouth, flicking his tongue at Brian’s lips, and was rewarded when Brian opened his own mouth. Their tongues dueled with one another. While Brian was distracted with that AJ shifted his body, flinging a leg over so that he was braced on his knees, straddling Brian’s waist. Even though Brian didn’t know it, AJ had talked to Dr. Lorry too, and they’d been very candid with one another. AJ knew what was safe and what wasn’t at this stage in recovery.
Now that his hands were free he brought one up to cup behind Brian’s head. He let his fingers thread through those curls he loved so much while his lips broke free to travel down and over Brian’s jaw, back toward his ear. Brian moaned and brought his hands to AJ’s hips, holding tight to them while his body started a slow grinding motion in response to AJ’s wet, open mouthed kisses.
AJ knew what his lover liked, and he knew what he needed right now. He needed someone to take control for a while, and to give him what he wanted; what he needed.
With his other hand AJ reached between them. He was thankful that Brian had changed into sweats after the days work. It made it easier for him to slide his hand under the waistband, to take hold of the edge and pull, just right, so that they slid down. Brian lifted his hips for that split second that allowed AJ to slide them down just enough that it released Brian’s erection from its confinement. He didn’t hesitate to wrap his hand around that pulsing length.
While one hand started to stroke, the other pulled Brian’s head back, exposing his throat for AJ to suck and kiss and lick. It thrilled him to feel the shivers that ran through Brian’s system. To taste his skin as his pulse started to rise to that familiar beat they both knew so well.
What he hadn’t expected was Brian’s other response. AJ had started to stroke, pulling a moan from Brian with each movement of his hand; but as he did that, one of Brian’s hands slid up from AJ’s hip, and before AJ realized what was happening, Brian had slipped that hand into AJ’s own sweats and pulled his cock out. The feeling of Brian’s hand wrapping around him had AJ shuddering and growling. He bit the side of Brian’s neck, leaving a love mark. He didn’t care. Together the two men moved their hands, creating a rhythm that quickly drove them both crazy.
It had been so long since they’d been together. So long since they had felt one another’s touch, tasted the others skin. AJ could feel his orgasm already so close. He lifted his head and could see that Brian was close too. His eyes were heavy and his body was shivering. It turned AJ on even more. He brought his head down for another kiss and moved his hand faster. As his hand picked up speed, so did Brian’s.
AJ dropped his head and bit the curve between Brian’s shoulder and his neck. That was enough to have Brian’s body stiffening underneath him. AJ lifted his head to watch Brian’s orgasm slam through him. His hips jerked upward and he threw his head back, moaning long and loud as his load shot all over their stomachs and AJ’s hand. It was an erotic sight to watch. AJ felt his breathing grow heavier. Through it all, Brian’s hand had never stopped moving.
As the last of the shockwaves ran through Brian’s body, he brought his free hand up and cupped it beside AJ’s head, pulling him down until his face was buried against Brian’s neck. AJ moaned, his hips moving of their own accord. He was so close. So very close. He felt Brian’s hand slide down his back, then dip into the back of his sweats.
Before AJ could think about what his lover was doing he felt one of those talented fingers slide inside of him, reaching deep to tap that special spot while the other hand gave a firm pull. That sent AJ over the edge. He growled and buried his face as his body trembled in the grips of its own orgasm. He barely had enough presence of mind to brace himself so that he wouldn’t collapse on top of Brian. He just managed to roll to the side, one leg still flung across Brian’s legs.
He missed the pillows beside Brian, which was what he’d been aiming for, and instead was stretched almost sideways over the king sized bed. Lazily he looked at Brian and saw his lover with a grin that matched his own. “Well.” AJ managed to pant out. “Looks like you survived the first step.”
Brian chuckled weakly. “I guess I did at that.” He raised one hand, smacking at AJ’s now covered ass. “Go get us a washcloth or something while I strip, would ya?”
With a grumble AJ rolled sideways until he found the edge of the bed. His legs almost didn’t want to support him. Slightly shaky, he headed to the bathroom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brian snickered to himself as he pulled his shirt and his sweats off. He tossed them in the laundry basket in just enough time to catch the washcloth that AJ threw at him.
He had just finished cleaning himself up and was about to go rinse the cloth when his cell phone buzzed on the nightstand. He snagged it on his way to the bathroom. When he saw who it was, he tossed the washcloth in the sink and flipped the phone open quickly. “Hey Mom. What’s up?” He asked, concern in his voice. It was nine pm at night in Portland, which meant that it was midnight back home in Kentucky. “Is everything ok?”
AJ’s eyes met his from the opposite sink. He gestured for Brian to go relax, indicating that he’d take care of the washcloth, and Brian mouthed a thank you at him.
“Oh, everything’s fine, honey! Your father and I didn’t expect this to be so late, but there were a few delays, and, well, you know how that goes!”
Brian wrinkled his forehead in confusion as he grabbed another pair of sweats from his drawer and sat on the end of the bed to pull them on. “Delays on what, Mom?” he asked curiously. He had just pulled his pants to his waist when his mom answered, and froze him where he stood. “Why, the flight, honey! Your father and I wanted to surprise you. We caught a flight out today, and we’re at PDX right now, at the car rental place. Your father says he needs the address for the GPS in this car. How he works that thing I have no idea, but you know your father. Simple directions won’t work for him. He’s got to be as fancy as he can with these gadgets.”
Here? His parents were here? Brian knew his eyes were wide when he looked up. His face must have been worse than he thought because when AJ saw him, he was across the room in an instant, one hand up to cup Brian’s cheek, and his own face furrowed with concern.
Almost numb from shock, Brian rattled off his address. His mother thanked him and said they’d be there shortly before she hung up the phone. Brian pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at it as he snapped it closed.
“What? Baby, what is it?” AJ asked him. Concern was tight in his voice. “Is everyone ok?”
“My parents planned a surprise for me.” He said, his voice still shocked. “They…they’re at PDX right now, on their way over. My parents are here.”
The two men stared at one another. Though Denise knew about their relationship, Brian’s parents had no idea. This wasn’t how they planned to tell them.
AJ was the first to recover his voice. “Well, fuck.” He looked down at himself and back up at Brian. “I should probably get dressed then.”
For a second Brian just stared. Then, he couldn’t help it. He shook his head and laughed.