A gay sex stories: The Babysitter Pt. 11 ASH & STEFAN
ASH
Ash held up a baby blue, short-sleeved shirt to his chest, turning left and right as he checked himself out in the mirror. The shirt would be a good choice. Besides the material being so soft against his skin, it brought out the color of his eyes. He knew Stefan would appreciate the combination, but he didn’t know if he had the right pants to match.
“Ugh!” he groaned, throwing the shirt onto his bed with his other options, making sure it didn’t end up littered across the floor like all the other discarded choices.
He was nervous about his date. A little voice in the back of his mind was telling him it made no sense. He’d already had this man’s dick in nearly every orifice of his body, but he still wanted to make a good impression.
Holding up his next pick–a heather grey crew neck sweater he’d recently bought from H&M–he wondered if maybe it was too plain? It felt like it was giving interview more than date night.
Dropping it by his feet, he ran his fingers through his hair, turned, and surveyed his room. It looked like a tornado had torn through his closet and drawers and deposited every single item of clothing he’d owned on the floor.
Maybe he should just cancel. Maybe they should just stick to their current arrangement as fuck buddies and not–
“Knock, knock.”
His brother stuck his head in the door, his eyes going wide as he took in the catastrophe.
“Umm, what’s going on?”
“I don’t know what to wear for my date.”
Adrian stepped through the doorway. His eyes tracked a path through the room, doing his best to step over the heaping piles and onto any empty space of carpet. When he finally reached the bed, he scooted Ash’s pile of possibilities to the side and sat, leaning back on his hands.
“What’s really going on?”
Ash dropped his hands with a sigh, knowing there was no point in pretending with his brother. He’d always been able to read him like an open book. “It’s my first real date with Stefan, and I want everything to be perfect.”
“And you think whatever you wear is somehow going to make a difference?”
“Obviously! I can’t show up dressed like I don’t care! And I don’t wanna be overdressed. I don’t wanna look like I’m trying too hard either.”
“That’s all that this is about?” He knew by the gaze his brother leveled at him–eyes steady, an eyebrow cocked in question–that Adrian didn’t believe a word he was saying. “Making sure you look good?”
“No.” This week had flown by so fast; he and his brother hadn’t had a chance to talk about what they could talk about in regards to his relationship with Stefan. Even though Adrian had always been supportive of Ash and his past relationships, this was new territory for them. His support of him and Stefan working their shit out was one thing, but Ash didn’t know where that support ended.
“I just–I guess I’m afraid that if this doesn’t go well, if everything about this date isn’t perfect, it’ll be a sign that Stefan and I aren’t right for each other. Maybe our compatibility only exists in”–his eyes darted away from his brother’s–“you know.”
“The bedroom? Remember, Ashton, I’m well aware that you and Stefan are sexually active.”
Ash buried his face in his hands with a groan.
“Ash, look at me.”
Spreading his fingers, Ash peaked at his brother through the small spaces, but he didn’t remove his face.
“Thanks for attempting to spare my feelings, but I don’t want you to feel like you can’t talk to me about your feelings and y’all’s relationship just because those feelings are for and your relationship is with my best friend. Yeah, it’s weird, and it’s going to be weird for who knows how long. There are boundaries I think we need to define. However, this”–he flicked his wrist to gesture to Ash and his clothing dilemma–“this is something we can talk about.”
With a nod, Ash let his hands fall slowly from his face.
“Good. First things first!” Pushing to his feet, Adrian crossed to Ash’s window and picked up a pair of straight black jeans. He snapped them in the air a few times and circled back around to where Ash was still standing in front of his full-length mirror. Adrian snatched up the grey sweater he’d recently discarded and pushed them into Ash’s chest. “Put these on and your black Chelsea boots, and I’ll be right back.”
Adrian, making a path with his feet as he moved toward the door, disappeared into the hallway.
Taking his brother’s direction, Ash quickly stripped down to his underwear and changed. When he was fully dressed, he checked himself out in the mirror. He had to admit, while the look was simple, he looked good.
It was classic yet comfortable. Stylish, but didn’t look like he was trying too hard.
When Adrian returned, he looked his brother up and down and nodded in approval. “I make good decisions.”
Though he agreed, Ash rolled his eyes for dramatic effect.
Adrian held out a sleek watch to him. The strap looked to be leather, and the case was some kind of light metal in a matte black finish.
“I also bought you a necklace, but I don’t think you’ll need it if you wear your glasses.”
Ash slid the watch on his wrist and grabbed his glasses from the nightstand. When he turned back to the mirror one last time, with his long blonde hair thrown up in a messy bun, he thought he looked like a hot librarian.
Clapping him on the shoulder, his brother asked, “Do you feel better now?”
“I do.” He nodded, some of the nervous energy having drained out of him. “Thank you,” he added.
Adrian threw his hand. “For the record, though, Stefan isn’t gonna care about your outfit. Not that he won’t appreciate it, but he’s really just gonna be so happy that you’re there. So”–he placed both of his hands on Ash’s shoulders–“try not to worry too much and have a good time.”
*
With the art show almost at its end, Ash felt silly for worrying.
Adrian’s words had echoed in the back of his mind, but not worrying was easier said than done.
It had been so easy for his mind to jump to the worst-case scenarios: What if they didn’t know how to be around each other now without sex being involved? (The physical part was always what they’d done well.) What if someone said something about their age difference? (While Stefan didn’t look his age, it was still clear that there was some kind of age gap between the two of them.) What if Stefan couldn’t handle being out? He’d been straight-presenting for thirty years of his life. Everything that had transpired between them had been behind clothes doors. What if someone made rude remarks? Or what if someone was homophobic? Ash had faced that scrutiny before; he knew what people were capable of and how to handle it, but Stefan wouldn’t be expecting that kind of hatred.
But as soon as he was with Stefan, seeing his sparkling smile and those hazel eyes he loved so much–as soon as Stefan’s fingers and lips reached for Ash before he’d even said hello, like he just couldn’t wait to feel Ash’s mouth against his and under his fingertips–his worries started to wash away.
Every moment he spent with Stefan helped the uneasiness pass.
On the ride over, Stefan’s hand rested easily on Ash’s thigh, his touch warm and gentle, as they talked about how their weeks had gone and what else they could do over the weekend, and, when they’d arrived at the venue and parked, Stefan hurried around the side of the car and opened the door for him. Ash kissed him on the cheek because it’s the little things that count.
As they made their way to the building’s entrance, Stefan laced their fingers together and didn’t let go. Whether conscious or not, the little circles his thumb rubbed into the top of Ash’s hand were so soothing.
They were in constant contact as they followed the flow of traffic around the gallery. If their hands weren’t linked, it was their pinkies. Stefan’s hand seemed to find a home on the small of Ash’s back. When they’d stopped at a piece Ash particularly liked, Stefan had moved behind Ash, almost cradling his body with his. Ash had settled in, his back against Stefan’s strong chest, chatting in hushed tones about what they thought the artist’s inspiration was and how it was reflected in the piece.
When the featured artist came over to talk to them, Ash’s jitters were for a whole other reason.
“Mr. Santoro.”
Stefan turned at the sound of his name, guiding Ash with him. His hand never leaving Ash’s back.
A short man dressed in a fitting light grey suit and a silky black shirt unbuttoned to his sternum stood behind them. A long gold chain was settled against his muscular chest. His skin was golden brown, and his thick black hair was stylishly parted, a few strands fell artfully in front of his eyes. His smile was bright as he shook Stefan’s hand with both of his.
“Glad you could make it!”
“Me too! Ash, this is Matías. Matías, this is my boyfriend, Ash.”
Hearing the word “boyfriend” leave Stefan’s lips caused shivers to run down Ash’s spine. Hearing him say that was going to take some getting used to, but Ash would happily take the tingles until it became familiar.
“Pleasure to meet you.” Matías held out his hand for Ash to shake, picking up on a hint of an accent.
“Likewise.”
“How are you enjoying the show?”
Stefan said, “I am enjoying myself. Your work is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, but sometimes I think I’m a little too left-brained to enjoy art the way it’s truly meant to be enjoyed. Ash, however “–Stefan’s fingers had crept around to his side and gave a small squeeze–“has always had a keen eye for creativity and artisanship and has been thinking about pursuing a degree in design.”
“Is that so?” Matías arched a manicured eyebrow at him.
“Oh.” Ash scratched the back of his neck nervously. “Stefan is being a bit modest. I guess I’m not bad, and I have been considering going to school for something art related, but I love everything you’ve done here–your use of color blocking and the way you’ve used different mediums so it feels like the pieces have, not just depth and dimension, but are almost alive. Sometimes, when I’m looking at art, I like to close my eyes for a few seconds and look again to see if I pick up anything new. With your pieces, though, I didn’t want to close my eyes; I wanted to keep looking.
“We spent a solid twenty minutes looking at Concrete Jungle.”
Matías brought a hand to his chest and smiled. “I might be a little biased, but I don’t think Stefan was being modest at all. Thank you for your kind words, Ash. If you’d like, maybe we can get together and chat about what a career in the art world would look like.”
Smiling, Ash said, “That would be great! Thank you!”
“My pleasure. I must make a few more rounds. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night, and I’ll talk to you both soon.”
He waved a small goodbye before stepping around them.
Matías’s offer was a small gesture, but Ash couldn’t help but smile. Turning his face into Stefan’s neck, Stefan’s arm folded around him.
“That was super cool of him,” Ash said.
Stefan pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “That was. I probably should’ve asked this before, but was it okay that I told him you were interested in art?”
“Yeah. I would not have told him otherwise.”
“Why not?”
“Sometimes, I feel like I can’t make what I want a reality.”
Stefan snorted. “Considering our current situation, I don’t think that’s a problem for you.”
Ash returned his smile. “Okay. Maybe that wasn’t the best way to put it. I guess… this is a big decision, and I’m afraid of, like, making a definitive choice, you know? I don’t want to choose wrong.”
Stefan pulled Ash closer. “Not to play the older boyfriend card here, but as someone who has been around a little longer and experienced a bit more, I can say that’s the beautiful thing about life. You make a decision, and you learn from it. If it doesn’t end up being the right fit for you, you try something else, but art is something you really love and enjoy. I don’t think you’ll have regrets about choosing to pursue your passion.”
“It’s just a lot to think about.”
“I know.”
Peering up at Stefan, he said, “I think I’m ready to leave. Can we get out of here?”
“Of course.” Stefan laced their fingers together once more, guiding them toward the door. Ash didn’t think he’d ever get used to the sensation. When they stepped outside, the night air was crisp and cool, the moon a bright thumbnail in the sky.
When they slid into the car, doors shut behind them, Stefan asked, “Do you wanna come over for a little bit? Or should I take you home?”
“I think I should go home. Slow, right?”
Stefan sighed heavily through his nose. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I’m regretting suggesting that.”
A smile spread across Ash’s face.
“I don’t know if it’s realistic for us to try and separate our lives into these new buckets of babysitter and boyfriend,” Ash said, “but I think it’s worth a shot. And, even if we can’t figure out how to make it work, at least the sex will be that much better. Distance makes the dick grow harder, or something like that.”
Stefan snorted and started the car.
***
STEFAN
Stefan slid carefully into the driver’s seat and closed the door behind him harder than he’d meant to. He rested his head against the cold steering wheel, shut his eyes, and focused on his breaths.
Ash slammed the trunk closed, jolting the car. Stefan groaned.
When his boyfriend slid into the passenger seat seconds later, he asked, “What is going on with you, Stef? You’ve been so tense all morning.”
With Christmas right around the corner, they both had some shopping to do, so they’d planned to knock it out together. After the long week he’d had at work, Stefan hadn’t wanted to be out for more than two hours, three tops, which Ash said he understood and agreed to, but always a sucker for the holidays, Ash wanted to stop and look at every kiosk selling homemade goods, wait twenty minutes in line for “the state’s best apple cider” (which he didn’t end up loving), and steal a picture and a kiss in a little corner that’d been adorned with holiday decorations and mistletoe. And, seeing his happiness, Stefan had been unable to say no despite regretting it every literal step of the way.
Rolling his head to the side, he said, “I wanted to give you a special gift.”
“Okaaay.” Ash gave him a wary look.
“Because we said we’d only be out for a few hours this morning, I thought it would be a good idea to wear a butt plug–”
Ash gasped. “You didn’t!”
“I did.” Stefan nodded. “I’ve been wearing one around the house the last couple of days, and, since we had time today, you know, I wanted to be ready for you. But then, two hours turned into four, and it’s been rubbing across my prostate every time I moved a certain way.”
“Oh, baby,” Ash said, poorly hiding his smile. He reached over and stroked his hair. “You know you didn’t have to do that, right? Especially not for me. There’s absolutely no rush.”
“I know. I wanted to. I want to. I did this for me.”
Ash sat forward and kissed him. His eyes darkened; his lips turned up in a sinful smile. “Well, I guess we need to take care of that right away.”
*
They didn’t bother bringing the shopping in the house.
As soon as the door was shut and locked behind them, Ash was on him, cupping his face and kissing him hard and fierce.
“I still can’t believe”–he kissed him, fingers fumbling to unzip Stefan’s coat–“that you wore a butt plug”–pressing another kiss to his lips, Ash pushed the heavy material off Stefan’s shoulders and let it fall to the floor–“all morning.” His hands reached for the hem of Stefan’s sweater and started pulling it upward.
“Me neither,” Stefan said, saving them some time and yanking his sweater over his head in one swift pull. Ash was on him again before the material hit the floor, tugging his shirts free from his pants. His fingers were ice cold against the warmth of his abdomen. “Fuck!”
“Sorry!” Ash said. His hands flew over the clasp of Stefan’s buckle, undoing the leather restraint. He looped his fingers through the belt loops and tugged Stefan forward into another kiss. “Bedroom,” he said against his lips.
They made their way upstairs, slowly but surely, shedding their layers as they went. By the time they stumbled through the bedroom door, Ash was down to nothing but his briefs, and Stefan was trying not to trip as he stepped out of his jeans.
Wrapped in each other’s arms, they fell backward onto the bed. Stefan went rigid and ground his teeth as the butt plug made contact with his prostate once more. His balls ached for release, and he truly understood how pleasure could be torturous.
Dropping his head against his boyfriend’s shoulder, he moaned. “Ash.”
Running his hands up and down Stefan’s bare back, he said, “Tell me what you need.”
“I need–I’m not–” He could barely form a coherent thought.
Ash gently pushed his face back so that they were eye-to-eye. “Tell me.”
Stefan swallowed. “I’m not gonna last much longer. I–I want to cum with you inside me.”
The smile that spread across his face could only be described as wicked.
“I’m gonna have to prep you a little more.”
“I trust you.” Stefan kissed him.
Ash instructed him to lay on his back with his knees in the air while he grabbed the lube from the nightstand drawer. Kneeling between his legs, Ash leaned over and pushed Stefan’s hair off his forehead.
“If at any time you feel uncomfortable or wanna stop, you say the word, okay?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” Ash pressed a firm kiss to his lips before starting down his body.
His hand massaged Stefan’s dick over his boxers as he kissed his jaw and his neck, his collarbone and his pecs. He kissed around a nipple, grazing it with his teeth, but he didn’t give the nub any special attention. He continued kissing down his sternum until he reached the waistband of his boxers.
“Lift your hips.” Stefan obeyed, and Ash’s mouth kissed further down with every inch of skin he revealed.
When his dick popped free of the material, it was standing straight up. Ash leaned in and took the tip of his erection into his mouth, licking and teasing but covering no real distance. Stefan gasped and arched a little off the bed; the dual sensations of Ash’s mouth and the plug still settled securely in his ass made him clench, hard; his vision went blurry.
Ash took a little more of his dick into his mouth while using his hand to jack Stefan’s base. Stefan focused on his breathing, trying to stay present in his body, but as quickly as Ash started, he stopped, pulling Stefan’s boxers the rest of the way off, throwing them across the room.
Ash ran his hands up and down Stefan’s thighs and in between his legs a few times. When his hands came close enough to his dick, he ran his nails up his shaft, sending shivers through Stefan’s body which caused the butt plug to move in his ass again.
Running his fingers through his hair, Stefan curled his fists and pulled, his muscles straining.
His lover must have decided to take pity on him because Stefan heard the lube lid snap open, “Oh, thank God.”
Snickering, Ash asked, “Am I not going fast enough for you?”
He wanted to say something witty and sexy in reply, but his brain wasn’t offering any fun responses. Pushing up on his elbows, he said, “Honestly, no, you’re not. What part of ‘I want you inside of me’ did you not understand?”
“Okay, okay, Mr. Bossy Pants!” He held up his hands in mock offense. “I was just trying to help you relax a little bit, but since you wanna be all gas, no brakes, let’s go.”
The next few moments moved quickly. Ash grabbed Stefan under the knees and pulled him closer. He moaned as his prostate was stimulated once more by the plug. Ash placed one hand by Stefan’s head to brace himself while the other reached down and grabbed the base of the plug. Leaning in, he kissed him roughly, licking into his mouth with powerful strokes, their teeth clashing together before wrenching away. Against his lips, he smiled and whispered, “Ready?”
Stefan nodded. “Yeah.”
With a firm grasp, Ash pulled the toy out and threw it aside. His ass felt empty, but he knew it was only a matter of time before it would be full again.
He watched as his boyfriend drizzled some of the clear liquid on his fingers. Ash used his middle to rub circles around the tender skin of his hole, the cool gel quickly warming up. He applied a little more lube and slipped his finger inside, moving them around to properly coat him. When a digit slid across his prostate, Stefan curled in on himself. He was so on edge.
“You okay?” Ash paused.
“Yeah.” Stefan breathed out. “It’ll be a miracle if I don’t come as soon as you slide inside me.”
Using his free hand, Ash slathered some lube on his dick and got into position. Covering Stefan’s body with his own, his boyfriend leaned in once more and kissed him sweetly, rolling his hips forward, sliding up and down Stefan’s crease.
“You know, I’ve never topped a virgin before.”
“I never thought I’d be a ‘virgin’ again, but”–he cupped Ash’s ass and pulled him closer–“I’m not mad at this turn of events.”
“Me neither,” Ash said against his lips before sliding in.
The butt plug had nothing on Ash’s size. There was pain, a burning sensation, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. Ash held himself still, giving him time to adjust, and Stefan used the time to stare up into the beautiful face above him. His long hair fell around his face in a blonde curtain. His bright blue eyes were lust-filled. His jaw was set in concentration, and his skin was flushed a lovely shade of pink.
Stefan thought, Mine, and pulled Ash closer.
They moaned in harmony.
Pausing his forward momentum, Ash placed kisses across Stefan’s face–his cheeks, his nose, forehead and eyelids.
“You okay?” he asked around a shallow breath.
“Yeah. Just feel like I’m being split in two.”
“You wanna stop?”
Stefan shook his head. “No.”
The next few minutes were spent in a series of stops and starts, Ash slowly moving forward and Stefan stretching to accommodate him, moaning the deeper he tunneled. It was one of the wildest experiences of his life, letting another human being into his body, but when Ash bottomed out, holy fuck, did it feel amazing. He could feel every ridge, every vein, and every single mouth-watering inch. He couldn’t believe he’d waited so long to do this.
“You still doing okay?”
Stefan nodded, not trusting his voice. He felt so full, and his body was hot; he felt like he was boiling from the inside. And the pressure was… indescribable. What had started out as pain had transformed into inexplicable pleasure. His ass constricted around Ash’s dick and they both cursed.
“Move, please,” Stefan urged.
Ash rolled his hips forward, and–
“My God,” fell from Stefan’s lips as Ash’s fat cock reached previously unimaginable depths inside of him.
Ash paused.
“Keep going.” His hands tangled in Ash’s hair, pulling his lover down on top of him. “Don’t stop,” he desperately pleaded.
Their mouths connected over and over as Ash slowly rocked his hips forward. They absorbed each other’s moans. They tasted each other’s pleasure. Each push and pull were like waves in a storm, building and building until his satisfaction crested, and Stefan’s ass bore down on Ash’s dick.
Ash wrenched his mouth away. “Fuckin–”
He was so ready to come, but he needed something else, something more.
“Faster,” he begged.
Ash pulled out, leaving him feeling empty once more.
“Roll over. On your knees. Spread your legs.”
Stefan obeyed, quickly flipping onto his stomach and pushing upward. He grabbed onto the headboard for purchase and held tight.
Ash moved in behind him and grabbed a hip with one hand. The other squeezed a handful of Stefan’s ass possessively and jiggled the globe. A smack cracked down a moment later.
Lining up his cock, Ash snapped his hips forward, re-entering him and bottoming out in one swift motion.
“Oh, my God.” Stefan held onto the wood for what felt like dear life, fingers curling around the top, the smooth edges digging into his skin as Ash fucked him into him over and over and over again.
He didn’t know when he started thrusting back, meeting Ash stroke for stroke, but he loved it. He loved the power in their connection. He loved the abandon in their movements. He loved this level of newfound closeness with the man he loved.
He gasped every time Ash’s thighs connected with his ass, his dick bumping against his over stimulated prostate. He couldn’t quite catch his breath; his nerves were on fire–ass clenched, fists balled, understanding what it meant to have his guts scrambled.
God! He loved this.
Their balls slapped together in a cadenced rhythm. The clapping of their skin created a carnal cacophony that pushed Stefan closer and closer to the edge.
“Baby,” he moaned.
Ash’s fingers dug into the soft skin of his waist. There would definitely be bruises.
“Are you close?”
“Y-yes,” he choked out.
“Good.” Ash fell forward, his sweaty chest plastering itself to Stefan’s sweaty back, his arms wrapping lovingly around Stefan’s middle, his hips pumping slowly. “Cuz I’m not gonna last much longer.”
Their bodies moved in sync, their chests rising and falling with their heavy breaths.
Ash pressed one long kiss to the base of Stefan’s neck before peppering a few more across his shoulders. “You”–kiss –“are”–kiss–“amazing.”
Stefan chuckled. “You’re probably only saying that because you’ve never fucked an ass this tight before,” squeezing his ass for emphasis.
“Mmm.” Ash nipped at his shoulder. “That’s only part of the reason.” His hand slid down and took hold of Stefan’s aching cock causing Stefan to hiss. “Partially cuz you’ve taken this dick like a champ.” His hand shuttled quickly up his shaft–once, twice, and then stopped. Stefan thought his eyes might pop out of his head when Ash said, “Mostly because you’re just amazing.”
The next moment felt like it happened simultaneously in slow motion and at warp speed. Without warning, Ash rolled his hips backward until just the tip of his dick was lodged in Stefan’s ass, pausing for only a moment before plunging back in and jacking Stefan’s cock.
The sensation was so overwhelming Stefan thought he was going to pass out, but, not wanting to miss a single moment, he bit his lip, spread his legs, and held on tight.
Ash fucked him fast and hard. Every forward thrust caused Stefan to cry out–“Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!” Ash’s hand worked his dick like Stefan was a cow he was trying to milk, and his free hand crossed his body and cupped his shoulder holding him in place as their skin thwacked, thwacked, thwacked together. The combined effort made him finally cum, roaring through his release, his knees buckling and falling forward to rest against the cool wood of his headboard.
The intensity of his ass squeezing Ash’s dick had him coming right behind him. With one final thrust, he buried himself deep and painted his insides white.
With all the strength zapped out of him, Stefan relaxed his limbs and fell face first onto the mattress. Ash, who still had his arm wrapped around him and dick lodged inside him, fell with him. His weight was a harsh comfort on his oversensitive skin. He didn’t want to push him away, but he needed a moment to breathe.
As if reading his mind, Ash rolled off and out of him. When Stefan turned his head, Ash had splayed out like a starfish, one arm thrown over the side of the bed, the other pushing his hair out his face. His chest rose and fell with breaths, and his grin was so big; his face looked like it was going to split apart.
“I didn’t think it was possible, but I’m pretty sure I’m even more in love with you than I was before.”
Stefan snorted and willed his body to scoot closer to his partner. Throwing his arm over Ash’s waist, he tilted his head up and said, “Tell me I have a magical ass without telling me I have a magical ass.”
A bark of laughter burst from Ash’s chest. “I’d like to amend my previous statement. This is the moment I’m more in love with you than I’ve been before.”
“Good,” Stefan said with a smile. Craning his neck upward, he brushed his lips against his lover’s and said, “Because the feeling is absolutely mutual.”
***
ASH
Ash’s plans were ruined with one text.
BABE! PLEASE DON’T HATE ME! I have some kind of stomach bug! I thought it would pass by now, but I haven’t been able to keep anything down for the last 2 days!! I don’t think I’ll be able to babysit tomorrow! I’m SOOOOOOOO sorry!
“Well, shit,” Ash said to himself.
Texting Kaitlyn back, he said, Ofc I don’t hate you! I hope you feel better soon, and if there’s anything you need, lmk?
It was Valentine’s Day weekend, and his friend and fellow babysitter Kaitlyn had agreed to do him a solid and watch Luca on Saturday. He’d planned a whole day of togetherness for him and Stefan including a few hours at the spa, an early dinner, and a play, but if Kaitlyn wasn’t able to watch Luca, there’d be no way he’d be able to find another sitter in time. For the last few months, Adrian had been gracious enough to step in whenever Stefan and Ash wanted some alone time, but Ash couldn’t ask him to step in now. He had a date of his own (the first one in ages).
But this is what it meant to have a kid, right? Sometimes plans changed, and there was nothing you could do about it besides adapt and move along with them.
He’d have to see if he could reschedule their spa visit and cancel their dinner reservation. He’d also have to see if Adrian wanted the tickets to the play since they were non-refundable, but it was okay.
All it had taken was their first date for Ash to let go of the idea of needing everything to be perfect. What he and Stefan had was a work in progress, and that was okay. They were partners who were learning and growing together. They loved each other, and something as trivial as a bad date or cancelled plans wouldn’t change that.
However, that didn’t mean Ash gave up trying. This was their first Valentine’s Day together, and he wanted it to be special, memorable. He still wanted to woo Stefan, so he was going to have to come up with something good to make up for the sudden shift in their plans.
*
Ash gave himself a small pat on the back for what he was able to pull together in such a short time.
He always thought best when he was on the move, so he decided to pick Luca up early from daycare, and they went shopping. The plan started shaping in his head as they wove through the aisles of the store.
Their morning started with a Valentine’s Day breakfast. Ash had set his alarm for 8:30. He’d quickly slipped out of bed and went to get Luca up. Like his dad, the little boy was very cuddly in the mornings. Ash happily cradled him in his arms and rocked him until he was awake. (He couldn’t wait until he got to wake up with him every day. Even when he was older and wouldn’t want the cuddles anymore, there would still be small moments for them to share.)
Once he was up, they headed to the kitchen to make heart-shaped pancakes. He hadn’t specifically been looking for one, but he’d found a heart-shaped griddle in the discount holiday aisle yesterday and snatched it up.
Luca had insisted on funfetti pancake mix with strawberries and whipped cream, so they’d gotten everything he’d wanted because it was a special occasion (and he couldn’t say no to that face). (And, while not initially planned, the extra toppings could serve an additional purpose. If there was anything left after breakfast, Ash knew exactly how he planned to use it.)
Sitting in the middle of the island, Luca mixed the batter with a spoon too big for his hands, his little face bunched up in concentration, while Ash warmed up the stove top. When the batter was smooth and the griddle hot, Ash helped Luca scoop and pour, wrapping his hand around the little boy’s while he held the spatula, flipping the pancakes so they wouldn’t burn.
When they had a suitable stack, they loaded up a tray laden with their breakfast, toppings, a pitcher of fresh-squeezed orange juice, and the single red rose Ash bought to signify his and Stefan’s first year together.
He explained to Luca that what they were doing for Daddy was a surprise; they would need to be quiet as they went up the stairs, so, of course, he giggled all the way up, unable to hide his giddiness.
Stefan was sitting up in bed when they pushed the door open, scrolling through something on his phone, his back to the headboard. He looked up, and a smile uncurled across his lips at the sight of them. Luca ran ahead and jumped onto the bed, scrambling into his dad’s waiting arms.
“Daddy!”
Stefan pulled him in and squeezed, dropping a kiss on his forehead. “Morning, bub.”
“Ash made pancakes, and I helped!”
“He did!” Ash said brightly, setting the tray down on Stefan’s nightstand. Sliding onto his side of the bed (even though they hadn’t discussed him moving in yet, he was there more times than not, and that was the side of the bed he always slept on), he craned his neck for a kiss and told Stefan all about their morning.
“Cuz I’m a big boy!” Luca settled in between them. “And I’m hungry!”
Stefan ruffled his hair and said, “Well, let’s eat!” Pulling the tray onto his lap, he handed Ash a plate and set one down in front of Luca on the bed. He divvied up the pancakes while Ash put PJ Masks on the TV.
*
Since their spa date had been cancelled, Ash brought the spa to them. While at the store, he picked up some face masks, foot scrub, nail kits and some essential oils. Before heading back to the house, he swung by his brother’s to grab his foot bath and nail polish.
They spent the afternoon pampering themselves. Ash started with Luca, pinning his hair back with a few bobby pins before applying the animated frog mask to his face. He giggled while Ash smoothed the edges down and squealed in absolute delight when his dad held him up to the mirror to see his face.
Stefan wrapped an arm around Ash’s waist, and Ash leaned into him, his head resting on his boyfriend’s shoulder while they watched Luca hop around on all fours making ribbit, ribbit sounds. Pressing a kiss to his temple, Stefan softly said, “We’ve really got a great kid, don’t we?” And it was the single most romantic thing he could’ve said to him.
*
Once they were fresh-faced and had a set of newly painted nails, they moved on to crafts. Ash’s plan had always been to make Stefan a card, but time had gotten away from him. So, he pulled a table big enough for the three of them into Luca’s playroom and laid out paper and pens, markers, crayons, stickers, glitter, glue, and paint.
Stefan, ever the exciter, said with a sparkle in his eye, “I’m gonna sit over there”–he pointed to Luca’s table–“so you can’t see what I’m making.”
He gathered some materials in his arms and went and sat on the other end of the room, blowing Ash a kiss as he settled in. Ash rolled his eyes and settled into his own seat. Luca joined him at the “big kids’ table”, and they all got to work while tunes for toddlers played in the background.
He and Stefan made heart eyes at each other across the room. Stefan would wag his finger or clutch his project to his chest and say, “No peeking!” anytime he caught Ash glancing his way even though he clearly couldn’t see what he was doing.
Luca finished way before the two of them were done, crawling under the table with his tablet to watch something on YouTube. Every few minutes, Luca would giggle hysterically causing Ash to smile and think about how much he loved that kid and the comfortable quiet that surrounded them. It was warm and easy and felt like home.
*
Dinner and dessert were a delight! Keeping the Valentine’s Day theme alive, they made homemade personal pizzas in the shape of hearts. Ash didn’t think he’d have as much difficulty as he did getting the circular dough to mold into the shape of a heart, but it proved a challenge. Stefan poked fun at his wobbly edges, wrapping his arms around him and kissing his neck, not helping his concentration at all.
Luca took up residence on the island again, taking his job as the sauce spreader quite serious, though the amount of sauce that ended up on the pizza equaled the amount that ended up on his clothes and on the counter. Ash had looked away for just a moment, and when he turned back around, there was a dab of pizza sauce in the middle of his forehead.
There was cheese, cheese, and more cheese for Luca. For every handful he put on his pizza another went in his mouth. Stefan made his personal favorite–pineapple and ham. (Ash scored lots of kisses for the extra pineapple he’d purchased.) And for himself, chicken, mushrooms, and green peppers.
While the pizza was in the oven, Ash rolled out the cookie dough. He’d found a cute cookie cutter set–the cutouts were shaped like hearts and puckered lips; one even spelled out the word ‘love’. Stefan took care of some of the dishes while he and Luca cut as many cookies as they could. Each new cookie that took shape was a wonderous feat to the three-year-old.
Luca was practically bouncing with excitement when they came out of the oven a little while later, so excited to decorate them with icing and sprinkles. To (try and) minimize mess, Ash scooped the pink icing into a piping bag, giving Luca easy access to make a confectionary masterpiece; he painted zigzags and circles all across the baking sheet.
*
Third cookie in hand, Luca’s head kept nodding forward as he fought sleep. Swapping tasks, Stefan took him upstairs and put Luca to bed while Ash worked on cleaning up the kitchen.
What felt like only minutes had passed before Stefan reappeared to help him finish cleaning. They moved together seamlessly, not needing to speak to know what the other was doing.
Once done, Stefan grabbed two wine glasses and the bottle of red that’d been chilling in the fridge. They moved into the living room, falling lazily onto the couch and into each other. Stefan set the glasses and the bottle on the coffee table before gently cupping Ash’s face and pulling him in.
Ash’s eyes fluttered shut the moment their mouths met. The kiss was slow and tender and sweet. Stefan’s lips still tasted like sugar; his thumb gently caressed his cheek, and Ash was so completely content.
Stefan’s hand stayed in place when he pulled back. Resting his forehead against his, there was a smile in his voice when he said, “I’ve been waiting to do that all day. Happy Valentine’s Day, my love.”
Leaning forward for a quick kiss, Ash said, “To the first of many.”
***
STEFAN
Stefan turned the corner and saw Ash leaning against the doorway of Luca’s playroom. His arms were crossed across his chest, and his eyes were full of warmth as he watched the little boy playing. He loved these little moments where he could watch Ash without him knowing.
If Stefan had had any doubts about taking this next step with him–which he didn’t–that look alone would have erased them.
Ash looked up when Stefan approached, turning the warmth of his gaze on him. “You ready?”
Lacing their fingers together, he squeezed and said, “Yeah.”
When the topic of Ash moving in first came up, it had been a random Wednesday night. Stefan was lounging in bed, reruns of some old sitcom playing quietly on the TV. Ash had just gotten out of the shower and was trying to figure out what he was going to wear tomorrow when he realized he didn’t have any clean clothes.
He’d said, “Well, I’m gonna have to go home.”
Stefan felt his face screw up in confusion. At that point, Ash stayed there more nights than at his brother’s. Even on days when he didn’t have to pick up Luca, he came straight there after class or work. He had his own side of the closet, two shelves to himself in the bathroom, and they’d made a space for him on the unused side of the garage for him to work on his assignments.
This was his home, but Stefan realized he’d never actually asked him to move in.
The concern had always been making sure Luca was comfortable, that they didn’t overwhelm him with any sudden changes, but they’d had this routine of theirs going for a few months. Ash not staying there would be unusual for them both.
Stefan had muted the TV and said, “Ash.”
He’d looked over his shoulder, a manicured eyebrow raised in question.
With absolute certainty, Stefan said, “Move in.” It was neither a question nor a command. It was simply what needed to be said to right a wrong.
Ash’s smile was hesitant when he asked, “You sure?”
Stefan slid across the bed, swung his legs over the side, and held his hands out to his boyfriend. Ash came to him immediately, stepping between his knees. Taking his hands, Stefan looked up into those blue eyes he loved so much and said, “Yes.”
“What about Luc?”
“We’ll talk to him about it, but this is your home. Here, with us. With me.”
Hand-in-hand, they circled around the toddler and the toys–a big green dump truck and a bright yellow excavator–strewn across the carpeted floor. They sat crisscross in an empty space, knees brushing and pinkies locked.
“Hey, Luc, can Ash and I talk to you for a second?”
“Yeah,” he said, not looking up from the car he was racing.
“Bub, can you look at me?”
Luca turned his focus on him. His wide brown eyes bounced back and forth between the two of them expectantly.
Stefan glanced at Ash who smiled at him with encouragement. They’d talked through how to approach the subject with the little boy, knowing he was capable of understanding a lot more than he may have been able to put into words. “Do you remember when you asked me why you didn’t have a mommy like some of your friends do? And I told you that families come in all shapes and sizes?”
“Yeah. Cuz JJ just has a mommy and Allie has two mommies, but-but lots of my friends have mommies and daddies.”
“Right, and did you know that some people have two daddies?”
“Really?!” His eyes lit up in surprise. “Two daddies to go to the park with?”
“Two daddies to do lots of things with,” Stefan said, matching his son’s enthusiasm. “Go to the park, make chocolate chip pancakes, take you to school, tell you bedtime stories, tuck you in at night, and so much more!”
“You do that, and Ash do that some of the times.”
“You’re right. That’s what we wanted to talk to you about. How would you feel if Ash did those things all of the time? How would you feel if Ash stayed with us instead of Uncle Aidy?
“Ash and I love each other very much, and Ash and I love you very much, and”–he grinned at his lover–“we want to be a family. Ash would be your other daddy… Would you like that?”
“Yeah!” Luca jumped up and ran to Ash. Wrapping his little arms around his neck, he laid his head on his shoulder and said, “I love you, Ash.”
Holding him close, Ash buried his nose in their son’s curls. His voice was watery when he said, “I love you, too, baby.”
Luca’s little head popped back. “You’re gonna stay forever?”
Ash said, “I’m gonna stay for as long as you and Daddy want me to.”
Stefan leaned in and kissed Ash on the cheek. Running his fingers through Luca’s hair, he said, “Forever sounds good to me.”
***
ASH
Balancing the bolts of fabric on his shoulder and the portfolio on the tips of his fingers, Ash was thankful they’d updated the keylock to a padlock because it made punching in the pin so much easier than turning a key would’ve been. He really needed to find a better way to transport the material.
He scooted through the doorway and kicked the door shut behind him. He’d just set the fabric down when he heard his name yelled from the other room.
“AAAAAAAASH!!”
He looked up to find Luca running full force toward him. Ash dropped his backpack and his portfolio and bent down to catch him, scooping the little boy up in his arms.
Pushing the curls out of his eyes, Ash dropped a kiss on the three-year-old’s forehead. “Hi, baby. What are you still doing up?”
Adrian and Stefan emerged from the kitchen.
“Keeping Uncle Aidy company until you got home.” Stefan stopped in front of Ash, extending his neck for a kiss. “Hey, babe.”
“Hi.”
Taking Luca from his arms, he continued, “And now that you’re home, it’s time for a bath and bed. Time to say night night, Luc.”
“Night night, Ash. Night night, Uncle Aidy.”
The brothers said goodnight in unison.
Once they were alone, Ash said, “I wasn’t expecting you over tonight.”
“I hadn’t seen you in a while. Just wanted to check in.”
“I’m sorry. Between school and work and Luca–”
Adrian held up a hand. “You don’t have to apologize; I’m glad you’re staying busy and that you’re happy and thriving in your relationship. And even though I know Stefan is taking good care of you, you’re still my baby brother–practically my kid–so I’m still gonna worry, and I’m still gonna check in on you.”
Ash rolled his eyes, an affectionate smile dusting his lips. Wrapping Adrian in a hug, he said, “I’m good, thanks. How are you?”
“I’m also good. Even though you’ve been out of the house for a few months now, it’s taken me some time to get out of the role and mindset of being a caretaker. I think I’m finally starting to learn how to live for myself. For as long as it feels like I can remember, I’ve made so many safe choices to make sure you were taken care of, but now that you’ve damn near got a family of your own, I’ve decided to be a little selfish.”
“Meaning?”
“Come end of the year, I’m selling the company.”
“What??!”
Adrian held his hands up. “I have loved every moment and am proud of the work we’ve done, but I’m ready to take a step back. I’ll remain on the board, but I don’t want the responsibility of running things anymore.
“The buyer is a business partner who has been with me since almost the very beginning. I trust him with my clients, and more importantly, my employees. The contract makes sure that anyone who wants to stay on is protected and compensated if there are any delays during the transition.”
“Wow,” Ash said. He remembered the early mornings and the late nights Adrian had put in to get his business–a local based company that helped low-income and underprivileged families get connected to resources they may not otherwise have available–up and running. Ash remembered the fundraising and the crowdfunding. He remembered the meetings he’d sometimes had to sit outside of while his brother schmoozed; the excitement and the relief when he secured his first partner; and the grin when he signed the lease on his office.
Adrian had always done so much for so many others. It was nice to see him taking a step back and doing something for himself.
“To say I’m shocked would be an understatement, but if anyone deserves this, it’s you. Question is: What’re you gonna do next?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “But I’m excited to find out.”
Ash bumped his brother’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you.”
“Ditto. Not to say that I had anything to do with it, but I’m proud of the man you turned out to be, of the father you’re turning out to be, and I’ll be just as proud of the husband you’ll soon turn out to be.”
Ash inhaled sharply. He and Stefan had only been together for a little over a year. They had talked about marriage but more in the general sense–what it would mean as far as Luca and guardianship; what kind of ceremony they pictured for themselves; their ideal honeymoon, etc.–than a definitive one. No plans had been made. No question had been asked. But if Stefan were to tell anyone about his plan to propose, it would be Adrian.
“What did you just say?” he choked out.
He shrugged. “That you’re gonna make a good husband.”
“But you said ‘soon’.” He’d said soon. “Like you know something I don’t know. What do you know, Adrian?” he asked, feeling like a little boy again, left out on a secret his brother was clearly keeping from him.
“Nothing. Nothing!” he said, a sheepish smile on his face, moving past him toward the door. “I’m just speaking in generalities.” With his hand on the knob, Adrian said, “It was good catching up with you. I’m making pot roast on Thursday night if you wanna come by.”
Knowing he wasn’t getting anything more out of him, Ash sighed and said, “Yeah, yeah. Night, Aid.”
“Night, Ash.” He dropped a quick kiss on his forehead. “Tell Stefan I’ll talk to him in the morning.”
Ash shut the door behind him, thoughts of a once distant future now vividly clear in his head.
***
STEFAN
Stefan’s phone buzzed. He had a new text message from Adrian: ETA 5 mins.
Here and waiting he replied.
His best friend–and soon to be brother-in-law–heart reacted to the message and shot back See ya in a sec!
For a Tuesday afternoon, the courthouse seemed quieter than usual. Murmured conversations floated down the hollow halls. The sound of a security guard giving directions echoed off the high ceilings. A heavy door slammed shut somewhere on one of the floors above them.
Luca sat in the hard plastic chair next to him quietly watching a video on his tablet while they waited. His golden blond curls had been combed and plastered to his head with styling gel. He’d personally picked out the bowtie he was wearing–navy blue with yellow school buses (because school buses were so cool–to match with his little blue blazer.
Stefan laid a loving hand on his head and smiled.
It was crazy to think that this day was already here. When he and Ash had discussed marriage before, it had always been from a logistical standpoint. Being married meant it would be easier for Ash to adopt Luca. In the event they decided to make any big financial decisions, being married would make it easier to do so together. There wouldn’t be any questions about being each other’s voice in the case of an emergency, but they didn’t feel the need to get married to prove their devotion to each other. Ash was his One, and nothing–marriage license or not–would ever change that.
So, when he had proposed, the question had come as a surprise to them both.
They were out at dinner one night when an older couple had come in and were seated a few tables away from them, their hair silver and skin loose. Stefan had watched as the man took his wife’s coat and settled it on the back of the chair before pulling it out for her. He’d smiled to himself and turned his attention back to Ash, but his eyes kept drifting in their direction.
At one point, he caught the wife using a napkin to dab at the corner of her husband’s mouth. Another time he looked over and they were just smiling at each other, hands folded atop one another’s on the table. Stefan thought: I want that. So, he turned to Ash and asked, “Will you marry me?”
His fork stopped halfway to his mouth. His eyebrows had drawn together. Lowering his hand, he said, “Excuse me?”
Stefan had smiled in return and said, “I’ll get down on one knee if you want me to, but I don’t have a ring.”
Ash shook his head.
Laying his hand palm up on the table, he waited until his lover laced their fingers together before he continued. “I want to grow old with you.” He glanced over to the older couple once more. Ash followed his gaze and squeezed when he saw where he was looking. When their eyes met, he said, “I want to be your husband, and I want you to be mine. I want couples to see us one day and wish that they have what we have. So”–he grinned, unable to keep the light, electric feeling inside–“will you, Ashton Michael Avery, marry me?”
“Yes!” Ash had said, pulling their entwined fingers toward him, tears filling the corners of his eyes. Kissing the back of Stefan’s hand, he said, “Absolutely. 1000% yes, but you owe me a ring.”
The very next day, they’d gone out and gotten matching bands. Eight months later, here they were.
Two slender figures appeared in his peripherals. Stefan turned his head to see his best friend and his husband to be walking toward them.
Even though they weren’t having a traditional wedding, in keeping with wedding traditions, he and Ash had spent the night apart. Ash had packed an overnight bag and went to stay with his brother, but it hadn’t made much of a difference. They’d stayed up almost all night on FaceTime talking about nothing but not wanting to say goodnight.
They both looked handsome. Adrian was decked out in a standard black suit, a crisp white button-up and a blue tie that matched his eyes while Ash was resplendent in a floral suit he’d designed and sewed himself.
Stefan remembered when he bought the bolt home–white with pale blue and purple peonies. Ash had showed it to him, his fingers running over the material reverently. He’d said he wanted to make something special, something beautiful, out of the fabric, but at that time, he didn’t know what yet. Seeing him now, with his long blonde hair falling gracefully around his shoulders and his favorite blue silk shirt matching perfectly with the flowers and the blues of his eyes–God, he was beautiful–Stefan could not have thought of a better use.
He stood to greet them, giving his fiancé a long kiss and his best friend a hug. Ash turned his attention to Luca, a grin widening across his face, giving him and Adrian a moment to chat.
Stepping out of earshot, Adrian asked, “Everything’s in place for after the ceremony?”
Stefan nodded. “Yes. Mathis has our marriage license and the adoption papers ready.”
“Good,” he clapped Stefan on the shoulder. With a shake of his head, he said, “Can’t believe this day is here already. How are you feeling?”
“I was just thinking the same thing. And honestly? Anxious, but in a good way. There are butterflies, but they’re happy butterflies. Fresh out of their cocoons, learning how to use their wings, anything is possible butterflies. I’m very ready to be married to him.”
Smiling, Adrian said, “He feels the same way. Last night I caught him practicing his signature. ‘Ashton Santoro-Avery. ASA. AMSA.’ It was all very middle school crush. So cute.”
Stefan threw a look over his shoulder. Ash had either pulled Luca into his lap or Luca had crawled into Ash’s, and they were tapping away at something on the screen with smiles.
His heart swelled at the sight of the two most important people in his life. It was crazy to think that something as silly and simple as a flirtatious graze set off a series of events that turned into one of the best decisions of his life. With his future so full of possibilities, he couldn’t wait to see what happened next.