“The reality was that I was almost happy to see Stephen go, but losing Tanner crushed me. I tried to arrange contact with him for two years, but Stephen refused to let me. I finally gave up. It’s been eight years since they left, and it’s a wound that won’t heal.” He hung hishead while I held him against me. I stroked his head, wanting to soothe his shattered soul.
“I am so sorry. I wish I could do something.” When Aaron looked at me, his eyes glistened.
“You can. I know this is new, and it is only a week since we entered each other’s lives, but something about you makes me feel better. These things I am feeling I never felt with Stephen, and he was allegedly someone I loved. Of course, hindsight is twenty-twenty, but I don’t think that was what I felt for him. I wanted to fill some void.” I wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but I knew he had to get this out.
“I like you so much. I feel different with you in my life.” He smiled at me; his eyes filled with happiness again.” Relief flooded me. “Tanner made contact today. His grandparents agreed to let him see me. River, I’m going to see him.”
“Oh, Aaron, that's amazing!! I understand why you decided to tell me this now.”
“I know this might seem weird.” I had no idea what would be weird, considering the topic. “I would like you to come with me to meet Tanner. If you think it’s too soon, I will understand. I have never been so nervous about something in my life. Just having you there would help me get through it. He’s sixteen now. I just want you holding my hand.” He blew out a breath like he had been holding it.
“Of course, I will come with you and hold your hand. I’ll do anything you need me to do.” Putting my hand on his cheek, I kissed him gently.
“He’s a good kid. I’d like you to meet him as much as I want your support.” He leaned in and kissed me softly again. Once that was out of the way.
“There are reasons I decided to tell you now. I wanted you to know about my past. As I said, this is an open wound that doesn’t seem to heal. You had to know it wasn’t about Stephen in any way. We are building something here just in case I get triggered. I also didn’t want you to infer anything from meeting my ex-boyfriend’s kid.” For the first time, he looked almost embarrassed. I looked him in the eye and nodded. “This weekend, we will be taking things to the next level, I hope, so I want everything on the table. While discussing my past, you should know I have been with three men in the last eight years. One was a friend with benefits, and there was no penetration. The other two were spontaneous hand jobs. I haven’t been with any man in any way in the last four years. My insurance company does full testing yearly, and all my results have been returned as clear. I figured you would like to know my sexual history, being the third date.” He raised an eyebrow, his eyes crinkled at the corners. “For the record, it’s not that I don’t love and want sex, but people come with baggage, and I didn’t want to deal with that.” He shrugged his shoulders. “This week, I started thinking that having sex with someone who touches me emotionally will be much different than anything I have experienced.”
I wanted to kiss his face off. He wanted me to know he was safe but also wanted to share intimacy with me, not just have an orgasm. My dick raised the flag, and I got a boner at an inappropriate time. Thanks body.
“My history is rather colorful if I am honest.” I started feeling very awkward having this conversation. “Early on, I took full advantage of what came with being a sports agent. I haven’t even had a real relationship. A few years ago, I generally came to the same conclusion you did. I haven’t been with anyone for a few years. If my math is right, I believe it’s three and a half years.” I raised my eyes to see if my sexual history changed his opinion of me. “I suppose the good part of beingrich is insurance companies. My last tests were less than six months ago; like I said, it’s been me and my hand for a few years. I can show you my health portal if you want.”
“Good. I don’t need to see your portal. I trust you." Now that we have covered that, we no longer need to think about it.
I could see the pulse on his neck quicken. He suddenly pushed me back on the couch, his body covering mine. Our kisses became hard and desperate. I could feel his length against mine through our pants. He leisurely rubbed his groin against me. Everywhere we touched, I felt electricity. I’d never felt this kind of energy with another man. It was new, and I liked it. This feeling was addictive, and I couldn’t get enough. His mouth was hungry and demanding. His hands ran up to my sides, and I was lit up from the inside out. He put his elbows on either side of my head, and his weight settled on me while he kissed along my jaw and down my neck.
“You are quite a special man, River. I want to show you daily for as long as you’ll have me.”
“Like a boyfriend?” I was afraid I would hyperventilate. He didn't say anything to my question. He kissed my forehead, teased my lips, and sucked just below my ear.
“Only if you will have me.” He whispered so quietly. Chills rippled through me. I could feel the sting behind my eyes. He moved back to my mouth and kissed me softly, his lips slightly open. He nipped along my mouth, letting his tongue barely touch mine. He looked down into my face. I could feel the tears as they slid down my cheeks.
He moved his hands along my neck and wiped away the salty drops with his thumb. There was no pushing me. He just stared at me. I didn’t understand how someone so strong could be so gentle, how he could be quiet and patient. He just waited.
My heart hammered in my chest. I knew at that moment that I wanted to try this. I wanted to see what it was like to have this intense man with broad shoulders and bulging pecs to be tender with me. I needed to know where this was going to go.
“I’ll have you.” I managed to croak out. I felt his whole body relax. He rested his forehead on the couch next to my shoulder.
“Oh, thank fuck.” He started to chuckle, which turned into a full laugh. He nuzzled into my neck, his tongue warm on my skin, and his soft moans gave me chills. I had no idea how long we stayed like that. We kissed and teased. My lips were swollen, and I had a slight beard burn on my neck. Eventually, he sat up and pulled me upright next to him. He hugged me hard. “You think you can feed your boyfriend a snack?”
I liked how that sounded. “You can have me as a snack if you want.”
“The third date hasn’t happened yet. We can’t break the rules of the universe, can we? We only have hours to wait now. I mean, assuming I am willing to put out.” He grinned wickedly.
I wanted to break all the rules. I couldn’t believe we had made it this far. We’ve even committed to seeing where this went before being intimate.
“I have a snack for you that I made earlier. Since we are having a big dinner, something light to hold us over was the best plan.” I pulled out a vegetable tray with homemade hummus.
“Damn, perfect solution.”
“Charlie! Daisy! Come eat.” I had prepared two plates of food for them, containing the same things on our tray, plus chopped-up beef and pork. I grabbed two bottles of water and the food.
“I prefer eating out here. Is that good with you?”
“I am happy on the comfy couch.” He walked over to the door where he had put his stuff. He picked up a handful of red folders and brought them with him.
We sat down, and I turned on the TV. I found the current season of some medical drama and turned it on.
“What’s in the folders?” I nodded at them with my head while shoving some green peppers in my mouth.
