“How’s that cooking class?”
Damian grinned. “You’ll see. I’ll make something. I bought a bunch of stuff.”
Gabe laced his arms around his neck. “I love it when you cook…”
“You haven’t even tasted it yet.”
“It doesn’t matter. Cooking is sexy…” Gabe kissed him. “Eating is sexy.” Kissing him again.
“Filthy fuck…” He kissed him back, holding him close. Breaking it when he heard the water rush. “Better check on our little daredevil…”
Gabe let him go and disappeared upstairs. Damian went to that large double-door fridge, rummaging inside.Cooking is sexy…his lips curled up, almost laughing, but he pulled a large piece of meat out, red. Some potatoes, milk, butter. Gabe had been right, it was easy after that crude cooking on the island, to follow instructions and transform those raw ingredients in the comfort of the kitchen. Smiling when the others had pulled faces at gutting chicken, fish.
He got lost a bit in that cooking, watching that sizzling meat leak its juice, mashing the soft potatoes up. A drizzle of olive oil, a nut of butter, salt, pepper. Fluffing it up. Something bumped against his leg. He looked down into those dark eyes.
“Can a T-Rex cook?”
“Sure. Look.” Damian helped him up onto a stool and gave him a spoon. “Stir the potatoes.”
Gabe laced his arms around Damian from behind, resting his head on his shoulder. “Smells good.”
“Hungry?”
Gabe’s hands pinched his abs. “Oh, yes…”
Damian grinned, breathing a bit harder. “Just wait… almost done.” He turned his head to give him a quick kiss.
Armando faced Damian on the stool, so he held him by the waist, watching him lick the spoon.
“Good?”
“Uhum… I told my teacher that I have two papás. And Mamá is en el cielo.”
Damian bit back a reply, pushing a smile on. “Okay. Great. Let’s eat.”
One morning, Damian had taken Armando to school, and then came back to their flat with a large bunch of flowers. He pushed it in Gabe’s hands, smiling at his puzzled eyes. “Get dressed in something decent. And take the flowers.”
Gabe’s heart rushed, his fingers grazing those soft petals. “Where…?”
“Just do it. Don’t argue.”
Gabe went and dressed, a bit stressed, taking that large bunch, lacing his arm around Damian’s. Letting him walk him down a couple of blocks to a building. Going inside, straight to a large room. Gabe’s eyes wide at that table, and a woman standing behind it. A man there too, and Christine. Gabe froze a bit, clutching that bouquet tight, but Damian just smiled at him.
“This is our big day.”
Gabe stopped, in utter shock. “What?”
Damian smoothed his hand on his cheek. “I said it, right? That I would make it all official. So, here it is. Harry, my lawyer, and Christine will testify of our everlasting love.” He leant close, his lips grazing Gabe’s flaming cheek. “This way, if anything happened to me, you’d be safe… and so would Armando… with you… as my husband.” Meeting his wide eyes. “Speechless? I hope you can push a ‘yes’ out.” Grinning.
Gabe felt like kissing that smug mouth, burning with anger and amusement, but he walked with Damian to face that woman. Giving a small wave at Harry and Christine. Listening to those scarce words from that official woman, holding Damian’s arm tight, the flowers' heady scent reminding him of their ceremony on the island. A strange calm in him, that this was just a formality, and they had lived that true moment. Saying ‘yes’, still, with trembling lips, next to Damian’s assured, deep voice. Turning into that deep kiss, letting Damian almost pull him off the ground. A shameless kiss. Signing then. Hugging Christine and Harry. Going to cut that small cake she had brought.
That walk home, a dream, holding the flowers, holding his hand. Glancing up at Damian. “Shouldn’t we have a contract?”
“What for?” His amused eyes. “I die, you’re rich, and the kid too. It’s simple. I love you. And I only care about leaving you my money, so you’re safe. Both of you.”
“You won’t die…”
Damian smiled, squeezing his hand tight. “Hopefully, we still have many years together.”
