Mike got up from the table and took the plates to the kitchen, Tommy following. “Well, that filled a hole. I’m gonna make some coffee. You want some?” Tommy nodded. Mike started setting up his coffee machine. “We can always Skype during the week when you’re at school, y’know.”
The memory of their first Skype call sent heat rushing through Tommy. “Uh, okay.”
Mike laughed. “And every call doesn’t get to be like that first one, dirty boy. There was something I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. Your Skype address, TNewsome1995. Why that year?”
Without thinking, Tommy replied, “It’s the year I was born.” The words were out before he remembered.
Too late. Mike was staring at him, eyebrows raised. “Uh, Tommy? How old are you? Right this second?”
Well, shoot. “Nineteen,” he said quietly. “I’ll be twenty next month, though.”
“Nineteen,” Mike repeated slowly. “So I’m not dating a twenty-one-year-old student after all.” He bit his lip. “Well, that explains the Cherry Cokes.”
“Hey, I drink Cherry Coke because I really don’t drink.”What must he be thinkin’?“I’m sorry.” Tommy’s heart sank. “I didn’t mean to keep it from ya. I was gonna tell ya about the fake ID, honest.” He watched Mike’s expression for some clue as to his reaction.
Mike crossed the kitchen floor and took him in his arms. “It’s okay. At least I know now.” He peered intently at Tommy. “But from now on, no secrets, okay? And that goes for me too.” He kissed Tommy on the mouth. “I mean it, Tommy. I want you in my life, and I want us to last, so that means starting as we mean to go on, with us both being honest.”
Tommy looked into his eyes and smiled. “I want that too. An’ I promise, no more secrets.” That earned him another kiss. The feel of Mike’s dick against his thigh was a reminder of their state, and his shaft hardened. “Uh, would you mind if I put some clothes on?” Maybe he wasn’t cut out to be a nudist. Not yet at any rate. Maybe with more practice.
Mike chuckled. “I tell you what. Let’s both put on some clothes. It’s just occurred to me that maybe we should go pick up your stuff before dinner. You might want a change of clothing.”
He had a point. “Yeah, let’s do that.” Besides, he knew Caroline would want to know how things were going. He couldn’t wait to see her face when he shared Mike’s news. And then dinner out with Mike.
It was looking like it was going to be a great evening.
Mike always liked eating out at Joe’s on Juniper. There were classier restaurants in Atlanta, true, but he loved eating outside with the colored lights sparkling in the trees, watching the people go by.
Tommy loved it, judging from the look of delight on his face. He kept looking up at the sparkly canopy above their heads and smiling. “This is so nice.”
“I’m glad.” Mike hadn’t missed the looks from some of the restaurant’s occupants. There’d been a few subtle double takes when someone had recognized him, but Tommy’d had his fair share of admirers too. Not that Mike was surprised. Tommy was well built and muscled, with a face that drew all kinds of attention to him.
Mike took Tommy’s hand. “You happy?”
Tommy let out a sigh. “Yeah. Though it’s makin’ me feel greedy for more time with ya.”
Mike felt the same way. In fact, he’d been thinking about that all afternoon. “So, you’re in your second year?”
Tommy nodded. “I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout doin’ summer school, so I could end up doin’ three years instead of four. Then there’s another three years at the veterinary school on top of that.”
Mike whistled. “A lot of studying.” They’d discussed it before, but now it suddenly had more meaning. Now they were together.
“Yeah, but it’ll be worth it at the end, if I get to be a vet.” His expression sobered. “’Course, that means I’d have even less time with you in the summer.” He let out another sigh and thenseemed to shrug off his contemplative mood. “What about you? What you gonna do now you’re not doin’ porn anymore?”
“Keep working at Woofs. I’ve got enough put aside to be able to live on that.” He took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “I figured I’d keep working ’til you graduate. Then I thought we might open a vet office.” He waited for his words to sink in.
Tommy stared at him. “A… a vet office?”
Mike nodded, his gaze focused on Tommy. “Maybe somewhere a bit more rural, outside of Atlanta. Actually, I thought we could run it from somewhere close to our house.” There, he’d finally gotten out what he’d been thinking about all that evening.
It felt as if the world stopped turning around them. All he saw was Tommy’s face, his eyes wide, mouth open. “House?Ourhouse?”
Mike tightened his fingers around Tommy’s. “I was serious before, baby. I want us to have a life together. So—” He took a drink from his glass of white wine before speaking. “—I was thinking of selling my house, and?—”
“But your house is great!” Tommy protested.
Mike smiled. “It’s just a house, Tommy. I bought it as an investment, and as that, it’s done just fine. It’s worth a lot more than when I bought it.” He chuckled. “A whole lot more. But it’s not a home. I want to buy a place that’s ours. Somewhere with space for horses, cows, dogs, chickens….” He laughed as Tommy’s mouth dropped open even more. “Well, you’ll want to have some animals to practice on, right? And for that you’ll need some space. I was thinking five to ten acres would be a good size.”
Tommy stared at him. “You’re serious, aren’t ya?”
