“On what?” Brenden nipped at his chin before licking and sucking gently on the bruised skin.
“How much it’s wor…” Stephen didn’t get to finish his words before Brenden captured his lips in a kiss, moaning enticingly as he devoured Stephen’s mouth and senses.
“So,” Brenden whispered against his lips.
“Huh?” Stephen asked, dazed. His eyes were closed and he opened them when he heard Brenden chuckle. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” Brenden told him before he kissed him again. He could get used to coming home and receiving kisses like those.
** ** ** ** **
A couple of mornings later, Stephen was in the kitchen making himself a light snack when strong arms wrapped around him. They had some time before they had to leave for the day. They were finally going to meet Brenden’s family, or Nonna according to Nicholas; who couldn’t stop talking about her. Brenden kissed the side of his neck, and he turned around, taking their kiss further. He’d woke up earlier before everyone else. Normally, his dad would already be up and sitting at the kitchen table reading the morning paper or making breakfast, but even he wasn’t up yet.
“Good morning,” Stephen said once they stopped kissing.
“Same to you,” Brenden answered. “I hate waking up without you beside me.”
“Blame your kid, he or she decided to sit on my bladder and forced me to come down here to fix a snack instead of going back to bed to cuddle next to you.”
“Don’t blame my kid for your weird cravings.”
“Who should I blame, then?” Stephen asked as he leaned in to kiss Brenden more, not giving him a chance to answer.
“Good, you’re both up.”
Brenden and Stephen stopped kissing. He looked over his lover’s shoulder and looked at his dad. Stephen tilted his head. “Wasn’t that what you wore last night?”
His dad’s face colored, and he looked down scratching the back of his head. “Yeah,” he answered sheepishly. “Like I said, I’m glad you guys are up. I need to talk to you both about something. Well, more like I need to tell you guys something.” He took off his jacket and sat down.
Stephen looked at Brenden, who shrugged his shoulders. “You sound weird,” Stephen commented, sitting down. Brenden stayed standing and leaned against the counter, folding his arms over his chest. “You’re not sick or anything, right?” he asked worriedly.
Julian smiled. “No, nothing like that. I’m getting married,” he blurted out quickly; it all sounded jumbled together.
Stephen’s brows furrowed together. “Wait, what? Can you repeat that?”
“I said, I’m getting married,” he repeated much slower.
Stephen stared at him for a few minutes not saying anything. “To who? I didn’t realize you were serious about the guy you’re seeing…” he intoned. “Dad, who are you getting married to?”
“Mark and I are getting married,” Julian told them looking over his shoulder to Brenden.
Stephen turned to look at Brenden, trying to figure out who he was referring to. Brenden’s eyes widened.
“You don’t mean…” Brenden started.
“Yeah, Jaxson’s dad, Mark Colvin,” Julian said, causing Stephen to turn and look at him.
“You’re getting married to Mark Colvin, but, Dad, he’s not gay!” Stephen exclaimed. “I didn’t even know you guys were friends.”
“What does love have to do with being gay or straight?” Julian snapped.
“You know I didn’t mean it that way,” Stephen defended.
“No, then tell me how you meant it?” Julian stood. “I would have thought you of all people would have at least been happy for me, Stephen. Maybe I was wrong.” He went up the stairs before Stephen could say anything else.
“Go after him,” Brenden told him.
He turned to look at his lover. “It’s not that I’m not happy for him. But I’m just confused. My dad Nick was the love of his life. I mean he told me he would never find another man who loved him the way my dad did. And I guess it all just came out of left field. I knew he was seeing someone, but…” Stephen wasn’t sure how to articulate his words. “Mark Colvin.”
