Page 57 of See My Words

“That’s it.” Scott stroked him through it, cupping Rylan’s balls in a gentle massage. “Give it all up for me. So beautiful.”

Rylan kissed Scott desperately, whimpering down into his mouth, his body shuddering. The sound of Rylan’s pleasure and the feel of his cock pulsing against him sent Scott’s own orgasm sweeping over him, and he groaned as his hot fluid spurted out to mix with Rylan’s.

Rylan cupped Scott’s face with shaking hands, stroking his thumbs over his cheekbones, rocking his hips against Scott’s as their breathing slowed. “I love you,” he whispered, pressing their foreheads together. “Love you.”

Scott hugged him close before standing up with Rylan still wrapped around him. He carried him into the bathroom, not putting him down until the hot water from the shower was cascading over them, keeping his arms tight around Rylan’s waist.

Scott leaned down to kiss him gently. “You are the only one in my life who’s ever backed up those words with your actions. That means something to me, okay?”

They washed, got out of the shower, and dressed before tiptoeing downstairs. The kitchen was thankfully empty of naked lovers, any mess they’d made cleaned up, so Scott made a fresh pot of coffee.

It wasn’t long until Chris came down dressed in faded jeans and a tight black T-shirt, looking bright-eyed with a spring in his step. “Good morning,” he chirped. “Hey, sleepyhead.” Scott felt his lips tighten when he ruffled Rylan’s hair and gave him a quick kiss, but he forced himself to smile and shake Chris’s hand when he extended it to him.

“Morning,” he mumbled. “Fresh coffee over there. Help yourself.”

“Hellooo, my loves!” Minh swept in next, wearing a flowing aqua shirt half-unbuttoned, skinny black jeans, and chunky-soled boots. He was also sporting eyeliner and shiny lip gloss, and his black hair was spiked.

He looked amazing.

“So we’re headed into Sedona for brunch,” he announced. “Y’all want to come with? Let me tell you, the shopping is amazing. Galleries, jewelry, little boutiques that make my heart go pitter-patter.”

“I thought it was me who did that,” Chris growled, reaching around to fill his hands with Minh’s ass and give him a squeeze. Minh wiggled up against him, twining his arms around Chris’s neck. They nuzzled noses, and Scott rolled his eyes.

“Oh, brother. Can you two give it a rest already? Seriously.”

Rylan was beaming at them, and he looked at Scott. “I’d love to go.”

“Then we’ll go. But Chris drives.”

A quick run upstairs to grab wallets, phones, and cameras, and soon they were ensconced in Chris’s SUV and headed into town.

“I found this little arts and crafts village the other day,” Minh said, “and oh my God, I want to go back.”

He gave Chris directions, and it wasn’t long until they’d parked and were walking through an arched entryway into a large courtyard boasting a burbling fountain surrounded by lush greenery.

“How do you pronounce the name?” Rylan was asking Minh, waving at the wrought-iron letters mounted over their heads along the curve of the arch.

“Tlaquepaque.” Minh clapped his hands and bounced with glee. “It means ‘the best of everything.’ I asked,” he added, glaring at Scott as if daring him to mock him. “The whole thing was built forty years ago, and it’s supposed to be modeled after a real Mexican village. Isn’t it gorgeous?”

Scott gazed around him. It really was. Cobblestone walkways, vine-covered stucco walls, and colorful flowers were everywhere, and as they headed deeper into the interior of the village, the smell of delicious food wafted to their noses. There were galleries and shops lining both sides of the street, and it wasn’t long before Chris and Rylan disappeared into one proclaiming of their “fine-art photography.”

Scott wandered over to sit on the edge of yet another small fountain, a beautifully wrought sculpture of a woman with long dark hair wrapped in a traditional Mexican blanket in the center of it.

“This place is awesome,” he said when Minh plopped next to him. “Is that a chapel over there?”

Minh glanced to where he was pointing. “Yep. It’s gorgeous inside, all stained glass and murals, these old leather pews. They do weddings, and it’d be like getting married in the heart of Old Mexico.” He sighed before asking slyly, “Scouting locations, are we?”

“What?” It took Scott a moment to get it, and then he gave a snort. “No.”

Minh scooted a little closer. “Why not?” he teased. “If I had that sweet baby for my very own, I’d do everything I could to tie him to me forever.”

“He said he loves me, Minh.”

Minh dropped the playful act and put his hand on Scott’s arm, his voice gentle yet serious when he said, “And that scares the shit out of you. I can see it written all over your face. Why, doll?”

Scott watched as a painter sat down in front of an easel just outside her gallery and went to work busily mixing colors on her palette. “It fucking terrifies me, because I know he means it. It’s not like all the others who’ve said that to me because they’re infatuated with my looks.” He grunted. “Or because I’ve just made them come.”

“Exactly, he’s not like all the others. He’d be around for the long haul, the good and the bad. He took such good care of you when you were hurt. Why don’t you trust him?”