Chapter 28

“Do you care if we go?” Tate asked. “This is getting too weird.”

“Sure, we can leave,” Julian replied, a smile breaking out on his face.

Julian helped Tate over to where he’d left his artificial limb, then they headed back to the cabana. Glad to find it unoccupied, they quickly changed out of their swim suits. Tate dried his stump, put on the sock, and re-attached his leg. Lastly they gathered their things and headed out onto the pool deck.

A naked and very intoxicated Stephen came unsteadily up to them. “You’re not leaving are you? The party’s just started,” he slurred and fondled his semi-hard cock.

“The party’s over for us,” Tate said. “Thanks for inviting me. It was a real eye-opener.”

The pair left Stephen standing there, his hand still on his crotch, looking puzzled and protesting. They made their way through the house and out the front door.

“I had about as much of that stuff as I could stand,” Tate said, opening the passenger door

Julian smiled as a wave of relief swept through him. Once they were both safely belted in, he started the car and pulled out of the drive, heading for home.

Later, as they lay in bed wrapped in each other’s arms after making love, Tate sighed and said, “This is how it should be. Promise me we’ll never go to another party like that.”

Julian grinned and kissed the top of Tate’s head. “I promise.”

* * * *

The ringing of Tate’s phone woke them the next morning. Julian picked it up from the night stand and handed it to Tate. “Hello,” he said.

Julian got up and used the bathroom. When he came back to bed Tate had just ended the call. He laid the phone back on the bedside table and rolled over to face Julian. “Mom’s coming home tonight. Uncle Jess is doing much better.”

Julian nodded.

Tate sighed and rolled over onto his back, staring at the ceiling.

“Hey,” Julian said. He pulled Tate close.

Tate turned back to look at Julian. His expression was easy to read. Julian knew what Tate was thinking. With his mother home, their times like this would be limited. Tate wouldn’t be able to come out to her. Julian would have to go back to the carriage house.

“Come on.” Julian got out of bed and pulled Tate up beside him.

“Where are we going?” Tate asked.

“To make it look like I stayed in the guest room,” Julian said as he picked up his overnight bag and headed for the door.

When they reached the bedroom, Julian put his bag down and led Tate to the bed. He pulled back the covers and crawled in. Tate slipped in next to him.

“Thank you for understanding,” Tate murmured as he settled himself against Julian. “I wish things could be different, but I just can’t…”

“Shh,” Julian shushed and kissed him.

Tate responded and the two let the arousal they felt grow and block out the feelings of disappointment and regret over the situation.

“We’ll find a way to make it work. When you love someone there’s always a way,” Julian whispered.

Tate pulled back and looked into Julian’s eyes. “When you love someone?” Tate asked tentatively.

Julian had said it without realizing he had. It seemed so easy, so natural, like it had been there just waiting to be said.

“Yes, when you love someone, love finds a way.”

Tate looked at Julian, searching the man’s face, his brow creased. Julian waited. Had he said too much, assumed too much? Maybe Tate wasn’t ready to go this far.

“Julian,” Tate eventually said. “I wasn’t sure how you felt, if you did love me, if you could love m…” He didn’t finish the sentence but kissed Julian instead. When he broke the kiss, Tate said, “I love you, too.”

For the first time it was Julian who welcomed Tate inside him. As he lay there, his arms wrapped around Tate, filled with Tate’s manhood and love, Julian felt the last vestiges of his resistance to opening up to another relationship slip away. Now both he and Tate were free—Tate free to accept himself as a whole person, who could be accepted and loved just as he was, and Julian free to welcome love again.

As their passion rose and peaked, Julian experienced a wonderful sensation of completeness. A wholeness he’d never had with Virgil. He closed his eyes as he buried his face against Tate’s shoulder. An indescribable joy flooded him.

Tate raised Julian’s head and their eyes locked. A smile broke over Tate’s face which seemed to reflect the joy Julian was feeling. Then, while still deep inside Julian, Tate kissed him.