Every Shade by Nora Phoenix
9
They spent the rest of the day together in an easy companionship. They showered, and then AJ built some more furniture before Las decided to take him up on his offer to practice giving oral. It was a solid A-plus for effort, AJ told him, then painted Las’s face with cum all over again because swallowing might have been a bit much to ask. Turned out that was a good call.
AJ made sandwiches for them for dinner, which was spent chatting over anything and everything, then built Las’s bed afterward. When Las haltingly invited him to spend the night, AJ didn’t even have to think before saying yes. He fell asleep with Las holding him, knowing that he could easily get used to this.
The next morning, he took Las into his garden to meet Mike and Melissa. It was still early, the garden damp with morning dew. AJ took some sunflower seeds from his little garden shed and led Las to their dwelling in the back of his yard.
“Come sit with me,” he whispered and pulled Las down onto the wet grass.
Las immediately sat down, folding those long legs. AJ let out a soft whistle between his teeth, and only seconds later, Mike’s head popped up. The little gasp from Las made AJ smile.
“Good morning, Mike.” AJ held out his hand and dropped some seeds on the grass. “Where’s your family?”
The little mouse cocked his head as if he was listening, then disappeared again. AJ took Las’s hand and squeezed it in reaction to a soft sound of disappointment from him. “He’ll be back.”
He was right. A few seconds later, the mouse scurried out of his little house, followed by his wife Melissa. She took a good, long look at Las as if she realized he was new.
“This is Las.” AJ was unapologetic about his need to explain this to two mice. “You’ll be seeing much more of him.” Las made another sound, and AJ lifted the hand he was still holding and pressed a kiss on it. “At least, I hope so.”
He shot a look sideways. Las shifted his attention from Mike and Melissa to AJ, his eyes growing big for a second before they softened. “I hope so, too,” he said, and AJ kissed him until they were rolling around in the grass, giving Mike and Melissa something to watch as they made quick work of the sunflower seeds.
By the time AJ had his fill of Las, the mice had long since disappeared again, and the two of them were covered in grass stains and other evidence from their romp. That, of course, led to another shower together—this time in AJ’s house, where Las laughed at all the IKEA furniture AJ had, including the exact same bed he’d put together for Las.
The shower resulted in AJ giving a lesson in blowjobs, which, of course, Las had to reciprocate to demonstrate he’d paid attention. Breakfast was easy and relaxed, and since they both wanted to get some work done, AJ carried his laptop over to Las’s house and found a spot at the second desk in his office while Las wrote.
Two weeks later, they realized they hadn’t spent more than a few hours apart…and celebrated that with another round of sex, with Las bent over the bed and AJ letting loose on him from behind. It was perfect.
Until his brothers started texting. Again.
Nicolas:Call Mom.
Stephen:I can’t believe we’re having to do this again, bro.
Dandy: How long has it been this time?
Donovan: Two weeks again. That little shit never learns.
AJ: Excuse me for being a little preoccupied…with my boyfriend.
Nicolas:What?
Dandy:Come again?
Stephen:We’re gonna need details, little bro. Or we’re siccing mom on you.
AJ grinned as he pressed speed dial.
“AJ!” his mom said as soon as she picked up. “What on earth is more important than your mother?”
He could tease her for a bit, but he really didn’t want to, not when he was dying to share his news with her. He laced his fingers through Las’s and sent him a look that he was sure said everything he hadn’t put into words yet. Oh, it was there, this feeling that was so big and all-encompassing. He recognized it for what it was. And it would’ve scared him probably, if not for the fact that he saw his own emotions mirrored in Las’s eyes. No, he hadn’t said the words yet, but he would. Soon.
“Mom, I want you to meet someone. His name is Las.”
He had to hold his phone at arm’s length to protect his ears from the scream of joy she let out. “Arnold Jedidiah, what have you been keeping from me?”
AJ winced as Las’s mouth dropped open before he slammed a hand in front of his mouth and burst into silent giggles. “Arnold Jedidiah?” he mouthed at AJ.
AJ rolled his eyes. “Don’t ask,” he whispered back.
“Don’t ask?” his mom said. “Of course I’m gonna ask. I want to know everything.”
Las was finally done laughing and pressed a kiss on AJ’s hand. If he was still staying after hearing AJ’s name was just as horrific as his own, if not worse, it had to be true love. The soft smile Las gave him, those green eyes so sweet and loving, confirmed it. He’d found his unicorn.
AJ smiled. “It all started with an ad for someone to build IKEA furniture…”
