Cassie had been the one to suggest that they take separate cars back to Maddox's place. Being an intuitive person, she had seen the longing looks and explorational touches Mark and Maddox had been giving one another. And she thought she had felt Todd's eyes on her.... She had an inkling about why Todd might be gazing at her, and smiled a little to herself. The logical thing to do, then, had been to suggest the obvious plan. "Why don't you two boys go back and pack what needs to be packed, and I'll get to know Todd a little better so I won't be a third wheel?." She'd turned to Todd and grinned. "I'll let you drive my Charger a bit, if ya want?"
Todd hadn't needed further encouragement. Eager to drive the pretty girl's very hot car, he turned to Maddox with an unmistakable puppy-dog- eyes expression..
"Sounds good to me. I could use the help." Maddox ticked off a list of things out loud, half to Mark and half to himself, that needed to happen before he could make the trip home. There were a lot of items on the list, and he hoped he could get them all done in time to be with Mark, before they'd all have to pile into the SUV and begin the trip to his parents' house.
~*~*~*~
Mark's feet tapped nervously as Maddox drove. He gazed unseeing out the window; questions about what would happen when they got back to the apartment ran repeatedly through his brain. He knew what he wanted ... needed, even. He fervently hoped Maddox would welcome him into his arms, and even better, his bed. But he didn't have high expectations for either outcome. His heart struggled to beat in his chest as if he was hanging over the edge of a rollercoaster speeding along a steep downward slope.
After what seemed like an eternity, the two former lovers pulled up at the familiar apartment.
Mark glanced over at Maddox ... and all of his worry faded. He let out a whoosh of breath he hadn't known he'd been holding,. grinning at Maddox. "You look about as worried as I feel," and reached over to lace his fingers reassuringly with Maddox's. He massaged the cold digits, bringing life back into them. "Your hands are freezing,." he purred. Something just felt right about taking care of the larger male. His man. He leaned over and grazed his warm lips across the tips of Maddox's fingers, then kissed each digit. "I was afraid you wouldn't take me back." Mark confessed quietly, leaning back a little as he spoke. He hadn't dared to look into the eyes of his lover while confessing his darkest fear. He knew he needed to tell Maddox about Noah, but right now was a time for healing wounds, not ripping the stitching out of healing ones.
Maddox had been instantly stilled by Mark's warm lips. He hadn't noticed how cold his fingers had become until Mark's warm mouth had enveloped them. He sighed a little, relieved that this was just as difficult for Mark as it was for him. "I was afraid you wouldn't come back," he reciprocated in confession, wiggling his fingers and feeling the new warmth. His thoughts shifted to his glove box. Tucked deep within it was something he had been wanting to give Mark for a long time. Looks like
I'll have to wait a little longer to give him the papers....Maddox's hand was being tugged rather insistently by his lover.
"Come on babe. It's cold out here. Let's go get you packed; and if we are lucky, Cassie will keep your friend busy long enough for me to show you just how much I missed you." He looked suggestively between Maddox's legs, knowing his words were sending heat all over his lover's body just as his lips and breath had warmed Maddox's fingers.
Leaping out of the car as if it suddenly contained a rabid dog, Maddox grinned. "We should have enough time."
Mark couldn't help but laugh at his lover's sudden hurried enthusiasm. "Missed me that much, baby?" He teased giving Maddox's nose a light tap.
"Of course, and for reasons other than sex,." Maddox retorted a little defensively.
"I know, but you could have used your hand to ease some of the ... tension." His gaze and his hand moved down along the front of Maddox's tented jeans.
"I couldn't. I missed you too much and it just didn't feel right."
Mark's smiling lips were pressed against Maddox's, a bubble of laughter forming "I'm sorry baby. Let me get you inside and make it all better."
The door knob twisted in his hand;, his predictable lover had left it unlocked, and the pair stumbled through.
They stood in the foyer with the door closed; Mark locked it behind them, and then moved close.
Maddox felt Mark's hands slide up his chest. "I got tested," he whispered, wanting those hands to never move, and to move everywhere, at the same time.
His hands wandering down over his lover's sculpted body, Mark lowered himself to his knees, then looked up with bright eyes, and smiled. "I'm guessing you are clean." He unbuckled Maddox's pants and slid them down his thighs. His breathing picked up, the body in view that he had so desperately missed.
He watched as Maddox nodded and then inhaled sharply as Mark's mouth suddenly engulfed his cock.
Licking the sensitive head, Mark pulled off just long enough to say, "Good, I can't wait to be inside of you,." then swallowed the big cock again.
Gripping Mark's shoulders, Maddox lurched forward. It had been a long time, and he wasn't sure he would last long. "I want you Mark," he whispered, then groaned with the effort of holding himself back.
Mark licked the sensitive underside before tonguing the slit. "Not right now baby, I want that to be special." He bobbed on Maddox's thick length, his only goal to make his lover feel good. He wanted to feel that closeness again. He swallowed against Maddox's shaft and bobbed, slurping unapologetically as he deep-throated his man.
The sensations Mark was causing, left Maddox without words. His body quivered, feeling that powerful tongue press and lick and swirl all around him.
It had been too long since Mark had been with his lover, and he missed every inch of him,. his scent, his taste, the texture and feel of his skin ... everything about Maddox was perfect. As much as he wanted this to take hours, he knew their time alone right now was limited, and so he made it his singular goal to make Maddox feel good. They'd have time to make up for the loss, later.
Pulling out every trick he knew, Mark soon had Maddox almost screaming in pleasure. He looked up mischievously into his lover's unfocused blue eyes. It was so to see the look of pure lust- soaked intoxication overtake his face and force his jaw to slacken, his eye brows knit together in deep concentration while blood colored his cheeks as he erupted in Mark's mouth.
Mark had never enjoyed the taste of cum but this time he swallowed full mouthfuls, realizing Maddox really had held out for him.
After a series of small after shocks Maddox finally came back down to earth. He hadn't realized how hard he'd been biting his lip or how his hands had all but embedded themselves while gripping, vice-like, Mark's shoulder blades. He flushed again at the sudden realization of the completely vulnerable position in which he had allowed himself to be placed; yet he trusted Mark not to hurt him.
"You really needed that," Marked teased, giving Maddox's softening member a final kiss before tucking it away again. He stood up and leaned in close, helping Maddox with his belt. Maddox's hands eagerly sought out Mark's aching member. "Not yet, I want to wait. I wanted this to be just about you." He closed his eyes and adjusted himself, suspecting that later on he would likely regret denying himself a release. He felt movement and opened his eyes to see his big man kneeling down in front of him.
"That's not fair, I want to. I missed this just as much." Maddox rubbed his nose and chin up along Mark's zipper line, then gazed up imploringly.
"Later love, I promise you we will have time later." Mark stifled a deep groan, as he stepped back. As Maddox reluctantly stood back up, Mark gave his lover's rump a love pat, "Come on, let's get you packed so I can meet the family," and then tried to hide a reflexive shudder at the thought. For one thing, meeting the family was a big step in their relationship. And for another, he didn't have a good track record with regard to family dynamics.
~*~*~*~
Mark watched the trees, and fences go by his window. Every one they passed meant they were that much closer to their destination, and caused his fists to tighten just a bit more, his breathing to quicken and heart to pump louder, threatening to plummet into his stomach and be consumed by its energetic churning.
He had never been the family type, certainly not after experiencing the tragedy of his own family and how it had turned against him. He was therefore dreading this meeting now. Maddox seemed so sure that his family would be fine with meeting Mark, and furthermore that being near Maddox's pregnant, and probably disgruntled, ex-wife, would be fine. Visions of horrible scenarios popped easily into his head.
Take the scenario in which Maddox's parents slammed the door in their faces, disowned their son, and tried to rip them apart....
But when any of the horrible visions began feeling so real to him that he thought he might as well jump out of the car now and save Maddox the trouble, Maddox seemed to sense Mark's turmoil. At that moment, he would reach over and give Mark's hand a comforting squeeze. That reassuring tie to reality: it was as if Maddox knew when he needed it most.
The comforting squeeze made Mark smile. Maddox had grown so much since their first night together. He had gotten stronger, more comfortable with himself. Mark kissed his fingertips, silently praising him for his progress, strength, and conviction to persevere. He had to get back to that himself. Even if the worst happened, Mark would still have his lover, of that he felt sure. They would get through it together.
"Almost there."
Hearing this, Mark's heart sank. All the peptalking he had done moments ago seemed for naught. His skin grew clammy and his stomach churned all over again, as the gravel of Maddox's parents' driveway crunched under the tires.
The driveway took a curve under an archway of trees, and a picturesque brick house came into view. Two fat chestnut ponies munched grass in the front yard, and picked their heads up as if to determine whether or not the noise makers were a threat, or were only mildly interesting. Did the newcomers have any sweet juicy apples...? Mark distracted himself for the briefest of moments, as he looked at them and smiled to himself, deciphering their alert, doe-eyed expressions. Turning to gaze back at the house and then at Maddox, though, the churning sensation returned full-force.
"Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, we could just say we are friends or something. You don't have to come out; not now, not on a holiday, anyway...."
They'd parked the car off to the side of the driveway. Less than a minute later, they heard rather than saw Cassie and Todd drive up and park nearby.
Maddox turned to Mark and shook his head, then tilted Mark's face toward his own. He wanted Mark to see the sincerity in his eyes, to know how calm and sure he felt. "It will be fine. I promise." He pressed his lips to Mark's, effectively silencing any further objections. "Promise," he repeated.
