Ripped (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (5 page)

“Can’t you be satisfied with what I am able to give for now? I told you, always and forever!”

“I’ve had to be satisfied for the past year and a half! I’m finished discussing this! We are just going in circles! I’m deeply in love with you, and that is never going to change, but you have to help yourself. I see that you only have one option in this, and that is repairing us. When you repeated those vows on the beach, you committed yourself to me and this marriage. Catherine doesn’t fit into that equation. I don’t share, and I don’t play open marriage games. Andrew is a different situation. If he is indeed your son, I understand wanting to be a part of his life, and would hope you would do so.”

“Will you be there tonight?” Roman asked.

“Against my better judgment. Someone has to make sure that my gay baby doesn’t end up in bed with her. She also needs to see that you are not available.”

While Kyle showered, Roman put the steaks on the grill. The salad was chilling in the refrigerator as he uncorked a bottle of wine, putting it on ice. He lied to himself, trying to admit that the only excitement he was feeling was because of Andrew. It was hard to see Catherine and not revisit his marriage with Lisa. She had probably saved his life that afternoon, as he remembered putting away his gun in the nightstand to answer the door.

Feeling two arms around his waist, he turned, hoping to find Kyle in a better mood. Instead, he gazed in shock at his partner.

“You don’t like it?” Kyle said, towel-drying his boyishly short hair.

“I liked it long. Will take some getting used to,” Roman replied cautiously, not wanting Kyle’s mood to change.

“I had it done after I left the gym, and you were busy on the patio when I got home. It’s more appropriate, since I am a married man now.”

“I need to check the steaks.”

“They can wait a minute. I got a call from our photographer that our photos could be picked up, the images from the beach. They are really good, especially one. Now go check the steaks while I get it.”

Roman returned to a framed image on the bar. The photographer had captured him caressing Kyle’s cheek, their eyes focused on each other.

“No one has ever looked at me like that,” Kyle said quickly, closing the distance between them. “The young woman at the frame shop agreed to do this one on short notice this afternoon only because she said that it touched her heart. It touched mine, too. If your eyes and your body can tell me, why can’t I hear your voice?” he said, caressing the back of Roman’s neck. “You were right. We do need to talk tonight after Catherine leaves.”

“I can’t make any promises that I will be able to tell you what you need to hear,” Roman said, turning so they were facing each other.

“I know you love me,” Kyle said softly, brushing Roman’s lips with his own. “We just have to figure out together how to bridge that gap.”

Between kisses, Kyle whispered, “I was wrong to shut you out. I’m just hurting.”

“The steaks will be done in about ten minutes, and they will be here in thirty. Now is not the time…and not in the kitchen.”

“That’s enough time for what I plan to do. Anyway, only one of us is undressing, and that lucky man is you,” Kyle said, pushing Roman against the bar.

“I really wish you hadn’t cut your hair, silly boy,” Roman said, feeling Kyle unbuckling the belt on his slacks. “What am I going to tangle my hands in while you blow me.”

“I’m sure you will be more than compensated for that,” Kyle said, disappearing into the bedroom, retrieving a condom. “Now let me suck my gay baby. I like your trashy mouth, too.”

“No, I think you’re the one who’s going to have a
trashy mouth
,” Roman replied as his head went back in pleasure.

Kyle’s mouth teased and enveloped his hard dick as he felt his husband’s tongue lick his cock from base to head, pausing only to swirl the tip before repeating the process.

Roman claimed half of his enjoyment from his husband’s sweet sounds, a combination of pleasurable moans and the friction of the movement. Roman gripped Kyle’s head as his partner’s lips went deeper, pushing him over the edge.

The doorbell rang at exactly seven. As Roman walked past Kyle to answer the door, he felt him slap his hip.

When Roman opened the door, Catherine was alone.

“I thought you were going to bring Andrew?”

“I left him with Mama. I wasn’t sure what to expect here and…”

“We’re sorry to disappoint you, Catherine. Roman and I are pretty much the average homosexual couple, or at least when we’re not having a
men’s party
. So, Roman, are you going to introduce me?”

Roman watched Catherine’s reaction, thinking that she blushed slightly. He made the introductions, feeling Kyle put an arm around his shoulders.

Dinner consisted of idle chitchat and Kyle’s subtle displays of affection. By dessert, Roman had encountered Kyle’s arm around his shoulders, had his hand held, and felt his husband sitting unusually close. He wasn’t being obnoxious, just more publicly affectionate than Roman felt was appropriate. When Catherine excused herself to the bathroom, Kyle confronted him at the bar while Roman was retrieving dessert plates from the cabinet.

“How can you possibly be attracted to a homophobe?”

Before Roman could say anything, Kyle fired back, “Don’t deny it. I saw how you were looking at her. Right in front of me, too. It was hurtful enough to see her reaction to me, like I had stolen something from her or, worse, made you into a raging homo. Are you going to tell her that you enjoyed my touch, or should I?”

“Keep your voice down! I hate it when you drink?”

“I’ve had one glass of wine, Roman! I heard what she said about not bringing Andrew. Why do you think I made those comments when she first walked in?”

“I expected you to show her respect. She is the mother of my child.”

“And that’s all. She’s not your spouse. I am, or have you so quickly forgotten!”

“How can I forget with your constant
verbal reminders
? Are you really that insecure and naïve to think I cannot remember on a daily basis that I am committed to you?”

Roman hoped that making references to Kyle’s insecurity would shut him up, as his partner’s face looked more than surprised to hear the words, and he was just in time, because Catherine was retrieving her purse from the sofa.

“Roman, I can’t stay for dessert. It’s getting late, and I need to pick Andrew up.”

“It’s 8:30 p.m.,” Roman replied, knowing how that probably sounded, or at least how Kyle would perceive it.

Catherine reached into her purse, retrieving a business card.

“You can call me on my cell tomorrow. I want you to spend some time with Andrew before I leave in a few days.”

Kyle was definitely playing the part of the scorned lover as Roman watched him cross his arms over his chest, hoping that Catherine wasn’t picking up his subtle tactics.

Two can play that game, silly boy
. Roman knew the only explanation for his thoughts was Kyle’s behavior. He had spent the first three years after Lisa’s death in a drama of his own, and the thought of living in permanent chaos with Kyle scared him worse than his inability to tell his husband that he loved him.

“Kyle, I am going to walk Catherine to her car,” Roman announced, fully aware he was putting himself into a dangerous situation. Admitting she was beautiful was easy, but fighting the overwhelming desire to feel her body beneath him was hard to resist.

As they walked the short distance to her car, Roman toyed with the idea of pulling her into his arms and feeling her full lips on his, wondering if her body would respond as it had five years ago. He wasn’t a vengeful person, but Kyle’s behavior was hurtful. Roman knew he wasn’t alone in bringing issues to their marriage. Kyle had enough to compensate for them both. He also suspected that there was a great deal that Kyle hadn’t shared with him. By the time they reached her car, Roman was already mentally chastising himself for such thoughts.

“Come here, baby,” he boldly heard Catherine whisper before she forcefully pulled him into her arms. Roman immediately fought her advance, as her lips made contact with his for a brief moment. Catherine was bold, determined, but it only took Roman a split second to remove her arms from around his neck. As he pinned her arms behind her body, he pushed her hard against her car gaining control. However, both were oblivious to the figure that was standing at the bottom of the staircase a few hundred feet away.

“Quit fighting me!” Roman hissed as Catherine flailed in an attempt to free herself. “Don't ever touch me like that again! Do I make myself clear? I can’t give you want you want. It would break Kyle’s heart. I’m not willing put my marriage in jeopardy. Besides, what you really want is my love. It’s written all over your face. I made love to Lisa that afternoon, and it wasn’t fair to you.”

“Roman, you are not a homosexual!”

“Honey, I am. I just have bisexual tendencies as well. At least I hope I phrased it where you can understand. For me, it means more than that. This is about who I love and not what takes place sexually.”

“You’re going through a phase. I cannot understand how someone who had the type of relationship that you and Lisa shared could end up like this!”

“Like what?”

“Have you been intimate with him?”

“Of course. He’s my husband.”

“Not legally. He also looks so…”

“What? He’s a man, Catherine! Physically he is no different from me.”

“I don’t want Kyle to be a part of Andrew’s life.”

“Kyle is my life now. What you are asking is very unfair.”

“I’ve made myself clear, Roman! If you want to be a part of Andrew’s life, Kyle is not welcome!” Catherine replied before driving away.

When Roman returned to the condo, he found Kyle clearing the table. He also found the broken glass and picture frame on the kitchen floor.

“I am assuming you did this?” Roman asked, trying to salvage the photo inside.

“I saw you two kissing…her body all up against yours! Wanted her to see that you were still a man, huh? I bet she felt your hard dick, didn’t she?”

Not giving Kyle a chance to continue, Roman said, “You’re just a needy little manipulator! I would think that someone who’s been in an abusive relationship would know better. Yes, she was
all up against my body
. I enjoyed it, too! Is that what you want me say? You are not the only one who feels pain, Kyle, and you are not the only top in this relationship! This ends tonight!”

Ignoring Kyle’s protests, Roman ripped open his husband’s shirt, sending buttons across the room. He pulled Kyle onto the sofa before the buttons had time to hit the floor. Pinning Kyle’s body to the cushions and his hands above his head, Roman grabbed the extra condom that he saw Kyle put in his pocket earlier. Ridding himself of his slacks, he slipped the condom on in one fluid motion.

“We’re skipping foreplay this time!” Roman uttered, sliding inside his husband.

Roman made love with a dominance that frightened him. If it hadn’t been for the tender words whispered in Kyle’s ear, reminding Roman of who he was, he was sure that physical pain would have been involved.

Reaching for a throw, Roman covered their bodies as Kyle curled against him like a child.

“I shouldn’t have touched you like that. I probably hurt you,” Roman said, kissing Kyle’s forehead. “Look at me,” Roman continued, putting a finger under Kyle’s chin. “I think you’re the one who really needs to open his heart to me.”

Pulling from Roman’s embrace, Kyle quickly stood, retrieving his jeans from the floor, looking embarrassed.

“You didn’t hurt me.”

“I’m not him, Kyle.”

“Who?” Kyle replied, still not meeting his eyes.

“The man who hurt you…that I suspect gave you HIV…now go get in our bed.”

“What? I was leaving! I told you already, Roman. Now to repeat myself,
I don’t share, and I don’t play marriage games
!”

“And I told you, this is going to be over tonight! I really don’t want to take you in there by force!”

Minutes later, Roman held Kyle beneath his body. Pulling a sheet over them, he whispered, “Wrap yourself around me, silly boy.”

As their legs entwined, Roman reached into his nightstand, retrieving a black jewelry box.

“Look at me…that’s better,” he said when Kyle’s eyes met his.

“I kissed Catherine because I was angry, and I’m sorry.” Roman continued feeling Kyle trying to pull away. “Quit fighting me! Either you calm down, or we can have another couch fuck session. Your choice, Kyle.”

“I like to be fucked sometimes,” Kyle said quietly, smiling.

“You’re not the only gay baby in this relationship, silly boy. Now, what did you do with the condoms and the lube?”

“They’re in the same drawer that you just opened, in the back.”

“I believe you told me that you hoped I would tell you my feelings while you were under me. Is that right?”

“I might have said that,” Kyle said, refusing to break Roman’s stare.