Page 17 of A Sugary Life

Something passed over Shay’s features when more tears fell, and Phoenix’s breathing went shaky again. Shay picked up the magazine and ripped out the image of the cake. “Look. I’ll put it in my pocket. You don’t have to worry. I’m not leaving you. When we’re old enough, I’ll marry you and you can make our cake. You don’t have to worry I’ll ever leave you.”

An unexpected laugh bubbled in Phoenix’s throat. “You can’t marry me. I’m a boy.”

Shay’s face was set in a hard line. With that one look, Phoenix knew Shay had made up his mind. “Boys do marry each other. So that’s what I’ll do. I’ll marry you and you’ll never be alone. We’re a set. I’m not leaving you.”

Phoenix nodded. He believed. Shay always told the truth. “Okay.” He wiped his cheeks. “Don’t lose that picture. I promise I’ll make it for you.”

Shay smiled. “Okay. Deal.”

Tears spilled down Phoenix’s cheeks. Chef Hugh had ended up making the cake, refusing to allow Phoenix to make his own wedding cake. It was beautiful.

Shay looked his way. He squeezed Phoenix’s hand. “Look at me.” Phoenix stared into his eyes. Shay smiled. “Just breathe. I’ve got you.”

He did, and life had never looked more beautiful.

While their boys were doing amazing, considering everything they had been through, they still had some separation anxiety issues. After everyone had cake smashed in their faces and all the gifts were unwrapped, Yaro and his husbands took the kids for the night to give them some alone time for their wedding night. Tomorrow, they planned to leave for their honeymoon, but Graham and Tobie would be with them. No amount of travel was worth setting back their progress. They had a good seventy years of anniversaries ahead of them to have another chance to be completely alone. But tonight, Shay had Phoenix all to himself and planned to savor every second.

The way Phoenix wrapped his arms around Shay’s neck and held his stare as Shay carried him over the threshold made Shay’s chest swell. Not once in their lives had Shay seen Phoenix look at anyone else the way he watched Shay.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Phoenix looked away and went back to studying.

For some reason Shay couldn’t explain, that irritated the fuck out of him. “I didn’t say you had to stop. It was just a question. You’re supposed to be studying for finals.”

Phoenix didn’t look his way, but he smiled. The curve of his cheek caught and held Shay’s attention. He couldn’t focus on anything else. Phoenix turned his head and caught Shay staring. Their gazes met and held. Shay couldn’t tear his eyes away, nor did he try. He had always loved the color of Phoenix’s eyes. They were a unique gray that captured him.

“Now who’s staring?”

A smile exploded across Shay’s face. “Still you.” The laughter in his voice couldn’t be missed. No one made him happier than Phoenix. Definitely no one understood him other than Phoenix.

Phoenix lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. “Like I’ve said a million times. You’re beautiful. You’re a thousand percent better to look at than these boring-ass notes I’ve read a hundred times.”

Shay ignored the part about him being beautiful. That was just Phoenix. He was a good person who enjoyed brightening other people’s days.

“You should turn out the lights.”

Shay’s stomach clenched at Phoenix’s suggestion. He knew that tone. He had heard it a few times in the dark. This was the first time Phoenix faced him in the light, daring him to say he liked Phoenix’s mouth on his dick. He was already hard, but Shay couldn’t do it. When he looked into Phoenix’s eyes, Shay knew he was no better than the people who had abused him. He hated himself for what Phoenix made him feel. Phoenix deserved better than this.

Things were different now. He had still been right back then. Phoenix did deserve better, and Shay was ready to give that to him. Thus far, Shay still hadn’t forced his brain to try penetration. He was ready now. Just as he had told Phoenix he would, Shay had watched a few instructional videos. He had studied that shit. Shay needed Phoenix to feel as good as he knew Phoenix would make him feel.

He set Phoenix on his feet.

Phoenix stripped on his way to the bathroom.

Shay stood still as he watched each layer fall away until Phoenix’s sexy nude ass disappeared. The moment Shay’s gaze was set free, he scrambled out of his clothes, grabbed the lube, and followed. The shower was already going, and Phoenix stood beneath the deluge. Shay didn’t waste time. He barged into the wet room and snatched Phoenix into his arms. His mouth came down on Phoenix’s hard. Their tongues battled while Shay blindly backed Phoenix up enough he could lube his fingers without it immediately getting washed away. The second he could, Shay dropped the tube and went to work.

Phoenix moaned as Shay slid one finger into his asshole. He mimicked what he had watched and went for the prostate. He knew exactly when he hit it. Phoenix made a sound that had Shay leaking pre-cum. He massaged until he couldn’t take the pounding need to fuck Phoenix for another second.

Shay took Phoenix’s hand and headed for the bench built into the wall. He grabbed the lube from the shower floor on the way. Shay sat and held Phoenix’s stare as he wet his cock. “If I hurt you at all, you have to promise you’ll tell me to stop, okay? Don’t push through because you think it’s what I want. I just want you.”

“Okay.” Phoenix’s answer was soft, but there was a nervousness in his voice.

Shay slid down slightly to make it easier for Phoenix to straddle him. “Go at your own pace.”

His breathing turned ragged the second Phoenix obeyed. Shay never tired of the sensation or the way Phoenix’s skin felt against him. They were definitely a case of two halves coming together to make a whole.

“You should see the way you’re looking at me.”