19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Mickey checked the GPS one last time and turned down a side street containing several condo buildings, all looking alike. It was twilight, so he was able to read the building numbers as he slowly drove down the block in Tim's F150. He had the weekend off, and Jon had asked him to come to Richmond to spend time with him.

Mickey was as giddy as a fangirl at the idea of being with Jon in his home. He'd been dreaming of it since the invitation was conveyed on Tuesday evening.

"Think you can come to Richmond this weekend? I'd like us to go out to lunch or dinner, and maybe get Audrey to hang out with us on Saturday afternoon. She's still in the dumps about Lyla, and I know she thinks you're great, so maybe between the two of us, we can cheer her up."

The plans they'd made over the last three weekends had been preempted by Jon's workload, so Mickey was anxious to see him, hoping and praying the counselor was still his man.

It took about three seconds before Mickey jumped on the idea. "I'd love to come. Uh, what kind of clothes should I bring?"

Mickey's nerves flared instantly. All he had for special occasions was one nice suit. He needed another, because Tim had asked him to be his best man for the September wedding. Mickey was honored at the request and decided maybe Jon could help him find something appropriate.

" Casual, babe. Blue jeans are fine. We're not doing anything fancy. We're just going to relax and spend time together. Besides, I hate putting on a suit on the weekend. I can't wait for you to be here. I've missed you a lot." Jon's comment had settled his nerves immediately.

As Mickey turned to follow the curve of the road, he saw a beautiful sight. Jon was sitting on the front steps of a building that must be his, drinking a beer and watching traffic pass. When the truck pulled up, Jon hopped down the stairs and opened the passenger door, climbing inside with a bright smile on his face.

"It's good to see you, baby. Make a left up here, and we can go into the underground garage." Jon pointed to an alley. After handing Mickey a plastic card to lift the garage barrier, Mick followed directions to the third floor and parked next to Jon's navy Mercedes coupe.

"Okay, so what's got you so worked up? Your messages today tipped me off you were pretty amped-up about somethin'." Mickey shut off the truck engine and turned to meet Jon's gaze.

Jon kissed the top of Mickey's right hand. "Let's get your stuff upstairs. I bought this craft beer selection I'm eager for you to try. I know you drink Budweiser, and I bought some of that, but I thought maybe we could do a beer tasting to see if we like any of them. How are the boys?" Jon released Mickey's hand before he got out of the truck.

Mickey reached into the back seat and grabbed his overnight bag, which was a gift from Tim when he asked for the weekend off to go to Richmond the first time, though that one had fallen through. Nevertheless, Mickey was there now and that was all that mattered.

He followed Jon to the elevator and after he saw the button was pushed, he pulled the man into his arms and kissed him, nipping at the man's soft lips until the bell chimed, alerting the two of them the doors were about to open.

"I missed ya, Jonny," Mickey told him as they boarded the elevator. Mickey wrapped his arms around Jon, pulling the man close and rubbing his hard cock against Jon's cargo shorts-covered ass. It felt incredible to touch him.

Jon turned to gaze at him over his shoulder and smiled. "I missed you as well, cowboy. Now, let's get upstairs so I can welcome you to my home, properly." Oh, Mickey was ready for a proper welcome.

After they stepped off the elevator, they walked down the hallway connected at the lips with Jon walking backward. Mickey had forgotten how soft and delicious Jon's lips were since their time apart. It was hard to separate himself from the man when they reached the front door.

Mickey watched as Jon turned the knob and opened the door, stepping inside with Mickey's hand firmly in his. "Welcome to my home, baby." Jon nipped at Mickey's neck and jaw, driving the younger man crazy.

Mickey wanted the full tour, but first some hungers needed to be fed—namely, his hunger for Jon's thick cock on his tongue. Mickey dropped his bag and knelt in front of Jon, pulling his shorts down as he went. He wasn't disappointed to learn Jon wasn't wearing anything under his shorts, and the man smelled faintly of soap, likely from his morning shower. The scent charged Mickey's desire for the man.

"God, I've been thinkin' about doin' this all fuckin' day." Mickey moaned as he ran his nose over the silky skin of Jon's thick cock and through the neatly trimmed thatch of hair surrounding the impressive member. His balls were clean-shaven, which turned Mickey on more than he'd ever thought it would. The last time when Jon had fucked him, they were covered in hair, so the soft, hairless skin was a nice surprise.

Mickey sucked Jon's long, hard cock into his mouth and began deep throating the man, remembering to breathe through his nose. He'd practiced with a banana when he was alone in the kitchen at the Circle C, and he'd made inroads in training his gag reflex.

Never had Mickey been with a guy who was as gifted as Jon, so he was damn well gonna take advantage of the opportunity to show off his new skills. He was reaping the fruits of his labor, so to speak, based on the moaning and groaning Jon was giving him as Mickey worked his man over.

A few minutes later, Mickey's diligence was rewarded when Jon released into his throat with a breathy, "Fuuuuck." Mickey was proud of himself for making Jon weak in the knees. He wanted to show the man he could be an attentive lover, and he hoped he'd started the night off right.

Jon pulled him up from his knees. "I missed you, too, baby. Kiss me."

Mickey didn't hesitate to share Jon's taste with him. It was so wonderful to feel the man's tongue swirling with his as they stood in the condo living room, Jon half naked but not seeming to notice or care.

Mickey squeezed Jon's bare ass as the two men continued to kiss. He hoped that sometime over the weekend, the two of them could make love, this time with Mickey topping the lawyer. They'd both admitted they were versatile. He prayed Jon was as on board with the idea of bottoming because Mickey had fantasized about it all week.

They'd spoken every night, and after they hung up the phone, Mickey would jack himself to the fantasy of his tight fist being Jon's hot channel. The anticipation was killing him.

The kiss ended. "Hmmm, that was quite a greeting, baby." Jon's face told Mickey the man appreciated the attention very much. Mickey's face was hot with excitement as well.

"I've been thinkin' about it for almost twenty-one days. So, should we taste those beers, or would you like me to take ya out for dinner first?"

Mickey didn't want to go anywhere, but he felt it was his place to offer to take Jon out since he was the guest. He wanted to spend time with Jon alone, but he didn't want to mess up their first official weekend together.

Jon reached down to his ankles to pick up his shorts, unbuttoning them so he could tuck himself in properly. "I was thinking maybe we could order some barbecue takeout and stay in tonight? Audrey wants to get together with us tomorrow if you're up for it."

Mickey nodded. "Sounds great to me. Where should I put my bag? I'd like to brush my teeth if that's okay?"

"Come on, cowboy. I'll show you to our room." Jon's words made Mickey's heart pick up. He said our! Mickey's brain was swimming. Maybe his visions of the future weren't getting too far ahead of Jon's.

It had been a struggle all week to maintain control over his emotions. Mickey didn't want to come across as a needy boyfriend, so he kept his thoughts to himself, though he truly thought of Jon every waking moment. However, he wasn't about to say it out loud. No good would come from that amount of honesty. It was definitely time to play shit cool.

After Mickey brushed his teeth and washed his face, he combed his newly shorn locks and smiled because he'd gone to see Mr. Reggie in Blacksburg for his new haircut. It was short on the sides and in the back, but the top was longer, which allowed Mickey to style it if he wanted. He raked his fingers through it, remembering Mr. Reggie asking him about the boys and Jonny.

"Now, that handsome young guy who brought y'all in, he your man?" Reggie asked him as he combed through Mickey's too-long hair.

Mickey looked into the mirror and met the gaze and bright grin of the older gentleman. "Yessir. We're just startin' out, but he's all I can think about. I'm not sure if he feels the same," Mickey confessed.

The man chuckled. "Now, I wouldn't worry if I was you. It took some brass ones for that boy to walk in here and introduce you as his boyfriend. A lot of people here in this community ain't acceptin' of anything they term as not normal. Hell, a lot of my friends still have a hard time with a mixed-race couple. I just learned a while ago that it's better for my nerves and business if I learn to be open-minded about things, even if I don't understand ‘em outright.

"My granddaughter, Gina, she likes women, and I could sooner do without my heart than lose that girl, so I decided I'd learn all I can about things that are new to me so I can support the people in my life who matter most, regardless of the issue."

Mickey saw an opportunity that might not come along again. "How old is your granddaughter?"

Mr. Reggie chuckled. "She's ‘bout your age, I ‘spect. She's teachin' school in Richmond. Fifth grade. It's some private, fancy school, but they know she's gay, and they don't hold it agin her. She can't find a nice girl to date, but she says it don't make no never mind ‘cause she loves her students. Myself, I'd like to have her meet a nice young woman." The two of them laughed together, putting Mickey at ease. It was one of the best conversations he'd ever had, and his hair looked damn good as well.

Mickey walked back into the living room where Jon sat on the couch with the phone to his ear and a take-out menu on the coffee table in front of him. "Babe, what kind of ribs do you like? They got baby back, spare, and country style," Jon explained as he held his hand over the receiver mouthpiece.

"I like all kinds, Jonny. Oh, do they have beans? I love barbecue beans." Mickey sat down next to Jon, glancing at the menu.

"Maybe we get the beans next time?" The smirk on his face made Mickey laugh.

He hadn't thought of the side effects associated with beans. For their first weekend together, it was probably best to skip "the musical fruit," as the old rhyme called them.

After Jon finished ordering, he took Mickey's hand. "Come on, let's try some of this beer," he insisted.

They decided to try three of the bottles—one IPA, one Hefeweizen, and one Porter. They had funny names… Wreck the Halls, In Heat Wheat, and Polygamy Porter.

They sampled each offering and agreed that neither of them cared much for the wheat beer, and while they both liked the IPA and the Porter, they were split about which they liked most. It was fun to discuss the tastes and what they liked about each beer. It gave Mickey more insight into Jon and his tastes than he'd had before.

"So, I'da thought you more of a wine connoisseur," Mickey said as they sipped their beer.

Jon smiled, taking his hand. "Another ten-dollar word? I'm impressed. How'd you do on your practice test? When's the real deal?"

Mickey took a deep breath and let it out, offering a small smile. "Yesterday. I took it yesterday morning at New River Community in Dublin. I think I did well. On the practice test, I did pretty good, so my confidence was high. Miss Ruthie urged me to take it while everything was fresh on my mind, so I did. I'll get the results by the end of the month."

Jon smiled brightly at him. "Well, then we'll have to plan a celebration when you find out." He took Mickey's hands in his, kissing the top of each of them.

"Well, it's not anything big to celebrate if I pass, but maybe you can come to the ranch for the weekend? If the news is good, I'd like you to be there to share it with me. If the news is bad, I'll need somebody to console me. Can you come to Holloway?" Mickey hoped the answer was yes.

Jon stood and walked around the table, plopping himself in Mickey's arms and on his lap. "I couldn't be anywhere else, sweetheart. I… I want to support you in everything you do, Mick. I've finally figured out something very important." Jon paused before looking deeply into Mickey's eyes. "I'm in love with you."

Mickey was stunned for a moment because he'd never heard the sentiment from his biological family, which wasn't anything he worried over. In fact, he'd only heard the sentiment from his chosen family at the Circle C and the Katydid.

Mickey had definitely never heard the words from someone who he loved in a romantic way. Jackie never pledged his love, but Mickey was convinced Jackie was only with him so Mickey would take care of him. It made him feel cheap, but it was in the past.

He looked into Jon Wells' sage-green eyes and smiled. "I love you, too, Jonny. I think I have since you first showed up at the ranch. I don't say it lightly, trust me, because I haven't known a lotta love before I moved to Holloway, but you've made me feel confident enough to be able to let my guard down.

"When I did, you creeped right into my heart. Thank you, darlin'." Mickey leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on Jon's lips.

Just as things were about to become more passionate, there was a knock on the door. "Shit! That's the food." Jon hopped up and grabbed his wallet off the counter in the kitchen. A minute later, he walked back into the kitchen. "Come make a plate, Mick."

Mickey padded into the large room in his bare feet and walked up behind Jon as he unloaded the food from the large, brown paper bags. "Smells fuckin' fantastic. Food smells good, too." Mickey ran his nose up the side of Jon's neck. His hands had settled on Jon's hips, and he wanted so much to fast forward to the part where they were in bed together, but the idea of getting to know Jon better and spending time with him in his home was far too enticing to rush.

Jon spun in his arms and wrapped them around Mickey's neck. "How about we eat and watch the baseball game, and later we turn on some music and soak in the bathtub for a little while?"

Mickey couldn't resist. "I'd love to, Jonny. Tomorrow, I'm gonna take you and Audrey out for lunch, my treat. I need to make a good impression on her because she's your best friend, and I need her stamp of approval."

Mickey nipped at Jon's neck, gently biting the soft flesh under his ear. The soft moan he heard was reward enough.

The two men mounded their plates with ribs, coleslaw, pickled vegetables, and potato salad. Jon grabbed the bag with biscuits and corn bread muffins, and they went to the living room, taking seats on the floor to use the coffee table for their dinner spot. Mickey went back to the kitchen to get them each a beer—a good old Bud—and then they settled in for America's past time. They ate wonderful food, laughing and chatting about things that came to mind while watching the baseball game.

Mickey told Jon about seeing the picture of Reggie's granddaughter, the teacher. Reggie had actually given him the young woman's phone number, but Jon suggested they wait to meet the teacher another time. He said it was too soon after Audrey's breakup, and he wanted to meet the granddaughter, Gina, first to see if he thought she'd have anything in common with Audrey.

Mickey agreed, and after the food was finished, they lay on the couch to allow the digestive process to take place while they watched more of the ball game.

Around ten, Jon got up and took Mickey's hand to lead him back to the bathroom. He turned on the water in the large, stand-alone tub and turned down the lights in the bathroom until there was a soft glow. Mickey reached for his man, kissing him gently. "I love you, Jonny. I never, ever thought you'd fall for me because I'm not sophisticated at all. I'm a simple man, but I don't lie. I don't cheat, and I don't steal. If you think you can put up with me, I'd really like to see where this goes."

Mickey undressed the handsome man in front of him. Jon's golden-brown body made Mickey's mouth water. It was evident he took good care of himself.

After they were both naked and the tub was full, they got in and faced each other. "So, I did something you might not be too happy about but hear me out before you get pissed." Jon's comment put Mickey on edge.

He couldn't really imagine anything Jon could do that would anger him, so he nodded with a smirk, "Fire away, counselor."

Jon stood for a moment to push a button on a panel on the wall. Soft music started playing over speakers Mickey couldn't see. Next thing he knew, there were jets pulsing at his body, relaxing him more than he'd ever expected. He stretched out his legs as did Jon. They overlapped in the warm water, and as bubbles started to accumulate, Mickey counted his blessings.

"I asked someone to look for your parents." Jon's statement caught Mickey off guard. It was the last thing he expected to hear, and his system was somewhat shocked, such that he didn't react immediately.

Jon grabbed his hands to keep him grounded, he guessed. "I know, I know, you said not yet, but after I saw how upset Audrey was regarding her breakup, I realized how short life can be—or life as we know it. Anyway, I talked to a guy I use to look into things from time to time. I asked him to see if he could find their whereabouts based on the information you've given me in passing.

"Your mother, Lola, died three years ago. She was a heroin addict and contracted HIV which became AIDS because she didn't get treatment. She died from complications in a state-run hospice outside of New Orleans. Seems she moved there after you left Nashville. She used her real name, which is how Sammy was able to find her so easily."

Mickey was sure he should feel something other than relief upon hearing the news, but his relationship with his mother ended when she tried to sell him to a man who was all too happy to take Mickey's virginity, even if it was against his will. Mickey lost it not long after the man's attempted raping of him, but it was on his terms, even if it wasn't what he thought it would be.

"Okay, um, what about Joey? Were you able to track him down?" Mickey asked, hoping there was similar news regarding the man who fathered him.

Jon sucked in a deep breath and nodded. "He's still alive, Mick. He lives outside of Nashville in a small house he rents with a girlfriend and a daughter. The girl's seven, and her name is Christina. Her mother's name is Maribel. Your dad's a handyman, and Maribel is a housekeeper. Christina goes to a Catholic school, St. Mary's, in Nashville. Sammy's got pictures and a report he'll drop off tomorrow if I call him. Only if you want it, sweetheart.

"Please, God, don't be mad at me. I told myself if your parents were both deceased, I'd never tell you about them, but when I found out you have a little sister, I just couldn't keep it to myself."

Mickey didn't know what to say, so he didn't speak for a few minutes. He pulled Jon closer and turned him around so they could relax together with Jon in his arms and leaning against his chest.

At that moment, Mickey didn't really want to consider the news Jon had given him, and he didn't want his man to think he was mad. Shock and disbelief were all that came to his mind as he held his lover in his arms.

It was their weekend together, and he wasn't going to allow the news about his father and little sister to take anything away from it. There would be plenty of time to stew over it when he returned to Holloway.

"Thank you, Jonny. Can I think about it for a while, and we'll talk about it later?"

Jon kissed him, giving Mickey his answer.

"Mickey, it's so good to see you." Audrey hugged him when he opened the door for her. Jon was in the bathroom getting himself together because they'd made love all night, and Mickey would call it making love because they'd professed feelings for each other that made his heart sing.

They'd fallen asleep just as the sun came up and slept until ten that morning. Mickey had made them some scrambled eggs and heated the leftover biscuits from the barbecue dinner they'd shared the previous night.

He'd fed Jon breakfast, literally, and then, they got very dirty on the bed, on the floor, and up against the dresser facing the mirror. Mickey loved the feeling of being inside Jon as much as he loved feeling Jon inside him, and the fact they were equals when it came to lovemaking was something he hadn't expected. Jon Wells took as well as he gave.

"You too, Audrey. I'm supposed to invite you to the ranch so you can watch the boys' last Little League game right before school starts. It's in three weeks." Mickey hugged her tightly in return, truly happy to see her again.

When she pulled away, she looked into his eyes and smiled brightly. "I'll make sure I can be there to see them. Are they looking forward to school starting soon?" She stepped into the condo and hung her purse on the hall tree in Jon's foyer.

"Really excited. Rocky's been working with his tutors over the summer, and it's helped a lot. His reading level is up, though I think that has more to do with his obsession with Harry Potter . He reads the books to Ryan, Tim, Matt, and me every night we'll listen. I know Ryan's more into The Lord of the Rings, but he listens to his brother, and he beams when Rocky gets through it without stumblin'. Do you know when Tim and Matt can start asking to adopt the boy?"

Audrey nodded. "Next February, as a matter of fact. I filed the paperwork with DFS last week, and I got a call from the current caseworker, explaining they can begin the process in February. It'll be subject to stepped-up visits by social workers and all that stuff I'll need to coordinate with Matt and Tim, but I have a very good feeling about this, Mickey.

"Nobody deserves love as much as Rocky, and I honestly believe the caseworker will see how important it is he be allowed to stay with the family. Where's Jonny?" She looked around the condo with a sly grin.

Just then, Mickey heard the shower turn off, and he couldn't hold the evil smirk inside. He'd quickly showered, but Jon said he had to stand under the shower head. "I've got aches in places I didn't know could ache," he'd told Mickey, referring to their enthusiastic lovemaking. Mickey just laughed and gave him a kiss on the lips.

"He's finishin' up his shower. He's runnin' behind." Mickey added the wink for emphasis.

Audrey guffawed loudly, surprising Mickey. He'd never heard her laugh so raucously, but it was magnificent to hear. Laughter was the best medicine for heartache, and if she was able to find such joy in something so silly, he hoped she was working through her own troubles.

"Oh, you're very good for Jon, Mickey. I'm so glad you came along." She gave him a tender pat on the cheek. He was glad he'd come along as well, if he was being honest.

In Mickey's mind, love made the whole world shiny and new for him. He was looking forward to discovering new things with Jon and becoming good friends with Audrey Langley. Life was looking up from where Mickey Warren stood on the hardwood floor of his lover's condo.