15. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

When Alan said the home was a work in progress, he wasn’t kidding. The house was southwest of Raton, just in the beginning of the mountains. The driveway was a quarter mile long, and once the home emerged, he saw the house was nothing like he’d imagined.

Gabriel pictured a modern home of metal and glass, crazy lines and art all over the thing. What he found, however, was a classic New Mexico home that was muted light terra cotta colored, rounded walls meeting squared, a second and third floor above only the rounded part of the home, and there was an entire right-side wing that was nothing but what looked like hay bales under a thick black roof.

“Alan…”

“I’m building it myself, well, with a little help from my folks and some friends. We get together a couple of times a month now, after we got the main part of it finished, so I had a space to live.”

“Is that hay?”

“Straw. Strawbale homes are a natural way to build a home in an eco-friendly way, and the natural insulation keeps the winter and the summer out, effectively.”

“That’s amazing, Alan.”

“The walls are so thick, I’ve got window seats all over the house, and where I don’t, there are shelves.”

“I want a full tour.”

Alan seemed happy about that. “You got it.”

They walked into the living room, and Gabriel immediately felt at home. Shining wood floors, plants hanging over the rounded corner of the room, where one of the window seats he’d mentioned was located. The seat had a linen-colored cushion with brown and green pillows all around the window. “My favorite place in the house. I sit there in the mornings with my coffee, watching the sunrise.”

Gabriel took his hand and kissed his knuckles. “You’re too perfect. What’s wrong with you?”

“I don’t like laundry. In fact, I hate doing laundry.”

Gabriel laughed and confessed, “Me too.”

“And I read too much.”

“Oh, that’s just terrible!”

He tugged Gabriel along to the main part of the room, where a nice leather couch, a bentwood rocker, and a thick rug with turquoise and brick red lines covered most of the floor. The furniture all faced a huge concrete and stone fireplace.

“All the stones here I got from my property, along with the stones I used for the foundation.”

“How much property do you have…and…are you crazy? That had to be so much work!”

“I have a hundred and five acres. I bought three tracts of thirty-five each. It was a lot of work, but I had help. My dad and I had dueling wheelbarrows, and we made it a game. Who could get the most and the best ones? He beat me like I had been standing still.”

Gabriel went one of the three bookshelves in the room, seeing a lot of books about true crime. Alan stepped in front of it, and laughed, blushing a little. “I’m…okay, this is what I read too much of.”

“True crime books. Are you getting tips?”

“Huh? No!” He blushed more. “I promise, I’m no serial killer or anything like that, but…reading about the darker parts of the world keeps me from painting nothing but kittens and rainbows.”

“Edgy. Got it.”

There was a beautiful spiral staircase made of wrought iron that he stood beside, looking straight up to a room with windows that showed the sky perfectly. Alan took his hand and led him up the stairs. “I wanted a room where I could lay at night and look at the stars. Now, my bedroom isn’t very big. Like I said, the walls are thick, so it took five square feet from the room to have the straw up here, too, but when you see it, you’ll understand.”

As they passed the second-floor landing, Gabriel saw nothing except dressers and a small closet. When they got to the top floor, they came out beside a bed and the most beautiful room he’d ever seen.

The bed was a queen-size bed, taking up most of the space. On the wall behind it were shelves for books, candles, and trinkets. The walls in front of the bed and on each side had long windows, and there was only enough room for candle sconces between them.

The corners where the ceiling met the walls had latches so he could open the windows on the ceiling. “I can vent the hot air,” he explained, showing Gabriel the long pole he used to open those windows. “This is also the only room with a little electricity, right on the side of the bed for a reading lamp and my phone charger.”

“This is so beautiful, Alan.”

The view was gorgeous. Juniper trees, cactus plants, and boulders lined the outer points. Closer in, there was a fenced yard with raised beds for summer gardens and a small greenhouse with plants. “Food?”

“Yes, I grow my own tomatoes year-round, chilis, bell peppers, and a few other things. There is a well in the back for water, a pumphouse where you can’t see it from here. I have panels on the roof and a few off to the right from here, too, for electricity. I’m trying for fully off-grid.”

“Trying?”

“Well, I’m almost there. I still need propane and internet, and I have a landline for emergencies.”

He took Gabriel’s hand and led him back to the main floor, through a narrow arch into the kitchen.

Terra cotta tiles were on the floor, as a backsplash behind the stove and under the upper cabinets. The wood was cedar, with copper plates in a diamond on all the doors.

The stove was gas and had six burners, but it resembled an old wood cooking stove. The sink was a huge farmhouse sink, and the long, curved faucet matched the copper trim of the cabinets.

The small island had two stools, and the top was butcherblock, with a knife block built right into it. It was a dream kitchen with a large window looking out on the front of the house between the shelves, which had small pots of herbs lining them.

“Okay, come this way,” he said, pulling Gabriel through a dining room with Mexican-style painted chairs around a round table. On the other side was another spiral staircase next to another outer door. There was also another window seat with plants hanging over it. Of the staircase, Alan confessed, “I know, it seems like I am trying to be fancy with these, but they take up less room.”

“I love them.”

The house's second floor on that side had a series of four doors. Alan pointed. “That’s two spare bedrooms, a bathroom, and a home office. I never use the office. The bedrooms have either window seats or plant shelves, and the office has all the internet stuff in a closet.”

Besides the house being so beautiful, homey, and perfect, Alan’s excitement in showing Gabriel was contagious. “This is the best house I’ve ever seen. I feel the love you put in every little bit of it.”

“I’m not done! That part where you saw the straw is adding another room. I thought about a media room, or a library, or…I don’t know.”

“Studio?”

Alan’s smile was lovely. “Oh, baby, come with me.”

They left the house and passed the greenhouse in the back. A trail led through patches of cactus, yucca, and juniper bushes, a natural garden of local plant life.

Even the paver stones for the trail were natural shale. “You thought of everything.”

Alan looked down at the stones and said, “My dad again.”

A rounded building that looked like a very tall yurt but was made with the same strawbales, he was sure, stood out on its own. Alan took him through the door, and Gabriel saw the ceiling was high, and there was a loft filled with canvas paintings. The main level had them, too, plus sculptures and works in progress. His easel held a landscape like those one of the clients had wanted—real but ethereal.

Then he noticed the little boy who was running with a kite in the painting, and the little boy looked like Tristan. “Alan, is this…?”

“Yeah. I hope you don’t mind. He just reminds me of a kid that would love to fly kites.”

Gabriel kissed him tenderly. “I doubt he’s ever flown one. I have to put that on the list of things for them to try.”

“You could bring them here this summer, and I’ll make them each one. You too, if you’d like one.”

“I’d love one.”

“I painted you…if…you’d like to see.”

Gabriel had never seen him shy, but watching his blush, it was beautiful. “I would love to see it.”

Alan walked over to the stack by one of the eight walls and pulled the canvas tarp from it.

Gabriel saw his face, his hair blowing back like he was standing in a breeze, his eyes far away…and sad. Gabriel knelt in front of the large painting, seeing his glistening eyes, and he saw every detail of his own face perfectly reflected there. “Alan…”

“I painted that after the interview. I just came home that night and painted until three in the morning. I couldn’t stop. Stalker much?”

“No! Alan…you didn’t even really know me. But…” He felt the tears falling to his cheeks, and he swatted at them. “This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. No one has ever seen me the way you do. You see me, Alan.”

Alan pulled him to his feet and held him. “I…I’m not selling it. I want to put it up in the house, but…I didn’t know if you’d hate that.”

After sniffling, Gabriel choked out, “It’s your house.”

“One day, I dream of you living here with me. I know that is ridiculous, but…”

“We’ll get there. One day, we’ll get there.’’

Alan cooked enchiladas that evening, then made him undress to show him still another wonderful feature of his homestead. He had a hot tub in a building made only of cedar planks and big windows.

They got inside together, the night closing around them, Alan’s arms around him as they looked at the darkened land.

The moon was almost full, and the light it cast over the rolling hills west of them made it feel like they were on some alien ocean, the waves coming to take them to far-off lands filled with celebration.

Alan’s hand wrapped around his cock, slowly stroking it under the heated water, kissing him like he wanted to devour Gabriel.

Gabriel moved to straddle Alan’s lap, grinding on him in the water, kissing him roughly, but Alan grabbed his wrists and held them behind Gabriel’s back, clucking his tongue. “Daddy’s in charge, Gabriel. Slow, kiss me slow, baby. Kiss me like you love me, and I’ll fuck you like I hate you.”

Gabriel heard the words and whimpered, nodding slowly before he moved his mouth to Alan’s, tenderly kissing his full lips. His eyes closed as he put every bit of love he had into the soft, sweet kiss. “Good boy, Gabriel.”

Alan held him like that, staring into his eyes, making him settle like he was lulling him to sleep. There would be little sleep that night, Gabriel knew.

“Let’s get back to the house. I want to take you in my bed, under the stars.”

Gabriel nodded again and kissed him as he moaned, and Alan released his wrists to hold his head and take the kiss deeper.

When they walked to the house clad only in their towels, Gabriel started running over the shale stones, laughing like a kid. Alan wasn’t far behind, and once they were in the house, he got the fireplace going. “The house warms quickly, but this will warm us before we head upstairs.”

“I’m not cold anymore.”

Alan glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. “You’re just hot for me.”

“Duh.”

Laughing, Alan placed a few smaller logs on the fire and got up, letting the towel fall away.

His beautiful body mesmerized Gabriel in the firelight as he took a step closer. Gabriel’s heart was in his throat as he looked over Alan’s caramel skin, the shadows of each muscle on his torso and legs.

Alan’s cock wasn’t fully hard yet, but even half rigid, it was glorious, thick and beautifully dark. All he could think when he looked at it was how wonderful it had felt filling him.

“Get upstairs.”

Gabriel grabbed his backpack on the way and was up the spiral stairs far ahead of Alan, tossing his backpack over the far side of the bed. Once Alan arrived, he pushed Gabriel onto the bed and crawled over him, lurking there while staring down at him. “You’re mine now. All mine.”

“Yeah. I am.”

“I want to possess your body tonight, Gabriel. I want you to live this with me, this bed, these stars in the sky, the moon hanging over us. I want you to take all that in while I’m inside of you.”

Ever the artist, he created a mood, making things more beautiful than they already were. Lighting two candles on the shelves, slowly undressing Gabriel, then himself, he did it all with purpose and beauty.

He stacked his pillows and laid me on them so I was partially sitting before he got on the condom and moved between Gabriel’s legs. “Watch the stars. Ignore the ceiling and the frames of the windows. Make yourself believe that we’re making love in the night sky.”

Gabriel whispered roughly, “Yes, Daddy. Take care of me, please.”

“Good boy, Gabriel. Good boy,” he praised before he kissed Gabriel sweetly, moving inside of him. “Look up for Daddy. Look into the stars for me, my love.”

As hard as it was not to look at Alan, Gabriel obeyed, wanting nothing more than to please Alan. He stared up into the windows, past the glass, into the sky, and right to those stars.

Alan moved inside him slowly, steadily, his lips on Gabriel’s neck, but all of it just helped him fly. He felt as if he could reach out his hand, grab the stars, and hold them in his hand while Alan made his body feel so good. It had a surreal sensation like Alan was projecting himself. Alan was a spirit with no body, moving inside of him by magic and will.

Losing himself but becoming more of himself than he ever thought possible, Alan’s arms around him the only thing keeping him from flying away to other worlds, other galaxies. Those lips on him, the cock inside him, they kept him there, just out of reach of the earth. The warmth of each star soaked through him, making him sweat, and he began to cry with the joy he felt.

The feeling of Alan’s love for him, Gabriel knew he’d never doubt it. Every touch, every breath on his skin was love, and Alan belonged with him. They were two halves of the same person. From the first, he felt it but denied it, thinking himself silly.

That night, making love among the stars, Gabriel knew he’d never doubt it again.

Alan brought him gently back to the bed, kissing his lips as Gabriel floated back to the soft sheets and into the cradle of Alan’s arms. Alan whispered to him, “Did you feel yourself coming, baby?”

“What? I came?”

Alan chuckled before he kissed Gabriel tenderly. “We both did. You were…gone.”

Gabriel blinked a few times, then clutched at him. “I love you so much, Alan. I love you.”

“I know. I love you too, baby.”

They lay on the bed talking in whispered, talking about their dreams, and Gabriel was shocked when his spilled from his lips. They were nothing like they were a year ago, and he found he didn’t mind a bit. “I want to be with you, always. I know, that sounds…I’m really not some clingy weirdo.”

“We’re in love, Gabriel. That’s not weird.”

“Tell me this is going somewhere. Tell me that we’ll move forward and keep moving forward.”

“We will, baby. Always.”

They fell asleep together, but not before Gabriel took his teddy from the backpack and held it to his chest. “It’s a habit now.”

“Gabriel, I’m going to take care of you, like you take care of the boys. You need that too. You lost everything, but I’m going to help get a little back.”

“You already have. Daddy.”

A week later, Gabriel drove the boys to Alan’s property, letting them run free, and Alan had presents for them. Kites.

Brandon, at first, rolled his eyes at the gift, asking to fly his drone instead, but Alan talked him into trying the kite, telling him it was a drone before drones were a thing. Giving in at last, the two boys ran, and their kites flew high.

Tristan’s was painted like a scene from prehistoric times, with two pterodactyls in flight. Brandon’s was a superhero, a kid that looked a lot like Brandon, with a great big B on his suit.

They watched the boys fly the kites for hours, then ate a snack while getting some screen time. Alan grabbed Gabriel’s hand and took him up the spiral stairs leading to the bedroom.

“Alan, we can’t with the boys here.”

“Gabriel, hush,” he said, laughing. “I want to show you something.”

“I’ve seen it, and I approve.”

Alan was laughing the rest of the way up the stairs, and once they got to the top floor, he took Gabriel into his arms. “I did a thing.”

“A thing? Should I be worried?”

“No…unless you’ll think I’m some creep. I kind of…took a picture of you while you were sleeping here that first time you spent the night.”

Gabriel laughed and agreed, “Okay, you’re creepy, but I love you anyway.”

Alan kissed him and nodded toward the bed. “I…made something.”

Gabriel looked over to see a rectangular-shaped object under a taupe towel. “What is it?”

“Look. I’m going to hang it in here…somewhere.”

Gabriel pulled the towel off and found a painting underneath. Not just any painting.

“It’s…me. Me and the teddy you gave me.”

Alan sat on the bed beside it and explained, “Baby…when I first saw you in that line to see Santa, I made a wish. I mean, you were so beautiful, and you loved the boys, but I did see you felt like you were in over your head. Despite that, you wanted to make things as normal and good for the boys as possible.

“I know it’s insane, but I fell in love with you that day. And…well, as Tristan came and started to tell me what he wanted for Christmas, and I looked over at you, it was this weird fleeting thought, but I didn’t push it away. I embraced it before I ever knew you, hell, before I knew for sure you were gay. This is what I wished for, Gabriel. That one day, I could make you feel at peace and happy.”

The painting was so beautiful he couldn’t look at it without tears falling from his eyes. His sleeping self, arms wrapped around his teddy bear, and the tiniest smile on his lips.

“I look at peace and…happy. You know it’s because of you and that night we had, right?”

Alan nodded and said, “I helped, sure, but you had this in you. I want to make you always this happy. Forever.”

“I’ll be okay with that. Yeah. I’m perfectly okay with that.”