25. Epilogue

Epilogue

Jeff

One year later . . .

F rom the passenger seat of his Cadillac, Jeff tried to force himself to breathe normally. Their drive home from Gary’s family’s house was going surprisingly well, less lurching and rough braking than normal, and Jeff was starting to hope that maybe Gary would—someday—be able to drive smoothly. At this rate, he was at least getting to practice every few weeks, when the two of them went to Gary’s family’s house for brunch on Sundays.

Even though they’d been doing this for nearly a year—going over for brunch—Jeff still found himself waffling between being happy for Gary that he was becoming closer to his relatives and feeling a little resentful on his behalf. While Gary’s relationship with his mom still seemed somewhat strained, it looked like they were finally mending some of what had been broken. Which... was probably healthy. But Jeff couldn’t help but still be a little pissed that she had kept Gary’s father from him. Gary, though, sweet and kind and empathetic as he was, wanted to look past it. He still loved his mom. And Jeff tried to be supportive. Even though it irked him. Sometimes.

The light ahead of them turned yellow, and Jeff braced himself for Gary to inevitably slam on the brakes. However, to his surprise, the car rolled to a peaceful halt instead. Holy crap .

Back in the winter, Gary had wiped out on his bike a couple of times because of the slush and ice, and Jeff had been mortified by even the mild injuries Gary had sustained from those falls. When Gary had nearly taken a third tumble, Jeff had made Gary promise that he’d practice with Jeff’s car so that, whenever there was inclement weather—rain, sleet, or snow—Gary could take the Cadillac up to Kent State Trumbull to teach his classes instead of having to bike and risking greater injury.

After months of practice, Gary’s skills finally seemed to be improving.

“Hey now, feel that stop?” Gary said. “Smooth!”

“Eh, kinda,” Jeff teased.

“Let me have my victory. I’m improving, right?”

“Yeah, you are,” Jeff said with a smirk. “I’m proud of you, Gare.”

Behind them, someone laid on their horn, and both men winced from the sound. Neither Jeff nor Gary had noticed that the light had already turned green.

“Dang.” Gary slammed his foot on the gas pedal so hard it caused Jeff’s body to lurch backward as the car zoomed into the intersection. “I wonder when I’ll make it a whole trip without someone honking at me.”

“I think this was a record. We’re almost home.”

“Thankfully!”

Later, after Jeff and Gary had been able to relax for a bit, Gary set to work on vacuuming the bedroom while Jeff started scrubbing the bathroom. Unfortunately, running a radio station for fourteen hours a day, six days a week, left little time for chores, which meant that some of their Sunday had to be spent cleaning and catching up on piles of laundry. It was worth it, though. Because Gary was so fucking happy to be running the station together, which of course made Jeff happy too. Truthfully, Jeff was enjoying being on the radio way more than he would have ever imagined, mostly because he was able to force the people of Niles to listen to real music—music that wouldn’t make him feel like his ears were about to bleed—but also because he and Gary had engaged in some really fun conversations (as well as pretend arguments) on the air.

Everyone in Niles knew them now, both as radio show hosts and as... something else. Not that they ever shouted their love from the rooftops, but Jeff was pretty sure everyone knew, on some level, that he and Gary were together in a romantic sense, though some pearl-clutchers may have been pretending that this wasn’t the case. Most people, though, seemed happy for them. Even Mrs. Schmidt had taken to bringing them cookies each week. Once, she had caught Jeff and Gary holding hands on the way to the car, and she hadn’t batted an eye. She’d still brought them cookies the following week like usual. Aside from Mrs. Schmidt, plenty of other people stopped by to say hello or to put in song requests. And when both Gary and Jeff had been sick with the flu, several folks had come by with noodle soup (sans chicken for Gary) throughout their recovery period. Running the station with Gary had been fucking fantastic.

Finally, Jeff’s wants had become haves . Thanks to Gary, he’d finally realized his predictable, boring, silly, incredible dream: to live with the man he loved in a little house in the suburbs. And God help him, he was loving every minute of it.

Once the housework was finished, Gary and Jeff hopped in the shower together, which was something had taken to lately. Not only did it save water but it was also incredible foreplay, too. Well, sometimes. Other times, Gary seemed to like to bring up the least-sexy topics imaginable.

“Do you think it’ll look weird that I’m Mel’s man of honor next weekend? I mean, I’ve never seen that, have you?” Gary asked as he worked shampoo into his hair. “I feel like she should’ve asked her cousin.”

“Who cares? You’re her best friend.”

“I know, I know. You’re right.”

“Why are you so nervous?”

“I want everything to be perfect for her. Mel deserves perfection.”

“Gare, when we first talked on the phone, you told me that potato salad was perfection. If your bar for perfection is that low, I think Mel’s wedding couldn’t not be perfection.”

Gary pretended to scoff as he rinsed his hair. “You’re so mean to me.”

Jeff chuckled. “I’m not mean. I’m honest.”

“You’re honestly pretty mean.”

“Come here.” Jeff placed his hands on Gary’s hips and urged him closer before stretching up onto the balls of his feet to kiss Gary on the lips.

As soon as Jeff started to pull back, Gary moved forward, chasing Jeff’s mouth with his, and then they began to kiss more passionately, their tongues moving together and hands becoming tangled in each other’s wet locks. While their tongues teased each other’s, water from the showerhead rained over their faces, and Jeff could taste it every time their lips parted, even if only for a moment. Groaning, Jeff took another step forward, and Gary shifted one of his legs so that Jeff could rub his erection against Gary’s thigh.

In between kisses, Jeff asked, “Do you still think I’m mean?”

He felt Gary smile against his lips.

“Yes,” Gary said after another kiss.

One of Jeff’s hands found Gary’s stiffening cock. He stroked him once.

“How about now?”

“Mmm . . . less so.”

Twice. Three times.

“Now?”

“ God , Jeff,” Gary breathed. “No, not mean at all.”

Abruptly, Jeff took his hand away and moved a step back. “Now?”

Gary whined a little. “So mean.”

Jeff kissed him once more. “Wash my hair for me, and then I’ll make it up to you.”

“Mean,” Gary complained. But he was already reaching for the shampoo bottle.

Over the last few months, Jeff had been having Gary touch him as much as possible outside of the bedroom. For some reason, it had seemed to be helping him become even more comfortable with Gary touching him in bed. So, sometimes he had Gary shampoo his hair or massage his shoulders or help him trim his scruffy facial hair. And Gary, of course, seemed to relish every opportunity for them to be close. While their physical relationship wasn’t like any Jeff had experienced before, both because comfortable intimacy for Jeff could be like a constantly moving target and because Gary was the cuddliest person on the planet, Jeff was no longer worried that it wasn’t enough. Because he was happy. And he could let himself believe that Gary was happy too.

While Gary worked the shampoo into Jeff’s hair, Jeff closed his eyes and hummed, enjoying the feel of Gary’s firm fingertips massaging his scalp. After a couple of minutes, Gary’s hands found Jeff’s waist, coaxing him to turn around. Facing the far side of the shower, Jeff tilted his head back to rinse away the suds, and then he heard Gary’s velvety, radio-perfect voice next to his ear.

“Mind if I kiss your neck?” Gary asked.

“Go ahead,” Jeff said, smiling a little.

Gary pressed his lips to Jeff’s skin, and Jeff felt Gary’s arms slide around his midsection. Gary kept kissing Jeff’s neck, sometimes stopping to lap up some water with his tongue, and Jeff backed up a step, pressing his backside flush with Gary’s front so he could feel Gary’s erection pressing against him.

“Gare,” Jeff sighed. “I want you.”

Gary’s hands slid lower, stopping right above Jeff’s pubic bone. Jeff’s cock throbbed slightly in anticipation for what was to come.

“Is this okay?” Gary asked.

“Yeah. Touch me.”

Gary’s hand wrapped around his shaft, and Jeff let out a moan. He let Gary stroke him a little, though the feeling was... intense. And he really didn’t want to finish yet.

“Baby,” Jeff said. “I want...” He bucked his hips into Gary’s hand. “Can we try what we tried last time?”

“Yeah,” Gary said, taking his hand away.

Gary fell to his knees, and Jeff placed both of his palms flat against the tile wall. And then Jeff spread his legs.

“Ready?” Gary asked.

“Yeah,” Jeff said, his cock practically aching now. “I want it.”

Jeff sucked in a breath the moment Gary’s hands parted his ass cheeks. And then, fuck, his knees nearly buckled the moment Gary’s tongue touched his hole. Gary licked him a few times, teasing the outside of his pucker, the sensation making ripples of warmth roll through Jeff’s body. Gary paused, and Jeff spread his legs farther apart. When Gary’s tongue touched his hole again, its warm wetness sent a pleasurable shiver up Jeff’s spine.

“ God, Gare ,” Jeff moaned. “I love this.”

“Touch yourself, Jeffrey.”

With a low whine, Jeff wrapped a hand around his length, but, Christ, he was barely able stroke himself without making himself climax. He moved his hand slowly, keeping his hand loose, and still, only thirty seconds later, he had to stop and turn back around .

“I need you,” Jeff said, helping Gary to his feet. “Turn off the water.”

Without bothering to fully dry off, the two made their way to the bedroom. Locked in a passionate kiss, they crashed onto the bed. Jeff climbed on top and started to move his hips. For a moment, Gary’s hands and kisses started becoming rough—that hint of possessiveness in the intensity of his touch—but before Jeff could say something, before he could warn that it might start to be too much, Gary seemed to catch himself and backed off a little.

Jeff broke their kiss and nuzzled Gary’s nose.

“I love you,” he said. “Can I fuck you now?”

“Yes,” Gary said, a slight neediness in his voice. “ Please , yes.”

Leaning over, Jeff snatched the lube from the nightstand. He coated a few of his fingers while Gary lifted his legs. God, the look in Gary’s eyes—so fucking hungry for it—was nearly enough to send Jeff over the edge.

“I love seeing you on your back,” Jeff said. “I could photograph you like this. Actually, I think I will photograph you like this. Eventually. I need to buy a Polaroid first.”

“Geez,” Gary said, a blush creeping across his cheeks. “I’m not sure how to feel about that.”

“Flattered?”

“Yeah, I’m a little flattered, but I’m kind of embarrassed too.”

“Why?” Jeff said, bringing his fingers closer to where he knew Gary needed them to be. “You’re beautiful to me, Gare.”

Gary’s blush deepened. He was so fucking cute. Jeff pressed a finger to his hole. Carefully, he slid it inside, pausing when he reached the first knuckle, his heart rate skyrocketing as he watched Gary’s incredible reaction—mouth falling open while he let out the sexiest Goddamn moan. Jeff would never not love how affected Gary seemed to be by his touch .

“Beautiful,” Jeff repeated, moving his finger in and out, slowly stretching him. Gary continued to make the best sounds in the entire fucking world. Only a couple of repetitions later, Jeff added a second finger, and Gary bit his lip in response. “God, you’re so ready for me, aren’t you?”

Wordlessly, Gary nodded, that perfect mouth of his falling open again, like he was completely lost in his pleasure. Jeff kept moving his fingers.

“Do you want me to fuck you? Is that what you need?”

Another sweet little nod.

Gingerly, Jeff retracted his fingers, and then he slicked his shaft with more lubricant. When Jeff pressed his cock to Gary’s cute pucker, he paused to check in with himself. No panic. No unease. Just lust. He was fucking ready.

Thank. God.

Shifting his hips forward, Jeff pushed his cock inside. He took his time, keeping his movement slow, and smiled at the way Gary already seemed to be losing his Goddamn mind from the sensation. By the time Jeff’s cock was fully inside, Gary’s hands were already fisting the sheets, his eyes squeezed shut.

“Everything okay, Gare?” Jeff asked.

He knew that it was, but still, he wanted to ask.

“Uh-huh,” Gary said. “I’m trying not to come.”

“I’ll move slow,” Jeff said, easing his hips back and then slowly—so fucking slowly—pushing forward again. “Okay?”

Gary tried to nod, but oh, he looked like he might not last much longer.

“I’m sorry if I—”

“Nope,” Jeff said, stopping his thrusts. “Neither of us is allowed to be sorry for things in the bedroom, remember?”

“I know, but...” Gary paused and bit his bottom lip again. “I want to be enough for you. ”

“Gare, you’re enough for me. Always.”

“Are you okay, Jeffrey? Sorry, I’ve been kind of preoccupied with trying not to finish too soon.”

“I’m okay. I’m very okay.” Jeff shifted forward to stroke Gary’s cheek. “Don’t worry.”

Gary took Jeff’s hand and kissed it.

After a brief pause, Jeff started rolling his hips again. Slowly. Back and forth. Fuck, Gary was so tight. Every soft thrust forward sent a little rush of pleasure through Jeff’s veins, making his body tingle. Back and forth. Holy shit.

“Perfect,” Jeff rasped. “You’re so perfect, so tight.”

Gary was clutching the sheets so hard his muscles were starting to strain. God, he was so fucking cute, so fucking beautiful.

While Jeff continued to rock his hips, his eyes raked over Gary’s body, cherishing his lean muscles, every little mole and freckle, and then they settled on his cock, the pretty pink head, slick with precum. Jeff reached for it, and the moment his fingers touched Gary’s skin, Gary cried out.

“Jeff, I’ll finish if you—”

“I know,” Jeff said, taking hold of it. “I want you to.”

“Oh God, oh God,” Gary kept repeating, his perfect voice so lovely and pleading. “I can’t... I’m so close...”

Ever so slightly, Jeff increased the intensity of his thrusts. Pleasure was settling low in his belly, making him ache for his own release, and not one minute later, Gary was crying out, his cock pulsing hard and hot in Jeff’s hand.

“Can I keep going?” Jeff asked. He knew that Gary sometimes became too sensitive once he’d finished, and he didn’t want Gary to feel uncomfortable in any way.

“Yeah,” Gary said, though his voice was a little faraway, like he was still lost in a post-orgasm haze. “Yes. ”

Quickly, Jeff wiped his messy hand on the sheet and then took hold of both of Gary’s thighs. He began to thrust harder, faster, letting himself become completely lost in his pleasure, something he’d thought he would never again be comfortable with.

But he was safe with Gary. He always would be.

A moment later, Jeff’s body began to tremble.

“I’m coming, Gare,” he breathed only seconds before tumbling over the edge, pleasure overtaking him, causing him to cry out.

He was still panting when Gary’s hand found his.

“Are you okay?” Gary asked.

“Perfect,” Jeff said. “Absolutely perfect.”

Later, once they had cleaned up, they were snuggled together in bed, Gary holding him close.

“Jeffrey,” Gary said, nuzzling the side of Jeff’s face. “I love you.”

“I love you too, radio man.”

“Am I smothering you?”

Jeff smiled. “Just the right amount.”

Gary huffed a laugh, and then Jeff laughed too.

“We’re perfect together, Gare,” Jeff said, letting his eyes linger on his wonderfully clingy boyfriend.

Gary sighed. “I think so too.”

For the next half hour, the two of them lay like that, cuddled close. Jeff could hardly believe that he’d found someone like Gary, someone who was needy and clingy and sweet and oh-so-fucking wonderful. Gary was exactly the right person for him.

Jeff never would have imagined that the person who would help him weather this seemingly never-ending storm would be the cheesy man from the local radio station. But Jeff couldn’t have been happier that it was. Even though he still held onto hope that, someday, they’d make it out of the storm, he was okay if that never happened too. Because Gary would be by his side no matter what. And Jeff would be by Gary’s side too .

Jeff no longer wondered if he was enough. Because he knew he had found his perfect person. Gary Goddamn Graham.