Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

James was still fussing with his hair when there was a knock on the bedroom door. If it was Mike, James was going to lose his shit. He’d learned to listen to Maria’s premonitions, predictions and superstitions. She was never wrong, and she believed that two partners shouldn’t see each other on their wedding day until they were at the ceremony.

James opened the door a crack. It was Billy. “Oh, it’s you. Get in here.”

Billy walked through the doorway, looking dapper in a black tux that worked with his dark hair. “Can you help me with my bowtie? I’ve never worn one.”

“Sure.” James smiled, then he walked to his brother to help with the finishing touch. “Nervous?”

“Nah,” Billy assured him. “I’ve been wanting to marry her for so long, I’m just happy the day has come. What about you? Are you nervous about marrying Mike?”

James shook his head. “Not even a little. Who would have thought a year ago when you convinced me to try to patch things up that we would have moved so quickly?”

“He knew you were the one right from the time he met you,” Billy reminded him. “He was just waiting for you to catch up.”

James sighed. “I guess Maria is still batting a thousand, huh? Mike is jealous. His best hitting average was .245.”

“Well, he was a relief pitcher,” Bill noted. “They save games. They don’t make the hits, especially American League pitchers who only get the experience when playing a National League team in a National League ballpark.”

James nodded. “Yeah, he knows that. He was kidding around.”

“It was nice of him to pay for everything and use his house here in the Hamptons for the wedding,” Billy gushed. “I could never have afforded to have a wedding like this.”

Mike had known Billy and Nadia had wanted to marry and would have been on course to do so if Charles Vicksburg hadn’t set them back by stealing their ring. After Mike had proposed to James a few months earlier, he had suggested to Billy that he propose to Nadia and the couples marry at the same time. When Billy had worried about Mike footing the bill, Mike had laughed, saying that four could marry as cheaply as two. Mike had also given Billy an engagement ring he had bought years earlier for a woman that he thought was his soulmate—until he had discovered she was sleeping with a player from the New York Mets as well as Mike.

“He can afford it, buddy. And you know how generous Mike is. I’m still in awe that he put up my homeless friend Hal in an apartment and helped him find a job.” James smiled.

“And influenced a bank to give your former boyfriend a loan to start up a restaurant again, with an anonymous outrageous check to help things along,” Billy added.

James nodded with pride. “With a note that said it was from someone who had enjoyed his former restaurant. Mike is…”

“Yeah, he is,” Billy interrupted. “And now, he’ll be yours, bro.”

James finished with Billy’s bowtie, turning him toward a full-length mirror. “Stunning,” James said, admiring how handsome his brother looked in his tuxedo.

“I do look pretty nice, don’t I?” Billy half-grinned. “You know, I wasn’t sure about sharing the stage with you and Mike. I mean, Nadia is already way out of my league. Now I’ll be up in front of everyone with two Ken dolls, too.”

James frowned. “Stop it. You’re beautiful, Billy. Inside and out.”

Billy’s smile widened. He took a longer look at James and whistled. “I wasn’t sure about the midnight blue tux, but it’s great. And the longer jacket makes you look even taller. Are you trying to make me look even shorter?”

James took a hold of both of Billy’s shoulders. “I never think of you as short. Maybe it’s because I always look up to you.”

“You’re such a sap.” Billy snickered, but pulled James into a hug. “And you know darn well that you’re the one that is looked up to, James. Mike may be your hero, but you’ll always be mine.”

They parted when there was a light rap on the door. It opened a crack before Emily Hunt popped in her head. “Hey guys, they’re ready for you.”

“Thanks, Emily,” James called out to the closing door. He turned back to Billy. “Does my hair look okay?”

Billy rolled his eyes. “If it was any more perfect, people would think it’s a wig.”

“You think it looks fake?” James glanced back at the mirror and messed up one of the waves a bit, hoping others would realize it was natural.

Billy laughed. “You’ve become so vain. It must be all the praise that Mike keeps heaping on you. Come on. We don’t want him and Nadia to think we jilted them at the altar.”

James frowned. “That would be bad. I think they’d shrug and marry each other. I swear, sometimes I think they look like they have a crush on each other.”

“Hmm.” Billy nodded. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

James put his arm around Billy. “Bro, she’d never cheat on you. She’s crazy about you.”

“I know.” Billy smiled. “Mike would never cheat on you, either.”

The two made their way out of the bedroom and down the hallway to the French doors that led to the grounds outside. Many guests were already seated on folding chairs facing the makeshift platform that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. The brothers waved at the people they passed. There were agents, fellow actors and crew members who were there for James. Numerous athletes and business associates of Mike’s were in attendance, too. College buddies and co-workers, as well as Nadia’s friends and family, were there for Billy.

Maria and Billy’s mother Caroline stood at the end of the aisle, bestowing kisses on the cheeks of the grooms when they met them at the front of the crowd. Once Maria and Caroline were seated in the first row, the justice of the peace nodded to the hired orchestra which started playing classical music to begin the ceremony.

Mike was the first to start his way down the aisle, his right arm hooked with his father’s, and his left arm hooked with his mother’s. James sucked in a breath. He had never seen Mike in a tux, and the traditional black made his guy look like the best James Bond one could imagine. Upon locking eyes with James, Mike beamed a megawatt smile. When Mike and his parents reached the altar, Mike’s father gave his son a hug and his mother kissed his temple. Once they took their seats, Mike gave such an obvious appraisal and approval of James that the guests started laughing.

Everyone’s attention turned to Nadia making her way down the aisle. Like Mike, she had chosen to have both parents accompany her on her walk. Billy’s mouth was open, seemingly in disbelief at the vision before him. James thought he had good reason. Nadia had never looked more ravishing. Her hair was upswept, her make-up was gorgeous and the gown was an expensive designer piece that was courtesy of Mike. The form-fitted top sparkled from small jewels that disappeared into the smooth, white silk skirt of the dress. As she approached the makeshift altar, James could see that the gown had a long train, giving his friend a regal, elegant look. Once Nadia was by Billy’s side, it could have been a cloudy day and James still would have felt the warmth of her brilliant smile. When he glanced to Billy, he saw that a shy grin had broken through his haze of awe.

The music stopped and everyone faced the justice of the peace, Dan Moyer. “Well, with these four up here, I don’t feel very attractive right now,” Moyer joked to a chuckling crowd.

The two couples had chosen not to write their own vows, figuring the guests would get tired of listening to the ramblings of four different people. Instead, Moyer had the two brothers face their betrotheds and repeat the traditional vows of loving, cherishing, supporting and befriending the ones they loved until they were parted by death. Then, Nadia and Mike repeated the same vows to their Vicksburg boys.

“Well, this is the most unusual wedding I’ve officiated,” Moyer joked, again to mild laughter. “But I might add, I think it is one of the most beautiful. I am pleased to say that by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss your spouses.”

The crowd cheered as Billy chastely kissed his bride while Mike grabbed and kissed James like he was going to peg him right then and there. His enthusiasm elicited more laughs from the guests, especially when he pulled away and James was flushing.

Moyer waited for the four to congratulate each other and share embraces before closing the ceremony. Then Billy and Nadia walked back up the aisle, followed by Mike and James. They all grabbed hands and shared smiles with guests as they made their way back to the house.

“What now?” Billy asked Mike.

“Now you go back to your guest room and spend some time with your bride. They’re going to let the guests chow down on finger foods and get drunk on free booze. No need for us to watch. We come back out in thirty minutes to them cheering and we’ll dance the rest of the day away.”

Nadia laughed. “Sounds good to me. I’ll be glad to get a half hour off these high heels.”

Mike laughed. “Oh, Nadia, I planned the thirty-minute interlude for you to be able to remove more than your shoes.”

She rolled her eyes. “Maybe you guys can strip, have sex and redress in a half hour, but I can assure you, it’s a lot harder for me with this contraption.”

Billy frowned. “So unfair.”

Nadia grabbed him and pulled him into a kiss. “I’m sorry. We can still kiss and cuddle for a while.”

Billy smiled. “I love you so much.”

Before James or Mike could comment further, Billy rushed Nadia to their guestroom.

Mike turned to James and wiggled his eyebrows. “Up for a thirty-minute sprint?”

James snickered. “Seriously? You’d think we’d never had sex.”

“We haven’t as a married couple,” Mike reasoned. “Those were the test-drives. I want to enjoy the ownership now.”

“Well, now we have about twenty-five minutes, and I don’t want our first drive as owners to be so speedy we don’t enjoy the view,” James said. “When we make love for the first time as a married couple, I want it to be something I remember.”

Mike pulled him closer, pressing his hardness against James’ hip. “Yeah? You want it nice and slow with lots of kissing and caressing?”

James moaned and buried his face into Mike’s neck. “Yes.”

“Okay, my sweet husband,” Mike whispered. “I’d like that, too. I can’t imagine having you inside me for the first time any other way.”

James jerked his head back with a questioning look, the way he often did. “Wait. What?”

“I told you I’d want you to top at some point. I’ve wanted it for a while now, but as it got closer to the wedding, I figured I’d rather wait. You’re my husband. I want you to mark me as yours.”

“How am I supposed to go out there now and spend the rest of the day eating and dancing?” James pouted. “You put me in irreversible boner mode.”

Mike laughed. “Oh, baby, I promised to cherish you and care for you, remember? I won’t leave you hanging, so to speak. Let’s go to the bedroom. I’ll take care of your predicament. We’ll save the making love for later. But while our guests are shoveling food in their faces outside, you can feed me inside. Just don’t make a mess where I have to explain to my parents what I spilled on my clothes.”

James didn’t know if he should laugh or gulp, but Mike pulled him to their bedroom before he needed to decide.

* * * *

Billy smirked at James when they were back with the crowd. “Gee, I think your hair isn’t quite as perfect as it looked earlier.”

“Shut up.” James laughed. “I told him to leave my hair alone but he said he had to grab onto something.” James looked down at the knees of his trousers. “Hey, my pants aren’t wrinkled funny now, are they?”

Billy raised an eyebrow. “No, but Mike’s looked like the knees were a little shiny from rubbing against the rug.”

James blanched. “Oh no. The fabric can wear that fast?”

“No,” Billy replied with an eye-roll. “Don’t be a dope. And you call me gullible.”

James swallowed. “We are weird, aren’t we? Do all brothers share stuff like this?”

Billy shrugged. “I don’t know. Don’t care. Do you?”

“I guess not.” James grinned. “Hey, I want to ask you something.”

“Nadia and I just kissed in our thirty minutes,” Billy informed him.

“Not that, doofus. I wanted to ask whether you and Nadia would consider moving in with me and Mike in his apartment.”

Billy was taken by surprise, but then his expression soured. “I don’t need charity, James.”

James refrained from disagreeing. “Listen, since Father stopped helping you with college, you’re struggling to pay for everything. Mike’s place in the city is huge. We get lost in it. He has multiple guest rooms and two living rooms. Billy, he’s the one who proposed it. He’d like to have you and Nadia there.” He saw the resistance on Billy’s face. “I’d like to have you there.”

“I don’t know, James,” Billy mumbled. “It’s like I just keep taking. When do I ever take care of you?”

James pulled him into a side-hug. “Billy, you’re kidding, right? You always look out for me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be with Mike right now. It’s like we’ve had a pact since you were born, you know? We’re here for each other. Mike sees how happy I am when you’re around and that makes him happy. We want you to move in. Talk to Nadia, okay?”

Billy thought for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll talk to her.”

James rubbed Billy’s shoulder with affection. “Hey, I think they’re trying to summon us to dance with our new spouses.”

The two walked down to the dance floor to the hoots and cheers of some now inebriated guests. “There they are,” one shouted.

Mike’s eyes lit up when he saw James and he pulled him close to his body. Billy rushed to Nadia. The floor cleared to spotlight the two couples as they danced.

Once the song ended to the applause from the wedding attendees, Nadia asked Billy, “Would you mind if I dance with the other hot Vicksburg boy?”

Billy responded, “Sure. He’d like that.”

James shot her a welcoming grin, offered her a hand then pulled her in close for a slow dance.

Mike saw Billy making his way off the floor, so he stopped him by tapping on his shoulder. When Billy turned to face him, Mike held out his hand.

“May I? I may not grant your one-time, half-hearted invitation to rub one out with you, but I’d enjoy dancing with the other good-looking Vicksburg,” Mike stated, unsure if he was crossing a line and Billy might turn up his nose.

Billy chuckled. “Okay.” He let Mike pull him into a close dance, and Mike’s heart almost broke at how sweet, non-judgmental and caring Billy was.

“You are the coolest, Billy,” Mike murmured. “James isn’t the only one who loves you and Nadia. I’ll always be grateful that you’re there for my guy.”

Billy looked up at him. “I will be. Mike, you will be too, right? You’ll never hurt him?”

Mike gave Billy’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I promise I never will. I’m crazy in love with him, Billy. I know I can be a flirt sometimes with people, but he’s the only one for me. I’m pretty sure he knows he has the power to destroy me.”

“He wouldn’t. You’ll never find a more loyal person.” He pulled his head from Mike to look at his face. “Mike, did you mean it when you told James you’d like for me and Nadia to move in with you? Are you sure we wouldn’t be intruding?”

Mike kissed the top of Billy’s head the way James did. “Billy, I’ve hated being alone. I’ve always wanted loved ones around me. I’m forty-one years old now, and I was afraid it wouldn’t happen. James, Maria, you and Nadia—and any kids you and Nadia have together—will be cherished by me. I wanted to marry James, but I also wanted to marry this family. At least, I hoped I could be part of this crazy family.”

Mike almost laughed when Billy jerked his head back the way James often did, giving him a look of surprise. “You are a part of our family. You have been for a long time now, Mike.”

A tear fell from Billy’s eye, and he buried his face in Mike’s lapel to hide his emotions from the crowd. As Mike swayed to his right, he caught James and Nadia giving him a questioning, concerned look. Mike gave both a thumbs up to let them know Billy was fine. At the relief and affection on James’ and Nadia’s faces, Mike felt a wave of emotion. He knew that all his success and money would never make him feel as content as he did in that moment.

* * * *

Mike finished washing and brushing his teeth, and when he opened the bathroom door, James was on the other side, waiting for his turn to do the same.

“You could have joined me. Can I stay in here with you while you get ready?” Mike asked.

“No.”

Mike frowned. “Why not? We’re married now.”

“I have to pee,” James explained.

“You let me watch you pee once before.” Mike pouted.

“That was before I realized just how much of a pervy voyeur you are. Go wait on the bed for me,” James demanded.

“Fine,” Mike said to the door being shut in his face.

After James brushed his teeth and washed his face, he went to the toilet to empty his bladder. He heard Mike calling something, but not loud enough to hear over the piss stream. “What?”

“I said hurry. I miss you,” Mike yelled.

James shook his head, chuckling. “Stop it!”

“Are you still peeing?” Mike shouted.

“Yes. Leave me alone!” James replied.

“Why do you have so much pee? You only had a couple of drinks. Can you speed it up?” Mike teased.

“Christ on a scooter,” James muttered. He went to the sink and washed his hands and face, then he brushed his teeth. He purposely took longer than usual to punish Mike for his harassment.

“Now what are you doing?” Mike called out.

“I’m loading a pistol and thinking how to stage a suicide scene,” James barked back, unable to keep from laughing. He opened the door to the bedroom. Mike had already removed his clothes and was waiting not so patiently in bed.

“You might want to delay that plan until I have all the financial paperwork changed to list you as my beneficiary,” Mike suggested.

“Hmm, get on that already,” James joked. “Your taunting is making my finger trigger-happy.”

“I’ll show you what you can do with your trigger finger.” Mike smirked. “And you don’t need my money,” Mike added as James joined him in bed. “Now that your contract with the musical is done, you have offers coming in from everywhere.”

James didn’t answer. He pondered some more. “I was thinking about the gay romance flick, but it required nudity.”

Mike grunted in agreement. “You’re kind of shy about that, even with a partner in the bedroom. I don’t see you being comfortable with it.”

James turned Mike’s face toward his. “Yes, but it’s more than that. It’s old-fashioned, I know, but I feel like being naked is something I want to share with you alone now.”

Mike grinned. “Hmm, I think I appreciate you being old-fashioned.”

James leaned in to kiss Mike. It started slow and sweet, but soon their passion ignited. James rolled on top of Mike and smothered his lips, ears and neck with pecks, nips and sucks. He moved his way down, kissing the hollow at the base of Mike’s throat while running his hands over the lightly-haired pectoral muscles. James pinched and flicked his husband’s nipples, turned on by the hardened nubs and the vibration of Mike’s fluttering heart. “You’re so handsome, Mike. When you showed up today in that tuxedo, I thought I was going to pass out—my head was doing all sorts of crazy things.”

“Baby, I thought the same when I saw you,” Mike confessed. “Every time I’ve seen you and thought you couldn’t be any more beautiful, you somehow manage to prove me wrong.”

James was half-listening. His face was already down to the happy trail that made its way over Mike’s belly button and down to the soft pubic curls. James kissed and licked his way to Mike’s dick, smelling his musky scent from the earlier blow job. “Want to suck you some more,” James whispered.

“Oh God, James. Don’t make me come. I want you inside me,” Mike pleaded.

James tasted Mike’s engorged cock, diving down until it filled him to his throat. He hummed with pleasure, causing Mike’s dick to expand even more. When James touched Mike’s sack and realized it was already tightening, he released the prick from his mouth. “Shit. It’s like being in an ice-cream shop and only getting to choose one thing,” James complained.

“Excuse me? I thought you only order vanilla?” Mike joked.

James stopped his kissing and sucking and scowled at Mike’s grinning face. “You literally want to talk about ice cream right now? Maybe I’ll keep things vanilla between us.”

Mike shook his head and sobered. “I’m sorry.”

James chuckled and resumed licking Mike’s nut sack, pinching the loose skin that was under his balls and tugging it as far toward Mike’s anus as he could. Mike gasped and moaned from the slight burn mixed with tingling pleasure. James continued the action, each time brushing fingers with more pressure over Mike’s sensitive hole. Mike lifted and tried to get more friction on his entrance, so James tapped Mike’s thighs to suggest he allow greater access. Mike pulled his knees forward and spread his legs, opening himself to the man he loved.

“You’re so fucking hot, Mike,” James whispered before plunging his lips over the wet, tight warmth. Mike began gurgling as James flicked his tongue over and over the clenching hole.

“God, James! Don’t let me come before you get inside me,” Mike reminded him.

The two had long since stopped using condoms, as they had both tested negative and were monogamous. James reached for the lubricant on the nearby nightstand and applied the liquid to James’ rectum. Mike was bucking against James’ hand, wanting deeper penetration. Over the next couple of minutes, James worked a second then a third digit into Mike’s ass, stretching and probing until the ring of muscle that gave initial resistance began to relax.

“You ready, baby?” James asked.

“Yes,” Mike gasped.

James applied more lubricant to Mike’s channel, just to be safe. Then, he slathered more over his own aching cock. James took a hold of Mike’s legs and leaned into them, bringing their faces close enough that they could kiss while they made love. “It means so much that you want to give yourself to me, Mike,” James whispered, kissing his husband while his leaking dick head rubbed along the inside of Mike’s ass crack.

“My incredible husband—show me I’m yours,” Mike begged.

James took his right hand to position the tip of his member against Mike’s entrance and began to push. “Baby, look at me. I’m not going to hurt you,” James assured him. “Look at me—the man who loves you with all his heart.”

Those words relaxed Mike enough that James was able to get the head of his dick into the tight hole. Mike grimaced. “James, you’re so big.”

“Shh,” James soothed. “Just keep looking at me and I’ll go slow. I love you so much, baby.”

Mike pulled James down for another passionate kiss. Sensing Mike relax, James pushed in a bit farther. Mike’s breath hitched, but then he started to kiss James once more. James showered his husband with soft caresses and kisses as the tunnel of muscle opened and allowed him full entrance. When James bottomed out, he looked into Mike’s eyes. They were stunned, yet full of adoration. “James? You’re all the way in?”

“Yes, baby. Are you okay?”

“So full. It’s like I’m going to give birth,” Mike remarked.

James kissed his husband’s head. “I’m pretty sure a woman who’s given birth would tell you to go fuck yourself.”

“Not when your dick is already in me. I don’t think my ass could handle more.” Mike smiled. “I think you can begin moving now. The burn is gone. It’s nice. God, James…I’m full of my husband’s dick.” Mike laughed. “It’s kind of amazing.”

“It is, Mikey,” James smiled, then kissed Mike once more before starting to slowly thrust his hips.

“My God,” Mike panted. “Please keep doing that.”

“You like?” James asked.

“Love it,” Mike confirmed with heavy breaths. “It’s like I’m having a continuous orgasm in my ass.”

“That’s good, baby. Want me to go a little faster and harder?”

Mike nodded, unable to answer. His state of ecstasy was becoming too intense. James quickened the pace, eliciting cries that echoed throughout the bedroom. He took harder and deeper plunges, banging Mike’s prostate, causing his husband to muffle his screams of pleasure with his fist.

“James.” Mike was trying to talk, but he had obviously never experienced something so intense in his body. “So…fucking…I can’t.”

James pushed on Mike’s legs more, positioning him so that he could go as deep as possible, pounding Mike’s buttocks repeatedly. James was light-headed from the tight muscles squeezing his wet cock, and the sound of his balls slapping Mike’s ass. Mike screamed out an orgasm. With the way his body was positioned, jets of cum hit his chest and chin as he thrashed around as much as his confined body allowed.

James was overcome by watching Mike’s face contort with an ecstasy he’d never experienced, and seeing his husband’s dick cover the athlete’s torso with globs of warm spunk. He bent down and licked Mike’s cum from his chin, then plunged his tongue into Mike’s still-panting mouth as he shot his own sperm into Mike’s hole. He continued pumping, feeling the warmth spilling around his hardness and in Mike. He collapsed on top of Mike, panting in his ear until the throes of his orgasm subsided.

“Am I still alive?” Mike panted.

James kissed the pulsing artery in Mike’s neck and touched Mike’s chest to feel his heartbeat. “Seems you are.”

Mike grinned and gave James a sassy look. “Good thing. Still time to name you as my beneficiary.”

“Stop it,” James scolded. “I shouldn’t have made a joke about you dying. I want you around for a long time.”

Mike chuckled. “Now that you know I make a great power bottom?”

James jerked his head back and bit his lower lip. “Now that I know I’d be lost without you.”

That sobered Mike, who ran a hand through James’ tresses, finding the spot on the back of James’ head he liked to hold as he pulled him in for a kiss. “Then you’d best never leave my side.”

James smiled. “I won’t. I’m a relationship kind of guy.”