It had been a lot of years since Mitch had worked in a garden, but being outside with Jonah in Pop’s backyard took him right back to their high school days when they would sometimes spend the whole afternoon snapping string beans and picking tomatoes.

The only difference now—aside from the years that had passed—was that Pop wasn’t out in the middle of the garden with them. He was still there, though, shouting directions from the shaded back porch.

“Make sure you only pick the ripe ones,” Pop called. Mitch could see him shading his eyes against the sun as he peered out into the yard from his chair. “I know you boys think you’re clever, making me fry up those green tomatoes…”

Mitch laughed and looked down at the bowl he was sharing with Jonah to gather the vegetables, already half-full of tomatoes that were definitely not ripe.

“Sometimes they just fall off the vine that way, Pop,” Jonah offered, not sounding innocent at all.

“Yeah, you don’t want us to let any of them go to waste, do you?” Mitch asked, tossing Jonah a wink. “Especially if we do the cooking this time.”

Pop grunted and shook his head, but Mitch could see the smile on his face even from twenty feet away.

Mitch and Jonah had spent half the morning convincing Pop that they could handle taking care of the garden for a few days while he got his strength back, but it was only after they suggested he might come out and “supervise” from the porch that he’d reluctantly agreed to stay out of the sun.

“Feels just like old times, doesn’t it?” Jonah murmured, brushing his hand against Mitch’s as they both reached for the bowl at the same time. “Funny how all of the years just sort of melt away sometimes.”

“It does feel that way,” Mitch agreed, grinning as he gave Jonah’s hand a little squeeze before going back to picking vegetables. “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Well, maybe a few things.

Like the fact that they didn’t have all summer to spend together without a care in the world, like they had back then.

Or the fact that he didn’t know when or if he’d even see Jonah again after this week was over.

But at least they had today.

That was worth being thankful for, and it was enough to keep Mitch smiling. It had to be enough, right?

“I’m glad we had that talk last night,” Jonah said, keeping his voice low as he glanced over at the porch. “Knowing we’re both on the same page makes things a little easier, at least.”

“Are you boys almost finished out there?” Pop called. “I don’t want to miss Judge Judy.”

“Yep,” Jonah answered, not taking his eyes off Mitch. “Just another minute or two and we’ll be ready.”

“It does make things easier,” Mitch agreed, nodding. “And now we’ll be able to spend the rest of the week without all of that stuff hanging over our heads.”

Mitch hoped he sounded more convincing than he actually felt.

Because there was no way he was getting all of that stuff out of his head.

Stuff like feelings.

Wishes.

Hopes.

Nope, none of that stuff was going to change. It hadn’t in ten years, after all.

The shitty thing was that actually doing something about all of that stuff felt just as impossible now as it had back then.

They hadn’t even been back inside the house for an hour before Pop was asleep in his recliner.

“So much for not missing his afternoon shows,” Mitch whispered, nodding toward the TV as he took the opportunity to move closer to Jonah on the couch.

“I’ve come to realize that ‘Judge Judy’ is actually code for nap time,” Jonah murmured, nuzzling against Mitch’s neck as Mitch put an arm around his shoulders and pulled him closer. “That’s why he’s so insistent about it.”

Being this close to Jonah felt so right, so perfect that it didn’t take long before Mitch’s eyelids were feeling heavy, too.

“Not gonna lie,” Mitch said. “He’s got the right idea. I could totally go for a nap right now.”

“I was just thinking the same thing,” Jonah said. “But I need a shower first, after spending the morning outside in the garden.”

The thought of Jonah in the shower sent a surge of desire through Mitch’s body, straight down to his cock.

“A shower does sound like a really good idea.” Mitch shifted his weight and pressed a kiss against Jonah’s forehead to mask an attempt at adjusting his growing erection. “Maybe I’ll try to hold out on that nap until after you’re out of the shower, then I can take one.”

Jonah looked up at him, eyes sparkling as a grin slowly spread across his face. “There’s nothing that says you have to wait…”

“Oh, damn,” Mitch groaned. His hard-on was straining against the fabric of his shorts, more than ready to take Jonah up on that not-so-subtle offer. “You’re killing me here. You know that, right?”

Jonah nibbled at his lip and shrugged. “I’m just trying to help you stay awake… and, um… conserve water.”

“Well,” Mitch said, standing up from the couch and pulling Jonah with him. “As long as it’s for a good cause…”

They were up the stairs and into the bathroom that was across from their bedrooms within a matter of seconds, both scrambling to get out of their clothes as quickly as possible.

Mitch really did feel like they were a couple of horny teenagers now, sneaking around and getting naked together at every opportunity.

Once they were free of their clothes, Mitch reached out and pulled Jonah to him, trapping both of their hard cocks between their bodies as his mouth found Jonah’s.

Jesus, he could spend all day just like this, kissing this beautiful man in front of him, running his hands over Jonah’s body and just appreciating him.

Well, he could spend most days like that.

But not today.

Today, Mitch wanted more.

And judging by the straining erection pressed against his hip, so did Jonah.

“Oh my God.” Jonah’s voice was breathless as Mitch backed away for a moment to look into his eyes before leading him over to the shower. “Why does it feel like forever since we’ve been naked together?”

“Because going without this,” he reached down and gave Jonah’s cock a gentle squeeze and quick stroke, “for more than twenty-four hours at a time should seriously be illegal.”

“You’ve got my vote,” Jonah said, reaching down to turn on the hot water.

Jesus, his ass was amazing. Just like everything else about him. Mitch couldn’t resist reaching down to give that perfectly tight ass a squeeze, startling a surprised squeak out of Jonah.

“Shh,” Jonah turned and admonished Mitch with a mock glare. “You’re gonna be in trouble if Pop wakes up.”

Mitch laughed quietly. “You’re the one who is making all the noise. I’m just enjoying the view.”

Jonah stuck his hand under the water and jerked his head toward the shower. “Come on and get in here with me. I can for sure be quiet if I’ve got something in my mouth.”

“Oh, fuck,” Mitch groaned, his cock immediately throbbing at the words. Jonah just grinned, knowing good and well that he was torturing Mitch with every sexy thing he did and said.

As soon as they stepped inside the shower, Jonah made good on his suggestion, dropping to his knees and taking Mitch’s cock in his mouth.

“Jesus, Jonah,” Mitch gasped, leaning his head back into the hot water as Jonah’s warm mouth massaged his shaft. “That feels so fucking good, babe.”

Mitch could feel Jonah’s hands gripping the backs of his thighs, kneading and massaging as the water ran in rivulets down his body. Mitch threaded his fingers through Jonah’s hair, brushing it back out of his face and shielding him from the water as he bobbed up and down, taking Mitch’s cock deeper and deeper.

It felt amazing. Almost too good. And Mitch could feel the climax already starting to build inside of him.

But he wasn’t about to let that happen yet. Not until he made sure Jonah felt just as good.

Moving his hands down to Jonah’s shoulders, Mitch gently lifted Jonah up and then eased him back against the tile wall, taking the opportunity to capture his mouth in a long kiss before letting his lips trail down to Jonah’s throat, down to that delicious spot that fluttered and pulsed with every beat of Jonah’s heart.

“Oh my God,” Jonah panted, moving his hands over Mitch’s shoulders and back as Mitch kissed and sucked and nipped his way down Jonah’s chest. “Yes, Mitch, please.”

Jonah was moaning louder with each word, and the sound of him coming undone was turning Mitch on more and more by the second. He reached down to stroke his own cock as his lips kissed a trail down between Jonah’s abs, lower and lower until he reached the base of that beautiful cock, hard and throbbing as Mitch planted one last kiss there before reaching up with his free hand to stroke it.

“Do you like it, babe?” Mitch asked, looking up at Jonah’s face as he stroked Jonah’s cock with one hand and his own thick shaft with the other. “Tell me. Tell me how you want it.”

“Yes,” Jonah panted. “God, yes. Faster, Mitch. Please… so hot…”

Mitch did as Jonah asked, loving the way each stroke made Jonah’s whole body tremble. The head of Jonah’s cock was slick with pre-cum, and Mitch stuck out his tongue to lap along the slit, only to be rewarded with a truly porn-worthy moan from deep within Jonah’s chest.

“You’re gonna make me come,” Jonah gasped. “I don’t… don’t think I’ll last very long… oh God yes.”

“Jesus fuck, Jonah, you’re so fucking sexy,” Mitch growled. “That’s right, babe. I want you to come for me. Let me swallow it. Give it to me, Jonah. Now.”

Jonah’s hips bucked and Mitch stopped stroking just long enough to put his lips around the head of Jonah’s cock and suck it deeply, letting it hit the back of his throat as Jonah gasped out his name.

“Yes… Mitch… I need… Oh, God…”

Jonah was too far gone to form a complete sentence, but that was okay. That was perfect. Mitch knew exactly what he needed, anyway, and sucked him deeper, longer, until Jonah’s balls tightened and his cock swelled even thicker in Mitch’s mouth.

Mitch was right there on the edge, too, his own orgasm surging through his body like a tidal wave, just waiting for the moment it could overtake him.

The first hot jets hit the back of Mitch’s throat at the same time his own cock erupted, spilling over his fist and onto the tile floor where it was immediately washed away.

Mitch kept sucking as Jonah’s hips gave one last thrust, swallowing every drop and massaging the sensitive head with his tongue until there was nothing left to do but stand up again and put his arms around the gorgeous man in front of him.

“So good,” Jonah whispered, flashing Mitch an exhausted grin as he closed his eyes and let himself melt against Mitch’s body.

“That was exactly what I needed,” Mitch said, punctuating each word with a kiss against the side of Jonah’s head. “I wish we could do this every day.”

“Me too,” Jonah murmured, nuzzling against Mitch’s neck as they stood there, letting the water stream over their bodies. “I’d never get tired of it.”

And even though Mitch knew there wouldn’t be an opportunity for very many more of these moments between them, he was determined to savor this one.

This moment.

This time.

This sweet, sexy, perfect man.