Brian enjoyed going through his morning routine with Sway. He was used to his own space; now, his space was even more appealing when Sway was there. It didn’t hurt that he could cook too. That was a clear way to Brian’s heart; not that Sway needed a shortcut. Brian rubbed his belly. It was full of scrambled eggs and grilled ham slices. Shit, he thought he’d eaten so much French toast he might’ve made himself sick. Or perhaps the sickness he was feeling was nerves… from having to meet Sway’s mom. Which is exactly where they were headed. Brian was following Sway because after his visit he had to go to work. He knew an entire weekend off was too good to be true. He’d been glad Sway hadn’t been upset when he’d had to cancel their afternoon plans.

Brian pulled his car in behind Sway’s and parked. He glanced around him, taking in everything. Ever mindful of potential harm. He knew the saying: You could take the man out of the war, but the war could never be taken out of the man. Brian looked up and saw Sway waving him towards him, wearing a warm smile. ‘Nervous,’ he mouthed.

A little. He got out of the car and waved his flat palm back and forth. He wouldn’t lie. He was shitting bricks. Meeting the parents? Really? He was forty-four. Brian needed to man up. Sway’s mom was someone extremely important to him, and it sounded like this nurse—Tweetie—was a very close family friend and her opinion mattered just as much. These two people and Dana were Sway’s closest family. This was Sway’s first attempt at love after losing his twin brother so abruptly and tragically.

“They’re going to gush all over you. They already like you. I talk about you a lot.” Sway touched his cheek and leaned in to him. Brian automatically lifted his arms and secured them around Sway’s waist. “They only know what they need to know about you.”

Brian understood what Sway was saying but it wasn’t necessary. He believed Sway wouldn’t betray his trust and confidence.

“However, Tweetie can say things a little…incorrect.” Sway hurried to continue at Brian’s concerned expression. “Not too bad. I think. I hope. If she asks you something you don’t want to answer… um… I’ll save you. Just sign some random things.”

Brian laughed. “Doesn’t your mom know how to sign?”

Sway grinned, drawling slowly. “Yeah. And.”

They stood in the parking lot—oblivious to the chilling wind, or the nosy neighbors—grinning and leaning into each other like fools when he heard a youthfully snarky voice with all the sarcasm it could muster break into their bliss. “Ahh, the start of a new relationship… for someone who doesn’t have time for it.”

Brian growled but Sway quickly put his hand on his chest to quiet him, frowning kinda sadly.

“Please ignore that. It’s just a crush and he hasn’t taking my rejections well lately. That’s Sam, my mom’s backup nurse. He comes to relieve Tweets when she does respite. I don’t see him often. I’ve always told him no, just gently. Even now. I didn’t mean for… danggoneit’.” Sway groaned and rubbed his creased forehead against Brian’s coarse beard, comforting himself. Brian squeezed the back of Sway’s neck, rubbing away the distress. “Even though I’ve always been honest, and he knows—whether he wants to admit it or not—he doesn’t have a chance with me. But, I wasn’t going to throw you up in his face, either. That’s why I asked Tweets to send him on some errands, so he wouldn’t be here when we came.”

Brian watched the guy slam his car door, still shooting daggers at them, and peel out of the parking lot. Brian didn’t like that expression but he ignored it and reached into his backseat to remove the two large bouquets of yellow, pink and white roses.

“I told you you didn’t have to bring those. Goodness. These girls are vultures. If they see you’re willing to buy them things, they’ll never leave you alone.”

Brian shook his head. His hands were full, so he couldn’t sign to Sway that he made his family sound like gold-diggers, but instead followed him up the cracked sidewalk. The neighborhood was not as well kept as Brookwood Hills but the people living there cared for their tiny lawns, a few having pot gardens. There was a small park, with more broken equipment than anything. The metal jungle-gym looked like a deathtrap. There were no kids out, which was odd for a Sunday. A basketball court was only a few feet away from the park, but there was no basket, only ragged backboards. Several guys stood around smoking and shooting the shit. Brian glanced in that direction as they stared back. A silent acknowledgement was exchanged as he kept walking. This wasn’t Brian’s stomping ground… it was theirs’. If Sway would even remotely consider it, he’d move him out of this area, yesterday.

“Ready?” Sway teased him.

Is he trying to make me nervous? God, just open the door.

Sway took his key and unlocked the door, calling out as soon as he stepped inside. It was warm and smelled as if someone had just finished baking something. The doorway just inside the tiny apartment immediately made him feel even bigger than he was. However, as he moved farther through the narrow entrance way and the room opened up, he could finally see and breathe a little easier. A large room had been divided into a living area and dining area. The cramped kitchen, with very low, handicap accessible cabinets was around the corner. A comfortable-looking chair and two love seats surrounded a coffee table scattered with various magazines, tabloids, sales papers and clipped coupons, A modest-sized flat screen, airing an episode of The View rested on a basic TV stand.

The television was muted and a lovely woman with soft eyes like his Sway’s stared intriguingly at him. She had her blonde hair—not as dark as Sway’s—clipped at the nape of her neck with a faux-diamond barrette. She wore a wool skirt that reached her ankles and a white cotton blouse under her gray shawl. He could see where Sway had gotten his natural nurturing ability. Sway’s mom put Brian at ease with just a slight smile, an openly friendly gaze, and a welcoming wave. When he stepped from behind Sway, her eyes widened comically, and he noticed she was in a power wheelchair.

“Please come in. Squirt, move so he can come inside.” She said with a light laugh that belonged on a cloud.

A black woman came out the kitchen, carrying a bowl and a steaming mug. She set it on the table beside Sway’s mother and turned around to gape at them as if Brian was a healthy buck in an auction. Brian stood at his full height, Tweetie only coming up to his mid-chest. Her caramel-colored skin was beautiful, her true age nowhere to be seen behind that bright smile and playful eyes. Only the numerous laugh lines told of her life’s experience and how much she’d enjoyed it. “My name’s Linda, but only bill collectors call me that. I’m Tweetie. You must be Sway’s new man. And you are a big one. Reminds me of my third husband.” She paused, sighing, “Now that was a whole lotta man, Sway. Just like yours. It’s so nice to finally lay eyes on you, big boy. I was beginning to think Squirt was pulling our leg about you.”

Brian handed her one of the bouquets of flowers, then signed. “No ma’am. I’m the real thing.” Brian lightened his steps, walked over to Sway’s mom, and set the flowers in the middle of the coffee table. “For you, Stephanie. Sway’s told me a lot about you both. I’m real honored to meet you.”

Sway’s mom sat up straighter when Brian signed. Her eyes danced all over his face and hands as he spoke. She hurried to translate for Tweetie who was staring, fascinated.

“What he say? What he say?” She practically bounced on the love seat.

Sway’s mom kept translating while Brian talked about himself. Where he’d grown up in West Virginia and life on a farm. He talked about his job and his family. Which was his team. But, he grazed over his time in the military, stating he worked in intelligence. He said he was a strategist… not a spy.

He felt Sway tensing the more questions the women asked. Sway was standing behind the chair Brian had been offered. He was acting like a bodyguard. His boyfriend didn’t know yet, but Brian wasn’t nervous anymore. The ice had been broken. Now he was telling Sway’s mom where he’d learned to sign and that his brother could too. She told him of her twin sister and how they’d learned to sign for her as well. Then that was it. They talked as if they’d known each other forever. Brian reached over and pulled him to sit on the arm of the chair—thinking his lap would be too much—Sway instantly leaned into Brian, his soothing hand going straight to his back.

“Is your favorite color black?” Tweetie asked out of the blue.

Brian grinned and it wasn’t missed by the girls. “No. My favorite color is brown, actually. We wear black because of work. It’s easier not to be seen in black.”

“I bet it’s hard not to see you. Sway didn’t tell us you were a giant.” Tweetie grinned, fanning herself with a flyer ad she’d yanked off the table. Brian could see her naughty mind working. The woman may have been almost sixty, but she didn’t look it and she didn’t act it… nor did she speak like it. “I’m sure our little Sway was the ‘underneath’.”

“Okay!” Sway yelled, jumping up as if he’d been pinched. He gripped Brian’s arm. “I’ll show you my room now, Brian. It’s back here.”

Brian smiled broadly, winked at Tweetie and let Sway pull him up and practically drag him out the room, screaming that Tweetie was banned from saying anything else.

“What did I say? I was careful this time,” She asked, sounding genuinely confused.

Sway closed his door and leaned against it, his head tilted back, and his eyes closed. “I’m so sorry. I tried to warn you.”

Brian looked out of Sway’s window—discreetly checking the lock—before moving over to his small desk in the corner. The room wasn’t big, but it was enough for a young man trying to support himself and his disabled mother on a nurse’s salary. Brian turned to go to Sway, he had to let him out of his misery. Those comments Tweetie had made, even being drilled, wasn’t the worst thing that had ever happened to him. It was the most normal thing that’d ever happened to him. He liked everything about dating Sway, especially meeting his family. He’d missed out on all these things in his younger days. Brian pressed against Sway while he stood brooding against the door. Before Brian could reassure him, they heard loud laughing and giggles.

“Ain’t he big, Steph? Jesus. Can Sway handle all that man?”

“Tweets, quiet down.” Sway’s mom’s voice travelled to them. “He’s not deaf, silly.”

“I didn’t say he was.” Tweetie’s tone was the same. “I like him. If he was black with a bald head, I’d swear he was my husband, Jerome. I never minded being underneath him.”

Sway groaned, continuing to apologize.

Brian laughed harder as he listened to them go on about him and his size… his thighs… his hair… and his ass… what the—?.

Sway squeezed his temples and yelled, “These walls are paper thin, they know that!”

More laughter then hushed conversations about the new era of gay men could still be heard before the volume rose again on the television.

Brian turned Sway’s face towards him, wiping the frown lines from his forehead. He leaned down and kissed him until he wasn’t scowling anymore, until he didn’t hear the ladies anymore; glad he had that power over him. “These thin walls can’t be good for jerking off.” Brian’s chest rumbled when he thought about Sway in his bed, pulling on his stiff cock, thinking of him. Brian went for Sway’s throat, licking and biting the tender skin.

Sway held Brian’s head there. He extended his long neck even farther, giving Brian full access to that ivory skin. “I used to not like it. Until I met you,” Sway whispered.

Brian reared back so he could look in Sway’s eyes. “Explain.”

“Do I have to?” Sway whispered, rotating his head so Brian could keep kissing. “Can’t you just keep doing that?”

Brian laughed huskily against Sway’s throat, shaking his head. He was more than curious than ever to know how Sway’s jerk sessions had changed since they’d met. Brian’s sure had. He had great spank material. Just imagining Sway staring up at him while he made him cry out in ecstasy was enough to make him blow like a volcano.

Brian pulled the neckline of Sway’s thin T-shirt, so he could suck on his sensitive collar bone. Sway gasped but didn’t cry out. Brian knew how crazy this made him. Brian reached down and cupped Sway’s hard length.

Sway breathed heavily in Brian’s ear, still not calling out.

“I force myself to be quiet now.” Sway’s eyes opened drowsily. “Like you, Brian.”

Brian gripped him harder, loving what his boyfriend just confessed. He began a slow stroke through his jeans, wanting a live demonstration. ‘Show me,’ Brian mouthed against Sway’s lips.

“Brian, I haven’t mastered it yet.” Sway stared at Brian. “Especially when I’m thinking about you.”

The zipper was loud in the otherwise quiet room.

“Fuck,” Sway whispered.

Brian splayed Sway’s jeans open and reached inside his boxer briefs. Sway’s tip was moist, his cock already rigid and hot. Brian gathered the thick bead of precome and used it to smooth his way. He dipped down so their foreheads were together and mouthed again, ‘show me.’

Sway bit his bottom lip and nodded once. Brian took the permission, and drove his hand even farther, going for Sway’s sac. He squeezed it, already feeling it draw up in his palm. Yeah, baby. Show me.

Sway slowly rocked his hips. “I take my time… like you do,” Sway murmured. Only because Brian was watching his mouth was he able to understand him, Sway was so quiet. “I want to call out when I think of you… but I don’t. I stay quiet, Brian.” Sway keened against the side of his jaw. He was really fighting to stay silent as Brian tugged a little harder. Sway’s brow creased. Brian began to stroke him at an agonizingly slow pace. ‘Feels so good,’ he mouthed followed by a salacious moan.

“Shhhhh,” Brian hissed, with the shell of Sway’s ear in his mouth.

Sway bucked, the door rattled but not too loud. Brian’s heart leapt, Sway hadn’t perfected this, yet. He needed more practice and Brian could certainly help with that. Or maybe it was his company, his touch and Sway couldn’t help himself. Either of those reasons had Brian feeling like the world was his.

“I can never hold out. I think of you and I know I’m there. I’m gonna… gonna—”

Sway clung to Brian’s shoulders, still pressed tight against the door, he arched his neck and clenched his teeth. He was falling apart, his breaths getting heavier and louder.

“Shhhh.” Brian tried again. He pressed in and used his body to hold Sway together, with both hands in his jeans, he cupped Sway’s balls and worked his dick with the other.

“Fuuuuck,” Sway groaned a little louder than he probably intended. Brian grinned and covered Sway’s mouth with his own. Sway cried on his tongue. “God, I’m coming. Mmmm, Brian I’m coming so hard.”

Okay, Brian thought they may have heard that last one because Sway was shooting into his fist as Brian thrust his tongue deep into Sway’s mouth. If he added his own hips into it, some friction for his own need, it probably wouldn’t take long for him to climax, either. Dammit, if Sway’s mom hadn’t been only feet away, Brian would have Sway on that bed, testing its durability.

Sway got a towel and helped Brian clean up. He wobbled as if he was walking in Jell-O and Brian loved the sated, dazed look in those pretty brown eyes.

His phone vibrated with a message. He opened it up and read that Dana and Ford wanted him to meet them at that ritzy hotel. Brian was typing a message on his phone when he felt Sway’s long arms wrap around him.

“What time do you have to be to work?” Sway asked.

Brian stood and righted himself. He took his heavy, black peacoat off the foot of the bed. “Now, baby. I’m sorry. I’ll text you later.”

“No problem.”

“What are you gonna do the rest of the day?”

“Sit on that couch out there and spend some time with them.”

“And, let them grill you.”

“Like a piece of steak.”

Brian hugged Sway, kissing him deeply before he left the room. “It’s gonna be a busy week, but I’ll let you know if I get a day off.”

“Ditto,” Sway added.

Brian stepped into the living room and both the women quickly tore their eyes away from the television. “Ladies, again it was a pleasure. I wish I could stay longer, but I have to get to work.”

“We understand,” Sway’s mom said politely.

“Squirt, you look high, shuga’. Why you walking like—?”

“Brian, I’ll walk you to the door,” Sway cut over Tweetie.

Sway’s mom laughed, her eyes crinkling beautifully. Her youth showed when she was happy.

Brian ignored Sway and went to Stephanie. He leaned down, and placed a delicate kiss on her cheek. He moved to Tweetie and she quickly stood and threw her arms around his neck. Umph. Brian caught her weight against his, making sure they stayed upright.

“Jesus, Tweets,” Sway groaned.

Brian released her and kissed the back of her hand, staring at her with admiration. “If I’d been in the States at that time and only a few years younger, I might’ve given that third husband of yours—Jerome—some stiff competition. You wouldn’t’ve needed a fourth.” Brian walked away, leaving Tweetie and Sway’s mom in a puddle of charmed goo.