The night passed by, full of laughter and music. Shane still had a job to do by keeping an eye on the students, which wasn’t an easy task when Zach stayed by his side. Now that Shane knew that Zach loved him, all he could think of was expressing that affection in every way possible. Alas, that sort of celebration would have to come later. It didn’t stop him from sneaking sideways glances towards Zach, imagining all the things he would do to him once they were alone. 

Based on Zach’s returned glances, he was pretty sure he wasn’t the only one having those thoughts. 

In the meantime, they handed out drinks and made sure the mob of hormonal teenagers didn’t burn down the historical landmark, which took a surprising amount of focus. They joked around together from the outskirts of the room while watching the teens poorly try to impress each other, or when they made fools of themselves on the dance floor. Shane was especially amused when he saw Alexa and Johnny dancing together, both of the students drawing attention from around them with their ‘sick moves,’ or whatever the kids said nowadays.

Shane had to dart off once or twice to break up an argument or comfort an upset student too. At one point he kept Craig company, who was loitering on the sidelines brooding when he had no one to dance with. Thankfully he wasn’t alone for too long, as Gwen came over to park her wheelchair beside him while others danced. Zach hadn’t minded being left behind, especially when he realized there were white chocolate chip cookies to munch on at the refreshments table. He and Zach even got pulled briefly away to take some pictures with some kids from choir, all of which involved funny faces and poses. But for the most part the night passed by pleasantly.

Eventually the dance had quieted down some, with only a handful of students clustered here and there. Most of the kids got bored and went off to have their own less adult supervised celebrations, or to head home. But the DJ was still lingering for a little longer, playing a few more songs. 

Shane looked over the dance floor. Tammy was still out there dancing closely with an Asian girl named Lily, who was wearing a suit, but otherwise the ballroom was empty save for a couple other stragglers. He turned to Zach with a grin. “You ready for that dance now?” 

Zach smirked, setting down the plastic cup of punch he’d been holding. “I’d love to. But there’s just one thing I need to do real quick.”

He perked a brow, but didn’t argue.

Zach turned to dart off towards the DJ’s booth, leaning in to say something to him that Shane couldn’t make out. The DJ grinned and nodded back.

“Okay,” Zach said as he trotted back over. “Ready. Just keep an eye on your toes.”

“Thankfully, I already broke a leg falling for you, so it can’t get any worse,” Shane joked, then snagged the other man’s hand to drag him out into the middle of the ballroom. He kept a grip on one hand, letting his other rest on Zach’s side. Zach fumbled a little more clumsily, but after a moment his hand settled on Shane’s shoulder. 

The song ended, but another one started up right after.

Shane burst out laughing when he recognized Lionel Richie’s slow, sensual love ballad. The song that had inspired their first kiss. “Oh, you’re sneaky.”

Zach smiled, cheeks flushed. “I thought you might like it. It’s kind of like our song now, right?”

“It’s the best song.” Shane shifted a little closer, wanting to press against his lover, but knowing he couldn’t go too far with the kids around. So instead he held Zach’s gaze, trying to express just how much he adored him with a look alone.

Zach hadn’t been lying about being a shit dancer. His legs were much longer than Shane’s, and he missed steps while trying to accommodate for it. Shane couldn’t care less. He just hummed along with the music softly and led them along slowly, keeping on beat with the slow love ballad. Eventually they fell into an easy rhythm, and Zach relaxed some. 

He smiled up at him as they swayed and turned together. Zach returned it, but he could tell there was something lingering behind his eyes that he was trying to hide. A moment of hesitation. 

“What’s on your mind?” Shane asked gently. 

Zach’s smile faltered briefly, before he exhaled a breath. “I don’t really want to talk about my ex much more right now, but… This place is actually where we were getting married.” His smile returned, but softer, more strained. “It’s kind of ironic, you know? That our relationship ended here. I probably would have had my first dance with him, right here. But here we are, and our relationship is just started. Really started, anyway.” 

Shane frowned. “Oh god, Zach… I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. We can stop dancing, if you want?” 

“No, no. Don’t be sorry.” His smile brightened again, and Shane felt the hand on his shoulder squeeze gently. “It’s a happy thought. There’s no one else I’d rather be dancing with than you, here or anywhere. I’m ready to move on.” 

Shane stared up at him, feeling his heart race in his chest. Everything about this moment felt right. It might be corny, but he might as well be dancing on air right now, twirling about in the clouds. At least he held back from breaking into song. 

“I’m glad to hear that,” he replied. “For both of our sakes.” 

They leaned into each other, and once their loving kiss had ended Shane let his cheek rest against Zach’s shoulder. Their steps slowed, until they were just gently swaying along with the music together. 

His eyes closed when he felt Zach’s lips against his temple, soothing and adoring. 

“There is something I want to ask you, though,” Zach said softly, breaking the silence after a minute or so. 

“Hm?” Shane didn’t bother with words, just enjoying the warmth of Zach’s body. 

“I, um, might have told my mother about you. She wanted me to invite you to come to Christmas dinner. It would mean a lot to me if you would come. If you want to. I know that’s kind of fast, but… well… My family is really important to me.” Zach swallowed nervously. 

He lifted his head so he could look up into Zach’s eyes again, unable to restrain his wide grin. “You don’t have to apologize for being close to your family, Zach. I’d love to meet them. Not like I have any other plans for Christmas, anyway.” 

The tension in Zach’s shoulders eased. He let out a relieved laugh. “Oh man, that’s great to hear. I’ve been so nervous…”

“Don’t be.” Shane gave a pat on his hip. “Being nervous is my job now. I’m the one meeting your parents for the first time.” 

“Pfft, they’re going to love you,” Zach teased. “But not as much as I do.” 

“You gonna prove just how much you love me when we get home later?” Shane said in a lower, more husky voice, full of hopeful suggestion. 

Zach’s face flushed, but his smile turned lopsided. “Oh yeah. However you want.” 

“I might have some ideas…”

By the time the two had hurried through helping to clean up after the dance, both were about as high-strung as the horny teenagers they’d been watching all night. 

So when they burst through Zach’s front door together, Shane had no intention of wasting time. He kicked off his shoes then grabbed Zach by the hand to drag off to his bedroom, both of them shrugging out of their coats on the way. 

This time, the kiss didn’t have to be PG.

Zach’s kiss was like no woman’s ever had been. His lips were firmer, even when he yielded to Shane’s tongue. Zach’s tiny bits of stubble scratched against his chin, adding a layer of heat to the kiss. When his need became too much and he broke the kiss so that he could whisper into Zach’s ear, he deliberately brushed their jaws together to experience more of that wonderful friction.

“Do you think you might be ready to try some new things this time?” Shane asked softly, shoving his hands down the back of Zach’s pants to cup his ass.

Zach’s breath hitched, head tipping to the side to expose more of his neck and jaw to Shane. He was more than willing to take advantage of the offer, and started laying down kisses and nips of his teeth.

“Yeah,” Zach gasped, his eyes closing. “If you are, I’d love that.”

“There’s nothing I want more right now.” Shane squeezed, then pushed Zach’s pants down over his hips so he could rub down the back of his thighs.

Zach shuddered, then hurried to pull the rest of their clothes off after kicking off his own pants. Once they were nude, he pulled Shane back in close, panting. “Since this is your first time with a man like this, do you… um, want to be on top?”

Shane snorted, then leaned up to kiss his chin. “I’ve done anal with women before. But no, baby. I want you to fuck me. I’ve been waiting for this chance for a really, really long time, and I’m not going to chicken out now.” He grinned, then stepped back so he could crawl backwards onto the bed, lounging so he could show off his body. “Gimme that dick, baby. I want you inside me.”

Zach was turning red, but his cock was rock hard and he was already nearly whimpering. He clearly didn’t mind Shane’s request.

“Okay,” Zach swallowed down his nervousness. “But just let me know if it hurts too much or anything.”

“Stop worrying. I want this,” Shane assured.

The taller man nodded, then stepped over to fumble at a bedside drawer, pulling out a tube of clear gel and a condom. Then he returned to the spot at the end of the bed and slid onto his knees in front of Shane.

Shane did his best to wiggle enticingly, but all it did was make Zach giggle. But he didn’t mind that at all.

Once he recovered, Zach took a moment to look over the choir teacher. His long fingers pawed gently at Shane’s hips, guiding him to turn over onto his stomach. Shane did so, propping himself up on his elbows and looking back at the nervous journalist.

Little kisses down his spine made Shane smile. He watched Zach’s face move lower and lower until he reached a spot at his lower back that made him ticklish. Zach grinned and lingered there a moment experimentally, but then his face was disappearing over the curve of Shane’s ass.

Shane couldn’t laugh when he first felt Zach’s tongue. The sensation was entirely new to him, and craning his head back to look didn’t work. By the second slow circle of Zach’s tongue, Shane’s head was falling to hang between his shoulders. It was a weird, wet sensation, but so fucking good. It was making pleasure blossom through his body in ways he’d never experienced before.

Just as he got used to the feeling, Zach was leaning back, leaving Shane to groan and shake in desperation. He hardly heard the click of the lube being opened, but the coldness of the gel made him gasp sharply when it was applied to his sensitive skin.

“Sorry,” Zach whispered softly. “It’ll warm quickly.”

He wasn’t lying. Soon the gel was covering Zach’s fingers, and he was carefully working it inside him, letting those long, beautiful fingers push in knuckle by knuckle. It felt like it was searing through him now, making him bury his face into the pillow until it rose up around his ears, drowning his moans in it.

The pillow was pulled away from his ears just a bit so he could hear Zach’s repeated question of if he was ready. With the feeling swimming around inside his head, he couldn’t quite get out the right words, so he settled for a deep groan and an “Uh huh.” Zach rubbed at his lower back in response, and Shane heard the sound of the condom wrapper tearing open.

He felt pressure against his entrance, the foreign sensation stealing away the air from his lungs. He expected something sharp, but Zach was so gentle. This wasn’t at all what Shane’s mind had prepared him for. He’d been excited, sure, but he’d expected some pain at first. This? This wasn’t pain.

This was bliss.

The slickened head was eased past his ring slowly, and by the time he was buried completely, Shane’s muscles had given way for him despite the faint burning sensation. He could feel every bit of the taller man pressed behind him, and the gentle rocking of their bodies filled him and then made him ache for the emptiness when Zach pulled back.

The tender motions could go on forever, if not for the growing need inside Shane. Instinct took over, and before he knew it he was reaching back to grip Zach’s hip, pulling him forward harder.

“Oh fuck, baby,” Shane gasped. “Like that. Faster!”

Zach only moaned in reply, but obliged. He started to thrust harder, their momentum building as their ecstasy did. Shane rocked backwards, meeting the thrusts with bounces of his hips to drive Zach in deeper.

He couldn’t remember who had pulled them up onto their knees, but this felt so much better. Zach’s arms were around him, holding him close. He turned his head to steal a kiss as the whine of need built in his chest. Their bodies rocked together while Zach’s fingers coiled around Shane’s cock to squeeze. Shane felt something building in the pit of his stomach, a fire that grew brighter with each pump of Zach’s hand and thrust of his hips.

Then the fire engulfed him. He rolled his head back onto Zach’s shoulder and cried out, yelling Zach’s name as he spilled over his lover’s fingers. But he forced himself past that inferno, riding out the aftershocks of his orgasm to continue pushing back onto Zach’s cock.

Soon Zach was crying out breathlessly against his ear, his arms squeezing Shane tight to his chest as he pushed in deep. It was music to his ears, and all he wanted was to hear this sound over and over forever.

The feeling of Zach finishing inside of him was pretty nice too.

They fell together onto the bed, rolling over onto their sides, both panting heavily and covered in sweat. Shane felt no need to move much, so he stayed in Zach’s embrace, wiggling backwards until he was pressed up against Zach’s chest. The man’s taller body wrapped around his perfectly.

“What do you think?” Zach murmured, once he was able to form words again.

Shane laughed softly. “I’m thinking that I love cock and was an idiot to wait to do that for so long.”

“Was it worth the wait, at least?”

He looked back towards Zach and smiled, stealing a soft kiss. “Definitely. I’m glad I got to try it with someone I loved.”

Zach smiled contently. “I love you too. But don’t worry… I’m fine with making up for all of your years in the closet by fucking like bunnies. Though I want to feel you inside me, too.”

“Next time. I got the feeling there’re gonna be a lot of next times.” Shane smirked.

“So, so many…” Zach agreed, trailing off into a longer, more sensual kiss.

Shane chuckled after the kiss, then let his eyes close, content to fall asleep in Zach’s arms. He couldn’t imagine anywhere else he’d rather be.