Nico and Tanner went go-kart racing and Tanner was loving every minute. They raced around the track and Tanner ran Nico off the track, laughing when he crashed into the hay bales.

“It’s on, Youngblood!” Nico shouted.

During the next loop around, Nico pushed the back of Tanner’s go-kart forward trying to run him into the water barrel. Tanner slowed down and turned the go-kart around, driving backwards and waving at Nico. Nico smiled and flipped him off before running right into another hay bale; he heard Tanner’s loud laugh. They finished racing and Tanner dragged Nico into the laser tag arena. They geared up and then Tanner slipped into the target zone and immediately hid behind a wall.

“I’m coming for you, Nico!” Tanner yelled.

Nico peeked around the corner and didn’t see Tanner. The worst part of playing laser tag with this group was that they had all been trained by professionals in the art of being stealthy. Their uncles were pros. Nico inched around the corner looking for Tanner. He snuck around the side and laughed when Tanner ran across, shooting at him. The next thing he knew, Tanner was on top of him laughing. Nico looked into his eyes. They both had completely forgotten to shoot the other.

Tanner was breathing hard and he was acutely aware he was on top of the one man he had fantasized about his whole life. He couldn’t stop looking into Nico’s eyes. Nico stroked his face and ran his hand into his hair, he didn’t know how to stop himself; he wanted to kiss Tanner so badly.

Tanner couldn’t stop looking into his eyes. Nico’s hand was in his hair pulling him down, and he could feel his breath on his lips. They were inches away from kissing when both their vests went off, making a loud beep. Tanner got off of Nico and looked around.

“Got ya!” Aidan crowed.

Nico dropped his head back and closed his eyes. He really did want to strangle that kid.

“Hey, Aidan,” Tanner said. “When did you get here?”

“ ’Bout a half hour ago.” Aidan knew he was being an ass but what he had walked in on had kicked his jealousy into overdrive.

“Well, let’s go get a drink, Tanner.” Nico looked at Aidan and tried to smile.

They were waiting for their drinks when Tanner excused himself to go to the bathroom. Aidan checked out Nico. Damn, but he was drop-dead gorgeous.

“So, how long are you here?” Aidan asked.

“Just until the end of the summer, then I start interning for Santorno in Italy.”

“So, you’re leaving Tanner again. Does he know that?”

“I haven’t gotten around to telling him yet.”

“Well, it’s probably for the best. Tanner needs to focus on school and hang out with kids his own age.” Aidan took a sip of his soda.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Nico narrowed his eyes.

“Aren’t you a little old for Tanner? Like six or seven years older?” Aidan knew he was being a dick but he couldn’t stop himself.

Tanner was back from the bathroom and saw Nico frowning. When he got closer, he took his hand and asked, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I should get you home.”

The ride home was quiet and Tanner began to worry. Nico looked hurt and he wracked his brain trying to figure out if he had said or done something to upset him. They pulled up in front of his house and Nico shut the car off. He turned in his seat and faced Tanner.

“I’m going back to Italy at the end of the summer.” He hadn’t meant to blurt it out but there it was.

“What?!”

“I’m going to be an intern at Santorno until Stefan and I are ready to take over.” Nico could tell Tanner was hurt.

“I thought you were going to come back for good.” Tanner knew his tears coming and looked out the window.

“This is probably for the best, Tanner. I mean you should be hanging out with kids your own age playing laser tag.”

“You didn’t have fun?”

“Of course I did! You know what I mean.”

“Oh, you can’t be seen going out with a teenager, is that it? I’m just some kid you placate.” Tanner got out of the car.

Nico got out and took his arm. “That’s not what I meant!”

“No, really, it’s okay. I get it. I’m just a child. I better get in and put on my footie pajamas.” Tanner ran to the house and Nico chased after him.

“Tanner, wait!”

“Just go away, Nico! You’re leaving anyway…again.” Tanner slammed the front door.

“Fuck!”

Damon was enjoying his pizza date with Lily. They were getting along and even laughing with each other. Damon had cracked a joke and when Lily put her hand on his, his body broke out in goosebumps. She was looking into his eyes and Damon couldn’t look away. Her eyes were so gray.

“Damon?”

“Huh?”

“I was asking if you wanted another pitcher of soda.”

“Oh! Yeah, I can do that.” Damon smiled and went to the counter.

Lily watched his ass and smiled. God, he was so gorgeous. Her eyes traveled to the front door and she saw Britt come in, making a beeline for Damon. She sat back and watched.

“Damon, look at you all sexy and smelling so good.” Britt ran her nose up his neck.

Damon backed away. “Um, yeah. Hi.”

“Why do you look so nervous Damon?” Britt ran her hand over his ass.

Damon smacked her hand away. “I’m on a date.”

“Oh, really?” Britt cocked an eyebrow.

“Yes, with Lily.” Damon motioned to the table.

Britt’s jaw dropped. “She actually said yes to you?”

“Yes, she did. Gee, thanks.” Damon rolled his eyes.

“No I mean I can’t see why she never said yes before. You’re a major hottie, Damon.”

“Well, thanks. I better get back to her.” Damon grabbed the pitcher and walked back to Lily.

“Well, she doesn’t waste time.” Lily looked at Britt smiling at them.

“She’s an ex Lily. An ex-girlfriend for a reason.” Damon took her hand.

“I didn’t know you guys actually went out.”

“That’s because it was for, like, a week. I may flirt but when I like someone I don’t look at anyone else.”

“Thanks, Damon.”

A sudden feeling washed over him in waves and Damon bent over, afraid he was going to throw up. “Oh, God!”

“What is it?” Lily was up and over him.

“Something’s wrong.” Damon looked up. “Tanner.”

Lily looked at him with her eyebrow cocked. “Seriously? If you want to end the date all you have to do is say so. I can see Britt waiting for you.”

“No, really!” Damon felt the crushing pain in his chest and tried to stand up. “Oh, God; it’s bad.”

“You know what, Damon? Forget it.” Lily grabbed her purse. “I thought you had changed.”

“I’m not lying!” Damon stood up and grabbed his keys. “Let me take you home.”

“Don’t bother.” Lily walked out.

“Lily, wait!” Damon chased her out and another wave of pain came. His cell phone rang and he answered it and heard Tanner’s gut-wrenching cries. “I’m coming, Tanner!”

Damon was surprised he didn’t get a ticket or into an accident. He pulled into the driveway and saw his dads out front. He ran to them and Tyler took his hand.

“Nico’s going back to Italy.”

“Oh, God!” Damon ran in the house and found Tanner rolled up in a ball on the bed, crying. He got in with him and pulled him into his chest. “I’m here.”

“Damon!” Tanner cried.

Their fathers watched from the door.

“What do we do?” Damon ran a hand through his hair and looked at Tyler.

“There’s nothing we can do. It’s between the kids and we can’t get involved. We all made a pact we wouldn’t let anything between the kids come between our friendships.”

“You know damn well Nico is in love with Tanner.”

“Yes, I do.” Tyler sighed.

Nico hadn’t stopped crying all the way home. He was in love with Tanner and there was nothing he could do about it. Aidan was right. He was older and Tanner deserved someone his own age who he could hang out with and have fun. Nico went into the house and ran right into his father.

“What happened?” Caleb pulled his face up.

“Oh, Dad.” Nico started crying again and Caleb took him in his arms.

“It will all work out. You’ll see.” Caleb held his son and prayed he was right.

He stayed with Nico until he fell asleep. He kissed his forehead before slipping out of his room and crossing to the master bedroom. Heath was asleep on his back, one hand behind his head and one foot out of the covers. Caleb smiled and stripped down. He crawled into bed with his husband and kissed him.

Heath sighed and murmured, “Is that my gorgeous husband?”

“Fuck, I hope so!” Caleb ghosted his hand down Heath’s stomach.

Heath sighed as Caleb ran his tongue over a nipple. He spread his legs out as Caleb got on top of him; they looked into each other’s eyes and Caleb kissed him softly and slowly. Their tongues met and Heath moaned as Caleb gripped him and entered him. Heath dug his fingers into Caleb’s back and wrapped his legs around his waist as he began to slide in and out of him.

Caleb loved looking at his husband’s face. It never changed — he always saw sixteen-year-old Heath, the kid who had stolen his heart the first night they met. His heart had belonged to Heath from the first time they kissed. He powered in, rewarded by a loud gasp as he hit Heath in just the right spot. Heath’s eyes opened and he pulled Caleb’s face down, running his tongue across his lips, parting them and taking Caleb in further.

They moved together, hands everywhere, as small moans, whispers, and sighs filled the room. Heath dug into Caleb’s back as he slammed in again. He would never get tired of his husband making love to him, would never be bored, and would never stray. Caleb had been his from the moment they met and it would never change.

“I love you,” Caleb whispered.

“I love you.” Heath knew he was about to blow; his stomach was getting warm, and he felt the familiar tingle throughout his body. “Caleb!”

“Let go!” Caleb kissed him hard as his orgasm hit, holding onto the mattress as he felt Heath let go beneath him.

They spent time kissing slowly, loving the taste of one another, hands moving softly across hair, cheeks, chests. Caleb smiled and kissed Heath’s nose.

“You still look sixteen.”

“You look twenty-one.” Heath snickered.

“I feel twenty-one when I’m with you.” Caleb palmed his face.

Heath smiled and rolled them over. “Well, if I’m sixteen we should go again.”

“Oh, hell.”

Conner had finally gotten up the nerve to ask Juliet out and they ended up hanging out at Greystone’s. Conner had been nervous and asked his friends if they would all come as kind of back up. Colin had laughed and agreed to go and Nikolai smiled and took Conner’s hand.

“You want we should have sex with her too?”

“Nik!” Conner smacked him upside the head.

“Ow!” Nikolai rubbed his head.

 

They were standing at the bar when Colin pushed Conner forward.

“Hey, Juliet, I think Conner wants to dance,” Colin said.

Conner glared at his brother. “I’m going to kill you,” he muttered between clinched teeth.

“Well, come on then.” Juliet took his hand.

They moved to the dance floor and Conner put his hand at the small of her back and eased her in closer. Their fingers linked and Juliet rested her head on his chest.

“Aww.” Colin watched his brother with Juliet.

“You wanna dance with me?” Nikolai winked at him.

“Sure.”

They walked on the dance floor and Nikolai pulled Colin close, threading their fingers together. They swayed to the music and Colin rested his cheek against Nikolai’s. He could smell a hint of his cologne and his body broke out in goosebumps when he felt Nikolai’s hand slowly slide up his back.

“I like this song,” Nikolai murmured.

“Me too.”

Having Colin in his arms was doing things to him. Big things. Good things. Nikolai wanted to kiss him twenty-four hours a day. The worst part was that he was leaving in a few days to go back to Russia and every time he left, it felt as if years passed before he got to see Colin again.

Colin was trying to etch this moment into his memory; it would give him something to hang onto for the six months before he got to see Nikolai again. He rubbed his cheek against Nikolai’s and felt him pull him in tighter. They were the same height now and Colin knew Nikolai would eventually be taller than him. His Uncle Vince was six-foot-two and Nikolai was already getting there. Nikolai’s hand stroked his lower back and Colin tried to keep his erection in check.

Conner felt Juliet in his arms and wished he had the balls to tell her how he felt. For now, they were just friends and they talked almost every night when he was away at school. Her arms looped around his neck, moving her closer. She could feel Conner’s muscles and it turned her on beyond belief. She smiled when he gathered her even closer.

“Promise you’ll still call me when you’re gone?” she asked, looking into his eyes.

“Every night.”

Juliet loved his eyes — they were such a beautiful shade of green, a perfect foil for his jet-black hair. It was like looking at a miniature version of her Uncle Paul but so much hotter. She rested her head on his chest and sighed; he was so warm, and his heart was beating a mile a minute.

Conner hadn’t realized his free hand was playing with her hair. It was so soft and Conner loved sliding it through his fingers. She had grown it out and it was now almost at the middle of her back. He stroked his fingers through it and Juliet looked up at him.

“You always loved my hair.”

“I never cut it off.” Conner chuckled, remembering the time she got gum stuck in it and begged him to cut it out. Aunt Isabelle had come to the rescue with peanut butter.

“No, you didn’t. I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” Conner wanted to kiss her. In the end, he kissed her forehead.

“It’s a miss,” Colin said as he watched Conner.

“He lost it at the last second.” Nikolai shook his head.

“Well, to be fair, Juliet is beautiful. I think I would be reduced to a babbling idiot if she looked at me the way she is looking at him.”

“A woman would reduce you to a babbling idiot?” Nikolai asked.

“Sometimes you do,” Colin mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Colin burrowed into Nikolai’s neck.

Colin was exhausted by the end of the night. Just trying to keep his erection in check was making him tired, and now? Nikolai was sleeping over. He came out of the bathroom to find Nikolai in his bed, wearing boxers. And no shirt.

Oh, hell.

“You want the right side, right?”

“Correct.”

Nikolai rolled over to his back as he watched Colin take his shirt off. Oh, good Lord.

“I see the workouts are paying off.” Nikolai cocked an eyebrow.

“Well, when Stefan and Nico train you, they go all out.”

“I could have done it for you. My dad trained me.” Nikolai flexed his bicep.

Holy shit. “Wow.” Colin wanted to kick himself. That’s the best he could come up with?

“Why, thank you.” Nikolai winked at him.

“Oh God, it’s going to be a long night,” Colin mumbled to himself.

He got in bed and turned on the TV. Nikolai scooted into him as he always did but this time was different. Colin was older now and so was Nikolai; the urge to be with him in a different kind of way was almost overwhelming.

“Colin?”

“Yep.”

“Do you think we will always be close?”

“We will always be together.”

“Good.” Nikolai sighed and wiggled even closer. He loved the feel of Colin’s arms around him.

“ ʼNight Nik.”

“ ʼNight Colin.”

Conner had taken Juliet home and now they were standing on the front steps to her house. He felt as if he was going to throw up. He was so nervous, his palms were sweating.

“Are you all right?” Juliet felt his forehead.

“Yes, I think so.”

“You look pale.” Juliet took his hand.

“I’m okay.” Conner looked into her eyes as she got closer to him and he was pretty sure he was going to hyperventilate.

“Conner?”

“Yes?”

“Were you going to kiss me goodnight?”

“I wasn’t sure you wanted me to.” Conner blushed.

“I do.” Juliet stood right in front of him and smiled. She was shorter, so she got up on her tiptoes, holding his shoulders for balance.

Conner cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her. His lips lightly touched hers and he pulled away, looking into her eyes.

“Goodnight, Juliet.”

They heard shouting and screaming in the house and Juliet smiled. “My dads. Sorry, sorry about that.”

“I can’t tell if Uncle Lorenzo is happy about that kiss or on his way out to kill me.”

“Oh. He’s happy. It’s you, Conner. He’s always loved you.”

“Look, we’re both going to different schools. I don’t want you to think you can’t see anyone else.”

“What?”

“I don’t know what this is and I don’t want to push you.”

“Let’s play it by ear, okay?” Juliet smiled. “Goodnight, Conner.”

“Kiss him again!”

“Oh my God, Dad!” Juliet opened the front door to see her father smiling.

“Hi, Conner.”

“Hi, Uncle Reece.” Conner took Juliet’s hand. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Reece and Lorenzo watched Conner walk down the driveway and Juliet turned and looked at them both, hands on hips.

“Seriously?”

“What? We were not out here with binoculars.” Lorenzo smiled.

“Yes, that’s your Uncle Vince.” Reece cracked up.

“Ugh!” Juliet went to her room.

Lorenzo grabbed Reece. “Let us go have some fun.”

“Mmm, what kind of fun?” Reece kissing him.

“I think you know.”

“Ooohh la la!”

“Ewww!! I can hear you!” Juliet yelled from her room.

Lorenzo laughed. “Goodnight, Juliet.”

 

Reece settled into bed to watch his husband strip. Damn, but the man was tall and muscular and gorgeous. He sighed as Lorenzo took his shirt off.

Lorenzo climbed into the bed. “You are sexy tonight.”

“I’m not sexy every night?” Reece pouted.

“You are sexy 24-7, as the children say.” Lorenzo ran his fingertip over Reece’s lips. “Did your penis miss me?”

Reece laughed. Lorenzo had been gone for two weeks on a mission, and in that time he had spoken to him twice. “Why don’t you ask him?”

Lorenzo chuckled and kissed his way down Reece’s stomach. “I will say hello.”

“He’d like that.” Reece smiled and closed his eyes as Lorenzo took him in his mouth. “Damn, babe!”

Lorenzo grabbed his husband’s ass and took him in deep, loving the moans and loud gasps. He hovered above him and smiled.

“I missed you very much.”

Reece arched his hips and Lorenzo slid inside. “Show me.”

Lorenzo watched his husband’s face as he made love to him. Reece had not changed since they met — his brown eyes were still beautiful and kind; everything he loved about him had never changed. He would never have imagined that the man he had thrown halfway across a room when they met would one day become his husband. He had found Reece attractive the first time he saw him, but his attitude left much to be desired. That was until he saw his compassion as he treated Nico after his rescue.

“I love you, Reece.”

Reece opened his eyes and saw Lorenzo looking at him with so much intensity that his heart somehow managed to beat even faster.

They moved together and Lorenzo caressed his face as he kissed him thoroughly while stroking him in time with his thrusts. Reece moaned loudly and Lorenzo knew he was close, so he pushed in hard and deep. Reece cried out in his mouth as Lorenzo convulsed with his own orgasm, never stopping the kiss.

“Wow!”

“Yes? It was good?”

“When? When is it not good?” Reece asked sarcastically.

“I heard that!” Juliet screamed.

Lorenzo chuckled. “We are sorry, Juliet!”

“I’m not.” Reece chuckled.

“I would like to kiss you all night.”

“Hell.”