Zayn

College was easy. Maybe it was because the classes were easy. I breezed through the five classes I’d taken. My grades were stellar. Colleges loved good grades, and they loved awesome SAT scores. Georgia Tech had wanted me and delivered big. The money from working at the feed store would buy a bed and a couch.

I knew Jason was a little nervous since we still hadn’t had sex. His parents knowing had added a layer of complications neither one of us had considered. They were treating us like they would the rest of their kids and questioning every date. We had curfews and rules on top of rules. They knew we were moving in together, but that didn’t stop them from making sure we didn’t have any naked time before we moved. We were only allowed over here because Mom was off work for the day.

I guessed Jason’s parents considered us to be good as married once we moved in together. They didn’t believe in gay marriage and their logic seemed off, but as long as they weren’t trying to keep us apart, I was okay. Their attitude about marriage hurt Jason, but we weren’t going to allow them to rule our lives. As soon as I graduated college, maybe before, I’d ask him to marry me.

My phone rang, and I wasn’t going to answer, but Jason was right, it could be someone from school.

“Hello, Zayn Anderson here.”

“Zayn, it’s Mom.”

Time stood still as memories zoomed through my brain. It wasn’t Mom, it was the birthgiver. Anger, fear, rage, all welled up. I wanted to toss the phone across the room, but I held onto it, needing to hear what she had to say.

“Listen, I wanted to come to your graduation.”

I almost laughed, but she didn’t deserve any knowledge of what I’d been going through or what my life was like.

“When do you walk?”

“I liked it better when you didn’t call.”

Jason tapped me on my shoulder and lifted his brows. “Who?”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a pen off the counter and scribbled BirthGiver. His lips thinned, and his brows bunched.

“I’m in town. Can you come see me? I’m at Grandma’s house.”

I huffed out a breath. “That is the last place I’d ever go.”

“Don’t be that way. Come on over.”

I gave my head a short shake though I knew she couldn’t see me. Anger pulsed inside my chest, gaining strength with each beat of my heart. “No. I’ll meet you in one hour at Jittery Joe’s.”

I didn’t give her a chance to say anything before I hung up. I checked the time before I pocketed my phone. Jason had his arms around me, his lips on my neck. I wanted to say fuck the rules, screw waiting and skip the meeting with my mom. I’d find a place to sink into Jason, ignoring the world around us.

Jason pulled back, his brows wrinkled with worry. “I’m going with you.”

“Going where?” Mom stepped into the room, concern written all over her face. “Zayn, you look upset, is everything okay?”

“His moth—birthgiver called. She’s here and wants to meet with him,” Jason said.

“She wanted to come to my graduation. I guess I fooled her and graduated early.”

“Gosh, that’s terrible. She didn’t even ask when you were graduating, and she showed up too late even if you had finished school this spring.”

My lungs filled with air, but it was bitter. Jason’s touch soothed. I turned and stared into his eyes, calming.

“Do you know what I know?” Jason asked.

I shook my head, unable to find the words to answer his question.

“When I met you, you were a pissed-off guy trying to look like a badass. But you were just as lost as I was. You’ve moved in with Mrs. Johnson, and you’ve become a very responsible, respectable young man who I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

His words sunk in, twisting around the anger and hate, squashing it down so it was nothing. “Do you really mean that?”

“Zayn,” Mom said, “When you showed up here, you were so mad. I get it now. I couldn’t believe a mother would ever treat her child the way she’d treated you. I know you’ve had to adjust, make some changes, give up pot, which wasn’t good for you anyway, and you started caring, but you’ve done all that. If my son were dating you, I’d be so happy because I’d know he would be taken care of. That woman’s assessment of you doesn’t matter. If you choose to go see her, that’s up to you, but know this, I love you like my child. You aren’t just some guy who is living at my house. I hope you two will come back for Christmas and summer breaks. I hope that when you adopt, if you choose to do that, you’ll think of me as that child’s grandparent. You’re a good man.”

Tears filled my eyes. I thought I was going to lose it. Then Jason hugged me again. When I checked my phone for the time, I found we only had ten minutes to get to the coffee shop. I used the bathroom and washed my face. I wasn’t ready for this. Mom said she’d drive up since it was hot and we’d both be sweaty.

My hands shook, and I had a hard time getting out of the car. When I finally left the vehicle, my knees felt loose and rubbery. Jason by my side kept me from falling down. I saw her sitting alone at a table. She glanced up, her gaze connecting.

“I really hate her,” I whispered.

“I’m here for you.”

Jason’s words soothed me. I turned to stare into his eyes. His love hit me full force. I knew whatever that woman said in there, it didn’t matter. She didn’t matter. Her excuses wouldn’t make a bit of difference. With Cait and Jason’s love, I’d recovered. Heck, even Jason’s mom was coming around and starting to accept me. She had some days it was harder on her, but she always said it was her, and that she was working on getting used to the idea of a gay son.

I almost turned around, deciding it wasn’t worth it to talk to her, but I needed to finish this. Letting it drag on would only mean I’d have to see her later.

When I reached up to open the door of the coffee shop, I realized my hands were shaking. I hated that she still affected me. I wanted to tell her I didn’t care, but deep down I did. The scared child who’d been locked in a closet cared. Maybe I’d been too spirited of a child for her, but that was no excuse for the abuse she’d put me through.

“Zayn,” she exclaimed as she jumped out of her seat.

I didn’t want to hug her or let her in at all. She frowned then looked over my shoulder at Jason. Anger flashed over her features. I wanted to laugh. Cait stepped in and went to the counter to buy a coffee.

“What do you need to say?” I asked.

“Don’t be that way,” she barked out.

“What way is that?”

She frowned, and her gaze flicked to Jason. I reached for his hand and pulled him close. Her cheeks grew darker, and her eyes harder.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

A laugh almost escaped my lips. “You didn’t call for almost two years. You don’t get to have a piece of me.”

“I wanted to, but…”

Cait had placed her order and moved to stand beside us. “I’m Mrs. Johnson.”

I looked at Mrs. Johnson and smiled. “I think of this woman as Mom now.” I knew that would make her angry, and sure enough, she flinched.

“Does she know you’re a drug addict?”

“She knows everything about me. Funny thing. Once I was in a house with a mom who cared about me, I no longer needed marijuana as a crutch, and that’s exactly what it was. I’m not saying I won’t ever smoke again, but I no longer need it to fill me up. If I smoke again, it will be to relax, that’s all.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she turned to Jason. “You know he sleeps around a lot. He’s probably cheating on you.”

I snapped my fingers in front of her face, and she blinked as she jerked back. “Don’t pretend to know me. You didn’t know me back then, and you sure as heck don’t know me now. I have a family here, a brother I love and a man who will be my husband. Your hate and bitterness can’t touch me.”

“I won’t pay for your college.”

“That’s fine. I got a scholarship.”

She sputtered, her gaze flying from Jason to the woman I now thought of as Mom. There was nothing she could hold over me.

“I have contact information for your father. If you come home with me, I’ll give it to you.”

I shook my head and laughed. “That’s rich. If I want, I can do an internet search. If he’s out there, I’ll find him or I won’t. It doesn’t matter to me right now. I’m happy. I have a family who loves me. I don’t need anything from you.”

“But you’re my son.”

“No, I’m not. You may have given birth to me, but you gave up the right to be my mother when you shipped me off and didn’t even try to contact me once.”

Cait got her drink, and there wasn’t a reason to stay. I turned and Jason followed. The three of us headed out to the car. I heard something and turned, finding her in the parking lot, her mouth thinned.

“What am I supposed to do?” she yelled.

I shrugged. “No clue, but that’s not my problem.”

We piled into Cait’s car and drove off. I blew out a breath, and Jason lifted my hand and kissed it. Tears spilled out of my eyes and ran down my cheeks. I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t help it. I’d stood up to her. I’d finally stood up for myself.

“How about we head home and order pizza? We’ll have a night of movies and fun. I think Dave is coming home this evening, and we can just have a good time.”

“Thank you,” I squeaked out.

“Zayn, you’re an amazing young man. I would do anything to help you.”

“You already have.”

Jason kissed the side of my head and held me as she drove us home. True to Cait’s promise, we had pizza. And she made a cake. Dave showed up and helped us polish off the pizza, and he ate a huge slice of cake. He seemed off, but I was too upset to worry about him.

I fell asleep during the last movie and woke when Mom was telling Jason he had to go home. Part of me wished she’d let him stay, but she was a stickler for the rules.

After that emotional day, life sped up, and before I knew it, we were moving to Atlanta. Mom and Dave helped us move since neither Jason nor I had a car yet. It was just one expense we didn’t need. They left after dinner, and it was just me and Jason.

His gaze found mine, and my heart melted. I held out my hands, and he came to me.

“Are you ready for this?” Jason asked.

“Let’s just go at our own pace. We’ve waited so long. We don’t have to—”

“I want to,” Jason said.

My body was on fire. I needed to feel him, but I didn’t want this to go too fast. “How about we start with just kissing?”

“With our shirts off. I need to feel your skin.”

I put my hands on him, stilling his progress. “Let me undress you.”

Jason’s whole body shook. “I’m not going to last with you touching me.”

The laugh bubbled out. We both smiled. “I’m so hard, I may come before we get far.”

“Let me see you,” Jason insisted.

I tugged off my shirt then reached for his, lifting it slowly. My breaths were coming fast, and so were his. Our lips mashed together then he was touching me, and I almost came. I ripped my mouth away from his and gasped.

“Pants,” I demanded.

Jason didn’t wait for me to help him undress. He shoved his pants low. I watched him as my fingers fumbled with my button and zipper. Fire licked at the base of my cock, and my balls pulled up. It was too much. My hands searched for him, and I tugged him close as the first burst of my orgasm hit. His fingers dug into my flesh, and he arched against me, his gasp loud in my ear.

Seconds passed then a few more, and my breathing slowed. I moved enough to see his face. His cheeks were pink, and his lips curved up on the right side.

“We blew fast,” Jason said.

“Two years of anticipation. Next time we’ll last longer.”

Jason’s lips found mine. I opened for him, my tongue twisting around his. I didn’t know how long we kissed, but it was long enough for both of us to get hard again. I needed more of him. I needed everything.

“Bed, now,” I said when I came up for air.

“Yes.”

We raced into the bedroom, and both of us shoved down our underwear. My eyes stayed on him, drinking in his beauty. Magnificent. I couldn’t believe this man wanted me. After I’d let my eyes rove over his body, I met his gaze.

“You’re so beautiful,” Jason said.

“I want to spend hours memorizing you.”

Jason nodded and took a step closer. “I want to kiss every inch of you.”

“If you touch me, I’ll come again.”

Jason only laughed. “Well, that’s the goal.”

I shook my head. “Not so fast.”

“Babe, like I said before, it’s been two years of waiting for this moment. We have all weekend to sit around naked and make love. I’m sure once we get used to this we’ll last longer than a few minutes. Plus, it’s fun trying.”

“That it is. Though, I’m glad this apartment complex has a washer and dryer. We’ll need to buy a new set of sheets too. That way we don’t have to wash every day.”

Jason lunged for me, pushing me to the bed. I was laughing as he kissed my neck. He moved lower, and my breath hitched. I was in bed with my lover, his lips were on mine, and we were doing this. All the dreams and fantasies hadn’t matched how good it felt to have him touching and loving on me. His hands roved over my torso to my hips. I closed my eyes and let him touch and kiss me. His tongue circling my belly button was more than I could stand. I fisted the sheets tight in my fingers as I came.

I felt his tongue on my belly. He was licking me. I glanced down and saw him lick up my cum. It was the most erotic thing I’d ever seen. I wanted to return the favor, so I pushed him off and rolled him to his back. He smiled up at me, and I felt like I’d won the lottery. I lowered and cupped his cheeks.

“Jason, I can’t believe you really love me.”

“Of course I do.”

“You’re just so good, and I’m me.”

“Oh no, you’re amazing. Zayn, you’re the right guy for me.”

I stared into his eyes, still amazed he loved me so much. He was perfect, and I hoped one day to be like him. “You’re my life, my everything.”

“You’re my everything, too. I love you so much.”

I made my way down his body, kissing every dip and curve, every flat plane and smooth bit of skin. It was heaven being like this with him. I’d make every day good for Jason. He’d saved me, even though I hadn’t known I needed saving.