14. Darius
Chapter fourteen
Darius
Half an hour later, Luis parked his pink Mini in front of the house in which Darius had grown up. It had been owned by a large Syrian family for many years, and Darius often wondered what his old room looked like but knew it didn’t matter because Luis’ house was where he’d spent his happiest days.
As they got out of the car and walked toward the Herreras’, Darius remembered running down this sidewalk on the infrequent times he and Luis had been separated by illnesses or family vacations. Being away from Luis had always felt like a part of himself was missing, and as soon as it was possible to reconnect, Darius rushed to make it happen. And now, here he was, walking next to Luis, about to tell their families they were making their connection official.
Darius reached out and took Luis’ hand in his own. “I love you, Luis Roberto Herrera. I can’t wait to make you mine.”
“I’m already yours, cari?o.” Luis smiled up at him with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “But I know what you mean.” He took a deep breath and faced his parents’ house. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Absolutely.” Darius pulled Luis into a kiss, then pushed open the metal gate to let them into the Herreras’ yard. It had been his and Luis’ job to repaint the gate and the fence it was attached to every summer, and they’d hated the task. Now, as they stepped through it, Darius felt as if they were crossing another threshold, taking that first step together into their shared future.
“It’s strange,” Luis said as the gate swung shut with a click.
“What is, chico?”
“You and me. Telling our parents we’re getting married. Like it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, and yet I know my mom’s going to lose her shit because I’m the first of the cousins getting married. I’m sure she’s going to want to plan a huge family wedding for us.”
“Is that what you want?” Darius asked and smiled when Luis shrugged because he knew weddings had never interested Luis.
“As long as I get to wear something fabulous and you and I get to say I do , I don’t really care because it’s not going to change how I feel about you.” He shrugged again, and Darius noticed the way his eyes had gone glassy. “You’re still the person I want to be with for the rest of my life.”
“It’s okay to want this even if it isn’t going to change the way we feel about each other,” he said. “And for the record, you’re who I want to be with for the rest of my life, too.” Darius pulled Luis close again and wrapped both arms around him. “You’ve been it for me since I was fourteen, chico, and I think that deserves a bit of celebrating.”
While Darius agreed that getting married wouldn’t change things between him and Luis, he also recognized that the emotions they’d shared over the past couple of days felt bigger, deeper, more immediate, to the point of being overwhelming because they’d finally been able to say I love you and admit what those words truly meant to each other. He had every expectation that getting married would amplify those feelings a hundred times over, especially by the way his heart fluttered as Luis closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to Darius’.
When they parted, Darius felt the world settle beneath his feet. He’d been caught up in a whirlwind since stepping into the aisle to help that woman, but somehow, standing here with Luis in his arms, the taste of Luis lingering on his tongue, wearing the ring Luis had placed on his finger less than an hour before made him believe everything was working out as it should.
“Let’s go see your parents,” Darius said.
They entered the Herreras’ home hand in hand and walked through to the kitchen. Everyone was outside in the backyard, and it definitely was everyone. It seemed like all the aunts, uncles, and cousins had shown up. As soon as they emerged from the house, Luis’ mother was on her feet, clapping her hands together as she walked toward them.
“Look at you two,” she said. “Together.” Rosa gathered them both in her arms and hugged them as tight as she could. “And for you to come and share today with such exciting news, it’s truly a blessing for our family.”
As Rosa let them go, Darius aimed a questioning glance at Luis, who looked just as puzzled.
“How did you know, Mamá?” Luis asked.
“Why wouldn’t I know? Tía Marta called me right away.”
“Tía…how would Tía Marta know about Darius and me getting engaged?”
Rosa had been about to turn away but whirled back so fast, she nearly toppled over. The chatter in the backyard ceased, and everyone turned their way.
“Engaged?” Rosa asked as if she’d never heard the word before.
The first sense of foreboding washed over Darius even as Luis held up his left hand and displayed the rosewood-and-gold ring. He did the same with his. Rosa stared at both of them in astonishment. Then she raised one of her hands to her mouth, tears springing into her eyes.
“Ay, I can’t believe it.” She turned to the family. “They’re engaged!”
Shouts and applause greeted the announcement, but Darius didn’t miss the confused looks on most faces. Something was definitely going on that neither he nor Luis were aware of and that put Darius on edge. He caught a few whispers as people came up to congratulate him and Luis.
When Darius heard Gabriella’s and Andrés’ names, he felt his blood run cold. He was about to ask what was going on, when the kitchen door opened and the couple themself stepped out, followed by Gabriella’s mother and father. Andrés tossed his blond curls and Gabriella smiled and waved as there was a smattering of applause and a few cheers, but then Rosa ran up to them, excited hands fluttering as she embraced them and then her brother and sister-in-law.
“Such a happy day,” she said and led the younger couple over to Luis and Darius. “Two weddings!” She beamed at all of them, and Darius felt Luis go very still and very rigid even as the family cheered again and someone pressed Play on a stereo and Gabriella’s favorite song—“Despacito”—began to play.
“Ay, you must get married together,” Rosa said. “It would be the perfect way for Andrés and Darius to truly become members of our family. And such a celebration! Such a party!”
If Darius could have frozen time in that moment and whisked Luis away, he would have. He felt Luis’ horror and anger through their joined hands, and when he looked at Luis, he’d never seen him so furious. Luis was trembling, his jaw clenched tight, gaze fixed on Andrés. Even as they were enveloped by the family for another round of congratulations, Luis didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge a single one of them.
“Chico?” Darius leaned in close and whispered in Luis’ ear. “Are you all right?”
“No.” Luis shook his head in the barest of movements. “No.” His voice was a little louder this time.
“Congratulations,” Andrés said, holding out his hand for Darius to shake.
“Same,” Darius said tightly and extended his hand.
“Don’t you dare touch him,” Luis spat at Andrés, grabbing Darius’ hand away.
“Luis, come on. Is that any way to talk to your new brother?” Andrés laughed.
“You’re not my brother,” Luis whispered.
Gabriella turned and rolled her eyes. “Come on, Luis, don’t be such a diva. It’s time for you two to put whatever misunderstanding you have aside. We’re grown-ups now. And it looks like you and I are going to be brides, so we get to plan this thing.” She paused, then continued. “And seeing as how you stole our big moment to announce it, I get to choose the date.” She tossed her long, black hair to the side and smiled at Andrés. “We were thinking late October.”
“No,” Luis repeated, and he gripped Darius’ hand tightly in his own, his breathing so rapid and shallow Darius was worried Luis might pass out. He tried to wrap an arm around Luis, but Luis shrugged him off.
“What date do you want, then, chico?” Andrés asked, and Darius narrowed his eyes at the man’s use of his endearment for Luis. Coming from Andrés, it didn’t sound loving at all.
“It’s not the date,” Luis said. He glanced around, then at Darius, who squeezed his hand. Most of the relatives had moved back to their original seats or gone inside to help Rosa bring the food out because there could never be a Herrera family gathering without food, but it did mean that the four of them were slightly isolated.
Darius squeezed Luis’ hand again. “Whatever you need, cari?o. I’m here for you.”
Luis nodded. “We’re not going to get married on the same day as you. I want nothing to do with your wedding.”
“But your mother—” Gabriella started.
“My mother has no idea what your fiancé did to me,” Luis said.
“Oh, God, is this still about that stupid crush you had on Andrés? Give it up, Luis. You’ve got Darius, get over it.” Again, Gabriella ran her fingers through her hair and tossed the strands behind her shoulder. The movement caused her engagement ring to catch the light, and Luis reached out and grabbed her hand.
“That’s Abuela’s ring,” he said as Gabriella yanked her hand away.
Andrés grinned, but his expression was cunning rather than friendly. “I asked Gabriella’s father for it last night so I could propose properly.”
“It was supposed to go to Marissa,” Luis said.
Gabriella shrugged. “That cow? Please. When is she going to find someone who wants to put a ring on it?” With a simpering smile, Gabriella snuggled up against Andrés’ side. “Tía Rosa was more than happy to let me have it.”
Luis shook his head. “No,” he said again and squared his shoulders, and Darius felt the shift in his entire being. “You’re going to give the ring back.” He looked at Andrés. “And you’re going to use the money I’ve given you to get her a different one.”
“And if I—”
“If you don’t?” Luis glanced at Gabriella, then back at Andrés. He lowered his voice. “There’s no statute of limitations on sexual assault of a minor. Give the ring back so Marissa can have it, or I tell the family what you did and then go to the police.” He grinned, and Darius thought he’d seen warmer expressions on sharks. “You may have learned a few things in jail, but it’s gonna be nothing compared to what you’ll learn if you go to prison for this.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Andrés said at the same time Gabriella gave out a little squeak of protest.
Luis ignored her. “You cost me years with this man,” he said as he held up his and Darius’ joined hands, “because of what you did. Years of being afraid of who I was and who I wanted to be with, worrying that he’d be disgusted by what I’d done. What you did.”
“Your family won’t believe you,” Andrés said. “They love me.”
“I. Don’t. Care. You leave me and Darius alone, or I go to the police. It’s that simple.”
“What is going on?”
Gabriella’s voice had risen to almost a shriek, which stilled the voices in the backyard, but Darius didn’t think Luis noticed. His entire focus was on Andrés, standing strong in front of the man who had damaged him so badly.
“What’s going on is that your fiancé raped me,” Luis said without looking away from Andrés. “On the night of Marissa’s quincea?era, he drugged me and then raped me in the bathroom.”
The backyard had gone completely silent. Even the birds had stopped singing, and Darius held his breath, waiting for what was going to happen next. He was so proud of Luis for standing up to Andrés, he thought his heart was going to burst.
“Mijo?” Rosa was the first to break the silence as she slowly walked over to Luis. She reached out to him as if she thought he might break. “Is this why you’ve been so angry with him?”
“Partly. He’s also asked me for money over and over again.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Luis finally turned to his mother, and his eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t think you’d believe me,” he whispered.
Darius wanted to wrap Luis in his arms, but he conceded the moment to Rosa, who pulled Luis to her and told him she loved him.
“I think you both need to leave.”
The deep voice came from behind Darius, and he turned to see Roberto, Luis’ father, stepping forward.
So many things happened at once that Darius couldn’t follow all of it. Gabriella told Andrés they were done, she was disgusted with him, and never wanted to see him again. Andrés took a step toward Luis, fists clenched, but both Darius and Roberto stepped in front of him. Roberto repeated his statement, amending it to just Andrés leaving. Gabriella’s parents swept her up in their arms as she broke down crying, and her father told Andrés to leave, using far more colorful language than Roberto had. In the background, Rosa and Luis were still huddled together, and Darius overheard her ask again why he hadn’t told her the truth.
Luis picked his head up and looked at Darius as he spoke. “The night of Marissa’s party was the first time Darius and I kissed, the first time I realized what I felt for him, and my head was all messed up by realizing I was gay, and the X and what Andrés…I didn’t want to believe it myself. I was blindsided by how much I loved Darius and didn’t know what to do with those feelings, so I tried to stuff all of it away. I’m sorry it cost us so much time, Dar.”
“Chico,” Darius said and went to him. “You don’t have to apologize to me. I didn’t do much better, even without all the shit going on for you. I love you, and I will keep telling you that for the rest of our lives.”
Sniffling, Luis nodded, then looked at his mother. “I tried telling you Andrés was dealing. I tried telling you he was bad news, but you—”
“Didn’t believe you. I am so sorry, mijo. I should have listened better.” She hugged him and then held out a hand for Darius. When he took it, she pulled him in as well. “I am so happy he had you all these years.”
There were more tears, more embraces. Gabriella returned the ring to Rosa and apologized to Marissa for what she’d said. Marissa laughed and told Gabriella she’d always been a spoiled brat, so she’d learned not to take anything Gabriella said to heart back when they were five. The two of them ended up laughing in a corner of the yard like Darius remembered them doing when they were kids and thick as thieves.
Someone turned on the music again, and conversation and laughter resumed in the backyard. Rosa left Luis’ side to take care of something in the kitchen, and Darius pulled Luis into his arms, feeling something settle inside him.
“How are you doing, chico?” he asked.
Luis let out a huge breath and snuggled deeper into Darius’ arms. “I’m not sure. I think okay?”
Kissing Luis’ temple, Darius hummed. “Better than I’d have expected, then.”
With a laugh, Luis turned in Darius’ arms and kissed him. “I had no idea what I was doing, cari?o, no idea whatsoever.”
“You were very fierce,” Darius said and kissed him back. “So amazing. So sexy. So brave. So mine.”
“Yours.” Luis offered up another kiss, then settled back into Darius’ arms. “You know once you say I do, you’re legally one of us. You sure you want to be a part of this family?”“Absolutely. I’ve never wanted anything more.”
They didn’t end up getting a chance to tell Darius’ parents until they returned to the condo that evening because of the chaos with Luis’ family, but the news was greeted with happiness and a few more tears. Darius’ parents were thrilled and offered to help pay for the wedding, an offer Luis thanked them for.
“We’re going to keep it as simple as possible,” he said with his eyes fixed firmly on Darius, “because I’m going to be opening up a vintage shop next year.” He smiled as Darius’ mouth opened in surprise.
Darius heard his parents offering congratulations and saying how thrilled they were with everything that was happening, but Darius could only shake his head at Luis and mouth, “You’re amazing.”
After they hung up, Darius asked Luis if he wanted to go out to Neon later.
“Honestly?” Luis asked as he stretched out on the couch and put his feet in Darius’ lap. “I just want to stay in and be alone with my alma gemela.”
“I think that sounds like the perfect plan.” Darius began rubbing Luis’ feet, pressing his thumbs deeply into the arch of one foot and then the other because it made Luis groan. “Love your sounds, chico.”
“Hmmmm. You don’t think this means we’re already turning into a boring, old married couple, do you?”
“It might.” Darius shrugged. “But I can’t think of anyone I’d rather get old and boring with than you.”
“We’ll go out tomorrow night. Have some fun before I go back to work.” Luis frowned. “I hate the idea of leaving while you’re going through all this shit. Do you want me to take some time off?”
Did he? Darius thought about it but then shook his head. “I’ll be fine. It’ll give me some time to think about what I’m going to do next because I really don’t want to fly anymore.”
“You’re serious about that? About quitting?”
“I’m not sure, but I think I am. I still don’t have a clue what I want to do, though.”
“You could run my shop,” Luis said quietly.
“You’re really going to do that?”
Luis nodded. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. If you’re here to help run things, I can still fly to help cover our expenses until the store starts gaining a following.”
“I don’t know that much about vintage sales,” Darius said. “Just what I’ve learned from you.”
“Yeah, but you know how to run a store.” Luis pulled his feet back from Darius’ lap and sat up, then straddled Darius and ran his fingers along Darius’ jawline. “Your dad taught you, right? And I’m sure he’d be willing to help us figure things out.”
Darius nodded, loving the growing excitement in Luis’ voice. It was infectious, and Darius found himself warming to the idea.
“You could take some marketing courses,” Luis continued. “Maybe business ones as well. I’m sure you can find classes geared toward retail and online businesses. What do you think?”
“I think I’d love doing this with you,” Darius said. “I’d love doing anything with you, but helping you do what you’ve always wanted to do…I can’t imagine finding anything better.”
“And you could keep looking at other options. Like you don’t have to think of my store as being a forever thing, just something to…”
Darius put a finger across Luis’ lips. “Chico,” he said. “Nothing with you is anything but a forever thing.” He leaned in and kissed Luis’ soft lips, teasing along their seam until Luis opened for him. All talk about the future faded into the background as Darius sank into the kiss and let his hands roam over Luis’ body, humming with pleasure as he found his way under Luis’ shirt and touched his silky skin.
They parted with a sigh, and Darius rested his forehead against Luis’. “I don’t know how, but every time I have you in my arms, I love you more. It’s like my heart fills up, and I think it’s going to burst, but then it keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
“Is that the only thing that gets bigger?” Luis teased.
Luis tried to snake a hand between them to take hold of Darius’ cock, but Darius grabbed his wrist. He raised Luis’ hand to his mouth and kissed each of his fingers, then traced the lines that crossed Luis’s palm, all the while keeping his eyes focused on Luis. When Luis sighed and relaxed, Darius grinned at him.
“It’s not the only thing that gets bigger,” Darius said, “but it’s the only part of me that doesn’t have a limit on how big it can get.” He planted his feet on the floor. “Hold on,” he said, the only warning Luis got as Darius rose from the couch and carried him to their bedroom.
“Are we going to test that statement out?” Luis asked as Darius bumped open the door with his shoulder.
“It had occurred to me,” Darius said. “But I don’t think it’s ever going to be a contest. I love you. I love you more today than I did yesterday, and I’ll love you even more tomorrow and the day after that until we reach forever.”
Luis reached out and swung the door shut as Darius crossed the threshold into their room. He leaned into Darius, pressed his lips against the ones he’d dreamed of since he was sixteen, and put all his passion and love into kissing Darius until the man groaned and leaned against the closed door to keep his balance.
When Luis let him breathe again, Darius smiled. “I love you so much, mi amor.”
“Oh, cari?o,” Luis breathed out. “Te amo.” He leaned in again and took Darius’ mouth in a fierce kiss while Darius pushed off the door and carried him to the bed.
Laying Luis on the covers as gently as he could without breaking their kiss, Darius made himself slow down. He wanted to savor this night, to caress and worship every inch of Luis’ body, to bring as much pleasure from that body as he could, and then fall asleep with Luis in his arms.
Once Luis was stretched out, Darius paused to take him in. “You are so beautiful, chico,” he whispered and smiled when Luis whined and raised his hands, trying to catch Darius and pull him down. Darius dodged out of the way. “Patience. We have forever.”
“I know.” Luis bucked his hips upward. “But can we try for forever after you start fucking me?”
Chuckling, Darius stepped away from the bed and removed his shirt. Luis groaned but stayed where Darius had put him. “Maybe the idea of forever is overrated,” he said, his gaze fixed on Darius’ chest.
Darius undid his pants and slid them over his hips, then down his legs, taking his briefs with them. When the fabric hit the floor, he stepped out of the clothes and nudged them to the side before taking another moment to look at Luis. He’d always thought Luis was perfection, but seeing him splayed out on their bed, cheeks flushed, lips parted, eyes hooded, chest rising and falling with short, shallow breaths, made Darius shake his head in disbelief that Luis was actually his. But then he looked at his left hand and entwined it with Luis’ so their rings pressed together, and he knew it was all true. This man had always been his.
With a groan, Darius lay down on the bed, his body covering Luis’. He began kissing Luis’ face, his forehead, his eyelids, nose, cheeks, jaw. Taking his time with slow kisses, Darius didn’t leave any skin left unloved. He couldn’t stand the thought that any part of Luis wouldn’t feel cherished.
Beneath him, Luis writhed and moaned. “I’m burning up, Dar. I want to feel you everywhere. Please.”
Darius paused in the attention he was giving Luis’ neck. “What do you want, chico?”
“I want to be naked. Please, Dar.” Luis panted. “I’m so hot.”
“Won’t you just get hotter if we’re both naked?”
Darius was teasing, but the sound Luis made delighted him. It was halfway between a growl and a moan, and it made his cock pulse with need.
“Please,” Luis whispered. “Please.”
When Darius worked his hands under Luis’ shirt and pulled it over his head, he thought Luis was going to cry with relief, but then Darius lowered his head and flicked his tongue over one nipple, then the other. He moved back and forth between them, ignoring the way Luis’ hips bucked upward, the way Luis’ hard cock brushed against his. They were both hard, and Darius felt the damp spot on Luis’ shorts. With a groan, he sat up and removed the remaining barrier between his body and Luis’, then he lay back down and continued worshipping every bit of skin he could.
“That feels so good,” Luis said.
“Yeah?” Darius swiped his tongue along his hips, then nibbled at the skin that covered the jut of his hip bones.
“Yeah.”
Darius followed the line that led to the spot where Luis’ leg and lower belly met, tongue and hands caressing as he admired the taut muscles that trembled beneath Luis’ soft skin. When he nosed his way lower, his cheek grazed Luis’ cock.
Luis moaned and spread his legs wider so Darius could settle between them. So open. So vulnerable. Darius couldn’t help but trace his tongue along the base of Luis’ cock, up the thick vein that ran its length, then slid his lips over the tip, which was already exposed and leaking. The taste of Luis’ precum was sweet and slightly salty, and Darius hummed as he lapped at Luis’ slit, gathering as much of that taste into his mouth as he could before moving on to nuzzle at Luis’s balls.
Nudging at Luis’ sack, Darius sucked one testicle first and then the other into his mouth. They were already drawn tight against Luis’ body, so he didn’t tug on them and focused instead on the sensitive skin his tongue touched and the scent of this most intimate place on Luis’ body. He was still in awe that he got to touch Luis this way. They’d come so far in just a few days, and yet, it felt as if this was always where they were headed. Sharing their lives, sharing their bodies, sharing their hearts.
“My alma gemela,” Darius whispered as he picked up his head. “You are so much a part of me. I love you.”
Luis whined, then reached out, took hold of Darius’ arms, and pulled at him until Darius was once again lying on top of him. Locking his ankles behind Darius’ back, Luis rocked against him, their cocks sliding against each other, and Darius nearly came from the delicious friction. His hips moved forward in small, shallow thrusts, pressing Luis into the mattress as they kissed, and he tried to keep himself under control, but it was no use. He couldn’t help it. He might want to take things slow, spend hours teasing Luis until he was almost falling apart, but the need to be as close to Luis as possible was taking over.
Lifting himself slightly, Darius reached for the lube on the nightstand, and Luis cried out in relief. “Thank God,” he said, his voice hoarse and tight. “I was losing my mind.”
Darius chuckled as he slicked his fingers, then sought out Luis’ entrance. “Me, too, chico. I wanted to take things slow, but I can’t. You turn me on too much.”
Luis rolled his hips beneath Darius and drew his legs up, hooking them over Darius’ shoulders. They both sighed as Darius began pressing against the tight knot of muscles, working his fingers inside with practiced skill. They could still count the number of times they’d made love on their fingers, but nothing about this was unfamiliar. Darius had imagined and fantasized about what it would be like to be with Luis so many times since that night when they were sixteen. He knew Luis’ body, knew what Luis liked, where his sensitive spots were, but more importantly—perhaps most importantly—he knew Luis’ soul like he knew his own.
By the time Darius was kneeling between Luis’ legs and guiding his cock inside Luis, he was trembling from the effort of keeping himself under control. The urge, the need, to bury himself inside Luis’ tight channel was almost overwhelming, but he didn’t want to rush, didn’t want to risk hurting the man he loved. Slowly, the heat of Luis’ body engulfed him and surrounded his cock.
“Oh, chico,” Darius breathed out as he withdrew, then surged forward again.
“Yeah,” Luis answered. “More, cari?o. Please. I won’t break.”
“I know, but I might.” He gazed at Luis’ beautiful face, then leaned down to kiss him, losing himself for a moment in the physical sensation of Luis wrapped around him, of being inside Luis, of their hearts beating in rhythm with each other.
“Now, cari?o. Please.”
And Darius did as Luis asked. He sped up his thrusts, increased tempo and power until he was driving inside Luis’ ass and Luis was crying out, begging for more, harder, faster. Darius’ orgasm built, racing from his balls and up his spine until Darius came with a shout that was equal parts ecstasy and triumph. As his cock pulsed, Luis gasped, groaned, and took hold of his own cock. It only took a couple of strokes before Darius felt his muscles clench, and then Luis cried out and spilled hot cum between them. Darius groaned, pulsing his hips slightly, trying to get deeper inside Luis until Luis dropped back on the bed with a sigh, his legs sliding off Darius’ shoulders, splaying on either side of Darius’ legs.
The air in the room vibrated with the echo of their voices as Darius lowered himself and rolled over, pulling Luis with him so their positions were reversed. Luis put his head on Darius’ chest, and Darius traced circles on Luis’ back.
“I love you, mi amor,” he said.
“I love you, too, cari?o.”