It was Wednesday morning. It was a beautiful day outside. The sun was shining, the skies were clear, and for approaching winter the weather still clung to mild summer temperatures. It was nearing ten and Sy sat at the dining table sipping his coffee while Sam showered and Sammy watched morning cartoons.

He smiled when he phone rang, glad to have the anxiety gone about maintaining a relationship with his mother. “Hey, Mom,” he said in way of a greeting. “How’s your morning going?”

He could hear the smile in her voice as well when she spoke. “I’m just fine, son. How’s your morning going? How’s my grandson?”

Sy smiled again. He loved the fact that she and Sammy were as thick as thieves together, their bond growing deeper each time they saw each other. “He’s getting better all the time. Using his crutches more as he’s been getting dizzy less often, so that’s a good sign.” 

“I’m so happy to hear it. Well, I was calling to see if, since Sammy isn’t yet back in school, if he might want to come and spend a few days with me and Jenny.”

“He has physical therapy on Friday at 9:30. Would you be able to take him?”

“Yes, that’s not a problem, dear.”

“Hang on,” he said to his mother before turning to gain Sammy’s attention. “Hey, Sammy.” When the boy looked over at him, he continued, “Gramma wants to know if you want to come stay over there for a few days?”

Sammy’s eyes lit up like lanterns, his whole face brightening as a smile spread completely across his face. “Can I, Daddy? Please?”

“You can, but only on one condition,” Sy said, holding up a single finger to accentuate his point. “You can’t give Gramma a hard time Friday morning when it’s time for your physical therapy appointment. Deal?” Sammy looked rather displeased that he still had to go to physical therapy, but nodded in agreement. “Promise?” Sy questioned a bit further.

Nodding again, Sammy said, “I promise, Daddy.”

Satisfied, Sy said to his mother, “When do you want to pick him up?”

“Is noon alright?”

“Yeah, that’s fine. He’s very excited.”

Beverly chuckled. “Good, I’m glad. How are you and Sam doing?” she asked. While Beverly didn’t know all the details to Sy and Sam’s tension lately, she knew that they were having a hard time coping with whatever had happened amidst trying to cope with what happened to Sammy.

“We’re alright, Mom. Things have settled down for the most part, but we're still finding our way through everything. Actually, a few days alone sounds great. We could use the time to decompress.”

“That’s good. You two are meant for each other. I always thought so.”

Beverly came to pick Sammy up just before the designated time and the boy was quivering with excitement. When the doorbell rang, Sammy about jumped out of his skin, bouncing on the couch as best he could. Sy opened the door to the smiling faces of his mother and sister and ushered them inside. 

As soon as Sammy saw his aunt, his arms spread wide in a request for a hug that Jenny didn’t deny. As the kids talked on the couch, Beverly took a long look at her son as they stood in the foyer. She noted the dark circles under his eyes and the long draw of his face. “Sy, are you okay?”

“Is that your subtle way of saying that I look like shit?” He laughed lightly as he scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’m getting there, Mom,” he told her honestly. “Since the accident, things have been chaotic at best.”

“I’m sure it has. I don’t know if you’d ever take me up on the offer, but you can always call me if you need someone to vent to. Maybe we can have lunch next week?”

Sy smiled and nodded. “Lunch sounds great, Mom.”

Just then Sam exited the room that he used as an office for work. He had a deadline approaching for a project that he needed to finish. Sy had, before the accident, shared the office with him, but had decided after Sammy’s first fall that he’d do his work at the kitchen table in case Sammy needed him. Sam hugged Beverly after stopping to hug Jenny. “I thought I heard voices.”

“How’ve you been, Sam?” she asked as she pulled back from him, smiling gently at the boy she’d always known, and the man that was nearly a stranger. In his eyes she saw a flash of an emotion that she couldn’t pin down before it was gone as quickly as it appeared. 

His smile slipped the slightest bit and he shrugged. “Getting better every day,” he replied evenly, though his chest ached a bit for the answer. While he was better than he had been, that day walls had been erected that were still firmly in place. And he hated it.

When Sy and Sam were alone, the house quiet in the absence of Sammy and Shelly, Sam locked eyes with Sy as they stood only inches apart. Deep blue eyes scanned the outline of his face, his gaze intense, and he traced a gentle knuckle down Sy’s cheek and tracing his jawline with his fingertip. “Have I told you lately just how beautiful you are?”

Sy blushed, his face turning a deep shade of reddish-purple as Sam’s words. “No.”

Leaning in, Sam brushed his lips along Sy’s, dragging his tongue along his upper lip. “Then I am a fool that begs your forgiveness. You’re the most beautiful thing that I’ve ever laid eyes on. You continuously take my breath away. I love you, Sy.”

Chapter Forty-Eight

The next morning found them both lying in each other’s arms, their bodies wrapped around the other as they enjoyed the feeling of just…holding the other. Sy snuggled further into Sam’s arms and kissed his neck. “I have an idea.” He kissed Sam’s neck again, adding the slightest sting of teeth. Sam moaned at the pleasure that raced through him and Sy smiled. “How about we go away while Mom has Sammy? Just the two of us.”

Sam panted as Sy’s hand slipped down as he grasped him, stroking him once. “What did you have in mind? Fuck, Sy.”

“I’m not sure. Have any ideas?” As he spoke he kept stroking him, using Sam’s pre-cum to lube his hand.

Sam’s eyes were closed tightly as he pushed his hips up into Sy’s hand. “How…fuck, oh fuck,” Sam groaned as Sy gripped him tighter, stroking a bit faster, running the tip of his thumb over the sensitive head. “How do you expect me to think when you’re doing that?” he asked in a breathy pant.

Sy chuckled and said nothing more as he moved down Sam’s body and swallowed him in one gulp. Sam gripped the sheets, his breath shallow as his balls tightened. Sam worked his hips in rhythm with Sy’s mouth as he worked him. “Sy,” Sam moaned, his hands going to grip Sy’s hair. “Sy, I’m gonna cum.” 

Sy hummed his anticipation, the vibrations shooting through Sam, pushing him over the edge into bliss. Once his breathing returned to normal and there was enough blood in Sam’s head to properly string together a thought, said, “I know the perfect place. I have a friend from college  that owns a great spa. He’s always telling me that I need to come check it out. How about we go spend a few days there? We can get pampered, massages…the works.” Sy groaned at the thought and readily agreed when Sam suggested he would call and book them a room.

After a shower where Sam gave Sy some extra attention, Sy entered the kitchen where Shelly was pouring herself a fresh cup of coffee while Sam remained in the bedroom to book them a room at the Wanderlust Spa. Smiling she said, “You look happy this morning,”

Sy grinned back as he sauntered up next to her. She handed him a cup from the cabinet as he replied, “I am happy this morning. While Sammy is with Mom, he’s going to treat me to a few days at the spa his friend owns. Three days and two nights.”

Shelly groaned. “Now I’m jealous.” She sipped her coffee as she glared at him playfully. “I’m really happy that you two seem to be alright. You both deserve to be happy with each other.” 

Sy smiled and glanced over his shoulder to the closed bedroom door. He could hear Sam’s muffled conversation as he turned back to Shelly. “We’re working on it. There’s progress.”

Whatever Shelly was going to say in response was forgotten as Sam joined them by the coffee pot. “Spreading gossip at the water cooler, ladies?” Sam said, smiling, as he kissed Sy’s cheek. “Reservations are made. The room is waiting. They’re gonna give it a once over, but it’ll be ready by the time we get there.”

Shelly scoffed as she looked over at Sam. “You have no idea the level of jealous I’m currently sitting at. None.”

They arrived at Wanderlust Spa just after noon and checked in. Once handed the key card, they took the elevator to the second floor, turned right upon exiting, and found their room moments later. When they entered, Sy’s breath caught at the beauty of the room. It was rustic with a dark wood inlay that looked like Teak running along the ceiling. The ceiling itself was high, giving the massive suite an even bigger look. The walls were painted a dark maroon, and where the wood ended and the ceiling turned into sheetrock, was a beautiful contrast of white. Along that, light fixtures were set into it. To the right of the door and a part of the living room area was a full bar. The furniture was a creme colored leather on top of a brisk, white carpeting. The bar itself was made out of the same wood as the wooden inlay, with wooden beams on either side of the bar.

To the left of the door was the California king sized bed with coverings that matched the color of the walls. Beyond the bed was the bathroom with a shower and a whirlpool bath. The countertops were black marble with swirling bits of white layered within it.

Feet from the bed was the terrace that expanded from one side of the room to the other with sliding glass doors at either point. A Jacuzzi sat in the corner of the terrace that overlooked a beautiful mountain range. The sight of it all took Sy’s breath away. 

Sam watched the amazement spread across Sy’s face as he took it all in. The beauty outside paled in comparison to the look on his face and Sam couldn’t help the grin that quirked his lips. “Wow. Sammy, this…this is beautiful…”

Sam stepped close to Sy’s side, facing him and when Sy turned his head, Sam captured his lips in a sweet and tender kiss. “You’re beautiful,” Sam whispered to him. 

Sy buried his head into Sam’s shoulder, unable to stop the giggles that bubbled up. “Why do you have to make me blush?”

“Because…if you’re blushing about it…it means you believe me. And you should. Because you are beautiful.” 

Sy looked up then, the smile wide and real before he kissed him, almost chastely. Looking around again he said, “This is amazing, Sammy.”

“It’s only just begun. I love you, Sy.”

“I love you, too,” he said. His eyes watered at that point, something in his chest twisting as his thoughts conjured up everything that they’d gone through in their relationship lately, and he looked away. As a tear slipped free, Sam guided his face back up with a hand on his cheek, and wiped away the fallen water with his thumb.

“No tears, my love. No sadness. No stress. Not for the next few days, at least. Okay?” Sy nodded as another tear fell and sucking his bottom lip into his mouth, bit down to stop the tears. With as much patience as he had ever shown him, Sam once more wiped away the tears from his cheeks. With a gentle smile and an even more gentle tone, he said, “We’re here. Together. Everything else will be alright. We are alright, Sy.”

Sy nodded and swallowed. “Okay. Deal.” Sy pulled Sam into a tight hug as he gathered himself together once more and in Sam’s arms, he felt himself begin to calm and his body relax. “I love you, Sammy. So much.”

Sam tightened his grip around Sy’s ribs. “I love you too, Sy. More than you’ll ever know.”

“I don’t know about that. You show me all the time. I feel it every time you look at me.” As they stood there embracing, Sy’s mind went in every direction, bouncing between how lucky he was for the man standing there holding him to the moment that all of it began. He knew without a doubt in his heart that he was where he belonged. He was loved and he was in love. And he wasn’t going to throw it away because of something that happened years ago, no matter how much it sometimes still haunts him.