Horizons (30 page)

And now they were back after being away for almost a year and a half. Back to confront their nemesis and to try to get past this whole sordid affair. He knew that despite Clark’s bravado, there had to be a part of him that was a little apprehensive about seeing his family for the first time since the climax of their conflicts that afternoon so long ago. He’d been in regular touch with the twins, and they’d even had them out to Chicago for a few weeks to watch him play, but he hadn’t seen Jim or Mary since he walked out of their lives. His only contact with them was the monthly check he wrote to the rehab facility that was helping with Mary’s recovery. Clark still felt a little twinge of guilt when he thought of his mother having a stroke because of him, despite the fact that Jody reassured him constantly that it wasn’t his fault and, if anything, Jim should be the guilty party.

Nikki’s wedding would be the perfect venue for the reunion. It was public, and the likelihood that they would say or do anything untoward was pretty slim.

When Clark first mentioned that Nikki was dating a former teammate, he seemed pleased that she was moving on with her life. However, when she asked Clark to be best man, Jody thought the whole idea a bit odd. What kind of woman wanted an ex-lover to be her best man? Obviously, Clark was much more than that. Jody needed reminders that they’d known each other for years, first as friends and then as lovers. She seemed to bear no grudges toward either of them, despite the fact that her father was in jail after Jody picked him out of the police lineup.

Tomorrow, they’d trek to Folsom for the afternoon wedding, stay the night at a local hotel, and return to Berkeley to spend another five fabulous days here. Jody just wanted the whole thing to be over and done with. He was aware Clark needed closure for his peace of mind, but Jody would have preferred to forget the trauma and violence, and no longer be haunted by the aftereffects.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sight of his lover walking toward him with nothing on but a towel draped around his neck. Naked Clark still made his heart thump wildly, causing an instant reaction in his groin.

“Well, you’ve made yourself at home in no time.”

Clark grinned. “You want to play?”

Jody smiled and started to strip off his clothes in the living room. He made record time in going from fully clothed to nude, and he let Clark take him by the hand and lead him to the hot tub. He had already set up the bucket of iced beers along with the chips and salsa.

“How long have you been planning this?”

“I’ve been thinking about hot tubs all winter long.”

Jody laughed. “I told you. Chicago winters are for shit!”

“They’re pretty intense, but it’s been a good experience. Now, get your body over here and come play with me.”

Jody made his way to Clark and entered the tub gingerly. It took a minute to adjust to the temperature, but he was comfortable in no time, and he and Clark sipped their drinks and enjoyed the amazing view.

“Jo?”

“Hmm?” he replied, basking in the warmth of his lover’s gaze and the pulsing jets of water.

“Sit on my lap.”

Jody noticed Clark was more than ready for him.

“You really do want to play, don’t you?”

“Uh-huh.” He pulled Jody toward him and made him straddle his lap, wrapping his arms around his waist. They kissed and pressed against each other in a gentle, languorous, swaying of their hips. This wasn’t going to be a frantic fuck, but more of a sensual dance, a perfect combination of sex and love. “I love you, Kit,” Jody whispered in his ear, and he felt the intensity of Clark’s desire pressing against his stomach.

“I need to get inside you, Jo.”

“Okay.”

“Can we do it this way?”

“I told you a long time ago that we could be as creative as you want. Fucking in a hot tub ranks high on my bucket list,” Jody informed him. He spread his legs and hoisted his hips, guiding Clark’s cock into him. The warm water lessened the sting, and they moaned out a duet of contentment as his body blossomed for his fully aroused partner.

“God, you feel so fucking good,” Clark sighed.

“You should be on my end,” Jody teased.

They slowly rocked against each other, picking up the pace as the urgency grew. Soon they were moving frantically, chasing the orgasm they both craved. Clark gripped Jody’s hips, easing his movements in a steady push and pull, while Jody hung on for the ride. The finale was as intense as the buildup; Clark felt Jody pulsing against his stomach, even as he let go deep within his lover’s body. The release felt that much better by being surrounded in warm water that fizzed and bubbled around them.

“Love you,” Clark whispered, pressing his forehead against Jody’s. “So much.”

T
HE
wedding was over. Nikki and her new husband stood in the reception line, greeting their guests. She looked radiant in her white gown, made even more beautiful by the smile that seemed to come from deep within. She seemed genuinely happy, and I couldn’t have been more pleased.

The most awkward moment came when I had to face my father as he escorted Nikki to the front of the chapel. He looked at me, and I acknowledged him with a nod.

Jody and I had made it through the picture taking and the media frenzy. It wasn’t every day that professional football players gathered en masse, and the press was going nuts. As usual, we were bombarded by questions, and I pointed them in the direction of the newlyweds, reminding the photographers and everyone else why they were here.

“Are you and Dr. Williams getting married soon?” one of the guys with the press tag on his chest asked.

“Why don’t you guys just wait to find out?”

“Aww, come on, throw us a bone, will ya?”

I grabbed Jody’s hand and moved away from the group. The last thing I wanted was to take the spotlight away from Nikki. We were standing around the buffet table drinking champagne when my father and mother walked up to us.

I felt a rush of tenderness when I saw her. She’d aged tremendously, and one side of her face still drooped a bit, but her blue eyes lit when she saw me. She opened her arms, and I flew into them and held her against me, loving her for the woman she used to be, and not the woman who had gone off the deep end those many months ago.

I turned and was relieved to see Dad and Jody shaking hands and being civil. Instinctively, I ambled over to them, threw an arm around Jody, and drew him closer. I waited for the inevitable reaction but amazingly, Dad just narrowed his eyes and began to talk.

“Are you doing okay?” he asked.

“Fine.”

“You had a great season.”

“I know.”

“Sticking with the Bears?”

“We’ll see.”

He nodded. “I’m sure you’ll make the right decision.”

“We will,” I said pointedly, reminding him that Jody would weigh in on all my future decisions. Dad walked away with his arm around my mother. Zach was at the other side of the garden and never approached me. Who knew if he’d ever get over this, but right now I didn’t care. What I did care about was the surprising words that had come out of my father’s mouth; his fucked-up way of apologizing and acknowledging that I’d been right all along.

“What did he say to you before I got here?”

“He said that he’d come to realize that the most important thing in life is a united and healthy family. Then he apologized for last year and shook my hand.”

“He must be on Prozac or something.”

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s just be grateful he’s had an epiphany. Come on, Kit,” Jody said. “Nikki’s about to throw her bouquet.”

We stood at the back of the crowd and since I towered over everyone, I caught the flowers that were intended for one of the bridesmaids. The crowd hooted and hollered, teasing us with a chanting “Kiss, kiss, kiss!” I looked down at Jody, brushed my lips against his, and declared, “Next year, it’ll be our turn.”

He smiled and the dimple I never tired of showed up right on cue. “You got it, big guy.”

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M
ICKIE
B. A
SHLING
is the alter ego of a multifaceted woman raised by a single mother who preferred reading over other forms of entertainment. She found a kindred spirit in her oldest child and encouraged her with a steady supply of dog-eared paperbacks. Romance was the preferred genre, and historical romances topped her favorites list.

By the time Mickie discovered her own talent for writing, real life had intruded, and the business of earning a living and raising four sons took priority. With the advent of e-publishing and the inevitable emptying nest, dreams were resurrected and the storyteller was reborn.

She stumbled into the world of men who love men in 2002 and continues to draw inspiration from their ongoing struggle to find equality and happiness in this oftentimes skewed and intolerant world. Her award-winning novels have been called “gut-wrenching, daring, and thought-provoking.” She admits to being an angst queen and making her men work damn hard for their happy endings.

Mickie loves to travel and has lived in the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East but currently resides in a suburb outside Chicago.

You can contact her at [email protected] or leave a comment on her website at http://mickieashling.com.

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