In the last installment of One and Only
In the first installment of One and Only
When Ethan came home, he was freshly showered. Jacob appreciated that. The last thing he wanted was to smell Mateo and the scent of sex in their bed. He knew Ethan would be too exhausted to have sex again. Mateo had probably worn him out. So, he just curled up at Ethan’s side under the sheets.
“Did you have a good time?”
“The best.”
“Good.”
Jacob tucked in closer. “Thank you for coming home to me.”
Ethan pulled away and kissed Jacob’s forehead. “I always will.”
“I love you.”
“And I’d be lost without you.”
Jacob squirmed in Ethan’s arms. This needed to be said before things got too serious between Ethan and Mateo. He suspected it would. “You’re it for me. You are my forever.”
Ethan turned on his side so he could look at Jacob.
“You’re mine too.”
Jacob stroked Ethan’s face. “Should we make it official someday?”
“Like, get married. I thought you were against that.”
“Not with you.”
Ethan blinked with surprise. “Are you asking me?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe not yet.”
“Let me know when you decide.”
Jacob smiled. “You’ll be the first to know.” He tucked himself against Ethan, then rolled over so his back was pressed to Ethan’s chest. Ethan hugged him tight to his body.
And kissed the skin at the base of his neck.
He knew Ethan loved him.
“If you want to have Mateo over for dinner sometime, I’d be fine with that. Might even let him help us cook.”
Ethan kissed his neck again.
“Are you sure?”
“Invite him. See what he says.”
Ethan hummed against Jacob’s neck. “I love you.”
“Love you too, babe.” Jacob snuggled in. “Now go to sleep.”
Jacob flipped through a cookbook, looking for the recipe they’d determined wouldn’t throw Mateo off too much if he was as much of a novice in the kitchen as he said he was.
“Do we have everything?” Ethan asked.
“Just checking.” Jacob opened the book to the right page. They were making a chicken, hummus, and cauliflower plate. “I think we have it covered.”
Ethan exhaled a long sigh.
“Are you nervous?” Jacob asked.
“I just want it to go right.”
“I’m not going to screw it up. I’ll be nice.”
“I know.”
“He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?”
Ethan stroked Jacob’s arm. “You know he does.”
“I hear a car. I think he’s here.”
“I’ll get the door.”
Jacob busied himself removing stuff from the fridge that they would need. He’d give Ethan and Mateo some privacy to get their kissing out of the way. He didn’t need to see that.
Mateo was laughing and clinging to Ethan’s arm when they arrived in the kitchen. “I love your house,” Mateo said as he looked around. “Looks different from the outside. I wasn’t expecting it to be this modern inside.” He leaned on the counter. “Hey, Jacob … thanks for this.”
Jacob shrugged. “Thought it would be nice to have you over.” He pointed to the glasses on the counter. “Water? You don’t drink alcohol, right?”
“Sure, yeah … that would be awesome. No, drinking isn’t for me. I lose time.”
Jacob lifted the water container out of the fridge and filled three glasses. He and Ethan had agreed that if Mateo wasn’t drinking, they wouldn’t either.
“So, where do we start?” Mateo asked as he perused all the items Jacob had placed on the counters. “I was serious when I said I know nothing about cooking.”
“We’ll start you off with a little chopping,” Ethan said. “Come over here.” He set Mateo up to cut up cauliflower. Jacob had to smirk. It was like the guy had never held a knife before.
But he was keen.
Jacob set to work dicing the onion and plucking and cutting the parsley. He checked over his shoulder. Ethan was showing Mateo how to coat the cauliflower in oil and spice and toss it with his bare hands. It had set off an eruption of giggles from Mateo.
Jacob snorted out a laugh.
Youth.
He waited until Ethan put the foil-lined cooking sheet with the cauliflower on it in the oven and set the timer. His onions were next. He heated up some olive oil in a skillet over medium.
“Mateo,” Jacob said. “See those pitas there? Can you wrap them in foil?”
Mateo smiled at him. “On it.”
“Then put them in the oven. Bottom shelf.” Jacob moved out of the way as Mateo followed his instructions. His onions were sizzling up nicely.
“I’m getting the chicken together,” Ethan said. “Tell me when you’re ready for it.”
“Just another couple of minutes.”
“Anything you need me to do?” Mateo asked.
Jacob jerked his head in the direction of the island. “That hummus there. Smear a couple of tablespoons on each of those plates Ethan put out.”
He checked a couple of times. Mateo wasn’t making too much of a mess. He walked away after doing the job—licking remnants of hummus off his fingers.
“Taste good?” Jacob teased.
“I told you I’m useless.”
“You’re doing fine,” Ethan said. He wandered up behind Jacob and placed his hands on Jacob’s shoulders, caressing them. “Ready for the chicken?”
“Thanks, babe … yeah.”
Jacob let Ethan take over for a bit. Ethan added the chicken, some more spice, and some pureed garlic to the skillet.
“Oh, almost forgot,” Jacob said. “Quick, Mateo … dice those cucumbers. I’ll do the tomatoes.” Time was of the essence, so they shared the chopping board. It didn’t feel awkward. With all the things he and Mateo had done to each other over the years, this actually felt comfortable.
Jacob grabbed a small stainless bowl. He scraped the cucumbers and tomatoes into it and added the parsley, a bit of olive oil, and some lemon juice, and mixed it up.
“Ready?” Ethan asked.
“Just let me arrange the salad on the plates first,” Jacob replied. He spooned the cucumber-and-tomato mixture onto the plates, then stepped back so Ethan could dump the chicken onto the hummus. “Mateo … cauliflower.” He pointed at the side of the fridge. “The oven mitt is right there.”
Both he and Ethan snickered, watching Mateo try to wrangle the cooking sheet out of the oven. They really should have stepped in and helped him, but just watching him was more fun.
The cooking sheet clattered onto the counter.
Ethan burst out laughing.
“Fuck off.” Mateo swatted Ethan with the freed-up oven mitt.
Ethan wrapped Mateo up in his arms and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re adorable.”
It made Jacob smile. They were good together.
“Okay, let’s do this,” he said. “Just dump the cauliflower on top of everything.”
Ethan completed the last step.
They each took a plate and headed for the table. Jacob was glad the steel-and-glass table was round. Did away with them having to figure out who would sit next to whom.
He’d been worried they wouldn’t have much to talk about. But like when they had slept together, conversation flowed easily between them. Jacob grinned as he listened to Mateo rattle on about med school. It seemed like a lifetime ago when he and Ethan had been at school.
The year they had fallen in love.
He caught Ethan’s gaze and winked at him.
He received one back.
Jacob drained the last of his water. Some of it had ended up on the table—spit from his mouth. He was honestly starting to think Mateo should consider going into stand-up comedy. The guy could set up and nail a punchline like the best. It was a quality he had always liked in him.
He leaned back in his chair. This had been nice
“Living room?” Ethan said. “Watch a movie. We can do the dishes later.”
Jacob shook his head. “I might have to pass. I’m really tired.” Truthfully, he wanted to give them some time alone. He could go to bed and read until Mateo left.
“More fun with you,” Mateo said. His big blue eyes caught Jacob’s attention. They were watching him with affection and anticipation.
Fine.
He could stand to spend more time in that man’s company.
“Only if I get to pick the movie,” Jacob said.
“Oh, god, no.” Ethan laughed. “Don’t let him, Mateo. He has the worst taste in movies.”
Jacob snorted. “I’m not that bad. You’re just fussy.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Mateo rose from his chair. “I happen to like bad movies.”
It only took them nine tries to agree on something. The process was fraught with laughter, swearing, and jabs about each other’s taste in actors. They finally picked a movie and settled themselves in the dim light of the living room. Ethan in the middle. Jacob and Mateo on either side of him on the sofa. He held each of their hands.
Halfway through the movie, Ethan let go of Jacob’s hand. Jacob peered over at him. Ethan and Mateo were making out. He turned his attention back to the movie.
He closed his eyes as something carnal stirred in him.
Stop it.
Ethan nudged him. “Jacob.” He stroked his hand down Jacob’s cheek and turned Jacob’s face toward him. He sank onto Jacob’s lips, capturing them. Jacob groaned into the warmth. Ethan tasted like the mint gum Mateo had popped into his mouth after dinner.
Ethan released him and turned back to Mateo. Jacob leaned forward and watched Ethan’s mouth cover Mateo’s lips time and again with increasing desire.
Jacob gripped Ethan’s thigh.
Ethan peered back at him. His eyes were soft and hooded—and pleading. He moved Jacob’s hand to touch his hard cock through his jeans. Holding it there, he turned to look at Mateo.
Mateo nodded.
Jacob leaned toward Mateo. It was like slow motion, the kiss between them. So tender. Everything he remembered about Mateo’s lips. Ethan touched Jacob’s chin, turned his head, and kissed him. He did the same with Mateo. When Ethan relaxed away from them, the heat between Jacob and Mateo increased. Tongues surged and sparred. Moans filled the space.
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