Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Published by Silver Publishing Publisher of Erotic Romance

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED:

Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the South African Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated and is punishable by imprisonment and a fine." Cover Artist: Reese Dante Editor: Devin Govaere Fire and Light © 2011 Berengaria Brown ISBN # 9781920501600 Attention Readers: This book uses US English. Thank you. All rights reserved. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. The Licensed Art Material is being used for illustrative purposes only; any person depicted in the Licensed Art Material, is a model.

PUBLISHER http://www.silverpublishing.info

Note from the Publisher Dear Reader, Thank you for your purchase of this title. The authors and staff of Silver Publishing hope you enjoy this read and that we will have a long and happy association together. Please remember that the only money authors make from writing comes from the sales of their books. If you like their work, spread the word and tell others about the books, but please refrain from sharing this book in any form. Authors depend on sales and sales only to support their families. If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales on pirate sites of this title, you can report the offending entry to [email protected] Thank you for not pirating our titles. Lodewyk Deysel Publisher Silver Publishing http://www.silverpublishing.info

Dedication For everyone whose heart beats faster around all those naked chests at the swimming pool.

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Google: Google, Inc. Little League: Little League Baseball, Incorporated Skype: Microsoft Corporation Speedos: Speedo International

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Chapter One Hugh leaned against the wall of the surf shop and watched his son, Orion, choosing board shorts. Okay, it might have been twenty-four years ago, but Hugh was pretty sure he'd have grabbed the first red pair off the rack when he was six. His son, however, was taking the decision very seriously, choosing pair after pair off the rack, holding them up to the light, looking at the pockets and waistband, measuring them against his legs then putting them into two different piles. When he reached the end of the section, Orion hung the ones in the larger pile back on the rack, before sorting through the smaller pile again, gradually reducing it to three pairs, one red, one blue and one green. After many long moments of silence, Orion replaced the blue pair on the rack with all the other ones he'd rejected. Hugh remained silent and watched. Twice Orion went to replace the green pair then hesitated. Finally, Hugh said, "How about we buy both pairs? You seem to be finding the final elimination round pretty tough." "Could I really have them both, Dad? I really like the green ones, but your boardies are red, and I want to match you." Hugh's heart almost burst with love for his boy in 7

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

that moment. His kid wanted to be like him! Hugh gave Orion a hug, a far more restrained hug than he would have liked to give, but their relationship was still fragile and they were in a store. Then he replied, "Of course you can have both. If we go swimming often this summer, likely you'll need two pairs. I should have thought of that myself." "Have you got two pairs, Dad?" "Yeah, I have a spare pair somewhere. Might have to hunt through the closet to find them though." Hugh and Orion walked up to the checkout and stood in line. Right by the cash register was a rack of swim goggles. "You'd better pick up a pair of goggles, too, so you can open your eyes underwater without making them sore," he suggested. There were three people in front of them in the line. Hugh hoped Orion could make his choice before they reached the head of the line. Fortunately, this time Orion chose a silver pair instantly. "The lightning flashes on my boardies are silver. These goggles will match both pairs," the child said triumphantly. Hugh ruffled his son's flaming red hair. "Good decision." The man in front of them in the line turned to grin at Hugh and Orion. "You have more fashion sense than many 8

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

adults," he said to Orion, pointing to the black board shorts and yellow goggles he was holding. Then he put the yellow goggles back on the rack and picked out a black pair. "Mom says it's important to be color coordinated." "Smart woman, your mom," responded the man. "Maybe." Suddenly Orion looked much younger and insecure. Hugh rested a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Orion looked up at him with a worried frown. "We'll cope. We'll get it all sorted. I love you," said Hugh softly. "I'm sorry. I—" Now the man looked worried as if he realized he'd brought up an unwelcome topic. "It's fine," said Hugh, just as the checkout operator said impatiently, "Next!" "Shall we go to the swimming pool this afternoon, just to look around and find out where everything is, instead of waiting for Monday?" suggested Hugh. "Can I wear my new boardies?" "Of course."

****

After returning home for a quick meal and a hunt through the closet for Hugh's swimwear, they put on their red board shorts, collected towels, goggles and sandals, 9

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

then headed to the local swimming pool, which was a tenminute drive from Hugh's apartment. In the two months since his ex-wife, Tallulah, had decided she no longer wanted custody of their son, Hugh had gained a whole new outlook on the neighborhood in which he lived. He'd chosen his apartment because it had a reserved basement parking space, was affordable, and was an easy commute to his job. When Tallulah had phoned and told him the new man in her life wanted kids of his own, not someone else's child to rear, Hugh had been overjoyed. It'd broken his heart to leave Orion behind when the marriage had collapsed shortly before his son turned two. Hugh knew a baby needed his mother, and Tallulah had been fair about sending the boy to him for vacations and access visits. Now, suddenly, he'd found himself checking out schools, Little League clubs, and wondering how the hell he was supposed to look after a child during the summer vacation. Thank God he hadn't taken any vacation time in two years, so he'd be able to spend a lot of the time off work. Still, he couldn't help wondering what they'd do all day long in a two-bedroom apartment that seemed so much smaller with the addition of a little boy. A trip to the local community center had resulted in Orion happily signing up to learn archery one afternoon a 10

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

week for the next six weeks. The local library had a weekly story-and-craft time aimed at four to eight year olds so that filled in another morning each week, and Orion seemed to like reading, so they'd borrowed an armload of books for him during their visit, as well. After Orion was in bed one night, Hugh had Googled his neighborhood and ended up with a list of things they both might be interested in doing together. The stand-out activity was the local swimming pool. Hugh

smiled

as

they

drove

to

the

pool,

remembering. Even as a teenager, he'd been equally attracted to men as to women. But he'd always imagined himself getting married and having a couple of kids, so he'd assumed Ms Right would turn up one day, and he'd fall in love. Instead, he'd had a very brief affair with Tallulah, fallen asleep inside her instead of pulling out and disposing of the condom, and three weeks later she'd found out she was pregnant. He'd been thrilled at the idea of a child of his own, and they'd gotten married in less than a month. The only good part of their marriage had been Orion. The moment the baby's red head had appeared he'd named him Orion, "Son of Fire, Son of Light", and the child had been the light of his life for the next two years. His very first Father's Day had been the second best 11

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

day in his life, after the day Orion was born, until this Father's Day just past, when he'd had Orion living with him again. Tallulah had been a conscientious, caring mom, but their personal relationship had never moved past casual friendship and an occasional fast fuck. Tallulah had decided she wanted to get on with her life, and reluctantly Hugh'd agreed, but leaving Orion behind had devastated him. Now the child was living with him permanently, the bridges between the two of them were being rebuilt. Hugh hoped that, once they began swimming lessons together, some distant memories might surface in Orion of the times he'd taken the baby to infant swimming classes. They'd swum together every Saturday morning for the twelve months before he'd left. Hugh also understood, now that he had a child to rear by himself, any chance of him finding his Mr or Ms Right had vanished. That was a sacrifice he was more than willing to make because of the joy of being with his son full-time again, at last.

****

The children's pool was a pretty amazing place, 12

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Hugh thought, looking around. Way different from what he remembered as a kid himself and considerably better than the place he'd taken baby Orion to only five years ago. One end had white tiles with no step in or anything, and the water was only an inch deep. This was called "the beach". Gradually a few blue tiles appeared among the white, then the tiles were a mixture of blue and white, and finally, they were only blue. At that point, the pool had sides and the water was almost up to his knees. Hugh sat on the side of the pool and watched as Orion joined some other children playing under a series of poles on which brightly colored "buckets" were mounted. One by one, the buckets would empty onto the screaming children, who thought it a wonderful game. Then Orion moved across to the fountain, a series of bubble blowers on the floor of the white-tiled section. One or another of them would shoot water up into the air in a random pattern as the children played within the jetting sprays. Hugh envied the children's ability to become instant friends at such a simple activity. His life was sadly lacking in such friendship at the moment. A pair of long, tanned legs with just the faintest smattering of black hair appeared in his peripheral vision, then a figure in black board shorts sat down next to him. 13

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Hugh looked up into a kindly, intelligent face with sparkling brown eyes and a worried frown creasing the forehead. It was the man who'd spoken to them at the surf shop. "Name's Quigley. I do hope you don't think I'm stalking you, but I wanted to apologize for putting both feet in my mouth this morning. I'm awfully sorry. I'm not usually so insensitive and inept." Hugh shook hands with Quigley, and then laughed as they both wiped wet hands on equally wet swimwear. "No, not at all. It was a natural thing to say to the kid. He's only come to live with me in the last few months. His mom's gotten a new man in her life who didn't want Orion hanging around. I'm thrilled to have him living with me. It's… different… but we'll adjust. I do want him." Hugh saw Quigley's gaze resting on the children who were now lying on their stomachs under the buckets. "I've always loved kids but knew I'd never have one of my own because I'm gay," said Quigley simply. Then he rushed on. "I sponsor a couple of little girls in a third world country through a charity. Girls in those places don't seem to get much of a life unless someone helps. Sending them to school gives them the hope of getting a job, and with a job, they can avoid being married at puberty to some middle-aged man." "I'd never thought of it like that before. We'll do 14

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

that too. I'll get Orion to help me choose a girl to be his sponsored sister. We can write letters and exchange pictures and stuff." "It's very fulfilling and worthwhile both for the girls and for me. I have their photographs and artwork on my refrigerator like any other dad," said Quigley. Both men sat silently for a while then Quigley said, "Orion. Interesting name for the boy. You named him for the constellation?" "Son of fire, son of light. The moment he was born and I saw his flame-red hair, I knew the name was perfect for him." "Not really surprising. Your hair is brownish-red. I bet you were a redheaded kid." The men chatted about their lives and jobs for a while until a mother came to call the other children. Hugh waved to Orion, and the boy splashed through the pool to where Hugh sat with Quigley. "Hey, you were in the store where we bought my boardies," Orion said, looking at Quigley. "Yes. I heard your dad say you were coming to the swimming pool this afternoon, and I wanted to apologize to you for hurting your feelings." "Wow! You came to the pool just for me? Didn't you want to swim in your new boardies yourself?" 15

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"I have two weeks' vacation, so I thought I might go to the beach for a few days. Now I think I may stay home and come to this swimming pool instead. It's really nice here." "Dad, can we go into the big pool now? Please? Kids are only allowed there with a grownup." Orion turned to Quigley and smiled. "You can come, too, if you wanna. You know, test-drive your new boardies and all." "Thank you, Orion. I'd like that." Quigley stretched out his hand, and Orion shook it. "My name's Quigley. Pleased to meet you, Orion." Orion nodded then bounced up and down in the water, splashing to the edge as the men followed him through the complex, past the lap pool, to the deeper pool where swimming and play were both permitted. The three of them spent the next half hour doing a little swimming, a little floating, and a lot of laughing as they splashed and played, dunking each other and towing Orion around the pool. Hugh was thrilled that the boy was confident and at ease in the water, although only the most doting of fathers would have called the boy's arm and leg movements "swimming". Still, he stayed upright in the water, and that was good enough for them all. Maybe those infant swimming lessons had given him a head start after all. 16

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Hugh was also impressed with Quigley. The man had come to apologize to a child—something few adults would have bothered to do—and stayed for the entire afternoon, entertaining the boy and his father. He seemed to be a genuinely nice person, upset that he'd hurt the feelings of a child. He'd come prepared to apologize and now happily relaxed with them in the pool. I like him, and I'd enjoy spending more time with him. But wasn't he planning to go on vacation? Or did he say he'd spend time at the swimming pool? Well, I'm pretty sure he said he had two weeks' vacation, anyway. And wow! What I wouldn't give to spend a bit of that two weeks with him. Who knew adults could make friends as easily as kids? Or is Orion the catalyst that breaks down barriers? As they stood under the showers together, Hugh was trying to think of a way to ask if Quigley would be coming back to the pool again when Orion did it for him. "Mr Quigley, on Tuesday I go to craft class, and Dad said we also need to stock up on groceries. Will you be coming to the swimming pool at all on Monday and Wednesday?" "You can call me Quigley, Orion. It's my first name. No need for the mister. I'm on vacation for two weeks, so I'm a free man and can choose my activities. I'd like to meet you and your dad here again on Monday and Wednesday." 17

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"Dad took a week off work when I first came to live with him. That's two months ago. He has six whole weeks off now. When he goes back to work, I'm going to summer camp. Mom sent me to summer camp last year, but this will be a different summer camp. They have kayaks, and I'm going to learn how to paddle them. By then I'll be able to swim real good because Dad is going to teach me how. Aren't you, Dad?" "Absolutely. You can already float. What say we all meet here at two on Monday, then? That work for you?" "Sounds like a plan."

18

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Chapter Two The next few weeks settled into a pattern with Hugh, Orion and Quigley meeting at the swimming pool Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, Orion going to craft classes on Tuesday, archery on Friday and talking to Tallulah on Skype on Sunday evenings. While Orion played in the kids' pool, Quigley and Hugh sat on the side of the pool and talked. They talked about their work, about politics, about the environment and climate change. They talked about baseball and football, about cars, kayaks, and motorcycles. Movies, books and their childhoods were all fodder for their conversations, broken by comments about Orion and the other children and about teaching Orion to swim. On the second Saturday, Quigley said, "I can't have mentioned more than a couple hundred times I go back to work Monday. I'm going to miss our trips to the swimming pool. Would you both like to come out for a meal somewhere with me tomorrow?" He grinned at Orion. "Maybe we could go to a type of restaurant you've never been to before. At camp they may expect you to eat weird food, you know." "It would have to be early. Tallulah Skypes Orion at 19

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

seven-thirty." "How about lunch, then? Would that work?" "That would be awesome. Say yes, Dad, please." "Of course. Thanks, Quigley, we'd love to come. Where should we meet you and at what time?" "Have you ever been to the Japanese Steakhouse? The chefs are wonderful to watch and the food is very good," asked Quigley. "Oh, where they do the hibachi grill? I've heard about it, but never been. Would you like that, Orion? The chefs cook the food while you watch." "Actually it's a teppanyaki grill. They use a flatsurface grill heated by propane gas. Hibachi grills use an open grate and are heated by charcoal. Jeez, I'm sounding like a food advertisement. When I went, the chef stacked onion rings into a volcano which was quite spectacular." "An onion volcano?" Orion's eyes were round with wonder. "Yes, would you like to see that, Orion? Eat some Japanese cooking?" asked Hugh. "Yes, please, Dad, Quigley." "How about we meet in the parking lot at noon tomorrow, then?" suggested Quigley.

**** 20

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Quigley was excited that Hugh and Orion had agreed to his invitation to the restaurant. He'd thought long and hard about how to move their relationship to the next level. Although he loved his job, in one way, going back to work would put a real blockage in his romance plans. He was incredibly attracted to Hugh, and Orion was a great kid, smart and bold, yet polite. But it was Hugh he so desperately wanted to know on a deeper level. They'd talked and laughed and had fun together nine times over two weeks, so surely that was long enough before they had a real date. Of course, what he wanted was to be in bed with Hugh, to have Hugh pounding into his ass, sucking his cock. To lick and suck every inch of Hugh's delicious body, from his reddish-hair, down his muscled chest, to his long toes. Hugh had made no secret of the fact that he was bisexual. He seemed to be equally attracted to Quigley and, hopefully, would be ready to move to the next stage. Quigley just wasn't quite sure how sex would work with the boy present. Screaming orgasms wouldn't be possible. Hell, people with kids, even single parents, had sex all the time so there had to be a way around the problem. Just thinking about Hugh's delightfully sculpted muscles, his strong thighs, sinewy calves, broad shoulders, 21

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

and berry-brown nipples gave him the hard-on from hell. Quigley just knew his cock would be perfect. Several times as they'd been talking, he'd noticed Hugh's cock growing inside those red board shorts. It looked to be a most impressive package, and Quigley longed to suck every inch of it down his throat, to play with Hugh's balls, to slide a finger deep into Hugh's ass and watch his cum spurt over them both, then to lick it all up. Even if they didn't get as far as fucking, Quigley was determined to kiss Hugh, to sink his tongue into the other man's mouth, to taste and tease that warm cavern, and to nibble his earlobes. Quigley wondered if Hugh realized just how sexy his earlobes were. His ears were perfectly shaped, a delicate pink, and begging to have a tongue thrust inside and teeth nibbling the edges. Right now, the big question was what to wear. He'd heard how carefully Orion chose his clothes and wanted to do justice to this first date with Hugh and the child. A button-down shirt? Dress pants and dress shoes? Or loafers? Hmm. He finally decided on navy dress pants, black dress shoes, and a pale blue button-down shirt left open at the neck with the cuffs rolled up. When he arrived at the Japanese Steakhouse, he was relieved to see Hugh had chosen cargo pants, not jeans, and that Orion looked very 22

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

smart in long brown shorts and a tan shirt that complemented his flame-red hair. But his gaze kept returning to Hugh, who looked absolutely luscious in his beige pants and cream shirt. Good enough to eat, and so delicious Quigley's cock was standing up and begging to be touched, his ass clenching with the need to be filled, his heart pounding with the hope that he would have the chance to tell Hugh of his desire to make love. Yeah, make love. He didn't just want to have sex with this man; he wanted them to make love together. Orion was entranced by the display the chef put on. The man was a performer as much as a chef. He flipped and caught foods with his spatula, chopping mounds of vegetables with strokes so fast the human eye could scarcely follow his movements. Next, he arranged onion rings into a fire-shooting volcano. He concluded by flipping a shrimp through the air to land in the center of Orion's plate on top of a pile of noodles. With their beef, onions, and noodles, they had cabbage, zucchini, bean sprouts, and garlic chips. They all ate every mouthful, and it was superb, but not half as superb as the delectable man sitting opposite him at the table. I'll die if we don't go to bed together tonight. I can't wait another day! Fortunately, by the looks Hugh was shooting him, 23

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Hugh's mind was running along the same pathway as his. From the restaurant, they went to the children's playground so Orion could run around after sitting still and quiet throughout the long meal. Hugh took a large rubber ball from the trunk of his car, and they played catch for a while, then Orion was happy to climb over a wooden fort and amuse himself. "You are truly blessed. He's a good kid," said Quigley. They sat on a seat watching the boy, Hugh idly flipping the ball from one hand to the other. "I always wanted a kid, and I don't regret having that affair with his mother at all. Marrying her may not have been the smartest thing I ever did, but I don't regret that either, because I was there for his first smile, his first word, when he started to crawl and walk. Having him with me all the time now is the best gift she could have given me. I love that boy so much it hurts," said Hugh softly. "Son of fire, son of light," whispered Quigley. "Exactly. All that's missing from my life now is that special adult someone," said Hugh, looking straight into Quigley's eyes. Sweat broke out on Quigley's forehead, his palms grew damp, his heart pounded against his ribs, and his cock tried to force its way out of his pants. "These past two weeks with you and the boy have become very special to 24

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

me," he said softly. "And you to me. We've talked so much it's as if we've known each other for years, not a few weeks." "I want us to know each other even better yet. To take that next step. Into bed." Quigley was so nervous he thought he might upchuck the wonderful meal he'd just eaten. It seemed to be bouncing around in his belly and forcing its way back up his throat. He made himself swallow hard and hoped he didn't look pathetic and needy to Hugh. Fortunately, Hugh was smiling. "Yeah, that's what I want too. Can you sleep over tonight?" "I didn't pack a razor and toothbrush. Besides, how will you explain it to the boy? Better I leave before he wakes up." "Orion's used to Tallulah's partners sleeping over so I don't believe it'll worry him. Besides, when he first came to live with me, I used to worry about him waking up in the night, not remembering where he was. I used to check on him every hour, and he never stirred. One night I dropped a glass jar on the kitchen counter, and it smashed into a million pieces. It sounded so loud I expected the neighbors to be banging on my door complaining. But Orion didn't even roll over in his sleep. Once that kid's asleep, he won't notice anything, I'm sure. I want to fuck you so bad." 25

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

The last sentence was almost soundless, but Quigley heard it, and his heart raced harder. "I want that too." They played some more with the ball, then chased each other around the park, burning off some of the calories they'd eaten. Nevertheless, Hugh made sure Orion was home in good time to shower and get ready for bed before Tallulah's call came through on Skype. Orion chattered happily to his Mom for the usual fifteen minutes then called to Hugh. "Mom wants to talk to you now, Dad." Hugh walked over to the computer, which was set up in a corner of his living room, and Quigley could hear the conversation easily as Tallulah explained she and Ron had decided to backpack around Europe for a few months. "I've always wanted to go to Rome, and Ron wants to see England, so we'll backpack through Europe for a few months then come home and settle down and have a couple kids. I'll send you some postcards, Orry, and you can come visit with us for a week at Thanksgiving, or maybe Christmas. With a bit of luck, by this time next year, you'll be able to visit again and meet your new baby brother or sister." Ouch! I hope Orion takes that okay. What kind of a name is Orry? He's a kid, not a dog! Quigley watched carefully as they logged off the computer, but Orion didn't seem upset. There was a slight 26

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

crease between Hugh's brows though. Quigley really hoped Hugh hadn't just been hurt all over again even though the marriage had been off for a long time. Hadn't they divorced when the boy was two? That had been four years ago, so it was only to be expected she'd have found a new man, be wanting to start a new family. Quigley joined them as Hugh read a couple chapters from one of the children's books they'd borrowed from the library, then said goodnight to the little boy. "Mommy always says she loves me. She said a boy needs his father. I'm glad I live with you now, Daddy. But you won't mind when I visit Mommy at Thanksgiving, will you?" "I'll miss you, Orion. But it'll be a nice visit for you. I'm so glad you live with me now." Hugh hugged Orion fiercely, and Quigley saw the hint of moisture in his eyes. When Hugh shut Orion's door, Quigley raised an eyebrow, but Hugh nodded. "He likes it shut. I wanted to leave it open when he first came, but he said he was used to having it shut." Quigley shrugged. It was none of his business, really, but it would make things easier for them if they did get to bed. He still desperately wanted them to go to bed together. However, after this news from Tallulah… "Coffee?" suggested Hugh, and they walked into the 27

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

kitchen together. "Will your ex-wife travelling overseas upset your plans?" Quigley asked carefully. "No. It was pretty obvious when she didn't want him living with her anymore that she was changing her lifestyle with this new man. In fact, if they're traveling, likely it makes it easier for Orion. Backpacking's no life for a kid, and he's settled and happy here. You don't get a passport and immunizations organized overnight though, so I bet she's known they were leaving for a while. She just didn't tell him until now." They sat sipping their coffee in silence. God, Hugh looked sexy, his tongue poking out to lick the edge of his mug, his head thrown back as he swallowed the last of his coffee. Hugh made drinking coffee a sexual act. Quigley's cock was once again harder than a spike, pushing against his pants, begging to get out. Quigley spread his legs wider apart, trying to ease the ache in his cock and balls. Every nerve ending was on fire, and all he could think about was getting naked with this man. "Got a problem there I can help you with?" asked Hugh, laughter in his eyes and a smile breaking across his face. "I…" 28

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"Here, let me." Hugh kneeled in front of Quigley and gently eased the zipper down his dress pants, careful not to catch Quigley's bulging erection in the teeth. As the zipper lowered, Quigley gratefully wiggled his butt and let his balls spread out farther. "Nice boxers," said Hugh as he lifted Quigley's hot, aching dick out from its blue silk confinement. Hugh ran a finger up the length of Quigley's shaft, pressing the pad into the long vein. "Ahh," moaned Quigley, worried he'd come on the spot if Hugh did that again. "You like that?" asked Hugh, trailing a nail over the top of his cock and making pre-cum bead in the slit. "God, yes. I'll come if you do much more to it. I'm on the edge here." "We've got all night. No reason why we both can't come two or three times. It's been a long time for me. I'm looking forward to reaming your ass real good, but I reckon I won't last more than a minute the first time I get inside you, so let's make sure you have some fun now." "What about Orion?" protested Quigley. "Truly, in all this time, he's never once stirred once I've put him to bed. Never, ever called out, far less left his room. He likes to be wrapped up under the blankets, his door shut tight, in his own little world." 29

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

With those words, Hugh sank his mouth over Quigley's tortured dick and sucked him in deep. His cock was in heaven. Hugh's mouth was hot and wet, and the suction was just right, enough to tease and torment but not quite enough to send him over the edge. Quigley ran his fingers through Hugh's red-brown hair, loving the silky touch of it, enjoying the way the colors shifted and blended as Hugh moved his head over the cock. Soon Quigley had to hang on to Hugh as Hugh was scraping his teeth over his cock now, and it was damn hard not to let go of his discipline and come. Oh, hell, he wanted to last a little longer. Hugh's mouth eased back a fraction as his tongue played along the length of Quigley's shaft, running up the vein, sliding under the head, poking into his slit. Once again, Quigley gasped, his hips thrusting up into Hugh's mouth of their own volition. Quigley felt his balls draw up tighter and harder, and the base of his spine tingled. Hugh sucked him deep, deeper, deeper still, until the head of his cock was resting on the back of Hugh's throat, and Quigley couldn't hold on any longer. Biting his lip so he wouldn't shout and wake up Orion despite what Hugh had said, he unleashed his control and let the explosion burst up his spine, out through his cock, his cum hitting the back of Hugh's throat as he jetted 30

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

stream after stream of hot seed into Hugh's mouth. Hugh sucked and swallowed, then sucked again as Quigley released a final spurt. "So good," Quigley whispered. Hugh lifted his face from Quigley's groin and grinned, then licked his lips. They stood together then kissed, sharing Quigley's taste, sucking each other's tongue, running their own tongues inside each other's cheeks and behind teeth. "So hot," murmured Hugh. "You're hot. I haven't come so hard in a very long time," replied Quigley. "But you will again later tonight. Let's go to bed." "Good plan." Silently they walked through into Hugh's bedroom and undressed, stepping out of their shoes, leaving their pants on the floor where they fell, dropping shirts and underwear on top of the rest of their clothes, then rolling into the big bed together. Hugh grabbed lube and a condom from the nightstand, and Quigley lay on his front, spreading his legs wide apart so his ass was readily accessible. He'd waited so long for this and wanted it so very much he could hardly believe it was about to happen at last. He had to trust that Hugh really knew what he was saying 31

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

about Orion never waking up, or leaving his room at night. He really liked Orion. He was a good little kid, but the last thing Quigley needed was an underage audience to their sex play. He hoped like hell Hugh was right and the child wouldn't wake up any time soon. Then his brain stopped functioning as all the nerve endings in his ass sat up and begged. Hugh had a wicked way with his stroking, educated fingers that touched Quigley in the most sensitive places. It wasn't five minutes since his last orgasm, and already his cock was springing to life again. Hugh had two fingers in his ass now, massaging cool gel into his hot walls, stretching and softening his tissues, opening him wide to receive Hugh's cock. It'd been a long time since Quigley'd had a partner. Over the years, he'd had half a dozen brief relationships, the last one nearly two years ago. The only long-term one had been almost twenty years ago, when he was fresh out of college and newly out of the closet. At the time, he'd expected their romance to last forever. Of course they'd grown up, become interested in different things, drifted apart and eventually separated. They'd reluctantly admitted that mentally they'd been solo for months, just living out the shell of a defunct partnership. His most recent significant other, Rafe, had been a 32

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

mistake from the beginning. They were both lonely and had nothing in common outside the bedroom. Truthfully, they had little in common even in bed, and the sex had never been better than mediocre. They'd quite quickly agreed to part. That was one reason he'd taken two weeks to invite Hugh to dinner. He wasn't looking for a pity fuck—he had several excellent dildos— and the child was a huge complication. But the more he saw of Hugh, the more he wanted him. They'd talked, really talked, and had deep, meaningful conversations. As for the little boy with his daddy's sparkling green eyes, Quigley was already halfway in love with the child and keen to share in his life. Besides, he was back at work tomorrow, and although he loved his job, he'd sure as hell miss spending time with Hugh and Orion. Hugh's mouth pressed soft kisses to Quigley's shoulder and neck, and Quigley shivered with the eroticism of Hugh's touch. "Mmm," he murmured softly. "I think you're ready for me now," said Hugh, with a light slap to Quigley's buttocks. "At last!" Quigley breathed. He pulled himself up onto all fours, watching over his shoulder as Hugh rolled the latex over his cock, a cock every bit as delicious as he'd imagined, long and thick with a flared head and the blue 33

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

vein standing out clearly against his fair skin. Quigley braced himself as Hugh guided his cockhead to Quigley's opening and pressed. Quigley breathed out, then as soon as he felt the cock breach the muscled rim, he thrust back hard, ramming Hugh inside him to the hilt, reveling in the sudden burst of sensation, the feeling of intense fullness after such a long time without a real cock in him. "Hell! Slow down or this'll be all over before it's begun," said Hugh. "I thought you said we have all night to do it several times so it didn't matter how fast the first time was," Quigley quoted back at Hugh, trying not to laugh at the look on Hugh's face. "Well, yes, but I was hoping to get a few strokes in first," Hugh joked back. He pulled his cock almost all the way out and gripped hard onto Quigley's hips to prevent him from pushing again just yet. Hugh began a slow, steady thrust and retreat, powering in hard and deep then slowly sliding almost out. He rolled his hips to scrape his cock along Quigley's walls, causing Quigley to shiver in need, his cock standing straight up against his belly and already dripping pre-cum. Quigley took his weight on his knees and just one arm, wrapping his other fist around his cock and stroking it 34

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

in time with Hugh's pounding in his ass. When Hugh was deep inside him, he clenched his ass muscles with all his strength and was rewarded by a deep groan from Hugh, who then sped up his rhythm, pushing harder, faster, a little more raggedly. Sweat slicked both their bodies, and their breathing was loud and heavy. Quigley added a little twist to his hand movements and a regular clenching of his inner muscles. "Gonna come," warned Hugh. Quigley dropped his hand from his cock to the bed and swiveled his hips while holding his inner muscles tight. Hugh's cock dragged along his walls, pinged his prostate, and a burst of heat told him Hugh had come. In that moment, Hugh's hand curved under his body and tugged hard on his cock. He exploded over Hugh's hand and his own belly, hot streams of ropey white cum jetting from him as if he hadn't already orgasmed once that night. Hugh pressed his body onto Quigley's back, his nipples hard little points digging in. Quigley twisted his head for a kiss, then they collapsed onto the bed together, sweaty and panting, but sated and fulfilled. Hugh pulled out from him and dealt with the condom, then they lay together, face to face, and snuggled and kissed. It was wonderful to hold a living, breathing, naked man in his arms once again. Quigley hadn't realized 35

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

just how much he'd missed the human contact until he had Hugh in his arms. Quigley pressed kisses across Hugh's face, along his jaw line, on the tip of his nose, across his forehead and brows, then he did what he'd imagined himself doing. He sucked Hugh's earlobe into his mouth, licking around the shell, nibbling on the cartilage and flicking his tongue inside. "Damn that's sexy," Hugh whispered. "You're sexy," Quigley murmured. "Let's take a nap and we'll see how sexy we can be together again," suggested Hugh. Snuggled together, they napped, but only briefly. Quigley had wanted to lick and suck every inch of Hugh, and he wasn't wasting their precious time alone together in sleep. He sank down the bed until he was level with Hugh's knees, lifted the other man's legs high into the air, and sucked the tender skin behind the knee, first one leg, then the other. He moved a little higher and began licking and sucking the sensitive skin of Hugh's inner thighs. Hugh let his legs flop widely apart to give Quigley better access. Quigley moved between Hugh's legs and bent his head to his task, painting circles and spirals on the skin with his tongue, blowing on the wet skin with warm puffs 36

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

of air, and gradually working his way toward Hugh's cock—a cock that was already growing again in its nest of red-brown curls. Deliberately ignoring Hugh's unspoken invitation, Quigley licked along the crease between Hugh's leg and his torso, up onto his belly and across to his bellybutton. He nibbled carefully all around the edge of flesh before letting his tongue dive into the indentation and swirl around the sides and across the bottom of it. Hugh groaned, thrusting his cock and his hips up into the air. Quigley grinned, but kept moving steadily north, nibbling his way up the center of Hugh's body, occasionally pulling on the chest hairs with his teeth, up the abs, continuing until he reached a brown little nipple. Quigley nudged it back and forth with his nose while he licked the flesh around it, ignoring Hugh's increasingly frantic pelvic and chest movements. Finally, he relented and sucked the small button into his mouth, biting down on the tip just hard enough to send an erotic flash though his own body. He hoped he'd done the same to Hugh, and judging by the man's moans, he'd been successful. After thoroughly licking and sucking both nipples, Quigley took possession of Hugh's mouth, teasing and tasting every inch of it before drawing his tongue deep into 37

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

his own mouth and savoring his flavor. Hugh grabbed his head, his fingers threading through Quigley's hair. Hugh twined his legs around Quigley's lower limbs, and Hugh took command of the kiss, cranking it up from sensual to steamy in a heartbeat. For frantic seconds, they drank from each other's mouths, rubbed their nipples together, dragged their cocks against each other, and kissed harder and deeper than Quigley could ever remember kissing before. When they broke apart, they both glistened with sweat, their chests heaving to drag in air. "Sixty-nine?" suggested Quigley. "Good plan," gasped Hugh in reply. Swiftly Quigley turned himself upside down, leaning on one elbow, his upper leg wide apart, the foot flat on the mattress to give Hugh maximum access. Their bodies were side by side with just a little overlap, and lots of delicious skin-on-skin sensations. First, he licked up the side of Hugh's engorged, red cock, trailing his tongue along the blue vein that stood out clearly against such fair skin. Quigley deliberately pushed the tip of his tongue down as he dragged it along to heighten the sensation for Hugh. The sensation of the cock pumping under his tongue was turning him on unbelievably fast. 38

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Next, he slid the very tip of his tongue into the eye of Hugh's dick, collecting a pearly drop of pre-cum. Damn, but the man tasted delicious—salty, yet tart and spicy, all at the same time. Quigley dropped his free hand to Hugh's balls, gently rolling them across his palm, loving the slightly tougher texture of this skin and the feel of the heavy sac in his hand. As he played with the balls, he opened his mouth wide to take in as much of Hugh's erection as possible. In this position, he couldn't tilt his head back as far as he would have liked to, but he was still able to suck quite a lot of his partner deep into his mouth. Quigley focused on licking up the cock, playing with the ridge where the head joined the stalk then sucking the cock deep into his mouth. Damn, concentration was difficult when Hugh was doing such amazing things with Quigley's own dick. The man surely had a talented mouth. Hugh seemed to know instinctively what to do to make Quigley shiver with the need to come. Hell, he'd come twice already tonight; he shouldn't have had it in him to come again this fast, but he really was going to blast it all out again soon. His cock was full and aching, his balls were drawn up tight, and there was no way he was going to last much longer. Desperately Quigley put all his efforts into 39

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

pleasuring the cock in his mouth. He teased and tantalized, licked, nibbled, and sucked. And was rewarded with an explosion of hot seed firing from Hugh straight against the back of his throat. Quigley redoubled his efforts to lick and suck the last of Hugh's cum as he relaxed his hold on his own iron control and erupted into Hugh's mouth. He was shaking and spasming so hard it was difficult to lick Hugh neatly, but somehow, he managed it before flopping onto his back and gasping with the power of the release. Hugh tugged on his arm, pulling him up the bed. Quigley grabbed the sheets and pulled them up with him, then wrapped in each other's arms, their two heads together on the same pillow, they fell asleep.

40

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Chapter Three Hugh hadn't wanted Quigley to leave so very early in the morning, but the man did have to go to work, after all. Orion seemed disappointed to find Quigley not there when he got up, too. "It's not going to be as much fun at the swimming pool without Quigley," the child said as he made hills and valleys with the muesli in his bowl. "No, we'll miss him. Maybe you can learn some more swimming to show him on Saturday when he comes there again." "I swim pretty good already. But I can't dive real well. Can you teach me to dive?" "Sure. You already have your toes on the edge of the pool and your hands and arms right. It's just a matter of kicking your legs up and keeping them straight." "No, I mean off the springboard. I want to do a real dive." Hugh looked into the green eyes so like his own. While a straight dive was actually quite difficult to do properly, a tuck dive, with the body folded into a ball and the hands holding the shins, was quite easy. He should be able to teach Orion to do that before Saturday. "Okay, I'll 41

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

teach you to do a tuck dive. But you have to get good at it from the side of the pool before you go onto the springboard. Coming off the board, you'll go much deeper into the pool than you're used to from just jumping in. You'll need to hold your breath for longer and swim up to the surface farther so you'd better know what you're doing first." "Awesome, Daddy! Can we go to the swimming pool right now?" "You'd better finish off your breakfast first. Then we'll do our regular chores. It won't take us more than an hour though, then we'll go to the pool." Barely an hour later, Orion rushed them straight to the adult pool to begin learning to dive. He concentrated so hard and climbed in and out of the pool so many times, Hugh's head was spinning. Finally, he had to call a halt to the lessons. "Orion, you're using your muscles differently from normal. You need to take a break or they'll ache tomorrow and you'll be in pain." "Aww, Dad, I have to be able to do this by Saturday to show Quigley." "Yes, but if you pull a muscle, you won't be able to swim at all for a few days. Better to slow down. Slow and steady wins the race." "What?" 42

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"Come with me to the children's pool. We'll sit over the bubble fountains in the warm water, and I'll tell you the story of the tortoise and the hare." Orion groaned but followed Hugh through the complex to the children's pool then lay on his tummy and listened to Hugh tell the old story. "That hare was just stupid. Only an idiot would take a nap in the middle of a challenge." Hugh pulled his son onto his lap for a hug. "That's true; it was a stupid thing to do. Sometimes people do silly things because they are sure they're right. We always need to think before we act." Hugh looked down into Orion's little face and felt a burst of pride as the child nodded and agreed with him. "And we have to keep going and going and never give up, because we might still win even if we think we can't!" "Exactly right."

****

On Wednesday, Hugh let Orion dive from the springboard for the first time, and by Thursday, the child was doing passable tuck dives every time. "Quigley's going to be very impressed, Orion," Hugh said proudly. 43

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"That's on Saturday. Can we see him on Sunday as well? Maybe for lunch again?" Orion asked, hope shining brightly in his eyes. "I've missed him too," said Hugh. So very, very much! "How about you and I organize a picnic in the park, then? You need to understand though he may not be able to come. Now that he's back at work he only has the weekend to do his chores." "Why don't we ask him to supper sometimes too? He has to eat supper, and so do we, so that would save him some time," Orion said. Hugh laughed. "Let's just ask about the picnic first, then we'll see."

****

When Quigley told people he worked in a hospital, most of them automatically assumed he was a doctor. In fact, he regularly received mail addressed to Dr. Quigley. Quigley was his given name, though, not his last name. He was Quigley David Young, not someone-or-other Quigley. Not only wasn't he a doctor, he wasn't a nurse either, or a porter, or a security guard. He was a hospital administrator, with a double degree in Public Health and in Business Management. He was someone who sat in an office and 44

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

juggled the contradictory demands for the hospital to run profitably, with the needs for people to be given good health care, and for medical and other staff to have the equipment and services they needed—an impossible mixture of conflicting demands. Yet he enjoyed the challenges, reveled in the balancing and juggling required, and rejoiced every time he miraculously pulled the required rabbit out of his hat. Despite all that, he missed Hugh terribly. They'd had one night together, a brilliantly satisfactory night, but it was still only one night. He missed throwing that rubber ball to Orion and Hugh. He missed seeing Hugh's lovely bare chest in his red board shorts. He missed his glorious green eyes and Orion's matching gaze. When they both looked at him, it was almost like seeing double. At night after work, Quigley found himself surfing websites for houses with a yard where a small boy could play and two men could live together. It had to be in a good neighborhood for kids, but a tolerant one for gay men, and not too long a commute for either himself or Hugh. Also, he realized he'd better check out the local schools and daycare arrangements too. Hell, this was going to be hard. At least as hard as the balancing and juggling he did at his job in the hospital. But negative thoughts kept intruding in his plans. 45

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

What if it wasn't what Hugh wanted? What if Hugh didn't want the relationship to deepen any further or wasn't interested in considering them moving in together? Was he getting ahead of himself here? Was it too soon? Resolutely, Quigley thrust those thoughts to the back of his mind and continued his search for neighborhoods and houses with yards. Thursday night after work, he did his grocery shopping for the next week and cleaned his apartment. Friday after work, he did all his laundry then packed a swimming bag and an overnight bag. Just in case. He didn't want anything to stand between him and the opportunity to spend time with Hugh and Orion. Saturday morning, he was standing on the stoop at the surf shop when it opened. He'd seen people at the pool playing on long, foam tube things that supported them in the water. They weren't precisely a flotation device, but they did offer support, and kids seemed to ride them like a horse and have races in the water with them or lie back in the water using them to support their necks. He wanted to get them all one. They seemed like a fun toy. He found them at the side of the store, labeled Pool Noodles. Well, at least now he knew what they were called. Quigley chose a blue one, a green one, and a red one then made his way to the checkout. As he was about to get in 46

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

line, the idea that Orion liked to copy Hugh drifted through his mind. Thoughtfully he went back to the display and replaced the green and blue noodles, getting out two more red ones. He knew they both liked red, so they'd all have red noodles.

****

His damn dick was harder than a spike. He could pound nails with it for sure. Thank God his black board shorts were baggy. He'd likely be arrested for indecent exposure if he was wearing Speedos as many of the men did. Not that he didn't want to see Hugh in a teeny tiny pair of swim briefs. Oh yeah. He'd like to see the brown hair on his chest trailing down, pointing to heaven, his cock a neat bulge in the Speedos. They'd be red, of course. Red seemed to be Hugh's favorite color. At least Hugh never wore a swim shirt, so he got to stare at the man's muscled shoulders and nice pecs. Hugh had a truly delightful chest, highly lickable, with just that faint trace of hair. Hugh's chest hair was so soft, perfect for running his fingers through as they slid across to tweak his nipples or trailed south to Hugh's glorious cock. Desperately, Quigley pulled his mind away from luscious Hugh before his cock exploded and got him into 47

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

real trouble. He'd arrived far too early at the swimming pool, longing to see Hugh again and Orion. Orion was the first small child he'd really known. The kids of some of his work colleagues had never entranced him the way Orion did. He was sometimes just a little boy, yet at other times the things he said and did were so mature, well above his age. The kid was a thinker and bright as a button, a child to be proud of. Son of fire, son of light. Hugh had named him very appropriately. Quigley sat on the edge of the children's swimming pool idly watching a young mother with a baby girl. The woman looked to be maybe twenty years old and had excess flesh bulging out of her swimsuit. Her eyes were only on her daughter, and the baby was happily splashing in the water bubbling up from the fountain. The mother was laughing and splashing with the infant. They were totally absorbed in each other and the water and full of joy. Happiness comes from within. You're the master of your own destiny. She doesn't care she hasn't got the perfect figure. She's completely happy with her baby. I would be happy with Hugh. Orion is the icing on the cake. They're my fire and light. Hugh fires up every nerve ending in my body, and both he and Orion light up my life. I will talk to Hugh about moving our relationship deeper and 48

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

further. Just then Quigley heard the sexy rumble of Hugh's voice. "We're at least half an hour early, Orion. Likely he won't be here yet." Then he heard Orion's piping treble. "Yes, I know, Daddy, but I didn't want to be late." That sound was followed by a shrill squeal and a small body hurtling across the concourse toward him. "Quigley! You're here!" Quigley opened his arms to hug the little body throwing itself at him. "I've missed you, Quigley. I told Dad we should all have supper together sometimes during the week, and he said yes. You have to eat supper so that won't use up too much of your time, will it?" "No, it won't. I've missed you, too. Both of you. I think having supper together regularly is a great idea." Orion tugged on Quigley's arm. "Come on. I've got something to show you. I've practiced, and I've practiced, and I'm good. I'm good, aren't I, Dad?" Without waiting for a reply, Orion hustled them all to the adult pool and hurried to line up at the springboards. "He's started diving?" Quigley was trying hard not to drool at the wonderful picture Hugh made, his eyes a 49

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

deep sparkling green, his hair tousled from getting changed, his delicious, muscular chest nakedly on display. "Uh-huh. Watch." When it was his turn, Orion walked to the end of the springboard and waved to them. Then he stood with his toes over the edge and did a perfect tuck dive, hands holding his shins, body curled, toes pointed. When the flame-red head bobbed up out of the water, Quigley was clapping. He wanted the child to see straight away how impressed he was. "That was perfect, absolutely perfect! I'm proud of you, Orion," he said as the boy bounced across to him. "I wanted to have something new to show you. I'm going to learn a pike dive next, but Dad said they're harder, so it'll take a while to get it good." "Your tuck dive was amazing. I'm very impressed. Anyone who learned a tuck dive so fast will defeat the pike dive, too," Quigley said. "Do you want to see me do it again?" "Of course." Orion hurried off to line up at the springboard again, and Quigley let his eyes rest on Hugh. "He's a good kid, your boy," he finally said. "He is. He likes you too. He's missed you this week." 50

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"Me too. I've missed you so much it hurts." "Let's not spend so long apart again." "Hell, no." When Orion got tired of showing off his new skills, Quigley went and got the noodles from his locker, and they spent a happy half hour chasing each other on them and having make-believe horse races up and down the pool. Then they moved to the children's pool so Orion could play while he and Hugh sat in their usual place on the side of the pool down at the deeper end, and they talked quietly about the past week. While their spoken conversation was light and venue-appropriate, the subtext of their message and the hot glances they were sharing were decidedly X-rated. "My cock's killing me. It wants inside you so bad," Hugh finally whispered. "I've been thinking of nothing else since you arrived," Quigley replied. "Tonight." "Oh yeah."

****

They returned to the adult pool and swam some more. Afterwards, they played catch with the rubber ball and had a picnic in the park. They played catch with the 51

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

ball there too. Then Orion climbed in the wooden fort with a few other children, and Hugh and Quigley were able to whisper to each other some of the things they'd like to do and body parts they wanted to touch. "I've got to get my mind off your body or my balls will burst," said Hugh. Quigley grinned then said what he'd been thinking all week. "I've been surfing the net a bit, looking for a neighborhood where a boy could have a backyard to play in, and two men living together wouldn't be out of place." Hugh's eyes lit up. "I know it's not even a month yet, but I missed you so bad this week. I've been thinking about living together, at least as a trial. A trial was all I'd let myself hope for, with Orion to consider. I haven't said anything because my apartment is crowded with just two of us in it." Then his face dropped. "Ah, shit. Orion has just moved schools. It wouldn't be fair to move him again." "We wouldn't have to. Since he goes to a private school, as long as we weren't too far away, he could go to daycare before and after school, and one of us could pick him up and drop him off. It'd have to be a daycare he liked though if he was spending time with them every day." "Yeah, I guess. I didn't like leaving him in daycare because we were so new to each other. He had less than two months at school before vacation started. We'll have 52

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

had these six weeks together, and we're pretty relaxed around each other now. He doesn't seem to be missing Tallulah too much, although once she stops Skyping him each Sunday, that might change." "I know Orion likes me, but will he mind if we start living together? You know, sharing a bedroom and being with you?" "Orion doesn't remember me living with him before, but he's grown up with Tallulah's boyfriends, many of whom have slept over and some of whom have moved in. Now, okay, this is two men, not a man and a woman, but I really think he's young enough that he'll be okay with it because he likes you. We'll definitely need to make him part of the process though, choosing a house and a neighborhood and all." "There's a few more weeks before school starts. By next Sunday, we might have a suitable neighborhood to look at," said Quigley. He then told Hugh about some of the things he had learned in his web searches. They talked about various localities each knew were accepting of non-traditional families and several were an easy commute to both their jobs. One in particular was not far from where Hugh and Orion were currently living, so they decided to start their house search there. Then Orion was running back to them talking about 53

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

supper, and it was time to go home and prepare a meal. Then bed. Oh God, bed with Hugh again at last! I can't wait to feel him pounding in my ass.

****

Hugh loved Orion with his entire heart and would be forever grateful to Tallulah for giving him the child, but he was still relieved when the boy was tucked up in his bed, story read, door shut, and finally the adult games could begin. He raised a querying eyebrow at Quigley and nodded in the direction of his bedroom. Quigley's face almost split in half with a broad grin, and Hugh's gaze dropped to the man's package. Oh yeah, Quigley was aroused and ready for action. Hugh wrapped an arm over Quigley's shoulders, and the other man responded by placing his arm around Hugh's waist, pulling them hard together, hip to hip. As if Quigley had read his mind, when Hugh turned his head to kiss him, Quigley was already looking at him, brown eyes sparkling, lips slightly parted. Hugh dived in for the kiss, relishing Quigley's lips, hard and soft at the same time, against his, his manly, earthly, spicy scent, his taste of coffee, and that indefinable 54

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

something which made him unique. "You taste so good," he whispered softly. "You too. I want you inside me now." The words inflamed Hugh. His cock wanted out of his jeans so bad it was about to break his zipper. He needed Quigley naked, in his arms, right now. Hastily they finished the journey to his room, then he shut the door silently and pulled Quigley back into his arms again. Their noses rubbed together as they were in too much of a hurry to get the angle of their lips right. He pushed Quigley's shirt up, longing to feel his skin, and ran his hands up that muscular back, loving the hard muscles beneath his palms. Their cocks ground against each other through the layers of clothing. Their hips pressed to each other as they kissed deep and hard, mouths open, tongues tangling, passion pouring from them both through their lips, hands and bodies. Finally, they broke apart, needing to gasp for air. "Undress. Bed. Can't wait any longer," he murmured. Hugh wanted to watch Quigley get undressed, wanted to see that wonderful body gradually be revealed. However, his cock was so ready for action he was worried he'd come in his pants like a teenager if he became any more aroused. As it was, he knew he wouldn't be able to 55

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

last as long as he should. He unbuckled his belt and dropped his jeans, grateful to give his aching cock some more space. It only took a moment to kick his shoes and socks off, to pull his shirt over his head, and to sit on the side of the bed and take out condoms and lube. He got out the whole box of condoms this time as he knew one, or even two, wouldn't be enough tonight. Quigley was sleeping over, and he was damn well not going to do a lot of sleeping. Tomorrow was Sunday, not a work day, so they could fuck 'til they dropped. Oh yeah! What a plan! Quigley rolled onto the bed, lay on his back and spread his legs, holding them up with his forearms. "See anything you like?" he asked. "Maybe," he teased, leaning forward and biting one of Quigley's ass cheeks. They both drew in quick breaths, and Hugh saw a pearly drop of cum bead at the top of Quigley's cock. He leaned over to lick it, rolled his tongue around that long, hot erection, then slid it all the way down, across his balls, and to his puckered rosette. He shuddered with delight at the heady eroticism of that act and hastily rolled on a condom. Then he squeezed lube over the latex and onto two fingers, sliding them deep into Quigley's dark channel, before twisting them to massage his walls. 56

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Hugh looked up in time to catch the lustful expression on Quigley's face and kissed him while his fingers probed and twisted in the man's ass. "God, that's hot," he said, his own cock now weeping pre-cum between their bodies. "So is that." Quigley nodded his head toward Hugh's cock. It was long and fat, standing upright, and leaning toward Quigley. Hastily he squirted more lube into Quigley's anus and massaged it into the walls. If he didn't get inside soon, it'd be too late! "Enough. I can't wait," groaned Quigley. Hugh dropped the lube onto the nightstand and leaned back against the headboard, shoving the pillows behind his back and opening his legs wide. "Climb aboard." Quigley straddled him, then using his strong thigh muscles, crouched lower and lower as Hugh guided his aching dick to the entrance of Quigley's hole. He popped easily through the softened sphincter ring and slid deep inside that hot cavern, the heat and wetness nearly making him come on the spot. Quigley sighed and sat down on Hugh's lap, accepting the last inch of Hugh's dick with a happy smile. "I've waited so long for this. You feel wonderful." "You're so hot and tight; I'm not going to last long this time," Hugh warned him. 57

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"I don't want slow; I want fast. We can do slow next time." "Good plan." Hugh grabbed tight hold of Quigley's hips, and they moved together, both using their leg muscles as they separated and came together, sliding Hugh's cock in and out of Quigley's ass. The first time Quigley clenched his ass muscles, Hugh nearly lost it, but he stayed still, drew in some deep breaths, and managed to hold himself together. He began stroking in and out again. Not all the control in the world could make this time last very long. They were both way beyond aroused, needy, and desperate for completion. Quigley tugged on his cock as their hips and thighs moved up and down in unison. Then Quigley buried his face in Hugh's shoulder as his cock erupted between their bodies, spraying hot seed onto their chests. Hugh relaxed his control and spurted hard into the condom, coming again and again as Quigley clenched his ass muscles and wiggled his hips. They clung together breathlessly for long moments as their heart rates slowed down then kissed gently but thoroughly with sensuous lip movements. "Time for a shower," said Quigley. "Sounds like a plan." 58

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Carefully they untangled themselves then headed for the shower, Hugh surprised by how weak and wobbly his legs were. Damn he'd come hard, harder than with anyone else he could remember, but no harder than he'd come last week with Quigley. Proves this relationship is meant to be, he thought. They leaned into each other as the water warmed up, then took turns soaping each other's back, shampooing each other's hair, sharing kisses and touches at every turn. Once they were dry, they knotted their towels around their waists and moved into the kitchen for coffee. "This is so good, sitting here together. I can't wait until we can do this every evening." "Yeah. Me too. But I don't want Orion thinking he has been pushed aside in any way. He has to be your top priority when he's awake." "I don't think that will be a problem. Tallulah has always been an excellent mother, but I'm pretty sure there's almost always been a man in her life. Orion's used to being alone in his room, entertaining himself, things like that. "When he first came to live with me, I hated him being out of my sight, and he used to say, 'Dad, I can do it', when I wanted to do things for him, or watch him do things." "Then why did she send him to you for good now, 59

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

instead of just for when she's overseas?" "She wants to have a few more kids while she's still young, and I don't think Ron wanted Orion as well. When he first arrived, sometimes Orion almost seemed to think Tallulah didn't love him anymore, but underneath it, I think he understands it was Ron. He knows I want him, always wanted him, and I'm pretty sure he knows Tallulah does still love him." "No one could fail to see how much you adore that boy," Quigley replied softly. "I like him a lot. I missed his company while we were apart." "He missed you too. Learning to dive was his idea, and he really worked hard at it." Hugh looked at Quigley and suddenly his cock thrummed to life, standing up and ready for action again. Hugh stood up and walked to his pantry, returning with barbecue sauce. He riffled through the refrigerator for a few minutes, emerging with a bag of mini chorizo sausages. Quigley stared at him with a puzzled look. "I think we need a snack. Let's have it in the bedroom." Quigley grinned, and they hurried back to the bedroom. Quigley dropped his towel and lay on the bed, folding his arms under his head and spreading his legs to allow his cock to stand up. "You'd better take your towel 60

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

off too. You wouldn't want to get sauce on it now, would you?" Hugh hissed and undid his towel, thrusting his hips forward to give Quigley a good look at how very aroused he was already. Then he placed the mini chorizo sausages between Quigley's legs, uncapped the barbecue sauce, and drizzled it in spiral patterns around each of his lover's nipples. From there, he made wavy lines across Quigley's chest, gradually moving lower. At the bellybutton, he stopped to fill the little indentation with sauce before painting a circle around it and drifting the bottle down toward Quigley's now very red and engorged cock. Hugh opened the plastic bag, took out a sausage, dipped it in Quigley's bellybutton then placed the end in his lover's mouth. "I'd rather suck your cock," mumbled Quigley, munching the sausage. "Yeah, but right now, it's my turn to play." Hugh picked up another mini sausage and began swirling it through the sauce, coloring-in the spirals and making patterns on Quigley's chest. He sucked first one nipple into his mouth, then the other, flicking them with his tongue before releasing them and popping the sauce-laden sausage into Quigley's mouth. The

third

sausage 61

he

dipped

in

Quigley's

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

bellybutton before placing it in his own mouth, then he picked up the bottle of barbecue sauce and began making patterns on Quigley's thighs. He licked over the thighs, following his sauce-trail then stroked his tongue up Quigley's cock, dragging breath into lungs suddenly starved of oxygen. For a while he licked and nibbled and drew and sucked until Quigley gasped, "Enough!" He sat up and grabbed Hugh's hips then sank his own mouth over Hugh's cock. After three long sucks, Hugh pushed Quigley's head away from his cock. "I want to be in you when I come." Quigley rolled over, presenting his ass to Hugh. "What about lube?" "I'm still stretched and wet. Hurry up or I'll come before you get in." Cautiously, he pressed his cock at the entry, but Quigley was right. It popped straight in, sinking deep into the welcoming heat. Hugh moaned with the blissful feeling of being surrounded by silky tightness. Hugh gripped Quigley's hips and started to stroke in and out. Quigley thrust backward onto him with every stroke, cranking up the sexual tension with little wiggles of his hips. Soon they had a good rhythm going of thrust and retreat, Hugh jack-hammering into Quigley with long hard 62

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

strokes and Quigley pressing back into him to take every last inch of him as deep as possible. Hugh kept a tight grip on Quigley's hips. Hugh leaned over Quigley, his palms flat on the mattress for extra balance. When he knew he was close, Hugh let go of one hip and pushed his hand underneath Quigley's body to grasp his lover's cock. It was hard as steel, the head covered with moisture. Quigley was obviously as close as he was. Quigley raised his body off the bed just enough to give Hugh room to grab his cock. Hugh stroked Quigley from root to tip, keeping his grip firm, adding a little twist as he reached the base each time. He synchronized his hand movements to complement his cock's thrusts, and Quigley groaned. "So close." Hugh swiveled his hips hard, aiming to ping Quigley's prostrate. The wonderful sensation of his dick dragging across Quigley's walls almost sent him over the edge himself, but he managed to repeat the maneuver, and this time Quigley exploded in his hand. With relief, Hugh pounded as hard and deep as he could into Quigley. One stroke, two, and on the third, he blasted his cum deep, feeling it spurt and jet and spray over and over again. He rested his face on Quigley's shoulder, their bodies both covered in sweat and sticky from the barbecue sauce. "Every time we fuck, the sex gets better and better." 63

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"Except that now we really do need a shower. Likely need to change the sheets too." "Not a problem."

64

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Chapter Four "Oh shit! I didn't use a condom. I'm sorry, Quigley—" "I knew at the time. I'm clean. I haven't been in a relationship for a while. Besides, if we're talking about moving in together, we need to establish trust. I trust you." Quigley pulled Hugh against him for a harsh kiss. He did trust this man. With his life, as well as with his heart. He gazed deeply into worried green eyes and saw in them that Hugh did trust him, but simply felt guilty about not wearing the condom. "It's okay. Really." "I'm clean too. Like you, it's been a long time for me. Years. It's just we'd never talked about going bareback. And I do trust you. With all of my life and everything in it. Including Orion." Quigley's heart pounded so hard he thought he'd crack a rib. For Hugh to say that was beyond anything he'd expected. The best compliment ever. "Thank you. I won't betray your trust." Hugh punched him on the arm. "Right. Let's get cleaned up."

65

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

****

The next few weeks settled into a pattern, with them eating together most evenings, often at Hugh and Orion's apartment, occasionally at Quigley's, and a few times at different family-friendly restaurants. Saturday mornings were spent at the swimming pool and afternoons at the park. Tallulah and Ron left on their vacation, and Orion didn't seem unduly worried by not speaking to his mother each Sunday night. On Sundays, the three of them had looked at several houses in nearby neighborhoods, but none was quite what they wanted. Orion was very excited by the idea of having a backyard and was keen to move, telling both men over and over that he wanted them all to live together. Unfortunately, the house they all really liked would mean Orion would either have to change schools or he would need to stay in daycare for a short time in the morning and several hours each evening. "I don't want him to change schools when he's only just gotten settled in his new school, and I don't like to leave him in care so long every day," said Hugh. "Don't stress; we'll keep looking. It's a great house, but there'll be other great houses as well," consoled Quigley. 66

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Then it was time for Hugh to return to work. He and Orion had talked at length about it, and Orion seemed fine. His archery class had already finished, his water confidence and swimming was more than good enough for what he'd need at summer camp, and there'd only be a few days between when camp finished and school began. Hugh still worried. Finally, it was Orion who said, "Dad, I went to camp last year. It was great. I'll be fine. You need to go back to work before you forget how to do it." Hugh laughed and hugged the boy. "Wise words indeed, my son. But I'll miss you. It'll be strange coming home each night and not having you here." "So invite Quigley over. Then you won't be so lonely. Maybe when I get back, we'll have a house." "That would be good." Both men were there to see Orion off to camp then they rushed off to their jobs, having already agreed that Hugh would stay at Quigley's place most nights while Orion was away.

****

This camp was way better than the camp from the year before. Of course having the lake was great, but the 67

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

giant swing was even better. And they slept in tents, not boring old cabins. Meeting up with Saffron was cool too. Saffron had boardies just like his and was going to his school when it started back. Saffron knew how to kayak. Orion hadn't even seen a kayak until he got to camp. You had to kayak with a buddy, and Saffron and Orion buddied up just awesome. They paddled good together too. "Dad and Quigley and me are getting a house soon," Orion told Saffron one lunch time. "With a backyard for me." "Mom and me just have an apartment, but it's fine for the two of us. Riley, my daycare mom, has a house with a huge yard and seven kitties. She leaves her Christmas tree up all year because the kitties like to play in it. She's cool." "That does sound awesome. My mom always took the tree down right after Christmas. I wonder if Dad and I will have a tree this year. Dad said I'd likely go to daycare if the house was a bit farther from school and his work. Unless it's close to Quigley's work I guess. I wouldn't mind going to daycare with you at Riley's. Are there lots of kids?" "She has two really little girls. They're like babies. Plus me. I'd like it with another man in the house," said Saffron. 68

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Orion smiled. "I'll tell Dad when we get home. Me and you're going on the giant swing again this afternoon. I can't wait. It's the best!"

****

Quigley loved having Hugh in his apartment. At first, it seemed a bit weird not having Orion there as well, but it was wonderful to walk around naked, to fuck against the wall if they felt like it, to scream out in orgasm. They cooked for each other, did chores together, and talked. At last, they could talk about anything and everything, not having to worry about who at the swimming pool or park might be listening in to their conversation or moderating what they might say because of Orion's presence. They sat on the sofa, their arms around each other on Friday night. "Apart from the whole having-to-go-to-work thing, it's almost been like taking a honeymoon this week," said Hugh. Quigley laughed. "It has been great, and we still have all of next week as well. But I miss him. I keep looking around expecting to see him come running up to us." 69

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

"So back looking at houses again tomorrow and Sunday? Or do you want to go swimming?" "Half the fun of swimming is having Orion there. I would have quit going long ago if it wasn't for him. Besides, we need to get the house thing sorted. Especially with school starting so soon." "It's a shame that Fifth Street house is just a bit far away," said Hugh. "Ya know, I don't think it's as far as we keep imagining it. Didn't the real estate agent say some of the kids from around there go to Orion's school?" "Yeah, that's what he said, but I'm not sure I believed him. We could do some time trials on the travelling though. Each take our own car and time the travel from the house to our jobs and from the house to school and so on." "Okay, Saturday, Sunday we'll keep looking at houses, and we'll time the commute Monday and Tuesday. Tonight I want to worship your cock. It seems like forever since I got to suck you off." "Let's do that then." Grinning, Quigley slid off the sofa onto his knees. Slowly, slowly he slid his fingers up Hugh's legs from his knees to his thighs and higher. Hugh's cock was a long, thick ridge resting against the front of his business pants. 70

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Quigley pressed one palm flat against the bulge, reveling in the heat Hugh was giving off, and in the width and steely hardness of Hugh's erection. With his other hand, he tugged at Hugh's belt, gradually working the fastening undone, popping the button open, and easing the zipper down. Next, he worked Hugh's pants down his legs, trying to hide his grin as Hugh lifted his ass off the seat to help and almost kicked one foot free. To raise the tension higher, Quigley took one foot in both hands. He gently massaged each toe, rolling them between his fingers, then rubbed the pads of Hugh's foot, stroking under the arch and patting the ankle and heel. "Holy hell, you're killing me here," moaned Hugh, thrusting his hips up into the empty air. "Patience, patience," said Quigley, putting the first foot down and picking up the neglected foot. This time he sucked the baby toe into his mouth, treating it like a little cock, running his tongue all around it then sucking it hard. "I thought you were going to suck my cock. That's not my cock." "Oh, isn't it?" Quigley licked and teased all the way up Hugh's legs. Deliberately, he wandered around Hugh's knees, stopping to paint wet circles on the skin and puff warm air on them as he gradually moved north. 71

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

When he felt he'd aroused Hugh as far as he could, Quigley finally grasped the erection around its root and sucked the head into his mouth. He sucked it hard and deep, hollowing his cheeks to exert maximum pressure. Once again, Hugh groaned, and Quigley nodded to himself. He was obviously doing something right. He let the cock pop out of his mouth and lowered his head to suck in one of Hugh's balls. He loved the different textures of Hugh's skin. The man's skin was much lighter than his own, so the veins showed a deep blue underneath it. It also felt and tasted different. It was softer than his, the hair finer. Even the tougher, wrinkled skin of his balls was softer than he'd expected at first. Hugh tasted faintly salty, but with an overlaying spiciness. His natural scent was also spicy. Quigley breathed in deeply, filling his lungs with the scent of Hugh. Then he bent once again to his task. He licked up the long shaft, nibbling all around the ridge where cap and stalk met and swiping his tongue over the head. Sucking it all into his mouth, he tipped his head back, opening the back of his throat, and taking Hugh right in to the hilt. For a while he played, stretching the blowjob out as long as could, loving the togetherness and pure erotic carnality of the act. Hugh's groans, moans, and wiggles indicated he was enjoying it too. 72

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

Quigley could sense Hugh was getting closer and closer to the limit, so once again he sucked him deeply, holding the stalk while tasting the head. With his other hand, he grasped the curls surrounding the base of Hugh's cock and pulled hard enough to add a bite of pain, but not so hard that the hair would tear loose. Hugh roared as he came, the hot seed bursting out of his cock as the cry burst out of his mouth. Quigley sucked diligently, wanting to swallow every last little bit of Hugh's delicious flavor. Then he pulled himself up Hugh's body for a kiss, sharing Hugh's own taste with him, reveling in the extreme eroticism of the act and hugging Hugh hard. "Gonna need a nap after that; you've done me in," said Hugh, dragging Quigley up onto the couch with him. They lay along the couch, pressed tightly to each other, kissing gently, and Hugh fell asleep in moments. Quigley rested contentedly in his arms, loving being with this man, whom he loved through and through. I'm so happy. I don't think I've ever been this happy before, he thought, thrilled with the knowledge of it.

****

The commute from the house on Fifth Street wasn't 73

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

as bad as Hugh'd thought, especially from the school. It seemed the real estate agent had told the truth, since two children, slightly older than Orion, who lived on the other side of the same street, attended Orion's school. This house appealed to Hugh and Quigley much more than any other house they'd seen. The yard was fenced and ideal for a child, with plenty of room to put in some play equipment. The house had four bedrooms, so enough for a guestroom and an office, which would mean that if he or Quigley needed to do some work at home they could. This was important to Hugh, because if Orion got sick, he wanted to be able to work from home to be with the boy. The company he worked for allowed parents to do that. It had a bathroom downstairs as well as a bathroom upstairs, and that was wonderful too, as he and Quigley seemed to make love all over the house. Besides, Orion liked the house, so that was the clincher. Well, it would be if they could find a really good daycare person whom they all liked. "It'd be nice to find an older lady, a sort of grandmother figure," said Hugh to Quigley. "Orion will miss his mother at some stage, and I don't want him thinking we've just replaced her with another young woman. So an older, grandmotherly lady would be perfect." "That sounds really sensible and well thought out. 74

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

But where will we find one?" "Well, yeah, I haven't gotten that far yet."

****

The kids were due back from camp at five on Friday afternoon, and Hugh and Quigley joined a lot of other parents and families in the parking lot at ten to five. Some parents were there in smart business suits, presumably having come straight from work, others were wearing shorts and flip-flops, but all seemed eager to meet their children again. Quigley noticed a slightly chubby young woman with two very small girls in a double stroller. One looked to be about six months old, the other maybe eighteen months. The woman was crouched on the ground in front of the stroller smiling and playing with them. With surprise, Quigley recognized her as the young woman from the swimming pool all those weeks ago. She seemed much too young to have a child old enough for camp, but he mentally shrugged his shoulders and assumed she was older than she looked or had maybe married young. The first bus rolled into the parking lot at one minute to five, with three more busses right behind it. Quigley and Hugh watched as the doors opened and 75

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

children poured off the busses. If he'd thought it was noisy before, it had been nothing compared to now. It seemed every parent was calling to a kid, and every kid was yelling to friends and family. Quigley was grateful they were outdoors. He hated to think what such a cacophony of sound would do to his ears had they been indoors. "There he is!" said Hugh as a flame-red head became just visible among the crowd. Quigley and Hugh made their way through the group, trying not to push and shove, over to the bus Orion had just gotten off. When they were almost there, Orion saw them and jumped up and down, waving. "Dad, Quigley, I had the awesomest time. Awesome with awesome sauce. I missed you both," he said, throwing himself into first Hugh's arms, then Quigley's, then Hugh's again. "I can paddle a kayak real good, and they had a giant swing and it went over the lake. It was the awesomest thing ever!" Orion chattered non-stop as they retrieved his luggage, then he tugged on Hugh's arm. "You have to meet Saffron. He was my kayaking buddy. You have to have a buddy to kayak." "That sounds like a sensible rule," said Hugh, hugging Orion once more then letting him pull him through the crowd. Quigley followed behind. 76

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

A little blond boy was dragging his luggage over to a stroller. A double stroller. "Hey, Saffron, this is my dad and Quigley," called Orion. Quigley was surprised anyone could decipher a conversation with all the noise, but the blond child turned and grinned at Orion. "Hey, good buddy." The child turned to the woman from the swimming pool. "Hey, Riley, this is Orion. He's my kayaking buddy, and he goes to my new school." Ah, second marriage, thought Quigley. That explains why she seems so young. "Hi, Saffron, Riley, nice to meet you," he and Hugh almost chorused. The adults exchanged a few polite sentences while the children chattered, and Saffron introduced Orion to his sisters or step-sisters maybe, whose names Quigley didn't catch. Then Hugh collected Orion's luggage, and they headed to the car. "Hungry, Orion? We thought we might just pick up a burger or something on the way home," said Hugh. "A burger would be awesome," said Orion then launched into a long tale about his kayaking prowess. Quigley sat and grinned. He suspected he was going to get 77

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

tired of everything being awesome real soon, but it was worth it to have the boy back home and so delightfully happy. Orion talked non-stop through the meal, although he did manage to eat a burger and fries. They were almost back to Hugh and Orion's apartment when the child asked, "Have we got the house? Are we going to be living there soon?" Quigley waited in silence for Hugh to answer. It was his child, and ultimately, his decision. "It's a difficult decision, Orion. Let's wait until we're home to talk about it, so we can all sit down and concentrate properly." "Okay." Orion started to tell them about the food at camp, and that topic lasted until they reached the apartment and had carried the luggage inside. They sat around the table with glasses of ice tea, and Hugh said, "No house we've seen suits us as well as the one on Fifth Street. It and the yard are perfect, the neighborhood is fine, and there are a couple of older kids nearby who go to your school. Quigley and I timed the commute several times, and it's not bad. The problem is school gets out well before work does, and with the commute, you would have to go to daycare for several hours every afternoon, and for a short time each morning. 78

Fire and Light

Berengaria Brown

So that means we need to find you a daycare we all like." "Can I go to Saffron's daycare then? He likes Riley, and she has seven kitties, and she leaves the Christmas tree up all year because the kitties like to play in it." "Riley isn't Saffron's mother? Or step-mother?" asked Quigley. "No, he lives with his mom, and she works. Riley picks him up from school and stuff. He's the only boy. She just has those two baby girls, and he said he'd like to have another man in the house." "You talked to Saffron about daycare?" Hugh was obviously as stunned as Quigley. "Of course. We're kayaking buddies. Do you want Riley's phone number?" Quigley couldn't help it. He burst out laughing. Here he and Hugh had been worrying themselves crazy about how Orion would deal with all the changes, and the kid had them all sorted out, all by himself. Hugh spoke. "Yes, please, Orion, I think I would like her number. Tomorrow we'd better go and sign the lease for the house. It's time for us to live as a real family, and by next Father's Day you'll have two dads."

The End

79

About the Author Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance. She loves to read all different kinds of romance so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men, two men/one woman. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.

Website: http://berengariabrown.webs.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/BerengariaBrown/100000055736290/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/ Email: [email protected]

Also by Berengaria Brown:

Available from Silver Publishing: Rowena's Ghostly Menage Chinese Love Triad "Taming My Welsh Dragon" in Issue 1 of the Silver Lining Magazine Fire and Light

Available from All Romance ebooks: Four-Way Split Changing Cherry Carnal Connections Sappho's Sisters Dinner Delights Huldah's Two Hikers Loving Lydia SEX ODYSSEY Feels So Good Strung Tight Three for the Road

Available from Torquere Press: Paige's Passion Terracotta Warriors Rose's Renaissance Lady Caroline's Reward Dogged Pursuit Seducing Susannah Perfectly Presented Noticing Nigel

Available from Ellora's Cave:

Sizzling Vacations Flash Flood Combustion Double Satisfaction Dance for Three Summer Sizzle

Available from Siren Publishing: Vivienne's Vacation Tempting Tenealle FOREVER YOURS Intensity Complexity Eternity