If It Weren't for the Two of Us Chapter 45
The Nifty platform has allowed us to get to here, the final chapter of If It Weren't For the Two of Us. As always, consider a notation to this service we enjoy. https://donate.nifty.org/
I've often said that the authors here receive no compensation. The only reward is to hear from readers. I look forward to enjoying your final thoughts on this book.
45
We didn't set an alarm. We knew we had a healthy drive to get there, but our schedule wasn't rigid. We deserved a good night's sleep following the ceremony and flight. I rolled over to look at the clock. It was past 8, so I figured we had gotten enough shuteye.
I went into the bathroom to pee. When I came back into the room, I looked at Mike lying in the bed in the dim lighting. It donned on me in the cobwebs of the morning that I was married to him. I had never been able to think that before. The extent of my happiness was scaring the shit out of me. People can't be this happy for too long, could they? I just felt so unworthy.
I crawled into bed and snuggled up behind him. A light "hmm" let me know I had awakened him. As I held him, my thoughts made the case for me actually being worthy. Mike and I worked at this relationship. The weird looks because of our age difference, hanging tough through the break, my idiot family, Dad's actions ... we did deserve to be happy. This was work. But it was clearly work we loved, so ... we'd take it. I would be happy as long as life would let me.
I momentarily pictured Mike not being in his room that day I went in to talk to him a year and a half ago. We never would have found each other. My body almost shuddered being terrified of living life without him. I said a silent prayer of thanks of the two of us being in the right place at the right time. I had been an emotional wreck in college. I was quite sure I wouldn't have come out so easily if it hadn't been for Mike. The world seemed crazy. Thank heavens for him. If it weren't for him, my life could have gone off the rails in so many ways.
The breakfast at the hotel was nothing incredible. But with some yogurt and a pastry in us, we quickly jumped in the shower so we could set out. The shower was a fast one, but still long enough to include some fondling and kissing.
"Like you, I woke up this morning hoping yesterday wasn't a dream. Here I am still married to you," he said before turning off the water.
It took us about 15 minutes to finish up and take the luggage to the car.
We had to drive close to six hours. Luckily, I had brought a few playlists on flash drives to help pass the time. We sang together on several songs. One of them made me think of some lyrics if I ever wanted to write a second song about us. I wished I had something to write on, but that was all in my suitcase.
We were two hours from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We knew food options would start to disappear and we were ready for lunch. A simple roadside eatery looked just funky enough to capture our attention. We had roast beef sandwiches and a bag of chips. Both of us drank a Diet Coke and they allowed us to get refills, so we had something in the car to finish the drive.
I hoped I would like the Grand Canyon. It was on my bucket list for so long that I feared it might not live up to expectations. Would Mike be disappointed after going to all this work if I were underwhelmed?
There was no need to worry about that. Upon arrival, we went to the visitors center and the Grand Canyon Lodge. My first view was breathtaking. I had never really fully understood the scope of it all. Pictures can only show a tiny sliver of the magnitude. I was blown away. I immediately wanted to walk a trail.
Mike stopped me. "I know your zeal for taking runs. There will be no running here. Walk all the trails you want, but I've only been married to you for a day. I don't want to worry about you running, losing your footing and falling over the edge."
"Yes, Dad," I mocked and then gave him a kiss.
We sat out on the deck behind the Lodge. The view was fantastic. We immediately took a selfie. I felt like exploring the closest trail. It wasn't like Mike to take a lot of pictures, but I think he took about 20 of me. I had to eventually tell him to stop. At one scenic overlook, we felt a selfie wouldn't do. I asked another visitor to take a picture of us to help capture the expanse of the canyon.
Cell service was hit or miss, but once back at the lodge, I figured we could text that to family and friends. By late afternoon, we were back. The indoor lounge felt nice and cool in the heat of the afternoon. We texted our parents, Matt and Ali, Ed and Tara, and Lance and Jakob. Everyone responded with how beautiful it was. They were happy for us.
Except Lance.
"Take the picture again, but this time shirtless."
"That's our Lance," I said.
A minute later, my phone buzzed again.
"So happy for you two. I love you both. WE love you both." Lance followed it with a heart emoji.
We made a dinner reservation. It was late enough in the day to where we could get into our cabin.
"Told you it was small," Mike said, opening the door.
We were lucky both suitcases fit well enough. It was quaint and adorable.
We fell on the bed and opted for a quick nap. Mike's arms were around me. He kissed me on the back of the neck, and we both drifted off in minutes.
We awoke in time to easily make our dinner reservation.
Our server was kind enough. Her name was Magnolia. I commented on it being lovely. She appreciated me saying so but was never a fan of it growing up. She received a lot of comments on it now. Magnolia was on the social side. She learned we were on our honeymoon and thought we were a handsome couple. After dinner, she snuck us a free dessert. I had orange glazed chicken. Mike ordered a pork chop with a maple rub. His came with a nice large baked potato. Mine had jasmine rice. Our dessert was a raspberry cheesecake. She said a candle didn't seem appropriate, but she had a heart drawn in raspberry glaze adjacent to the slice of cheesecake.
We had another hour of sunlight so we drove to another trail that we could take in some different views. We walked about 40 minutes, but I remembered a large rock formation in which I wanted to watch the sunset. We drove back to the lodge and took that first trail once again.
Two other people were on the rock already, but it was large enough for more people. Mike sat at the top. I was on a portion that stuck out just a bit lower. I sat between his legs. The other couple looked at us. They looked to be in their late 20s.
Mike put his arms around me.
"Are you two a couple?" the woman asked.
"We are. We got married yesterday," Mike answered.
"Well, congratulations!!" they both said.
A few other people came to find a place on the rock. We all sat in silence as the sun started to slip beyond the horizon. The colors on the canyon were extraordinary. I knew my phone had no chance of capturing the view, but I made a few attempts.
We stayed another 20 minutes watching twilight take over the sky.
"I'd like a little light to see where I'm going as we walk back," Mike suggested.
We took the trail back to the lodge.
Mike had brought a bottle of red wine in the suitcase. It has been heavily shielded with underwear and T-shirts for the flight. We filled a couple of plastic glasses and went out on the back deck of the lodge. Staring up at the sky, I couldn't believe the number of stars we could see. I could have stared at it forever.
"Thank you for bringing me here," I said to Mike, looking up at the heavens.
Within 30 minutes we had finished our wine, but we had not finished simply looking at the night canvas above us. I reached over and Mike grabbed my hand. A few people looked at us, but no one said anything. A couple of teenagers chuckled as they walked away, but overall we were just fine.
"Could you have ever imagined 16 months ago the two of us sitting here like this?" I asked him.
"No. I couldn't even imagine the love I feel. It's as big as this place."
June 13
There is enough space to write one last entry, then the journal is complete. At 23, it probably sounds completely ridiculous to say that I married the "love of my life" yesterday. I just know our wedding was a glorious day. It might have been the happiest day of my life, but hopefully I'll have many, many years to give it a run for its money.
Two summers ago I began wrestling with who I was. When I couldn't take it anymore, my life could have spiraled so many different ways. Maybe God led me to the perfect person to save me. I say a prayer of thanks every time I think of the two of us opening up to each other.
This world really would be crazy if it weren't for the two of us.
Mike worked a slick finger into my hole. Then a second. He massaged my channel with them for a minute, preparing me for his glorious cock to enter me.
I heard the snap of the lube lid closing after he dripped the vanilla scent on his erection. I could see his hand set the bottle down near the candle, then I sensed him hovering above me. I exhaled as his steel rod entered me. He didn't push in too far.
"Do me, baby. I'm ready," I softly requested.
Gradually each inch of his firm manhood slid within me. I let out a slow moan. So did he.
Tonight was a slow fuck. It wasn't raw, it wasn't loud. It was gentle; it was tender. There was no rush. Mike gently glided in and out of me. The first few minutes of intercourse were slow motion. He nibbled my ear as he gently fucked me.
"I love you Jerimiah Trent Kyriazi," he whispered in my ear.
"I love you Michael Andrew Terry," I said back.
We turned our heads to kiss as best we could in that position.
The slow fuck continued. His cock felt magnificent inside me. He breathed more in my ear in slow moans.
"I will always love you. Forever," he whispered.
"Me too. I promise."
He leaned upward. His hands were on my shoulders, and he began to massage them as his erection continued to dance within my passage.
"You are my world, J.T.," he said in a normal volume. "I'm so overwhelmed we are on this journey together."
"I wouldn't want to take it with anyone else. Hold my hand the entire way."
I wanted to look into his eyes. He let me turn over. I lifted my legs, and he positioned his cock to return to my ass. He pushed back in, and we both moaned. It was still gentle and slow.
"I feel good in you," he said.
"You fill me," I returned.
"I fill you with all my love," he said, smiling, knowing that sounded corny.
"And my body accepts your love," I said, playing along. "Yours. Forever."
Although we sounded sappy, we were sincere. I pulled on my cock in slow strokes. The candlelight illuminated Mike in a beautiful glow. We smiled at each other. There was a sparkle in Mike's eyes. It matched the stars we had been watching. I watched him push his shaft into me like the ebb and flow of the tide. Our two crotches connected were beautiful. He was beautiful. We were beautiful. Love was beautiful.
I wasn't sure how long we could do this naked slow dance. If he had to be more forceful to keep his dick hard, so be it. But the gentle, tender fuck was heaven. I spread my legs as he leaned his body down to kiss me. His cock continued to slide in and out of my hole as we kissed for several minutes.
"Can we fuck all night?" I whispered.
"If only we could," he said.
I reached between our bodies to stroke my organ again. He lifted off me and continued to make love to me in the most graceful way we ever had.
"I love you," I silently mouthed. He returned the same.
Something in the moment stimulated the pleasure over the edge.
"I'm going to come," I said.
"Do it for me. Come for your husband."
My cock sprayed like a fountain. The slow fuck made the first blast shoot across my chest and splatter near my neck. Mike pushed his cock into me. The second pulse shot another splatter of my passion onto my chest. Mike pushed his cock into me. The third spray spread across my torso. Mike pushed his cock into me. He nodded as each stream and splatter and ejaculation spread my cum everywhere. He pushed his cock into me. I kept coming. I had shot my translucent liquid on my chest like never before. He pushed his cock into me.
He pushed his cock into me.
He pushed his cock into me.
I heard his breathing. I saw his face. Mike was about to come.
"Come in me baby. Come inside your husband."
"No." He pulled his cock from within me. He spread my legs further and moved his body close. His fist gripped his flesh and pulled on it.
"Oh, yeah baby! I love you, Trent."
His cum started exploding from his cock. It was everywhere on my chest. I watched as wave after wave of his liquid merged with mine. Our lustful passion had covered my body.
He groaned as the last spurt of cum spasmed from his erection. Then he exhaled in the most masculine of sighs. Looking down on me, he gave me a big smile.
"Why didn't you come in me?" I asked.
"Because."
He sat up on his knees and leaned over me. One arm held up his body while a finger on his right hand started writing in the medium we poured onto my chest.
Mike + Trent
He reached for his phone.
"No one would ever be able to read this, but we'll know what it means."
He took a picture of my chest. He changed the plus into a heart and took another shot.
"I dare you to text that to Lance," I joked.
"Nope. It's just for us. To remember this night."
He put his phone down. Gently he pulled me a foot down the bed so he could maneuver behind me. I leaned up and then laid my head back down on his chest. His legs outlined mine.
"You don't want to clean this off, do you?" I asked.
"No. I don't. Not until we sleep."
The candlelight made the cum on my chest glisten. The candle flickered and we continued to watch the shadows of us, along with our breathing. His legs wrapped around mine. I moved my feet up to press against his, trying to hold feet.
He kissed the top of my head.
"I'm so glad I get to spend my life with you," he whispered in my ear.
"Amen."
"How about you grow your beard back this week, baby?" he said.
"Sure. Why not," I agreed.
He kissed the top of my head again.
"Think we'll have sex when I am in my 30s and you are in your 40s?" I asked.
"We're having sex when you are in your 60s and I'm in my 70s," Mike said, before giving me a wet smooch on my cheek.
I leaned back into him and sighed. We sat silent a moment, just listening to each other breathe. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest.
I pictured us at those late ages. The two of us had been so concerned about our age difference last year. Now we never really give it a second thought. I felt like a juvenile on the plane, but for the day-to-day stuff we were simply two men. Two men who loved each other equally. It would probably take the world a little time to catch up with us. Lance and Jakob never give our age difference a moment's notice. Our parents seemed comfortable with it. Age really was just a number.
I became aware of all the liquid on my chest.
"This is going to start running," I laughed. "We should probably clean me up."
Mike managed to get out from behind me. Getting a washcloth from the bathroom, he wet most of it. He came back and took one last look at my chest.
"Farewell little Picasso," he said.
Then he ran his tongue across my chest. I licked his lips as he came up to kiss me. We shared our love for a moment. Then he cleaned my chest with the cloth.
It seemed too early to fall asleep. It was late enough to attempt it, but I knew the darkness outside brought out a canopy of stars I couldn't resist.
"Will you think I'm dumb if I say I want to look at the stars again?"
"No. That sounds brilliant."
For thirty minutes, we said nothing. We were mesmerized. We held hands. As we did so, Mike's thumb gently rubbed my forefinger as our fingers were interlocked. We were connected by that touch and blessed by the stars flickering just for us in the heavens above.
Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars" ran through my head. I wished I had added it to the playlist in the car. If I had only known.
Back in the cabin, we locked the door behind us. The rustic nature of our accommodations couldn't have been more romantic, even if it had been the Taj Mahal. As we snuggled into the sheets, we kissed deeply. Then he blew out the candle.
"I love you so much. I couldn't be happier," I said.
"Yes, you could. We could have a dog."
"Can we get a dog?!"
—
I sat outside. I had walked over to a clearing to watch the sunrise hit the canyon. A fog was rising, but I could tell it was clearing. It was interesting to watch.
The colors in the rock were fascinating. We had an entire day to explore the National Park. I hoped to walk quite a bit. The fact that we had the cabin for the whole day, I could easily shower if I had worked up a sweat.
I had loaded "The Grand Canyon Suite" on my phone. I let it play while I watched the sky over the canyon.
June 14
This is the first page of a new journal. As much as I'd like to start my next play in the back half like my last journal, this one is different. This one isn't just for me. It's for us.
The honeymoon has hardly started and I'm already in heaven. The setting, my man, our marriage — it will be a shame to leave this glorious week. But when we get home, we will move into a new house, starting a big new chapter of our lives.
This is the definition of bliss.
"There you are, J.T." Mike said walking up.
"Uh huh. I wanted to watch the sunrise this morning."
"You haven't been up that long, have you?"
"No, but early enough to see it hovering over the horizon."
"Nice." Mike sat next to me. "What's this?"
"A new journal."
"Really?" he said. "I'm glad you are going to continue to write."
"My second play is started on my laptop instead of on paper. This journal is for us. We both write in it. I'll be black ink, you be blue."
"Sweet."
Mike picked up the journal and read what I wrote. I handed him a pen.
Trent and I sit here staring out into the grandeur before us. I am not sure which is more beautiful — the view or the man. People always comment that marriage is taking a leap. Not for us. We had so many challenges to get through this past year. Marriage was the easy part. We'll find our way through it. Together. Forever.
* * * *
"Grand Canyon: The Final Chapter" is the name of the blog post for the conclusion of If It Weren't For the Two of Us. timothylane414stories.blogspot.com
While this isn't the last we will see of Mike and Trent, it does bring Trent's storyline to a close. Book One, Extracurricular, was rather short compared to this one. This book had some impactful moments along the way and sharing them made it more relevant to me as the author. I cannot thank you, the reader, enough. I have been blessed by your support.
Email me: timothylane414@gmail.com