Picking Up Right Where We Left Off
KEVIN and Hugo walked along the black road as the moon lit their way. The sound of firecrackers and other explosive pyrotechnics was beginning to pop more frequently with the occasional starburst of fire lighting up the sky over the treetops.
“The fireworks show is going to start soon,” Hugo informed Kevin, who kept walking. “I’m not really a huge fireworks fan.”
“Yeah, me either. I mean, the Fourth of July is awesome and all, but I’d rather catch up with you.”
“So you don’t mind if we miss it?”
“Nope. How long has it really been?” Kevin asked, stealing a quick glance at Hugo.
“The last time we saw each other was the day you left for college. After the rainstorm.”
Kevin’s mouth pulled into a smile. “Yeah, in my driveway with my dad standing on the front step.” Kevin recalled with a look of nostalgia on his face. “I was so pissed at him. All I wanted was a few minutes of privacy, and he just wouldn’t leave us alone. He suspected something had been going on between us.”
“Really? Why?”
Kevin shrugged and sighed. “Just something he said. Let’s just say he was really glad I wasn’t going to the U with you.”
“So you did end up graduating from Gustavus Adolphus?”
“Yep. Majored in economics and management for my dad but took enough biology classes for a major so I could go to veterinary school. Never did, though.”
“What do you do for a living?”
“I’m just what my dad wanted me to be, a businessman. I work for a medical biotech company. Corner office. Personal assistant who brings me coffee every morning and doesn’t let me forget a birthday of anyone special in my life. Decent car. Big house in Edina. Lake cabin. I’m a success in his eyes.” Kevin’s voice was dull and flat as he listed all the things that made up the American dream. He sounded far from happy.
Hugo instinctually reached over and allowed his palm to skim down Kevin’s back, but when he tried to pull away, Kevin grasped his hand, threading their fingers together in a familiar knot. It was something they always did when walking in the woods together as teens, and their fingers still seemed to know exactly how to join. He didn’t look at Hugo but kept his eyes straightforward as they continued to walk hand in hand. Hugo softly smiled and tried to get his thoughts back on track.
“That’s still not your dream though, is it?”
Kevin shook his head and laughed. “Never was, but I’ve been living it for a long time, and apparently I’m good at what I do. At least I’m in biotechnology, thanks to the double major, rather than wasting away in a pure business model job. I get to use my biology degree and really love talking to doctors and researchers about various products that’ll improve people’s lives. I’ve even brought some ideas to the company and been able to get patents on a few pieces of equipment. I do beginning of life stuff. Fertility. But it’s not veterinary medicine like I wanted to be doing. Anyway, I’m making some changes in my life. That’s one of the reasons I’m up here right now. He died last year.”
“Your father?” Hugo squeezed Kevin’s hand.
“Yep. Heart attack. Stress-related hypertension that never could be managed because he refused to make any changes to how he lived. I think he was a stress junkie. You know, the type of person who lives off stress-induced adrenaline rushes?”
Hugo nodded, immediately thinking of an ex-boyfriend.
“He collapsed at work while yelling at some guy on the phone. The guy got on another line and called dad’s assistant, but nothing could be done.”
“That’s rough. I’m sorry,” Hugo said in a low voice, knowing firsthand how hard it had been losing his own father, even if he’d had years to prepare rather than no time at all like Kevin.
“Thanks. We were never close, but still, it’s really weird how losing him made me rethink nearly everything about my life. I almost feel like it pushed me into a midlife crisis five years too early. I mean, isn’t a midlife crisis supposed to happen at forty?”
“Not necessarily.” Hugo chuckled. “I think it’s fairly individual, and I’m sure external factors play into it.”
Kevin laughed deep and warm in his chest and stopped walking, pulling Hugo to a stop with him. “God, Hugo. I missed you. You always did know what to say to make me feel better. How the heck did we ever lose track of each other after everything we discovered together?”
Hugo shrugged, not knowing how to answer after their gradual drift from talking on a regular basis during their first month in college to nothing by the time winter break came. Hugo’s mom and sister had moved to the Twin Cities mere months after Hugo left for college, and that certainly hadn’t helped matters. But it was more, he realized.
“We just had different lives, I think,” Hugo said with a shrug. “We went our separate ways after I said good-bye to you in your driveway.”
“I still regret not kissing you that day. I should have just said ‘screw it’ and kissed you like I wanted to, even if my dad was right there.”
Hugo looked up the few inches to meet Kevin’s gray eyes and tried to smile, but it probably came across more as sadness than a smile. He couldn’t believe Kevin still thought of that day too. He wondered if Kevin’s mind ever drifted to the kiss in the wooded meadow when he was bored in a meeting or like Hugo’s had that very afternoon in the car. Slowly, he felt the corner of his mouth turn into something akin to flirty, and he asked, “Oh?”
“Yes,” Kevin said as his warm thumb trailed across Hugo’s jaw toward his chin. “I’ve thought about that day a lot, about our last kiss and how I wish it never would’ve ended. Damn the rain. Would you mind if I showed you how I’ve always imagined that moment in the driveway would’ve happened? Or are you with someone?”
“No. I mean, yes, you can show me,” Hugo stammered, his heart beating hard against his chest.
Kevin’s smile lit up his face, and he looked so young just then, the careworn lines that had appeared between his brows while talking about his father smoothing.
“Okay, so maybe this isn’t exactly like I would have said things back then, but this is how I wish I would’ve done it. Ready?”
Hugo nodded and licked his lips, drawing Kevin’s attention to his mouth.
“So pretend we’re standing next to my open trunk,” Kevin directed as he led Hugo near the tail end of a car parked in a driveway close to the roadside. Kevin tilted his head left and right, shaking his hands out loosely next to his body as if trying to get into character.
“Hugo,” he started, somehow pulling youthful nervousness into his voice, “we should plan on getting together in a few weeks.”
“Sure,” Hugo answered, ready to play along with the conversation he barely remembered. He recalled the feelings he’d had, though: excitement about leaving Austin but sadness about leaving Kevin. “I can get a ride down to St. Peter, or you can come up to Minneapolis. It’s not that far.”
That drive never ended up happening for either of them because Hugo auditioned for a play in the U’s theater department and got a lead role as a freshman, something unheard of. He had no time to get together on weekends because he had homework to do and lines to memorize and blocking to learn and sets to help build.
“Seventy miles or so.”
That’s where Hugo vaguely remembered Kevin’s dad clapping his big hands and telling Kevin he’d better hit the road. Now there was just the sound of far-off waves and traffic from the highway on the other side of the trees peppered with exploding fireworks.
“I’d love that,” Hugo said, regretful he hadn’t taken the time to find a ride and just go. “I’ll make it happen,” he promised, and he wished he’d kept it.
Kevin looked at Hugo with such intensity; even in the darkness surrounding them, Hugo could see how blown Kevin’s pupils were.
“It’ll happen this time,” Kevin whispered against Hugo’s mouth, lazily closing his eyes as he spoke.
Hugo tasted Kevin’s breath on his tongue, remembering it, even with the faint scent of lemon lingering. A silvery thread of his memory seemed to actually weave this moment to the moments in his past, pushing Hugo back into that world, filling him with all those emotions he had for Kevin when they were just boys. Kevin was the only man Hugo had really and truly been in love with. He was the ruler every single boyfriend since had to unwittingly measure himself against. And none, not a single one, had ever gotten anywhere near.
Hugo took in a quick breath and pushed forward, capturing Kevin’s mouth with his own as his fingers threaded through thick blond waves and shorter razor-cut strands; his hands landed on Kevin’s neck. Hugo thumbed over Kevin’s ears, allowing the pads of his fingers to tease the fine hair along his earlobes.
They fused their mouths, opening and closing with lips caressing, teeth nipping, and tongues pushing against each other in an attempt to taste the familiarity that was new again.
Kevin trailed his hands down Hugo’s back, kneading his fingers against Hugo’s ass once he got there, then pulling them closer. Hugo felt Kevin starting to firm up beneath the thin material of his shorts, and he wanted so badly to thrust. He barely restrained himself.
They stood on a darkened road and kissed how they both wished they would have years ago, giving to each other more than they took away. But by doing it that way, Hugo felt more content than he had in years.
“Come back to my place?” Kevin panted against Hugo’s temple. “Please, Hugh?”
Hugo nodded as he tried to catch his breath and then nodded again. “Okay. Let me text Summer.”
He tapped out a quick message as he blindly followed Kevin back in the direction they came, and by the time Kevin was opening the door to his house, Summer had messaged back.
I’ll put the key under the terracotta flowerpot by the door. Don’t worry about me. This will give Auntie Karla and me a chance to catch up on what happened with Jason. Be safe.
Hugo read the text as he climbed up the stairs behind Kevin. He sent back a quick I will and then found himself being pushed back against a soft mattress in a beige room.
Kevin climbed on top of Hugo and started to kiss him again, his breath loud and hungry in Hugo’s ears. It took Hugo a moment to catch up, but soon he was kissing back as they both pulled at shirts and shorts. They were quickly down to soft cotton underwear and thrusting against each other, feeding their obvious desire as Kevin sucked and bit against Hugo’s neck and shoulders.
“It’s been so long,” Kevin groaned, breathing deeply into Hugo’s neck. “God. You still smell the same.”
Hugo laughed as he skimmed his hand up Kevin’s smooth, muscular back. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
Kevin rocked his hips into Hugo. They were both so hard, and Hugo felt fabric catch at the tip of his cock as wetness spread.
Hugo allowed his hands to travel, to explore Kevin’s back, pushing beneath underwear so he could hold on to the firm muscle of Kevin’s ass. That bubble butt fit his hands just like he remembered. He clutched his fingers, finding a perfect hold, and he drew Kevin in closer.
They thrust and pressed together, opening mouths wherever they landed, on chins and shoulders, lips and Adam’s apples, armpits and nipples. Hugo growled as he planted his forehead on Kevin’s shoulder, using the firm body as a counterpoint so he wouldn’t fly away and lose control.
Hugo pulled a finger to his mouth and wet it before heading back under Kevin’s underwear. He slipped between Kevin’s ass cheeks and found the tight pucker he remembered Kevin being so greedy with.
Kevin gasped, his neck thrown back. “Yes! So long, so long,” he said in a desperate voice as Hugo pressed his way into Kevin’s willing body. Hugo circled around, helping Kevin open so he could push deeper.
Kevin pulled up to his knees, shoving his underwear messily over his hips and down his thighs, kicking them off in haste before he drew Hugo’s wet finger into his own mouth and sucked, covering it with more saliva. He straddled Hugo’s hips, directing that wet finger between his legs, under his balls, and back to his ass.
Hugo’s eyes widened as he saw how desperate Kevin was to be touched like this, so he took over, fingering Kevin, touching his prostate, stroking over it. Hugo lost himself watching Kevin, easily enraptured by his reactions. He wrapped his other hand around Kevin’s thick, uncut cock, pushing the foreskin back so he could see the pink head all glistening wet.
Nothing could have prepared Hugo for what he felt as he saw Kevin coming undone above him. He still burned for this man all these years later. How? He didn’t know, but he knew passion when he saw and felt it.
Kevin’s eyes were blazing beneath his heavy lids, which he seemed barely able to keep open. Noises, unbidden and primal, were released loudly into the room, echoing off the high ceiling as Kevin thrust into the circle of Hugo’s palm and back against the finger in his ass, riding hard and fast.
Very carefully, Hugo slipped his body farther down between Kevin’s thighs so he could draw the pink mushroom head between his lips. He sucked gently, tonguing around the ridge as he kept looking into Kevin’s gray eyes. He pulled Kevin’s foreskin back over the head and slipped his tongue in the pocket, licking all around.
Stuttering movements of Kevin’s hips informed Hugo he was close, so he plunged another finger into Kevin, continued to stroke his shaft, and watched as Kevin’s eyes clamped tightly shut. Warm wetness covered Hugo’s lips and chin and cheeks as he milked every drop from Kevin’s body.
He was a mess.
And it was fucking perfect.
IT DIDN’T seem to take long for Kevin to come back from his boneless, blissed-out state to notice how hard Hugo was beneath him. The sound of fireworks going off outside may have prompted consciousness a bit quicker than if it had been quiet, but that didn’t matter. Hugo was glad to have Kevin back in the moment. Kevin leaned back and reached for Hugo’s firm cock, giving it a gentle stroke when he got to it, and then quickly propelled himself toward the bedside drawer, urging Hugo to get his underwear off.
“Will you fuck me, Hugh?” Kevin asked with lube and a condom in his hand.
Hugo was surprised but silently assented with a slow nod from the pillow he was propped against.
Kevin made quick work of sheathing Hugo and using the covered head of Hugo’s cock to spread the slick lube where he needed it, his eyes drifting shut in what had to be pleasure. And then the glorious feel of Kevin surrounding Hugo came as he eased down and started to slide.
Hugo was rarely a passive top, but for the moment, he was content to watch Kevin fill himself in the way he wanted. It was a slow process, but soon Hugo was trapped in warmth.
Even though they had only gone this far a handful of times in high school—sticking with blow jobs because a mouth was always ready—Kevin had always enjoyed being penetrated. Hugo loved that.
Hugo’s hips responded to his thoughts, and he thrust up hard, upsetting Kevin’s precarious balance and causing him to tumble forward, so he had to catch himself with strong fingers splayed on Hugo’s chest.
“Hold on, ’cause I may just fuck you through the ceiling at this rate,” Hugo said, only laughing after he realized what words had actually come out of his mouth. Kevin joined in, but rather than bracing himself, he started tenderly kissing Hugo.
“Do that. Fuck me through the ceiling, Hugh. Please.”
By that point, the ridiculousness of the words had fallen away, and Hugo focused all his energy into pleasing Kevin, giving him exactly what he wanted.
Their rhythm was synchronized in moments as Kevin seemed to ride a wave, tilting his pelvis at the crest of each of Hugo’s thrusts. Muscles on his chest, stomach, and shoulders flexed and contracted, and Hugo loved watching Kevin move. Kevin sat back and took more control, but he grabbed both Hugo’s hands, threading their fingers together, and held on. It was such a familiar, intimate gesture.
Deep rumbling groans escaped from Kevin, first tightly restrained, but then the more they rocked, he just let go. He was noisy, and as Hugo looked up at Kevin losing himself to that moment, he felt his heart open up. He remembered the love he had for this man, the tenderness they shared as fumbling teens, the trust they had in each other as they each discovered there was another person in their small town they could be true with.
Kevin mumbled as he squeezed Hugo’s fingers tighter. It sounded like “So good. So long,” repeated on a loop.
Kevin pulled a hand away and lazily started stroking himself back to hardness in long, sensuous pulls. Hugo tried to help, but Kevin redirected Hugo’s fingers down to caress his balls. Hugo cradled the heavy orbs but then slipped back farther, feeling the slip and slide of their bodies moving together. He eased a finger in alongside the underside of his cock, giving each of them another sensation to try to process.
It didn’t take long before Hugo shouted out his warning. “Close.”
Kevin leaned forward, still lazily stroking himself and kissed Hugo with those flushed, full lips.
Hugo came with Kevin’s tongue in his mouth, that familiar taste everywhere. “Christ, Kevin. Christ,” he breathed into Kevin’s mouth. He drew Kevin closer, as close as he could, pressing their chests together so he could feel their hearts still racing in tandem. “That was amazing.”
“Mmm” was the only response given aside from Kevin burying his nose in Hugo’s neck and taking in long, deep breaths.
Several moments later, Hugo realized Kevin still had himself in hand, so he reached to help Kevin find a second release.
“No. No, I’m good,” Kevin whispered lazily. “Just hold me, Hugh.”
“Sure. Of course,” Hugo soothed against Kevin’s hair, which was sweat-damp at his temples. “A romantic, huh?”
Kevin mumbled something incoherent in reply then adjusted them both into a more comfortable position.
Hugo’s chin started to itch, but he attempted to ignore it, unwilling to disturb the moment they were having.
After nearly five minutes, Hugo asked, “Can I clean up a bit?” The itching was becoming nearly unbearable. When Kevin sat up, Hugo gestured to the mess along his face and neck.
“Yeah. Come on. Let’s shower quick,” Kevin said, pulling Hugo toward the en suite bath.
Everything in the bathroom looked rich, from the warm wood floor and vanity to the green and blue recycled glass subway tiles on the walls of the walk-in shower.
Kevin turned on the tap and gestured to Hugo to head in first. Testing the water carefully, Hugo stepped in and allowed the spray to pour over his face and down his neck, washing away all the spunk.
Gentle hands soaped Hugo from behind. He leaned into the touch, melting into the feel of palms, which were doing much more than washing him. Muscles were stroked and soothed as Kevin placed tender kisses along Hugo’s neck and shoulders.
Abruptly, Kevin pulled away, popping a lid open on a bottle, but soon returned with sudsy shampoo he used to wash Hugo’s hair. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Conditioner. Then Kevin took only a few moments to wash his own short hair before the water was turned off and Hugo was handed a soft, white towel.
Hugo was feeling nervous, a little uncomfortable, with the continued silence as he finished drying off before heading back toward the bedroom.
“So,” Hugo started, not entirely sure where he was going with his words. “Do you still drive the blue Saturn?” he asked with a pained smile, knowing full well a man living in the wealthy suburb of Edina and owning a lake house wouldn’t still be driving the car he had back in high school, but at least his question broke the deafening quiet.
Kevin laughed and shook his head. “Nah. But the keys practically had to be pried out of my hands. I loved that car.”
“What do you drive now?”
“Right now I’m driving a blue Lexus RX.”
“Still blue, but no Jaguar or Maserati?”
“Uhm,” Kevin’s brows drew together, “no. Something a bit more practical, I guess. A crossover utility vehicle is more my speed now than a two-door sport coupe.”
“Well, it’s a step up from the Saturn,” Hugo teased with a bump of his elbow to Kevin’s arm as he passed to head back to the bedroom.
Hugo reached for his underwear, finding them draped over a pair of Kevin’s shoes.
“Hey. I thought you were gonna stay,” Kevin said with disappointment in his voice.
Hugo looked up and asked, “And that means I have to be naked if I stay?”
“Preferably. Come on. Climb into bed with me and tell me about your life. All we’ve done is talk about me. I want to know about what’s been going on with you.”
Hugo slid naked in between the cool sheets and took a few minutes to adjust the pillows behind his head. Trying to get comfortable in someone else’s bed had never been easy for him, but it wasn’t as if the bed at Summer’s cabin was more familiar. He pulled the summer-weight down comforter up, wondering if that was wise in the July heat, and then kicked the dark fabric off one leg and exposed it to the air-conditioned room instead.
“Comfortable?” Kevin chided.
“Getting there. You remember how I am. I still can’t sleep well at other people’s places. Do you remember that?”
“Yeah,” Kevin answered with a smile in his voice. “Isn’t that how you got me to jerk you off the first time?”
“Seriously? You’re going to bring that up now?” Hugo looked over at the gleeful look on Kevin’s face and shook his head. He knew Kevin was just trying to get a rise out of him. “And from what I recall, you were the initiator. Besides, what happened to wondering about my life and who Hugo Thorson is today?”
Kevin moved closer, pressing a palm against Hugo’s stomach. Hugo flinched at the sensation but knew Kevin wouldn’t tickle him on purpose. Instead, Kevin took up a slow rhythm as he threaded his fingers through the line of hair in the center of Hugo’s stomach, tracing it higher until he got to Hugo’s chest. Kevin thumbed across Hugo’s nipples, which instantly responded to the touch, pebbling into tight little nubs. He just kept himself from moaning at the sensation.
“Tell me who Hugo Thorson is today?” he soothed, nuzzling into Hugo’s shoulder and kissing his chest.
“I’m a jack-of-all-trades, but mostly I’m a theater director.” Hugo looked to Kevin’s face to get a reaction. That was the career Hugo had always wanted, but Kevin, at one point their senior year, had tried to encourage him to consider something more stable or lucrative. Hugo had known all along those were just the parroted words of Kevin’s father, not Kevin’s true thoughts.
“I never wanted a job that made a ton of money, but I always wanted a job that would allow me to create something amazing from nothing. That’s pretty much what I get to do. From imagination to performance. From sets to costumes. From helping people who can barely read a script out loud during the first read-through to bringing characters to life. And I do get paid to do it.”
“Well, you’re certainly passionate about it. I don’t think my face has ever lit up like yours just did when I’ve explained my job. I think the lights in the room pretty much dim the longer I talk about biotechnology sales.”
“That’s not true,” Hugo said with a shove.
“Okay, maybe not, but I’ve never had passion like that before, for… anything. Well, maybe photography, but that’s just a hobby. What other trades do you dabble in, Jack?” Kevin winked.
“I still act. I do some voiceover work locally and at the national level.”
“Anything I’ve heard?”
“Probably not. It’s mostly training videos and some obscure national ads I’ve never heard on-air because they’re probably on at three in the morning. Though I did narrate an audiobook recently. I’d love to do more of that.”
Kevin pursed his lips and said, “I’m sure I would’ve recognized your voice. Besides, I’ve probably listened to all of three audiobooks in my life. I’d rather read than listen.”
“And….” Hugo trailed off, unsure if he should admit the last thing he relied on for money. He didn’t have the best track record with guys when they found out about his other profession.
“And something else?”
Hugo turned to look at Kevin more directly and studied his face. “I’m not sure I should tell you. It might scare you off.”
“Shit, Hugh. That just makes me want to know all the more. You’re not FBI, CIA, mobster? Are you?”
Hugo shook his head with a snort.
“Online porn. Oh my God! You’re buttboy1978 aren’t you? You’re that sick little shit who’s always trying to get me to give you my credit card before you’ll pull down your tighty-whities to show me your delicious ass, aren’t you?”
“Jesus, Kevin.” Hugo chuckled. “No. No. No. But now that I know you think so highly of me—”
“I’m kidding, Hugo.”
“I know. And I’m giving it back just as hard as you’re giving it to me.”
Kevin’s mouth crashed against Hugo’s, taking Hugo by surprise.
“You always did know how to give it to me hard, just the way I liked it.” Kevin practically purred his words.
“Of course, I’ll give it to you how you like it.”
Kevin pulled Hugo on top of him, slotting their thighs together. They thrust against each other and started to harden.
“You always did, Hugh. You knew exactly what to do even when I didn’t have a clue what I liked. How did you know? How did you know I wouldn’t punch you?”
They rocked against each other, bringing pleasure quickly with the added thoughts of their first time together.
“I knew,” Hugo panted against Kevin’s mouth, “because you were the one to kiss me first, you idiot. I never would’ve even considered doing anything else if you hadn’t kissed me.”
“Point taken. But kissing to wanking is a huge leap.” Kevin groaned on the last word but kept pumping his hips.
“I disagree entirely. Kissing is way beyond. It’s fucking… intimate. And you were the one who initiated the fricking hand job…. Oh fuck, Kevin.” Hugo lost his train of thought for the more in-the-moment words, “Your cock is amazing.”
Kevin chuckled and wrapped his hands around Hugo’s ass to bring him closer. “Fuck. So is yours. Fucking magic.”
“I’m close,” Hugo admitted right before Kevin’s “Me too,” so they ceased all discussion and concentrated on sensation, heads bent close together. Breaths started to take on a staccato rhythm accentuated with Kevin’s vocalization. Hugo gave in this time too, letting his voice go where it would; not holding back helped propel him toward his release.
Kevin came first, but Hugo was very close behind, adding to the pooling wet mess on Kevin’s stomach.
“Magic cock,” Kevin whispered as Hugo grabbed some tissues to wipe up their mess. Hugo chuckled as he took care to clean them both so they could sleep without having to leave the bed again. Hugo wasn’t sure he’d even be able to stand if he tried.
“Magic cocks,” Hugo added as he pillowed his head on Kevin’s shoulder and easily fell asleep.