Paradise

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

ENCOUNTER

JON Simon walked into the dance club, annoyed with himself for agreeing to attend. A group of his colleagues had decided to go, and, knowing Jon was gay and unattached, had cajoled him into going with them. They were all considerably younger than him, straight out of college, and while Jon admired their work, he didn’t care for their choice of social venues. He would have far preferred dinner in a good restaurant as a way to celebrate the completion of their biggest project yet. His colleagues had outvoted him. Resigning himself to another wasted evening, he found an empty stool at the bar and ordered a scotch, hoping the trollers in the bar would just leave him alone. Knocking back his drink, he ordered another one, leaning to one side a little to let someone else in to place an order. A hand on his shoulder startled him, and he turned to look into the deepest, darkest eyes he had ever seen “You all right, buddy?” the man asked in a deep voice. “You were drifting.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna “Just making room for somebody else,” Jon replied, the other man’s voice rubbing over his ear like velvet, raising goose bumps beneath the long-sleeved shirt he wore. Before he could think twice about what he was doing, he offered his hand. “Jon Simon.” “Samuel Parker,” the man reciprocated, his hand closing around Jon’s. Their eyes met again, emerald and ocher, lingering, as did their fingers. Samuel could feel himself getting lost in the other man’s eyes, sinking into them as into a tropical lagoon. He chided himself for reacting so swiftly to a man he didn’t even know, but some heretofore silent instinct assured him he could find paradise if only he would pursue this. Someone bumped into Samuel, pushing him closer to the seated man. The scent of cedar and pine wafted up to insinuate itself around Jon’s senses, enticing him to move closer still. “Want to dance?” Jon asked, surprising himself yet again. He knew, though, that he wasn’t ready to let the other man leave, and this was as good a way as any to keep him close that much longer. “I’d love to,” Samuel replied, his grip shifting on but not releasing his partner’s hand. He glanced down at the sharp contrast between their skin, his own hand vividly dark against Jon’s much lighter fingers. They wended their way through the growing crowd until they could find a spot on the dance floor. The music changed, the beat slowing to a

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna deep, sultry throb. They looked at each other, assessing for a moment, each trying to read the other’s preferences. Finally Jon suggested, “You lead.” Samuel smiled, his hands settling on Jon’s hips, pulling him closer so that their bodies brushed in time to the music. Relieved, the engineer twined his arms around the taller man’s neck, swaying at his direction. “I haven’t seen you here before,” Samuel commented, his lips close to Jon’s ear so he could be heard. Jon shivered as the warm breath caressed his skin. “First time,” he admitted hoarsely. “I came with some guys from work. This isn’t exactly my usual scene.” Samuel wondered for a moment what his dance partner meant by that before deciding he had nothing to lose by asking. “So what is your usual scene?” “My living room.” Jon laughed ruefully. “I got tired of clubs years ago. I’d much rather spend a quiet evening in a restaurant where I can actually talk to the guy I’m with.” Samuel smiled widely, having learned two important bits of information from that. Jon was definitely gay, and they seemed to share a taste in dates too. “In that case, there’s a bistro around the corner where we could actually talk and get to know each other. If you’re interested….” Jon studied the handsome face, felt his body reacting to the hands on his hips, to the body brushing his, and made his decision. “Best offer I’ve had in months. Let me just say

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna goodbye to the guys from work so they don’t wonder where I’ve gone.”

THE bottle of wine at their elbows had been empty for hours. Coffee cups stood untouched on the table, but neither of them noticed. They had eyes and ears only for each other. The waiter’s sudden appearance at their table drew their attention. “I’m sorry, sirs,” he said diffidently, “but we close in five minutes.” The comment had Jon and Samuel both glancing at their watches, amazed to see that it was almost midnight. They both reached for their wallets, Samuel catching Jon’s hand. “You’re celebrating tonight. Let me treat you to dinner.” “Are you sure?” Jon queried, not wanting to impose on this fascinating man. For the first time in months, he felt something more than simple lust when he looked at another man. The shiver that went through him at the gentle touch of their fingers was purely carnal, but while he savored it, he kept it under control, wanting so much more than mere release. “I’m sure,” Samuel insisted, handing his credit card to the waiter. “You can pay next time.” “Is there going to be a next time?” Samuel’s grip tightened. “I certainly hope so.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Jon smiled. “So do I.” Casting about for a way to ensure a next meeting, he remembered a flier he’d seen for a concert in the park. “We could meet to hear the symphony on Wednesday. It’s at the Red Rocks. I could put together a picnic dinner for us.” “That’s a great idea,” Samuel agreed, signing the slip the waiter brought back. Putting it in his wallet, he pulled out a business card and flipped it over, scribbling his home number on the back. “Here, I don’t have my PDA with me tonight. This way we can confirm the details when I have my schedule in front of me.” Jon tucked the card carefully into his wallet and rose reluctantly from the table. “I suppose we ought to get out of here so they can close up.” “Yeah,” Samuel agreed with equal reluctance. “How are you getting home?” “My car’s just down the street in the lot at the corner of 16th and Blake,” Jon replied. “My bus stops right there too. I’ll walk with you to your car,” Samuel suggested, not wanting to let Jon out of his sight any sooner than necessary. The night was mild as they walked, their shoulders brushing, neither willing to separate farther than that. Jon caught himself stealing glances at his companion, wishing the night never had to end. Far sooner than he would have preferred, they reached the parking lot and his car. He

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna opened the door and climbed in, rolling the window down even before the door shut. Samuel leaned on the door to Jon’s car. “Call me tomorrow so we can finalize our plans for Wednesday.” “I will,” Jon promised. “I’ve got a standing basketball game with a group of neighbors at eleven, but I’ll call as soon as I get home. Probably around four.” “Perfect,” Samuel declared, fingers brushing Jon’s shoulder as he spoke. “I should be done with the boy I mentor a little before that, too, so I’ll be home by then.” The rumble of an oncoming bus drew their attention momentarily. Silently cursing the rushed end to an otherwise perfect evening, Samuel took a chance, leaning through the window to kiss Jon swiftly before sprinting down the street to the bus stop. Stunned, Jon watched as the other man boarded the bus, disappearing from his sight. His fingers lifted to his still-tingling lips, a surge of relief working its way through him. His attraction wasn’t one-sided. He hadn’t imagined the interest he saw in Samuel’s dark eyes. He hoped the fact that Samuel hadn’t propositioned him in any way, hadn’t made a move other than to help arrange their next meeting, meant that he also wanted more than just a quick roll in the hay. Starting his car, he headed toward home, eager for it to be tomorrow so he could call and see what happened next.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

KISS

“COFFEE?” Samuel offered as they walked into his condo after the concert at Red Rocks. “Strong and black,” Jon replied immediately. Samuel chuckled. “Good to know you like it black,” he teased, disappearing into the kitchen to leave Jon pondering their exchange. He liked black coffee, but they were not talking about beverages any more, he knew, and he was rapidly expanding his list of things he liked black: coffee, cars, men… one man, anyway. Desire tingled beneath his skin, the memory of the fleeting kiss from Saturday still dominating his thoughts, and he admitted he was hoping for a far more satisfactory end to this evening. Samuel returned a few minutes later with two cups of coffee, one black, one much lighter. “I take mine light and sweet,” he explained, lifting the cup to his lips, appreciation obvious on his face as he drank without ever looking away from Jon.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Jon sipped his coffee as well, the rich flavor bursting across his tongue. As much as he enjoyed it, though, it was not the flavor he wanted to taste. Setting the cup down, he watched Samuel and waited, hoping the invitation was clear on his face. Samuel didn’t need to read minds to understand the offer Jon was making, and his body quickened in response. He hesitated, though, not wanting to reduce the relationship that was budding between them to something as empty as a quick tumble between the sheets. The taste of Jon’s lips had stayed with him since Saturday, haunting his thoughts and dreams. The opportunity to taste them again was too good to pass up. Setting down his own cup, he trailed his fingers down Jon’s cheek to trace the curve of his lips. They parted slightly, tempting him, but he contented himself with the misty look in Jon’s eyes. “I’m going to kiss you now,” he murmured, wanting to give Jon a chance to pull away. “About time,” Jon murmured back, leaning forward slightly, lips parting invitingly. Meeting the tempting bow of flesh, Samuel resisted the urge to plunder, brushing his lips back and forth gently across Jon’s, enjoying the quiet contact, the little intakes of breath that broadcast the other man’s interest. Though far from satisfied, Samuel lifted his head after a moment, waiting patiently for the emerald eyes to open. When they did, he smiled softly. “You taste good.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Emboldened by Samuel’s obvious interest and by the care he was taking not to rush, Jon lifted his arms to twine around the other man’s neck, playing idly with the tight black curls at the nape of his neck. “Taste your fill,” he offered boldly. Even as he lowered his head to accept the offer, a part of Samuel’s mind declared it didn’t want to get his fill of Jon, certainly not tonight. He lapped at the smooth lips, his tongue tracing the shape, learning their texture, their resilience, their responsiveness. He could not have asked for more as Jon’s lips parted sweetly beneath his. His hands cupped the other man’s skull, tipping his head slightly to one side so he could deepen the kiss, coming up on his knees in his eagerness. Jon gave himself over completely to the kiss. He was no twink, no needy little bottom with no thought but pleasing a bigger, stronger man, but Samuel’s innate masculinity called to a deeply hidden part of him, making him want to submit, want to give in to the other man. He opened his mouth wider, actively inviting his ravishment. When Samuel did not immediately react, he flicked his tongue out to meet the one still exploring his lips, making his desire clear. Samuel followed the retreating muscle back into Jon’s mouth, exploring the heated cavern, claiming every crevice and curve, hard palette, sharp teeth, mobile tongue, moist tissue. Jon’s deep groan shot lust through his system, enflaming his senses. He gasped for breath, felt Jon do the same, and dove back in, needing more.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna The inflammatory kiss sent their senses spinning out of control, mouths vying against each other as they strove to deepen the contact, increase the intimacy, advance their steps along the path they had begun to tread. Jon’s head fell back into the support of Samuel’s deft grip, letting the big, tender hands cradle his skull. It would have been so easy to tip Jon backward to lie flat on the couch. It would have been so easy to grind down against him, taking the sparks between them to a mutually satisfying, undoubtedly explosive conclusion. Samuel didn’t need to feel for Jon’s erection to know he was aroused. No one could kiss like this and not mean it. Despite his body’s eagerness, he held back. He had really enjoyed the two dates he and Jon had gone on so far and felt like something real was growing between them, and he didn’t want to spoil that by turning it into something purely physical. The time would come, and soon, he was sure, when they would end up in bed—given the incredible passion between them, that seemed inevitable—but it would only happen after they both agreed to it, agreed it was the right step in their relationship. Slowly gentling the kiss, Samuel parted their lips, his forehead resting against Jon’s as he fought to steady his breath. “Why?” Jon asked after a moment. “Because you’re better than that.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

LIMO

STARING at himself in the mirror, Jon fiddled with the tie on his tuxedo again. He hated wearing a monkey suit, but Samuel had invited him to a gala event to raise money for Project Angel Heart, insisting he already had two tickets and could not imagine anyone but Jon at his side. Deciding he wasn’t going to get it right, he gave up and finished getting dressed, his thoughts fixed firmly on his companion for the evening. Just of thinking of Samuel sent shivers of warmth to pool in his groin, low and heavy and oh so tempting. They had gone out easily a dozen times since they met, each date different than the others: a concert, a basketball game, hiking in the mountains, a wine tasting, a neighborhood cookout, a city festival, rafting, and more. No matter now differently each date began, they had all ended the same, at one condo or the other, passion sparking between them. Jon knew now what it felt like to have his mouth ravished, knew the taste of Samuel’s lips as well as he knew his own. He had learned Samuel’s scent, the heady mix of musk and cedar that had captured his attention from the first. He knew what it felt like to be pressed against the

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna arm of the couch, Samuel’s weight grinding down on him. He knew what Samuel’s hands felt like on his body, what Samuel’s skin felt like beneath his hands. A little over a week ago, after an afternoon spent rafting on the South Platte, he had learned how it felt to have Samuel’s hand around his erection, stroking him until he was mindless with need. He had come explosively, covering Samuel’s fingers, his chest, the leather couch with the evidence of his lust. For a second, he thought that would be the moment he both desired and feared, but Samuel had not borne him back onto the couch and thrust into him. He had simply tucked Jon back into his still-damp trunks, kissed him lingeringly, and snuggled them together until it had been time for Jon to leave. He might have been worried about that except that they had planned their next date even before he left that night. Two days later, after having seen the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film, both men admitting a secret fetish for Jack Sparrow, Samuel had let Jon return the favor. Jon had taken his time, fondling the swelling cock and heavy sac, stroking slowly at first, enjoying the feeling of having his incredibly dominant lover helpless beneath his touch. When Samuel finally found his release, creamy fluid stark against his dark chest, Jon had understood. Despite the throbbing in his own groin, he didn’t need any more than knowing he’d brought his lover pleasure. He still wasn’t sure what Samuel was waiting for before finishing this seduction, but he found he didn’t mind the slow pace. His body was on a long, slow burn that didn’t

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna dissipate even when he came at Samuel’s hands or his own. Instead, each orgasm left him hungry for more, every nerve alert for the next touch of Samuel’s hands, his body. A knock at the door interrupted his musings. Opening it, he smiled in appreciation at the sight that greeted him. “You got a haircut,” he observed, reaching out to stroke the buzz cut his lover sported before stepping back to let Samuel inside. “I was getting shaggy,” Samuel replied, leaning in for a kiss that quickly turned incendiary. Jon arched into the taller man, letting his lover feel his reaction to the kiss intensified by his earlier thoughts. “Somebody’s glad to see me,” Samuel remarked, his hand sliding down to cup the growing bulge in Jon’s trousers. “Always,” Jon gasped, his hips rocking into the knowing touch. “Keep that up, and I won’t be in any shape to be seen in public tonight.” Samuel chuckled. “I’ll give you a hand with that on the way over. I wanted us both to be able to relax and enjoy tonight so I hired a car for the evening. We’ll have all the privacy we could desire for the next forty-five minutes or so. That ought to be enough time.” Five minutes would be enough, Jon thought privately, but he didn’t say anything aloud. If Samuel wanted to drive him wild for the length of the ride, Jon wasn’t about to complain.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna The limo was modest as limos went, but the dark windows assured their privacy, and the bench seats provided the perfect surface upon which Samuel could stretch Jon out for his delectation. He had enjoyed from the first how responsive the tawny-haired man was, but he could also tell Jon wasn’t used to submitting in any way. It was one of the things that made him so attractive to the lawyer. Twinks had never attracted him; he preferred men who were his match physically and mentally. To watch such strength willingly give itself to him, to have such power beneath him, was his perfect dream. Jon wasn’t in the habit of bottoming, wasn’t used to taking someone else into his body the way Samuel wanted, and that gave him all the more reason to take his time and savor every step of this seduction. He was pretty sure he could have seduced the shorter man into his bed some time ago, overwhelmed him with desire so much that he would have done anything—even bottomed—in exchange for his release, but Samuel wanted more than that. He wanted Jon to make the decision on his own, to offer the gift of his body. It meant quelling his own instincts to take and to seize, but it would be more than worth it when he finally sank into his lover’s heat. Feeling the car start off, Samuel captured Jon’s lips with his again, rediscovering every nook and cranny in his lover’s mouth. He could taste the mouthwash Jon must have used while getting ready, sharp and minty, overlaying the familiar sweetness of the hot cavern. “Lie back,” he urged, lifting his head.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Jon complied immediately, the lust sizzling inside him more than enough incentive. He gasped in surprise when Samuel reached immediately for his waistband, undoing his belt and folding back the plackets of his trousers. “Just relax and enjoy.” Enjoying would be easy. Jon had enjoyed everything Samuel did to him. Relaxing, on the other hand, was impossible until he came, and probably not even then. Trousers open, Samuel slid a hand inside to caress his lover through the silk boxers, smiling at the damp spot already staining the cloth. He brushed his palm over it, feeling Jon’s cock jump against his hand, and then pulled away, unfastening the studs on the starched white shirt halfway up Jon’s taut abdomen. “Wouldn’t want to stain your shirt,” he teased as he parted the halves and lowered his head to trace his tongue along the lines of muscle that quivered with each lick. Urging Jon to lift his hips, Samuel pushed the boxers and trousers down to the tops of his lover’s muscular thighs. He lifted his head for a moment to enjoy the sight of the engineer stretched out in debauchery, clothes pushed aside, cock pulsing visibly against his stomach, the head already glistening. His mouth watered at the sight, eager to taste the curved column of flesh, to have Jon that much beneath him. Jon’s eyes focused with difficulty on the dark Adonis above him, hovering but not moving. The fire in his lover’s eyes stoked the passion in his own blood. Determined to

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna tempt Samuel into action, he slid a strong hand across his belly, intending to stroke himself until his lover took over. “Don’t!” Samuel ground out, catching Jon’s hand and lifting it above his head. “You’re mine.” Jon knew he should have bristled at the possessiveness, but it raised none of his hackles. With Samuel, it seemed, his own dominant side lay quiescent. “Then touch me yourself,” he challenged. Samuel’s grin turned wicked as he swooped down and swallowed Jon’s cock. His hands bracketed the other man’s groin, dark against light, keeping his lover from thrusting wildly into his mouth and choking him. Jon’s shout echoed through the enclosed space as his head thrashed and his hips bucked, surprise adding to his reaction to the heat of Samuel’s mouth surrounding him. He had always viewed giving head as the submissive’s role, but pinned down by Samuel’s weight, his balls framed between strong hands, he understood that his lover was very much in charge. Then the lawyer swallowed as his thumbs pressed hard on Jon’s perineum, and all thought disappeared completely, leaving Jon a needy mass of nerve endings all screaming for release. Samuel felt the exact moment when Jon gave in to his passion. Lifting his head slightly, he lapped at the mushroomed head, not ready to let his lover come quite yet. Keeping his grip on Jon’s hips with one hand, he shifted the other so his fingers could slide lower, between the taut

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna globes of Jon’s ass, brushing back and forth before settling against the tightly furled rosette. He made no move to penetrate the snug portal—he didn’t have any lube, but more importantly, Jon hadn’t made his decision—but his touch asked the question far more clearly than he had done so far. He felt his lover tense momentarily before relaxing again. Leaving his finger where it was, an enticement but nothing more, he returned his attention to giving Jon the best blow job of his life. Jon almost called a halt when he felt the direction Samuel’s fingers were taking, but they made no move to ravish him, simply resting against his skin, and so he relaxed again into the siren’s call of Samuel’s mouth working vigorously on the tip of his cock. The massaging thumbs only added to his desire until he was trembling on the cusp of release. “Close,” he managed to grunt, knowing he was clean but still wanting to give Samuel that choice. Releasing the grip that held Jon’s hips in place, Samuel let his lover move freely now, seeking release. When it came, he swallowed down the salty fluid, lingering over the softening flesh until Jon was totally replete. Shifting on the seat, he pulled the other man into his arms, one hand settling possessively over Jon’s sated cock, the other resting between his legs, palm covering the nowsoft sac, fingers against the tight sphincter. Immediately, he felt Jon tense again. “Just let me hold you,” he murmured into his lover’s ear. “That’s all I want.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Jon took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, reminding himself that it was Samuel behind him, Samuel’s hands on his body. Little by little, the tension drained away, leaving a curious lassitude and a hyper awareness of his lover’s fingers. They demanded nothing of him, simply touching him as they had touched so much of his body. There was no force in them, no insistence, and Jon relaxed some more, a new feeling growing inside him. He trusted Samuel, he realized, and for the first time in years, he found himself wondering what it would be like to be filled. His first experience had been a disaster, but everything Samuel had done to him had been wonderful, and he wondered now if it had to be the way it had been that one time. Could Samuel make him like even that? He started to shift, to ask, but then his lover’s hands moved, beginning to straighten his clothes. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.” “But I didn’t take care of you,” Jon protested, aware of the hard cock pressing against his back. “Later,” Samuel promised. “Later you can take care of me.” Despite his recent galvanic climax, Jon felt his cock twitch at the thought. “And how are you going to hide the bulge in your trousers?” “Who said anything about hiding?” Samuel retorted. “It’ll just remind everyone that my date is the sexiest man in the room.” He ran his hands over Jon’s reclothed chest and thighs. “And it’ll drive them all crazy imagining us together,

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna trying to figure out what my strong, handsome lover, and I will be doing to each other when we leave.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

CONFESSION

JON’S tongue teased along the underside of Samuel’s cock, leaving him trembling on the cusp of release. The evening had been an exercise in torture, culminating in their return to Jon’s condo. Samuel would have been perfectly content to kiss Jon good night and go home, despite his desires, because he refused to pressure his lover into more. Jon, though, had other ideas, dismissing the limo and drawing Samuel into the bedroom, enticing him out of his clothes so that now he lay naked as the day he was born, spread on Jon’s bed, a feast for the other man’s enjoyment. And Jon had enjoyed, starting with Samuel’s mouth and working his way lower until his lips had closed around his lover’s cock. Samuel’s fingers played in his hair, guiding subtly, showing the other man what he liked best. It wouldn’t take much more, Samuel knew, before he’d go off like a rocket, prey to the passion his partner inspired. Gasping out a warning, he came hard, the fluid hitting Jon’s cheek and covering Samuel’s stomach.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna “Don’t move,” Jon murmured, lips moving against the dark skin. “Let me clean you up.” Samuel couldn’t have moved if he’d wanted to with Jon’s tongue licking him clean. He fought to keep his eyes open, not wanting to miss a second of the arousing visual. Finished with his welcome task, Jon moved up the bed to lie next to his lover, the thin silk of his boxers all that separated them. They settled together, legs twining, Jon’s head resting on Samuel’s broad shoulder. They lay there like that as their heartbeats slowed and their breathing returned to normal. Eventually Samuel’s hand began to move, tracing lazy circles on Jon’s back and shoulder. A sigh of contentment escaped the other man’s mouth, bringing a smile to Samuel’s face, though he suspected he was about to shatter the ease that reigned between them. Sliding his hand lower, still circling lightly, he slipped his hand beneath the thin silk to caress one firm cheek before delving between them. Immediately, Jon tensed against him. Pulling his hand back, Samuel nudged Jon’s forehead, urging his lover to look up at him. “Why do you tense when I touch you there?” The tension increased as Jon started to back away. Samuel’s arms tightened as well, keeping Jon in his embrace. “Don’t pull away. You don’t have anything to fear from me. I would never hurt you.” Jon’s struggles stopped, but he still didn’t speak.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna “Is that what happened?” Samuel pressed, anger growing inside him. “Did someone hurt you?” “Not like you’re thinking,” Jon mumbled Samuel’s shoulder. “I wasn’t raped or anything.”

against

“Then what?” Samuel asked again. “I was eighteen and stupid, tired of fumbling hand jobs with my friends, sure I could handle anything they could throw at me. I went to a bar and let a good-looking guy pick me up. I didn’t have any illusions that it would be flowers and poetry, not given how we met, but I didn’t expect it to hurt so much either. He fucked me and showed me the door. End of story.” Samuel frowned. “And since then?” “Since then, I’ve topped.” Samuel pushed up on one elbow and looked down at his lover seriously. “It doesn’t have to hurt. It shouldn’t hurt. He was an insensitive clod who didn’t deserve the gift of your virginity.” Jon shrugged. “I got exactly what I set out to get… a cock up my ass.” “And never since.” Jon nodded. “I was skinny kid at eighteen, baby-faced and gangly, but I talked a good game. I made the guy think I was a lot more experienced than I was. After that night, I decided it was time to change my image.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Looking down at the solid, muscular form on the bed, no trace of gangliness left, Samuel chuckled. “I’d say you succeeded, and I’m glad you did. Strength has always been what attracts me. I don’t want some willowy slip of a boy I have to worry about crushing accidentally. I want a man.” He leaned forward to kiss Jon, hoping he would still be welcome. Jon’s lips parted beneath his as eagerly as they had ever done. “We’re an odd pair, you and I,” Jon commented when Samuel lifted his head finally. “How’s that?” the lawyer asked, lying back down next to his lover. “Most gay couples, one of them’s obviously the ‘girl’, but us… we’re both alphas.” “Bottoming doesn’t make you less of a man,” Samuel observed. Jon snorted ruefully. “I didn’t feel like much of man the one time I tried it.” “You were eighteen,” Samuel pointed out. “But more than that, your partner was an impatient idiot. I’m not.” The implication was clear, and a part of Jon wanted Samuel to prove it right then, but fear held him back. “And if I’m not ever ready to try that again?” “Then you don’t have to,” Samuel replied immediately. “There’s more than one way to make love, which I think we’ve proven quite adequately tonight.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna “So you’d just do without sex?” “I’m not going to pretend I’d pass up a chance to show you what you’ve been missing,” Samuel admitted, “but it’d been months since I had a lover before I met you, and I did just fine then. We’ve been seeing each other for weeks, and while you’re driving me crazy, it’s not because you didn’t roll over for me the night we met. There’s more to a relationship than sex and more to sex than my cock up your ass, to put it crudely. I want you in whatever way I can have you. If that means hand jobs and blow jobs, fine. At least I still have you.” Samuel’s declaration left Jon flabbergasted. “I… I don’t know what to say.” “Say you’ll think about it honestly, and that, if you’re ever ready, you’ll let me be the one to make love to you the way you deserve.” “Deal.” Kissing Jon again, Samuel started to rise. This time, Jon’s arms tightened, holding him in place. “Where are you going?” “Home. If I don’t leave soon, I’ll miss the last bus.” Jon shook his head. “Stay.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

SYMPHONY

“WELL?” Samuel asked as they walked out of the concert hall into the cool fall night. “What did you think?” “I love Mahler’s fifth symphony. I told you that weeks ago,” Jon replied with a satisfied smile. “And was it a good interpretation?” Samuel pressed. “Absolutely,” Jon affirmed. “Good.” Samuel grinned. “So are you ready to call it a night, or can I talk you into dinner?” Jon laughed. “What?” he teased. “Do you think you need to wine and dine me so I’ll put out?” Samuel’s grin was just as wide as his lover’s. “It never hurts.” In truth, Jon rather welcomed the offer. He’d been struggling with himself since the night of Project Angel Heart, and while his head had reached a decision, it was harder convincing his body to go along with it. Maybe

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna dinner and a few glasses of wine would help him work up his courage enough to tell Samuel he was ready. The nerves had not settled any by the time they had finished and were heading back to his condo, much to Jon’s dismay. I trust Samuel, he reminded himself repeatedly. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. The words felt empty somehow, and Jon realized he wasn’t sure he’d truly believed them until he put them to the test. Taking a deep breath, he turned to face his lover. “I want you to make love to me tonight.” “My pleasure,” Samuel replied immediately. sucking you off.”

“I love

Jon shook his head. “Not tonight. I want…. You said to tell you if I was ever ready to bottom again.” The tense set of Jon’s shoulders belied his expressed readiness, but Samuel decided he had to trust Jon to tell him what he wanted and if he wanted Samuel to stop. Pulling his lover into his arms, he kissed him tenderly. “If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll be more comfortable in the bedroom. And you have to tell me if you want me to stop. No matter why, no matter when, all you have to do is say no, and I’ll stop.” “Promise?” “Yes,” Samuel said firmly. Jon took another deep breath and led his lover into the bedroom, the nerves in his stomach still jumping wildly.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna “Relax,” Samuel ordered gently. “This isn’t going to be any different than any other night. I’m going to make you feel just as good, come just as hard tonight as any other night I’ve touched you. I’m just going to be inside you when you do.” “I… I bought condoms,” Jon offered weakly, Samuel’s words painting a picture that both excited and scared him. “We might need those later,” Samuel agreed, pulling Jon into his arms. He made no move toward the bed, though, instead mating his lips to his lover’s, stealing Jon’s breath and then feeding it back to him again. Jon returned the kiss, but not with his usual enthusiasm, as if he were holding part of himself back just in case his trust was misplaced. Samuel wanted what Jon had offered, but not like this. Not some sacrificial offering on the altar of Samuel’s desires. Deciding his lover needed a good, oldfashioned seduction, the kind that took hours, he toed off his shoes and backed toward the bed, drawing Jon with him. He sat, releasing Jon’s lips long enough to remove his lover’s footwear as well, but nothing else. He scooted up on the bed and reached for Jon’s hand, pulling him down onto the bed. Immediately the tension returned. Samuel frowned and rolled onto his side, facing Jon, both of them fully clothed bar their missing shoes. And he returned to kissing. Long, lingering, soul-stirring kisses, mouths joined as fully as could be, fingers entwined so that Jon would not wonder where they were or what they were about to start doing. Next to him, Jon relaxed incrementally, the familiarity of kissing enough to help him relax and entice

28

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna him into wanting more. Samuel held back though, not taking the soft moans as the invitations they were. He needed Jon so mindless, so desperate that he would forget everything, his fears as well as his desires, and simply put himself in Samuel’s hands. It took time. And patience. Far longer than any other night they had been together. But for Samuel, it was worth it when he finally felt all the tension leave Jon’s frame. His lover squirmed closer, rubbing their clothed bodies together, moving in a familiar rhythm that left no doubt what he wanted. Even then, Samuel caught Jon’s hands when his lover would have started undressing them. Jon was relaxing, but he wasn’t mindless yet, which meant it wasn’t time to move to the next step. Instead, he settled for more kisses: over Jon’s brow, across his cheeks, the bridge of his nose, his ears, his neck, teasing, arousing brushes of lips over skin. Finally the breathless pleas turned to wordless, frantic little noises that told Samuel what he’d been waiting to hear. Lips never pausing, he reached for Jon’s tie, unknotting it but leaving it draped around his neck as he opened his lover’s shirt. The smooth skin beckoned. Samuel lowered his head, tracing the line of Jon’s collarbone before moving lower to suck lightly at one pink nipple. Jon’s hands tightened on Samuel’s shoulders, keeping him in place. Since that suited his intention of drawing this out until Jon was so eager he didn’t even think about what they were doing, Samuel shifted a little to get more comfortable and

29

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna feasted on the pale flesh, sucking and nibbling until Jon was begging again. In theory, the sensations were nothing Jon had not felt a hundred times or more, every time Samuel kissed him, caressed him, loved him, but they had never been this intense, this all-consuming. His fears washed away in the flood of Samuel’s tenderness, leaving him only aware of needing more. Hoping his lover would oblige, he reached for the buttons on Samuel’s shirt, peeling it back to reveal the short, wiry curls that dusted the other man’s chest. Samuel rolled willingly one way and the other so Jon could pull his shirt off, his lips continuing their exploration, returning to Jon’s mouth intermittently as he ratcheted up the tension between them until Jon wanted to scream. Just when he thought he would scream, Samuel finally moved lower and began unbuttoning his trousers. Jon couldn’t stop the reflexive tensing when he felt his lover’s hands move beneath his ass to lift him and pull off the impeding cloth, but Samuel backed off immediately, returning to the intoxicating kisses until Jon relaxed again. Only then did he lick his way lower until he could nuzzle the brown curls at the base of Jon’s belly, inhaling his scent deeply and licking his way up the raging erection to the ruby tip. Jon let out a hoarse shout at the feeling of Samuel’s tongue on him, teasing him. “Please,” he managed to beg. Samuel relented at the soft word, enclosing Jon’s cock in his mouth and slowly working his way to its base again,

30

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna the tip of his tongue trilling against the pulsing vein as he drew back just as painstakingly. Jon told himself he needed to wait, to stay in control, but Samuel’s mouth brooked no opposition, sucking Jon’s release from him with studied determination. Giving in, Jon closed his eyes and let his seed spool out of him, panting harshly as his brain blanked out momentarily. As his breathing slowed again, a new sensation assailed him. Sometime in the past few minutes, Samuel had worked a finger inside him and was currently pressing lightly against his prostate. “Okay?” Samuel asked with a last lick to Jon’s slowly fading erection. Jon took stock for a moment, but the finger inside him didn’t hurt, and when Samuel moved it a little, the pressure on his nerves set sparks flying along his nerves again. “Yeah,” he gasped. Samuel smiled. “Good. You’ve finally relaxed. stay that way, and let me make you feel good again.”

Just

Jon started to protest that he couldn’t be so selfish, but he didn’t get the words out before Samuel started pulsing his finger against his prostate, startling a groan from him instead. As hard as Samuel was, he wanted—needed—this experience to be a good one for Jon, and if that meant sucking him off again as he fingered his lover to climax and stopping there, that’s what Samuel would do. He meant it

31

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna when he told Jon he wouldn’t do anything his lover didn’t want, and he intended to keep that promise. Not that he was above exploiting Jon’s weak spots to change his mind. Jon was flying again, the constant stimulation on his prostate enough to have him hardening in expectation. He knew he could come a second time if Samuel was patient enough, but that moment was approaching far faster than he would’ve expected based on past experience. He was vaguely aware of the stretch of a second finger, opening his entrance wider than before, but he barely had a moment to register that when Samuel found his prostate again, the pressure increased with the additional width within him. “Samuel!” Jon cried, trying to fight his second climax. Immediately, Samuel’s fingers stilled. “What is it, lover? Do you need me to stop?” “I’m going to come again,” Jon warned, gripping the base of his cock tightly. Samuel shrugged. exercise.”

“That was the idea of this little

“I won’t be able to get it up a third time.” “So you can suck me off instead,” Samuel offered. Jon shook his head. what I’ve been missing.”

“No, I’m ready.

I want to know

Samuel searched his lover’s pale face, the green eyes clear and shining. With a short nod, he scissored his fingers once more and withdrew them, grabbing one of the condoms

32

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna and rolling it on quickly. “Look at me,” he requested. “Right in my eyes, the whole time I’m inside you, so I know if I need to stop.” Jon nodded, stomach clenching as Samuel moved between his legs. He remained relaxed, though, too desperate to come to do anything to delay that moment any longer. Samuel was in no rush, however. He rocked the tip of his cock against the pulsing opening, tantalizing Jon until he pushed up to meet Samuel, the pressure popping the head of Samuel’s cock past the guardian muscle. Jon’s eyes widened momentarily, causing Samuel to freeze, but Jon voiced no complaint so Samuel forged ahead, slowly working his cock deeper until his balls slapped Jon’s ass. “I’m inside you, baby,” he murmured, leaning forward to kiss Jon tenderly. Jon returned the kiss, marveling at the difference between what he felt now with Samuel and what he had experienced all those years before with the guy in the bar. There was, he realized, no comparison at all. Breaking the kiss, he cradled Samuel’s face between his hands. “I love you,” he declared. Samuel bit his lip to stop himself from thrusting wildly at the words. “I love you too,” he replied hoarsely. Slowly, keeping a tight rein on his movements, he began to move within his lover’s body, the knowledge that Jon was giving him this gift that he had never truly given a lover before touching him to the depths of his being.

33

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Time stretched as they rocked to completion, their lips meeting and parting so their eyes could lock, only to join again, a loving ritual to accompany the union of their bodies. When they finally found release within heartbeats of one another, Samuel rolled them to their sides, keeping Jon clasped tightly against him. Jon nuzzled the dark skin. “So when can we do that again?” Samuel laughed heartily. “Just as soon as you give me time to recover.”

34

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

EPIPHANY

“WHERE are you?” Ariane asked, sitting down at the table across from the man she loved like a son. He’d been sitting in her kitchen moping for the last three days. “Hmm?” Samuel asked, looking up. “Where are you?” Ariane repeated. “You are certainly not here with me.” “Sorry,” he apologized. “Don’t apologize,” she fussed. “Tell me what occupies that brilliant mind of yours.” Samuel’s gaze dropped, his hand going automatically to his pocket, closing around the wallet, around the picture inside. Taking a deep breath, he drew it out and handed the photo to the only mother he had left. His own parents had rejected him when he told them he was gay, leaving him alone until he went to France and met the couple who had adopted him in all but name.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Ariane picked up the image and stared at it critically. The man in the photo was certainly handsome, seemingly charismatic, with an impish smile that drew one from her even as she handed it back. “So is that Jon?” Samuel nodded. “We met about six months ago, but you knew that already. I’d started to think I was always going to be alone. Don’t fuss,” he added when he saw her frown. “I hadn’t given up hope yet. It had just been so long since I’d met a guy I wanted to see more than once or twice. All around me, people were getting married, settling into permanent commitments, and I couldn’t even find a man to go out with for more than a couple weeks.” “You were looking in the wrong places,” Ariane scolded gently. “Probably,” Samuel agreed, “and yet, I found Jon there, so it couldn’t have been too wrong.” “You’re that serious about him?” “It’s been six months,” he reminded her. “Six of the best months of my life.” “So what makes him different?” she wanted to know. Samuel’s gaze softened as his mind drifted back to the boyfriend—lover—he’d left behind to come on this trip. He’d wanted to bring Jon with him, but the engineer was in the middle of a huge project and couldn’t get the time off. Samuel almost cancelled the trip, but he couldn’t justify disappointing his parents when he and Jon, while exclusive,

36

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna hadn’t made any more promises than that. “Everything,” he replied simply. “Despite where we met, he isn’t really into the club scene, which suits me just fine. I enjoyed it at twenty. At thirty-two, it wasn’t really me anymore. He’s intelligent, well-educated, a professional who doesn’t need anything from me but my companionship. If anything, he probably makes more than I do since his work is steady, unlike my cases, but it’s not like that between us anyway. He makes me smile, laughs at my lame jokes, is as happy spending an afternoon relaxing at home as he is to go out. He’s everything I was looking for, even when I didn’t know it.” He didn’t mention, not sure Ariane would want to hear it, that Jon was also the best lover he’d ever had, generous with his body and in tune with Samuel’s mood usually before Samuel himself realized what he wanted. “So he is the perfect companion,” she agreed. “Is he as good in bed as he is out?” “Mama!” Samuel protested, his skin heating, though he doubted it would show on his face. “What?” she asked innocently. “You think that is not important? Many people make good friends, good companions for a Sunday afternoon in the park. Not all of them have what it takes to make you happy in every aspect of your life. Or are you telling me you haven’t taken him to your bed?” She studied the picture again. “Shame on you if you haven’t, a handsome man like that.”

37

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Burying his face in his hands, Samuel blushed again. “The best,” he mumbled through his fingers, not because he was ashamed of anything but because he couldn’t quite believe he was having this conversation with his marraine. Ariane smiled. “And does he let you get away with your silliness, not eating or sleeping when you get focused on a case?” Face still hidden, Samuel shook his head. Jon understood and respected his drive to be successful, but he didn’t let that rule the lawyer’s life any more than he let his own quest for success rule him. Handing the picture back to the son of her heart, Ariane asked simply, “Then why are you here with me when you could be at home making sure this paragon never gets away?” “He couldn’t come this time,” Samuel started to explain. “His boss wouldn’t give him vacation during the project he’s working on.” “That’s not what I asked,” she interrupted. “Why, when you so clearly love this man, would you leave him there alone with anything less than a ring on his finger and the promise of a lifetime? That is what you want, isn’t it?” It was. He simply hadn’t realized it until now. Meeting Ariane’s eyes, seeing the understanding on her face, his smile grew. It was exactly what he’d wanted for years, and he had it within

38

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna his grasp, if only he had the courage to seize it. “So what do I do now?” “Go home,” she replied simply. “Go home and ask him.” “But I just got here. I couldn’t possibly leave like this—” “Don’t be ridiculous,” she scolded. “You miss him. That was obvious even before you mentioned his name. Your body is here, but your mind is in Denver with the man you love. Go home, and make him yours. Then the next time you come, bring him with you.” “Yes, Mama.”

39

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

BIGOT

“DARK meat not good enough for you anymore, Parker?” The jeering voice caught both men off guard as they walked across the field toward the table Samuel and his friends had reserved for their use during the college reunion. “Couldn’t keep a black man satisfied?” another voice sneered. “More like I couldn’t find one who could satisfy me,” Samuel shot back, automatically coming to his lover’s defense. Jon flinched visibly. He was used to being hassled about being gay, but being hassled about being white was something entirely new. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come,” he murmured to Samuel. “I don’t want to ruin your reunion with your friends.” “Those bigots aren’t my friends,” Samuel declared. “Just ignore them. They’ll leave us alone when they can’t get a rise out of us.”

40

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Samuel couldn’t quite dismiss the tension building in him, though. His college friends and even most of his old acquaintances knew he was gay. That hadn’t been a secret since his sophomore year, but at Morehead, his only choices had been other men of his own race. So of course he had dated other black men. All through law school, he had socialized primarily with men of color as well, buoyed by their support, personally and professionally. He had made some incredible friends and had good memories of a couple of his lovers, but working in environmental law he’d moved beyond that. He had colleagues of every race out there, Hispanics, Asians, Indians, Caucasians, and he’d gotten past the inculcated idea of black supporting black that had permeated his experience at Morehead. And so when he met Jon, the issue of race hadn’t even crossed his mind. He fell in love with Jon, caring only for the unwavering support his lover gave him. They reached the table where Samuel’s friends waited, and Jon was relieved not to read the same hostility on their faces. As his partner performed the introductions, though, he could see surprise in the majority of their eyes. Introductions finished, they settled to catching up on each other’s lives. Jon listened quietly in the uncomfortable way of new spouses at a first reunion where they know only the person they came with and share none of the history that brought the others to that place. He could see the pleasure on his partner’s face, though, and so schooled himself to patience, using the opportunity to learn more about Samuel’s past.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna The wives of Samuel’s friends, beautiful, professional black women of every shade, naturally congregated together, their commonalities giving them a place to start getting acquainted. Looking at them objectively, Jon could see the attraction, see why Samuel’s friends would want these women at their sides as their partners. They were welleducated, intellectual, strong women that any man would be proud to show off. Feeling increasingly out of place, he shrank in on himself, letting the conversation go on without him even when Samuel tried to draw him out. Finally he excused himself to find a restroom, needing away from the tension at the table. As soon as Jon was out of earshot, Austin, Samuel’s roommate from college, asked the question that had been on everyone’s mind. “What happened to dating a brother?” “Do you remember what I was like at Terrell’s wedding?” Samuel asked in reply. “Do you remember our conversation that night?” Austin and several of the others nodded. Half-drunk from celebrating their friend’s happiness, they had all returned to the hotel, congregating in one room and proceeding to drink until they couldn’t think straight. In a maudlin mood, Samuel had confessed to his friends his fears about never finding the kind of companionship they had celebrated when Terrell and Lacy exchanged their vows. “I don’t feel that way anymore.” “But… a white guy?” Terrell questioned.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Samuel shook his head vehemently. “No, not a white guy. Jon. Jon makes me happy. Jon makes me whole. Jon loves me, and I love him. It’s not about race. Do you love Lacy because she’s black? It’s not part of the equation. Look, give him a chance, guys, that’s all I ask. We got hassled on the way in so he’s already feeling defensive. Get to know him before you make up your minds about him, because he’s the one I’ll spend the rest of my life with. I figure the invitations to our commitment ceremony will be waiting for us when we get home this weekend. If he’s still talking to me after the way he’s been treated so far, you should be getting them in a couple of weeks.”

DESPITE the noticeably warmer reception from Samuel’s friends when he returned from the restroom, Jon didn’t completely relax until they were alone in their hotel again. “Can I ask you something?” he said as they were getting ready for bed. “Anything you want, babe,” Samuel replied, pulling his toothbrush from his mouth to answer. “You know that.” “Yeah, but this isn’t that simple.” Jon still felt defensive, not sure how to ask the question without being as offensive as the bigots who had first accosted them at the reunion that morning. He sat down on the bed, tucking his knees under his chin. “I… I guess I don’t understand how a group of obviously intelligent men could have such close-minded

43

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna attitudes where race is concerned. I mean, it never seemed to be an issue between us until today.” Samuel sighed, spitting out the toothpaste and rinsing his mouth. Coming to sit on the bed next to his lover, he took Jon’s hands in his. “It’s not an issue between us, and it never will be, but you have to understand how it was. Where I grew up, you were either a black punk or a smart white kid. Most of us at that table today, most of us at Morehead, had never met another smart black kid before we got there. We’d never had a true peer group, just classmates who didn’t understand us and neighbors who jeered at us because we dared to use our brains instead of fucking them up with drugs and gangs and guns. My family wasn’t middle class; they were barely working class most of the time, but my mother never stopped telling me that I could be different, that I could have a better life. I believed her. I studied by myself, staying in on the weekends when the other kids were hanging out at the park playing basketball or whatever else. I worked my butt off to graduate in the top ten in my class, the first black kid to ever break the top fifty at my school, and I got a scholarship to Morehead. “Can you imagine my surprise—and my relief—when I got to campus and found myself surrounded by other black men with the exact same priorities I had? It was a dream come true for me, Jon. A chance to finally have peers, equals, friends! They understood me, knew exactly what I’d gone through to get there because they’d gone through the same thing. It wasn’t ever a conscious decision, just a realization one day that we were stronger together than we

44

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna were separately, that with each other for support, there was nothing we couldn’t do. And I still believe it to an extent. With Austin and Terrell and the others behind me, I can do anything. Even spend my life with you.” Jon’s mind boggled as he tried to comprehend everything Samuel was saying. He’d known his lover was the first in his family to go to college, but that wasn’t that unusual, even at his own mostly middle-class high school. He hadn’t realized how isolated his partner had been in order to get there. Looking up, he met Samuel’s eyes. “I didn’t know.” “I know. You couldn’t have because I hadn’t told you.” Cupping Jon’s cheeks with his hands, Samuel kissed his lover tenderly. “My friends have been amazing in their support of me over the ten years since we graduated, but they couldn’t give me what I needed in a lover, a partner, a mate. For that, I need you. When I look at you, I see my lover, my love. I don’t think about your race. I look at your skin, but it’s your skin I see, not a white man’s. I look into your green eyes, not a white man’s. I make love to you, not to a white man.” Samuel’s words reassured Jon as nothing else could do, for he had often felt the same way, appreciating all the traits that were part of Samuel being black because they were Samuel’s traits, Samuel’s tightly curled hair, Samuel’s dark skin and eyes. “Make love to me then.”

45

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

COMMITMENT

“IS he back?” “Relax,” Austin soothed Samuel, fiddling with his friend’s tie. “He drove in an hour ago.” That was all Samuel needed to hear. Everything else could go wrong. Everyone else’s cars could break down as they made their way back to the resort from however they had chosen to spend the day; the caterer could get lost; the florist could exchange their tasteful boutonnieres for garish bouquets; it could start raining. Everything else could go wrong, and at the end of the evening, he and Jon would still have said their vows, still have committed their lives to each other. Nothing else mattered. “Thanks.” Austin laughed. “We went through this with Terrell. I’m sure we’ll go through it if I ever get hitched. Seems the least we can do is hold your hand when you get the pre-wedding jitters.” Austin’s words made Samuel smile. Colorado might not recognize the validity of the union of lives and hearts being

46

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna celebrated tonight and this weekend, but nobody else questioned it at all. The management of Streamside on Fall River had been as accommodating as any groom could have wished, not blinking an eye when they realized this particular wedding would have no bride. Samuel’s and Jon’s friends had turned out en masse, filling every room and cabin at the resort, several couples even doubling up in rooms with more than one bed so there would be space for everyone. “I’m not nervous,” Samuel retorted immediately. Austin’s laugh suggested he was less than convinced, but when Samuel thought about it, he knew his words were true. The hike through Rocky Mountain National Park he’d taken with his friends today had reminded him vividly of one of his first dates with Jon, a similar trek though in a different section of the park, and those memories steadied him. He and Jon belonged together. It was that simple and that complicated at the same time. They’d planned this weekend in celebration of the simplicity and the complexity. The ceremony itself would be the epitome of simple, their vows exchanged before their friends and loved ones—most of their loved ones, anyway. The weekend was an exercise in complexity, juggling the schedules of the seventy people in attendance with the resort’s schedule, making room arrangements, taking into consideration Terrell’s wife, Lacy, being vegetarian and one of Jon’s cousins being gluten intolerant. It was worth it though. Having everyone here to celebrate their love made all the work worth it.

47

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna Unable to sit still, Samuel paced the confines of the small room restlessly, wondering how Jon had spent the day. His lover had a widely scattered family that had once been close but that had lost its cohesion when his grandmother died. Jon hadn’t seen most of his cousins since her funeral, a fact that saddened Samuel immensely, made worse by his estrangement from his own conservative relatives. Samuel had insisted Jon send invitations to his cousins, even knowing that most would not bother to reply, much less attend. They’d both been wrong. All but one of them had shown up, and the one who couldn’t had sent regrets and promised to come visit at Thanksgiving. Jon had been floored and then elated at the chance to get to know them all again as adults. Samuel had only seen such a glorious smile on his lover’s face the day he proposed, and seeing it again made him glad they’d chosen to celebrate their commitment to each other the way they had. Having everyone at the resort for the weekend gave Jon plenty of time to visit with his cousins without worrying about anything outside their little corner of paradise. “It’s time,” Terrell announced, sticking his head through the door. “Let’s get you leg-shackled.” Samuel laughed at the expression. Terrell was so besotted with his wife that the term hardly applied, but then, that was his friends for you, always ready with a joke and a smile. Gesturing for them to precede him, he left the room and the cabin and headed for the meadow where the ceremony would take place.

48

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna As the sun began to set over the mountains behind them, Samuel followed his two best friends—best men—to the top of the meadow, his eyes fixed on the path he knew Jon would walk to arrive at the same point. If he had bothered to look, he might have been struck by the beauty of the red and gold sunset or the brilliant fall foliage. He might have appreciated the elegance of the grapevine arbor draped in star jasmine, the light fragrance just enough to tease the senses of the guests in the front row of simple wooden chairs that lined the grassy meadow. He might even have noticed the happy smiles on the faces of the gathered crowd, a few already dabbing at tears of joy. He saw none of that, though, his gaze drinking in the sight of his lover as he walked toward the point where Samuel stood. Damn, Jon could fill out a suit! They’d decided against tuxedos, neither one wanting that degree of formality. Instead they wore simple charcoal grey suits, tailored to fit, each with a different color shirt and tie. Samuel had chosen his to match the emerald of Jon’s eyes, driving the salesman crazy in his search for just the right color. Jon’s shirt, Samuel saw now as his lover approached, was a deep indigo, so dark that it was almost purple. Samuel’s favorite color. It seemed his love was as much a romantic as he was, not that he truly needed the reminder. Meeting at last, they reached for one another, hands twining together in an embrace they would soon solidify before the company of their friends. As one, they walked forward, past the gathered guests, their smiles as in sync as

49

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna their gaits, until they stood together before the minister who would bless their vows to one another. The minister began with his opening remarks, welcoming all those gathered and reminding them of the solemnity of the occasion that had brought them to this place. Samuel met Jon’s eyes and smiled, the words drifting past him as he lost himself again in the green depths of his lover’s gaze. Then the minister was asking him a question, the most important question of his life. “Samuel, do you promise to join your life to Jon’s, not merely as his partner, but as his friend, lover, and confidant? Will you be the shoulder he leans on, the rock on which he rests, and the companion of his life?” No answer had ever been easier to give. “I will.” “Jon, do you promise to join your life to Samuel’s, not merely as his partner, but as his friend, lover, and confidant? Will you be the shoulder he leans on, the rock on which he rests, and the companion of his life?” Jon didn’t hesitate any more than Samuel had, but the moment it took for him to reply was the longest of Samuel’s life. “I will.” Jon’s conviction rang in his voice, and Samuel relaxed. At the minister’s nod, they each drew out the rings they intended to exchange. One at a time, they declared their intention of spending their lives together.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna “With this ring, I join my life to yours before our company. In their presence, I pledge to be true to you, to respect you, and to grow with you through the years. Time will pass, fortune may smile, trials may come; no matter what we may encounter together, I vow that this love will be my only love. I will make my home in your heart from this day forward.” And then it was done. Samuel knew he should have waited for the minister to finish before pulling Jon into his arms for a kiss, but he was too impatient, needing to feel his mate’s arms around him, lips beneath his too badly to hold off any longer.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

PARADISE

JON reclined in the pool chair, watching the sleek, dark form slice through the water. He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of watching Samuel, watching the way his muscles moved beneath his supple, mahogany skin. And when his lover finished the lap and pulled up on the edge of the pool, his teeth flashing brilliantly white against his full lips as he smiled, Jon decided the day had gotten a little too warm. “You sure I can’t tempt you to join me?” Samuel teased. The other man could tempt a saint, Jon thought privately, but he simply returned his lover’s grin. “Too much work,” he protested. “Too hot.” “You do look hot,” Samuel agreed, eyeing the way his lover idly twirled the longneck bottle of the beer in his hand. Those fingers could work magic on his skin, on his cock. He levered himself out of the pool, water sluicing down his tight muscles. “Let me help you cool off.” Grinning, Jon leaned back, tracing the mouth of the bottle with one long finger as the lawyer stalked across the

52

Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna rental patio. Here in Belize, nothing of the shrewd barrister showed, only the playful man who hid underneath the polished shell. Bracing his hands on either arm of the deck chair, Samuel leaned forward, looming over his lover but not quite touching him. Sparkling drops dripped from his hair to trickle down Jon’s face, smearing the zinc oxide protecting his nose. “You’ve got something on your face,” he teased, knowing how defensive the engineer would get over his appearance, especially the way his nose inevitably blistered and peeled when they spent too much time in the sun. The rest of his body turned a lovely honeyed gold, but his nose turned bright red. “Fuck you,” Jon retorted, rubbing at the heavy white cream, smearing it even more. “Oh, I’m quite sure I will before the day’s over,” Samuel replied with total confidence, “but for now, I’ll settle for cooling you off.” With a grunt, he heaved Jon out of the chair and ran toward the pool, the slighter man slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, one arm wrapped tightly around his lover’s knees, leaving the other hand free to smack the upturned ass playfully. “Samuel!” Jon protested, his own hands slipping inside the taller man’s trunks to fondle the tight globes.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna “Jon!” Samuel replied in the exact same tone of voice. He took a deep breath and a huge leap, catapulting them both into the water with a loud splash. Sputtering, Jon swam to the surface, skin prickling at the contrast between the cool water and the hot day. “Bitch.” Samuel chuckled, the lack of heat in Jon’s curse assuring him his lover had taken his practical joke in stride. “I love you too.” Swimming to the spot where Samuel treaded water, Jon dunked his lover once, fully aware that the lawyer let him do it and waited until Samuel surfaced again to kiss him lightly. “This was inspired,” he declared. “Just what we both needed.” Samuel smiled. “A private house with its own pool in the middle of a tropical paradise… I don’t see how we could have gone wrong,” he quipped. Jon smiled as well even as he scolded, “Don’t make light of it. You can say what you want, but I know why you arranged this, and I’m glad you did.” “I’ll remind you of that the next time you complain about not having time to take a vacation,” Samuel replied, wrapping his arms around his lover as he kicked toward the shallower end of the pool. Sobering slightly, he added, “I don’t like seeing you stressed. You were gaunt and getting pale.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna “Just because I’ll never be as dark as you—” Jon started. “You know I love your lily white ass exactly the way it is,” Samuel interrupted, softening the teasing comment with a quick peck on his lover’s lips. “What I don’t like is seeing the rest of you equally as pale, not in the middle of the summer when you’re usually brown from the sun. You were working too hard, and so was I.” “And this was inspired,” Jon repeated. “So shall we take advantage of our own private paradise?” Jon’s grin turned sultry. “Oh, yeah. Feed me, fuck me, and I’ll show you paradise.”

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

ARIEL TACHNA lives in southwestern Ohio with her husband, her daughter and son, and their cat. A native of the region, she has nonetheless lived all over the world, having fallen in love with both France, where she found her career and her husband, and India, where she dreams of retiring some day. She started writing when she was twelve and hasn’t looked back since. A connoisseur of wine and horses, she’s as comfortable on a farm as she is in the big cities of the world.

Visit Ariel’s web site at http://www.arieltachna.com/ and her blog at http://arieltachna.livejournal.com/.

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

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Paradise ♥ Ariel Tachna

Paradise ©Copyright Ariel Tachna, 2009 Published by Dreamspinner Press 4760 Preston Road Suite 244-149 Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Design by Mara McKennen This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ Released in the United States of America June, 2009

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