All Of The Above

Written By: LJ


“Leave your jacket on, Sweets, until I get some heat on in here,” Rowan said as he placed kindling in the fireplace.

“Just what I planned to do,” Darby answered, teeth chattering. “Man, it’s so cold in here!” He jumped up and down with arms tightly wrapped around his torso, trying to keep warm.

“There,” declared Rowan, blowing on his chilled fingers. “It should start feeling more comfortable in a few minutes now that I’ve got a fire going and it should be a little faster than waiting for the rads to heat up. Let’s get the groceries unpacked and supper started.”

“Tell me what you want left out and I’ll put the rest away while you fix something to eat,” Darby offered, following the other man into the kitchen.

“All right, keep out the fixings to make pasta and meat sauce,” Rowan requested, turning on the hot water tank and moving up the dial on the heating system’s thermostat. “This is the only drawback in coming to the cabin in the middle of winter. Everything has to be started up again, but we’ll have plenty of hot water by the time we finish eating and it’s already getting warmer in here.”

“But there’s also a good side to being here this weekend; it’s just the two of us and we have the place all to ourselves,” Darby smiled as he encircled the other man’s waist and reached up for a kiss.

“Hmmm,” replied Rowan, enjoying the moment before they broke apart and got busy preparing their evening meal.

They had been working in companionable silence for a few minutes when Rowan heard a small giggle. “What’s so amusing, sweets?”

“I was just thinking about yesterday and Riley trying to have a love affair with the lamp post outside the pool hall. That was right after he mooned the manager for kicking us out. Man, he was plastered!” Darby laughed out loud at the memory. “He was getting ready to kiss it but fell in the gutter instead and when we asked what he was doing down there; he said ‘I’m just getting up’. He was sooo funny.”

“It’s little wonder he was drunk, what with you boys buying him a drink every time he won a game. Games, I might add, that were deliberately set up for him to win. How many shooters do you think Riley drank?” Rowan asked as he put supper on the table and pulled out his chair.

“I’m not sure. I think TJ, Toby and I each bought two but I lost track of how many Corby, Pete and Freddie were giving him,” Darby answered somberly as he also remembered his partner’s reaction to yesterday afternoon’s activities. “At least we had designated drivers and once Riley threw up, he felt pretty good. He didn’t even have a hangover this morning.”

“Which means, love, that Riley faired better than you and TJ if the squirming the two of you were doing at the brunch this morning was any indication,” Rowan soften the rebuke by reaching for his partner’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Although why you guys thought a bachelor party was in order is beyond me.”

“Aww, come on, Rowan. Riley and Jayson have been together for almost four years and they were finally getting married so it rated a special celebration. It was Riley’s brother, Corey’s idea. He said it was one of the best man’s responsibilities. Besides, you and Glen got some of your old friends together to reminisce or whatever with Jayson,” Darby reminded the other man, spreading meat sauce over the pasta on his plate.

“Yes, but we didn’t get him inebriated to the point of being sick and in danger of missing his own wedding. Anyway, it’s behind us now and Jayson and Riley had a good send-off,” Rowan acknowledged as he accepted the basket of bread sticks. “Thanks, Sweets.”

“Fortunately the service and wedding brunch went smoothly this morning. Riley had been concerned about how his parents would conduct themselves but nothing unpleasant happened, even though his father didn’t exactly look too thrilled,” Darby commented then laughingly added. “Riley and Jayson’s sister, Ryia, were actually in the same room together for more than an hour without getting into an argument.”

“Well, I’m sure Jayson was very relieved and I know both of them are looking forward to spending the next seven days on a Caribbean cruise.”

“I can hardly wait for them to get back so I can find out what they thought of the gift TJ gave them,” Darby remarked with a mischievous grin.

“What gift was that?”

“Oooh, just a special tube of lube he mixed up himself. Being a pharmacist, TJ can get certain things that the rest of us can’t.”

“And just what ‘certain thing’ did TJ put in the lube?” Rowan asked suspiciously.

“Novocaine!” Darby answered and burst out laughing.

Rowan choked on a surprised gasp of laughter and shook his head.

“It was really neat that Glen and TJ flew in for the weekend, wasn’t it? We all had such a great time and it was so much better than at Christmas. TJ just seems….I don’t know….kinda happier or something,” the younger man mused. “He says things are moving along slowly and although he wants to let go, he finds it really hard sometimes.”

“It takes awhile to make major changes in one’s life, Darby,” Rowan commented, “and things play out differently for every situation and for the couple involved.”

“Yeah, but I don’t remember it being such a big deal for us. Guess we were just lucky, huh?” Darby lightly teased.

“Selective memories! I seem to remember a few areas that were more difficult than others and still are for that matter,” Rowan responded with a smile and got a cheeky grin in return. “Like I said, every couple and situation is different.”

“Hey, Row, just leave those. I’ll take care if it,” Darby offered when the other man got up and started clearing the table. “There should be plenty of hot water now and I know you’re tired from doing all the driving, so why don’t you go on up and have a shower while I clean up here and lock up for the night?”

“Thanks, love! I'll just bank the fires before taking you up on your offer.” Placing his dishes on the counter, Rowan dropped a kiss on his partner’s lips and headed out of the kitchen.

Darby quickly took care of his self-assigned chores and ran up the stairs with plans to join his lover. He eagerly stripped out of his clothing, leaving everything in a pile on the floor and pretending not to notice Rowan’s clothes neatly folded on the chair. Then he quietly slipped into the bathroom.

Rowan was standing in the shower, letting the hot water cascade over him as he leisurely soaped himself and enjoyed the feel of the sponge moving over his tired muscles. As he moved the soapy sponge lower, he felt the first faint stirrings of arousal.

At this most opportune moment, Darby pushed back the curtain and asked, “Need any help?” His smile widened as he caught a glimpse of his lover’s erection.

“I was going to offer to wash your back but I see you could use my assistance somewhere else.”

Darby stepped under the spray beside the bigger man and Rowan closed his eyes as he felt the other man’s hands glide down his body. He softly moaned as Darby gently stoked him and firmly grasped his engorged organ with one hand while lightly running the fingertips of the other hand over his nipples. He reached down to grab Darby’s shoulders for support when the younger man fell to his knees and took him into his mouth. Rowan whimpered, as his partner’s lips and tongue worked on him.

Rowan barely managed to snap himself out of his sexual stupor enough to pull the smaller man up and into his arms. He drew his beautiful young lover closer to kiss him and explore his mouth with his tongue.

Darby pushed away and murmured, “I want you inside me.”

“Wrap your arms around my neck and your legs around me, love,” Rowan instructed as he soaped his fingers. He pressed Darby’s back against the wall and they both groaned as their erections rubbed one against the other.

Darby gasped as he felt a soapy finger slide into him; then another as his partner prepared to make love to him. The brief stab of discomfort was replaced with pleasure as Rowan pushed inside him after leaning him further back against the wall and moving his legs up higher.

“Oh, it feels so good,” Darby breathed.

Darby called out his lover’s name as he climaxed several moments later and Rowan groaned as the contractions of the other man’s body brought him over the edge. The two lovers slowly separated after one last sensuous kiss and finished their shower just as the water began to cool down.

Rowan was rewarded with one of Darby’s brilliant smiles when he picked up a towel and said, “Okay if I dry you off, baby?”

“Only if I get to return the favour,” Darby replied with a suggestive grin.

“My pleasure, love,” Rowan agreed.

************

“Hey, Beethoven!” Rowan called as he walked into the kitchen. “Where are you?” He wondered how the younger man had time to dress and disappear so quickly. After sleeping in late, he’d gotten up to start his day and had left Darby yawning and stretching under the blankets in an attempt to prolong his stay in their warm bed while he shaved.

Rowan turned towards the back porch when he heard a loud bang and opened the door to discover his missing partner standing there with both arms wrapped around several chunks of firewood.

“What happened, Darby?” Rowan asked, stepping back to let him pass.

“The wind must have blown the door shut while I was out at the woodpile,” Darby explained as he dropped his armful into the box by the stove. “There isn’t much of this left out there,” he informed the older man.

“We’ll be replenishing the pile later but right now I’d like to know just what you think you were doing?” Rowan asked sternly.

Darby looked at the wood box and figuring his actions were self-explanatory thought of declining to answer, but changed his mind. “It was cold upstairs so I came down to turn up the heat. When I noticed the wood boxes getting low I decided to go out and get more.”

“What did I tell you would happen the next time you went outside improperly dressed, young man?”

“Huh?” Darby glanced down at his attire and realized Rowan was referring to him wearing only flannel sleep pants, a T-shirt and slippers. “I was only going to be a couple of minutes. It’s not my fault the door slammed on me.” Darby knew that excuse wouldn’t get him off the hook.

“It most certainly is your fault for being outside dressed like that. Now tell me what I said the last time you pulled a similar stunt,” Rowan ordered, a frown wrinkling his forehead.

When the younger man shrugged his shoulder and started nervously shuffling from one foot to the other, Rowan firmly suggested, “Maybe you need some corner time to think about it.”

Darby stood quietly contemplating the last few minutes and soon found he was dwelling on what was going to happen next. He knew as soon as he gave the correct response, he’d be over his partner’s knee. After listening to Rowan’s movements around the kitchen for several more minutes, he gave a deep sigh and decided to face the consequences of breaking one the rules that were in place to protect him.

Rowan was setting the coffeepot on the stove when he heard Darby’s softly spoken words, “I’ve finished thinking, Rowan.”

Walking over to stand behind him, Rowan wrapped his arms around the smaller man’s waist, placed his chin on Darby’s shoulder and gently encouraged, “What did you come up with, love?”

“That you’d spank me if I did it again.” Darby whispered.

“Why?”

“Because I’d be putting my health at risk.”

“That’s right!” Rowan tugged on his Brat’s arm to turn him around, bent him over one hip, bared his bottom and rapidly landed a dozen sharp, hard smacks on the younger man’s backside before pulling up the flannel pants and setting Darby back on his feet.

“Consider this your very last warning, Darby. You are not to go outside again unless you are dressed appropriately, got it?” Rowan scolded.

“Y-yes, Rowan,” Darby stammered as he rubbed his stinging rear end and looked up at the man in front of him. Tears sparkled on his long eyelashes and slowly rolled down his face. The brief spanking had been over and done with so quickly; he hadn’t even cried out but he was definitely having trouble catching his breath.

“All right, little one,” Rowan cooed, wiping away the tears before enfolding his partner in a warm, comforting hug. When Darby’s laboured breathing had returned to normal and his tensed muscles had relaxed, Rowan released him and ordered, “Go get dressed while I start breakfast, Sweets.”

Darby’s return to the kitchen two minutes later caused Rowan to comment. “That didn’t take long!” Turning round he saw the reason why. “You haven’t even changed. What’s up, love?”

“Definitely not the temperature!” Darby gripped. “It’s still too cold in our bedroom so I brought my clothes down here. I’m going to get dressed by the wood stove as soon as it’s warm enough.”

Rowan started laughing at the other man. “Aaaah, poor baby!” he teased. “You remind me of my kid brother, Logan.”

“How’s that?”

“My family home is a big old farmhouse and before my father did a mega amount of renovating, it could get rather cold at times. Logan got into the habit of dressing in the kitchen and did it until he was about twelve or thirteen years old. Every morning he’d sit on the kitchen table to get dressed and every morning Mom would say ‘Logan, no bare butts on the table, please!’.”

Darby smiled up at this big man he admired so much and felt warmed by Rowan’s efforts to put the disobedience and resulting punishment behind them and to establish a happier atmosphere as he prepared their morning meal. They both knew how much Darby enjoyed learning about Rowan’s family and listening to stories of his childhood.

“Get your clothes on and then set the table for me please,” Rowan requested as he carefully broke eggs into the frying pan.

“What are we doing after breakfast, Row?” Darby asked as he quickly complied with his partner’s wishes.

“We’ve got a busy day ahead of us. First, there is wood to be split and stacked, then the path to the shed has to be shoveled out and of course there’s fun to be had in the snow,” Rowan listed as he held up a finger for each activity.

“Whew, I’m glad you threw that ‘fun’ word in there. For a minute I thought we’d be doing nothing but work and that would really suck!”

“Wait, it gets even better. Tonight we are going to have a romantic candlelight dinner with wine, music…..the works. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and we have to bring it on in style, right?” Rowan’s hand gently caressed his lover’s cheek.

“Right!” Darby agreed wholeheartedly as he grinned from ear to ear, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

************

They sat back to survey the remains of the dinner in front of them as they held hands and swallowed the last sip in their glasses. Neither of them felt the need to talk; neither wanted to disturb the warm feelings of contentment that were the results of a wonderful meal, good wine, glowing candlelight, soft music and mellow conversation.

Rowan stood up from the small table set up next to the fireplace. He flashed Darby a seductive smile as he approached the bookcase, slid another CD into the player, turned up the volume and pushed the play button. He waited for the music to begin.

“Come, baby!” he softly invited as he took his lover by the arm and guided him into the middle of an opened space as the strains of a waltz filled the room. The furniture had been rearranged to provide a romantic eating area and a small dance floor. There was a bear rug spread in front of the blazing fire and candles illuminated the room.

They began to dance, their movements matching the tempo as the chords of the music entranced them until each was aware of nothing more than the other’s presence. They danced and allowed the enchanting refrain to become apart of them. Darby felt Rowan’s arms around him; sensed the other man’s dark, handsome face above him. Rowan was conscious only of the young man in his embrace; of the beautiful green eyes before him and the rhythm that led them around the dance floor. They were not even aware of when one musical piece stopped and another began as their blissful mood continued. The last note on the CD gradually faded and the two men stopped dancing.

Rowan covered Darby’s lips with his own in a hungry kiss, causing his young lover to moan softly with pleasure. He murmured loving words as his lips moved to the corner of the mouth he had been kissing and from there along the jaw to Darby’s ear. His hands roamed over the smaller man and passion’s fires grew.

Each man started to remove the other’s clothing, slowly at first, until their eagerness got the better of them. Rowan gently laid his naked lover down on the bearskin rug and covered him with his own body. Darby smiled and his eyes held a ravishing hunger as he placed a hand behind Rowan’s neck and pulled him down for a burning kiss. They moaned into each other’s mouths, tongues and hands exploring with free abandonment. They pulled apart enough for Rowan to reach for the lube and prepare Darby to receive him. Once sure his lover was ready, Rowan pressed into the young man and buried himself deep within him. Their passion mounted as their bodies moved in perfect time with each other until they plunged over the edge and climaxed together.

The candle flame flickered and the fire crackled in the hearth as two lovers lay with limbs entwined and slowly drifted off to sleep.

************

Darby woke sometime later and immediately sensed his partner’s absence. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Rowan adding more wood to the fire. He realized the other man had been upstairs when he noticed the pillows and blankets from their bed.

Seeing that Darby was awake, Rowan moved back to lie down beside him and pulled his young lover into his arms to gently kiss him. “We seemed to be so comfortable down here that I thought we might as well spend the rest of the night snuggled up in front of the fireplace. What do you think?” Rowan asked, putting pillows under their heads and pulling the blankets over them.

“Hmmm, I like it. What time is it anyway?” Darby rolled over to face the fire and nestled against the bigger man.

“It’s well after midnight, love,” Rowan whispered while placing small kisses on his partner’s bare shoulder.

Darby turned and threw his arms around the other man’s neck. “Happy Valentine’s Day!” he exclaimed. “I’ve got something for you. I’ll be right back.” He scrambled out from under the blankets and ran upstairs.

Returning moments later, Darby thrust a large, white envelope into Rowan’s hand. He watched him open it and waited in eager anticipation for the other man’s reaction.

Rowan read the card and lightly ran his fingertips over the cover. “You made this, didn’t you, love?” Getting an excited nod, he murmured, “It’s beautiful, sweetheart. What else do we have here?” he asked as a square, flat object fell on his lap. Turning it over, he saw the cover of the CD matched the front of the card. He looked up at Darby and patiently waited for an explanation.

“I wrote the poem in the card and set it to music. That’s what is on the CD. Shelley helped me some with the picture. She drew it and I painted it. Want to hear the song?” Darby didn’t wait for an answer. He just plucked the CD out of Rowan’s hand and got up to put it in the player. As the music began to play, he lay back down and relaxed in his lover’s arms. When the song came to an end, he looked up into the dark blue eyes of the man he loved and tentatively whispered, “Do you like it?”

Rowan’s loving kisses clearly answered the question and left both men breathless.

“I have something for you, too, Sweets. First, open this card,” Rowan instructed, as he sat back to enjoy the expressions on his lover’s face. He smiled when the younger man looked up at him in surprise.

“You want me to marry you?” Darby asked incredulously as the words Rowan had written on the card sank in.

“Yes, and I hope you’ll consider adding my name to yours.”

“Then I’d be Darby Evan Madison-Kincaide. Right?”

“It’s what I’d like, but only if you feel the same way. I love you, Darby. I want to legalized our commitment to each other and announce it to all our family and friends. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. What do you say, sweetheart?” He sighed softly to himself when he saw the love and willingness in the sparkling green eyes of his beloved Brat.

Rowan put his hand under the pillow next to him and pulled out a small velvet box. He opened it to reveal two gold rings. Reaching around Darby’s neck, he unclasped the gold chain and removed it. He then slid one of the rings onto it and returned the chain to its’ rightful place around his partner’s neck. The second ring was hung in a similar fashion on his own necklace.

“These are our wedding rings. We’ll put them on each other’s fingers the day we get married,” Rowan explained.

Darby lifted his chain and gazed at the ring in his hand. He smiled at Rowan and stated, “You must have been pretty sure of yourself.”

“I was just really confident about us, sweetheart,” Rowan tenderly responded.

“And I suppose you already have the wedding planned out,” Darby teased.

“Well, I do have a date in mind, if that’s what you mean.”

“Which is?”

“Does the twenty-first of May hold any special memories, love?”

“It was the day of my graduation and it will be exactly one year to the day we first made love.” Darby hugged and kissed Rowan before happily commenting, “You are such a romantic and you’re all mine.” He gently pushed the bigger man back on their makeshift bed and stretched out on top of him. Lifting himself up on his forearms, Darby saw their chains intertwined and the two gold rings nestled together in the thick mat of black hair on Rowan’s chest. He leaned down for a long, satisfying kiss.

“So what are we now, love of mine?” he asked breathlessly with a merry twinkle in his eyes. “I mean, do we consider ourselves promised, spoken for, betrothed, engaged or what?”

Rowan turned on a bemused expression and murmured assurances to the younger man, “All of the above, my love, all of the above!”

The End