But when he looked at Deke, when their eyes caught, his whiskey gaze entrancing him, Grady forgot the rest of it. Deke was the endgame, and nothing else was as important.
They had ham, homemade mac-and-cheese, cornbread, and green beans for dinner. Adrick said grace, something Grady hadn’t done since he lived at home with his parents.
They were almost done eating when James, Tasha’s son, asked, “How come Mr. Eugene and Ms. Frances aren’t here?”
Grady’s spine stiffened, guilt making the damn thing go rigid. They weren’t there because of Grady.
“They couldn’t make it this year,” Granny said. “But it’s real nice we got a new friend here, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, he’s cool,” James said. “Uncle Deke stares at him a lot.”
Grady didn’t let himself look at Deacon, worried he might see discomfort there.
Without lifting his gaze from his plate, Adrick loaded a forkful and said, “We’re all thankful to have Grady at our table and in Deacon’s life.” Then he shoveled in green beans, and the conversation shifted.
It was simple, and he hadn’t said much, but it felt like Adrick had held out his hand to Grady in support, and Leroy’s wife and Tasha’s husband followed his lead.
Things were a little less uneasy after that, some of the heaviness lifting from the room. They had dinner and dessert before the family said it was time for gifts. He tried to stand in the background, not wanting to interrupt, but Deacon nodded him over, and Grady joined him on the floor to watch the kids open their gifts. Apparently, that was only for the kids. The adults didn’t buy gifts for each other.
Afterward, Deacon said, “We should get going. We need to get home to Moose.”
The family all kissed and hugged, saying their goodbyes. Before Grady knew it, they were in the car, then back home, the two of them on the porch while Moose did his business.
“Thank you, for tonight. It meant a lot to me to be with your family. You didn’t have to do that, but it felt…good, being around people who love each other the way you all clearly do.”
Deke stepped closer, put his hands on Grady’s waist. “I shoulda said something when they called you my friend.”
“No,” Grady replied. “You shouldn’t have. It’s fine for now. It hasn’t been that long. I’m mature enough to understand how it goes. There are queer people who’ve been together for years, and they’re still ‘friends’ to some family members. That’s a shitty reality, but one all the same.” He hated it, wished he could change it, but that didn’t make it less true. “I was there, and that’s what matters.”
Deacon’s mouth on his silenced any other conversation, and Grady opened up for him. They kissed there, in the cold night air, chimes playing on the breeze, Moose now circling their feet, then jumping up on them.
“You’re a jealous boy, aren’t you?” Deke said, then took Grady’s hand and led him inside.
They kissed their way to the bedroom, stumbling over each other, holding on and trying not to fall. Jesus, he loved Deke’s mouth, the feel of his facial hair scratching against him.
“I know it’s not much,” Deke said, “that maybe it’s not what you’re used to, but I swear I could kiss you all day, every day, and not get sick of it.” Deacon nuzzled his face, his neck, pushed Grady’s thick flannel jacket down his arms.
“Sounds like what happiness is made of to me,” Grady replied.
They took their clothes off slowly, kissing and touching. He let Deke lead the way, not knowing what he wanted or how far they would go. If they didn’t do anything more than this, it would be enough for him.
But when Grady was naked and on his back, Deacon looked down at him and said, “Need to be close to you, inside you. Like I won’t ever be alone again,” and Grady felt the snap and crackle of electricity in his veins.
“You won’t, not as long as I have anything to say about it. And yes, fuck yes.”
Deacon leaned over him, grabbed the lube and a condom. He slicked his fingers, let them trail behind Grady’s balls to his crease. He pressed his lips to Grady’s, kissing him as he pushed two fingers inside, and Grady dissolved into nothing but pleasure at the contact.
“Fuck yes…you feel so goddamned good.” His erection bobbed against his stomach. He growled when Deacon pulled back some, but then he was there, bent over Grady, his nose running along the length of Grady’s cock, then nuzzling his belly.
“Don’t know how good I’ll be at this…or if I’m ready to try.”
“I promise if you ever do try it, I’ll love it, but if you don’t, that’s okay too. There’s no rush here, Deke. No obligation.” While he’d always loved sex, and he loved the hell out of sex with Deacon, what he needed most was to call Deke his. The rest was a bonus.