Tears filled Ben’s eyes. He had seen fireworks before, but this…this was experiencing it. He saw them. Felt them. And inhaling a deep breath, he smelled them in the gunpowder clouding the air at a distance.
He stared up, in awe, welcoming every stream of color filling the sky and every deep vibration humming through him. The fireworks and his heart battled, each rippling vibration and thump vying for attention. His smile widened and the tears streamed down his cheeks. He gripped Gabriel’s forearms wrapped around his waist as he stared up, searching for the next flicker of light traveling up the night sky, anticipating the burst of light streams and the next accompanying thunder to echo through his body.
The light of the phone held up to his face with a new typed note stole his attention. This is the finale. It’s going to be faster and more intense.
He nodded as Gabriel shifted behind him, likely stuffing the phone back into his pocket.
One flower of light filled the sky quickly followed by another, then another, filling the sky with colors that flickered, glowed, transitioned from one color into the next, and burned spots into the night sky.
One bold strike drowned out the next. The vibrations and lights fighting a war of sensations, commanding his attention. He wanted to see everything. Feel everything. The stink of gunpowder was suffocating, burning his nose. He blinked away the steady stream of tears, refusing to let them blur the beauty of the lights surrounding him.
The timing between light blooms slowed, three…two…then one lone flower exploded in the sky in a spray of colors transitioning from red to white and then blue until it finally faded into the blackness of the night sky.
His cheeks hurt with the grin that had taken residence on his face during the fifteen-minute show. He swiped at the last of the tears on his cheeks as Gabriel unwound himself from behind him and stood. Ben followed his lead, waiting as Gabriel folded their blanket. Many stood and gathered their things when the portable stadium light towers turned on around them. Others remained seated and clapped.
With the blanket tucked under his arm, Gabriel gave him one of his thousand-watt smiles. “Did you like the fireworks?” he signed, finally having enough light to use their hands rather than their phones.
No, he hadn’t liked the fireworks.
He grabbed Gabriel’s hand and tugged him, pulling him through the crowd in the park and out to the row of parked cars three streets over. Gabriel followed, keeping up with him as they made their way to the last parking spot. When they had first arrived, he had cursed the distant walk, his own fault for delaying their departure from home. But now, he welcomed the privacy and isolation as he snatched the keys from Gabriel’s pocket and pressed the unlock button on the fob.
He jumped into the back seat, thankful Gabriel didn’t question him and quickly followed. The warmth of Gabriel’s chest against his back made him groan as the SUV’s interior light dimmed. He glanced over his shoulder as Gabriel pressed the lock button on the fob and tossed it into the cup holder for safe keeping.
Ben smiled and dug into his back pocket to retrieve his wallet. He pulled out the small lube packet he kept stashed for emergencies and slapped the packet into the palm of Gabriel’s hand. He pushed his ass against Gabriel’s hard groin, reveling in the way Gabriel bit his lip, fighting for control. He reached back and dug his fingers in Gabriel’s hair, tugging him close, covering his mouth with a kiss as he rubbed his backside against the only man who drove him this wild with need and desire and want for everything life offered.
He groaned into the kiss as a large hand slid into the front of his jeans and covered his growing hard-on. Ben pushed away Gabriel’s hand and fumbled with the button and zipper of his jeans, needing to free himself with an urgency that had his hands shaking. He peeked over his shoulder, smiling as Gabriel quickly pulled down his own jeans, freeing himself before grabbing a hold of Ben and pulling him close.
A moan slipped from Ben’s lips when hard heat pressed against his backside.
Or was it a whimper?
He wasn’t sure, but a smile definitely pulled at his mouth, knowing the desperation was mutual.
Slick fingers entered him. Screwing his eyes shut, he let his head fall