This story is entirely fictional, and any resemblances to actual persons are completely coincidental. Actual locations are mentioned, and are used for 'background' only.
This story runs concurrently with the 'Phalen' sequel, 'Finding Happiness.'
Many of the character's names are Finnish. For those who wish to know how they are pronounced, read on.
Mikko - MEEK-ko Paavo - PAW-vo Joel - YOE-el Halonen - HALL-oh-nen
Roy roynm@mac.com
Chapter 18
Andrew hummed tunelessly as he took long strides across the plaza of the office building where Mikko's office was located. It was a beautiful early autumn day, hot but not scorching as it had been only weeks before. Many of the office workers had decided to take their lunch breaks outside and were lounging either on the dark green lawns, perched on the concrete edges of the raised planter beds, or sitting at one of the many tables scattered around the large plaza. As with most open spaces in the city, the plaza was awash with the yellow blossoms of acacia trees, multi-hued mounds of gazania, and the lilt of people laughing.
'It's a beautiful day, and I'm in love,' he thought with a smile on his face. 'For the first time in my life, I am in love!'
His thoughts flashed back to his recently ended relationship with Larry, the man who introduced him to Mikko. At the time he was dating Larry he thought he might be in love. He wanted to be in love. He'd spent most of his adult life flitting from one sex partner to another. Larry was the first person with whom he thought he might be able to form a permanent bond. At the time, he knew for certain he was in lust. Larry had been a wonderful sexual partner, in part because everything was new to him. He wanted to try everything, and threw himself into all he did with total enthusiasm.
Mikko, on the other hand, was stronger than Larry. He knew what was exciting to him and took control of a situation to ensure both he and his partner were left completely satisfied. It was the first time Andrew had ever experienced someone sexually as intense as Mikko. He had only been half joking when he described how exhausted he was to his sons after his and Mikko's first sexual encounter, at the gym.
'Mikko's wonderful,' he thought, mentally thanking Larry for introducing him. He was even willing to ignore the self-satisfied expression Larry often exhibited when he watched Andrew and Mikko across the table during one of the times they had dinner and drinks after work.
'Everything about Mikko is great,' he thought for the hundredth time, 'from his curly black hair to his sparkling eyes and flashing smile and the expansive gestures he made as he spoke. His voice was smooth and captivating. His touch, warm and insistent.' He grinned, thinking how exciting it was to have Mikko take charge. A few days earlier when they were at the gym, he seemed so mellow until he stood and backed Andrew against a row of lockers and kissed him with a ferocity that was totally unexpected. Then, instead of the warm smooth voice, his voice was rough with emotion and his hands were strong as he pulled Andrew close.
'That's what I like,' Andrew thought as he entered the office building's lobby. 'He's totally unpredictable. It's exciting when he takes control, and when he demands, "more," or, "again." As wonderful a person as Larry is,' Andrew thought as the elevator doors shushed closed, 'Mikko is exciting, precisely because he was so unpredictable.
The elevator slowed to a halt and the doors opened. He half expected to see Larry in the reception room of his law firm, directly across the lobby from the one where Mikko had been overseeing construction of his new office since his arrival in Phoenix. Andrew tried not to let the receptionists see his shudder as he gave them a jaunty salute before turning his back on them. Even though his back was turned, he could feel their steely-eyed glare, so typical of the employees in Larry's firm.
'How can Larry tolerate working in a place like that,' he wondered as he stepped into the lobby of Mikko's office, smiling and nodding to a couple workers who were in the process of hoisting a very large painting of a brilliant Arizona sunset onto a waiting room wall.
Mikko was standing with his back to him, some distance away, speaking with one of the construction workers, gesturing widely with his arms before pointing to something. The worker bent to examine the spot indicated, while Mikko stood with a straight back and his hands on his hips. When the worker stood once again the conversation continued with Mikko taking a few steps further down the corridor and pointing out what apparently was another problem area. He stopped speaking when the contractor nodded in Andrew's direction, obviously trying to divert attention from himself. Mikko turned and looked over his shoulder, his mood instantly brightening.
Andrew found himself smiling and thinking he had never felt like this with anyone else. 'If this is love,' he thought in the instant Mikko turned back to the contractor for a bit of last minute instruction, 'I've been missing something.' It was exciting to merely watch Mikko move. His crisp white shirt hugged his shoulders and then tapered to his slim waist. The beige slacks clung to his buttocks, the same firm butt Andrew remembered clutching as Mikko thrust his cock down his throat at the gym the previous Friday.
Andrew turned away from Mikko and looked around the office, loosening his tie. 'Suddenly, it's awfully hot in here,' he thought, noting that no one else seemed to be bothered by the heat.
The contractor finally went on his way, shouting to one of his men that they had a few problems to get taken care of. Mikko turned toward Andrew and smiled as he took the few steps separating them, giving him a brief embrace. Andrew was surprised when he felt Mikko's lips brush against his neck. He didn't think the receptionists across the elevator lobby had been able to see the kiss, but he was positive they had seen the embrace, and grinned, liking the idea that they might have been shocked.
Mikko moved back a step, seemingly reluctant to release Andrew's shoulder. "To what do I owe the pleasure," he asked, continuing to smile. "By the way, I haven't had a chance to tell you how much I enjoyed the gym the other night. We should work out like that more often." He finally released Andrew and perched on the arm of one of the nearby chairs and broke into laughter when he saw Andrew's expression.
"Am I being too forward for you?"
"Ah . . . ," Andrew hesitated, trying to figure out exactly what he was feeling. "No, not too forward. I love that." He hesitated a moment longer. "I guess I've just never been so open with my affections in public. I thought I was pretty open, but you're showing me I'm a lot more restrained than I thought." Mikko smiled more broadly and raised his eyebrows at the same time his eyes sparkled. "I'm thinking I like that openness."
Mikko gestured Andrew to a burgundy colored chair that closely matched one of the colors in the nearby painting of the sunset, and watched as he sat down with a sigh of pleasure, running his fingertips over the nubbly texture of the upholstery.
"You never did tell me why you're visiting," Mikko teased as he sat facing Andrew across a low glass table.
"Oh, yeah." Andrew held up the two white paper bags he had been clutching in one fist. "I took a chance that you wouldn't have something planned for lunch and brought us something to eat. I thought we might be able to go outside and sit on the lawn. I hadn't thought that you probably have to stay here in case something comes up." Mikko nodded.
"We can eat here if you don't mind." He gestured to the partially furnished reception room. "Also, my brother called earlier and told me he was planning on stopping by a little after lunch to see the new office and to talk a few things over." He accepted one of the paper sacks from Andrew, opened it, and began removing its contents. "Hey, if you hang around you could meet him. I've mentioned going to the gym with you." He unwrapped a sandwich, peeled up a corner of the bread to see what was inside, and then took a bite, chewing slowly as he watched Andrew.
"I have to tell you that since I mentioned you at dinner the other night, Joel's and my relationship has been a little strained." Mikko slowly shook his head from side to side in resignation. "He can't seem to get it into his mind that I have need to have my own life. I'm his brother, and I love him, but he has a family and responsibilities that I won't interfere with." He sighed. "I'm not sure he's willing to accept that."
Mikko continued as Andrew ate silently letting him speak. "I've told him that he and I will always have something special, and that I would love to continue being . . . intimate . . . with him, but I also need my own freedom." He looked up with one of his sudden smiles.
"Freedom to have some fun . . . something like our recent work out. Did I tell you," he said, lowering his voice, "that you are the first man I've ever been with other than my brothers?" Andrew paused and shook his head as he was about to take another bite of his sandwich.
"Is that's why you were so wild?"
Mikko gave him a puzzled look. "Wild? I was just being my normal self." Andrew barked a laugh and leaned back in his chair tilting his head back and looking at the ceiling with his mouth hanging open in surprise.
"Normal?" He looked back to Mikko as his voice rose slightly and he tried not to laugh. "I've spent the entire weekend basking in the afterglow." He leaned closer. "You about drained me dry, Mr. Halonen."
Mikko smiled, seeming pleased. "If I recall correctly, you did your best to drain me dry as well." Andrew shrugged slightly as Mikko continued talking.
"Afterward, I got to thinking maybe we left too early. We probably should have taken a shower so we could . . . collect ourselves, but I didn't want to." Mikko smiled once again. "I wanted to go home with your scent still on me." He glanced across the small table, suddenly seeming to be shy. "I love your scent." He glanced at Andrew from beneath lowered eyelashes. "And taste."
Suddenly, his mood changed. "Whew, I better stop these thoughts. I'll be drooling in my pants." He picked up his earlier thought as a means of diverting himself. "You did seem to be pretty worn out . . . after the gym, I mean."
"Are all your encounters as . . . intense," Andrew asked, ignoring the construction workers as they trooped past on their way to lunch. Mikko shrugged.
"Who knows?" He looked thoughtful. "I think that I'd enjoy spending an evening doing nothing but cuddling and kissing." He seemed to hesitate a moment. "I've never had the opportunity to cuddle with another man." Andrew glanced up, struck by the change in Mikko's voice. "I'd also like to just sit close to you and hold your hand."
"Mine?"
Mikko slowly nodded, giving Andrew a bashful glance. "I'd like that a lot. I've never gotten the kind of physical affection I would like." He seemed to stare into the distance. "Even when I was married . . ." His voice trailed off and then he cleared his throat and grinned crookedly, glancing at Andrew who quietly watched.
"Would cuddling and things, wear you out?" Andrew laughed, releasing the tension he was feeling while wondering at the source of the pain that had momentarily flashed across Mikko's face.
"I don't think so. But, don't get me wrong. I like your assertiveness and enthusiasm. I like someone taking over for a change. Normally, I'm the one in charge. It's nice to have the tables turned on me."
"Then, we'll have to play more often, won't we?" He wiggled his eyebrows and gave Andrew a lewd grin. "Don't worry, Mr. Johnston, I'll go easy on you." He laughed and fended off a crumpled napkin Andrew threw in his direction.
"Is this a private game, or can anyone join in?" Both men looked up at the newcomer.
"Joel!" Mikko stood, looking pleased and nervous at the same time. He glanced from his brother to Andrew, who slowly stood and returned Joel's wary nod of greeting.
"Ah, Joel. This is my friend Andrew, the person I told you and the boys about the other night at dinner. Andrew, this is my brother, Joel."
Mikko stepped away from the table and dragged over another chair as the two men shook hands. He motioned for his brother to have a seat. Joel squeezed his brother's shoulder in thanks. "Don't be so nervous," he chided as he sat down, sparing a glance and grin in Andrew's direction. "Everything's cool. Sit and finish your sandwich."
Mikko glanced from one man to another and warily sat down, making an attempt to return Andrew's unperturbed grin.
Andrew finished his sandwich and crumpled the wrapper and stuffed it back into the paper sack, trying not to let the brothers see how captivated he was by their interactions. Mikko returned to his abandoned sandwich making an attempt to look comfortable, while Joel watched his brother with an enigmatic expression.
"It's good to meet you Joel," Andrew said, drawing Joel's attention away from his brother. "Mikko's told me about how important his older brother is to him." Joel gave Andrew a distracted grin and picked up a paper wrapper from a straw and began running it through his fingers, apparently trying to marshal his thoughts.
It was easy to tell the two men were brothers. Both had the same tall, slender build and black loosely curled hair. They also had the same long startlingly dark eyelashes, though their eyes did differ. Mikko's eyes were a pale green while his brothers were a light blue. 'Two very handsome men,' Andrew thought, wondering briefly what it would be like to see the two of them making love.
"Has my brother told you some about us? I mean about our relationship?" Joel's expression was intense as he spoke. Mikko's eyes shifted from his brother to Andrew as he slowly took another bite of his sandwich. Andrew sat back in his chair and crossed his legs, casually resting his arms on the arms of the chair.
"Some," he responded. "I gather you both are still very close." Joel softly snorted.
"You could say that." He paused a moment as he continued to toy with the strip of paper. "I love Mikko, Andrew," he said in a low but firm voice. "I never really knew how much I love him until he and his son began staying with us." He took a deep breath. "Now, it's almost as if I can think of nothing but Mikko, and what I feel for him." He suddenly wadded the straw wrapper into a small white paper ball and turned to Andrew, apparently having made some sort of decision.
"Andrew, I should apologize to you. I know we just met, but I've been consumed with jealousy ever since Mikko told the boys and me about you taking him to the gym a few days ago. It was next to impossible for me to get any sleep, because I kept imagining you with my brother." He paused and drew a deep breath. "I didn't want to imagine you with him. I didn't want to think of him being with anyone but me." He bowed his head. "I felt terrible."
He glanced at his brother who was watching him with wide eyes. Mikko was ignoring his unfinished sandwich, his full attention on his older brother.
"I probably would have still been . . . feeling awful . . . if my youngest son hadn't sat me down last night and made me see reason." He glanced toward Mikko and then to Andrew.
"You see, I love my brother more than anyone . . . except my family. Kent, my youngest, told me I was letting my jealousy prevent Mikko from finding happiness." He shrugged slightly with a wry grin. "As difficult as it was to admit, Kent was right. I was thinking more about what I wanted than letting Mikko find what he wanted." He paused a moment and visibly swallowed before continuing.
"That's why I feel as if I should apologize to you . . . both. To you Andrew, because I was thinking terrible things about you, things I feel bad about and I'm sure you don't deserve." He turned to his left. "And to you, Mikko, because I would have done my best to keep you mine, at the expense of your happiness. I would have made both of us miserable . . . and, as Kent pointed out to me, I would most likely have lost you from my life." Joel choked as he finished the sentence.
Mikko was visibly moved and reached out to rest his hand on his brother's knee. Joel absently rested his hand on top of his brother's.
Andrew cleared his throat. "I'm glad you got things worked out, Joel. I can imagine how difficult it has been for you to say these things not only to your brother, but to a complete stranger. For all it's worth, I think you've got a pretty special brother." Joel gave Andrew a crooked grin and nodded slightly.
"I've always thought so." He bit his lip. "Kent also told me to remember that if the two of you end up in a . . . relationship . . . that you're not taking Mikko away from me. We'll always be . . . close, no matter what."
"Relationship!" Mikko's voice squeaked upward. "What is Kent thinking?" He glanced at Andrew. "We only met a couple weeks ago. Hell, we haven't even fucked yet!" Joel laughed as Andrew covered his eyes with a hand and bowed his head.
"Tell the whole world, why don't you?" he muttered. Mikko looked around the reception room and saw no one was nearby, so he merely shrugged.
"You're right . . . sorry, but isn't it a little early to be talking about a relationship?"
"Not for Kent." Joel laughed easily, having released all the tension of a few minutes earlier. "He asked me at breakfast this morning, what I thought you guys might name your first . . . cat."
"That's easy," Andrew laughed, glancing toward Mikko . . ." assuming of course that we'll ever be in a relationship." He grinned at Mikko. "We'll name him Kent, after his cousin, of course." Joel laughed aloud. Mikko looked back and forth from his brother to Andrew as if he couldn't believe what he had heard.
"Cat!" Mikko squawked, and looked at Andrew in surprise, and then toward his brother. "Kent? . . . Kent!"
"Hi, Leith," Thian called, walking into the gym. Leith held his open textbook at his side and stood.
Thian gave him a brief hug, feeling a momentary unexpected surge of pleasure wash over him at the touch. "Are you going to be joining Brett to watch the team practice? I didn't know you were interested in gymnastics." It appeared as if Leith wasn't sure whether to be surprised or pleased at Thian's brief embrace. His grin faltered, to be replaced by a bright smile.
Leith sat and turned toward Thian, motioning for him to have a seat. "Yeah, I'm planning on joining Brett whenever I have a chance. He's always talking about gymnastics, and Kerin and Adam and you, so I thought I'd better learn a little bit about the sport so I won't be totally in the dark whenever he's talking. Besides, I like you guys. I haven't had a chance to meet many guys since moving to Phoenix, a couple months ago."
Thian grinned, thinking about something Leith had said. "You say Brett talks a lot?" Leith nodded. "He always seems so quiet. He's just like Adam. They'd make a good pair," Thian continued. "In fact, it would be great if Brett tried to make friends with Adam." Leith gave him a puzzled look.
"The poor guy," Thian sighed. "Adam, I mean." Leith nodded slightly, encouraging Thian to continue.
"He's a nice guy but he's so shy and intimidated by everything. He keeps jumping and apologizing all the time. He's so serious. He comes from some small town in Kansas and doesn't know a joke when it slaps him on the butt with a loud smack, not that being from Kansas makes one incapable of recognizing a joke, but you know what I mean?" Leith chuckled and nodded.
"Yet, Adam hangs around you and Kerin. If he's afraid of a joke, your brother isn't the best person to hang around with. He never stops, does he?"
Thian laughed, straddling a bleacher and facing Leith. "That's my brother, irreverent to the core." He stretched to see what Leith was studying and then made a face. "Ugh, I hate biology. I don't like poking around inside dead things that are lying on a piece of cork with little pins stuck in them to keep them in place." He shuddered and then smiled, his pale brown eyes twinkling as Leith laughed at his joke.
"I see Kerin's not the only one of you guys capable of making a joke."
"Nah," Thian made a dismissive gesture, shifted around on the wooden bleacher seat and leaned back, stretching his legs out in front of him and supporting himself on his elbows. "I joke around too, but only around people I'm comfortable with. K just likes to joke and be the center of attention." He shrugged slightly and grinned. "I guess I like to be the center of attention too . . . at least when I'm on the floor in the middle of a routine. All gymnasts do. K's on stage all the time."
"Doesn't he ever get depressed, or something? I can't believe someone can be so hyper all the time."
"Oh, yes. He has his share of quiet moments, when all he wants is to be held. He doesn't let many other people see them though." Thian grinned. "It would ruin his image."
They were interrupted by Leith's cell phone ringing. He dug around in his book bag and pulled out the phone, telling Thian he'd only be a moment.
"Hey Dad. What's up?" There was a pause while Leith listened to his father. Thian looked up and met Leith's glance and grinned. "Yeah, classes are over for today. I'm sitting in the gym with a friend of mine. He's on the gymnastics team." He paused again, nodding a couple times as his father spoke. "Oh, okay. Well, you guys have a good time." His father said something more. "Yeah, I love you too. Bye." He closed the phone and slipped it back in his bag. When he looked up he realized Thian had been closely watching him.
"That was my dad. He's going out to dinner with a guy he knows. He called to tell me he wouldn't be home, so Brett and I would have to fend for ourselves.
"I didn't know you guys lived together."
"Well, Brett's been moving his stuff to our place. Dad bought a place across the street from school, in that new loft building. It's great, but the place is a shambles, and with Brett's junk thrown into the mix, we have to step over stuff to get from one room to another." He turned to Thian. "When we get the place straightened up a bit, you and Kerin should come over for dinner or something. I'd like to get to know you guys when you're not having to run off to practice."
Thian shifted so he was once again straddling the bleacher seat, facing Leith.
"Leith, you know Kerin and I are gay, don't you? We don't try and keep it a secret, but it still freaks some people. Some guys don't want to hang around us too much after they learn we have sex with each other." He looked out to the practice floor and was silent for a moment. He saw Thian close his eyes for a moment before he swallowed and turned to face Leith once more.
"I just don't want you to be surprised . . . when you find out."
"Thian, is something wrong? I mean, you look sad all of a sudden." Thian gave Leith a small grin and shook his head.
"No, nothing's wrong. It just struck me all of a sudden how few friends, K and I really have. I mean, we're part of a team, but those guys aren't really good friends." He nodded toward the practice floor and a few of his teammates who were limbering up. "But, as far as real friends . . ." He shrugged. "Being an athlete, and gay, and having a sexual relationship with your brother that everyone knows about . . ." He shrugged once more. "It sort of isolates us. We exist in our own little world, just K and me." He swallowed and then tried to put on a smile.
"So, since you've not already made an excuse and left, I would guess that you're either really polite, or you're not bothered by K's and my relationship." Leith grinned and reached out to squeeze Thian's knee as a show of support. Thian followed Leith's movement with his eyes.
"Thian, I'm not freaked. I had a sexual relationship with my older brother. I also know how being gay can isolate a person." Leith paused for a moment as Thian watched him closely. "So does Brett." Thian's eyes widened slightly.
"Do you still have a relationship with your brother? I notice you said you had one. Is he going to a different school or something?" Leith bowed his head slightly.
"No, he . . . died . . . about a year ago. Brett's been great at helping me out." Thian leaned close and took Leith's hand with a stricken look on his face.
"Geez, Leith. I'm sorry about your brother, and about opening a wound. Leave it to me to say something stupid." Leith gave him a sad grin and laced his fingers with Thian's and gently squeezed.
"Thanks, and you didn't say anything stupid. You couldn't have known."
"Hey, T, there you are!" Kerin trotted over to where his brother and Leith were sitting. He smiled at Leith, pausing only a moment when he saw the two guys were holding hands. "I was wondering where you were." Thian squeezed Leith's hand again before he released it and turned to face his brother.
"Hi, K. Leith and I have been talking about what it means to be gay and to love your brother." He glanced at Leith for a moment, as if for permission. His voice took on a serious tone. "K, Leith just told me that his brother died recently. They were close, like you and me." He sighed. "Life's a bitch sometimes." Kerin's eyes were round.
"Oh, Leith. What can I say?" Leith smiled a crooked grin and swiped at his watery eyes with his hands and sniffed.
"Don't say anything more or you'll have me crying." He sniffed and wiped his eyes once more. "I don't do as much of that as I did, and I try not to do it in public." He sniffed once more and sat up straight. "There's nothing you guys can say, so let's not talk about it any more. Deal?" The twins soberly nodded, mirror reflections of one another.
Leith looked up and noticed Brett and Adam walking into the gym, deep in conversation. Thian noticed Leith looking at something and turned to see what it might be. When he saw the two men he turned and returned Leith's smile.
Adam gave Brett a pat on the shoulder, waved in Leith's direction, and then jogged out onto the practice floor, joining many of his team mates. Brett smiled brightly and walked over to Leith and the twins. "Hey men," he said, blushing slightly when Kerin rested his arm across his shoulders and nudged him with his hip.
"I love it when you blush," Kerin teased, nudging Brett with his hip once again. "He gently pulled the neck of Brett's shirt away from his neck and leaned close as if he were looking beneath the shirt fabric. "Just how far down does the blush go?" He laughed when Brett pushed his hand away.
"All over," Leith supplied, ignoring Brett's scowl. "It's cute."
Before anyone could comment, the coach called to the twins and told them the rest of the team was prepared to begin . . . if they had finished their little chat.
Andrew stepped out of his car and closed the door, waiting while Mikko drove up behind him. Ever since their lunch earlier in the day, he had thought of nothing but Mikko, the slight brush of his lips against his neck during their brief welcoming embrace, and the way he would catch Mikko watching him. He would grin slightly whenever Andrew caught him, and return to his lunch.
He remembered Joel as well, how the hug he gave Andrew was so much like his brother's. He was glad he didn't have any clients scheduled during the afternoon because he would have found it difficult to concentrate on their problems. All he seemed to be able to think about was looking forward to a time when he and Mikko could spend the night with one another.
He couldn't help it, thinking more than once during the afternoon, what it might be like to see Mikko and his brother, two self-avowed exhibitionists, making love . . . or better yet, being with them both. He paced the office, tried to organize some files . . . unsuccessfully, and had finally, near quitting time, called Mikko's cell phone and asked if he would join him for dinner and afterward for a glass of wine.
"I've been thinking how much I'd enjoy sitting with my arm around your shoulders in a quiet room lit only by a couple candles, with soft music playing." He chuckled slightly. "I must admit, I've never thought of doing that sort of thing with a guy before." He could hear Mikko's wonderful laugh over the telephone.
"Perhaps, we might spend the night together?" Mikko's statement ended as a question. "We can cuddle in bed too."
They met for dinner at a restaurant on the way to Andrew's house. The place was frequented by many university students, and although the food was good, the dining room was loud. They hurried through dinner and now found themselves at Andrew's house.
Mikko pushed his car door closed with a firm thud and walked up to Andrew wearing a broad smile. "Are your sons likely to be home soon? If so, we could go to my place. I'd like to be alone this evening. My son and nephew will understand if I ask them to stay in their room, or better yet, go out to a movie or something." Andrew smiled and shook his head.
"Nope, Kerin and Thian usually don't get home much before midnight." He held the front door open and motioned for Mikko to enter. "Sorry if the place is a mess," he apologized. "None of us really enjoy cleaning house, though we all do our share." He looked around as he closed the front screen door, seeming surprised. "I guess I shouldn't have apologized until I saw what the place looked like. It seems the boys have been busy." He slipped his shoes off and unfastened the buttons around the neck of his shirt after first pulling off his tie. He looked over his shoulder as Mikko followed him to the kitchen and urged him to, "get comfortable."
Mikko leaned against the island while Andrew opened a bottle of wine and continued speaking of his sons. "I've been thinking of getting myself a new place and giving this one to the boys. They seem to hate any kind of change, and they're a lot more attached to this place than I am. I'd miss having them around all the time, but sometimes, like this evening, it would be nice to know we'd have our privacy." He handed Mikko two wine glasses and led the way to the living room, where he lit a couple candles and then turned out the lights. Mikko watched him squat down in front of a stereo system, punching a series of buttons and then adjusting the volume of the classical music he had chosen so it wouldn't interfere with any conversation.
He handed Mikko a glass and watched with a bemused smile on his face as Mikko reached out and tenderly ran his fingers through the neatly trimmed hair on Andrew's chest. "Very sexy," he murmured. "Just like the rest of you." Andrew grinned and raised his glass for a toast. Simultaneously, both men gave the same toast, "kippis," touching their glasses together.
"How'd you know the Finnish toast," Mikko asked, sitting next to Andrew on the sofa and stretching his long legs out in front of him.
"One of my clients used that toast recently. I thought, with you being Finnish, it might be appropriate." He glanced to his left and saw Mikko watching him. "Don't ask me to say anything else though. I only know one word of the language." Andrew put an arm over Mikko's shoulders and scooted closer, kissing him gently when Mikko turned to face him. It was a tender kiss, long and lingering, so much different than when they were at the gym.
Mikko sighed, leaning his head back and playfully toying with Andrew's socking-clad feet with his own. "I could become accustomed to this very quickly," he said, snuggling closer. He shifted his wine glass to his other hand and took Andrew's hand, gently intertwining their fingers with one another's, as they quietly listened to the soothing music, enjoying the nearness of the other.
A set of car lights swept across the room through the large front window, causing Andrew to softly groan.
Mikko glanced to his right and murmured. "What's the problem?"
Andrew sighed, "We're about to be overrun by a couple guys who don't know any better than to come barging into a perfect evening and attempt to tell jokes." Mikko gave him a puzzled look. "My sons," Andrew supplied, hearing two car doors slam and the playful laughter which normally accompanied his sons anywhere they went. "Did I tell you they're athletes," he asked, emphasizing the word. "They have entirely too much energy for their own good."
"Come on, Andrew, they can't be that bad?"
"Oh, they're not bad. I love them both dearly, but they could have chosen to stay away from the house a little longer so we could enjoy each other's company in some peace and quiet." Andrew shifted slightly but maintained a grip on Mikko's hand. "That new house is sounding better all the time."
"Hey, Dad," one of the boys shouted into the dimly lit room as the front door opened. "Why are the lights off?" He immediately stopped, when he saw the flickering candle light and heard the low music. The second son tried to look over the shoulders of the first.
"What's going on," the second asked in a loud whisper. "Is Dad trying to burn the place down? Why the candles?"
"Come on in, men," Andrew said with a resigned sound to his voice. Both boys slowly came into the living room and dropped their gym bags on the floor next to the front door, each with a dull thump, and then turned toward their father and the man sitting with him on the sofa holding his hand.
One of the boys looked around the room with a curious expression. "It looks as if the fat lady hasn't sung yet," he murmured, loud enough to be heard. "Oh, I mean, you two haven't finished. Maybe we should leave," he suggested to his twin.
"Sorry, Dad. We didn't mean to intrude," the other said.
"We saw someone else's car behind yours and thought that since it was dark, you guys were probably in bed already." He jumped aside as his brother elbowed him and gave him a dirty look.
"Oww, T. Why the elbow?"
Andrew stood, offering Mikko a hand. "Boys, this is my good friend, Mikko. We decided to come back to the house tonight, rather than go to the gym." One of the twins snickered and then tried to look serious, without much success.
"Still haven't recovered," the young man asked, finding it difficult not to laugh. Mikko glanced aside at Andrew and pulled him closer with a hand around his waist.
"We'll get him whipped into shape in no time. Tonight, we're trying something different, as a change of pace."
"I like this guy," one of the twins said. "He's covering for you, Dad. He thought you'd be recovered enough for another round, but he's too polite to say something." He looked at Mikko in the flickering candlelight. "I'm right, aren't I?" Mikko merely grinned.
"The evening has just begun, guys. I'm not planning on holding your Dad's hand all evening." He stressed the word, hand, and grinned broadly.
"Now I know I'm liking this guy," Kerin crowed.
Andrew tried to regain control of the conversation. "For your information, Kerin, we were cuddling."
Kerin turned to his brother with a puzzled expression. "What's that," he asked in a stage whisper. "I don't think Dad's ever done that before . . . has he?"
"If not, he does it like a pro," Mikko chuckled, extending his hand in greeting and shaking the hands of both twins. "Hi men, your dad has told you my name, but I don't know yours."
Andrew spoke up, speaking sotto voce. "My sons, the unholy terrors. The vocal one with the bruises from his brother's elbow is called, Kerin. The nice one, is Thian." He seemed to be having difficulty not laughing as he spoke. "You can easily tell them apart. Thian . . . the nice one . . . usually has his mouth closed."
"Hey, I thought I was your favorite," Kerin complained. He seemed about ready to say something more but stopped and turned toward Mikko.
"Do you happen to have a son named, Leith? He mentioned his Dad's name, and it is the same as yours."
"Do you guys know one another?"
Kerin grinned. "Yeah, we went to dinner with him and his cousin tonight." He glanced quickly at his brother. "T has the hots for Leith." Both Mikko and Andrew turned toward Thian who shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable.
"Then, Brett must be your nephew," Kerin continued. Again, Mikko nodded slightly.
"And do one of you have the, hots for him?" Thian grinned and pointed to his brother, who uncharacteristically bowed his head and looked embarrassed.
~ to be continued ~
Thank you for taking the time to read my work. I've been amazed at how many of you have contacted me about 'Leith' and my other story, 'Phalen.' I always welcome your email and enjoy hearing your thoughts. If you would like me to send a pic of the character(s), please ask.
I have four other stories you may want to read. 'Phalen' and the story's sequel, 'Phalen - Finding Happiness', and 'Chris,' are located in the Nifty College Section. The fourth story is called 'Wesley', and is located in the Adult Relationships section. I hope you enjoy them all.
Best wishes,
Roy Reinikainen roynm@mac.com suomalainen_abq@mac.com