he took a gulp of his beer and eyed Danny who was checking him out from feet to knees.

“You want some music?” Brian asked. “I’ve got speakers out here.” He was nervous.

“Have you got any Elton John?” Danny asked.

“A classics man, I like that. I’ll be right back,” Brian said.

Inside he took a few deep breaths as he put in a couple Elton John CD’s and hit the button that piped it out to the deck.

The sun had finally set when he returned to the deck. The last bit of scarlet faded from the sky when he’d turned on the tracer lights strung around the railing.

“This is nice,” Dan said as he leaned on the railing. Brian tucked himself in the corner, one leg up on the two by four behind his calf.

“Can I admit something?” Danny asked, almost stumbling over his words.

“Please do,” Brian said as Dan let his eyes fall and he turned to face the dark yard.

Sensing what he was going to say and his shyness, Brian put his beer on the railing and took two steps so he was standing behind Dan and gripped his shoulder.

Danny felt every molecule of his being vibrate, his knees felt weak. His dream was coming true. “I…I haven’t been able to get you off my mind Bri.”

“Neither have I,” Brian said moving his body closer to Danny and putting his other hand on his opposite shoulder.

“For so long I’ve thought about you and wondering if this would ever happen.” He turned around and was standing inches from Brian, their noses almost touching.

The air was heavy with anticipation, an intoxicating blend of unbridled sex and longing. Brian leaned in closer, his nose touching Dan’s. Dan’s eyes half closed as he tilted his head to the side and leaned in until he felt Brian’s lip barely touch his then meld together in a quick kiss. Danny pulled back and opened his glazed eyes. Brian felt it too. He could barely keep his eyes open, yet he couldn’t take them off Dan. How many nights he’d dreamt of this.

He put his arms around Danny who softly whimpered as he leaned in to kiss Brian. His hands softly running up and down Brian’s heavily tattooed arms and moving over his bare shoulder blades, running his fingers under the armholes of his tank top.

As they kissed, Danny reached down and grabbed for the bottom of Brian’s tank top, pulling it up. Brian leaned back and raised his arms up as Dan slid the top over his head and dropped it by their feet. He stared at the tattoos on Brian’s chest. Elaborate scenes of dragons and demons adorned Brian’s well-developed pecs. Danny softly traced the black outlines as he said, “They’re beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you,” Brian replied leaning in for another kiss. Danny opened his mouth on Brian’s, their tongues dueling. Brian pulled back slightly to suck on the tip of Danny’s tongue before pulling him close in a tight embrace.

“This is why I’m getting divorced,” Danny said.

“I’m sorry,” Brian whispered, wishing he could take all the hurt away.

“That was even better than what I’d imagined,” Danny said in a guttural whisper.

“Thanks,” Brian replied with a smirk as he reached for his beer and