Marry Me G. Hauser (the chimp paradox .TXT) 📖

nightstand inside his favorite romance novel. He looked at

it in the evening before bed and it made him smile.

Braxton gave Fabian a sly grin.

“What?” Fabian asked.

“Men getting married. I guess I thought the whole benefit to

being with a man was you didn’t have to do all that crazy

straight stuff.”

“You don’t. No one does.”

“Do you want kids?”

“No. You?”

“Nope.”

The intercom buzzer sounded and Fabian hopped up and

pushed the button to speak. “Third floor. I’ll meet you in the

hall.” He picked up the cash he had placed near the door and

turned to Braxton. “Be right back.”

Braxton nodded.

~

While Fabian met the pizza delivery person, Braxton picked

up both wine glasses and brought them to the kitchen to refill.

Once he had, he took a look around the simple home, thinking

about Fabian and his life, enjoying just talking with him, getting

to know him.

Braxton hadn’t given anyone time to share themselves with

him. Most people were a bore, or spoke of nothing but reality TV

and complained non-stop. Either that or they wanted something.

Something other than what he was willing to give.

Picking up the glass to sip, he stood in front of the

refrigerator and inspected several colorful magnets from

different states and countries, assuming Fabian had bought them

as souvenirs.

A photo was pinned to it by a few small round magnets.

Braxton took a closer look. It appeared to be a family shot on a

skiing outing. Fabian, in his wool cap, his cheeks rosy, had a

dazzling smile.

“Mm.” Braxton touched it lightly. “So fucking hot.”

The door to the apartment opened and Braxton turned to see

Fabian carrying the pizza box. Immediately the aroma of

pepperoni and cheese filled the place.

“Where are your plates?” Braxton asked, setting his stemmed

glass down.

“Up there.” Fabian indicated with a tilt of his head and once

he put the pizza on the table he removed forks and knives from a

drawer.

“So, you’re a skier?” Braxton put two ceramic plates on the

table.

“I don’t go very often. Why?”

“The photo on the fridge.” Braxton placed both wine glasses

near the plates. “Is that your family?”

“Yes. We were in Tahoe.”

Nodding, Braxton sat beside Fabian as he opened the lid of

the cardboard box and took a slice.

“Looks decent. I hate eating all this grease, but I’m starving.”

“I think if you work out every day, you can treat yourself.”

Fabian folded the slice and blew on it as it steamed.

“I treat myself too much. And I’m in agony from this

morning’s workout.”

“I don’t get sore anymore.”

“You would if you had my trainer.” Braxton shook his head.

“He keeps changing the routine, so my muscles never get used to

anything.”

“Ah. I get it. My routine’s the same all the time. I like it.”

“I hate mine, but it’s a must. I’d go nuts without it.” Braxton

met Fabian’s eyes. “More nuts.”

Fabian laughed and took a bite, nodding his head at the flavor

of the pizza. “Good.”

Enjoying this evening so much more than he’d anticipated,

Braxton reached out and caressed Fabian’s hair, then smiled at

him and ate his slice of pizza.

Fabian’s smile dropped slightly and he said, “I really like

you.”

“I really like you too.”

“Have you ever said that to someone before?”

“No.” Braxton chuckled. “I never had a second date before.”

“That can’t be true.”

Braxton shrugged. “Why would I lie?”

“One thousand first dates?”

“Something like that.”

“Have…have you ever caught anything? Ya know.”

“No. I always take precautions.” Braxton sipped his wine and

asked, “You?”

“No. Nothing. I haven’t had many partners and always used

protection.”

“Good.” Braxton assumed he was the dirty one of the two and

didn’t doubt Fabian. “I suppose we should have had this

conversation on Thursday.”

“You did use a condom.”

“I did. I always will.”

Fabian set his slice down and wiped his mouth. “Even if

you’re in a committed relationship?”

“Probably. What if the guy cheats?”

“Wow. So you’ve never had sex without a condom?”

“Yes. With myself.” He smiled.

“No, seriously, Braxton. Never?”

“Never.” Braxton met Fabian’s eyes.

“What if the man earned your trust?”

“How would a man do that?”

Fabian reached for Braxton and tenderly touched his jaw. He

drew Braxton to his lips and kissed him lightly.

Tingles rushed over Braxton’s body. He stared at Fabian as

Fabian sat back and resumed eating.

A sensation of meeting fate head-on hit Braxton. Like he had

been waiting for Fabian all his life. The minute the thought

passed through his mind, he shook it off as sappy and ridiculous.

Quietly, Fabian ate his meal, giving Braxton sweet smiles

between bites.

~

Fabian cleared up the plates as Braxton crushed the pizza

box, throwing it out. Once he had finished tidying up, Fabian

asked, “You want to relax on the couch?”

“Sure.” Braxton dropped down on the same spot he had been

before and picked up a magazine from the coffee table.

Fabian sat beside him, not leaving a space. He ran his hand

up Braxton’s muscular thigh and enjoyed touching him.

“You actually read these things?” Braxton turned the

magazine to face Fabian.

“I buy them on impulse once and a while at the grocery store

checkout line. That one had Alex and Billy on the cover so I

couldn’t resist.”

Braxton tossed it back on the table. “A twenty year age gap?

That’s a lose-lose proposition. Top that off with Alexander being

in the acting biz? Good luck.”

“Such a pessimist.” Fabian crawled closer to Braxton, over

his bent knee. They stared at each other intensely.

Braxton caressed Fabian’s hair.

“Too full to play?”

“Just right.”

Fabian crept closer and kissed Braxton. He gently

reciprocated and snaked his arms around Fabian. They kissed

lovingly for a while, Fabian caressing Braxton’s leg and Braxton

cupping his head through his hair.

After a long moment, Fabian leaned back. “I think we can

move to the bedroom now.”

“Really? I’m enjoying this.” Braxton smiled teasingly.

“Mm.” Fabian crawled into his arms, resting his head on

Braxton’s shoulder. In reaction, Braxton held him tight,

caressing his back and neck. God! I can so fall in love with you!

Fabian closed his eyes and imagined them together. Why

couldn’t life be this easy?

Marry me.

He wanted to say that. After one week? Am I insane?

Yes!

He sniffed Braxton’s shirt, making him chuckle.

“Do I stink?”

“You smell so damn good I want to roll on you like a dog.”

“On shit?”

Fabian sat up so he could see Braxton’s expression. “That’s

their nirvana.”

“True.” Braxton traced Fabian’s lips. “Got a better idea than

bed.”

“Do you? What could be