Page 86 of Bulletproof
Travis watched Derek over his shoulder. “Part of my diagnosis was a full medical evaluation.”
Derek froze, arm still extended. “What?”
“I was tested. I’m negative.”
Derek gulped. Never again would he curse Felix for his annoying mandatory post-tour health checks. “So am I. I had a physical when we got back from the tour. Felix makes us—”
“Derek.” Travis smiled. “Stop talking about Felix and ditch the damn condom.”
Derek threw the condomto the floor, as if it burned his fingers. Still straddling Travis’ legs, they kissed hungrily with anticipation. He took the globes of Travis’ ass in his hands and kissed each side, before spreading it and licking a beautiful trail around Travis’ hole down to his sac. He pushed one lubed finger inside, and then another. Once he made sure Travis was open and ready, he slathered his cock withlubrication and paused with his tip at Travis’ entrance. The moment wasn’t to be rushed, and he needed to stop and note what it meant to both of them. Travis had offered his virginity, which in itself was the ultimate act of intimacy. Now this union of bodies, without any barrier between them, would bring them even closer and seal their connection. Bond them together. As he slipped deep inside, warmthenveloped him. They both sighed, and Derek knew they were meant to be together through good times and bad. “I love you,” he said, on an exhale.
“I love you more,” Travis said, pressing back on his knees.
Derek knew the “more” didn’t mean Travis’ love was greater than Derek’s. It meant that Travis loved him more now because Derek was the reason Travis sought to get well.Holding onto Travis’ hip with one hand, Derek lightly traced the tattoo on Travis’ butt cheek with his index finger. Bulletproof. The word was never more fitting. Everything that Travis had been through in his life, all that he’d overcome – on his own, without anyone’s pressure to seek professional help – were all testaments to the man’s inner strength and fortitude. He had hit rock bottom, losteverything that mattered to him, and got it all back. It was a complete turn on to be with someone who held such powerful motivation, and he let out a deep sigh filled with gratitude.
They had been apart longer than they’d been together, but the lengthy absence made no difference. Their bodies aligned expertly, remembering what it felt like to fit together so perfectly. Derek knewthe slow steady pace that Travis preferred, and his hips moved as if on autopilot. Their thrusts held a steady beat, like a metronome. Their minds were in tune, their bodies in harmony.
Each movement caused their breaths to deepen until mounting sensations and loud panting necessitated a faster momentum. Derek reached for Travis’ cock and pumped it in time to his thrusting hips.
In seconds, Travis started bucking and grunting, arching his back for deeper penetration. “Fuuuk!” he cried out, as warm cum shot through Derek’s fingers.
Still fisting Travis’ spurting cock, Derek propelled his hips harder, deeper and faster, until waves of pleasure overtook him and he released himself inside the man he loved. Languidly, he moved his cock in and out,feeling the velvety coating that tied them together, and he reflected on how much Travis had affected him. “You, Travis Fontana, are an amazing man, who changed my life in many, many ways,” Derek said with a sigh, as he disengaged their bodies. Too exhausted to visit the bathroom, he wiped himself with the sheet, and they moved to the clean side of the bed.
“You’re the one who changedmy life,” Travis whispered. “I’m so happy we met.”
“Me, too.” Derek placed a lazy kiss on Travis’ lips and let out a loud yawn. He rested his head on Travis’ chest, and touched the dragon tattoo that stared up at him from Travis’ ribcage. He traced the hard muscles beneath the colorful ink, languishing in a cocoon of bliss. With his gaze directed at Travis’ lower body, his contentmentwaned, as he had no choice but to stare directly at the ragged scars below Travis’ navel and on his upper thighs. They glared back at him, saying,look at me!He had purposely chosen not to speak of them in the past, forced himself not to see them. But today, they screamed for recognition. Still unsure how to approach the subject, his finger glided below Travis’ waist and over one of the menacingscars, waiting for Travis to initiate the dialogue.
“Thank you for not asking me about them,” Travis said, in a low embarrassed voice.
Derek’s eyes shot to Travis’.
“I know you wanted to.” A hint of pink flamed on Travis’ cheeks. “I saw your face the first time we were together and I made you look at me.”
“You wanted me to see them,” Derek stated.It wasn’t a question.
Travis nodded. “Yeah. I needed you to see what you were getting into. I needed to give you an out if you wanted to run, but I was too ashamed to explain. So I just thought I’d show you.”
“I didn’t want to run. The thought never crossed my mind. It made me want to take care of you. I knew they were old, healed scars, and I wanted to kiss each one.”Derek bent his head and placed his lips against one of the marks. “I still do.”
Travis let out a deep exhale of breath and placed his fingers through Derek’s hair, resting his palm tenderly on Derek’s scalp. “Thank you for always loving me.”
“It’s impossible not to.” Derek wrapped his arms around Travis’ waist, tighter than ever before, and rested his head on Travis’chest.
“I started cutting on my seventh birthday,” Travis said, softly. “I remember getting the razor from the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and staring at the light reflecting off the stainless steel.” He paused. “I don’t remember the first cut. I remember the reason, though. It was another year that no one wished me a Happy Birthday. Or even acknowledged it.” Another moment passedbefore he spoke. “I didn’t stop until I was 13.”
Six years. What the hell could have happened to a seven-year-old boy to make him even think of inflicting such self-harm and pain? The thought made Derek queasy and angry, equally. “Did anyone know? That you cut?”
“No one knew.No one. I only marked the skin under my board shorts. And I never got undressed in front of anyone.When I started having sex, I kept the lights completely off. Sometimes I even left my drawers on. You’re the first person I let see me. I needed you to know how fucked up I am. Was.” He corrected himself. “Before it got complicated.”
Derek propped himself up on one elbow, empathy filling him with torment and frustration, and looked Travis in the eye. “I hate that they’re there. Ihate that you needed to do that to yourself. I hate that no one knew or noticed. I hate that I wasn’t there to stop you or protect you.” His tone softened. “But they’re part of you and made you who you are today. So, I love them for making you,you.” He kissed Travis deeply, conveying all his love and passion. “Thank you for trusting me and showing me. I want you to know that it wouldn’t havemattered if they were fresh scars. It wouldn’t have changed how much I wanted to be with you. I would have gotten you help. Thank you for sharing something very private with me. You have no idea how special you make me feel.”
“You are very special, Derek. You’re more important to me than anyonein the world.” Travis gazed at Derek, overcome with the love this man had for him. Derek saw past the flaws, the ugliness, and the weaknesses. Never overstepping boundaries. Never pushing for answers or explanations. Never judging. This man saw past Travis’ damaged outer shell with its cracks and blemishes, and saw the person that lived inside Travis’ heart – the person who wanted to be set free.Derek saw . . . him. A sigh of relief at finally being able to be himself around someone left Travis’ lungs and turned into a soft sob, which he quickly disguised as a moan. He threw his arm over his eyes to hide the tears blurring his vision, and concentrated on the here and now. Letting go of all the clutter in his head, he was free to just feel, and he felt every pore vibrating with high voltage,transmitted from the man lying next to him, who made him feel more alive than he’d ever felt in his life. It was a rebirth. A metamorphosis. He felt like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, the ugliness washed away by the remarkable man next to him.
Travis slipped out of bed, slid openthe sliding glass doors, and took in the picturesque landscape in front of him. It was the one remnant of beauty from his past sleepless nights that he didn’t want to let go of. Nature always called to him, with its pristine, unblemished purity. At this elevation, it was as if he was standing parallel with the clouds. It was the first time he’d seen the sunrise from the balcony of Derek’s mansion,and it was exquisite. He ran into the bedroom and smiled at his sleeping lover, face buried in the pillow, oblivious to the magnificent scenery that sprawled across the horizon. Travis placed a long kiss on Derek’s lips and received a delicious moan in return.
Derek slowly blinked awake. “Are you just coming to bed?”
“No. I rarely have trouble sleeping anymore. I setthe alarm on my phone because I didn’t want to miss the sunrise, and I want to share it with you.”
