"You've been doing what?"

"I've been hanging out with Paul. You've even mentioned that it would be nice if we had some gay friends."

"But he kissed you!" Sonny begins projecting anger and jealousy that Will quickly picks up on.

Will sends such a quick shaft of frigid anger that Sonny has to catch his breath. "And you've done far more with Paul and I don't have a problem with it! Paul needed help being out. He's so used to hooking up in secret that he had a hard time going out in public just to meet guys."

"So, you've been mentoring Paul and simply being a friend to him?"

"That's right."

"Then why am I just finding out now?"

"Sonny, you've been so caught up in your new ideas for work and planning our wedding that you and I haven't had time for a conversation together."

"That's really it isn't it? I've been neglecting you and you're turning to Paul?" Sonny sees Will's eyes ice over but he doesn't feel the expected chill.

Will closes his eyes and takes several deep breaths. He opens his eyes and takes Sonny's hand and puts it over his own heart. Sonny feels the heat between them surge upwards as Will's heartbeat increases. Will squeezes Sonny's hand for attention. "Do you feel that thumping in my chest?" Sonny slowly nods. "That's my love for you. Do you feel how strong it is?" Sonny nods, tears starting to glimmer in his eyes. "This is our connection, Sonny. Our love for each other is so strong that we can feel what each other is feeling. We are soul-mates and that is a very rare love." Will lets go of Sonny's hand and puts his hands around the back of Sonny's head. He pulls his fiance into a full, deep, and highly heated kiss. Will pulls back but Sonny puckers his lips insistently until Will gives him another peck on the lips. "Now, can we discuss why I brought this up in the first place?"

"Okay." Sonny sinks into their couch and Will joins him.

"Paul has been seeing this one guy for a while and wants us to meet him. He's asked us to join him on a double date."

"Why didn't you say that in the first place? Of course, we'll go." Sonny gets poked in the chest by Will and they start chuckling together.

Will and Sonny have just arrived at The Penthouse Bar and Grill. Will is wearing a royal-blue suit over a white, dress-shirt. Sonny chose to wear a light gray suit with a charcoal-gray dress-shirt.

"Will. Sonny." Paul strides up to them. He's wearing a red, V-neck T-shirt under a navy suit. Another young man is holding his hand. He has chestnut hair and light caramel-colored eyes, and has chosen to wear black slacks, a light-blue sports coat, and a bright yellow, V-neck T-shirt. "Danny Stewart, this is Sonny Kiriakis and Will Horton." They all shake hands.

Dining and chatting together is relaxing and fun. Will's dinner is steak and fried shrimp with a side salad. Sonny has grilled tilapia with shrimp & broccoli linguine. Paul indulges in steak and a baked potato while Danny devours seasoned, grilled shrimp & veggie skewers..

Will talks about his writing and Sonny divulges his plans to open a nightclub and more coffeehouses. Paul speaks about how he is enjoying all his spare time and that he is catching up on activities he seldom had time for when playing baseball. Sonny and Will learn that Danny is attending Salem University and is a member of he swim-team.

The two couples meet back up at The Spot to do some dancing. While Paul and Sonny are decent dancers, Danny's and Will's moves eclipse those of their partners. They start getting competitive with each other and wind up in a sort of dance-off watched by a small audience. Paul and Sonny actually leave the dance-floor to watch their partners.

They decide to end the night at Common Grounds for coffee and individual cheesecakes from Abigail's Designer Edibles. They wind the evening down by discussing childhoods. Not wanting to bring the date down, Will skips over some details of his past.

When Danny says something endearing, Paul rewards him with a kiss. Will feels Sonny's hand squeeze the inside of his thigh. He catches Sonny's eyes and feels the temperature between them soar. He can see the love and desire in his fiance's eyes.

Back at their apartment, Sonny and Will throw their jackets over the back of the couch and grab bottles of water from the fridge. Sonny watches his fiance as he drinks from his bottle. Will is a little sloppy and a tiny rivulet of water runs from his mouth and travels down his chest and behind his gaping shirt. Since the dance-off, Sonny has not been able to stop thinking about Will. "He's not just cute and sexy. Despite his background, he's sweet and kind, smart, as well as surprisingly secure in his own skin (until something shakes him)."

Will has noticed Sonny staring at him so intently. He deliberately lets water dribble down his chest just to see Sonny's reaction. "Sonny, my hot and handsome, husband-to-be, who makes me feel secure and loved; two things I didn't think anyone else could make me feel." He allows Sonny to finish drinking his water before making his move. Closing the two steps between them, Will runs the back of his hand down Sonny's chest under the mostly open shirt. His fingers curl around the first still secured button and he pulls Sonny to the couch.

Will sits on the couch and Sonny climbs over him. They start heavily making out and their hands roam far and wide. Sonny realizes that his now open shirt is sliding down his arms. He frees his hands from the cuffs while Will's hands continue caressing his torso. Sonny leaves a trail of kisses down Will's chest as he relieves him of his shirt. Will toes off his shoes as Sonny takes hold of Will's belt. Shortly, Will is reclining naked on the couch and Sonny is exploring his body with hands, lips, and tongue. Sonny returns to Will's mouth to share a kiss.

"God, Babe. I love you so much. I really do."

"I know. I love you, too, My Heart."

Sonny doesn't realize he is now completely naked until Will is firmly stroking his manhood. "Has Will always been this slick or have I been that distracted?" He kneels upright on the couch, allowing Will to explore him freely. Sonny shudders in pleasure when one of Will's hands starts to finger his hole. Sonny's voice lowers in need, "W-Will, may I make love to you?"

Will's beautiful smile appears as he whispers, "Please."

~XXXX~

"I still don't understand why you are so calm, Will."

Will smiles and takes Sonny's face in his hands. "I love you. This is your big dream, My Heart. I trust that you're doing a wonderful job. It is my joy that I am the one you want to marry."

Sonny's heart meltsand he pulls Will in for a kiss. "Now, come on. We have appointments to make."

They are seated at a table in Abigail's Designer Edibles with an array of now empty plates before them.

"So, it's been decided?" their cousin asks. The couple nod. "A three tiered wedding cake. The bottom tier will be yellow cake with fudge, buttercream frosting. The second tier is French vanilla with fudge frosting and the top tier is dark chocolate, espresso with fudge frosting."

Will smiles and adds, "We want white chocolate trim, the white pillars, and the hand-holding grooms for the top." Abby smiles and tucks an errant lock of hair behind her ear before she ends writing her notes with a flourish.

Next on their agenda is the rental place to pick up their wedding tuxedos. When they first went there to order, they made one last change in their style. They both ordered black tuxes, white tuxedo shirts, and blue-violet vests with matching neckties. In keeping with tradition, they try on their tuxedos separately. They are both pleased with the fit and take the outfits with them. Their final stop of the day is for haircuts.

~XXXX~

Will comes from the bedroom into the living area while on the phone. "Yes, that sounds good. Thank you for the opportunity." Will disconnects and sits back on the couch.

"What's going on, Will?"

"I have accepted an interview assignment in the city for tomorrow."

"What? We're getting married in three days and you're going out of town?"

"Sonny, relax. I'll be back in time for dinner tomorrow night." Sonny opens his mouth, then snaps it shut before he throws himself on the couch. "What, Sonny?"

"I can't help thinking that you're not taking our wedding as seriously as I am."

Will picks up Sonny's hand and brings it to his lips. Sonny can see tears in Will's eyes, "Sonny my heart, what I'm doing is trying my damnedest not to screw this up and send you screaming away from our marriage." Sonny smiles brightly and pulls Will over to kiss him deeply.

Later that afternoon, Will is kicked back in a sitting area of the the Horton Town Square. He's dressed in a navy Henley shirt with white jeans and is snacking contentedly on fresh baked cookies and a small bottle of milk from is cousin's shop.

"May we join you, Will?" He looks up to see his future in-laws looming over him. Justin is wearing a scarlet pull-over and khaki pants. Adrienne is wearing a bright yellow top and reddish-brown slacks.

Will smiles warmly and gestures to the settee opposite his. "Sure."

Justin looks concerned, but Adrienne looks downright annoyed as she crosses her arms over her chest and crosses her legs with the top foot swinging. "Will, are you cheating on Sonny?"

"What?"

"I saw you the other day. You were coming out of the theater with a well-built, young man in a red tank-top and black shorts." She then huffs.

"Oh, that was Paul."

"Paul? You mean the man you interviewed, the one Sonny says kissed you."

Justin smirks and looks at Will. "Interviewed? You are hanging out with Paul Narita, then?"

"That's right."

Justin turns to his wife. "I introduced Sonny to Paul in San Francisco. I got the feeling they were going to start seeing each other."

Will chuckles at the confused look on Adrienne's face. "They did for several months, before Sonny came here to attend Salem U."

"Be that as it may. Will is still seeing another gay man behind Sonny's back."

Will is now struggling to control his temper. "You do know, Adrienne, that gay men can be friends without anything going on? And Sonny is quite aware that Paul and I are friends."

"That's right, Mom. And Will and I had a great time the other night when we double-dated with Paul and his boyfriend." Sonny comes up behind his parents. He's attired in a burgundy suit with a black shirt and a royal-blue necktie.

Will gets up to give Sonny a hug and kiss. "Hi. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting?"

"I was. Fortunately, it wrapped early. When I felt you getting upset, I had to find you to see what was going on. I'm glad I was able to get here before my fiance and my mom got into it." He glances at his mother disapprovingly.

Embarrassed, Adrienne stalks off. "Well, that backfired fabulously. Why did I even do that?"

Before catching up to his wife, Justin grasps each boy by an arm. "Did I understand you to say that you felt Will getting upset here all the way over at Common Grounds?"

"Only because his reaction was so strong and so nearby."

"That's a very strong connection you two have. Do you know how rare that is"

"We do, Dad. That's why communication is paramount in our relationship. We tell each other everything . . . eventually." He winks at Will.

~XXXX~

Will's eyes flutter open. The first thing he sees is Sonny watching him with his head propped up on one arm over their pillows.

"Hey, Babe. How's my soon-to-be-husband this morning?"

Will's full lips stretch into a broad grin. "Only two more days and you, Sonny Kiriakis, are officially mine forever." Sonny reaches out and pulls Will in so that they have full-body contact.

It's just a few short hours later and Will is running around, gathering all his writing materials together. He's a little out of focus because Sonny is still in bed and tantalizingly nude. Will leans over Sonny to kiss him good-bye. While doing so, he reaches down to give Sonny several strokes and pulls away. When Sonny whines, Will responds, "Now, YOU are distracted. I promise to finish what I started when I get home."

Sonny and Chad spend the afternoon having more meetings. Their expansion plans seem to be progressing swiftly.

When Sonny gets home, he puts together a homemade chicken and vegetable casserole. While that bakes, he cleans up the kitchen, picks up around the apartment, and sets the table.

Dinner is ready but Will still isn't home. Sonny goes to the bedroom and strips off his clothes. He runs out to the bathroom and starts a shower.

The first thing Will sees when he get home is dinner on the table with candles. His tender smile becomes wicked when he hears the rush of water from the shower. The clothes Will was wearing are piled on the couch as he heads for the bathroom.

Sonny is rinsing his hair, so he doesn't hear Will enter. He's only slightly startled when he feels hands massaging his shoulders and lips peppering his neck with kisses. He does look back to confirm that it's Will. "Hey, there. That feels good."

Will hooks his chin over Sonny's shoulder as his hands glide around and down the front of Sonny's torso. His hands take hold of Sonny swelling shaft. "I believe I have a promise to fulfill," he growls into his fiance's ear.

Sonny has been thinking about Will's promise off and on all day. He was glad to be seated at the meetings. Very shortly, Sonny's hand squeezes Will's thigh for support as he throws his head back, brushing Will's ear. He thrusts into Will's hands and they both watch as the results wash down the drain. Recovering quickly, Sonny turns around and pushes Will against the rear wall of the shower. Kneeling on the floor, Sonny takes Will's manhood into his hot, wet mouth.

Both men had worked up quite an appetite and the casserole dish is emptied. During the meal, Will extols the details of his interview without giving away the direction of the article.

"Her name is Iris McGuire and she has this fantastic life. She became a teen model in the 1960's and didn't retire until she fell in love and married in the 1980's. Her husband was Dirk Wiley, an heir to a shipping company fortune. He didn't work for the company but was a genius investor. He died a few years later when he drowned in their pool while diving drunk during a party. She moved on with her charities and high-powered functions, but she never re-married."

"Sounds like it'll be a great article, Will."

~XXXX~

They part the next morning with a kiss outside their apartment door. Sonny is going to the workout center to do some climbing. Will drives off so he can run around the park and the square. They meet back at home for breakfast.

Sonny and Will are not having a bachelor party, so they are spending the entire day together. They chose to do this because Sonny will be staying at the mansion tonight. "It's tradition," he says.

They join Sonny's family for lunch. Will thinks Sonny seems to glow under the proud gazes of his father and great-uncle.

Adrienne is unusually reserved and quiet. She has been keenly observing her son with his fiance. "They really do seem to be a great couple, and so handsome together," she thinks.

Their afternoon is spent at the Salem Inn where Will's family is staying for the wedding. The young couple talk with EJ and Sami for a while, then spend time playing with Allie, Johnnie, and Sydney. Both Sonny and Will privately come to the conclusion that his partner would make a great father.

From there, they head to Lucas' room. At first, they are a little uncomfortable being there since Will has so little contact with his dad who works abroad. They are soon set at ease when Lucas gathers them both into a hug and tells Will that he only wants his son to be happy.

At the pub for dinner, Sonny orders the fish and chips plate while Will has the chowder. The two link hands and gaze into each other's eyes. Marlena and John join them for coffee. They are accompanied by Paul and Danny.

All too soon for Will, he and Sonny are back at their apartment where Sonny packs for his overnight away from his fiance. They share a very tender kiss goodnight. Not once during their day together did they notice the drably dressed man in sunglasses following them and taking photographs.

Late that night at the Wiley Estate, the private detective is completing his report to Iris McGuire. "And tomorrow afternoon, William will be marrying his fiance, Sonny."

"Sunny? Some bottle-blonde with gravity defying breasts no doubt."

He hands her a photo of the couple walking in the square holding hands. "No, ma'am. Sonny is Jackson Kiriakis, a local entrepreneur."

"Did you say Kiriakis, as in Victor Kiriakis?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, he is Victor Kiriakis' great-nephew."

"Well, well. At least William has taste. I had a brief fling with Victor before I met Dirk. Alas, poor Sonny. William is young; he can be retrained." Iris clutches an old photo-album to her chest.

The detective holds his tongue. He wants to be paid.

~XXXX~

When out of town on assignment, Will never sleeps well. "Sleeping without Sonny in our own bed is impossible!" Alone in the dark, he also finds himself getting nervous. "There's been such a history of disrupted weddings and short-lived marriages in my family. I want to be the one to break that chain. I want Sonny to be my one and only husband for the rest of our lives." Will gets up and heads for the desk. "Might as well put the time to good use and work on my article."

A few hours later, Will is actually pleased with what he's accomplished. He prints out a hard copy and sends an electronic copy to the magazine's offices. Looking at the time, Will gets up, retrieves a garment bag from the closet and lays out is tuxedo on the bed. He dresses for a run and heads for his car.

Will has finished his cool down routine and heads for his car. He throws his T-shirt over the back of his seat to absorb the sweat, buckles up and is about to start the ignition when he hears a voice.

"Let me in." Will turns to his right and sees an arm inside his lowered passenger window with a gun trained on him. He releases the door lock and the gun-wielder gets in the car.

"Ms. McGuire?"

"Hello, darling. Let's go home."

TBC