Snapshots of a Love Affair

by Olivia Sutton

part 7

Two years later, Jeff and Marty are 26

Jeff , wearing his best suit and sitting in the fanciest restaurant that he and Marty could afford, smiled at Marty who sat across from him looking stunning in his black suit and tie.

Jeff raised his champagne glass, then said, "To our tenth anniversary!"

Marty smiled, and raised his own glass, toasting Jeff, "Ten years!"

Jeff sipped champagne from the glass, then set the glass down, smiled, again and took his lover's hand.

Marty returned Jeff's gesture, squeezing his hand on the table. He smiled back at Jeff.

"Marty, I would like to ask you something."

"Sure, Jeff, What is it?"

Jeff took a deep breath, then asked, "Will you marry me, Marty?"

"What? Jeff, we can't... they won't allow it, you know that."

"No, actually, what I meant was a commitment ceremony, Marty. We can exchange rings and vows. In front of family and friends, if you want. Privately, if you don't."

"Is that what you want, Jeff?"

"Marty! We've been lovers for ten years! I love you so much, that I want the world to know how I feel. That we are together, Marty."

"Do you need a ring for that, Jeff?"

"It would be nice, Marty." Then he telepathed to his lover, We've been through everything and more, Marty. I went to counselling with you, twice, now. Once before we became lovers, and again for most of last year, well, two years ago, I mean, it started two years ago,

Marty interrupted Jeff's flustered thoughts, I know what you're talking about, Jeff. I was there. For all of it. We're through that now.

Jeff briefly send feelings of agreement, then he continued sending thoughts to his partner, We will be together forever, Marty. I don't need a ring to know that. To feel your love and absolute devotion to me. I don't think I need a ring to let you know about my own feelings of love, either, Jeff flooded Marty with emotion, But it would be nice to tell you, in front of my family, and our friends, exactly how much I care about, love, and adore you, Marty.

"Yes, Jeff. I'll marry you," Marty smirked at the word, "I'll commit myself to you, formally, Jeff. In front of family and friends. I committed myself to you, when we were sixteen. May as well do it with all the glory."

Jeff grinned widely. "Thank you, Marty. I'm so glad you want this too!" Marty, let's get through the rest of dinner quickly though. I want to go home and... Jeff sent Marty an explicit image.

Marty turned red, "Jeff!"

"Marty, you look adorable when you're embarrassed!"

The day of the commitment ceremony

Anna Randall sat at the dressing table, in her hotel suite, staring at her reflection in the mirror, as she fastened her pearl necklace around her neck. The pearls fell against her green chiffon "groom's mother" dress, and she smiled to herself, thinking to herself.

Anna sighed, remembering back to raising her son, Jeffrey. She had married herself, late, at age thirty, and she had been completely in love with her husband, Archie. They had planned to have a large family, and Anna had been pleased to discover she was pregnant, within months of her wedding. Their first son was born, and they had named him "Jeffrey", after Archie's best mate. But when Jeffrey was two, Archie had died, suddenly. Anna had raised Jeff herself, entering the job market as a waitress, while attending nursing school at night. The first few years without her husband had been difficult, but once she graduated, she moved to the north of England with her son, to take a well-paid nursing position. She had eventually bought a semi-detached house, and Jeff had attended the local comprehensive school.

Anna shook her head, trying to stop the reminiscences, as she clipped pearl earrings to her ears, but more memories flooded her mind. When he was eleven, Jeff had brought home a new mate from school, Marty Hopkirk, whom Jeff had introduced as, "He's me mate. Mum, he doesn't have a Dad, either. We have so much in common!", Anna had smiled, though at the time she's chastised Jeff's rudeness at the way he had casually mentioned that Marty's father was also deceased. But the commonality had been the first stone in building a friendship and later a relationship, that had lasted until this day. And now Anna Randall was getting herself ready for her son's commitment ceremony, to his best mate and, Anna knew, long-time lover, Marty Hopkirk.

Anna stood in hotel's garden, which had been decorated for a wedding, guests filled the chairs in the garden, and a platform had been set-up at the front. There was a hush, and the guests stood, as Marty and Jeff approached the platform from opposite directions, to the sound of a organ playing. Both Marty and Jeff, looked dashing, wearing formal black tuxedos, and both were glowing with happiness. Anna smiled. The two men stopped in the center of the garden, and faced each other. The guests of the commitment ceremony were hushed, then sat down.

Jeff took Marty's hand, and smiled. You ready for this?

Marty took Jeff's hand and smiled back. Yes! Now that we're finally here... Jeff, I want to do this even more than you do.

Good. I love you, Marty.

I love you too, now let's get started before our guests start to wonder.

Jeff smiled and then said, clearly and loudly, "I, Jeffrey Randall, take thee, Martin Hopkirk, to be my life partner. Forsaking all others, I dedicate and commit myself to him, and him alone."

Marty smiled, then said to Jeff, "I, Martin Hopkirk, take thee, Jeffrey Randall, to be my life partner. Forsaking all others, I dedicate and commit myself to him, and him alone."

Jeff smiled, then said, "Marty, we have been together for ten years now, and mates since we were eleven years old. I love you. I give myself to you and you alone as my partner. I will honour you and cherish you, as long as we both shall live. I promise to be there for you, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or for poorer, as long as we both shall live. Marty, I promise to lift you when you are down, support you when you need me, and to celebrate with you all the happiness in your life, as long as we both shall live."

Marty smiled, then said, "Jeff, we have been together for ten years now, and mates since we were eleven years old. I love you. I give myself to you and you alone as my partner. I will honour you and cherish you, as long as we both shall live. I promise to be there for you, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or for poorer, as long as we both shall live. Jeff, I promise to lift you when you are down, support you when you need me, and to celebrate with you all the happiness in your life, as long as we both shall live."

A tear ran down Jeff's face, then he took the gold and onyx ring that he and Marty had picked out, and slipped it on Marty's finger, "This ring symbolises our love, and our commitment to each other, and to each other alone, forsaking all others. I place this ring on your finger, Marty, to seal us as life partners."

Marty smiled at Jeff, then took an identical gold and onyx ring, and slipped it on Jeff's finger, "This ring symbolises our love, and our commitment to each other, and to each other alone, forsaking all others. I place this ring on your finger, Jeff, to seal us as life partners."

Jeff smiled, then hugged Marty, kissing him chastely. Marty hugged Jeff, kissing him back, in a slightly less chaste fashion. Loud music played from the organ, and Jeff and Marty walked out of the garden together.

Anna smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes. The reception followed the ceremony immediately, dinner and wedding cake, followed by a night of dancing. Later that evening, Anna watched again, as Jeff and Marty danced their first dance of the night, together. Her son, leaned his head against Marty's shoulder, and Marty held him close, dancing with him to the soft, romantic music. Anna smiled again, knowing that her son and his partner loved each other and would be together, as they had said in their ceremony, as long as they both did live.

Jeff pushed open the door to their flat, tearing off his tuxedo suitcoat. Marty, immediately behind him, turned to close and lock the door. When he turned back around, Jeff was standing near the couch, his suitcoat thrown over the arm of the couch, his shirt unbuttoned and loose, and his bowtie undone and draped around his neck. Marty smiled, and flew to his lover, now partner, kissing him hard, darting his tongue into Jeff's mouth.

Jeff returned the kiss, running his hands along his partner's shoulders, then pulled Marty on top of him onto the couch. "Take me, Marty! Take me, please!"

Marty covered Jeff, kissing him and petting him, "I love it when you're aggressive, Jeff!"

"Take me, Marty. I've wanted to get you out of that monkey suit and into bed all night. Now come on!"

Marty covered Jeff with kisses, and ran his fingers along his chest, "Everything's upstairs, Jeff."

Jeff nodded, then took Marty's tuxedo suitcoat off. Then let's get in the bedroom. NOW, Marty. God, I don't think I can stand one more second without you inside me.

Marty grinned, then reluctantly left Jeff's arms and ran up the stairs to the bedroom, shedding clothes as he went.

"Marty!" yelled Jeff, racing upstairs behind his mate.

Jeff caught up to Marty in the bedroom. He sent, I'm right behind you, Marty! I'm going to grab you! knowing that his lover and partner still sometimes reacted to someone coming up behind him.

Marty turned and threw his arms around Jeff. I knew you were there, Jeff. But thanks for the warning. I appreciate it.

Marty, I would never intentionally scare you. And I try like hell, not to do it unintentionally. NOW, will you take me?

Marty grabbed Jeff in his arms, and swooped him over to the bed. Jeff fell onto the bed. Marty stripped off Jeff's trousers and pants, then kissed Jeff's back tenderly, before reaching into the bedside table for their scented oil. He rubbed the oil onto Jeff's arse and himself, then entered Jeff, making love to him with gentle strokes.

Finally, Marty came, slid out of his lover, and bent to kiss Jeff's shoulders. My turn, MRS. HOPKIRK

Funny, Marty! Jeff rolled over and pulled Marty to him. Guess that makes you, MRS. RANDALL, eh?

Nah, that's still your mother, Jeff!

Jeff felt Marty's laughter in his mind, and pulled him closer to himself, kissing him passionately, darting his tongue into Marty's mouth. Marty grabbed Jeff and rolled on the bed, until Jeff was above him. Take me, Jeff, and be gentle.

"What?" exclaimed Jeff, looking into his partner's bright blue eyes below him.

I want you to enjoy making love to me, tonight, Jeff. I want it gentle, it's been awhile since I've had it really gentle.

Marty? Jeff flooded his lover, now partner, with confusion.

You know I normally like it rougher than you do, Jeff. You give me that, now, without thinking about it. I've... I've worked to put aside the need for real pain, the need to be hit, and now I want to do this. I want you to be as gentle with me as I always am with you. Please, Jeff. Take me, and be gentle. I love you! Then Marty rolled over, facing the mattress.

Jeff lowered himself onto Marty, and kissed his shoulders, tears in his eyes. Oh, Marty! I'm so happy for you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much for giving me this!

Marty turned on his elbow, reaching out for Jeff, "Jeff, it's all right! It's all right, Jeff." Marty flooded Jeff with reassurances, Jeff, you remember our sessions last year. I know you do. Marty cupped Jeff's face in his hand, Jeff, it's not a sacrifice on my part. It's not. I've thought about it and... I want it gentle, tonight. It's what I want, for us both. We worked through everything, Jeff, and I might ask for it rough again, I might ask for that, tomorrow, but tonight, please... be gentle.

Jeff nodded, then kissed Marty softly, Marty, I love you so!

I know, now, Jeff, please enter me. It is our wedding night, and... I've wanted you in me as much as you wanted me in you. Come on, Jeff, please, take me!

Jeff nodded, then found the oil. He massaged Marty shoulders and back, kissing him often, then poured the oil on Marty's arse. Jeff oiled his own penis, and softly entered his partner, gently thrusting into him, whilst flooding Marty with his own feelings of love, trust, and tenderness. Marty sent Jeff his own feelings in return, flooding Jeff with his own feelings of love, friendship, trust, and passion.