Will smiled shyly at Paul across a table in the Brady Pub. After, Will looked at his watch.
"Crap," Will spat out. He was almost late picking up Ari.
"Going somewhere?" Paul asked.
Paul looked at his own watch with surprise. He had been sitting in this dinky, run down pub with Will for hours.
"I'm gonna be so late," Will breathed.
Quickly, Will cleared off Paul's table. He topped off everyone's drinks at the nearby tables and made sure everyone was comfortable. Thankfully, the evening staff had arrived.
Paul observed Will bustling all over the place. Somehow Will managed to entertain Paul and mask probing questions. All while Will watched over an entire restaurant.
"It looks like there's a group of people coming in," Will remarked. He walked over towards Paul.
Paul looked over his shoulder and saw a crowd hovering outside the door. Automatically, his hand pulled his hat down lower over his face.
"Let's go," Will grabbed Paul's elbow. "You can come with me around back."
"What do I owe you for the burger?" Paul asked. He reached into his jeans for his wallet.
"Huh?" Will moved into the back office. "It's fine. You're my guest."
"I insist," Paul urged. He held out a $20 bill to Will.
"Well, it's definitely not that much," Will chuckled. He gathered his jacket and laptop bag. His phone blinked inside his coat pocket with several missed messages.
"Consider it a tip for excellent service," Paul remarked.
"I guess you weren't kidding. You do spend money without thinking," Will mumbled.
"I know a good thing when I see it," Paul answered in a soft voice.
Paul took a step closer to Will.
Will, distracted putting on his jacket, looked up to see Paul right in front of him.
'Oh,' Will inhaled through his nose sharply.
"Here," Paul shoved the twenty into Will's jacket pocket.
Paul slunk away, lips curling into a smile.
"Thanks," Will swallowed. "Um, tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" Paul asked politely with a hint of a smirk.
Will shook his head, focusing.
"Could we meet again tomorrow?" Will tried again.
"Sure," Paul confirmed. "Here?"
"Okay," Will agreed.
Will stared a Paul for a moment before turning away.
"I'll show you the back way," Will divulged.
Paul followed Will down a hallway. He saw a set of stairs and wondered where they led.
Paul was looking forward to another meeting with Will.
'I didn't even get to find out about the wedding, kidnapping,' Paul smiled to himself.
It was only when Paul walked away that Will realized he didn't write anything Paul said down. He didn't record anything. He spent the whole afternoon with Paul and never once thought about the interview.
"Sorry, I'm late," Will told the babysitter. "I got caught up at the pub."
"It was ten minutes, Will," the woman smiled. "I can handle it. Besides, she slept most of the afternoon."
"If you come by the pub," Will offered. "Your next meal is on me."
"Deal," she nodded. "Arianna, Daddy's here!"
Ari came skidding to a halt in the front hall.
"Daddy," Ari shrieked happily.
Will lifted her into his arms.
"There's my beautiful girl," Will kissed over her face. "Daddy missed you."
Ari threw her arms around Will and smooshed her face against him.
The babysitter handed Will Ari's bag and held the door open for them.
"Don't forget," the woman reminded Will. "I can only watch her until noon tomorrow."
"Sure," Will smiled in acknowledgement. "I won't forget. Thank you!"
"Should we go home, Ari?" Wil asked.
Ari nodded several times.
"Can you say it?" Will pressed, encouraging her to use her words.
"…'es," Ari responded.
"Good job," Will held Ari securely as they headed home.
Will's phone buzzed in his pocket, ignored.
"Come on," Sonny groaned before hanging up.
Sonny paced back and forth in the apartment. He nearly tripped over a stray giraffe toy.
'Why isn't he answering?' Sonny grasped his phone, squeezing until his knuckles turned white.
Ever since Chad ranted and raved in their office, Sonny couldn't get the idea out of his head.
'Will is interviewing someone famous and secretive.' Sonny kicked the toy aside and continued pacing. 'A male someone in a baseball hat.'
Sonny recalled the hat Paul wore the last time they saw each other.
'It's Paul. I know it's Paul. Will is interviewing Paul,' Sonny threw his phone on the couch and buried his head in his hands. 'Oh god, this can't be happening.'
Sonny collapsed on the couch, holding onto his head.
'This isn't, Will can't,' Sonny couldn't focus. All he could picture was Will's face if he found out the truth.
'He'd never look at me the same again,' Sonny knew. 'He'd never trust me. He'd never kiss me or touch me.'
'I ruined everything,' Sonny realized. He felt sick to his stomach.
'No, stop thinking that,' Sonny ordered. He took a few deep, calming breaths.
'Paul doesn't know who Will is,' Sonny reminded himself. 'Will doesn't know who Paul is. Will is never going to find out. Now, get it together.'
For a brief moment, Sonny contemplated calling Paul. But what would he say? How could he explain to Paul how he knew about the interview? Or why it was such a big deal to him?
'Paul would figure it out,' Sonny knew. 'He'd realize who Will is to me and I can't risk that.'
'Wait for Will to come home,' Sonny urged. 'Then go from there. It's not all over yet.'
Sonny fixed his hair and shirt before moving into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator, hoping they had the ingredients to make Will's favorite.
Will unlocked the door to the apartment and gently placed Ari on the ground.
"It smells good in here," Will commented. He glanced at the kitchen and saw Sonny.
"Hey," Sonny turned around. He rushed over to Will and Ari.
Ari took a few steps and hugged Sonny's leg, nuzzling it.
"Hey, princess," Sonny patted her head.
"She had a long nap today," Will divulged. "So, she might take a little longer getting to sleep tonight."
"We'll survive," Sonny promised.
Ari moved over to the basket of toys she left on the couch. She pulled the basket to the edge and dumped all the toys out.
Sonny took one of Will's hands and squeezed.
"Hi," Will smiled at Sonny.
"You didn't respond to any of my messages," Sonny pointed out.
As soon as he said it, Sonny frowned. That wasn't what he wanted to say first. He didn't want to accuse Will.
"I was really busy," Will answered. It was partly true. "I was working this morning and spent the afternoon at the pub."
"Oh?" Sonny's heartbeat accelerated.
"Yeah," Will nodded. He squeezed Sonny's hand before taking off his jacket. "I just got caught up in everything."
'In Paul, you mean,' a traitorous voice said from the back of Will's mind.
"Okay," Sonny nodded. He let out a sigh of relief.
'If Will was working on the interview this morning he couldn't have been with Paul at the pub,' Sonny smiled giddily.
"You alright?" Will asked. Sonny looked odd.
"Fine," Sonny quickly reassured. "Well, Chad was being weird today but when isn't he?"
"He came into the pub," Will pushed Sonny towards the table and shoved him into a chair.
Will could see how tense Sonny looked. Sonny closed his eyes and groaned when Will started rubbing his shoulders.
"He mentioned that," Sonny revealed. "He's convinced you were meeting with an investor."
Will's fingers stilled momentarily. With a small swallow, Will resumed. He dug his thumb into a knot in the middle of Sonny's shoulders.
"Why would he think that?" Will asked. He hoped he sounded casual.
"Who knows," Sonny rolled his eyes. "Because the guy looked rich. Chad's convinced he knows every wealthy person in town. Oh, and he said no one with that fashion sense would hang out at the pub."
"Hey," Will frowned, offended. "What's wrong with the pub?"
"Nothing," Sonny chuckled. "But, you know, it's not exactly trendy."
Will wondered if that was true.
'Was Paul embarrassed to be there?' Will knew the pub wasn't the coolest. But it meant so much to him. It was a part of his family history, the Brady legacy.
Will didn't appreciate anyone making fun of it.
"If you say so," Will grumbled under his breath.
"We met with a business consultant today," Sonny told Will. With his eyes closed, Sonny was oblivious to Will's annoyance.
"About what?" Will questioned. He assumed everything was fine with the club.
"Needed some advice," Sonny responded.
Sonny didn't want to tell Will the club wasn't doing as well as it needed to.
'Our entire livelihood depends on this club,' Sonny knew. 'I can't freak Will out.'
"Oh," Will rubbed lower on Sonny's shoulders. "Maybe you should give me his number. Aunt Kayla might want to meet with him too."
"Sure," Sonny sighed. "Your fingers are magic."
"Thanks," Will laughed.
"In more way than one," Sonny leered.
Now that he didn't have to worry about Will knowing Paul, Sonny felt playful. He couldn't believe he got so worked up for nothing.
"Is that so?" Will pressed his lips together, pleased.
Sonny leaned his head against the back of the chair to look up at Will. With a bright smile, Sonny caught Will's eyes and nodded.
"Hmm," Will narrowed his eyes before leaning down to capture Sonny's lip.
Sonny sighed happily. All the tension inside of him eased.
Will's eyebrows furrowed. He moved his hands to hold onto Sonny's jaw, stroking his skin.
Sonny opened his mouth, tongue lightly tracing Will's lower lip.
Ari, walking around the couch with an armful of toys, climbed onto Sonny's lap.
Holding out her arms, Ari made a whining sound.
"…'iss, 'iss," Ari demanded.
Sonny pulled away from Will with a start.
"Where did you come from, little miss?" Sonny asked.
"…'iss," Ari repeated.
Will laughed and puckered up his lips.
Ari giggled and laid a wet, loud smack of a kiss on Will's lips.
"Oooh," Sonny smiled at the sight.
It warmed Sonny's heart seeing Will and Ari. At the same time though, it saddened Sonny that he couldn't understand Ari as well as Will could.
'They were gone for a few weeks,' Sonny reminded himself. 'She's only just starting to talk. You'll get it.'
Ari turned to Sonny, narrowing her little eyes.
Sonny smiled when he realized it was his turn.
Will, one arm around Sonny, smiled at his perfect little family. Paul and their weird new friendship was far from his mind now.
"Thanks," Paul nodded at the bellboy after he brought in Paul's room service.
"Anytime," the bellboy, Derrick, smiled. "If there's anything else you need, anything, don't hesitate to call."
Paul smiled smugly, head shaking incredulously as Derrick left. Paul knew exactly what the bellboy was after.
Paul knew he was good looking. He had always known that. The amount of models that threw themselves at him during publicity events proved it. But those models never interested him.
Paul much preferred the hidden smiles and secretive glances he would receive from waiters when they couldn't hide their interest. He enjoyed the meaningful looks, the brief touches when the men felt brave.
Lately though, Paul found himself intrigued by a beguiling smile and innocent blue eyes. There was something about Will Horton that Paul felt drawn to. Something that made Paul think he could trust him.
'He's a journalist,' Paul recalled. 'Can I ever really trust one of them?'
Paul couldn't help but think this journalist was different, that Will was different.
Instead of dwelling on it, Paul began to eat his dinner. He realized he never did get to know what happened with the murder wedding/kidnapping. Paul opened his IPad. He wanted to know everything he could about Will Horton.
Will scrolled through his phone. He had ignored his phone almost all day while he was talking with Paul. It wasn't a conscious effort but it happened. Will saw a missed call from Zoe and knew he would have to call her back.
"Finally, Will," Zoe said in lieu of a greeting. "I've been waiting all day. How did your meeting with Paul go?"
Will, making sure Sonny couldn't overhear him, spoke in a low voice.
"It's been good," Will decided it was wiser not to mention his freak out that afternoon. "I think I'm making real progress."
'Liar,' he thought. 'You didn't interview him at all.'
"Excellent," Zoe responded, voice cackling. "And have you found some, motivation, so to speak?"
Will lifted one eyebrow, lost.
"Uh, I guess," Will evaded.
"I just knew you would be the one to get the real scoop, Will," Zoe bragged. "Keep me informed."
Will hung up with a peculiar expression on his face. He wasn't too sure he wanted to know what Zoe was talking about.
"It's nice to eat dinner without the fear of firemen breaking down the door," Will commented lightly as he ate.
"Ha," Sonny huffed. "Like you wouldn't enjoy it if some big, burly firefighter burst in to save you."
Will shrugged, admitting nothing, although he did smile.
"So," Sonny continued. "You really can't tell me anything about your top secret assignment?"
"Not really," Will replied. He took a bite of his food before giving a spoonful to Ari. "I can tell you that I started."
"I already knew that," Sonny complained. "I'm curious."
"Well, I'm curious about where my wedding ring went," Will shot Sonny a look. "But I'm not whining about it."
"That's different," Sonny argued. "Mine is a surprise."
"So is my article," Will defended. "Besides, I didn't make the rules."
"Since when do you follow rules?" Sonny asked dryly.
Will bit his lip, feeding Ari again.
Sonny glanced at Will out of the corner of his eyes. He established that Paul couldn't have been at the pub with Will. But, Will could still be interviewing him.
'No,' Sonny decided. 'Will would flip out if he met Paul. He wouldn't keep that from me.'
Sonny pressed his lips together, trying to hold in a smile.
"Oh, hey," Will changed the subject. "I think I have an old Intro to Business textbook around here somewhere. Do you think you can help me look?"
"When did you take a business course?" Sonny asked. "That doesn't sound like you."
"EJ made me take it," Will explained. "Part of my requirement to being his intern. He thought it would teach me something."
"Did it?" Sonny questioned.
"…I don't even know where the book is now. What do you think?" Will wryly replied. "Can you help me look?"
"Sure," Sonny responded after chewing. "Why do you need it?"
"I figured it wouldn't hurt to look it over," Will shrugged. "If I'm going to be helping at the Pub. I think there's some forms in there I can use."
Sonny smiled softly.
"What?" Will questioned when he saw Sonny staring.
"You're adorable," Sonny said wistfully. "Utterly precious."
"I am not," Will petulantly replied.
"You are," Sonny insisted. "I'll help you look for it though."
Will dug through the hall closet. He found several pacifiers but no textbook.
"I didn't even know we had these," Will cautiously held the pacifiers out in front of him. He tossed them in the trash. "Gross."
Ari glanced at him, bored with the conversation.
"Fine, play with your toys," Will teased. "I see how it is. Five more minutes and then it's time for a bath and bed."
After getting Ari to sleep, Will walked into the bedroom to see Sonny going through a few boxes.
"Find anything?" Will asked.
"Nothing important," Sonny told Will from his spot on the floor. "Although why you kept your textbooks I'll never know."
"Those things were expensive," Will defended. "The least I could do was keep them. Although EJ paid for them now that I think about it."
"Again," Sonny shook his head. "Precious."
Will crossed his arms, lips pursed.
"You look your age when you do that," Sonny grinned. He resumed examining the box.
Most of the items in here he hadn't looked at since they moved in.
"I would hope so," Will sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm not that old."
Sonny pushed aside a folder before he found something he hadn't seen in a long time, a baseball. Paul's baseball to be exact.
'I almost forgot I had this,' Sonny thought. 'I shouldn't have this.'
Sonny remembered packing it from his old studio across the way. He purposely packed it, kept it, knowing what it meant.
'I moved in with Will and Ari and I brought this with me,' Sonny felt horrible.
Sonny passed the baseball from one hand to the other. The baseball symbolized a part of his past he no longer needed. He held onto Paul for too long. Now, he didn't need to.
"What's that?" Will asked, looking over Sonny's shoulder.
"Um," Sonny panicked.
It was one of his worst fears coming to life. What could he even tell Will?
'Oh, this? It's just an important piece of my past with the man I cheated on you with. Want to see it?'
"Uh," Sonny tried to focus.
'Say something, anything,' Sonny ordered himself.
Will reached out to grab the ball. He saw the name and the date on the ball and realized what it meant, whose it was.
"Why do you have this?" Will asked. It wasn't close to anything Sonny collected.
Sonny liked photographs and eclectic statues from the places he visited. He did not like sports memorabilia.
Sonny said the first thing that came to mind.
"It's for you," Sonny spat out.
"What?" Will tossed the ball from hand to hand.
"Yeah," Sonny ran with it. "I forgot I got it for you. It was, um, back when we were broken up. I ordered it when I got the IPod."
"Oh," Will's shoulders slumped. He hated the reminder of that time. Of the lies he told Sonny, the mistakes he made.
"You've always liked the Giants haven't you?" Sonny asked desperately.
'I am the worst person ever,' Sonny thought. 'I am an awful, horrible person.'
"Yeah," Will smiled shakily.
Will briefly thought about telling Sonny the truth. That he had been interviewing Paul Narita, the man from the baseball. That during said interviews Will asked few questions. That he spent more time laughing and blushing than anything else.
'Sonny wouldn't tell anyone,' Will knew. 'He would keep it a secret.'
Instead, Will placed the ball on the bed.
"You're really sweet," Will told Sonny. "Even if you did forget to give me a gift for almost two years. And didn't bother to properly protect a piece of baseball history."
"I try," Sonny lied.
Will wrapped his arms around Sonny's neck.
"Sometimes I don't know what I did to deserve you," Will whispered.
"Don't say that," Sonny pleaded, closing his eyes. "Just don't."
Before Will could say anything else, Sonny kissed him. Will pulled Sonny down against the bed, getting lost in the moment.
Paul, eyes wide, tossed his IPad aside. He read several articles on the Salem Chronicle website featuring Will.
Each article was more disturbing than the next. Paul discovered Will was kidnapped by his father on the day of his mother's wedding. That his mother's fiancé was found murdered, presumably by Will's mother.
Paul read about Will's father crashing his car into a tree with Will inside of it. That Will had to have brain surgery as a result. Soon after, Will's mother was arrested for murder and given the death penalty. Thankfully, at the last minute the real killer came forward, Will's father.
'How the hell did all that happen to one kid?' Paul wondered, amazed.
Paul thought back to his day with Will. He had a lot more fun with Will than he expected to. In fact, the entire interview process was unlike any he had had before. Most in-depth interviews were a few hours long at most.
Paul would talk about baseball, exercise, and fashion, whoever his rumored girlfriend at the time was. He didn't open up to his interviewer. He didn't talk about wanting a father. He didn't care about the journalist he was dealing with. He sure as hell didn't put up with anyone storming out on him.
Paul was beginning to realize there was something different about Will. It wasn't just that Paul found Will attractive either. Although that was a big part of it.
Paul enjoyed the tight jeans and the even tighter shirts. He liked Will's wide eyes and full mouth. He could imagine putting both to work. Those big blue eyes staring up at him from Will's knees. Will's wide mouth stretched around him.
Paul shifted on his bed. His fingers itched towards his IPad. Almost without thinking about it, Paul opened up RedTube.
'I need to get laid,' Paul realized once he searched for 'Blonde'.
Paul browsed through the options before finding one that looked promising.
'Hot bl0nde Getz Dirtyz,' Paul opened it up.
Paul popped the button on his jeans, sliding his hand inside.
The blonde on the screen wasn't as hot as Paul would have liked but he would make do. Paul rubbed against his growing bulge as the blonde took the man's soft cock into his mouth.
Paul closed his eyes, picturing Will. He imagined Will dropping to his knees, impish grin on his face. Paul would rub behind those cute, pointed ears and encourage Will to take him down.
Will held down Sonny's hips, moving his mouth up and down Sonny's cock.
"Mhmm," Will groaned. It had been so long since he had done this.
Sonny's eyes rolled into the back of his head. He ran his fingers through Will's hair, trying not to buck his hips.
"Oh, fuck," Sonny groaned. A small bit of drool leaked from Will's mouth, down Sonny's cock.
Will pulled off, licking his lips and wiping against his mouth.
"Sorry," Will grinned wickedly.
"No, you're not," Sonny complained.
Will ran his hands up and down Sonny's bare hips. His nails dragged over a fading bruise. Will didn't remember making that mark.
"What's this from?" Will asked, distracted.
"What?" Sonny lifted his head, desperate.
Seeing the marks Will pet over, Sonny's eyes practically bulged out of his head.
"You did that," Sonny lied. "Now, come on, please," Sonny begged. 'Please, god please.'
Will nodded once. He must have forgotten. Giving it no further thought, Will went back to work.
Will curled his tongue around the head of Sonny's cock. He kissed along it, lapping up the leaking pre-come.
Will made a large production of savoring the taste.
"Fuck," Sonny threw his head against the pillows.
"God," Paul thrust into his hand.
The blonde on the screen sat on his partner's cock, bare. With no recovery time, the blonde began riding the cock without abandon.
Paul's eyes closed. He imagined the tight grip around his cock was Will. Will's hole rhythmically squeezing him. Will's head buried against his neck, breathy whimpers sounding in his ear.
Will rising and falling around him. Will's fingernails digging into his shoulders. Will screaming his name.
Will held onto Sonny's hands. He had a knee on each side of Sonny's hip, balancing.
"You okay?" Sonny questioned.
"Uh huh," Will nodded, breathless. His thigh muscles twitched as he moved up and down. "Oh god," Will moaned.
"Doing so good," Sonny praised. "Feel so good around me."
Will bit his lip, trying not to wake Ari.
"Wish you could be loud," Sonny continued. "Wish I could hear your whimpers, your screams. Want to hear all of you."
"Sonny," Will cried when Sonny lifted his lips, thrusting.
"That's it," Sonny let go of Will's hands to grab his neck. "So good, beautiful. So good."
Will fell into a sloppy kiss. Mouths open, tongues sliding together.
"Love you," Sonny panted against Will's lips. "God, I love you."
"So much," Will agreed. He put his hands on Sonny's thick shoulders. His nails dug into the flesh the faster he moved.
"Fuck, fuck," Sonny grunted.
"S'good," Paul slurred.
The blonde from the video laid flat on his back, leg's spread.
Paul's fist worked faster, grip firmer.
"So good, Will," Paul said out loud. "So good. Yes, yes, yes, fuck."
Paul's hips stuttered, bursting onto his fist, and spilling down his wrist.
Paul worked himself until he was too sensitive. The video was long over.
"Fuck," Paul chuckled with a grin.
Paul ignored the slight sting in his shoulder and arm.
Sonny pushed his hips into Will one more time, shaking.
"Baby," Sonny praised. His hands ran up and down Will's skin.
"Sonny, please," Will pleaded, vibrating with need.
Sonny gently eased out of Will and flipped him onto his back.
"I've got you," Sonny promised. He fisted Will's leaking cock before bringing it into his mouth.
"Sonny," Will whined. His hips thrashed, breathing erratic.
Sonny fought with Will's hips. Giving up, Sonny jerked Will off, tongue sneaking out to flick against Will's head.
"Sorry, sorry," Will apologized. "Just don't stop. Don't stop," Will's eyes closed.
Sonny kept up the pace, wrist cramping before Will rewarded him.
Will bit his lip. A strangled sound still echoed across the room.
"There you go," Sonny grinned. "So sexy, Will."
"God," Will threw his arm over his eyes. "Love you s'much."
"Good," Sonny wiped his hands off on a stray pair of underwear. "But it'll never be as much as I love you."
"Doubt it," Will smiled. He curled against Sonny's side, perfectly sated and loved.
Author's note:
I couldn't make it that easy for Sonny. He's got a bit longer to go before he figures everything out.
Any thoughts?
Thanks for reading!