Will smiled appreciatively at Paul, pressing his lips together. Every time Paul looked at Will, his cheeks burned.
"Thanks for taking me out here," Paul said into the still forest air. "I haven't been to the Horton cabin in years. I forgot how relaxing it is here."
"You're welcome," Will swallowed, noting the way the starlight flitted across Paul's handsome features. He pulled his knees up to his chest and settled farther into his outdoor chair on the patio. "I like to come out here to think sometimes."
"Yeah?" Paul angled his body to focus in on Will.
"Mmm hmm," Will nodded, resting his chin on his knees. "Whenever I can get a babysitter for the kids, I'll spend time out here. It's nice being alone on purpose. It gives me time to think, figure things out."
"Alone on purpose?" Paul pressed. "What does that mean? I thought you were doing better at school."
"Academically," Will replied. "And I have friends now besides T. It's just," Will sighed, "Sometimes I feel like I don't belong."
"Why not?" Paul's eyebrows drew together.
"The guys at school, on the baseball and track teams," Will explained, "They don't talk about things I relate to. And then I have to make it up and that pissed off Gabi and no one else I know gets it and-,"
"Woah, whoa, whoa," Paul held up both hands. "Slow it down. What do they talk about that you don't understand?"
"They always talk about girls," Will said in a low voice, so low that Paul had to scoot closer to hear. "And I've had girlfriends before but I still don't get it. I mean, all the girls I know are pretty and funny. But I don't want to do the same things the other guys do."
Paul held his breath. He had a feeling he knew exactly what Will was referring to.
"I've had girlfriends," Will added. "And girls ask me out and stuff, it just feels off. I don't get nervous talking to them. I don't worry about what they think. Kissing them was nice but it wasn't…I didn't feel anything. Nothing that made my palms sweat or gets my heart racing."
"So, kissing them wasn't exciting?" Paul clarified in an understanding tone. He needed to make sure Will trusted him enough to open up entirely.
"It was lacking something," Will said.
"Do you think you haven't found the right girl? Or is it something else?" Paul questioned.
"Something else," Will whispered. "It always felt wrong."
The two sat in silence for a few minutes. Will tried to find the courage to say what he was feeling. Paul kept his eyes on Will but said nothing. He knew how important this moment was and didn't want to scare Will off.
"I think," Will closed his eyes, "I mean, I know, that I'd rather spend time with guys. I, um, I think they're more interesting. Their bodies and, um, how they look and stuff. I just," Will took a deep breath, "I've never said this out loud or to anyone but it's you and you always understand me."
"I always will," Paul promised. "You can tell me anything."
"Paul," Will bit his lip, eyes welling with tears, "I'm gay."
Paul watched Will with a proud smile. Will accepted himself much earlier and easier than Paul did. Only, now Will wouldn't look at Paul. He was terrified of his reaction. Terrified that Paul saw right through Will. Terrified that Paul knew about his real feelings.
"Hey," Paul grabbed Will's hand. "You don't have to hide from me."
Will kept his face hidden in his knees, certain this was a mistake.
"Baby," Paul said, "Look at me, please?"
Will lifted just his eyes. Two big blue eyes staring at Paul with such pain in their watery depths.
"You don't have to be nervous about this," Paul guaranteed, squeezing Will's hand. "I understand."
"You do?" Will sniffed, blinking away his tears.
"I understand exactly what you're going through," Paul gave Will an emphatic smile. "Exactly."
Will blinked a few times, sitting up straighter.
"You mean?" Will's heart beat out of control. "But I thought you were dating that model? John brags about it all the time."
This was Will's chance. He worried for so long that Paul would never accept him, that Paul would hate him.
But Paul might feel the same. Paul might want to be with me too, Will wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand.
"She's just a cover," Paul grinned. "A good one, I should say, because I'm gay, just like you."
Will's eyes widened, butterflies flapping against his ribs.
"Thank you," Paul said, "For trusting me enough to tell me. You don't know how much that means to me. Now, come here."
Paul stood up and drew Will into a big hug.
Shakily, Will fell into the hug. He couldn't believe his luck.
"I know everything seems hard now," Paul held his hand against the back of Will's head. "But it'll get better. Before you know it, you'll find someone to be with, someone that gets it. Someone that'll love and respect you the way you deserve. I'll make sure of that."
Will nodded, trembling. Someone knew he was gay and didn't care. Not just someone either but Paul. Paul, the man of Will's dreams. Paul, the only one that was ever there for Will. Here he was promising that Will would find someone that deserved him.
Paul would make sure of that, Will thought. That's what he said. He takes such good care of me. That has to mean something.
Will pulled back from Paul, just enough to stare at Paul's handsome face.
Paul was a few inches taller than Will still. He towered over Will.
"You promise?" Will asked, reaching one shaky hand up to touch the side of Paul's neck.
"Of course," Paul answered. "You know all I've ever wanted is to make sure you're happy."
"I know," Wil licked his lips. Before he lost his nerve, before he talked himself out of it, Will pulled on Paul's neck, connecting their lips.
Paul blinked several times, stunned by the sudden feel of quivering lips against his. It took him a few beats to push Will away.
Taking Will by the elbows, Paul firmly but steadily shoved him away.
Will, eyes shut, stumbled back several steps.
"That is," Paul inhaled sharply, "That is not what I meant."
"But you said-," Will faltered, eyes watering again.
"I know and I'm sorry if that mislead you," Paul rushed to explain. "I-I shouldn't have said it like that."
"So, you don't," Will took a few more steps back, arms crossing around his waist. "You don't care then. You were just being nice. Stupid, stupid," Will mumbled under his breath.
"Bab-Will," Paul shook his head, "I do care. You know I do. I always have. It's just, not like that."
"Why?" Will asked knowing he sounded pathetic. Why did I get my hopes up? Why would someone like Paul ever care? He must have so many better options than me.
Paul didn't know how to answer. He didn't want to upset Will or hurt his feelings any more than he already did. Paul could never handle it when Will was upset.
"I'm six years older than you," Paul said, clinging to that fact. "You're only 16."
"But-," Will tried to defend.
Looking away from Will's eyes, knowing he could never say no to them, Paul reiterated, "You're so young, Will. Too young."
Will bit both his lips, trying as hard as he could not to cry. He was embarrassed enough as it was.
"Everything I said was true, though," Paul insisted when Will turned his back. "You're gonna be a great boyfriend to someone someday. You're smart and compassionate," Paul listed, hating the downward slope to Will's shoulders. He wanted to fix things, do everything he could to make this better. "You're funny and-,"
"Please, stop," Will requested, pulling his arms tight around his stomach.
Paul looked Will over. Unintentionally, his eyes drifted up and down, lingering on the way Will's pants fit him, his shirt. Paul's eyes opened up to Will in a way he didn't allow himself to see before.
"Um, there's something else," Paul said. "I have a boyfriend. It's new and a complete secret so you can't tell anyone. But, yeah, I'm already with someone."
"Oh," Will sighed, head bowing. "Of course, you are. Why wouldn't you?"
Will closed his eyes, gathering his strength.
"What's he like?" Will questioned. He needed to know, had to know.
"I have a picture," Paul offered. "If you want to see."
Will turned back around and nodded.
"Here," Paul pulled out his phone. He fiddled with it for a few seconds. "This is Sonny."
Will glanced at the phone. He saw a handsome face, tan with a wide smile and dark hair and eyes.
I don't look anything like him, Will realized.
"He's cute," Will mumbled, shoving the phone back at Paul. "I hope you're happy with him."
"Thanks," Paul whispered. "Bab-Will," Paul had to stop calling Will that. It would confuse them both even more, "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," Will admitted. "I'm the idiot that thought there was a chance."
"Stop that," Paul insisted. "You're not an idiot. You have a crush. There's a difference"
"It's not a crush," Will said before turning around again. "I want to go home."
"I thought we were staying here," Paul replied with a frown. "I don't want this to change us, Will. I don't see you any differently."
"Just take me home," Will walked into the cabin without looking at Paul.
Buzz Buzz Buzz. Buzz Buzz Buzz. Buzz Buzz Buzz.
Paul threw his arm over to his side table and groped around for his phone.
"'Ello?" Paul asked, half-asleep.
"Did you forget we had a team meeting today?" a dry voice questioned.
Paul's eyes snapped open, "Son of a bitch!" Paul rolled out of bed, frantically looking for a pair of underwear. "I'll be right there."
Will shifted on the bed, eyes fluttering open, "W'shappening?"
"I forgot to set my alarm," Paul explained as he hopped around on one foot, shoving his legs into a pair of pants. "I have a team meeting in," Paul glanced at the alarm clock, "Fifteen minutes, fuck."
"You need help?" Will sat up and rubbed at his bedhead hair.
"No, it's alright," Paul said, battle with his pants over. He threw a shirt on and shoved his feet into a pair of shoes. "I should only be gone a few hours. So, go back to sleep."
"M'kay," Will flopped back over onto the bed, yanking the sheets over his shoulders. "Love you."
Paul stopped to smile, "I love you too. When I get back, you want to take a drive up the coast? Maybe go to the beach?"
"Yes, please," Will answered, grabbing a pillow and snuggling against it.
"Good," Paul reached down and kissed Will's head. "Gotta go, baby."
By the time the front door closed, Will was back asleep.
Sonny looked at himself in his bathroom mirror. He leaned forward to adjust a few wayward strands of hair. After, he stood up straight and pulled at his shirt. Sonny wasn't used to this, feeling insecure. He was always in control, always in charge. He never felt like this.
Sonny frowned at his appearance before yanking off his shirt and trying again.
No pattern, Sonny thought as he rummaged through his closet. What the hell does someone wear for a seduction?
Deciding on a plain, black button-up, Sonny shrugged it on and worked the buttons. He moved back in front of the mirror and smiled.
After yesterday's disgusting surprise, Sonny went on a long hike. It gave him plenty of time to himself, to cry and scream in peace. It also cleared his head. There was so much Sonny needed to think about- Paul, Will, his future.
Hours into the hike, sitting on a grassy hill overlooking the Pacific, Sonny came to a conclusion. He wasn't giving up Paul without a fight.
Sonny didn't hide his relationship for almost three years to give up like that. He didn't put in the time, the effort to make things work only to hand Paul right over.
Sonny put up with the hotel meetings. He kept his relationship a secret, not telling his friends or family. Sonny stomached the fake girlfriends and Paul's playboy persona. He did all that because he knew Paul was worth it.
Sonny loved Paul. Things weren't perfect now but he expected that. Their relationship was evolving. Sonny hoped that at the end of their rocky path would be what he always wanted.
Sonny didn't ask for much. He just wanted a boyfriend, alone and in public. He wanted to hold Paul's hand, sit next to him at a restaurant. Greet Paul with a kiss when he visited Sonny at work. Introduce him to his family, his friends, show Paul off. Go to Paul's games and sit in the section with the other players' wives and girlfriends. Symbolize something important in the LGBTQ movement when Paul came out.
Sonny earned that much at least. He earned the right to call Paul Narita-Black his. Sonny deserved the perks of dating someone like Paul. What would Sonny do without Paul's monetary support? How would he maintain the lifestyle Paul created for them?
No, Sonny was not going to go back to how he lived before. He couldn't even remember life without Paul. He didn't want to remember.
Sonny's problem was underestimating Will Horton. Underestimating the sway he had over Paul, over Will's allure. Sonny wouldn't make that mistake again.
Will got Paul by seducing him away, Sonny gave himself one last once-over in the mirror. I'll just have to seduce him back.
Sonny shut the door to Paul's condo behind him. He knew he was taking a chance coming here so early but Sonny knew Paul liked to sleep in. Assuming Will would get up to work out, Sonny figured it would be worth the risk.
Sonny took a few deep breaths, calming himself down. He wasn't used to seducing anyone. Typically, Sonny was the one seduced. Sonny was the one to have men chasing after him.
Sonny didn't ever envision a place where he'd have to entice his own boyfriend away from a child. And wasn't that a blow to his ego? Some skanky teenager threw himself at Sonny's boyfriend and Paul went willingly.
Doesn't matter, Sonny shook his head, determined. Paul doesn't need a boy. He needs a man. And I'm gonna show him just how much of a man I can be.
With his head held high, Sonny pushed the door to Paul's bedroom open. The curtains were closed, casting a dark shadow over the room. Sonny could just make out a shape in the middle of the bed; face down with sheets pulled up high.
Sonny slipped off his shoes before crawling onto the bed. He pulled the sheets down, exposing naked, muscled flesh. Attractive, mouth-watering muscles but not the ones Sonny anticipated.
With an eye roll, Sonny sat on his knees, shoulders slumping.
Great, Sonny huffed. In a strange way, Sonny wasn't that surprised. Where else would Will be besides naked in Paul's bed?
It didn't matter. Sonny was already here. He'd just have to tweak his plan.
If I can't get Paul away from Will, Sonny thought. Maybe I can show Paul just how disposable he is to Will.
Sonny eased his phone out of his tight back pocket. He unlocked it, opening up his camera.
Sonny pressed himself against Will's side, sliding his nose along the back of Will's ear.
Will wiggled against the pillow under his face, sighing softly.
"You're back early," Will said. "M'not ready to go to the beach yet."
Sonny grit his teeth together. Why was Paul taking Will all the places he never took Sonny? Why was Will getting the benefits Sonny worked so hard for?
"Go back to sleep," Sonny ordered in a low voice. He hoped he sounded enough like Paul for Will not to worry.
Sonny needed to think on his feet. He had to find a way to show Paul Will's true nature.
I'll just convince Paul I came to see him and Will came on to me. It's believable. I'll tell Paul I came to talk to him and found Will instead. That Will pounced before I even knew it.
"Hold me?" Will requested, reaching an arm out to pull whom he thought was Paul closer.
Sonny placed his hand on Will's lower back. His skin was soft and warm with a sparse smattering of transparent blonde hairs. So different from Sonny's own collection of thick, black body hair. Everything about Will was so different.
Under different circumstances, Sonny could see Will's appeal, at least physically. Will was good looking, pretty. It just made Sonny dislike him even more.
Will rolled over, snuggling into Sonny's chest.
Sonny drew his hand back almost as if burned. Everything about Will set him on edge. The stupid song he shared with Paul and his stupid blonde hair and his stupid hold on Paul.
Sonny didn't understand it. He didn't understand how Paul could want someone sexually that he knew as a child. How could their relationship evolve from what it once was to this? How did Will end up draped across Paul's bed like he owned it?
Take the picture and all this will be over, Sonny thought. He looked at Will's serene face and figured he was asleep.
Holding out his phone, Sonny snapped a picture of himself pressed close to Will. Without knowing the circumstances, it looked like Sonny and Will had been intimate. It looked like Will wrapped himself across Sonny, exhausted.
Perfect, Sonny smiled.
Will's eyes snapped open.
It took him a few seconds to realize the chest under his head wasn't as wide as normal, wasn't as muscled.
With a sense of unease, Will lifted his eyes and screamed when he saw Sonny.
"Jesus!" Will jumped away from Sonny, grabbed the sheets, and held them up to his chin. "What the hell are you doing, you psycho?"
Sonny, looking up from his phone, shrugged. "I was just thinking about why Paul was so interested in you. I think I'm starting to see the appeal."
"Get out of here!" Will cried.
"You know," Sonny ignored Will, intent on making his plan work. "I think you've spent more time in this bed in the past five days than I have in three years. Why is that, hmm?"
"I don't know. Get out," Will ordered, freaked out.
"What do you think it would take for someone to leave the man they love, the man they planned a life with? It couldn't be just about sex," Sonny looked Will up and down. "So, what is it?"
"Did it ever occur to you that Paul might actually love me?" Will questioned. "That he might actually be in love with me?"
"How the hell would he love you?" Sonny shook his head. "The two of you barely even talk."
"What are you talking about?" Will argued. "I talk to Paul every day. We text and email and Skype all the time. Do you think that I just rolled in here and decided to sleep with him? I love him. I've been in love with him almost my entire life."
"Right," Sonny scoffed. "I saw his little collection of Will pictures. Do you always send half-naked photos to grown men? And god, I thought you had a boyfriend."
"I-," Will frowned. "I was shirtless, not naked. There's nothing wrong with those photos. I was only sending him parts of my daily life."
"And the boyfriend?" Sonny crossed his arms. "Does he know you've spent this entire trip on your back?"
"Neil isn't my boyfriend," Will said in exasperation. "He's my friend. We've only ever been friends."
"Right," Sonny chuckled. "I guess you sleep with every friend you have, huh? And here I thought Paul was so special."
"Shut up," Will glared. "He is special. And he doesn't care how many or how little men I've slept with."
"Men?" Sonny laughed again. "Have you ever been with someone your own age? What are you gonna do now that you aren't jailbait?"
"Get out," Will pointed at the door. "You aren't supposed to be here."
"No, no I think you're the one that doesn't need to be here," Sonny argued. "And what do you think is gonna happen when you go back to Salem? You'll be there and Paul will be here, with me."
"That isn't going to happen," Will insisted.
"That so?" Sonny smiled bitterly. "He cheated on me when I was in town. What do you think he's gonna do when you're nowhere to be found? How long do you think he's gonna be happy with his fist? He's gonna throw you away the first chance he gets."
"No, he isn't," Will shook his head. "You don't understand Paul and me at all. You're never going to get it either, considering what you're doing"
"What I'm doing?" Sonny demanded.
"You're the one breaking into someone's home," Will pointed out. "You're the freak that got in bed with me."
"I didn't expect you to be in the bed," Sonny argued.
"Oh," Will chuckled. "So, when I sleep with someone that's taken I'm a slut. But you do it and what, it's fine?"
"I'd say it's only fitting for you to deal with the same thing I had to," Sonny argued.
"Why are you doing this?" Will asked. "I mean, this," Will gestured between himself and Sonny. "What do you think you're going to accomplish? Paul isn't here. And he sure as hell isn't gonna be happy when I tell him what you did."
"Because," Sonny shouted. "What else am I supposed to do? I've been with Paul for three years. Three years and you waltz in and he's giving you everything that's supposed to be mine. Did you think I was just gonna let that happen?"
"Newsflash, psycho," Will said. "But he didn't have to sleep with me. He didn't have to break up with you. Paul made those decisions. Paul wanted to sleep with me. Paul wants to be with me instead of you. And guess what? Paul is a person, not something you're entitled to. So, why don't you take your own advice and stop before you embarrass yourself."
Sonny couldn't take this. He wasn't the type of guy to get left behind. He wasn't the type of guy that was jealous and possessive. He didn't sneak into houses, into beds. He didn't feel inferior, didn't let others make him that way either. This wasn't him. This wasn't Sonny.
Paul always made Sonny weak. Paul dragged Sonny kicking and screaming back into his pretty little closet. It was a well-stocked closet. It provided Sonny well. Everything he wanted at the price of his freedom. At the time it didn't seem so horrible. The trade-off was worth it. Paul in exchange for Sonny's ideology. Paul and his love, his worshipful hands, his devotion.
And what did it get me? Sonny sneered. Fighting a war I've already lost.
"You know," Sonny said with a shake of his head, "Every time I'd hear my mom telling me the latest gossip in Salem, I never understood why she would care. Now, I'm starting to think it was a warning. That she knew I would need that warning one day. That all her rambles on Sami Brady would tell me everything I needed to know about her son."
"I'm not my mother," Will said. "But fine, go ahead and think that if it makes you feel better. I slept with your boyfriend and you feel betrayed. You blame me. Go ahead and blame me."
"Oh, trust me," Sonny smiled. "I do. If you would have just stayed home none of this would have happened."
"Yeah, yeah, I ruined your life," Will dismissed. "Now, get out. I don't exactly feel comfortable with you around when I'm naked."
"I somehow doubt that," Sonny rolled his eyes.
"Oh my god," Will groaned and sarcastically replied. "Yeah, I'm a big slut. I sleep with everything that moves. What do you want from me? Why didn't you walk away when you saw me here instead of Paul? Why did you think was going to happen?"
Will glanced at Sonny, seeing his phone. Remembering what startled him earlier, Will asked, "Did you take my picture?"
Sonny shoved his phone back in his pocket and said nothing.
"Wha-why would you even do that?" Will didn't understand.
"Like I'm going to explain anything to you," Sonny huffed, getting angrier and angrier.
"Whatever," Will said. "If you go now I won't tell Paul you were even here. Just go and we can forget about this."
"How generous of you," Sonny growled. "Do think that's going to make anything better? Am I supposed to feel grateful, thank you for thinking about me? You're just going to sit there and look at me like I'm the pathetic one? You came here and you took everything from me!"
"I'm sorry!" Will shouted. "I didn't want to ruin your life!"
"Yes, you did!" Sonny argued. "What did you think was going to happen? What could you reasonably expect to happen?"
"I don't know!" Will replied. "I just, I-I didn't think about after."
"Of course, you didn't," Sonny sneered. "Because you don't care about anyone but yourself."
"That isn't true," Will said.
"You're just a stupid slut!" Sonny insisted. "You're a slut and if you think Paul could ever love you, you're even stupider than I thought."
"Get out!" Will yelled.
"He is never, ever going to love you!" Sonny promised. "As soon as you're not here warming his bed, he's going to forget all about you. He's never wanted you around, even when you were a child."
"Get out! Get out! Get out!" Will screamed. Frustrated, Will stood up. His hold on the sheet slipped a little, revealing his upper body.
Sonny, mouth open, stopped when he saw the new marks and bites littering Will's skin. Fingerprints, teeth imprints, dark red blotches on the neck and shoulders.
Awkwardly, Will used his foot to pick up his pair of underwear on Paul's floor. Will maneuvered under the sheet until he yanked them up. For some reason, he couldn't find his pants anywhere.
Sonny couldn't remember the last time Paul left marks on him. Sonny was never allowed to leave hickeys on Paul since someone would notice.
When was the last time we slept with each other that often, that hard? Paul's slept with Will more in that past few days than we have in months.
Sonny didn't know why that was the last straw for him. He knew that Paul and Will slept together. He saw marks on Will, caught Will sucking Paul off yesterday. But this was different. This was too much.
Paul left Will in his bed after covering him in marks and bruises. The bed Sonny hardly occupied in three years. It was too much.
Will spotted a pair of Paul's dirty jeans on the other side of the room. So focused on getting dressed, Sonny surprised him.
Sonny grabbed Will by the shoulder and threw a punch.
Will grabbed his mouth, stunned.
"What the hell?" Will shouted. He lifted up his arm to fend off another hit. "Stop it!"
Sonny couldn't think, couldn't feel. All he knew was he wanted Will to hurt as much as Sonny hurt. He wanted Will to feel everything Sonny did. Sonny wanted to smash Will's stupid face until he wasn't pretty anymore.
Will shoved Sonny hard, forcing him to stumble back several steps.
Will, lip bleeding, reached for his phone. He knew the building had security guards and enough was enough.
"Who are you going to call, huh?" Sonny threatened. "The police, security? What are they going to do when they get here? When they get to Paul's condo and see you like that? What are you going to say that isn't going to expose Paul to the entire world?"
Will glared at Sonny, knowing he was right. "Get out," Will ordered again, fed up. "Just get out."
Sonny, breathing heavily, shook his head.
"God," Will stomped his foot in frustration. "I'm starting to see why it was so easy for Paul to leave you. Have you always been this crazy?"
Sonny charged at Will again, knocking him onto the bed. He punched at Will. Hitting all the spots with marks and hickeys, wanting to erase Paul's bruises with his own.
Will writhed under Sonny, thrashing and fighting. Sonny was a lot stronger than he looked.
With the combination of his anger and frustration, Sonny had the upper hand.
"Get off me, you psycho!" Will shouted, struggling.
Paul shook his head as another teammate clapped him on the shoulder and congratulated him on a rough night.
"You guys are worse than chicks," Paul rolled his eyes. "How do you even know I was with someone?"
"You have never been late to a meeting in your life," one teammate pointed out. "Come on, man. Not all of us get to be Paul Narita-Black. Let us live a little."
"Yeah," another one agreed as they walked toward their cars. "At least give us a hint. Asian, black, white? Redhead, brunette, what?"
"Judging by those claw marks," the first teammate said, lifting the back of Paul's shirt away from his skin. "I'd say you have enough details to spare."
Paul smoothed down his shirt, fingering the claw marks Will left.
"Sorry, boys, I'd love to stay and gossip," Paul said as he opened his car door. "But, I left something hot, blonde, and naked in my bed that I'd like to get back to."
"So, I'll be seeing you," Paul waved as he closed the door, muffling the sound of raucous laughter.
Paul walked into his condo, tossing his car keys in a bowl near the door. He kicked off his shoes and looked around.
Guess Will's still asleep, Paul thought as he moved to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and contemplated making Will breakfast in bed when he heard a strange sound.
"Will?" Paul called, closing the fridge.
"Get off me, you psycho!" Will shouted.
Paul rushed down the hall, stumbling into his room. It took him a few seconds to assess the strange scene waiting for him. In another time and place, Paul might have enjoyed the sight of Will and Sonny struggling with each other on his bed. But not like this.
"Hey!" Paul screamed as he dived toward the bed.
Will punched Sonny in the side several times, trying to get him off.
Sonny, arm cocked back, flailed when Paul wrapped his arm around his waist and threw him aside.
Will scrambled to his feet, wincing at his fat lip.
"What the hell is going on here?" Paul demanded as he shoved Sonny aside.
"I came to talk to you and that slut threw himself at me!" Sonny accused.
"What?!" Will spat out, eyes wide and furious. "No, I didn't!"
"You did!" Sonny insisted. "I tried to leave and you wouldn't let me. I had to defend myself."
Paul looked between the two incredulously.
Will glared at Sonny before turning to Paul.
"I woke up and he was in bed with me," Will explained emphatically. "I told him to get out and he wouldn't."
"What?" Paul spat out, moving to stand in front of Will. He grabbed both of Will's elbows looking over the damage to his lip.
"Shut up!" Sonny hissed, panicking.
"I woke up and he was next to me," Will elaborated. "He took my picture when I was asleep! When I told him to get out, he punched me."
Paul stared into Will's eyes and nodded once before rounding on Sonny.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Paul asked, horrified.
"You're just going to believe him, is that it?" Sonny groaned. "What about believing me, huh?"
"He wouldn't lie about this," Paul said dismissively. "He doesn't have any reason to. And I know he wouldn't try to sleep with you." Paul shook his head at Sonny. "What is going on with you?"
"I-," Sonny didn't have an excuse. He knew he didn't. Everything he set out to achieve blew up in his face.
"He wanted you to be in bed," Will said. "Said he was going to get you back. But he found me instead."
Paul turned around again, eyeing Will's lip. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Will nodded. "It's just a bloody lip and some bruises."
"Okay," Paul said, "Good. Go get dressed, okay? I'll take care of this."
"No," Will shook his head. "No, I'm not leaving. That psychopath tried to-,"
"Shut up!" Sonny screeched.
"Baby, please," Paul grabbed Will's hands, looking him right in the eye. "Please, just let me handle this."
Will narrowed his eyes. He didn't want to leave Paul here. He wanted to be a part of this. The look in Paul's eye stopped him from arguing any further, though.
Will knew how much guilt Paul carried with him over this. Knew Paul regretted hurting Sonny.
"You sure?" Will questioned. He glanced at Sonny, at the lost, confused look on Sonny's face.
"Please," Paul whispered.
Will nodded. "I'm gonna get in the shower. I feel dirty now."
"Yeah, I bet," Sonny scoffed under his breath.
"Good idea," Paul ignored Sonny even though his face pinched together. "I'll take care of everything."
Will motioned to kiss Paul when he thought better of it. Instead, he walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
Paul waited until he heard the water start before talking. "Sonny, what the hell are you doing?"
"I don't know," Sonny mumbled, rubbing his face with his hands. "I don't know."
"I know I hurt you," Paul said, "But this isn't you. I didn't, I couldn't have done this."
"You don't understand," Sonny shook his head. "I spent three years trying to get out of you a fraction of what you've given him in a matter of days."
"I'm sorry," Paul said. "I-I never meant to do that to you. You deserve better than I've given you. And you can get that, Sonny. You can. But it isn't going to be from me."
"And how long do you think you're gonna keep him happy?" Sonny nodded towards the closed bathroom door. He wiped a few stray tears. "He's going to school. He's going to be surrounded by guys his own age. Guys that are right there, guys that can touch him. From what I gather, everyone in Salem knows he's gay. Is he going to go back in the closet for you? Don't you think it's going to be weird when he doesn't at least date?"
"We'll figure it out," Paul answered.
"He's eighteen, Paul," Sonny shook his head. "You're six years older than him. Six years of experience separates you. Do you think he's going to spend the rest of his life with you? He's a child. He doesn't know what he wants. He's just playing out a fantasy. What are you going to do when he wakes up, huh?"
"That isn't going to happen," Paul said. "You don't understand how I feel."
"Maybe I don't," Sonny admitted. "But I know one day he's going to realize you're never going to be there for him the way he needs. And he's going to leave you."
Paul crossed his arms and sighed.
"That is," Sonny pursed his lips, "If you don't cheat on him first."
"I'm sorry," Paul said. "I'm never going to tell you that enough."
"You can save your apologies," Sonny shook his head. "You know, it's funny. My parents didn't want to raise their kids in Salem so we wouldn't deal with things like this."
"I didn't want to hurt you," Paul said.
"It's too late for that," Sonny replied. He turned to walk out the door and leave. With his hand on the doorjamb, back to Paul, Sonny said, "What do you think is going to happen when Sami Brady finds out about this? That you slept with her son. Is she going to understand? Is she going to think this is the first time? Or is she going to analyze every single moment you were with her son? And start to wonder just how disgusting you truly are."
Paul watched as Sonny walked out the room. A few moments later, he heard the sound of the front door opening and closing.
Paul walked out of the room to make sure Sonny left. Once satisfied Sonny was gone, Paul yanked out his phone and called the front desk.
"It's Paul Narita-Black," Paul said into the phone. "In a few minutes, a dark-haired man in a black shirt is going to get off the elevator. Make sure he doesn't come back."
"Yes, sir," the woman over the phone said. "Is there anything else?"
"I need to change the security code for my condo," Paul added. "Can you connect me with the alarm company?"
Paul took a few minutes to talk with the alarm company. He changed his code and all his security questions.
After, Paul moved back to his bedroom. He looked over the bed. The sheets were on the floor, a small spatter of blood from Will's split lip pooled on the bed.
What the hell is happening to my life? Paul ran a hand through his hair.
Peeling off his shirt, Paul walked into the bathroom. He kicked off his pants and underwear and joined Will in the shower.
Will stood under the spray of the water, eyes closed.
"Did he leave?" Will asked.
"Yeah," Paul confirmed. "I changed the alarm code so he can't get back in. Security is going to keep him out too."
"Good," Will responded, opening his eyes.
"Are you okay?" Paul asked again. He touched the cut along Will's swollen lip.
"I think so," Will said. "He mostly just freaked me out."
"What exactly happened? What did he take a picture of?" Paul wondered. He didn't believe Sonny would do anything that bad but Paul also didn't think Sonny was capable of this either.
Will explained, "I heard the sound of a camera flash and I woke up. The sheets were covering me but my head was on his chest. I thought he was you at first."
"He didn't do anything else, though, right?" Paul had to be sure.
"I don't know about when I was asleep but I don't think he did anything," Will said. "I don't even know what's in the picture."
"Okay," Paul pulled Will into a hug. "It'll be okay."
"I get that I hurt him," Will said into Paul's shoulder. "But why is he acting this way?"
"I don't know," Paul sighed. "I must have fucked him up more than I thought. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
"It's not your fault," Will insisted. "I'm the one that seduced you away. I planned it," Will held onto Paul's sides, water dripping over them. "I did. I even talked to Neil about it, what would work best. When you invited me here all I thought about was finally getting to be with you."
"Will," Paul ran his fingers through Will's wet hair.
"I packed my tightest, hottest clothes," Will continued. "I thought about all the different ways I could get to you, all the different scenarios. I wanted to steal you away."
"I wanted to be stolen," Paul argued. "Everything you did, I wanted. I wanted you. I love you."
"Yeah?" Will questioned, looking at Paul's eyes.
"Positive," Paul promised. He backed Will up to the shower wall, hands cupping the back of Will's neck. "I love you. I'm in love with you, Will. I'm sorry we hurt Sonny. But I'm not sorry for loving you. And you don't need to be sorry about that either."
"I know," Will nodded, licking his lips. "I'm not."
Paul angled his head, kissing Will on the lips. He was mindful of the cut, trying not to make it sting any worse.
Will brought his hands up to Paul's neck, holding on tight.
"I love you," Paul breathed against Will's lips.
"Paul?" Will asked, rubbing circles with his thumb on the back of Paul's neck.
"Yes, baby?" Paul answered, fingers gliding through Will's hair.
"Take me to bed?" Will requested.
Paul pressed Will against the pillows, worshipful hands sliding down his sides.
Will kissed Paul soundly, melting into his touch. His hands mapped the planes of Paul's muscular back, memorizing the feel of his soft skin. The kisses were worth the sting to his split lip.
Will pulled back from the kiss to touch Paul's cheek. He ran a finger down Paul's defined cheek bones, marveling at how handsome he was.
"What is it?" Paul asked.
"Just, thinking," Will admitted out loud. "When I was younger, I wanted this so much. I wanted you."
Will's eyes teared up, getting emotional. "I think it's just hitting me how lucky I am to get everything I wanted."
Paul smiled appreciatively. "I'm lucky too, baby. Lucky that you were strong enough to go after what we both wanted. I don't think I would have been that courageous."
"I took my clothes off," Will laughed. "It wasn't that brave. I know how I look naked."
Paul chuckled. "Well, for you, it is. I remember when you had trouble keeping your head up when you walked anywhere. Now, you're confident enough to wander around nude. And trust me when I say I know how good you look naked too."
"Oh, I noticed," Will grinned.
Paul smiled back, leaning down to kiss Will again.
Will wrapped his arms around Paul's neck. "Make love to me?"
"I thought that's what we've been doing all along?" Paul questioned.
"You know what I mean," Will shook his head.
"No fucking you against a window?" Paul quipped as he reached under the bed for a condom and lube.
"As much as I love that," Will spread his legs and planted his feet on the bed. "Not what I want right now."
"I know what you mean," Paul assured Will.
First, Paul ripped open the condom package and unrolled it along his length. After, he opened the lube and spread it over his fingers as he lied on his stomach between Will's legs.
Paul kissed up and down Will's inner thigh as he slipped one finger inside his entrance.
Will sighed softly, working his hips against Paul's finger.
Paul bit down on Will's thigh, sucking and soothing with his tongue.
"Paul," Will moaned, hips twitching.
"Gonna show you how much I love you," Paul promised. He kissed along Will's thigh, up to his hip, tongue sliding along the sharp bone. "Show you that I'll always take care of you."
Will whined loudly when Paul kissed the tip of his cock.
Paul lathed Will with his tongue, sliding up and down. His right hand worked Will open with his fingers. The left hand held Will's cock steady as he opened his mouth, working Will over.
"Paul," Will groaned, the stimulation overwhelming him.
"Love you," Paul whispered. "Let me show you?"
"Uh huh," Will nodded enthusiastically.
Paul, licking the excess leaking from Will's cock, moved onto his knees.
Taping Will's thigh, Paul said, "Move onto your side."
Will rolled onto his right shoulder as Paul slid his thigh between Will's legs. The two were almost the same height so they lined up perfectly. Paul was just a little bit wider, making it possible for him to gather Will against his chest, and surround him.
Paul drizzled more lube along his cock, spreading it around. After, he wiped his hand up and down Will's crack, spreading the extra slick.
Fisting himself, Paul teasingly rubbed the head of his cock against Will's hole.
"Paul," Will whined, throwing his head back to rest near Paul's. "Stooooop."
Paul grinned as he nuzzled against the side of Will's face. He waited a few more moments, enjoying the desperation in Will's voice.
"Yeeeeessss," Will hissed as Paul pushed himself inside until his groin was brushing against Will's ass.
Paul wrapped his right arm around Will's front, holding him in place. His left hand ran up and over Will's thigh and sides.
Will clung to Paul's arm with both of his, emitting breathy moans and whimpers.
The two worked together in tandem. Paul moving his hips back, half of his cock still sheathed inside of Will as Will pulled forward.
Paul's hand gripped Will's upper thigh, lifting his leg higher to get a better angle.
"Baby," Paul praised, circling his hips.
"S'good," Will slurred, rocking forward and back on Paul's cock.
Will leaned his head to the side, searching for Paul's lips. He didn't care that his lip had a cut, didn't care that it was swollen. He just wanted Paul.
Paul's rhythm faltered as he kissed Will. Their mouths worked together sloppily, enthusiastic and carefree without any finesse.
Paul knew this time together was different. There wasn't any biting or sucking. There was no clawing or dirty talk. This time, they weren't giving into their insurmountable lust. This time, they were making love.
Paul wanted it to be memorable, wanted to show Will he was more than the great sex they had. That all the insults Sonny hurled at him weren't true. Even if they were, Paul would love Will regardless.
Paul didn't love Will because of some preconceived notion about Will being an innocent child. He didn't love Will in spite of the fact Will was comfortable with his sexuality and explored that. Paul loved Will because of it. Because Will was brazen enough at 18 to swagger back into Paul's life and seduce Paul so thoroughly. Because Will was still so young and naïve to some things while knowing more than Paul about others.
Paul loved Will because of everything, all the little facets, and nuisances that comprised Will Horton. It wasn't something that came about because Will took his clothes off and mauled Paul. It wasn't because he convinced Paul to leave Sonny. Paul loved Will long before that. He would continue to love Will long after.
Will sobbed out Paul's name, clinging to his arms even harder.
Paul kissed Will's lips again, unaware he had been saying everything out.
"Do you mean that?" Will asked weakly. "All of it?"
"Of course, I do," Paul promised. "I've loved you your entire life. And I'm going to be in love with you the rest of mine."
Will choked out a moan as Paul's left hand slid around Will's thigh to grasp his cock.
Will came with a loud, jumbled mess of tears and come and half-choked praises. He clenched and tightened, shaking in Paul's arms.
Paul tightened his hold around Will's chest, hips working harder and faster. The sound echoed off the bedroom walls as Paul worked through his own orgasm.
As soon as his hips stilled, Will scrambled in Paul's arms. He needed to be face-to-face. He needed to touch every part of Paul, tell him with his hands and his mouth what words could not.
Will kissed Paul, arms and legs clinging to him, completely disregarding the mess along Will's chest and stomach.
Paul ran his hands through Will's wet hair, letting Will's lips write sonnets against his.
The two kissed and kissed and kissed, never letting the other go.
Paul reclined against the hotel pillows, arms crossed behind his head. A self-satisfied smile highlighted his face.
"You don't have to look that smug," Sonny said as he rolled over against Paul.
"No, I'm pretty sure I do," Paul argued.
Sonny rolled his eyes but smiled, resting his head against Paul's chest.
Buzz Buzz Buzz
Paul, dislodging Sonny, reached across the bed to pick up his phone. It was charging on the nightstand.
"Do you have to do that now?" Sonny huffed.
"It could be important," Paul shrugged.
Paul unlocked his phone and stared when he saw who the text was from.
Will, Paul thought, shaking as he opened the message.
Will hadn't spoken much to Paul since that night at the Horton cabin. He found excuses not to see Paul for the remainder of Paul's trip. Whenever they were forced in the same room, Will made sure they were never alone.
He wouldn't even look at me, Paul recalled.
Paul tried texting Will the way the two would before the confession. If Will replied at all it was only with one or two-word answers. It wasn't the same.
Paul berated himself so much for that night. So much for the words he said and the look in Will's eyes when he told him no.
I was the first person Will ever came out to, the person he trusted most and I crushed him.
Paul always had a problem telling Will no. Even now when Will was a teenager, Paul hated knowing Will was hurting.
Paul recalled the slump to Will's suddenly wide, muscular shoulders. The downward tilt to his full, pink lips. How his beautiful face looked so miserable.
Stop that, Paul ordered as he looked at the text. Stop thinking like that.
Ever since that night at the cabin, Paul began thinking of Will differently. It was as if his eyes had been uncovered. He could see Will clearly. See Will the way the rest of the world saw Will. It unsettled Paul more than he cared to think.
"Who is it?" Sonny questioned when Paul wouldn't stop staring at his phone.
"Will," Paul breathed.
Sonny's nose crinkled. He didn't get the big deal with the kid. Yes, it was brave that he came out to Paul. But Sonny didn't understand why Paul was so obsessed with getting the kid to like him again.
As far as Sonny was concerned, Paul giving the kid attention would only make the kid's crush worse.
"What's he saying?" Sonny asked robotically.
Paul stared at his phone. As the words sunk in, something unpleasant bubbled in his stomach.
-I met a guy last night
Paul bit his lip but forced himself to respond.
-Yeah? How? Tell me everything
-His name is Neil. I was sitting at a table in the square all alone and he came up to me. He saw me
Paul read the last line over and over again. He could see Will's crestfallen face. His frantic attempt to wipe his eyes, hoping Paul wouldn't see. The haunted look in Will's eyes every time he was forced to see Paul after.
Before Paul could find it in himself to respond, his phone buzzed in his hand, another text from Will. A picture this time.
Will and a guy. No, not a guy, a man.
He has to be at least a few years older than Will, Paul thought. His hand clenched his phone in an unforgiving grip. He noticed the Salem U shirt the guy wore and frowned.
He has stupid hair and stupid eyes and a stupid smile. And he's sitting way too close to Will.
Paul, finally, looked at Will.
This can't be the same Will, Paul blinked several times, shaking his head. Gone was the sad frown. Gone were the dead eyes and the rounded shoulders.
He looks happy, Paul realized.
"What's up?" Sonny asked, watching a myriad of emotions race across Paul's face. "Something wrong?"
"No," Paul swallowed, sending a brief message. "I guess things are gonna be alright."
Paul locked his phone, dropping it next to him on the bed.
As Sonny curled next to him again, Paul closed his eyes. The image of Will's bright carefree smile, arms locked around this unknown Neil's neck, lured him to an uneasy sleep.
Author's note:
Thanks to everyone reading and/or reviewing! I appreciate it.