Hi,
Welcome to this new Buddie story. It was written for the 2023 Halloween, so I hope you'll like it !
*Characters don't belong to me !
Los Angeles !
October 31st, 2020 !
House 118 !
"What will Christopher dress up as this year ?" asked Hen.
The atmosphere was calm, for this day which marked the Halloween festival, but no one dared to say this forbidden word out loud. Team A of 118, made up of Bobby, Hen, Chimney, Buck, Eddie, Ravi and four other firefighters, had been on call since 8 a.m. and ended their shift at 2 p.m., which suited them well because, on Halloween, people went crazy and the interventions were endless and each more creepy than the last. They were all happy to leave the fun to another team this year.
"No idea !" replied Eddie, who sat down next to Buck, in the relaxation area of the station's loft. "He wants to surprise us, and he's conspiring with Carla, who doesn't want to tell us either."
Being this close to Buck was torture. He only dreamed of being able to jump on him but, everything in its time. After Christopher's candy collection tour, the ten-year-old boy was invited to a sleepover at a class friend's house, and for the adults a party was organized at Bobby and Athena's house. After this evening, Eddie intended to take Buck home, or else they would go to the loft (it hadn't been decided yet), and he would confess his feelings to him. He hoped he could also skip the first date stage before he could move on to more serious and delicious things. For three years, Eddie had a physical need for Buck that he fully intended to satisfy. Dating Ana was a monumental mistake, and being shot in the street had thrown his future prospects into question. No more living to please others. He was going to think of himself. He had broken up with Ana, and Taylor Kelly aka the most pushy journalist in the world had left the area. He had free rein. He didn't question how Buck might feel about him. The thirty-year-old was an open book, and his feelings were written all over his face.
"He wants to surprise you ?" Chimney repeated. "When you say you, you're talking about…"
"Buck and I. Who else do you want me to talk about ?"
"Oh uh, it was just to know." Chimney said. "Since you never talk about your private life, maybe you had met someone or maybe you would have gotten back together with Ana without telling us."
"Of course." said Eddie. "Why would I get back together with a woman I was clearly not in love with ?"
"What if Chimney minded his own business, and you all came to the table ?" Bobby suggested from the kitchen.
That's a good idea, Eddie thought. He stood up from the couch and held out his hand to Buck, who took it and let himself be pulled to his feet. They didn't see Hen and Chimney's looks, and to be honest, Eddie didn't give a damn. He knew there was a bet between him and Buck, but again he didn't care.
"Hey, Buck !" said Ravi, once everyone was at the table.
"Yeah ?"
"You were a bartender before you were a firefighter, right ?" asked the youngest of the team.
"Yeah, when I was in Peru. It was fun serving cocktails by the sea." says Buck.
"I bet it was !" Hen said.
"I was a bartender too." Chimney reminded. "And I bet I make better cocktails than Buck."
"Are you challenging him ?" asked Hen.
"Why not ?" Chimney said. "That could be fun. We would each prepare a cocktail and the one who made the best gives a pledge to the other. Buck can do my chores for a whole week."
"Why do you assume that you would emerge victorious ?" asked Bobby, sitting at the head of the table as at every meal.
"I have more experience." Chimney boasted.
Eddie rolled his eyes. What a show off ! He hated it, when Chimney always insinuated that he was better than everyone and mainly better than Buck. A hand on his thigh stopped him from delivering a very scathing retort towards the paramedic. A familiar touch, and when he turned his head towards Buck, he saw the latter staring at Chimney, perfectly relaxed.
"Where and when ?" asked the young man.
"Wait, are you seriously going to take Chimney's challenge ?" Hen asked back.
"Where, and when ?" Buck repeated, disconcertingly calm.
"You will do this tonight, at home during the party." declared Bobby. "There will be all the equipment."
"Perfect !"
Buck gave Eddie's thigh a squeeze before continuing with his meal. The alarm sounded five minutes later.
...
"Are you really going to take Chimney's challenge ?"
"Don't make that face, he's the one who's going to bite the dust." Buck reassured him. "He's going to do all my chores, and for two weeks. No, or I would have to force him to leave me alone with his mockery for at least a month."
"And why not permanently ?" suggested Eddie.
They had left the station together, like every day, so that they could rest a little, which they had done. They had slept in the same bed, to the delight of Eddie who had woken up with his arm around Buck's waist. The latter was lying on his back, and neither of them had made much of it. They always slept very well when they were together. Eddie had given Buck the chance to make the first move, which hadn't happened so tonight, after the party, he was going to take the bull by the horns and end their celibacy for the rest of their lives.
"I admit, it would give me a break." sighed Buck.
They filled several bowls with candies. If Buck was dying to go with Christopher on his trick-or-treating trip, someone had to stay behind to hand out candy to anyone who came knocking. So Buck volunteered.
"Okay, but next year I'll stay home and you'll go with Chris, if he decides he's not too old to go get candy." Eddie had said.
It had happened a week earlier, one evening when Buck had cooked dinner.
"Does he realize he's going to lose ?" Eddie asked, smirking.
Buck matched that smile. No, Chimney didn't know what awaited him. Even though Buck hadn't been a bartender for years, he still had the skill to do so, and he would sometimes mix cocktails for Eddie and him when they were alone. Better yet, he made gestures typical of mixologists on a daily basis.
"I don't think so, no !" replied Buck.
It was almost time to take Christopher on his tour. The boy was in his room with Carla. They both had to keep the costume a secret.
"Boys, you can come into the living room !" Carla called to them.
None of them expected what they saw when they set foot in the living room. Christopher stood straight in his boots, without his crutches which were placed by the sofa, in his costume. Over what appeared to be black pants and a t-shirt, Christopher wore a perfect fireman's jacket and helmet.
"Surprise !" said the boy.
"Wow, Christopher, you're ready to join us at 118 !" joked Buck, who had taken out his cell phone. "Smile !"
Buck took not one but ten photos.
"Why did you keep it a secret ?" Eddie asked, going to kneel next to his son.
"To be a surprise."
"Christopher wanted to dress up like his two heroes who save lives every day." explained Carla.
"Let's fight back tears, Buck !" teased Eddie, who wasn't being very assertive but who was more discreet.
"Haha !" Buck taunted. "Come on, let's take a picture the three of us !"
Carla walked around and took Buck's phone to immortalize all three of them in a beautiful shot.
"Alright, I'm going home !" said Carla, who kissed Christopher on the forehead. "See you on monday, mister !"
"Okay, thanks Carla !" replied the boy.
"We better go too." said Eddie. "You're ready ?"
"Yes !"
Buck walked them to the car. Eddie grabbed the bucket to collect the treats, Christopher's bag with a change of clothes while Buck put Christopher in the car.
"You will be very good at your friend's house, okay ?"
"Promise !"
"And we're not stuffing ourselves with sweets, or I'd be cooking vegetables for a whole week !" warned Buck.
"NO !" Christopher shouted before laughing.
Buck closed the door and turned to Eddie, who had placed the bucket and bag on the passenger seat, along with the crutches.
"I'm going to get ready before the kids come to ring." Buck said.
"OK see you soon !"
...
Night had fallen when Eddie put Christopher in his car, the candy bucket filled to the brim. Candies, chocolates, caramels… Well, enough to cause a good stomach bug. Eddie buckled his son in before sitting behind the wheel and driving off, seatbelt fastened.
"Dad, can I have a candy ?" asked the boy.
"Just one, and I'll take the bucket home with me." replied Eddie.
"All right !"
A few minutes passed, when the little boy asked :
"Dad, can I ask you a question ?"
"Of course !"
"Why aren't you and Buck together ?"
Well, if he expected that ! Eddie stopped at a red light and caught his son's gaze in the rearview mirror.
"Because your father is an idiot." he said. "But I'll fix it. I'm going to talk to Buck tonight."
"And he will live with us ?"
"Maybe, but you keep that to yourself, okay ?"
Chris nodded. Despite good traffic, Eddie took ten minutes longer than expected to park in front of Christopher's friend's house.
"Do you want to change first ?"
"No, we're going to take pictures in our costumes." replied the boy.
"Let's go then !"
Eddie took him out of the car, gave him his crutches, and took his spare bag. The door to the house opened just as they were walking up the little driveway. The porch light came on automatically and revealed a young woman in the same age range as Eddie, looking lovely in a dark fairy costume. She greeted them with a smile, a little more insistent on Eddie who refrained from rolling his eyes.
"Christopher, Eddie, here you are !" Chris's friend's mother smiled at them.
"Good evening, Bianca !" Eddie said in turn, before kneeling down to take his son in his arms. "Be careful, we don't eat too many sweets, or you risk getting a stomach ache."
"Promise !"
"Brian, Christopher is here !" called the mother.
She moved aside slightly to let Christopher pass, just as her son arrived.
"And no scary movies !" warned Eddie.
"They are forbidden at home." the young mother reassured him.
"Perfect !" Eddie handed him Chris' bag. "I'll pick him up around ten tomorrow morning. He has stretches to do when he wakes up and he knows what to do, but if there is a problem, you call me and I will come pick him up early."
"No problem, I'll watch over him." she smiled at him. "Want to come in for a drink ?"
Bianca Stevens was a single mother and she had been openly flirting with Eddie for weeks, and he wasn't fooled.
"Thank you for the invitation, but I have to go back to my partner, we are expected at a party."
It wasn't really a lie but it wasn't the truth either, since he and Buck weren't a couple yet, but they acted like they were. Bianca's face fell for a second before she recovered. She plastered a smile on her face.
"So see you tomorrow !" she says. "Good evening !"
"Thanks, you too !"
And he left, impatient to be with Buck. He was curious to see what costume he had chosen because, again, it was a secret.
…
"Buck, I'm home !"
It feels like they already were a couple, and he liked it a lot. Eddie's breath caught as Buck emerged from the kitchen. Jeans, a burgundy and black checkered shirt over a white t-shirt, and cowboy boots on his feet. And the best part, the cowboy hat on his head. Eddie bit his tongue very hard to not let himself be overcome by his desire which threatened to take possession of him.
"How it went ?" asked Buck.
"Hum ? Oh uh, great." Eddie just pointed to his son's bucket full of candy. "Christopher charmed them all."
"I see it." laughed Buck. "You have time to go get changed."
The doorbell rang.
"I'm on it !" assured the youngest.
Eddie placed the bucket of candy in the kitchen when he heard children's voices.
"Trick or treat ?"
"Wow, your costumes are awesome !" Buck said.
The warmth in his best friend's voice when he heard him talking enthusiastically to the children almost made him break down, but Eddie took it upon himself not to jump on him right away. If he did, then they would never go to the party Bobby and Athena threw. He went to the bathroom to take a longer shower than planned, under which he took care to wash himself everywhere. He wanted to be at his best when he'll be with Buck, alone, in this house or in the loft, and if possible both naked, catching up on the past three years of unsaid and suppressed desire.
Eddie had chosen to disguise himself as the famous criminal John Dillinger, referring to the film Public Enemies, played by Johnny Depp. A movie he and Buck had watched one night after Christopher had gone to bed. They both loved the movie and Eddie hadn't forgotten what Buck had said during the movie.
"Johnny Depp is so classy in this film, and he's so sexy !"
This didn't surprise Eddie, who knew that his best friend liked women as much as men. On the contrary, it even helped him understand that what he felt for Buck wasn't just friendship. This John Dillinger costume was intended to slightly disturb Buck, but in a good way. The suit was simple : black pants, a white shirt, a tie, and a navy blue jacket. Polished black shoes on his feet, a long black trench coat and finally, the hat.
Let's go !
"I'm ready !" he announced as he arrived in the living room.
He pretended not to have heard the gasp of astonishment – because yes, it was indeed one – that Buck let out.
"Shall we take your car or mine ?" asked Eddie.
"What ?" Buck said, regaining his senses.
"Which car do we take ?"
"Oh uh, I ordered an Uber, so we can drink if we want, and we'll call another one to take us back." Buck said.
"Excellent idea !"
Five minutes later, with the house locked on all sides, they were sitting side by side in the back of the Uber. The driver dropped them off thirty minutes later at Bobby and Athena's house. They both needed air badly, both of them. Eddie noticed without saying anything that Buck was feverish, but throwing themselves at each other in the backseat of an Uber wasn't the best place to be. They thanked the driver and got off.
Athena welcomed them, radiant in a traditional African costume in a majestic blue tone.
"Well, who do we have here ?" she said with a smile. "A cowboy…" she said, pointing at Buck, then turned to Eddie. "Am I going to have to arrest you tonight, Mr. Dillinger ?"
"I knew you would find the reference." the young man smiled at him.
"Come in, both of you !"
The Grant-Nash house was decorated as it should be for such an evening. A real Halloween atmosphere. In the garden were Hen and Karen, respectively dressed as two great Egyptian queens. Hen was Nefertiti and Karen, none other than Cleopatra. They glowed and sparkled.
"Nice !" Buck whistled.
"Look at you two !" Hen returned, pointing to Eddie and him.
"Buck, you could have made a better effort than that." Chimney said to him, approaching.
He and Maddie were dressed as Gomez and Morticia Addams. If Maddie was truly stunning all in black and straight hair like Anjelica Huston, Chim was... strange, but who were they to criticize ?
"A cowboy, seriously ? Couldn't you have found anything better ?"
"Hey, it suits him really well." Eddie intervened. "And I don't remember Gomez Addams ever chewing gum."
"He got you !" Karen chuckled.
"Ready for the challenge you gave me ?" asked Buck.
"You're the one I should ask that." Chimney taunted.
Buck met his sister's gaze – a look that Eddie also saw – and the young woman hid a silent laugh behind her hand. She knew Buck's talent for mixology, and had tried to dissuade Chimney from taking on this challenge, but with no success. Too bad for him ! The brother and sister exchanged a wink.
Ravi and Albert, who were the last two missing, arrived in time for the start of the challenge, each disguised as Hawkeye from the Avengers, and in Slytherin wizard outfit. Bobby was creepy as a zombie cook, especially with the subtle but horrifying makeup on his face and costume.
"Okay, I suggest we do that here, in the kitchen." he said.
He pointed to the equipment placed on the counter that separated the kitchen and the rest of the house. On the other side, on the work surface, were various bottles of alcohol, various fruits, a blender and a shaker. Buck exchanged a look with Bobby, and with a simple nod, the young man knew that his boss and surrogate father had gone to collect his own equipment from his apartment.
Bobby knew about Buck's cocktail-making skills, but teaching Chimney a lesson couldn't hurt. It was not intended to humiliate him, but to make him understand that, contrary to his preconceived ideas about the young man, Buck was not incompetent in the contest in which they were going to face up to. And also, Bobby had been too often lax with the paramedic's jokes and barbs, considering them to be just that : jokes. But he quickly understood that Buck was smiling or faking laughing.
"I suggest Chimney goes first, since he started the challenge." suggested Eddie.
Nobody protested. Chimney rubbed his hands together as he walked into the kitchen. Reviewing the different ingredients and bottles of alcohol, he selected his choices and began.
Eddie watched him attentively, while remaining close to Buck. God, he was dying to touch him. With this cowboy outfit, cowboy boots and hat, he wanted to pin him against a wall and kiss him until he lost his breath. Later, when we're alone. He would have lured him into a room in the house to steal a kiss and ensure that no one won the bet, but the evening would end early since almost everyone was working the next day, so they would have time to arrive at Buck or Eddie's house before midnight. No one had bet on the actual day of Halloween ; often before, or after, and as to who would make the first move, Eddie was sure of everyone's bet, probably thinking Buck too shy or too afraid of losing his friendship to try anything.
They'd deal with that later, but for now Eddie swallowed his desire and watched Chimney. He had made eight lemon Daiquiri. When the cocktails were done, everyone – except Bobby who didn't drink alcohol – took their glass and took a sip. Eddie grimaced as he swallowed the liquid, and he wasn't the only one.
"What ?" asked Chimney. "I followed the recipe."
"You went hard on the lime." Maddie expressed.
"Impossible !" he refuted.
Maddie joined him and handed him his drink. He took a sip and grimaced as well. Indeed, he had dosed the drink a little too much with lime.
"Let's see if Buck can do better." said Chimney, a bit – even very – mockingly.
Eddie wanted to throw his still full glass in his face, but restrained himself.
It took a few minutes to clean the glasses and the rest of the equipment. If Buck reused the blinder and the shaker, he recovered his bag, where his own equipment was located.
"What is that ?" asked Chimney.
"That, my dear Howard, is what will sign your defeat." replied Buck, taking out his equipment.
After one look at the ingredients and the bottles of alcohol, he already knew what he was going to prepare. His cowboy hat in good hands with Eddie, the young man rubbed his hands, and began. His first actions stunned everyone who had never seen him do his job as a bartender.
"I apologize in advance, but it may take time." Buck said.
"Take all the time you need. You shouldn't make a mistake in the recipe like me." Chimney taunted.
"What if you shut up and watch him show you that he's better than you ?" Eddie snapped calmly.
Which had the effect of making Chimney's petty smile disappear. The two best friends exchanged a knowing look, and Eddie saw a brief spark in Buck's that he knew very well. Oh the night was going to be long and magical. And hot too. After that look, Eddie was sure of him : he was going to tell Buck everything, and they were going to have the best night of their lives.
Minutes passed as Buck poured pineapple juice, passion fruit juice, lemon juice and grenadine syrup into a shaker filled with ice cubes, all the while making gestures he had done hundreds and hundreds of times. Agile wrist, hand and arm movements. Everything in his actions exuded self-confidence. The cocktail ready, he unscrewed the shaker and poured the contents into a glass. He added a straw and put it aside. He knew that his audience – with the exception of his sister and Eddie who had already seen him do it, and Bobby who knew his talents – were speechless by the show he put on for them.
"Bobby, here's a Bora Bora cocktail without a single drop of alcohol." announced Buck.
"Thanks !" said Bobby.
After thoroughly cleaning and drying the equipment, he started again but changed the recipe. It took him a good twenty minutes to prepare eight glasses of Tequila Sunrise correctly and down to the last drop.
When he looked up from his work to find Eddie's eyes, the latter bit his lip, and a crooked smile gave way. Oh, he was excited but he had too much self-control to let it go in public.
"What was this show ?" Hen asked, completely stunned by what she had just seen.
"I have a degree in mixology, and I learned all the tricks from the best through my travels." replied Buck. "Please help yourself !"
Eddie didn't need to be asked, nor did Maddie, Athena, Karen, etc. A little more reluctant, Chimney ended up taking his drink. Eddie rolled his eyes and took a sip through a straw. He let out a little curse in Spanish, before adding :
"It's the best cocktail I've ever had in my life."
And he took another sip.
"You say that because he's your best friend." scoffed Chimney, who still hadn't tasted his drink.
"Sorry bro, but on this one I'm with Eddie, this cocktail is so good." said Albert.
"Oh come on, I've been a bartender longer than him."
"And you screwed up Chimney, admit it." Buck said, no mockery in his voice.
"A bet's a bet, Chimney." said Bobby. "Buck's drink is better than yours. And at least he made me a non-alcoholic cocktail."
"You're going to make me one again, Buck, it's so good." added Hen.
"You too ?" Chimney couldn't believe his eyes. He looked at his girlfriend. "Maddie ?"
"I told you it was a very bad idea to challenge my brother on this." she told him.
"Are we voting ?" asked Eddie.
"Buck wins hands down." said Karen.
Athena, Ravi, Albert and the others agreed. Buck's cocktail was better than Chimney's.
"We could have been tied if you had measured the lime correctly." Buck said to his brother-in-law. "Come on, don't make that face, I'm not going to make you do my chores."
"Um hum, you bet." Hen reminded him. "I mean, Chimney challenged you and you agreed and won. He has a pledge."
"Oh I know, but it won't be one." Buck said. "I'm just going to ask you something that you'll have a lot of trouble doing."
"And what is it ?" asked Chimney.
"All your jokes, all your barbs that you throw at me and that you think are funny, the next time you are about to make one, you swallow them." Buck said.
The tone he took was calm, but if you knew him well enough, as was the case with Eddie, the threat was very present in his voice, you just had to listen properly. Seeing Athena's frown and grin, she had clearly guessed it too.
"Oh come on, it's just jokes." Chimney tried to defend himself.
"They are hurtful." Buck replied calmly. "No more teasing about me."
"Or what ?" Chimney tried, without real provocation.
Eddie placed his hand heavily on his shoulder.
"Or you'll have to deal with me." he said, before moving on to a completely different topic. "I'll help Buck clean up, and maybe we can eat afterward."
"Excellent idea !" Bobby agreed.
...
Just before dinner, and after Buck finished cleaning Bobby's kitchen and put his supplies in his bag, he went into the bathroom and locked himself in without locking the door. The little bartender competition between him and Chimney had gone well, and hopefully, Chimney will bite his tongue every time he feels the urge, the visceral need to taunt Buck. The latter had always taken it with a smile but, inside, he was hurt to be treated like an immature child. He might have been when he started at 118, but Eddie's arrival in his life had helped him calm down a lot. Especially recently, and the feelings he had for his best friend had something to do with it. He'd hoped for years that his feelings would be reciprocated, but when he'd dated Ana, Buck had pretended and moved on, thinking all hope was over.
But no ! Eddie was single again, and so was Buck after breaking up with Taylor. The last few weeks had been trying, because being around Eddie all the time wasn't easy, especially when his whole being was boiling to jump on him. But no more waiting for fear of risking their friendship. What he had seen in his friend's eyes lately, including earlier during the cocktail competition, comforted him.
Knock Knock !
"Buck ?"
The door opened before he could answer, and Eddie entered the room. His gangster hat was no longer on his head, just as he himself had not kept his cowboy hat.
"You're okay ?" asked Eddie.
"I'm fine !" replied Buck.
They had the same spark in their eyes. Eddie pushed the door behind him just as Buck took a step toward him. Their mouths met at the same time, but since they were in their captain's bathroom, the kiss remained gentle, but it felt so good.
"I can't wait to be alone with you."
"I can't wait for the evening to end."
They were on the same page.
"What do we do ?" asked Buck. "Do we tell them, or do we let them wait a little ?"
"Do you know about the bet ?" asked Eddie.
Buck nodded.
"I heard them talking about it last week. And you ?"
"I've known for a little longer." said Eddie. "Since we just kissed today, no one wins the bet."
"Great, that will teach them to interfere in other people's lives." Buck touched his lips. "Let's go, before we do something bad in here."
The other man knew exactly what he meant by that. Eddie's whole body was like a timer on a bomb. Arriving at a zero threshold of control, he would jump on Buck and tear off his clothes, but he might as well do that somewhere other than in their boss's bathroom. They joined the others in the garden, where the table had been set and on which rested delicious dishes concocted by Bobby.
"You took the time." Chimney muttered.
As they sat side by side, as usual, Eddie felt his body tense. Chimney annoyed him with his thoughts. Fortunately for him and his self-control, Bobby reprimanded the other man in his Brigade Captain voice.
"Leave them alone, Chimney, and stop making that face because you lost your bet against Buck !"
"He was lucky, that's all !"
"What a bad loser you can be." sighed Maddie, sitting next to him.
"You could have told me about it before I made this stupid bet." Chimney reproached him.
"You knew I used to be a bartender." Buck reminded him.
"I didn't think you were that good."
Instinctively, and also because he knew him better than anyone, Buck put his hand on Eddie's thigh and squeezed it to prevent him from throwing himself at the other man's face.
"It's okay, the subject is closed !" snapped Athena in her voice which was definitive. "You lost, make up your mind."
Chimney wasn't stupid enough to stand up to Athena, so he kept quiet, but throughout the meal he didn't hide his displeasure. At dessert time, when everyone had been served a slice of pumpkin pie, Eddie and Buck exchanged a knowing look. It would be fun to make all these compulsive gamblers go crazy, but they didn't want to hide either. They also knew that they were not risking their place at 118, since Bobby had also bet.
"We want to tell you something, with Eddie." Buck said.
"We're listening !" said Athena.
"Please tell us that you two have finally decided to get together." Hen begged them.
Buck masked a giggle.
"Yes, Hen, Buck and I are together." said Eddie. "But I will immediately calm all of you ; we know about the bet, and know that no one wins."
"How so ?" asked Bobby.
"Everyone has bets before or after Halloween, but never on Halloween itself, and we know it because Hen and Chimney talk about it when they think they're alone in the station." Buck said. "I heard you talking about it last week."
"And I've known that for a while now." added Eddie. "And since we kissed earlier in the bathroom…" He reassured Athena. "We didn't do anything more."
"I hope for you !" she said in her calm but authoritative voice.
"No one wins !" Buck declared.
The crestfallen looks of everyone around the table were definitely worth it. Eddie imagined what they might have looked like if he and Buck had decided to keep their recent affair a secret for a while, and he had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.
"Why did you have to kiss tonight ?" asked Maddie. "Couldn't you wait a little longer ?"
"First, you're a traitor." Buck told her. "And two, it will teach you to bet on other people's love lives."
"Not so fast, Buckley, you bet on Bobby and Athena too." Hen said.
"Except you started the bet to see if they were together or not." he corrected. "I didn't bet on the date or who made the first move."
"And no one wins there either, since it happened at the same time."
Eddie had just added another layer, which annoyed them all even more.
"Don't make that face, no one loses money."
"No one wins either." grumbled Albert.
Delighted with their effect, Buck and Eddie put an end to the debate by stabbing their forks into their slices of pie. It was delicious.
...
When the evening was over, Buck and Eddie got in an Uber that they had ordered, heading towards the loft of the youngest of the two. The door barely closed, the two friends threw themselves at each other and their lips crashed into a passionate and urgent kiss, removing the hats from their costumes in the process. Buck was slightly taller than him, but that didn't stop Eddie who took the lead of the kiss and pinned his now-boyfriend against the door. Their pelvises suddenly stuck together. The bulge in their pants was enough to deduce that they were more than ready to take it to the next level without delay.
"I want you." whispered Eddie.
"Me too." admitted Buck. "But I don't want us to jump on each other like two savages for our first time."
"I use the bathroom downstairs and you the other one ?" suggested Eddie. "And I'll meet you upstairs ?"
"Okay."
After one last kiss, Eddie took off his trench coat, which Buck took from his hands and placed on the back of a chair, before locking it while Eddie went to lock himself in the downstairs bathroom. Body trembling with apprehension but also impatience, Buck climbed the steps to the open space upstairs, took off his shoes and went into the other bathroom to brush his teeth to get rid of the alcoholic aftertaste that had lodged in his mouth throughout the evening. He wanted to do things right with Eddie, not for them to throw themselves at each other without taking the time to explore each other.
He had been in love with Eddie for too long to waste this chance he had to finally be with him. He brushed his teeth, emptied his bladder and took a quick shower. The temperatures in Los Angeles didn't vary that much and for a fall evening, the weather was mild and pleasant. But his little mixology show had made him hot and he had sweated under his costume. It was too late to do a proper cleaning, but that was okay. He took great care to clean all areas of his body before getting out of the shower, drying himself off and wrapping a towel around his waist before exiting the bathroom.
"I see we had the same idea."
Eddie was sitting on the edge of the bed, also half-naked except for a towel around his waist, and looking like he'd just taken a shower. Buck took a step toward him, and Eddie got up from the bed. Their hands joined like magnets and their fingers intertwined.
"I don't know if we can go all the way." Seeing Eddie's perplexed look, Buck hastened to clarify : "It's too late for me to do a proper cleaning, or else..."
But Eddie silenced him with a kiss, unknotting their fingers and plunging his into his damp hair that curled when wet.
"Didn't you wonder why it took me all this time to get ready for the party ?"
"You wanted to make a good impression ?" tried Buck, who had wrapped his arms around his waist.
"Yes, there is that, but above all I took all this time to be sure that you could make love to me without problem. Unless of course you don't want to."
"I've wanted you for too long." Buck said. "I also planned to confess my feelings to you this evening, I was tired of being scared that nothing was the same between us. That you don't want this life with me."
"I want everything with you, Evan." said Eddie. "Absolutely everything. You know, Christopher asked me why we weren't together, you and I."
"What did you answer him ?"
"That I was an idiot, and that I was going to make things right. I love you, Evan."
Hearing his birth name from the mouth of this devilishly sexy guy gave him a strange effect, but he loved it.
"I love you too."
"I hope so !" Eddie smiled. "Do you have what we need ? You know, for what we're about to do for a good part of the night."
Buck pulled away and went to his nightstand. He opened the drawer and Eddie leaned against his back and could see what the drawer contained. Condoms, lube and a silicone sex toy.
"Hey, I see you're having fun without me."
But the amusement in Eddie's voice made Buck smile.
"We could use it, if you want." he said, turning in his arms.
"Next time." Eddie placed himself between Buck and the bed. "Tonight, I only want you and me. We'll use toys another time."
He slid his hands down his chest, something he'd dreamed of doing a thousand times since they'd known each other. He wasn't going to deprive himself of it anymore. With his hands caressing his skin, he added his mouth, moving down to his waist. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled on the towel around Buck's waist, but Buck grabbed his arm.
"Wait, you've never been with a guy before so you don't have to do this."
"I know, but I want to. » Eddie kissed the hand holding his wrist. "I want to experience everything with you, so let me do it, then you can take care of me and show me what I could have had these past years."
His words hit home, and Buck released Eddie's grip, who untied the young man's towel, revealing him in all his glory. It wasn't really the first time they had seen each other naked, they shared showers at the fire station, but it wasn't the same thing. There, in the privacy of Buck's loft, there was a sensual energy full of desire, full of electricity in the air that would strike them at any moment.
Eddie felt no discomfort, finding himself face to face with Buck's penis. He knew the exploits of Buck 1.0, and it had to be said, the nickname given to him by his past conquests was very apt, because Buck was really very well gifted by nature, and Eddie's mouth watered. He had never been with another man before, because he had never questioned his sexuality. His family was not homophobic but as a traditional Texan family, he could not ask questions. The ideal couple was a woman and a man, period. Okay, it was more or less homophobia, but Eddie wasn't like his parents and today he lived his life the way he wanted. He didn't want to have regrets and there was no question of living otherwise than as he had decided.
"Eddie, don't feel…"
Buck hissed through his teeth as Eddie ran his tongue along his cock. His dream, his wildest desire was finally coming true. Not just feeling his best friend's tongue on his penis. He knew Eddie inside out, and he knew perfectly well that he wouldn't do what he was doing if he wasn't one hundred percent sure of himself. Reason why Buck didn't stop him, and also selfishly because he had been dying for it since their first meet.
Eddie was experiencing a new experience for him, because it was the first time he had performed oral sex. It never happened like that with Shannon. Sex with his ex-wife was always good, but never beyond basic sex, never oral sex because Shannon didn't like that, so Eddie didn't insist. With Ana, he never did anything either, always pushing back the deadline when she flirted with him, pretending he wasn't ready but the truth was he was ready but his body wanted someone else. And it was this person he was giving a treat to.
He was not disgusted by what he was undertaking, quite the contrary. He took great pleasure in sucking Buck, and his own body reacted to the grunts the young man uttered.
"Eddie, stop !"
Breathing short, Eddie tore himself away from his cock. His lips were swollen, and the sight took Buck's breath away, and he leaned down to kiss them for a long time.
"Lay over !"
Eddie took off his towel, revealing his nakedness, and lay down. Buck imitated him and put their bodies together. Eddie spread his legs for comfort and the kiss they shared was delicious.
"Why did you stop me ?" asked Eddie.
"As much as I would love to see you swallow every drop of my seed, I don't want it to happen during your first time with a guy."
"You will be my first, and only. I only want you !"
"I only want you, too." Buck bit his lip. "You trust me ?"
"Always."
After another kiss, Buck grabbed a condom and lube from his nightstand. He placed them on the mattress, and began to cover his best friend's body with caresses and kisses. There had never been any secrets between them, and Buck knew that Eddie's sex life had never been adventurous, and not as satisfying as he would have liked, so he was going to make him feel good as well, beyond all imagination. He teased his nipples one after the other, licked, sucked and nibbled the little erect tips of his pectorals until he turned them pink. He went lower, to his abs. Eight-pack. Buck smiled while tracing each contour of his famous abs. Buck wasn't the only one to have been very well gifted by nature. Eddie's body was a work of art, and all the fantasies in the world weren't worth reality.
"Stop… torturing me." Eddie grumbled.
"Never, eight-pack !"
Eddie burst out laughing, not having expected the nickname he was given during his training to come up in such an intimate moment.
"Cariño, don't ever use that nickname again if you don't want me to use the one that was given to your cock."
Buck groaned, not necessarily liking being reminded of his sex addict period and everything that went with it. He decided to "punish" Eddie, and he licked his entire length, from the testicles to the glans. The surprise was such that the young man sat up on the bed.
"What the hell was that ?" he said, panting.
Buck stood up to face him.
"That was the firstfruits of your very first blowjob, my darling. It was good, huh ?"
"Yeah." He swallowed. "Buck, I'm not sure I can last much longer. I haven't slept with anyone since Shannon and…"
"And you never slept with Ana, I know." Buck took his face in his hands and gave him a tender kiss. "It's okay if you cum, I'll clean you up and we'll start again."
Once he was lying down again, Buck took the lube and poured a drop on his middle finger, which he then slid, very lightly and without taking his eyes off Eddie, between his buttocks. Eddie took a deep breath, first because the gel was cold, and also because no one had ever made their way to this part of his anatomy. The two men didn't need to speak to understand each other, Buck saw clearly in Eddie's eyes that he was ready, and that he had complete confidence in him so, he pressed his finger a little more, content to touch him so he gets used to the sensation. When he saw his hips move, Buck gently inserted his finger inside him.
Eddie inhaled, but didn't tense. He didn't need it, since it was Buck. They were everything to each other, and he trusted him more than anyone. Buck could do absolutely anything he wanted to him. With just one look, he told him that everything was fine, and that he could continue. So Buck continued. He was careful not to go too fast, but he knew what he was doing, and a second finger inserted itself into Eddie. There, he couldn't hold back a groan. It wasn't painful, surprising at most. It tugged, but the lube dulled the sensation and left only room for pleasure. His pleasure, in the expert hands of Buck.
This sight, that of Eddie perfectly relaxed and full of desire was an image that he would engrave in his memory until the end of his days. He would never forget the slight frown followed by the groan he let out when Buck inserted a second finger inside him. He saw Eddie grip the sheet, but he did nothing to stop him, so Buck increased his finger movements inside him, reaching down and wrapping his mouth around his balls.
"Fuck…"
Hearing Eddie swear was very exciting. Buck continued his torture. He left Eddie's balls and focused on his rock hard length. As he sucked it, he moved his fingers, adding a third.
"Buck… take me…" Eddie moaned.
The overload of sensation must have been painful for Eddie, who hadn't had sex in years.
"I told you, if you have to cum, do it !" Buck sucked in the white pearl that burst from his glans. "I'll clean you up."
"I want you inside me !" Eddie snapped. "Now !"
Buck wasn't sure he was prepared enough, but Eddie wanted more so Buck wasn't going to deny him. He removed his fingers, tore off the condom wrapper and unrolled it over his large cock.
"Are you sure it's going to fit ?" asked Eddie.
He was sweating, and his whole body was feverish.
"Trust me." Buck said simply.
Yes, Eddie trusted him. He watched him wrap the condom over his penis, add lube and then disappear his hand between his butt. He knew why he was doing it and didn't protest.
Buck lifted his leg, slung it over his shoulder, and right after, he felt the tip of his cock against his anus. Don't tense up, Diaz. Buck must have sensed it because he leaned down to capture his mouth. He diverted Eddie's attention, forcing him to focus on their kiss while he thrust into him little by little. It worked, since Eddie didn't care about the pain that a first sodomy could cause, and which he wasn't feeling at that moment. He only felt Buck, his kiss, their bodies intertwined and their eyes that never left each other.
The discomfort gave way to a nameless pleasure. Eddie released his grip on the sheet and hooked his hands under Buck's broad shoulders, who, once fully inside him, released his leg but wrapped it around his waist.
"Buck…" Eddie breathed. "Evan…"
"Does it hurt ?" Buck asked, stopping.
"No, it's good to feel you inside me." he admitted simply. "Don't stop, and make love to me !"
Then Buck resumed his movements slowly. His fluid movements each time drew a moan from Eddie, who clung to him with all his strength. He wrapped his other leg around Buck and pulled them up a little more, giving his lover the chance to go deeper inside him. This electric shock which ran through their bodies, none of them had ever experienced such.
Buck was about to cum, and to make sure Eddie does too, he put his years of experience to use. With a rotation of his pelvis, he gave a very precise thrust which surprised his lover. He did it twice and Eddie arched, the orgasm hitting him hard. Buck let himself go and fell with all his weight on Eddie, before catching himself at the last moment and leaning on his elbows.
Eddie couldn't believe it. Never in his life had he come with such force. He felt… drained of all his strength and at the same time invigorated. If Buck wanted to do it again right now, he wouldn't stop him.
"Can you walk to the bathroom ?" asked Buck, many minutes later.
None of them had changed position, eye to eye and in an intimate and romantic silence. Eddie nodded, and he and Buck went to take a shower, washing each other and spending most of the time kissing.
Later in the kitchen...
Eddie ran behind Buck's back, who had opened the fridge. Both men only wore a towel around their waists – what was the point of getting dressed again?
"I just realized I haven't done groceries in ages." Buck said.
"That's because you've been on my couch non-stop for two weeks." Eddie said, kissing the back of his neck. "We could get dressed, call an Uber and go home."
"Is this your way of asking me to move in with you ?"
"You're there all the time, we can say that you live between this loft and my house."
Buck closed the fridge and turned around.
"You have half of your stuff at my house." Eddie reminded him.
"And you have some here too." said Buck
"I love your loft, Buck, I really do, but I don't want you splitting your time between here and my place anymore. I want my home to become your home permanently."
"I want it so much, too."
"So what are we waiting for ?" asked Eddie. "And my fridge is full."
Ten minutes later, dressed in sweats, they were in an Uber headed to Diaz's house. They had left their Halloween costumes at the loft, and would collect everything over the next few days.
November 1st, 2020 !
Eddie was awakened from his sleep by the wonderful smell of coffee. He got up, did what he had to do in the bathroom after putting on a pair of boxers, and found Buck in the kitchen who greeted him with the most languid of kisses.
"You should have woken me up." he mumbled against his mouth.
"I was about to, but I heard you get up." Buck said. "Coffee ?"
"Yes thanks !"
"Hungry ?" Buck asked, making him a cup of coffee just the way Eddie liked it.
"After what we ate when we got home from the loft last night ? No !"
Smiling, Eddie thought back to the enormous pepper and bacon omelette that Buck had cooked just for them. It felt good to their stomachs, and they went to bed for a long cuddle session that escalated into a memorable sex session during which Eddie had more orgasms than he expected in one night. Buck even used his tongue on several occasions.
"How are you feeling ?" asked Buck.
His suave tone and his little smirk left no room for an implication other than Did I go too hard with you ? Eddie downed the rest of his coffee, set the cup in the sink, and pressed Buck against the counter he was leaning against. The latter takes the opportunity to grab his partner's buttocks but without pressing very hard.
"I feel very good." Eddie bit his chin. "If we weren't going to pick up our son in an hour, I'd let you take me up again."
Buck bit his lip, and Eddie knew why.
"Christopher is your son, Evan, don't doubt it for a second."
"I love you so much." whispered Buck. "And keep calling me Evan, it turns me on so much."
They kissed for several more minutes before getting ready for the day – even though they were off – and going to pick up Christopher from his friend's house.
"Ah and, I have to tell you something about Brian's mother." Eddie said as he drove.
"She has a crush on you, I know."
The surprised look of his best friend now boyfriend made him laugh.
"Baby, all the single moms at Chris' school have a crush on you."
"Yeah, she asked me to come in for a drink when I dropped Chris off yesterday."
"And what did you tell her ?"
"I thanked her for the invitation, before telling her that my partner was waiting for me." He stopped at a red light and turned his head towards Buck, who was smiling. "I couldn't wait to come home and find you. Even if seeing you as a cowboy shocked me. In a good way, obviously."
"And I didn't miss your reaction." Buck said.
"Nor me yours when you saw me as a gangster."
"Damn you were sexy !" Buck said. "I wanted to jump on you as soon as you arrived in the living room."
"We would have been late to the party."
The light turned green, and Eddie got back on the road.
Arriving at their destination, Eddie and Buck both got out of the car but Buck stayed behind while Eddie went to knock on the door.
"Hello, Eddie !"
Her smile was genuine and she was very pretty, but Eddie's heart beat only for the man behind him.
"Everything went well ?" he asked after greeting her back.
"Yes, the boys had fun." she replied. "Not too many sweets or video games, but they spent at least two hours with board games."
"Christopher loves them." smiled Eddie.
"Dad !" exclaimed the boy, who was walking forward on his crutches.
Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, he had his sneakers on, and his friend Brian was carrying his bag.
"Here Mr. Diaz, there are all his things in there, we checked twice."
"Thank you, Brian, and you're welcome home for the next sleepover." He turned to the young mother. "It'll make a night for you."
"With pleasure !"
The two boys said goodbye and arranged to meet the next day at school, then Brian returned to his room and Eddie moved aside so that his son could see the person who was leaning against the car.
"BUCK !" cried Christopher joyfully.
Buck walked the rest of the way and lifted Christopher into his arms.
"Is this your partner ?" asked Bianca.
"Yeah, it's Buck !" said Eddie, whose heart leapt with joy at this sight.
"You're lucky !"
He turned to Bianca, who had a small, slightly sad smile on her face.
"He seems like a nice person." she says.
"He's the best, without him I would be totally lost." Eddie admitted.
"You're going to make a lot of other parents jealous."
Eddie rolled his eyes, not without amusement, then took his leave. He went to find his men, who were already in the car.
"Have you done your stretches ?" Eddie asked, turning around in his seat.
"Yes, Brian helped me."
"Good. Did you have breakfast ?" Christopher nods. "Great, how about the three of us go to the mall ? Or the movies, and we'll have lunch outside at noon."
"The movies !" chose Christopher.
"Let's go then !"
Eddie sat down correctly, put on his seat belt and drove off, but nothing more.
"Chris, do you remember what you asked me yesterday ?"
He saw his son nod in the rearview mirror. Eddie took Buck's hand, linked their fingers together, and showed them to Christopher.
"FINALLY !" he cried.
"And Buck is officially going to live with us !"
"We will be a real family !" Christopher excitedly said.
Eddie smiled, Buck held back tears. After a few minutes of driving, while they were waiting for the light to turn green, Buck suddenly said :
"Do you realize that our anniversary will be every Halloween ?"
Eddie just smiled while Christopher chuckled in the backseat. Yes, he was perfectly aware of it.
Halloween was a holiday like any other, after all, and now it would also be an opportunity to celebrate their love !
THE END !
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