Rhink Three Ways

They took their time stripping each other out of their wedding tuxes. Rhett couldn’t believe one quick ceremony could make everything feel so new. They’d loved each other and been committed to each other their whole lives. But now they’d declared it before their friends and families. The world knew with no uncertainty, the nature of their love and commitment. Sealed with promises, a kiss, and represented with rings.

Link climbed onto the bed and beckoned Rhett to join him. Link’s legs opened for Rhett to fit between, like he was made to.

Rhett pressed his body between Link’s knees and covered him with his body. Stretching upward to kiss his plump lips. Link was warm and soft, his chest heaving with anticipation.

“Easy, honey,” Rhett soothed against Link’s mouth. “We got all night. We got the rest of our lives.”

“I’ve waited for this moment for a long time, Rhett. Please don’t make me wait too much longer.”

Rhett nodded. They’d held back on most physical elements of their relationship. It just felt too important; there was so much at stake. Link, especially, needed to make sure they were sure. They both understood there was no ‘going backward’. They either moved forward, or broke entirely.

Rhett worked his way down Link’s body. Nibbling his strong sharp jaw, pressing his lips to his warm pulsing jugular. He felt Link’s blood racing. Rhett knew he’d have to go slow for Link to calm down and.. relax into it.

Rhett’s lips trailed down Link’s long neck, and over his bobbing goozle. He nibbled lightly over Link’s prominent clavicles. He felt Link’s erection hard against his skin.

Link gasped as Rhett reached his sensitive nipples. Rhett licked at them with a pointed tongue, tweaking and teasing the pebbled nubs. Link’s body twitched and arched beneath Rhett, impatient for release.

Rhett steadied Link, gently pinning his hips to the bed as he shimmied down the bed to bring himself face-level with Link’s swollen weeping cock. Rhett wrapped his hand around Link’s length, Rhett’s large hand not diminishing Link’s size. He touched his tongue to Link’s wet shiny head, tasting his need.

“Rhett…” Link whimpered.

Rhett took Link past his lips, sliding him over his tongue. He hummed around Link’s shaft and Link’s groans gave him chills. Rhett’s fingers felt their way toward Link’s hole and pressed inside as Rhett sucked him.

Rhett could barely stand how Link writhed and begged for more. He was as desperate as Link, to give him everything they’d both been wanting for so long.

Rhett pulled off of Link’s cock and wiped the stands of spit from his chin. He grabbed some lube and softly encouraged Link to spread himself further.

“Beautiful..” Rhett husked as he touched Link again with slick fingers. He felt his husband’s body soften and relax under his patient touch. Rhett almost came untouched at just the feel of Link’s tight heat swallowing his fingers, pulsing hotly around his digits.

Link’s hand lightly stroked his cock as Rhett worked his fingers inside him. Rhett imagined Link was trying hard not to beg; and while that sounded like a good time, that wasn’t what Rhett wanted tonight.

Tonight he simply wanted to feel as close to Link as the physical limits of their separate corporeal bodies would allow. To move, breathe, and feel as one. They’d always been on the same page; tonight, he wanted to feel like they were both the tree that page had been made from. And to nourish that tree from root to leaf.

He ran a fistful of lube over his own cock, feeling the strength and weight of his hard, shiny cock in his hand. This might well be the most erotic moment of his life. He pressed himself into Link’s tight hole and silently dared himself to not look away or come as Link arched, whined, and unhinged his jaw in raw pleasure - just how Rhett always imagined he would when this moment finally arrived.

They both had involuntary tears of relief and release as they melted into one another. The decades of yearning, desperation, and anticipation did nothing to diminish the new sensations they shared as Rhett rocked himself against Link’s hips. Kissing every bit of Link’s upper body that he could reach.

Link’s unintelligible moans and babbles coalesced to form actual words enough for Link to tell Rhett, “I’m gonna come..”

Rhett straightened himself upright to watch the length of Link from where their bodies joined and up his long lean body, glowing with sweat - some his own, some Rhett had contributed.

“Well, I’ve waited for this moment for a long time, Link. Please don’t make me wait too much longer. Lemme see you come, honey..”

Link reached one toned arm over his head to grasp at the headboard as his other hand gripped his shaft, lightly rubbing his thumb over the delicate head of his cock until it began to spurt, painting milky stripes over his belly.. droplets reaching the bottom of his heaving rib cage.

The vision beneath Rhett was enough to send him over the edge with Link.

They collapsed in a sweating and panting pile, all dreamy spent smiles and cuddles.

“So worth the wait,” Link sighed. “God. And we get to do this whenever we want?”

Rhett couldn’t stop grinning. Before he could voice his agreement, his stomach growled.

“We can eat,” Link conceded. “But after that… Let’s just say I’m not done with you!”

Good luck! Love you. -J

A different kind of breath that he had been holding seemed to evaporate as he placed the paper back down and started the car. He backed his car out and began the drive.

Rhett was surprised at just how excited he was. It had become common for him and Link to sneak away in the early mornings, stealing away quiet time with one another before the realities of adult responsibilities settled in. But this morning was different. Full of promise.

Before he knew it, he pulled into the parking lot of the beach close to their house, and gave a wave to the driver in the car next to him. The driver smiled and gave a quick wave as he turned off his car and got out. Rhett grabbed the basket and blanket as he met the man.

“Hey,” Link said. 

“Hey,” Rhett said, feeling awkward all of a sudden. Link pointed at the basket.

“What’s that?” 

Rhett looked down at the items in his hands before shrugging. 

“Picnic?”

“Well, that explains what was waiting for me this morning,” Link said, holding up his camping thermos and mugs.

“What’s that?”

“Dunno. It was on the counter next to my car keys with a note.” Link blushed at the admission. 

“All good?” Rhett asked nervously. All four of them had discussed the new arrangement, but any of them could easily have called it off.

“Oh! Yeah, no, it was...an enthusiastic note,” Link said, his blush deepening.

“Good!” Rhett blurted before calming. “Good. I got an...excited note too.”

Link smiled at this and Rhett started feeling more at ease. 

“Shall we?” Link said, pointing toward the beach.

Both men walked out to the beach as the sun was peeking over the horizon. They set up the blanket as if it were a cocoon, laying it out and then bringing the sides up around them. The basket sat to the side of Rhett as Link cracked open the thermos and took a sniff. 

“Ooh, hot chocolate,” Link said as he poured some in the mugs for each of them, handing one off.

“Thanks,” said Rhett. “Want any food?” 

“Mm, not yet,” Link said. Rhett took a deep sniff of the hot chocolate, as Link bumped his arm lightly.

“2021.”

“It’s finally here.”

They clinked their mugs together as they looked out at the sunrise. 

As Link took a sip, he shivered. Without a word, Rhett wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him closer. Link’s head came down on Rhett’s shoulder in response. It seemed as though he was meant to fit there. The way Rhett felt this close to him made his heart ache.

“You okay?” Rhett whispered, his fingers grazing the top of Link’s collarbone. 

“Yeah,” Link whispered, his fingers nudging his glasses up his nose. “I’ve just...I’ve waited for this moment for a long time.”

Rhett smiled as he pulled his arm from their cocoon, pushing his cup in the sand. Turning in toward Link, he brought his now free hand up to cup Link’s jaw, nudging him gently to look into crystalline blue eyes he dreamt about often.

A faint blush only added to Link’s devastatingly handsome looks and Rhett felt his heart lurch up into his throat. They had danced on this precipice for so long. Always being there—through the joy, through the pain. Now, 2021 was bringing a brand new adventure he couldn’t wait to take with the man in his arms.

“Me too,” he whispered, as he leaned forward, jumping off the edge into the incredible, indescribable unknown, pressing his lips to Link’s. But he wasn’t scared as he could feel Link lean in and respond with equal fervor.

A lump had been lodged in his throat for quite some time. He tried a little harder to compose himself as he approached the main studio. He took a steadying breath and wiped his eyes before he walked out toward the GMM desk to join Link where he sat silently on His Side.

“I think someone’s coming to move the desk Monday..” Rhett muttered conversationally.

“It still doesn’t feel real, does it?” Link asked.

Rhett was relieved that Link’s voice sounded as strained as his own felt.

Link continued with only a slight nod as an answer from Rhett. “It still feels like we’re gonna come back here, crew and all, and… you know, ‘Talk about that!’ I thought maybe once we’d wrapped the last episode, that I wouldn’t feel like that anymore. Or once the last episode had aired. Putting it out into the universe would feel like a closing bookend… But my brain refuses to catch up to reality. It’s over, man. Chapter closed.”

A rogue tear broke away to roll down Rhett’s cheek. Link raised his glass to his lips, but Rhett paused him.

“Dink it?”

Link smiled softly and nodded. He clinked his glass against Rhett’s. “Sink it…” Link took a long drink, and the ice rattled around the bottom of the glass afterward.

“I’m sure you’re at least a little relieved,” Rhett suggested.

“Would you be mad if I was?”

“What?” Rhett sniffed back some of his raw emotion and took Link’s hand.

“I know I’m always the one wanting to quit stuff. Ear Biscuits, the first time. Vlogs. And I know you weren’t—“

“I was never mad at you.”

“Frustrated then. Or some degree of ‘not happy’.”

Rhett smiled softly. “You came back around on both of those, after time.”

“But you were the one wanting to stop this. And now here we are. And there’s no one to convince you to keep going, like you’re always there to keep me going. But you know I’m not going to be that for you. You know that if it gets to the point that you’re tired of something, that I’m damn-well exhausted.”

“Link…” Rhett took another deep breath. “I’ve waited for this moment for a long time. I know we both have. This has been our bread and butter for so long, and our livelihoods got so entwined with it, that it became impossible to disentangle from it without everything around it dying. But it feels like it’s time now. We got enough for all our kids’ colleges. And enough of a nest egg to launch us into our next creative venture… I don’t think we’re doing the wrong thing by letting it die now.”

“Or by not just, like giving it over to someone else to host? There were plenty of people that could give it a shot after us.”

“This was our thing. I like the idea of ending it as our thing. Those plenty capable folks are more than welcome to do their own thing. Even if it’s essentially a copycat production. But GMM… the channel was ‘Rhett and Link 2’... How you gonna have that without Rhett and Link?”

Link smiled, though his face was still shiny with tears. “I’m glad it’s not gonna be hosted by anybody else either.”

“I know we’re both proud of everything we accomplished here, and with GMM overall. But now, we’re gonna get to do all the creative stuff that we’ve been wanting to do. And… be who we’ve been wanting to be. The dynamic of the show wouldn’t stay the same if we became any more… open about who we are to one another. And I’m not about to be any less open about it.”

Rhett gathered their empty glasses, and tucked them carefully into his backpack before slinging the bag over his shoulder.

Link was grinning through the tears now. “Man, that’s gonna be one hell of an Ear Biscuit. I know there’s people out there that think they know… but there’s thinking it, and then knowing it!”

Rhett chuckled. He leaned down to give Link a comforting kiss. “It’s time, honey.”

“It’s past time.”

The guy who was playing Santa—Link—was incredible. He was patient with every child, listening to their requests and soothing even the fussiest kid. The parents seemed to light up at the care and approach he took with their children, helping them feed into the Santa story. And he had a smile that lit up every single photo Rhett took. 

Rhett was lucky enough to see the man beyond the beard. He seemed young—the sparkle in his beautiful blue eyes was captivating—but silver flecked his hair at the roots. The ease of talking to him wasn’t limited to kids as Rhett found himself talking about his screenwriting aspirations and what it felt like to not be able to go home for Christmas. In turn, the more he learned about Link, the more he liked him. And they had a lot in common. Both were from North Carolina, both of them loved Merle Haggard, both of them wanted to break into the film industry. Link was funny, charming and handsome. In short, he was perfect.

But tonight was the last night of Santa’s Village and Link was nowhere to be found. Rhett had been disappointed. He at least wanted to say goodbye.

Standing, Rhett shrugged the elf coat off his shoulders and replaced it with a button down shirt from his locker. Grateful for the baggy elf pants that fit over his jeans, he shed the rest of the outfit, tossing it into the bin for cleaning. Grabbing the rest of his stuff, he turned and walked out of the locker room. 

The village still had its lights on as he walked through the fake snow and lollipop trees. He glanced up for one last look and stopped short.

Link was sitting on Santa’s seat, one leg under him while the other dangled down. He had a grin on his face. The wire frame glasses he wore as Santa were replaced with thick two tone rims, making him look even younger.

“Hey, Rhett.”

“Link. I thought you left.”

“Oh, no, I had to go get cleaned up and return the suit to your uncle. Then I sat here, waiting for you.”

Rhett’s heartbeat picked up a bit. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. Did you ever tell Santa what you wanted for Christmas?”

“No…?”

“Well, I think I might have a little magic left. Wanna tell me?”

Rhett gulped as he dropped his bag, walking closer. He couldn’t help but feel the pull to Link, and he was tired of resisting. But as he got closer, he noticed something odd.

“Link? What happened to your face?”

A flash of confusion graced Link’s boyish face.

“What do you mean?”

“The...your face...it’s not...old?” Rhett said meekly.

Link’s eyes narrowed before realization dawned and he burst into laughter. Rhett was still confused as Link held his sides. 

“Oh, gracious. Rhett. You’re too cute.”

Rhett stayed silent as Link’s laughter subsided.

“Rhett, do you remember me talking about my friend, Emily? The makeup artist? She’d do my makeup before every shift. I’ll be sure to pass along your stunning compliment of her skills.”

Rhett’s eyes went wide as he flushed crimson in embarrassment. 

“I, uh, I don’t know why…”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Link leaned forward, his leg dropped to join the other as he took Rhett’s hand. “I promise. That was cute. And flattering. It’s good to know a 22-year-old can play a convincing Santa.”

Rhett seemed stuck in place as he watched Link turn his hand over in his, seemingly studying it before lacing their fingers together. Rhett’s brain was working in overdrive processing the knowledge that Link was a year younger than he was, was drop dead gorgeous and was holding his hand.

“So, uh, I might end up matching you in the embarrassment department if you wanted a pony for Christmas or something, but I did want to give you a present. 

“Oh?” Rhett said, his brain finally finishing its download and processing. “What’d you get me?”

Link blushed a little as he pointed up. Rhett looked and saw a sprig of mistletoe that wasn’t there before hanging over Santa’s chair. He smiled as he looked down at Link, shifting uncomfortably in wait.

“I hope it’s what you wanted.”

Without a word, Rhett eased himself down on Link’s lap, straddling his legs and cupping his face in a chaste kiss. 

“It’s exactly what I wanted. But I don’t know how much longer I’ll be nice.”

The technology had developed by an accident and, for a nominal fee, anyone could look into a different dimension. Some people simply wanted glimpses into a parallel world, but others, like Rhett, wanted to see their counterparts. 

He was curious to see who was the most content Rhett. Despite having a successful career with his best friend, being married to a beautiful wife and raising good kids, Rhett still felt like something wasn’t quite right.

Rhett sat in the exam chair and the practitioner fitted the strange looking helmet onto his head. Attaching nodes to his head and chest, she flipped a few switches and walked around to a computer as the helmet hummed to life.

“Okay, Mr. McLaughlin. Per your request on your application, the mapping helmet is going to study your attributes and qualities that make you who you are as the electrodes jolt your body into a different vibrating frequency so you can see into the alternate universe. Then, we’ll fire up the VisionQuest and check in on how—quote unquote—you’re doing,” she said.

“Sounds good. How long will it take?”

“The whole process is around 10 minutes, start to finish. Are you ready?”

Rhett nodded, settling back as comfortably as he could. The practitioner typed a few keys. Rhett seemed to feel a heavy thrumming pulse sink beneath his skin as he closed his eyes against the sensation. He thought about his life as he knew it and wondered how it might be different. Would he still be with Jessie? Would he have more kids? Fewer? Would they still be living in L.A.? But the question on his mind that worried him the most loomed large as they got closer to the big moment.

Was Link in his life?

After a few minutes, the heavy thrumming subsided and Rhett cracked his eyes open. His entire body still felt like an exposed wire and his brain felt unable to process all the energy.

“Mr. McLaughlin, you doing okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, firing up the VisionQuest.”

Rhett forced his eyes open fully so he could see completely what Alternate Rhett was doing. He knew that the practitioner couldn’t see it—it was for his eyes only—so he wanted to take it all in.

As the picture came into focus, everything looked...about the same. He could sense this was Burbank, but he was just outside a slightly larger building than Mythical. A car pulled into the parking lot, pulling into a spot next to him and Rhett watched as his counterpart got out of the driver’s seat. AlterRhett had shorter hair, though still long enough to have curl to it. This Rhett was also wise enough to have a beard, albeit shorter. The thing that struck him most though was how young AlterRhett seemed to look. As he had gotten out of the car, he was laughing. Pure, unadulterated joy on his face. Rhett wondered what AlterRhett might have been doing or listening to until he saw Link walk around from the passenger side, a big, boyish smile on his face. 

Rhett wasn’t sure if it was the sight of Link or the different frequency he was vibrating at that made his heart skip a beat. 

AlterRhett slung his backpack over his shoulder as AlterLink came to a stop before him. Rhett watched, rapt.

“I appreciated the thought, but I’m completely fine with cooking all the time. But, man...your face was one for the ages. I will be on my deathbed and will die laughing because I will remember that face,” AlterRhett said, squaring up to AlterLink.

AlterLink pouted, though the hint of a smile remained. He crossed his arms. “I just wanted to surprise you with a home cooked meal.” 

AlterRhett put his hands on AlterLink’s shoulders. Rhett noticed the wedding bands on each of them, both slightly different from the ones they wore in this dimension. “Baby,” AlterRhett said and Rhett’s breath hitched. “After 40 years, you constantly surprise me. You don’t even have to try.” Suddenly, AlterRhett’s smile turned almost wolffish. “Besides, your particular dessert more than made up for the mess.” With that, AlterRhett leaned forward, placing a heated kiss on AlterLink’s lips which was reciprocated fully.

Breaking away, AlterLink smiled. “Come on. We’ve got a movie to make.” AlterLink took AlterRhett’s hand and walked into the studio, both men buoyant with happiness to any outsider.

Including Rhett. 

Suddenly, the vision was ripped from Rhett as hands braced his body. He reached out, but the hands held him firmly in place. Something pressed against his nose as the practitioner’s words broke through.

“Breathe, Mr. McLaughlin. Breathe.”

The awareness came to Rhett in waves. It was the practitioner’s arms bracing against him. He was gasping for breath, a mask over his nose and mouth ostensibly pumping oxygen. His face was wet and his eyes burned. And his heart ached.

Link’s eyes opened wide as he unwrapped a sparkly blue sex toy.

“You said you liked sparkling stuff…” Rhett babbled awkwardly. “So, uh…?”

“I’d meant effervescent beverages. But this works too!” Link laughed, and Rhett felt better. “Did you... try to match the color of this thing to my freakin’ eyes? Seriously?”

They both laughed.

“Open mine!” Link said, he seemed more excited than nervous now. He shoved a stocking into Rhett’s hands.

Rhett pulled out a pair of handcuffs. They weren’t sparkly or colorful. They were… sturdy. And the insides were lined with a soft cushioning material.

“You wanna handcuff me?” Rhett asked. He knew good and well that Link was averse to being restrained in any context.

So he was surprised when Link said, “I was thinkin you could try them on me. And then maybe try this on me?” He held up his new toy.

“Are you sure? I don’t want you having… a bad time.”

“A panic attack?”

“Yes, that.”

“I trust you.”

“I wouldn’t think you didn’t, if you didn’t want this.”

“I trust you enough to… give you this much control over my body.”

“You seem sure.”

“I am. Now get me to our bed, cuff me, and fill me from both ends.”

“Fuck…” Rhett muttered under his breath before he grabbed their gifts in one hand and used his other arm to fling Link’s body over his shoulder.

Link was full of nervous giggles as Rhett tossed him into the center of their bed. He yanked his shirt off and leaned back, presenting his body for Rhett’s pleasure. Rhett slid Link toward the headboard and guided his arms up over his head.

“You tell me if you get anxious or uncomfortable.”

Link nodded.

Rhett gave him a look that let him know that a nervous jerk of his chin wasn’t going to do it.

“I’ll tell you, Rhett. And I do want this.”

“That’s all I needed to hear, honey.” Rhett lightly rubbed and kissed the cuffs as he affixed them to Link’s delicate wrists.

“You look so good like this,” Rhett told him. “I’m gonna eat you alive.”

“Promise?” Link grinned wickedly and wiggled his stretched out body.

They both worked to wriggle Link out of his jeans, and Rhett saw that Link was already hard beneath the fabric of his briefs. Rhett slowly pulled them down to allow Link’s hard-on to spring free.

Rhett stroked Link’s length, loving the soft warm feel of him in his hand. He drizzled lube over his skin to give the motions some fluidity.

Rhett tapped the tip of the toy to Link’s mouth. “Open up.” Link’s mouth fell open without hesitation. “Hold this for me, honey.” Rhett pressed the length of the stimulator past Link’s lips, and left it there as he began to coax Link to relax and open for him below.

The muffled sounds that Link made while Rhett worked Link’s warm hole with his fingers and tongue had Rhett hard and leaking in his pants.

When Link was ready, Rhett slowly withdrew the sparkly blue toy from Link’s pouty mouth, and touched it to his entrance. Link gasped and moaned for it. He took it slow and deep; Rhett slid it into its cleverly designed position. He pulsed the base with his palm, making Link whine desperately, and writhe from the wrists down.

“Its shape will keep it in place. You feel it when you wiggle?”

Link’s dick twitched against his stomach. “God, yesss… I think I could come like this.”

“And you will. But you’re gonna do it with my cock in your mouth.”

Rhett moved to stand next to Link’s face, and dramatically unzipped his pants. He pulled his cock out and guided it toward Link’s obediently opened mouth. Link moaned beautifully as Rhett pressed the shiny head past his lips and slowly slid it over his soft warm tongue.

Link gargled and choked on Rhett’s thick dick filling his throat as the well-placed toy massaged his prostate with every subtle shift of his pelvis. Link drooled and whimpered around Rhett’s girth as the dual sensations of being plugged at both ends began to overwhelm him.

“We still good?” Rhett asked softly before realizing Link didn’t have a free hand or mouth to communicate with. He felt that was very sloppy of himself to let it get this far without a plan for ongoing consent. But he quickly course corrected. “Blink twice if you’re good. Close your eyes if you need me to stop.”

Link blinked twice, eyes sparkling with tears welled up in his eyes. He whined in a tone that could only be interpreted as…. positive.

“So good, honey. You gonna come for me?”

Link blinked twice and he sucked and licked, bucked and writhed until his cock twitched and he spilled pearly seed all over his belly.

Rhett pulled out of Link’s soft skilled mouth to finish himself off with his hand and join Link in painting his stomach. Link had, nor wanted, any option apart from lying back and enjoying the view.

After a moment’s recovery, Rhett carefully removed the toy and wiped Link’s belly; he dried the dribble from Link’s chin. Link smiled lazily and let Rhett take care of him. His eyes slid peacefully closed. “I told you I trusted you…”

Rhett chuckled and took a big steadying breath. “You did so well, honey. Thanks for trusting me. You were beautiful. I actually can’t believe you haven’t asked me to free you yet.” Rhett tugged on the handcuffs.

Link sighed, pulling on his jacket. He silently grumbled to himself, but he promised Rhett he’d see the lights.

Grabbing his keys, Link walked slowly out the door, going over everything in his head. He gave a small wave to Lily, who was standing by the car. 

“Hey, Dad. Ready?” Lily said as she wrapped her arms around Link in a tight hug. Lily had grown to be a strong, beautiful, empathetic woman—much like her mother. He smiled softly at both his daughter and her mother’s memory. 

“Yeah, Lil. Ready.”

He climbed in the passenger seat, slightly grateful for the empty car seats in the back. He loved his grandkids, but wasn’t sure if they would have behaved or understood. He flexed his hands, pushing out the arthritis as Lily got into the driver’s seat, fastened her seatbelt and started the car.

“So, how’re things at home?”

“Good, Dad,” Lily said, her smile tight. She hesitated before finally speaking again. “I talked to Jessie a bit ago. She’s settling in nicely at Locke’s. Said to say hi.”

“Oh. That’s good.”

They drove in silence after that. Link’s head was filled with other thoughts and memories, crushing down on him like a lead weight.

Soon, Lily turned down the street that was their destination. Every house down this stretch of road had committed to incredible Christmas light displays every year since Link had been in L.A.

It was down this stretch that he drove with Rhett, before they officially moved out to L.A., before their families joined them. The weather wasn’t what they expected and, in search of a little Christmas spirit to make them feel like they were back in North Carolina, they stumbled on this road.

As he stared out the window, he remembered.

“Look at the lights, Link! These are some crazy displays,” Rhett said as he crept along behind the car in front of them, everyone going at a snail’s pace.

“I don’t think anyone in Buies Creek could or should top this. They’d bust the power system.”

“This feels like Christmas, doesn’t it?”

“Sure. A bit.” Link couldn’t keep the hesitancy out of his voice despite his best intentions.

Rhett sighed. “Link, I know you’re worried. But the girls will love L.A. But any place with lights like these and family around feels like Christmas.”

A look of confusion crossed Link’s face. “I don’t think our parents will come out for Christmas every year.”

Rhett tapped his thumb on the steering wheel. “No, I didn’t mean them. I meant us. You, me, Jess, and Christy. We’re family. And the feeling of Christmas will always be around as long as we have each other. And lights.”

Link was lost in the memory of the warm feeling wrapping around his heart at Rhett’s words at the time when he could feel Lily take his hand. He gasped, grounding himself back into present day with the familiar touch. Grounding himself back into the reality where he lost his best friend only a few months ago.

Looking over at Lily, she was blurred as he realized tears were streaming down his face. 

“Dad, do you need me to pull over?”

Link sniffled, the tears continuing to come from the unfathomable depths of his grief. 

Link felt around to plug the tree in, and when he did a thousand brightly multicolored lights burst alive. Link gasped and backed up to get a better view. He backed up until his shoulders bumped against Rhett’s chest. Link took in the entire room illuminated only by the twinkling lights, and felt near exploding with childlike wonder and a giant grin spread across his face.

“Beautiful...” Link whispered, only grounded in reality by the feel of Rhett’s hands come to rest softly around his waist.

“You sure are,” Rhett hunched down to murmur into the crook of Link's neck. “I’ve been waiting all night for this.” Rhett kissed the back of Link’s neck, giving him chills.

“For the lights?” Link asked awkwardly as a shiver ran through his body and he let his eyes slide shut. He couldn’t believe after all these years, Rhett still made him feel nervous with excitement and… anticipation.

Link’s breath hitched in his throat as Rhett kissed his way down to where his neck met his angular shoulders.

Link couldn’t take it any longer. He turned to face Rhett, and their lips came together with an easy certainty that felt like home. They kissed slowly, and Rhett left his patient hands planted at Link’s hips. Link’s hands were antsy, and sneaked themselves beneath Rhett’s sweater, feeling the warm skin and soft hair that covered his broad chest. A tiny growl rumbled in Rhett’s throat, and Link could feel it vibrating through them both.

Rhett suddenly pulled Link’s body flush against his own, and he lowered his hands to grab onto Link’s ass. Link subtly pressed his hips back to make sure his round cheeks filled Rhett’s large hands. He was hungry for more contact and Rhett was more than willing to give him more as he groaned louder, and let this one rattle out of his throat.

Link felt Rhett’s cock hard against his belly, and let out a desperate whimper as Rhett’s hips jerked forward suggestively. The kiss turned frantic as they practically tore off their festively donned gay apparel in the urgency of their shared need to have Rhett buried inside of Link.

Link’s need was evident beyond his hardened cock. The front of his underwear was wet from his leaking tip - and he didn’t give a crap if Rhett knew it. In fact, he hoped Rhett did notice. He knew how it turned Rhett on, knowing how badly Link wanted to get fucked.

Rhett yanked Link's underwear down to his calves, and Link used his feet to shimmy them the rest of the way down and kick them off to the side. They stumble-walked their way over toward the sofa, and Rhett gently bent Link over the back of it.

“This good for you?” Rhett grunted, becoming more primal by the second.

“Fuck yeah,” Link gasped, barely remembering how to breathe as he Rhett began drizzling lube - warmed from his pocket - over his backside and began to massage his way toward Link’s center with his thick slicked fingers.

They moaned in unison as Link relaxed and opened up for Rhett. He was desperate to let Rhett know how ready he was for him, how eager he was to take his cock. Then again, Rhett’s fingers were so long and skillful. He’d always known how to play Link’s body like one of his guitars. Link’s mind was torn between wanting Rhett to take his time, but also…

“Please, Rhett?”

“Just relax,” Rhett hummed against his ear, his beard tickling his neck.

“I am! I just want—“

“Just relax,” Rhett repeated. “I know what you want.”

Link shook his head, acutely aware of his own dick hanging heavy and needy beneath him. The neat freak part of him didn’t even mind that he was inevitably about to blow his load all over the upholstery of the sofa.

“And what you want,” Rhett continued in a low, rough voice. “Is for me to fuck you over this sofa til you see stars. And that’s just what I’m gonna do.”

Link smiled, unable to repress his urge to sass. “I’m pretty sure those are Christmas lights I’m seein’ in front of me, but whatever ya—“

They both cried out in broken moans as Rhett slid his dick inside, making Link’s knees buckle as he affixed his twinkling blue eyes ahead on the lights to center himself and keep from losing himself in the pleasure as Rhett began to move inside him. Link planted his feet and pushed his hips backward to take Rhett deeper.

Rhett dropped his upper body to brace his elbows against the back of the sofa on either side of Link’s back. He was fully draped over Link, his cock buried to the hilt inside him. Link could feel the muscles in Rhett’s body twitch and contract as he relentlessly fucked him.

Link’s eyes went glassy and narrowed. The Christmas lights blurred into a sea of color as Link’s orgasm rocked through his body and he hollered Rhett’s name. He felt Rhett coming too, his fingers gripping onto Link’s hips once again, this time with strength enough to bruise; a guttural grunt spilled from Rhett’s slack mouth.

He had resigned himself as one of those things he’d do eventually, when he and Link weren’t so busy with everything. But Link apparently had different plans which is how Rhett found himself standing in a beautiful room with massive windows staring out at the Norwegian landscape.

They had just landed a few hours prior and made their way to the resort and room, both exhausted from the long trip. Link was on the phone with room service ordering up some food as Rhett stood in front of the windows.

He could hear the click of the phone hanging up and Link getting up and padding over. Arms wrapped around his waist and Link’s head settled between his shoulder blades as the feeling of contentment settled into his bones.

“How did you pull this off?” Rhett whispered, in awe of the fact he was standing there, hours away from seeing the Aurora Borealis for the first time.

He could feel Link shrug. “Lots of planning. Jenna helped a lot, but I wanted to make sure we were getting the best light show out there.”

“This is incredible,” Rhett whispered. “Thank you.”

Link chuckled. “Don’t thank me yet. We haven’t seen the lights and you haven’t been in the hot tub yet.”

“There’s a hot tub?”

“Yep. But first, a nap. Dinner will come up in a couple of hours.”

Both men ambled to the bed, curling up together and passing out quickly. 

A long nap and dinner later, both men were feeling refreshed and satisfied as the sun was setting.

“So, do you want to see the lights from the hot tub or from the room here?” Link asked.

“Let’s get into the hot tub.”

They got settled in the hot tub quickly and passed the precious minutes they had with easy conversation until, suddenly, Link gasped.

Rhett looked from Link’s awestruck face to the sky to see swirling greens, blues, and purples paint the night sky. It was even more magnificent than Rhett had imagined. 

He snuck a glance over at Link. Rhett was always struck at how young Link looked despite his age, but the lights seemed to dance across his face, looking almost childlike in wonder. The color of Link’s eyes seemed to fit right in with the hues of the lights.

Once they finally began openly touching themselves in front of each other, it didn’t take long for things to escalate to touching each other. Suddenly, they were turning down plans with other friends, and had an awful lot of ‘studying’ to do. There were full weekends where they’d hardly be seen leaving their dorm room at all, aside from sneaking out to shower or horde some food from the dining hall.

They didn’t call each other their boyfriend in front of anyone else. But they referred to each other as such as often as possible behind closed doors.

It was during one of their electively isolated weekends, late into the second semester when they discovered another layer to their play.

Rhett had Link completely naked, laid out on his back. Link’s body was sensitive - responsive to each little touch, breath, and bite. Rhett could, and had, spent hours just playing with him. Making his body break out in goosebumps, making him shiver, shudder, sprawl and tremble for him. It had Rhett hard and leaking, but that was all part of the fun - making himself wait as long as possible before breaking down and letting Link get his hands or mouth on him, finally making him come.

Rhett kissed Link’s forehead, hovered his lips over Link’s fluttered-shut eyelashes, and licked Link’s lips. He gave Link’s bottom lip a sharp nibble before continuing down his long neck. Link giggled when Rhett suckled at his goozle.

Link said it was ridiculous and not decidedly not sexy. But Rhett disagreed as Link’s protests made the bulge in his neck bob and vibrate beneath Rhett’s lips.

Rhett moved down Link’s body, gnawing at his prominent collarbones, licking at his sensitive nipples. Pinning his narrow, squirming hips to the mattress as he worked his way lower until he found himself nuzzling the coarse dark hairs below Link’s navel. He inhaled the musky scent of Link’s sex as he began his oral assault on his cock.

Rhett licked a wet stripe up Link’s shaft, making him groan as he settled to suckling at the delicate head until the groans became high-pitched whines and whimpers.

Rhett tasted salty precome leaking from Link’s tip and mingling with the saliva pooling in his mouth as it watered insatiably for more of Link’s dick. The spit and slick pooled over Rhett’s lips and dribbled down Link’s balls.

Rhett touched his fingers to the thin skin of Link’s sack; he looked up to watch Link’s head tilt back in pleasure. Rhett played and massaged them, loving the way the wetness felt between their bodies.

He followed the trail lower, ghosting his fingertip over Link’s taint and pressing it before pausing at Link’s puckered entrance. Rhett felt Link’s breath hitch and his body clench with surprise.

“Too far?” Rhett asked. His voice thick and low.

“Um. I just wasn’t expecting it...”

“Mm hmm. So. Stop?”

“Well, even less than I was expecting you to… suggest it, I wasn’t expecting to be into it. However,” Link bit his lip. “I want it.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, Rhett. Just, keep going, man..”

“Okay. Hold up.” Rhett walked as quickly as he could with an awkwardly bouncing hard on between his legs, and grabbed lotion from his dresser. He slid back down between Link’s long, lean legs, and hummed appreciatively as Link spread them wider.

“I never messed around like this before, so uh. Go slow, okay?”

“Tell me if it’s too much, or you change your mind or whatever?”

“I’m not gonna, but okay.”

Link’s fists clenched at the sheets, and he exhaled and Rhett could feel his body relax a little. Only then did Rhett bring his slicked finger back up to Link’s hole. He rubbed the lotion over Link’s rim, loving the way it pulsed for him. He then pressed the tip of his finger to sink it past Link’s taut muscles. Rhett could feel the way that Link trusted him by the way his finger melted into him.

Link’s hips opened for him, and he pulled his knees back to give Rhett more space. Link lowered his hands from their resting place above his head down to touch his cock as Rhett slowly, reverently explored this new terrain.

He gradually buried his finger, knuckle by knuckle, probing gently until he rubbed against Link in a way that made his body stiffen, Link rocked his hips against Rhett’s hand like he was a sex toy that Link was using to get himself off. Rhett didn’t know if he’d ever seen Link look so sexy as he did now as he chased his own new pleasures. It didn’t take long before Link’s cock twitched and spurted. The sound that Link made was unlike any other in all the orgasm he’d coaxed from him that year.

“Game changer, huh?” Rhett said dumbly. Maybe one day he’d have the confidence to tell Link exactly how beautiful and definitively erotic he was, and made Rhett feel, when they were together like this. But for now, this was the best he could do.

“Fuck yes,” Link sighed, equally articulate. “Think I can take… more?”

“Wouldn’t mind finding out,” Rhett grinned.

“Maybe tonight. I’m hungry. Lemme suck you off and then we’ll grab some pizza to bring back to the room?”

It was these thoughts he was lost in as he opened the door to his and Rhett’s shared room. And it was these thoughts that were broken as he took in the sight of Rhett on his bed, shirtless. And another man was straddling him, his lips against Rhett’s neck.

Link’s eyes went wide as he noticed Rhett’s eyes were closed, blissfully unaware Link had entered the room. Link’s cheeks burned as Rhett moaned, his fantasies coming true except for the fact he wasn’t the one pulling the noise from the tall man. A strangled gasp escaped Link and Rhett’s eyes shot open. 

Rhett’s mouth dropped open as the color drained from his face. The guy straddling him looked up lazily.

“Oh, hey, sorry, man,” the stranger said as Link looked at him. He distantly registered the man’s face, patchy with facial hair and hooded blue eyes. “We’re a little busy.”

Link looked back to Rhett who seemed to turn to stone. His eyes were filled with a flurry of emotions that Link didn’t have the wherewithal to interpret. In fact, he couldn’t interpret the entire situation.

So he turned and ran.

He could feel his brain go on autopilot as he ran, ending up at his car. He threw his backpack in as he slid into the driver’s seat, turned the key in the ignition and took off.

Link just drove. He didn’t really have an idea of where to go or what to do. Rhett was kissing someone. A man. 

Link had dreamed what it might be like if Rhett would like men. He was more than enough for Rhett already. Wouldn’t it have been natural if he loved Link the way Link…

Was it love? Link had chalked up his burgeoning romantic feelings to a strong like. A natural progression. But the natural progression must have been love because why else would his heart be splintering the way it was right now?

He loved Rhett. But Rhett didn’t love him. Probably didn’t even like him like that. 

He wasn’t enough for Rhett.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I’ve gotten small little gifts outside our door and mailed to me.”

“Like what?”

“A mixtape with no track listing, but chock full of country music. A little stuffed unicorn. Typed notes.”

“Typed?”

“Yeah. I don’t even have handwriting to analyze. I’m at a loss.”

“Are you sure?”

Link narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Well, what do the notes say?”

Link blushed. “They’re personal. They definitely see somethin’ in me.”

Rhett hummed. “Not surprised. Is there anyone who you think could have done all this for you?”

Link shrugged. “No. Not really.”

Rhett scoffed. “Wow.”

“What?”

“Not one person?”

“Only wishful thinking.”

“Wait. You got your eye on someone?”

Link squirmed in his seat. 

“Spill it,” Rhett demanded.

“No,” Link said quickly.

“Do I know them?”

Link fidgeted with his hands. 

“Link?”

“Yeah, Rhett. You do. But it won’t happen.”

“How do you know?”

“I just know.”

“How do you know?” Rhett asked a little more forcefully.

“I just do.”

“How?”

“Because!”

“Because why?”

“Because it’s you!” Link’s eyes went wide as his hand flew to cover his mouth as if to shove the words back in. But he said them and Rhett heard them.

Rhett sat back against his wall, still staring at Link. His face was surprisingly neutral as he twirled his pencil in his hand.

“Rhett. I’m—“ Link started weakly but Rhett held up his hand to stop him. 

“Link,” Rhett said calmly. “Could you go into my bag and grab the blue envelope in there?”

Link’s heart skipped as he stood. His secret admirer used blue envelopes to send him the notes. Said they reminded them of Link’s eyes.

He slowly walked to Rhett’s bag, pulling the zipper to open the bag. The flash of blue stood out amongst the other books, the same hue as the envelopes that sat in Link’s desk drawer. He pulled it out and turned to look at Rhett.

It wasn’t his job to fix everything under the sun, Link reminded himself. Sometimes what a person really needed was for you to just shut your mouth and listen, or sit there with you in difficult times. That was difficult for Link: he was a fixer. But for Rhett, he would try to restrain himself.

“Those cookies smell great, Momma Sue!” Rhett called out toward the kitchen.

Link could tell there was a strain of effort behind Rhett’s cheeriness. He also knew that Rhett hadn’t told his momma the real reason that he’d come to spend a portion of their Christmas break over at their house.

Rhett and Link stole a couple unfrosted, freshly baked sugar cookies and took the rest of their hot chocolate over to Link’s room.

Rhett dropped his cheery-act pretty quickly once Link closed his bedroom door. Link’s stomach twisted into a knot, not confident in his ability to make Rhett feel better.

“So, uh.. What were y’all arguing about before you, um. Left?”

“You mean before he kicked me out?”

Link knew that Rhett’s anger and hurt were directed toward his parents, and not toward Link himself. But he winced nonetheless.

“Same ole crap.” Rhett’s tone softened as he began to share the exchange with Link. “He still wants me to take the scholarship. You know, play ball and all that. ‘There’s still time to transfer, Rhett. You don’t gotta throw your future away.’”

Link couldn’t help smiling a little at the way that Rhett automatically impersonated his dad’s voice. Link wondered if Rhett really knew how effortlessly funny he was. Even during his times of struggle.

Rhett sighed, and Link could have sworn that he could see the waves tension leave Rhett’s large frame for just a moment before they rushed back in, and seeped under his skin to make Rhett’s body appear taut - like balled up nerves.

“Just… one thing led to another, and…” Rhett shrugged.

“I— What does that even mean? Did y’all just really get into it with arguing?”

Link felt a degree of guilt begin to run through his veins. Link had been the one to suggest that they go to the same college so they could still work on creative projects together, and still hang out and all that. Link knew that college, in theory, was an opportunity to spread his wings and try to strike out on his own a little. But the idea of so much change all at once: moving out of his momma’s house, living in a new town… the idea of not being near Rhett for all of this made him nauseous. Especially with how his and Rhett’s friendship had begun to shift into… well, something else. Something that Link was strongly averse to abandoning before he got to experience the full metamorphosis.

But he never meant to persuade Rhett into ‘throwing his life away’. He certainly didn’t want to be the reason that Rhett wasn’t on good terms with his parents. Especially this close to the holidays.

“Well, yeah,” Rhett continued. “It’s like I said, one thing led to another—“

“You keep sayin’ th—”

“Link!”

They stopped interrupting one another for a beat.

“I told him… that I’m in love with you. And… I’m not gonna transfer to another school, and live apart from you.”

If Link hadn’t felt responsible before, he did now. His eyes involuntarily filled with tears. He couldn’t even place the emotion that was inspiring the tears. He was… touched that Rhett had come out to his parents about their relationship. Sort of? Maybe? Link didn’t think now was the time to grill Rhett about what exactly he had said to his parents. And just hearing those words come out of Rhett’s mouth so matter-of-factly… Rhett was in love with him. Link didn’t think hearing it could feel as good as just intrinsically knowing it, but there was definitely something there.

Link didn’t ride that high for very long before his chest felt like it was crumpling in on itself.

“I guess that was the last straw. My dad said to get out of his sight.”

“That sounds… like he’s just frustrated with the basketball thing. It doesn’t seem like a ‘...and never come back’ type of thing.”

Rhett rolled his eyes. “That seems a little naive, Link.”

“I can’t help it,” the tears spilled past Link’s thick eyelashes. “My heart is breaking for you, Rhett. To not feel welcome in your own home this close to Christmas. It… it just sucks. And I— I can’t help but feel like I…”

Rhett leaned in to kiss Link’s pouty lips.

Rhett didn’t know how Link could be so casually conversational. He himself felt fit to combust. He ignored Link’s question in favor of pinning him against the wall and kissing him roughly.

“Careful you don’t bust my lip,” Link said with a chuckle, though his suddenly labored breathing gave away the urgency of his own need.

“I’m not ready for jokes.. or stories about home just yet,” Rhett made it clear. “I just want to be close to you.”

Link’s body became pliable in Rhett’s hands as Rhett rocked himself against him in the hallway. Link gradually walked them stumbling backward toward the bedroom. Link spun them around, and abruptly shoved Rhett down onto the bed.

Rhett made a startled sound as his back hit the mattress, but the sound of his groaning turned sweet as he watched Link seductively strip himself out of his clothes at the foot of the bed. Link yanked Rhett’s pants off quickly, and peeled his shorts off slowly before opening Rhett’s button-up shirt to expose his broad chest.

“Did people ask where your handsome husband was?” Link asked with a cocky smirk on his face. Link was pleased, no doubt, with how readily Rhett’s body responded to his aggressive returning of Rhett’s advances. Link slicked Rhett’s hardened cock with lube, running his fingers over his shaft with agonizing leisure.

“I just, uh.. told folks that someone had to take care of our business back here.”

Link growled low in his throat, his voice a playful rasp. “Hm. I’m ‘bout to handle your business right now.”

“Yesssss,” Rhett hissed as Link climbed up to straddle his stiffened cock and sink down easily. “Oh, honey,” Rhett’s eyes rolled back. Link felt stretched and ready for him. Rhett could almost come from just thinking about Link preparing for him leading up to this moment. “You, uh… knew what you wanted when you came to get me, huh?”

“Knew that I wanted you to bounce me on that thick lap of yours as I ride your big dick? Yeah, I did have that part planned out.”

Rhett harshly gripped Link’s hips and ground his groin up, rocking Link’s ass against him. “What’d you do? Plug yourself? Fuck yourself on one of your toys?”

“You like thinkin’ about me like that, don’t ya?”

“You still feel so tight,” Rhett whined as his breaths nearly broke and hitched and the pressure built in his groin threatened to spill over with pleasure before Rhett was ready to stop.

“Maybe you just got a big dick, Rhett.”

Rhett lifted both their bodies off the bed and flipped them over so Link was flat on his back. Rhett grabbed Link’s legs, sliding his hands down to fully wrap around each of his ankles. He slowly lifted Link’s smooth legs up over his lithe body to pin his knees back by his ears.

Link’s eyes were wide, pupils blown out with lust and the raw desire to get fucked. Rhett didn’t make him wait.

“Yes, Rhett,” Link husked when Rhett pressed himself deep into Link’s eager and stretched body.

Rhett was overwhelmed with a feeling of return: to where he belonged, mindless and animalistically welcomed. Link let him in, and would keep him there for as long as they both desired. And when Rhett would inevitably have to withdraw, there would be no lingering guilt over his departure or any need to question whether he’d be back. There were no questions or insecurities. Just love.

Rhett’s whole body felt electrified with each sinking thrust, and every instance where he’d buried himself to the hilt and knew that he’d reached the physical limit of closeness with this person he’d been shamelessly trying to merge with since the day they’d met.

His body tingled and hummed as he pressed delicious and filthy sounds and words from Link’s gorgeous lips.

At his height, Rhett’s desperate and uncaged energy was... a lot, but his size and enthusiasm had never been ‘too much’ for Link.

Link was the only one Rhett had ever felt comfortable enough to feel the full range of himself with.

Link’s fingers threaded tightly through Rhett’s curls as his body tightened under and around Rhett. His plump lips parted with a wordless cry as he finished onto his own stomach.

Link’s smile, and the single tear at the corner of one sparkling crystal blue eye said more than any number of ‘I love you’s or ‘I missed you’s’ ever could.

Rhett had been fluent in the language of Link’s body for some time now.

Once their blood and breaths had slowed to an easy rhythm, Link asked again, “So… How was home?”

Rhett pulled Link in closer to his chest and inhaled deeply. “I’m confused, honey. I just got home.”

Rhett could feel Link smiling into his warm, sweaty skin, and he didn’t have to see his eyes to know he’d be adoringly rolling them back. “You know what I mean.”

“My family back in North Carolina is doing fine. But I’m not going to concede the point.”

“You’ve got a point to all this stubbornness?”