Love Is Free

The Pride by Shawn Bailey-2

“What do you want to eat?” Roman asked, as if what he just said did not faze him.

“Pizza,” Dakota answered.

Aldo drove up to the parking lot and parked at the curb.

Dakota got out and headed into the lot. He got into his car, started it up, and drove it out onto the street.

Aldo followed him, probably making sure he was headed home and not to a bar to finish partying with his friends. He was going to keep his word this time. Plus, he was going to eat pizza and spend some time with Roman. That, he had discovered, was far better than going out and getting drunk with his friends.

* * * *

“Yes, I picked him up. They dropped the charges. Yes, I’m tired from my trip.” Not that the mayor cared. “Yes, I’ll keep him occupied while you entertain. Say hello to Mrs. Julian for me. Enjoy your evening.”

The mayor hung up before him.

Roman tossed his phone. He needed to shower, dress, then order the pizza. Normally he’d unpack after a trip, but he supposed he could do that tomorrow. Tonight, he was babysitting.

Roman was so glad he’d deep cleaned his apartment before he left for bodyguard training. He’d gotten into the program right after he’d gotten out of high school and each year, he went back to hone his skills and learn new techniques. His current job: protecting the mayor’s baby from harm. While he was gone, Ernest Julain was supposed to assign another agent, but apparently the whelp had given the poor guy the slip. Or charmed the pants off him.

Dakota could do that with just a pout.

Roman was ashamed to say that he too had fallen victim to that pout, the dimples, those big blue eyes, and those unbelievably long lashes. Roman shuddered to erase the memories. Now he needed a cold shower. He grabbed some underwear and a T-shirt out of his drawer, then he went into the bathroom.

Roman ordered the pizza as soon as he dried off, donned his underwear, shorts, and pushed his feet into a pair of slippers.

The doorbell rang just as soon as he finished styling his hair.

Instead of the pizza delivery man he found the mayor’s demon seed smiling at him. And he was carrying a case of beer.

“What is this?”

“A peace offering,” Dakota said, holding it out to him.

It was Roman’s favorite kind, which meant Dakota either wanted something or was up to something. Roman took the heavy case away from his petite friend.

Dakota stood on tippy toes and stole another kiss. Two in one day was a record. Dakota had been greeting him this way since they were kids. And no matter how many times his father or his older brother told him that boys shouldn’t kiss boys, the more Dakota wanted to prove them wrong.

Dakota entered the apartment. He had showered, taken off the makeup, booty shorts, tube top, and boots. This time he wore a graphic T-shirt with an anime character on the front, knee-length cargo pants, and sandals. That beautiful face was scrubbed free of product, revealing a smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose.

“I’m surprised you came,” Roman said, closing the door. He headed for the kitchen.

Dakota followed him. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“It’s Pride Day and normally you and your friends are barhopping. And because you never do what you’re supposed to do.”

“That’s not true.”

Roman put the beer into the refrigerator to chill.

“That was the plan had that moron not started that fight with me. But now, I’m stuck here with my best friend s***h bodyguard.”

“Stuck?”

Dakota nodded. “You’re no fun anymore. All you do is work or train.”

“It is called being grownup, sweetie. Life is not just one big party.”

“You wouldn’t know fun if it bit you on the butt,” Dakota told him.

The doorbell rang.

“Go get the food,” Roman told him.

Dakota shot him the bird, spun on his heel, and headed to the front door.

Roman smirked. He liked f*****g with him.

Dakota returned a few minutes later, carrying several boxes.

Roman took them from him and put them on the table.

Dakota got two glasses and filled them with ice, then poured soda for himself and water for Roman. It was funny how Dakota knew where things were in Roman’s house and that Roman preferred water to soda.

“Do you want to move to the den where we’d be more comfortable?” Roman asked.

Dakota nodded. “Yes.”

Roman grabbed the paper plates and boxes, while Dakota brought the glasses and napkins and followed him. Roman put everything down on the cocktail table, used the remote to put on a movie, then sat on the sofa.

Dakota put the glasses on the table and sat next to him. “How was your trip?”

“Nice. The weather was wonderful in Hawaii. I got a chance to get some surfing in.”

Dakota looked envious.

“I wished I could have brought you with me.”

“Ooh, I wished you would have too. I have a brand-new pair of swimming trunks, that I bet I’d look good in. I have the matching coverup too.”

Roman chuckled as he ate his pizza. He had ordered one with all meat and one with everything on it. There were wings and breadsticks. There was also a big dessert cookie that Dakota loved. “How were you going to take off ten weeks from the law firm?” When Dakota wasn’t busy being Dakota, he worked as a law clerk in his father’s law firm, along with his older brothers. Adam, the oldest brother ran the place while his father ran New York.

“I would have found a way,” Dakota mumbled under his breath.

“Plus, I wouldn’t have gotten any studying done since I would have had to act as your bodyguard twenty-four-seven.”

“Why? No one knows me in Hawaii,” Dakota said.

“Why would you think that?” Roman asked. “I bet your picture is on a few post-office walls.”

Dakota chuckled at his joke.

“How short are those trunks?” Roman asked.

“Why? Would you like to see me in them?”

Roman nodded without thinking.

“They’re not that short. They cover my extras,” Dakota answered.

Roman chuckled this time. “Scandalous.”

“It’s just a little skin,” Dakota said.

“Yeah, I know. But why do you have to flaunt it?”

“Jealous?”

“Very,” Roman replied.

Dakota rolled his eyes at him. “No, you’re not. Why should I have to hide who I am? I’m loud, proud, and out there for the world to see. And my mother’s pride and joy.”

That was true. Dorothy Julian had marched in a Pride Day parade right along with her fifteen-year-old son who decided to stop hiding. That was before her husband became mayor. Yet it didn’t take the reporters long to find what they thought was dirt on the new mayor. Ernest was still trying to keep his twenty-four-year-old youngest son out of the news. Of course, Dakota had matured since he made his debut in society. But if November’s election turned out differently than he expected, there was no doubt Dakota would be out there on the picket lines holding a banner or waving his rainbow flag proudly. Dorothy would be right next to her son, waving a flag too.

“Who are we hurting?” Dakota asked, returning to their conversation. “We just want to be treated fairly, as equals, and to use the restroom without people trying to guess if I have a winkie or not.”

Dakota wasn’t afraid to die for the right to be gay. Now everything the l***q+ community had fought for so diligently could be taken away just by a vote. “If I want to marry a damn man, I’m going to marry a damn man.”

“You’re right. You shouldn’t have to conform. Just continue to be you,” Roman said.

“Speaking of which, when are you going to have that conversation with my father?”

Roman stopped eating. “Do you really want me to die? The man trusts me with your life. He pays me to protect you and keep you safe, not to be…”

Dakota finished his sentence. “My lover?” Dakota gave him one of those side-eyed glances. “Do you think my father doesn’t know about us?”

“Does he?”

Dakota nodded. “I’ve been walking in your footsteps since I was old enough to walk. And you think the old man hasn’t noticed? You’re the handsome boy next door with manners, who’s loyal, trustworthy, and willing to die for me. What more can a father want for his gay son?”

Roman sighed and went back to eating. No wonder the old man was always suggesting he put a saddle on Dakota.

* * * *

“Can we go to bed now?” Dakota asked Roman after they had eaten and the movie had ended.

“You sleepy?” Roman asked.

Dakota shook his head. “Horny. You’ve been gone ten weeks.”

“Is that all I am to you?”

Dakota nodded.

Roman reached over and tickled him.

Dakota started giggling. “Plus, the love of my life.”

Roman stopped tickling him and roared like a lion. Then he chased him into the bedroom.

* * * *

All common sense went straight out of the window as Roman began undressing him. Dakota watched as the burly bodyguard removed his pullover shirt and T-shirt, revealing muscles of steel and a six-pack set of abs.

Dakota went down on his knees and undid the button on his man’s pants and lowered the zipper. He slid the pants down over Roman’s nice bum, thick thighs, and legs.

Roman raised his feet and Dakota got him out of the trousers. He looked up. Roman was still wearing his briefs. Dakota quickly rid him of those too. Roman was powerfully built in the nether region. Dakota had no complaints. He rose and Roman helped him out of his clothes too. They ended up on the bed with Dakota on top servicing Roman with his mouth. Ten weeks was a long time to leave him wanting. Dakota stopped just short of making Roman come. He hadn’t waited this long to have it end this quick. He moved so Roman could get comfortable on his bed. Dakota walked over to the night stand and retrieved a condom and some lube. He then opened the little foil package and extracted the rubber. This he slipped down Roman’s erection. He handed Roman the lube and climbed back up on the bed.

“Roll over, beautiful demon,” Roman said.

Dakota chuckled and did as Roman asked.

Roman got up, prepared him quickly, then got in position between Dakota’s legs. With one thrust Roman entered Dakota.

Dakota’s body was very receptive to the only guy he’d ever let make love to him. For all his bad talk, Dakota was a one man’s man, and he’d never wanted anyone but Roman. Though Roman wasn’t as up front with his homosexuality as he was, Roman stood to lose just as much as him if the vote went the wrong way. He wanted to get married and raise a family. Roman told him he wanted the same things too. Maybe they should get married now in case the law got changed.

Dakota shook away the thought and got down to the business at hand. He rocked on his knees and backed that thing up on Roman.

Roman knew how to handle him, servicing him with deep thrusts. Dakota was hard and on the verge of coming. “Harder, Roman.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

Roman gave him what he asked for.

A few seconds later Dakota felt the orgasm as it rushed through his body to the surface. “Ah!” He came. Dakota slumped forward.

Roman caught him before he slid off his knees. “Oh no you don’t, little troublemaker. I’ve been waiting ten weeks too.” He stopped talking and started pounding into Dakota’s ass. “Oh!” Roman came too. The big lug put all his weight on Dakota. The weight sent Dakota down onto the mattress. They always ended up this way. Roman eased out of him slowly, then slapped him on the butt with an open palm.

“Ouch!” Dakota said. “What did you do that for?”

“Marking my territory,” Roman said with a chuckle. “It’s going to be hard to explain to another guy whose handprint this is.”

Dakota rolled over and got on his back. “No, it’s not. There is no other guy. I’ve been grooming you to be my lover since your voice changed.”

Roman chuckled. “You’re so silly.” He stepped off the bed. “I love you. Do you want to get married?”

Dakota nearly had a heart attack. “I love you too. Are you serious?”

“Yes. You’re the only guy I want to spend the rest of my life with. Even though I’m going to miss the money your father pays me to keep an eye on you.”

Dakota threw a pillow at him. “You have other clients.”

Roman caught the pillow and tossed it back on the bed. “Yeah, but none of them are as special as you are. Do you know how awful I wouldn’t have felt if I hadn’t gotten the water out of your lungs earlier? I know I don’t say it often enough, but I’m proud of all the activist work you’re doing. Just don’t get into any more fights.”

“Okay,” Dakota said, smiling. Roman’s validation is all he’d ever wanted. No matter what happens in the future, he’d be able to deal as long as he had Roman by his side.

* * * *

ABOUT SHAWN BAILEY

Shawn Bailey recently retired from working as a financial analyst and now devotes her time to being a full-time writer. For more information, visit shawnbailey.weebly.com.