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Vin was pleased with his handiwork. He was sorry Chris got stuck in that stupid Administrative meeting on Valentine's Day, but on the other hand, it gave the younger man a chance to plan a surprise for his lover.His lover. God, he loved the sound of that. Six short months ago, his life had changed forever. Suddenly, he wasn't alone anymore. He loved Chris and miracle of miracles, Chris loved him. All the shit he'd had to go through his whole life was worth it, to get to this place, a place where he was safe and loved.
He heard Chris's Ram crunching the white gravel stones of the driveway and scrambled to turn down the lights and get the candles lit. God, Chris was gonna love this.
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Chris Larabee was in a foul mood. The big shots had ruined the special evening he'd planned to surprise Vin, by calling a last minute meeting. On Valentine's Day, no less. It just confirmed his suspicions, that the bastards didn't have hearts anyway. Sighing, he picked up the box he'd squirreled away in his desk. He sure as hell hoped two tickets, Ugh! Chris groaned inwardly at the very thought, to see Guns n Roses live would make up to Vin, for the busted evening.
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Stepping into the darkened kitchen, Chris could see the flickering light of candles coming from the living room. His interest piqued, he dropped his briefcase and the small box holding those God awful tickets onto the counter. The blond's mouth dropped open when he rounded the corner and got a look at his living room.
Vin had candles everywhere and there were flowers on the coffee table. A pile of blankets and pillows made an inviting nest on the floor in front of the hearth. He could feel the warmth in his groin at the thought of his lover's obvious intentions. The Texan had a fire going and there was a TV tray with a sandwich and a beer sitting on it. Vin had known he wouldn't bother stopping for anything, Chris smiled to himself. He ate the sandwich quickly and washed it down with the ice cold beer.
When he was finished eating, Chris looked around impatiently. Where the hell was Vin? Larabee was anxious to thank him properly and give him his gift. His cock was getting harder every second and when the object of his lust came out of the hallway that led to their bedroom carrying a portable CD player, the older man was hard pressed not to ravage him on the spot.
"Hey, Chris," Vin said softly and gave Larabee that shy smile, that drove the blond agent wild. "Did ya get enough to eat?"
"Plenty," Chris smiled back at him. Damn, he looks good in those jeans.
Vin bent and plugged in the CD player and retrieved a thin silver package from the floor behind the chair. "I'm glad you're home. Ya wanta open your present now?" he asked, uncertainly holding out the gift. The younger man didn't like to admit it, but he was getting nervous about his gift. What if Chris didn't like it?
"Yeah," Larabee growled, and pulled Vin close, ignoring the package in his hands. Chris bent his head and plundered the sweet mouth. His hands were busily unbuttoning the soft flannel shirt Vin wore.
"Chris, what're ya doin'?" Vin broke off the kiss and demanded breathlessly.
"Opening my present," his lover snickered evilly and peeled the open shirt off his shoulders.
"Well, cut it out, and open yer real present," Tanner told him halfheartedly.
Chris didn't want to let him go for a second, but he knew Vin had gone to a lot of trouble, so he kissed him chastely on the forehead and held out his hand for the package.
Vin watched Chris anxiously, hoping that his lover would like the gift he'd put together so painstakingly.
It only took a few seconds for the torn paper to reveal a CD. A silvery holographic background with the words, "Music Of My Heart" in elegant sapphire blue script shone up at Chris. He turned it over and saw the tracks listed. It was a custom made CD and Chris knew instinctively, that Vin had agonized over every selection.
1.
Keeper of the Starsby Tracy Byrd2. Lonely Too Long by Patty Loveless
3. Now That I've Found You by Terri Clark
4. Ring Of Fire by Johnny Cash
5. My Best Friend by Tim McGraw
6. I Cross My Heart by George Straight
7. Breathe by Faith Hill
8. Cowboy Take Me Away by The Dixie Chicks
9. More Than You'll Ever Know by Travis Tritt
10. Feels So Right By Alabama
11. When You Say Nothing At All by Keith Whitley
12. Shelter From The Storm by Marty Stuart
Chris opened the CD and without a word, handed it to Vin. Every song described some facet of their love perfectly. Vin put on the CD and turned back to Chris.
"You really like it?" he drawled softly as Tracy Byrd's deep voice floated into the room.
It was no accident... me finding you. Someone had a hand in it . . . long before we ever knew . . . Now I just can't believe . . . your in my life. Heaven's smiling down on me . . . as I look at you tonight. I tip my hat . . . to the keeper of the stars. He sure knew what he was do . . .ing . . . when he joined these two hearts . . .
Chris took Vin in his arms. "Yeah," he whispered huskily. "Now, let me finish unwrapping my other present. OK?"
Vin put his arms around Chris's neck and kissed the older man deeply. They shared a sweet kiss and Chris became aware of a beautiful alto voice.
It's only natural . . . When you've been too long in the dark . . . To look for comfort . . . And to warm yourself by the fire . . . We're just afraid . . . We might get our fingers burned . . . But we ain't done nothin' wrong . . . We've just been lonely too long . . .
Chris slipped Vin's shirt off of the young man and thanked God his lonely nights were over. He kissed Vin on the shoulder and hugged him tightly, another beautiful melody filling the room.
How can I believe that my heart would find . . . Someone like you . . . You see the real me, no in betweens . . . I had no where to hide . . . You took away the walls around me . . .Made me feel safe to share my truth . . . I've seen the Heaven's open . . .A heart that once was broken . . . Is holdin' nothin' back . . . Now that I've found you . . . You hold me like a prayer . . . You touch me everywhere . . . lifetime just ain't enough to love you true . . . Now that I've found you . . .
Vin reached up and stroked Chris's cheek. "I love you," he said simply.
Love Is A Burning Thing . . . And It Makes A Fiery Ring . . . Bound By Wild Desire . . . I Fell Into A Ring Of Fire . . . I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire . . . Went Down, Down, Down . . . And The Flames Went Higher And It Burns, Burns, Burns . . . The Ring Of Fire . . . The Ring Of Fire . . .
Chris's heart was pounding as fiercely as Johnny Cash's rhythm guitar and he led the man he loved so much over to the blankets. Kissing gently, not ready to let go of the tenderness of this time just yet, Johnny Cash's wild throbbing beat faded into a perfect description of the the love they shared.
I never had no one that I could count on . . . I've been let down so many times . . . was tired of hurtin' . . . So tired of searchin' . . . Til you walked into my life . . . It was a feelin' I'd never known . . . And for the first time, I didn't feel alone . . . You're more than a lover . . . There could never be another . . . To make me feel the way you do . . . Oh, we just get closer . . . I fall in love all over Everytime I look at you . . . I don't know where I'd be . . . Without you here with me . . . Life with you makes perfect sense . . . You're my best friend . . .
Vin started to unbutton Chris's shirt, but Chris was too full of love to let him make the effort, that the Texan found so frustrating. Chris gently stilled Vin's hands and unbuttoned his own shirt. He'd see that sweet tongue caught between Vin's teeth ,while his lover turned pink some other night. Tonight he just wanted Vin to be totally satisfied. It'll always be like this, Chris vowed silently to himself.
Our love is unconditional . . . We knew it from the start . . . I can see it in your eyes . . . You can feel it from my heart . . . From here on after . . . Let's stay the way we are right now . . . And share all the love and laughter . . . That a lifetime will allow . . . I cross my heart . . . And promise to . . . Give all I've got to give . . . To make all your dreams come true . . . In all the world . . . You'll never find . . . A love as true as mine. . .
They finished undressing and held each other tightly, not moving, listening to one another breathe.
In a way I know my heart is waking up . . . As all the walls come tumbling down . . . Closer than I've ever felt before . . . And I know and you know there's no need for words right now . . . Cause I can feel you breathe . . . It's washing over me . . . Suddenly I'm melting into you . . . There's nothing left to prove . . . Baby all we need is just to be . . . Caught up in the touch . . . The slow and steady rush . . . Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be? . . . I can feel you breathe . . . Just breathe . . .
Kissing deeply, they fell to the blankets. Chris looked into the blue eyes that were dark with passion and he saw the wildness Vin showed only to him.
I said I wanna touch the earth . . . I wanna break it in my hands . . . I wanna grow something wild and unruly . . . I wanna sleep on the hard ground . . . In the comfort of your arms . . . On a pillow of bluebonnets . . . In a blanket made of stars . . . Oh it sounds good to me I said . . . Cowboy take me away . . . Set me free oh I pray . . . Closer to heaven above . . . And closer to you . . . closer to you . . .
Chris feasted on the soft skin of Vin's neck and the younger man's hands caressed his nipples, squeezing and pinching gently in the ways Vin knew would make Chris's cock throb. God, Chris would never be able to tell Vin just how much he really loved him.
I'm sure you've heard it said hearts have windows . . . But mine has doors a painful past has closed . . . Unless someday they open wide, revealing feelings locked inside . . . I'll love you more . . . than you'll ever know . . . More than life ,more than I've ever loved before . . . It's absurd and . . . beyond words . . . I couldn't want you more . . . And when I try to pour my hear out to you . . . I'm not . . . sure it shows . . . That I love you more than you'll ever know . . .
They were both hard and ready and Vin pressed the oil into Chris's hands. He wanted Chris so much. It was sweet torture waiting for Chris to open him enough, so that he could take Chris's length. The older man knew how easy it would be to hurt Vin and he took extra care to make sure the younger man's body was ready. God it just felt so good. So right.
Whisper to me softly, . . . breathe words upon my skin. . . . No one's near and listening, . . . so please, don't say goodbye. . . . Just hold me close and love me, . . . press your lips to mine. . . . Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm, feels so right. . . . Feels so right. . . . Lying here beside you, . . . I hear the echos of your sighs. . . . Promise me you'll stay with me . . . and keep me warm tonight. . . . So hold me close and love me, . . . give my heart a smile. . . . Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm, feels so right. . . . Feels so right. . . . Your body feels so gentle, . . . and my passion's rising high. . . . You're lovin' me so easy, . . . your wish is my command. . . . Just hold me close and love me, . . . tell me it won't end. . . . Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm, feels so right. . . .Feels so right. . . . Feels so right . . .
They didn't speak. Words weren't necessary between them. Their hands roamed over one another. Soft moans and whimpers were the only sounds they made.
It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart . . . Without saying a word you can light up the dark . . . Try as I may I could never explain . . . What I hear when you don't say a thing . . . The smile on your face lets me know that you need me . . . There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never . . . leave me . . . A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall . . . Now you say it best, when you say nothing at all . . .
Chris made love to Vin and took his lover's hardness in his hand. They stroked gently together, until they came together. Another night would be for wild passion. Tonight was about sharing love and tenderness and sheltering their wounded hearts.
And here I am, and here I'll stay . . . I will be your shelter . . . shelter for your heart . . . I will be a harbor when the world is cold and dark . . . A I will stand beside you . . . Through this whole life long . . . To love you and to give you shelter from the storm . . . You are the love, love of my life . . . Til the stars in heaven Fall down from the sky . . . Til the silent waters and the rivers all run dry . . . I will stand beside you . . . Through this whole life long . . . To love you and to be your shelter from the storm . . .
They slept, the music they shared playing softly all night long.
THE END