Kyle started to cry even harder, but he continued to caress the top of Elroy’s head. “I love you just as much. But how can I believe that? How can I trust you again?”
“Let me make love to you,” Elroy said. “Let me hold you like I’ve wanted to hold you since the day I saw you carrying that ugly footlocker. I promise I’ll never do anything to hurt you again. Please, let me show you how much I love you once and for all.”
“What about Jeremy?”
“That was nothing,” Elroy said. “That’s why I never took it very seriously; you already know that because I told you that when I first started seeing him and thought his name was Ricky. And I made it clear to Jeremy last night that nothing would ever happen between us again. Please tell me you believe me, and let me make love to you.”
For the first time since they’d met, Kyle seemed to put down all the invisible walls he’d built. He wiped his eyes and noddes. His body relaxed and he wrapped his arms around Elroy’s shoulders. As Elroy slowly stood up so he could join Kyle in bed, Kyle buried his face in Elroy’s neck and kissed him gently. That one gentle kiss, mingled with Kyle’s tears, sent more energy through Elroy’s body than anything any man had ever done to him.
When Elroy was in bed on top of Kyle, he said, “I want to know you believe me.” He needed to know this for the sake of them as a couple.
Kyle caressed the back of his head and kissed him. “I know nothing is perfect. And yes, this time I do believe you. This time, for the first time, I think you’re the man I always knew you could be. I love everything about you, even the bad things. But I love the strong, decent man I see deep down most of all. The man you keep hidden from everyone.”
Elroy smiled and kissed his cheek. Even his tears tasted good. “I think you’re the only one who sees me that way.”
Then Kyle kissed him. With this kiss--…the first kiss they would share as lovers…the world turned into a nicer place. The need for Elroy to take control and satisfy himself turned into the desire to show the love of his life how much he loved him. And he did love Kyle enough to spend the rest of his life with him. He loved him enough to marry him and grow old with him. But most of all, he loved Kyle enough to become the man Kyle wanted him to be.
THE END