Aaron & Slade Ch. 03

Slade slaps my hand. "Don't say that because you're gonna jinx us."

"Worse things could happen," I state. I finish the last few bites of my food and wait for Slade to finish. Slade always eats his food slow except when he's starving. He savors every bite he chews. I'm left sitting with him until he's done. When he finishes, I collect our plates and toss them in the trash. I wrap up the leftovers.

"Do you wanna watch some more TV?" Slade asks as he picks up the remote.

"No. Let's just chill and listen to music."

I walk over to my iPod and the speakers and connect them. I cycle through my playlists, before deciding on a mix I'd made of old school and current R&B. My parents raised my sister and me on all types of music with soul music tops on their list. I couldn't imagine my iPod without it.

I put it on shuffle and the rhythmic tunes of Otis Redding's, 'That's How Strong My Love Is', begins to play softly through the speakers. I join Slade on the couch, he places his head on my lap, and he smiles up at me. I run my hand down his torso and let it rest on his hip.

"I love this song. Remember when we danced to this in your folk's living room? We had the whole house to ourselves and we danced to about twenty songs. It was almost like we were at our own school dance."

I laugh, "I remember when I tried to do the dip move I saw on that dance show. I tripped over your foot and we fell on the couch and onto the floor. Epic fail!"

"My ass hurt for two days because of the way I hit the floor," he chuckles, covering his face with his hands.

"I thought you weren't ever gonna let me touch you again. C'mon," I push him up off my lap to stand up. I hold out my hand, "Do you wanna dance?"

"Just as long as you don't try to dip me again."

I pull him up into my arms. I place a kiss on his shoulder giving him a slight hug. I let my arms rest lightly on his shoulders and his hands are on my waist. We slowly sway to the music. Slade steps in closer to put his head on my shoulder while running his hands up and down my back. This feels so right. I kiss his cheek and he looks up at me with a half-smile. He has this look of contentment and I smile back at him. We look into each other's eyes and dance to the music.

Then my favorite song of the playlist comes on next, 'Always and Forever' by Heatwave. I softly hum the song into his ear. He hugs me tighter and I can feel his heart rapidly beating against my chest.

I can't contain my rush of emotions; I cup his chin leaning down to kiss him.

Our kiss is the kiss you see in those romantic comedies. It starts slow and then becomes all-consuming. We melt in each other's arms. My knees feel weak. I'm standing from pure willpower.

Slade breaks the kiss and looks up at me. "Aaron, I want to give you your birthday gift now."

"Now? We're kinda in the middle of something here." I pull him back to kiss him.

He returns the kiss but pushes me back, "Yeah. It has to be now. Come with me." He clasps my hand, leads me to the couch, and tells me to sit down. Slade walks into the bedroom and returns with a small box wrapped in green wrapping paper with a white bow. "I wasn't going to give this to you until Sunday but I think I should give it to you now." Slade sits next to me on the couch as he passes the box to me.

I smile at him and open the box. Inside the box, a single silver key with my name etched in script.

"I've wanted to tell you for a long time." Slade pauses and lets out a huge breath, "I love you, Aaron. God, I love you with everything I have and everything I am. I was too afraid to say it because I started to overthink how I should tell you only to psych myself out but not anymore. I love you. I had the key engraved on the side. Read it." Slade's voice breaks a little.

I don't try to talk because I have a huge lump in my throat.

I take the key from the box to read the engraving:

Baby, you'll always have the key to my heart! Love, Slade

I hadn't even realized the tears were flowing until I felt Slade's hands on my cheeks. I look up at him as he wipes my tears away with his thumbs. This was more than I could ever have hoped from him. Slade loves me.

"I love you, Slade. I love you so much. I love you from the bottom of my heart to the top of yours." I lean over and give him a kiss. "Thank you. You telling me you love me is the best gift I've ever gotten." I kiss him again and hold him in a tight embrace.

"There's something else. Look underneath the cushion," Slade says, wiping away a tear of his own.

"This is more than enough. You don't need to get me anything else," I reply holding the key tightly in my hand.

"Please. Look under the cushion," he pleads anxiously.

Hearing the desperation in his voice, I comply and lift the cushion in the box, when I realize what's underneath I look at him in utter shock.

"I know I ruined our night on New Year's Eve. Hell, I've ruined all of our nights but I'm going to put an end to that." Slade reaches into the box and pulls out the condom.

"Slade?" I ask looking up at him.

"I know now with all my heart that I'm ready to take the next step in our relationship," he says huskily. "Aaron make love to me."