Daniel's Dream (3 page)

Chapter Four

Josh stepped out of the shower and grabbed the blue fluffy towel off of the rack. He hastily dried himself off and slid on his favorite red and green checkered flannel lounge pants, confiscated from Nick a long time ago. Even though they were too long for him, Josh loved them. They had been Nick's favorite pair, but once Josh borrowed them, he never got them back. Wearing his lover's clothes made him feel sexy.

He quickly ran a comb through his short, dark brown hair and eyed himself critically in the mirror. He saw the beginnings of fine lines around the outer corners of his eyes, and he grinned making them appear a little deeper. He knew most people would be upset at seeing this, but not Josh. He was particularly proud of them. He knew those lines came from the laughter and joy he had shared with Nick and Daniel and he had earned every one of them.

Josh still couldn't believe how much his life had changed ever since Nick had arrived. Both he and Daniel had been deep in mourning, and even though Josh had done his best, he and Daniel struggled to connect with one another.

It had been a big change for both of them, and also the hardest time of both of their lives.

He had been plagued with worry and guilt, afraid of not raising his young nephew in a happy and warm environment like the one Daniel had with his loving parents. Josh had even had nightmares of his sister, Jolene, reading him the riot act for the lousy job he did raising her son. And just when Josh thought things were never going to get better for either of them, he hired Nick as a live-in nanny a short space of time they formed a strong relationship and provided a happy family for Daniel.

He knew he was blessed.

Things had been going smoothly for their small make-shift family. So much so, that when Nick met him at the door, looking all pale and worried, he had a nagging sense of that old familiar worry. But, after talking to both Nick and Daniel, Josh knew that everything would be fine.

Josh realized that his and Nick's relationship might raise some eyebrows and possibly cause Daniel some grief. But Danny assured Josh he was happy with both him and Nick; Andrew was the only one at school who ever said anything to him about it.

They were lucky to live in a more alternative lifestyle friendly town like Charlestown, but there would always be bigots and hate-filled people who were never going to approve of the life they led. Hell, even as an Emergency Room nurse, he still dealt with prejudices of being a
male
RN every day. He had heard all of the jokes and the snickers behind his back, but Josh had learned to hold his head high, and he was determined that between the love and support that both he and Nick gave Daniel, his young nephew would learn to do that too.

He hoped.

He heard the bathroom door open and through the mirror's reflection saw Nick stand behind him. His looked at Nick's smiling face and appreciative glance and gave him one of his own.

"Hello, Green Eyes."

Between Nick's deep, sultry voice and the mischievous twinkle in his indigo colored eyes, his heart fluttered with happiness.

Damn he really loved this man.

The warm press of Nick's strong body against his back made Josh smile. He felt the hardness of Nick's erection pressed against his lower back and ass as Nick started rubbing his body suggestively against him.

Josh moaned.

The feel of Nick's hard body and the heady scent of his clean, citrusy smell were going to drive him crazy with need.

"Want you, Green Eyes," Nick whispered into Josh's ear. The warmth of his breath against Josh's ear and neck brought chill bumps all over his body. Nick hummed a little, and pressed his moist lips against Josh's neck in a barely there kiss, right before he grabbed the back of Josh's hair and gently pulled his head back and began to run his tongue down the side of his neck.

"Want you, too. God, baby, you drive me crazy sometimes," he panted.

At Josh's words, Nick's mouth latched onto the side of his neck and he started sucking, not hard enough to leave a mark, but with enough pressure that Josh's cock filled in anticipation.

Nick's warm, soft hand traveled down his side and then glided over up to his nipple, tweaking it. Needing more, Josh put his hand over Nick's wayward one and guided it down his stomach and through the elastic waistband of his flannels to his hard cock. As Nick was kissing up Josh's neck to the side of his face, Josh turned his head slightly and their mouths met in a passionate kiss, their tongues tangling and exploring. Josh groaned from the taste, smell and feel of his man against him.

Nick's hand grasped his cock and he rubbed the tip of his thumbnail across the slit. He spread the sticky wetness of Josh's precum around the head and shaft. He then took a firmer hold of it and started pumping his hand up and down the length, just the way Josh liked it.

Josh pulled his mouth from Nick's and nearly lost himself in Nick's passionate indigo gaze. "I love you, baby."

Nick flashed him that boyish grin that Josh loved and gave his lips a quick, hard peck. "I love you, too, Green Eyes. Let's go to bed before I fuck you into the bathroom counter."

Josh turned within Nick's embrace and slid his hands up Nick's t-shirt covered chest, smiling wickedly at him. "Baby, you can fuck me any way you want."

Nick noticeably swallowed and growled at Josh's words. He let go of Josh's cock and slid his hands around to Josh's ass, squeezing it lightly and lifting Josh off his feet. Nick's aggressive actions startled Josh, but he quickly snapped out of it, and wrapped his legs around Nick's waist and held on as Nick walked them out of the bathroom and to their bedroom.

Josh leaned up, nipping and sucking on Nick's neck. As soon as Nick laid him on the bed, he pulled Nick's t-shirt from his jeans and pulled the soft material over his lover's head. Nick's smooth chest beckoned for his touch and, unable to resist, he pulled Nick down on top of him.

"God, you're gorgeous," Nick breathed as his gleaming blue eyes roamed over Josh's face and body appreciatively.

Upon hearing Nick's declaration, a feeling of happiness and love flowed through his body. He couldn't stop the smile that formed on his lips as he ran his fingers through Nick's hair and gazed up into his beloved's face.

Nick returned his smile and Josh was once again struck by Nick's boyish charm and handsome face. At that moment, he knew he was the luckiest man alive to have found such an amazing man.

"As much as I love looking into those green eyes, my dear Joshua, I've got something that needs to be taken care of." Nick's adoring smile turned impish as he looked down to Josh's flannel covered cock and slowly back up at him.

Josh groaned when Nick covered his nipple with his mouth and started sucking on the tight bud. Nick's hot mouth made his cock even harder and when Nick's roaming hands were easing the elastic waist of his pants over his aroused cock and down his hips, Josh lifted his lower body up. He worked his pants off of his calves with his feet and, finally freed of their confinement, he spread his legs apart and cradled Josh's body between them snugly.

Nick worked his way from one nipple to the other. He ran his hands down Josh's stomach and once again grabbed Josh's cock and started pumping it within his firm grasp.

Josh ran his hands up and down Nick's silky smooth back and then pressed Nick's head closer to his chest. That wickedly, wonderful mouth worked wonders on worshipping his nipples and Josh heard himself pant heavily when Nick's mouth made his way down his chest to his stomach. Nick flicked his tongue in and around his bellybutton before he gave the tip of his cock a light, teasing lick.

Josh raised his head off of the pillow and looked down at his love. The erotic sight of Nick holding the base of his prick and that pink tongue licking down the side of the shaft to his balls just about made Josh come right then and there. Unable to watch any longer without losing control, Josh's head fell heavily back onto his pillow. Nick's warm breath and the gentle tonguing and sucking of his balls caused hot and slick precum to leak from his prick down to his groin. Nick immediately spotted it, and licked it up.

"You taste so good, Green Eyes. You're so scrumptious, I'm going to have to feast some more on you." Nick's rough, passionate voice and moist breath against his balls made Josh whimper.

"That's right, Joshua. Your body is mine to taste, touch, and fuck all I want. Lift those legs up to your chest, Green Eyes. I've got some more exploring to do."

Josh's heart beat with anticipation as he grabbed the backs of his thighs and pulled his legs up to his chest, opening himself completely to his lover. He loved it when Nick got all growly and demanding like this. Nick always seemed to instinctively know just what to say and do to turn him on like no other before him.

Nick licked and nibbled down Josh's perineum down to his pink hole. He grazed the entrance, teasing and sucking at it, making them both moan with intense pleasure. The feeling of Nick's firm, hot tongue swirling around and into the opening of his anus made Josh's hips buck with the anticipation of Nick making love to him.

A finger soon joined in worshiping, stretching and preparing him for Nick's thick cock. Soon, one finger became two and Josh groaned at the welcoming burn of Nick opening him up. He kissed back up to Josh's balls while he continued to gently stretch Josh's hole. He tongued Josh's balls and covered them with his scorching mouth. He then hummed gently, and Josh bit his bottom lip not to scream in ecstasy.

Josh reached down and grabbed the base of his cock firmly to keep from coming. As much as he loved Nick's thorough exploration of his body, he wanted to come when Nick was inside him.

"Please, baby… I can't wait much longer. I need you to fuck me now." He somehow managed to say between pants.

Nick gently released his balls with an affectionate lick and sat up on his knees. Josh watched Nick quickly unbutton his jeans and push them and his red boxer briefs over his hips and off of his legs. Josh reached over to the nightstand, grabbed the small bottle of lube, and passed it to Nick's outstretched hand.

Nick took the bottle from him and uncapped the lube. He squeezed a liberal amount onto his long, artistic-looking fingers and started rubbing them.

Ever since their first time, Nick always warmed up the lube before putting it on Josh. To Josh, it was just one more way that Nick showed him how much he loved and cared for him.

After the lube had warmed, Nick slid his fingers gently back into Josh's entrance and began to move them in and out, scissoring and readying him further for Nick's cock.

Between the pleasurable stretching Nick was giving him, and the sight of his strong athletic body, Josh knew there would be no way he could last much longer.

From the low light the lamp gave out, Nick's sweaty, golden body practically gleamed with health and vitality. His strong swimmer's build and washboard abs only enhanced the beauty of Nick himself. His tousled, sun-streaked hair flopped over one indigo eye, giving him a rakish look. His cheeks, neck and chest were flushed with arousal and he panted as he gently removed his fingers from Josh's entrance and then coated his cock with another healthy amount of lube.

"Are you ready for me, Joshua?" He grinned with full kiss swollen lips.

"Yes… please."

Nick lined his cock up to his entrance and eased Josh's legs over his strong shoulders. Josh could feel the tip of Nick's cock gently push in. He relaxed and thrust up against it, soon fully enveloping Nick's prick.

Josh looked up into Nick's passion-filled face as Nick started to slowly move within him. Nick reached between them and took a firm hold of Josh's prick and started pumping his cock in tandem with the movement of their bodies. As Nick slightly changed the angle of his cock it moved over Josh’s sweet spot with every thrust. A wave of pleasure went through his body as Nick continued to pound in him, being them both closer to ecstasy.

His whole body shook as his orgasm quickly approached. Nick shouted as his hips moved faster and with a final hard thrust, Nick came deep inside him. Seeing Nick orgasm brought on his own and hot, sticky semen shot out of the tip of his cock and all over their chests and up to his chin.

Nick eyes widened at the sight, and groaned before he leaned down and licked Josh's semen from his chin.

"I love you." Josh knew he would never get tired of saying those three wonderful words.

Nick's gorgeous blue eyes lit up as he smiled lovingly down at him. "I love you, too."

Chapter Five

The bright sunlight from the bedroom window fell across his face and slowly woke him from a pleasant slumber. Josh opened his eyes, groggily looking to the empty place next to him on the bed and grinned. His lover would probably be found in the living room with Daniel, watching cartoons with him.

The faint aroma of coffee brewing invaded his senses, as he eased out of the warmth of their bed. He slipped on his flannel pants and a faded green t-shirt and stumbled over to the bathroom to take care of his early morning necessities.

Shortly after he finished washing his face and brushing his teeth, he made his way into the living room and was greeted by his two favorite people sitting on the couch watching television together.

Just like he knew they would be doing.

Josh stood there a few moments and took in the wonderful feeling of belonging in a close-knit family. He hoped that really soon he'd even be able to make their makeshift family even more permanent.

Daniel looked adorable with his red hair sticking up in comical angles all over his head. His Batman pajamas fit comfortably on his slim form. He held a small, plastic glass that had all of the superheroes plastered over it in his small hand. His loveable nephew took a healthy drink of milk, and then laughed at one of the cartoon characters' outrageous antics.

Nick's deep laugh soon joined Daniel's and this brought a smile to his face. Their combined sounds of joy would always be one of his favorite sounds. Their laughter and happiness was always like a healing balm to Josh's heart.

Nick sat beside Daniel and took a sip of his orange juice out of another of Daniel's superheroes cups. Josh knew it tickled Daniel that Nick would drink from one of Daniel's favorite cups.

His eyes roamed over his lover's form. His sun-streaked hair looked slightly damp from an early morning shower. His white t-shirt fit loosely over his firm chest and body. He wore his favorite pair of red pajama pants that Josh and Daniel had given him for Christmas last year and his feet were covered in black slippers.

Nick looked good enough to eat, but then again to Josh, he always did.

Fred looked up from his place at Daniel's feet and barked happily at Josh, breaking the spell. Both Daniel and Nick turned and looked at him with twin welcoming grins on their faces.

"Uncle Josh! Nick and me were talking about maybe having a barbeque at the park today. What do ya think? Can we?" Daniel set his glass on the coaster on the coffee table, and leaped over the back of the couch to stand in front of Josh. His freckled cheeks were flushed with excitement and on his upper lip was a big milk mustache.

Even though he knew he should probably scold Daniel for jumping over the back of the couch, he couldn't find the heart to do it. Daniel practically bounced with excitement and Josh couldn't help but laugh at his nephew's enthusiasm, and his adorable milk mustache.

"That sounds like a great idea. We'll go this afternoon, okay?"

"Yay! I'm going to go get dressed now. Can we take my kickball and Frisbee with us too?"

Josh grinned down into Daniel's pleading face and ruffled the top of his carrot top head. "Of course. Don't forget to make your bed before we go, okay?"

Daniel whooped delightedly and ran toward his bedroom with Fred running right behind him.

Josh looked over and saw Nick grinning over at him.

"What?"

"I noticed you didn't say anything to him about jumping over the back of the couch. I wonder where he got such behavior…" Nick mused.

"I have no idea where he got that from." Josh shrugged nonchalantly. He took two steps and leaped over the back of the couch and landed heavily on the seat beside Nick.

"Yeah, no idea at all," Nick laughed and leaned over and planted a quick peck on his lips.

Josh batted his eyes and gave Nick his most innocent smile.

* * * *

After eating, finishing chores, and hitting the grocery store, they parked at Charlestown Park. They settled in a small pavilion with its own built in barbeque grill, that was close to the playground.

Nick spread the plastic, red checked tablecloth over the medium-sized picnic table and started unloading some of their supplies onto it to keep the wind from blowing it away. He grabbed the small radio they packed and turned it onto his favorite nineties rock station and started singing along to a song by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"Hey baby? Did we bring Daniel's Frisbee?"

"It's in the very back of the Explorer. Will you grab his kickball too, while you're at it?"

Josh nodded and he and Danny ran to the back of the SUV to get the toys. Soon they were all in the middle of tossing the Frisbee back and forth to one another. Of course, like many eight year old boys, Danny soon got bored and started playing with one of his classmates he spotted at the playground.

After yesterday's drama, everything began to feel like it was going back to normal, and Nick was glad. He hoped there weren't going to be many days like they had yesterday.

The bench creaked a little as Josh sat beside him. Both men watched Daniel squeal with laughter as he chased his friend across the playground.

"He seems okay, doesn't he?" Josh asked as he handed him a diet Sprite.

Nick took the soda from him and looked at Josh and gave him his best reassuring smile and nodded. "He does. Let's hope that yesterday's incident isn't something that he'll have to continue to face. We'll have to keep watching out for him and be even more pro-active in his school activities."

Josh looked over and watched Danny slide down the slide. "You're right. I'm going to start questioning the teachers and Daniel more when he comes home. I don't want to see him go through anything like that again."

"But he's going to Josh. You know that, don't you? There is always going to be someone who doesn't like him, or doesn't like the way we live. All we can do is support him and to try to be there for him as much as we can through tough times. But Danny's resilient. He's experienced so much loss in his short life, and he's adapted very well."

Josh looked at him and nodded. "Realistically I know that. I wish there was some way we could save him from all of the grief and drama he's going to experience growing up among his peers, and you're right, Daniel can be a very strong-willed child. We'll work through it and all come out stronger in the end because of it."

Nick knew that Josh was right, but it still sucked that Danny would be facing shit like that in his future. He reached over and grabbed Josh's hand. A pensive look crossed Josh's face and he looked like there was something weighing heavily on his mind.

"What's going on, Green Eyes?"

Josh sighed and gave him a nervous smile. "There's something I've wanted to talk to you about."

Nick fought the urge to panic. Josh was normally so upfront about everything; he knew that whatever he had planned on saying would be serious.

"You know you can talk to me about anything," he said giving Josh his undivided attention.

Josh grabbed Nick's diet Sprite from him and took a long swallow. The hand holding the soda shook slightly and he looked nervous. Nick mentally braced himself.

Josh put the can down and grabbed Nick's left hand with his own. Their matching gold rings glistened together in the sunlight.

"I know we've talked about having a commitment ceremony. I also know that we've put it off because we've been hoping that Arkansas will pass a law that allows us to marry." Josh entwined their fingers tightly together. "Honestly, I'm tired of waiting, Nick. I don't need some lawmaker to tell me it's okay to be committed to the man I love. Maybe if it was just us I wouldn't mind waiting, but it's not. We have Daniel to think of, too."

Nick reached his right hand up and cupped Josh's face. "What are you trying to say, Green-Eyes?"

Josh leaned his cheek against Nick's hand and gave him a hopeful smile. "I think we should have a commitment ceremony, Nick. I want everyone to know that we're officially together and a family."

Nick's heart beat faster in his chest. "You want to have a commitment ceremony soon?" He couldn't believe that this was happening now. He knew that they had discussed it several times, but Nick had always thought it would be something that would happen in the distant future.

"I do. I think it's time, Nick. I also talked to my lawyer about getting papers prepared to make you a Daniel's guardian. You're just as much of a father to him as I am, and it eases my mind to know if anything ever happened to me, you would be the one to take care of our boy."

Nick was stunned. They had never really talked about what would become of Danny should something ever happen to Josh. Nick had hoped that Danny would always be with him, but he'd assumed Josh's parents in Florida would end up acting as guardians.

Tears welled up in Nick's eyes and he gave him a watery smile. "I love you, Josh. The trust you have in me humbles me. You and Danny are my whole life… my heart. It would be my honor to commit myself to you and be Danny's guardian."

Josh whooped loudly and pulled Nick to him and pressed his lips against Nick's in a quick, sweet kiss. Josh pulled back and cupped Nick's face with his warm, shaking hands. "We're going to have a very happy life together, baby. Let's make plans to get commitment ceremony this summer, okay? We'll invite our close friends and family and make it official."

Nick grinned and nodded.

"Uncle Josh… Nick… what's going on? Is everything okay?"

They both looked into the questioning green eyes of their Danny boy. Josh released Nick and reached for Danny's hand. Nick reached out and took his other one. His small hand was sweaty and dirty from the playground and the most precious thing that Nick had ever held.

Their Danny's hand.

His soon to be adopted son.

"Daniel, you know that Nick and I have always planned on having a commitment ceremony, right?"

Danny nodded and squeezed Nick's hand. His dirt-streaked face wore a hopeful expression and he looked back and forth between them.

He wants this as much as we do.

"Nick and I have been talking and we're going to start planning it for this summer. What do you think about that?" Josh asked.

A huge smile formed over Danny's face. "I think it would be cool! Can I help plan it? Please?" He looked at both of them beseechingly as he jumped up and down with excitement.

"Absolutely! We wouldn't have it any other way, would we Nick?"

"That's right." Nick grinned as he fought the urge to jump up and down himself.

"Yay! Can we have a big cake and have orderderves to eat?" Danny asked.

Nick bit his lip to keep from laughing at Danny's saying
orderderves
instead of
hors d'oeuvres
. Evidently, Josh struggled with keeping a straight face, too. He coughed and hid his grin behind his hand.

"We sure can! We'll order the biggest cake you've ever seen and we'll have plenty of
hors d'oeuvres
, too." Nick was pretty proud that he said it with a straight face.

"I can't wait! I once saw this movie and they had little hotdogs in rolls as an orderderves, and I always wanted to have one," Danny said excitedly. His face lit up with happiness.

Nick couldn't contain his laughter any longer. Danny's happiness and his hope for pigs-in-a-blanket as a main appetizer at the wedding were really cracking him up.

"There's one more thing I want to talk about with you Daniel." Josh's quiet, serious voice simmered down both his and Danny's laughter.

Nick held his breath. What would Danny think of him becoming his guardian?

"We want Nick to be your guardian, too, but we want to talk to you about it first. If something should ever happen to me, you and Nick would be able stay together as a family and never have to be separated," Josh said as he gave both of their hands a reassuring squeeze.

Danny cocked his head to the side and looked at them with a thoughtful look on his face. "We are a family. I already knew that. Is it time to make the hamburgers yet?"

The weight of the world lifted off of Nick's shoulders. He looked at Josh and his lover's smiling face and his heart fluttered with a joy. It always amazed Nick how perceptive children could be. In Danny's heart, they were already a family, so to him everything else was just a formality.

Just as it should be.