The Hots (mxm)

39. Tom & Huckleberry (Sam)*

   "Oh," Alec whispers. "What about him? Did he feel the same?"

   "I didn't really let him know about it. His obvious interest in girls was the main thing that stopped me, I guess. I kept everything inside me until we went to college. He is a very talented artist. Paris has always been his dream." I go quiet for awhile, overwhelmed by the memories.

   "Sam, I'm so sorry!" Alec takes my hand and kisses my fingers. "You've been hiding your feelings for years. It must have been a torture. Does talking about this make you sad? You don't have to, if you don't want."

   "No." I smile. "Nothing can make me sad when you are in my arms, Peppercorn. It's just that I have too many memories, both good and bad. So, he went to study in France while I chose a local university. We grew apart. I actually thought it was better this way. It was clear that he was straight. I forgot about my infatuation. We still spoke on the phone from time to time and got together during summer vacations. I started seeing him as a friend again... almost."

   "It seems so unfair." Alec frowns. "It was your first love. You should've given it at least a try."

   "You are right." I squish his cheeks and turn his head to kiss his pouty lips. "The truth is that I was quite wild. I didn't really think much about him. I was having the time of my life. I had many partners, got most of my tattoos and overall became what you see today."

   "But not all of them," he mumbles.

   "No, not all," I confirm. "Victor called unexpectedly one day and invited me to visit him in Paris. He had opened his own tattoo studio. It was three years ago. I packed my bags and took the first flight. I feared that it won't be the same like when we were kids, but I was wrong. Despite the years we had spent apart, everything was just as in the old days. We were like two peas in a pod. He was still my best friend. We took Paris by storm. I won that best bartender contest and struck it rich. Viktor's studio was flourishing. We rented a condo overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Our weekly soirées became famous in the artistic circles."

   "And you fell in love with him again," Alec sighs.

   "Are you jealous, babe?" I chuckle.

   "Yes, I am," he mutters sulkily. "You were local celebrities, weren't you? I bet he's handsome."

   "You can say that." I nod. "But you are way cuter and I love you, not him. You are right that we were quite popular. That was before it all went up in flames. It was all my fault. He looks good, but I didn't fall in love with him again, at least not like before. I would be lying, though, if I say I didn't want him. Victor was sending mixed signals the entire time. I wasn't sure what he wanted. He definitely liked touching me, but always kept it on the thin line between sexual and friendly The girls were constantly coming and going as well. I wasn't living as a monk either. We got terribly drunk one night at home. I was testing my cocktails on him."

   "Oh, God!" Alec gasps. "I'm not sure I'm ready to hear this. I mean, I want to know, but... I... Oh dear!... Go on!"

   "He asked me to show him my snake tattoo," I continue. "He had done it two weeks earlier and wanted to see if the skin had healed properly. At least that's what he said."

   Alec hides his face in his palms. "Sam... Ah... I'm listening."

   "Well, he was inspecting it too eagerly," I say quietly. "I was stupid enough to take it as an invitation and finally kissed him."

   "Good gracious!" Alec quietly utters. "Victor kissed you back, didn't he?"

   "If you call a broken nose, a dislocated jar, two cracked ribs, a night, spent in the ER and two months in bed a kiss, then yes, he kissed me quite good."

   "What?" Alec shrieks incredulously and turns to me abruptly. "Are you serious? He did all of that? Because of a kiss? Is he a psychopath?"

   "No, I don't think so." I laugh humorlessly. "He was just a drunk idiot who would rather beat the shit out of his best friend than admit to himself that he is bisexual."

   "Why did you let him do that to you?" my Peppercorn asks in a trembling voice. I see the tears fill his eyes. "I am sure you could stop him. You could fight back."

   "Because Tom Sawyer can never put his hands on Huckleberry Finn, babe, even when he breaks his bones and his heart."

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Photo by maki_shmaki from istockphoto.com

A/N

Hello, at the end of chapter 39!

Thank you so much for reading and supporting! 💗💗💗

What do you think about Victor?

Did he have feelings for Sam?

Will Alec pity Sam after hearing this shocking story about his first love?

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Love: Anny