Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

of them fighting for the ball, growling and yipping playfully at each other in the late afternoon sun.
    Jimmy snorted a laugh, at Scott or the dogs, Scott wasn't sure. "I think you're gonna be married within a year and you won't know it till you're signing the paperwork." Jimmy told him, strolling over to the puppies and getting the ball from between them.
    "Well, I mean, he did say ' no pressure ' and—"
    "And you and I both know that means pressure." Jimmy pointed out, the sun catching the golden highlights in his hair, making his natural tan look even more bronze.
    "You know Rob, I think when he says no pressure, he actually means it." Scott narrowed his eyes when Jimmy started humming the wedding march.
    ****
    "How'd it go?" Jimmy was lying on the floor with both of their tiny puppies crawling all over him, licking his face and nipping at his fingers. Scott dropped down beside them and picked up Hercules.
    "Fine," Scott said over an excited tail wag and a lick to his own chin. "His roommates and a couple of his other friends were there too. It wasn't a big deal at all."
    Jimmy flashed on oddly relieved expression then leaned up on his elbows, grinning wickedly, "So this was your engagement party?"
    "I hate you." Scott told him, trying to sound serious even as he stretched out next to Jimmy, laughing as the tender attack from Hercules and Persephone continued.
    "I'm offended I wasn't invited." Jimmy continued to tease, sliding his arm out to let Scott rest his head on.
    "If I ever get married, I'm banning you from it."
    "Afraid you'll take one look at me all dressed up and change your mind?"
    "Afraid you'll scare away my intended, more like."
    "Because I'm so incredibly hot." Jimmy joked, grinning into the top of Scott's hair.
    Laughing and giving Jimmy a little squeeze as Hercules crawled over them and scrabbled towards the water dish, "Yes, that's it exactly." After a moment, Scott lifted his head, "Shouldn't you be cramming for finals?"
    Groaning, Jimmy flopped back like he'd been shot, "Starting tomorrow, yeah. Monica and Rob and Becky organized a study group. We're locking ourselves up at Monica's and not coming out till Monday morning.
    "Oh." Scott tried not to sound disappointed even as he shifted closer to Jimmy. He was used to Jimmy being mostly unavailable the weekends before exams, but he usually at least saw him for an hour or two every day.
    "I promise to call every day." Jimmy told him, his voice lilting with half a tease. "And the puppies will keep you company."
    "Yeah." He hadn't meant to sigh, but it came out anyway. The funny part was, Rob was going to be locked away in the same group and Scott hadn't even given that a thought. "I gotta study too, but—"
    "But you'll be studying over pizza and beer with a Firefly marathon on in the background."
    Sighing again, "Yeah."
    "I'm jealous, baby cakes." Jimmy told him, kissing the top of Scott's head, "But if I don't pass exams with flying colors, my old man is gonna disown me."
    Laughing at that, "Your old man doesn't think the sun rises till you get out of bed in the morning. He just knows what you're capable of so he pushes you harder than you'd like."
    "Or he was a slave driver in a past life."
    Snorting at that, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't daddy buy you that car? You're one pampered slave."
    "That was probably more mom than dad."
    "Right, and she did it because she loves me more than you."
    "That's right," Jimmy agreed jokingly, laughing, "She told me your ass was too fine for vinyl seats."
    "Those were her exact words, I'm sure."
    "You know it. I think she's secretly in love with you."
    "Her practically adopted gay son? Twisted old woman."
    "You didn't know she was so kinky, did ya?"
    Scott let out a loud laugh then, rolling so he was on top of Jimmy, pinning him down, "You're a sick man, Jimmy."
    Shifting and flipping Scott onto his back with a thud, "And strong, too."
    Persephone and Hercules charged back in at that moment, watching the two wrestle, Hercules tilting his head and Persephone looking like she was trying to decide which of them to defend, ending up with a whiny little bark instead.
    "You're scaring the kids, sunshine." Scott told him, still laughing as he squirmed under Jimmy, his cock thickening slightly against the weight of Jimmy's body.
    Jimmy paused for a moment, looking down into Scott's face, his expression unreadable as he leaned a little closer. Scott could feel a sudden tension around them, not uncomfortable, but