Author's note: Written as a birthday present for foreverbm

 

* * *

 

“Story time,” JR happily announced as Michael smoothed the covers over his daughter’s shoulders.

“JR, you should have picked a book before you got into bed,” Michael tried to scold, but his heart wasn’t in it. He was always so happy to see his daughter.

“No books, Daddy. You have to tell me a story.”

Shit, Michael thought to himself. Bedtime stories were usually Ben’s duty, but some famous author was visiting the college, and Ben couldn’t miss the reception even with JR’s visit. Michael was on his own. “One day Rage and Zephyr were walking. . .”

“Daddy, superheroes are for boys.,” JR interrupted; looking so much like Mel it was unnerving.

Michael started to corrected her and explain that girls could like anything they wanted to, including superheroes. But just as he was trying to figure out how to explain gender stereotypes to a six year old, she smiled at him, and he was lost. He would leave that lecture to her mothers. “OK, Honeybun, what do you want to hear about?”

“The Magical Land of Liberty,” she demanded.

Double shit, Michael thought. Ben had created an entire kingdom, The Magical Land of Liberty, using every member of their extended family as characters. Michael always got so distracted watching his husband and daughter together that he’d never paid that much attention to the stories. “Sure,” he said slowly, trying to stall for time. “Do you want to hear about Princess Jenny and Prince Gus?” She shook her head. “How about Princess Melanie and Princess Lindsay?”

“No, Daddy. I want a story about Prince Michael and Prince Ben.”

“An adventure?” Michael asked hopefully, mentally changing the names in the Rage story he’d started earlier.

JR shook her head. “Happily ever after just like Sleeping Beauty and Belle.”

His daughter was requesting a gay fairy tale. His mom would be so proud. Now Michael just hoped he could come up with one.

“Once upon a time in The Magical Land of Liberty, Prince Michael was tired of working for the evil clown Q-master so he left his horrible dungeon forever. He decided to open a store where he could share his beautiful picture books with everyone in The Magical Land of Liberty. All Prince Michael’s friends came to help him, and they had a wonderful time laughing and singing while they set up the store.”

Michael decided this wasn’t so hard. JR seemed to be enjoying his story, and he could borrow from the fairy tales he knew. “As they were working, a handsome stranger came in. It was Prince Ben. Prince Ben loved books, but he only knew about books with lots of words, and he needed someone to teach him about picture books. So he asked Prince Michael for help.”

“Did you help Prince Ben?” JR asked.

“Yes I, I mean, Prince Michael did help Prince Ben. At first Prince Michael was nervous because Prince Ben was very smart, and Prince Michael was afraid Prince Ben would think his picture books were silly. But Prince Ben thought the picture books were wonderful, and since Prince Michael knew so much about them he thought Prince Michael was smart and special. While Prince Michael was teaching Prince Ben about his books, they fell in love.”

“Then what?” JR asked eagerly.

Michael had planned to end the story there, but JR looked so excited he didn’t have the heart to stop. “At first, Prince Michael and Prince Ben were very happy. Then Prince Michael found out Prince Ben had been cursed.”

“Ohh.” JR’s eyes got wide. “Did a mean witch give him ugly warts?”

“Not exactly,” Michael laughed then realized gender stereotypes might have been easier to explain than HIV. “Prince Ben had a secret, invisible curse. You couldn’t see it, and sometimes people didn’t even know they were cursed. Prince Ben did though, and he took special care of himself so the curse didn’t hurt him. But the curse meant there were things Prince Ben wasn’t allowed to do anymore, and that made him sad. The worst thing about the curse was that you could give it to someone else if you weren’t careful, and that made lots of people stay away from Prince Ben.”

“Poor Prince Ben.”

“When Prince Michael’s friends found out about the curse, they were afraid for Prince Michael. They told him he should stay away from Prince Ben.”

“But Prince Michael didn’t listen, right Daddy?”

Michael sighed. He still hated thinking about this. “Not at first, but one day Prince Michael started to think about what it would be like to be cursed. He knew how hard it could be, and Prince Michael starting thinking about what his friends said. He was very scared, and he told Prince Ben they couldn’t see each other anymore.”

“Oh Daddy, that’s terrible.”

“Prince Ben was very sad when Prince Michael left. And after a few days, Prince Michael knew he’d made a mistake. He missed Prince Ben very much, and he realized Prince Ben would protect him from the curse.”

“So Prince Michael wasn’t scared anymore?”

“He was still a little scared, and it’s okay to be scared of things like a curse. But Prince Michael realized love was stronger than the curse, and if he and Prince Ben worked together, they could fight the curse. Prince Michael went to tell Prince Ben, but Prince Ben’s feelings were still hurt, and he was afraid to give Prince Michael another chance.”

“Did Prince Michael give up?”

“Of course not! He decided to prove to Prince Ben that he was worthy of a second chance. First he tried to win a contest to show Prince Ben that he was strong, but that didn’t go very well. The he tried to take Prince Ben to a party to show him how much fun they could have together, but that didn’t work either. Finally Prince Michael decided to sing a special song for Prince Ben. And even though Prince Michael wasn’t a very good singer, Prince Ben knew he was singing from his heart, and he gave him another chance."

“And Prince Ben is very glad he did because Prince Michael proved to be the most loyal, most loving, most wonderful person Prince Ben had ever met,” Ben added from the doorway.

“Uncle Ben,” JR squealed. She jumped from the bed and ran over to him.

“Hey, Princess Jenny.” Ben scooped her up and gave her a kiss. “Did Daddy tell you your story tonight?”

“Yes, but he forgot the most important part.”

“What?” Michael asked when he realized they were both looking at him. He’d been distracted as always; his heart melting at seeing them together.

“Back to bed with you.” Ben dropped her onto the mattress making her giggle. “And we’ll take care of that story.” Ben tucked her back in. “Now let’s tell Daddy how to end a story.”

“And they lived happily ever after,” JR and Ben chorused together.

“Okay, okay, I’ll remember next time. Good night, Honeybun. I love you.” He and Ben both gave her a kiss before turning out the light.

“When did you get back?” Michael asked once they reached their room.

“Sometime after you entered The Magical Land of Liberty. I snuck out as soon as I could. I hated missing JR’s first night with us, but it looks like I might not be needed for storytime anymore.” Ben pretended to pout.

“Please,” Michael snorted. “I’m happy to hand that duty back to you especially since my daughter informed me that superheroes are for boys.”

“Oh no,” Ben laughed. “I suspect Gus’s influence there. I remember him complaining about JR messing up his comic books. If Mel and Lindsay find out that’s how’s he keeping her away from them, he’s doomed to sensitivity training.”

“We’ll keep his secret as long as he promises to convince JR that Zephyr is cool.”

“Zephyr is cool,” Ben said stepping closer to Michael. “And hot,” he whispered in Michael’s ear before kissing him.

Michael tangled his fingers in Ben’s hair pulling him closer. He loved it when Ben let his hair grow, and he could play with it. Deepening the kiss, Michael licked his way into Ben’s mouth. Ben’s hand’s came up to frame his face, holding him still while they kissed.

Ben pulled back suddenly, yanking off first Michael’s shirt, then his own. “Bed,” he growled, walking Michael backwards before pushing him onto the bed. Michael’s eyes widened as he watched Ben take the rest of his clothes off, and he saw how hard his husband was already.

“Somebody’s eager,” Michael teased as Ben went to work on removing Michael’s pants.

“I meant what I said, Michael.” Ben’s eyes, bright with desire, raked over Michael’s naked body, and Michael’s cock hardened under his gaze. “Letting you into my life was the best thing I ever did. Thinking about all the love you’ve brought to my life usually makes me want to slowly and thoroughly make love to you, but sometimes it makes me want to fuck you through the mattress.”

Michael’s cock twitched at Ben’s words, and he spread his legs, welcoming Ben to the bed. Ben crawled on top of him, kissing his way up Michael’s chest. Michael arched his back when Ben paused to lick his nipple. He loved the attention, but soon he was tugging on that beautiful hair, pulling Ben up for a passionate kiss.

Bracing himself on one hand, Ben slipped on a condom while they kissed. He brought their cocks together, stroking them both with his hand. Michael pushed up into Ben’s hand, matching his rhythm, and they both moaned.

“On your knees, baby,” Ben demanded, slapping his hip playfully.

Michael rolled over quickly. Ben moved behind him, and Michael felt the heat from his body as Ben leaned over his back.

“You’re so sexy, Michael. I can’t wait to be inside you,” Ben whispered against his ear. He pushed a slick finger into Michael at the same moment he bit lightly at his earlobe. Michael held back a scream as Ben added a second finger and hit his prostate.

“God, don’t stop,” Michael breathed. He tilted his ass up trying to force Ben’s fingers deeper.

“Never, Michael, we’re never going to stop.” Ben pulled his fingers back, replacing them quickly with his cock. He thrust fast and deep jerking Michael off at the same time. It was heaven, and Michael held on as long as he could, but soon he was coming. Ben’s hand continued to stroke him, drawing his orgasm out. He felt Ben’s thrust speed up then stop as Ben found his own release.

“Holy fuck,” Michael muttered as he collapsed on the bed. He couldn’t even be bothered to look up when Ben left the bed briefly. He returned with a washcloth, and he gently cleaned Michael before joining him in the bed.

“Whatever I did to inspire that,” Michael said as he snuggled into Ben’s embrace. “Make sure I do it a lot.”

“Just be yourself, Michael. That’s all I need.” Ben kissed him and stroked his hair. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” Michael said tiredly. “You and JR were right, happily ever after is the best part.” Michael felt Ben’s arms tighten around him as he drifted off to sleep.