Los Angeles shimmered in the late evening glow, the last threads of sunlight fading over the skyline. The gym had emptied out an hour ago, the fluorescent lights overhead humming softly in the near silence. Liam moved through the familiar end-of-day routine - wiping down the benches, re-racking weights, setting things right for tomorrow. It was meditative, grounding. A quiet moment after a long day.
He hadn’t properly spoken to Carlo since their last encounter three days ago - the one that had ended with a kiss.
Thàt kiss.
Liam tried not to think about it too much, but it haunted him — not in a bad way, but in that kind of heady, slow-burning way that snuck up on you at night when everything was quiet. Carlo had leaned in so carefully, like a man stepping across a line he hadn’t realized he was allowed to cross. And Liam… he had kissed him back. Not because of curiosity. Not because of the thrill of kissing a prince. But because, inexplicably, that moment had felt right.
Still, neither of them had spoken about it since. There was still the occasional text, one training session, but otherwise, nothing. Just the echo of that moment.
Liam switched off the final row of lights, the gym now cast in a gentle twilight from the street lamps outside. He pulled the key from his pocket and walked to the front entrance. And stopped.
A figure sat on the steps outside, arms resting on his knees, back straight, head tilted slightly as if listening to the rhythm of the city. Carlo.
His dark hair was tousled from the breeze, and he wore a soft gray jacket over a white button-down shirt, the collar slightly rumpled like he’d been fidgeting with it. He stood the moment he saw Liam.
“You’re still here,” Carlo said softly. “Didn’t think I’d see you here at this hour.” Liam's voice was friendly, borderline neutral, but inside his heart kicked up, sudden and wild. He vividly remembered the kiss, the feel of Carlo’s hardness against his own, the nightly jerk-off sessions where he recalled every inch of Carlo’s body, the longing for more..
“I wasn’t sure if I should come. But then I realised I wanted to.” Carlo smiled, unsure. “Are you done for the night?”
“I am.” Liam smiled.
Carlo took a step closer. “I’d like you to come with me.” His voice laced with innuendo- or did Liam just wish it to be? Liam hesitated. “Where?”
“My place,” Carlo said. “I... I made something. And I’d like you to see it. Taste it.”
There was a beat of silence, heavy with implications neither of them dared say aloud. But Liam saw it in Carlo’s eyes — something gentle, hopeful, and vulnerable. He nodded. “Lead the way.”
Carlo’s apartment was tucked high in one of the newer high-rises downtown, elegant but understated. It wasn’t royal, but it was carefully curated — clean lines, soft woods, large windows that framed the city like a painting. The scent hit Liam as soon as they stepped inside. Tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and something rich and earthy.
“You ordered in?” Liam asked, amused.
“I did not,” Carlo said with mock offense. “Contrary to what you might think, I am capable of using a stove. I used to help my grandmother in Bologna. She taught me how to make pizzaiola.”
He motioned to a candlelit table with a few rose petals strewn on it set near the window. A single bottle of red wine was already open. Liam's eyes darted to the stovetop, and the kitchen wasn’t as pristine as he imagined it would be. Clearly someone had been cooking. The dish waited, steaming gently, the sauce glistening over tender slices of beef and fresh herbs.
Liam raised an eyebrow, smiling. “You did all this for me?”
Carlo rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly shy. “I wanted to say thank you. For being patient with me. And maybe also... for not being awkward after the kiss.”
Liam smiled and stepped toward the table. “It smells amazing. If you cook like this every time someone kisses you, I might do it more often.” Carlo laughed, and the tension between them eased. Carlo dished for them, they sat, poured the wine, and began eating.
For a while, they simply enjoyed the meal, the conversation light. They talked about music, Liam’s clients, the bizarre personalities at the gym. Carlo regaled Liam with tales of his childhood. But eventually, the mood shifted. Carlo leaned back, swirling his wine. It was clear that something weighed on his mind.
“My family doesn’t know,” he said finally. “About me. About... this.”
Liam met his gaze. “You mean about being gay?”
Carlo nodded slowly. “Or bi. I’m not sure. I’ve never felt like this before. Not for a man. Not for anyone. Not until you.” The confession hung between them, quiet and reverent.
Liam swallowed. “I didn’t realize it was new for you.”
“I always dated women. My father has plans — marriage, heirs, alliances. There was no space to question it. And even if I did...” He looked away. “It was safer not to.”
He paused, then leaned forward slightly, fingers circling the rim of his wineglass.
Liam felt compelled to fill the silence that hung between them “I was lucky, honestly. My parents... they were surprised when I came out, sure. I think they’d always assumed I was straight. I played sports, dated casually. I didn’t exactly fit their idea of what a ‘gay kid’ was supposed to be.”
Carlo’s eyes softened. “You don’t present like the stereotype.”
Liam scoffed. “Exactly. Whatever that might be though. I've always found that line of thought a bit offensive to be honest. So, when I told them, they were shocked. There were tears. A few weeks of awkward dinners. But they came around. They always loved me — that never wavered. I just think it took them time to understand that being gay didn’t change who I was. Eventually, they came around and we now speak openly about it. They even boast to their friends about how proud they are of me for living an authentic life.”
“That’s... beautiful,” Carlo said, voice quiet.
“Yeah. It is.” Liam smiled at the memory. “I know not everyone gets that. I think that’s why I don’t hide who I am. Because I know I’m lucky to be seen, to be accepted. I want other people to feel like they can be, too.”
There was a pause. The candle flickered in the quiet between them.
“I envy that,” Carlo said. “I don’t know if my father would ever understand. My mother... maybe. But everything in my life has been decided for me. Every relationship vetted, every move strategic.”
“But this isn’t strategic?” Liam asked. “Us?”
“No,” Carlo replied. “This feels... like the first thing I’ve done for myself in a long time. The first thing that means so much to me, I swore my security detail to silence.” Carlo reached across the table, fingers brushing Liam’s hand. “You make me want to be braver.” Liam’s breath caught. “You already are,” he said softly.
And then, as if drawn together by an invisible string, they leaned in — slow, searching, hesitant. Their lips met again, deeper this time, more certain. The kiss burned through the quiet - fingers gripping fabric, breaths caught between sighs and need. Carlo pushed aside the plate between them, cupping Liam’s jaw, and kissed him harder, more urgently. Liam stood, pulling Carlo with him, and the two staggered together, heat rising like a tide.
Liam tugged on Carlo’s shirt, unbuttoning it from the top. Slowly at first, then more urgent, until Carlo ripped at it. Buttons popping, he stood before Carlo, chest and washboard abs on display. But they never broke the kiss. Not until Liam slowly moved his mouth down Carlo’s cheek - then even lower planting feverish kisses down his neck, reaching his torso where he first gently sucked on those perfect little olive nipples, then biting one, softly. Carlo’s hands found Liam’s hair, kept his mouth on his nipples. Carlo let out a low rumble of passion. “Fuuuck.. Liam that feels so good”.
Liam ventured further – soft kisses exploring Carlo’s chest, his stomach, his belly button. Carlo gripped at nothing in particular as another low rumble escaped his throat. “So.. so good” he mumbled..
Liam’s hands found Carlo’s belt buckle. He fidgeted with it for a while, eyes darting up to Carlo’s, as if asking for permission. And in Carlo’s hazel eyes, lost in pleasure and wonder, he found his answer.
Yes.
He unclipped the belt, lowered the zipper. Carlo helped him to shimmy out of his jeans, and Liam took in the sight of this man – this gorgeous hunk who was fast capturing his heart – standing before him in nothing but briefs and an open shirt. His cock rock hard.
Liam planted a soft kiss on Carlo’s cock, sucked on the tip that was still concealed, took his time to show Carlo how much he was enjoying pleasuring him. Carlo took him by the chin, gently, pulled him up and kissed him again. Tongue duelling tongue they explored each other’s mouths, both sighing contented in between kisses, hands roaming over each other’s bodies. Carlo helped Liam out of his shirt, and they stood there, in each other’s arms, for a long time. Just enjoying the feel of each other’s heartbeats, while they were bare chest to bare chest.
It was Carlo who broke their embrace. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to, but I think we should take this to the bedroom.” Liam smiled, assuring, and placed his hands in Carlo’s. “I’m at your mercy.”
Carlo stepped inside the bedroom and turned to face Liam. He removed his shirt, letting it pool to the floor and stood before Liam, more vulnerable than ever. It was as if he wanted to say, “This is who I am”. Liam took off the remainder of his clothes and stood facing Carlo – as naked as the day he was born. His cock rock hard, sticking straight out in front of him – all seven inches on display. It was as if he wanted to say, “And this is who I am..”.
It was almost a dare.
But it was also an acknowledgement that this was real. It wasn’t play-pretend anymore. And they were definitely past the point of ignoring their attraction for one another. Carlo also dropped his briefs, allowing Liam to take in everything he had to offer. The full eight inches. A small drop of precum hanging on the tip of his dick. They looked each other up and down, slowly, taking in everything, but not taking anything in at all. They were completely, utterly, lost in what their eyes were exploring.
Until they lunged at each other with such ferocity it felt like the earth itself was spinning out of control. Liam pushed Carlo onto the bed and kissed him, feverish, hands gripping, nails digging, leaving no inch of flesh unexplored. And Carlo embraced this new world by doing the exact same thing. Hands kneading flesh, teeth nipping at a lip, a shoulder, a nipple.
Liam kissed his way down Carlo’s torso again – only this time he didn’t stop at the belly button – he went further, explored more, kissed the tip of the now uncovered cock, took just the head in his mouth. A raw, primal groan escaped Carlo’s mouth, Liam smiled, although he had his lips wrapped around Carlo's girthy cock, and kept going. Deeper, faster. He gagged a bit, came up for air, then went down on Carlo again, until he could feel his nose bumping against Carlo’s pelvic bone. He suctioned his mouth around the glorious royal cock, spooned his tongue on the underside of it, and cupped the full balls with a hand. Carlo was dripping precum down Liam’s throat in a steady stream now - it just made Liam want to work even harder at giving Carlo the best blowjob he’s ever had - the taste was intoxicating.
Liam’s free hand joined the party on Carlo’s cock, slowly rotating around the spit-slicked tool while Carlo kept moaning, thrashing on the bed, gripping at the sheets. Liam felt Carlo’s cock throb harder, leak more. He sensed Carlo’s thigh muscles tightening, saw how his balls crept back into his body, and knew that Carlo was close. Just at the right moment he slipped Carlo’s cock out of his throat and positioned the tip on his tongue. This is my cum, Liam thought, I worked hard for it and I’m going to taste every last drop!
Liam expected the orgasm to be intense for Carlo. What he wasn’t bargaining on was Carlo trying to pull out of his mouth, frantically. “I.. I’m close.. so close..” Liam realised that Carlo thought he can’t cum in Liam’s mouth - he was too scared to let go. “Cum in my mouth!” Liam demanded, before going back down on Carlo. “But.. but..aaaahhhhhhhhh” what started out as feeble protest, Carlo could hold back no longer. With a roar he let go - every nerve ending in his body tingling. Liam had what felt like a torrent of cum hit his mouth. Sweet, bitter, salty, creamy, musky, all at once. So much of it - he tried to swallow it all but some spilled out. Carlo looked at him. And chuckled. “I honestly did not know that cumming in your mouth was an option.” Liam smiled, Carlo’s cum still visible on his lips. “I’m happy. I wanted to taste your essence.”
“I never dreamed..” Carlo whispered, “that it could feel this good”. He wiped the remaining cum off Liam’s lips and embraced him – planted a few soft kisses on Liam’s lips. Tasted his own cum on it, and surprisingly, found it as intoxicating as Liam did. “Thank you.”
It didn’t go further than that. Not that night.
They eventually fell asleep in each other’s arms, tangled under the sheets in Carlo’s bed, the noise of the city softened by the altitude and the hush of early dawn.
Liam woke first.
Sunlight filtered through the pale curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. Carlo was still asleep beside him, his hair a mess, lips slightly parted in the deepest kind of peace.
Liam smiled and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling.
There was so much they hadn’t figured out — the press, the crown, Carlo’s father. But none of it mattered in this moment.
Because this morning, for the first time in a long time, Liam felt like something real was beginning.
