Once they've finished getting dressed, Alexander makes some carrot soup to eat with toasted French bread. Then he prepares a meat dish seasoned with butter, rosemary, and thyme, served with vegetables sautéed in the leftover meat drippings.
— You grew up here, so far from the city? I suppose you had to travel quite a bit to go to school.
— I was homeschooled until I was old enough for high school, then they sent me to boarding school — says Alexander — When I came home for vacation, my father and I would go hunting, and at night I'd help my mother with dinner because, as you can imagine, there aren't many neighbors around here. I was so happy to see how close you are to your sister; I would have liked to have a brother, but my parents never wanted more children.
— I grew up with my parents until they divorced when I turned eleven — says Tadeus — And I don't even have any happy memories of them from the time they were together, but my mother found out she was pregnant after they separated.
— Did they decide to get back together?
— Of course not, she decided to take me to Switzerland with her. My sister was born there, but my mother decided to come back when I turned eighteen and I could apply for citizenship because my grandmother's eyesight was getting worse. You know, her blindness. It wasn't always like that; it's gotten worse over the years.
— I'm sure your mother was very proud of you for taking care of Yenedith - says Alexander.
— Of course not, she decided to take me to Switzerland with her. My sister was born there, but my mother wanted to come back when I turned eighteen and I could apply for citizenship because my grandmother's eyesight was getting worse. You know, her blindness. It wasn't always like that; it's gotten worse over the years.
— I'm sure your mother was very proud of you for taking care of Yenedith.
— I suppose so — says Tadeus. He gets up from the table and starts walking around the room, looking at the photographs on the dressers. — Wow, I never imagined seeing you with long hair — comments as he holds up a photograph in which Alexander is holding a swimming trophy in one hand and lifting the medal around his neck with the other. His brown hair falls on either side of the blue long-sleeved shirt he's wearing.
— I looked terrible.
— I thought you were more confident. Where's the drunk guy who kissed me on the beach in the Maldives?
— You said it yourself, I'd been drinking.
— You're too easy.
Alexander wraps his arms around him from behind, the he runs his nose along the lover's neck as he unbuttons the shirt. The caresses of those hands on Tadeus' chest travel down his abdomen to his pants, where he feels the warmth around his member.
— What can I say? I can't resist you — Alexander whispers in his ear. He grabs him by the shoulders to turn him around and pins him against the dresser while kissing him intensely. — I'm sorry — he sighs with a smile when they hear the thud of Tadeus' head hitting the top of the dresser, causing some photos to fall.
They decide to go up to the bedroom. Alexander goes ahead to take down the painting from his parents' wedding to hide it in the closet. Tadeus lets out a laugh that infects his owner for a few seconds until they start kissing again.
Amid caresses and wild kisses, they make their way to the bed. Alexander positions himself on top of Tadeus, and with wide kisses, pressing his lips against Tadeus' skin and drawing it toward his tongue, he elicits intense gasps of pleasure from him in the midst of their arousal. Then, they interlace their fingers on either side of the pillow as Alexander gently enters him. Again and again, he thrusts his member inside his lover and enjoys looking into his eyes with every moan that escapes his throat. In their intimacy, Alexander keeps his lips on his lover's face and his hands constantly caress the rest of his body, until he decides to brace himself against Tadeus' collarbone to lift his torso and thus thrust his member deeper with more force, reaching the peak of arousal and ejaculating inside him.
Alexander collapses, breathless, drenched in sweat on his back and abdomen. — I feel like I'm more attached to you than I'd like to admit — Tadeus says, even though he wants to keep this only in his thoughts.
— I thought you wanted to break up with me the other night — Alexander is still trying to catch his breath — Sometimes I feel like you're pushing me away, as if you're looking for a way to distance yourself from me.
Tadeus rolls onto his side to look at his face — I'm sorry — he kisses him on the cheek — I don't think I could ask you for something like that, but maybe you'll find out who I really am and decide not to continue with this.
— Don't think I wouldn't want to be with you if things between us aren't perfect — Alexander affirms.
— I have too many secrets — Tadeus murmurs, lying on his back on the bed.
— I have my own too, but I promise to tell you one every day.
— Which one would be the first?
— I've never been in a serious relationship before.
— Do you think that's a good secret?"
— I'm serious. I've only had a few casual flings, mostly with women. So I don't know what to expect.
— My last relationship lasted three years, and it's been over five years since we broke up. You never know what to expect because every relationship is different. We can only go by what we know about each other right now.
— Well… I know that with you, I feel like myself — says Alexander. Tadeus stops staring at the ceiling and looks at him. Then he sits on the man's lap, placing his hands between the mattress and the skin of his back, pulling him toward himself to welcome him with a kiss.
— Why don't you let your hair grow out again? — Tadeus brings his hand to the back of Alexander's head — That way I could pull it when I'm on top of you — he says, pulling the hair back to make his point.
Alexander just laughs at this, and they unify their bodies together again to express their desire for one another.