The soft buzz of conversation filled the warmly lit apartment as the sun dipped below the skyline of Milwaukee. Jake and Sam moved easily among their friends, hands full with drinks and snacks, laughter curling through the air like music. Their new apartment—sunlight-filtered, plant-filled, and lined with old brick and books—felt like home already, even though the last box had only just been unpacked that morning.

“I still can’t believe you two are actually living together,” Billy said, nudging Jake with a grin as he accepted a glass of wine.

“Well,” Jake said, exchanging a glance with Sam, “after falling in love on a beach vacation, the next logical step was clearly domestic bliss in a restored apartment building  in Walker’s Point.”

Sam laughed. “And honestly, I think we picked the perfect spot. Walker’s Point just feels like us—open, real, a little artsy, a little rough around the edges, but full of heart.”

Dominic, lounging on the edge of the couch, raised his glass of wine. “It’s the neighborhood with history. The LGBTQ+ soul of Milwaukee. You’ve got La Cage, Fluid, and Walker’s Pint just blocks away—and it’s not just bars. It’s the community. The energy. The fact that you can walk hand in hand without a second glance.”

“It wasn’t always like that,” Hal chimed in, leaning forward. “Remember Harbor View in the nineties? It was mostly just Second Street and a few brave spots surrounded by warehouses and train tracks.”

Mike nodded, setting down his drink. “And Bayview’s come a long way too. Queer-friendly brunches, vintage shops, rainbow flags in windows—everywhere you turn, it’s like the city’s been stitching our colors into the fabric of its soul.”

They all paused for a beat, the weight of history settling gently into the space.

Jake looked around the room, his voice quieter but still laced with gratitude. “And now here we are—June again. Pride Month. Can you believe the first Pride was just a year after Stonewall?”

“Fifty-five years ago,” Sam added. “June 28, 1969. The police raid at the Stonewall Inn. People had had enough. They pushed back. That night changed everything.”

“And now Pride is this whole beautiful, chaotic, loving celebration,” Dominic said. “But I still think of those early marches—no corporate floats, no glitter explosions. Just people with signs and hope. Risking everything for the right to exist.”

Hal raised his glass. “To the ones who came before us. To Stonewall. And to making sure their fight was not in vain.”

They clinked glasses.

The room, full of amber lamplight and soft jazz playing in the background, pulsed with connection. They shifted into stories—first kisses, coming out moments, first times in a gay bar.

“Oh god,” Billy groaned. “My first gay bar? I wore a vest. A vest. With nothing under it.”

Laughter exploded around the room.

“I was so nervous I ordered a Shirley Temple,” Mike confessed. “Didn’t even spike it.”

Hal wiped his eyes. “My first time out, I thought everyone would be watching me. Turns out, everyone was too busy dancing to care.”

Jake looked at Sam, who was curled up beside him now on the couch, hand resting lightly on his knee.

“First time I kissed this guy,” Jake said, “we were barefoot on the beach. Sand between our toes. I didn’t want the moment to end.”

“It didn’t,” Sam whispered. “It just got better.”

A quiet settled over them—comfortable and full. The kind of silence that comes when laughter has wrung itself dry and all that remains is love.

Dominic leaned back, sighing. “Chosen family. It’s everything, isn’t it?”

“It really is,” Jake said. “This—right here—is everything I ever dreamed of.”
​
Outside, the city lights flickered on. Pride flags hung from balconies. The hum of Walker’s Point—its long, storied, resilient pulse—beat on into the night.

“We are the laughter after the storm, the joy born of resistance.”  ~Unknown
~Wylddane

Jake and Sam walked side by side along the shoreline, their bare feet sinking into the soft sand, feeling the warmth of the sun wrapping around them like a final embrace. The ocean stretched out endlessly ahead, its waves a quiet backdrop to the deep silence between them. For the past week, they had shared so much — laughter that had come easily, stories they had told each other from places deep within, and moments of vulnerability that had made them feel like they were not just partners, but true companions. They had spent the days getting to know each other in ways they hadn’t anticipated — mentally, spiritually, even intimately.

Conversations had flowed like the tides, from lighthearted musings about the world to deeper talks about dreams, fears, and everything in between. It felt like every moment had been building to this one, a connection that was no longer just surface-deep but something richer, more exciting, more real.

Sam glanced over at Jake, his eyes softened by the fading light. “I never thought a week could feel like a lifetime,” he said, his voice almost reverent. 

Jake looked back at him, his smile warm and steady. “I feel that, too,” he murmured. “It’s like we’ve crossed some line together… like this is just the beginning of something even more incredible.”

The gentle sea breeze comforted them, but it was the closeness between them — that quiet understanding — that was the most palpable. The laughter, the shared stories, the moments of quiet comfort in each other's presence had all woven their hearts closer. They weren’t just sharing a vacation; they were building a life together, one step, one conversation at a time.

Tonight, they had planned to make the most of their last evening — a night they would never forget, filled with love and memory. Tomorrow, they would return to the city, to the routine and responsibilities that awaited them, but nothing would ever feel the same. They had found something new, something deep.

Sam stopped walking and turned to face Jake, his expression serious but filled with affection. “Let’s make tonight unforgettable,” he said softly. “Let’s seal this… this thing we’ve started. So we’ll have it, always.”

Jake nodded, his heart full. He reached out and gently brushed his thumb across Sam’s cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin. “I already know it will be,” he whispered. “You’ve already made it unforgettable.”

They lingered on the beach until the stars dusted the sky silver. Then, hand in hand, they made their way to a small beachside restaurant — a cozy, lantern-lit place perched above the dunes. They ate fresh seafood and toasted each other with glasses of wine, their laughter carrying into the night air. Beneath the soft hum of conversation and clinking glasses, an undercurrent of something deeper stirred between them — an electricity, a yearning that neither wanted to put into words.

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon and the stars took command of the sky, they wandered back to the cabin — a small, weathered place tucked behind dunes and sea grass — feeling the kind of closeness that didn't need words.

Inside, they moved without speaking. Jake touched Sam’s arm lightly, guiding him closer, and Sam came willingly, resting his forehead against Jake’s. For a moment, they simply breathed together, the night air cool on their skin, their hearts beating in unspoken rhythm.

Slowly, carefully, they undressed each other — not with urgency, but with reverence. Jake slid his fingers beneath Sam’s shirt, feeling the warmth of him, the strength and tenderness all at once. Sam answered by tracing his hands along Jake’s ribs, his touch feather-light but leaving shivers in its wake.

When they finally lay down together, the world outside fell away.

Jake cradled Sam against him, their legs tangled under the thin blanket. He ran his hand along Sam’s back, feeling every curve and dip, the steady rise and fall of his breathing. Sam stroked Jake’s hair, his fingertips moving in slow, loving circles against his scalp, like memorizing him by touch.

Their kisses were deep and soft, mouths finding each other again and again, never in a rush. Sometimes their lips barely brushed; other times, they pressed harder, tasting, exploring. It wasn’t about hunger. It was about being known — fully, fearlessly, tenderly.

In the quiet hours of the night, they shifted, curled closer, fitting together like they had always belonged this way. Fingers drifted along arms, along spines, over heartbeats. The soft creak of the bed, the whisper of their skin meeting, and the deep, contented sighs were the only sounds.

They held each other until sleep took them — not separately, but as one.

Outside, the ocean sang them a lullaby, and the stars kept watch.

Dawn crept through the curtained windows, painting the cabin in soft pink and gold. Sam stirred first, his eyelashes fluttering open as he felt the warmth of Jake’s arms around him. They lay tangled together on the bed, limbs intertwined, hearts still beating in that slow, whisper-soft rhythm they had discovered. Sam tilted his head, brushing a strand of hair across Jake’s forehead, and Jake smiled sleepily, eyes still half-closed.

The scent of salt and pine drifted in on the gentle breeze through a cracked window. Sam slid out from beneath the blanket and padded across the wooden floor to a small coffee maker on the counter. He poured two mugs of steaming coffee and carried them back to the bed like a gift. Jake sat up, pulling Sam close, and pressed his lips to Sam’s temple as he accepted a mug.

They sipped the coffee together, shoulders touching, gazing out at the rising sun just visible above the dunes. Neither spoke; words felt unnecessary in the golden hush of the morning. Instead, they shared quiet smiles and soft kisses—first on lips, then drifting to the neck and collarbone. Fingers traced familiar paths on bare skin, memorizing again in the gentle light what they had learned in the night’s embrace.
​
When they finally rose, still wrapped in the glow of dawn, they dressed slowly, sharing jokes and laughter as sunlight pooled around them. The world awaited beyond the cabin door, but right then, it was just Jake and Sam, the echoes of the night still warm in their blood and the promise of today waiting in every ray of morning light.

~Wylddane

The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains of the beachside cottage, casting golden light over the tangle of limbs and sheets where Jake and Sam lay. The air smelled of salt and the lingering warmth of their closeness. Sam stirred first, brushing his lips against Jake’s bare shoulder before stretching with a satisfied sigh.

"Morning," Jake murmured, pulling Sam closer for a slow, lazy kiss. "Sleep well?"

"Best sleep of my life," Sam admitted, his fingers tracing idle circles on Jake’s back. "Though I’m not sure if it was the ocean air or you."

Jake chuckled, pressing his forehead to Sam’s. "We should get up. Breakfast?"

Sam groaned but relented, following Jake to the small kitchen where they moved around each other with ease, making coffee, toasting bread, frying eggs. Between bites and sips, they talked about anything and everything—their childhoods, favorite books, embarrassing teenage crushes. They laughed often, comfortable in their growing intimacy.

After breakfast, they packed a small cooler and set out for the beach. The sun was high, warming the sand beneath their feet as they strolled along the shoreline, waves licking at their ankles. They splashed each other playfully before diving into the water, their laughter carried away on the breeze.

By midday, they were sprawled on a blanket, sharing a simple lunch of sandwiches and fruit. Jake popped a grape into Sam’s mouth, grinning as he tried to talk around it.

"You ever think about how days like this feel like they could last forever?" Sam mused, stretching out beside Jake.

"Yeah," Jake said, gazing at him. "Maybe they do, in some way."

The afternoon was spent exploring. They rented bikes, riding through winding coastal trails, stopping to take in the view or challenge each other to silly races. Later, they found a hiking path that led them to a secluded cliffside, where they sat side by side, watching the waves crash below.

"I could stay here forever," Sam said.

Jake bumped his shoulder. "Then I’d have to stay too."

On their way back to the cottage, they picked up dinner from a small seaside café—a simple meal of fresh seafood and crisp white wine. They ate on the porch, the sky painted in hues of deep orange and violet. The sound of the waves played in the background, a familiar, steady rhythm against their growing bond.

After dinner, as the stars began to prick the sky, Sam nudged Jake. "Let’s play a game."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "What kind of game?"

Sam grinned. "Whenever I hear your voice…"

Jake smirked, catching on. "I smile."

Sam nodded approvingly. "Whenever I hear your voice…"

Jake pretended to think. "The world sparkles."

They went back and forth, their words a mix of teasing and sincerity.

"I laugh."

"I pause and listen."

"I feel safe."

"I feel home."

As the evening deepened, their words slowed, turning into soft whispers between them, until their hands found each other’s, their lips met, and they made love beneath the quiet moonlight.

Much later, wrapped in each other’s warmth, Sam let out a sleepy murmur. "Every time I hear your voice…"

Jake, half-asleep, responded instinctively. "It calms my heart."

A pause. Then, Sam whispered again, "Every time I hear your voice…"

Jake smiled against his skin. "I know I am in love."

With that, they drifted into sleep, the sound of the ocean a lullaby to their deepening connection, their hearts forever intertwined.
​
~Wylddane

In the Quiet of Us

The moon hung low in the sky, its silver glow casting soft shadows across the small beachside cottage where Jake and Sam lay entwined. The waves outside whispered against the shore, a rhythmic lullaby to their quiet, intimate discovery. The air between them shimmered with something more than desire—it was reverence, the slow unraveling of guarded hearts, the merging of souls as much as bodies.

Jake traced lazy patterns across Sam’s bare shoulder, watching the way his breath hitched in response, the way his skin warmed beneath each touch. It was as if every movement spoke a language only they could understand. Sam, in turn, let his fingertips dance over Jake’s chest, marveling at the steady heartbeat beneath, the pulse that now felt as essential to him as his own.

It was not just passion that filled the space between them, but something deeper—an unspoken knowing. Each touch was not just touch, but revelation. The curve of a collarbone, the whisper of lips against a jawline, the way Jake shivered at Sam’s breath against his neck—it all became sacred, a slow and patient unveiling of trust and love.

“I didn’t know it could be like this,” Sam murmured, his voice hushed in the dim light. He rested his forehead against Jake’s, their breaths mingling in the space between them.

Jake smiled, brushing a hand through Sam’s hair. “Me neither.”

And yet, here they were, discovering not only each other’s bodies but the hidden corners of their hearts. Every glance, every sigh, every shared silence wove them closer together, threads of something unbreakable taking shape between them.

In the quiet hours of the night, they simply existed together—wrapped in warmth, in understanding. A touch was magic. A smile lit up the darkness. A whispered word calmed the storm inside. Neither had ever felt this kind of pull before—this undeniable, consuming gravity toward another person.

As dawn began to creep in through the sheer curtains, they stirred, reluctant to part from the cocoon of their embrace. Jake stretched, reaching for the blanket to drape over them before pressing a lingering kiss to Sam’s temple. Sam sighed contentedly, shifting closer, unwilling to let go just yet.

Eventually, they rose, their movements slow and unhurried. Wrapped in nothing but soft morning air and each other’s presence, they made their way to the small kitchen. Jake poured two cups of coffee, the rich aroma filling the space between them. Sam leaned against the counter, watching him, feeling the profound peace that had settled in his bones.

They stepped out onto the porch, steaming mugs in hand, and let the world unfold before them. The horizon stretched endlessly, the sky painted in soft pinks and golds, a quiet promise of the day to come.

Side by side, they stood, drinking in the moment as much as the coffee in their hands. No words were needed. In the hush of the morning, in the warmth of each other’s presence, they dreamed of the future—of sunrises shared, of laughter, of a love that would never wane.

Jake reached over, threading his fingers through Sam’s, squeezing gently.

Sam turned to him, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Where do we go from here?”

Jake exhaled, looking out at the endless sea before them. “Wherever the tide takes us.”

~Wylddane

​The sun hung high over Pacifica, casting golden light over the rolling waves. The sky stretched endlessly above them, a soft shade of blue that seemed almost too perfect. A gentle breeze carried the scent of salt and warmth, rustling through Sam’s tousled brown hair as he stood at the edge of the water. The ocean lapped at his feet, the coolness of it a sharp contrast to the heat of the sun on his skin.

Behind him, Jake watched, his striking blue eyes reflecting the sea. This place—the same beach where they had once walked in the rain, hearts heavy with unspoken words—felt different now. The air no longer held the weight of uncertainty. Instead, it hummed with something lighter, something known.

Sam turned, a small smile tugging at his lips as he met Jake’s gaze. “Feels different in the sun.”

Jake nodded, stepping closer until their arms brushed. “It does.” He let out a slow breath, the sound lost to the waves. “Last time, we didn’t really know what this was. Now… I think we do.”

Sam glanced down, the warmth rising to his cheeks having little to do with the sun. “Yeah.” He hesitated, his toes digging into the wet sand. “I still think about that day. How everything just… shifted.”

Jake reached for his hand then, fingers threading together naturally, as if they had always belonged that way. “Me too. I think that’s when I knew—really knew.” He squeezed Sam’s hand gently. “I just needed the sun to show me what the rain had started.”

Sam’s heart swelled at the words, at the way Jake’s voice wrapped around them like something precious. He looked up, meeting the gaze that had once held an entire ocean’s worth of questions. Now, it held something else—something steady, something sure.

Sam exhaled, his free hand coming up to rest against Jake’s chest, feeling the steady beat beneath his palm.

“So… where do we go from here?”

Jake smiled, leaning in just enough for his forehead to brush against Sam’s. “Wherever the tide takes us.”

The waves continued to roll in, the sun casting their shadows long against the sand. And as they stood there, wrapped in warmth and something deeper than words, they knew—this was just the beginning.

~Wylddane

Rainy Day Love

The sky hung low over Pacifica, a soft veil of mist blurring the horizon where the ocean met the sky. Rainfall, light and steady, clung to the world like a secret—quiet, intimate. It was the kind of day where the world seemed to narrow down to a few simple things: the salty breeze, the endless whisper of waves, and the gentle patter of rain on sand.

Sam, his brown hair curling slightly under the weight of the mist, walked a few steps ahead of Jake, his gaze fixed on the rolling tide. The world felt like it was holding its breath, suspended in time, as if the universe itself was waiting for something to happen. Jake, with his striking blue eyes that seemed to hold the entire Pacific within them, was closer than Sam realized, but not yet close enough. His steps were light, careful, as though testing the ground, as though he was waiting for something, too.

They had been walking together for what felt like hours, but neither of them spoke. Words weren’t necessary today. The silence between them was comfortable, like an old sweater that had molded to their bodies and had become part of who they were.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Sam finally spoke, his voice low but steady. He glanced over at Jake, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. Jake’s lips twitched upward in a smile, and the sight of it made Sam’s heart flutter, a soft, unbidden feeling that he hadn’t quite figured out yet.

“It’s perfect,” Jake said, his voice carrying the same weight of something unspoken. They both knew what they meant. Perfect. Not just the beach or the rain, but the feeling between them. The way their steps had slowly synced together as they walked, the way their shoulders brushed, the way Sam’s heart beat a little faster when Jake laughed, when Jake’s eyes met his with a quiet intensity.

Sam shifted his gaze back to the horizon. He could feel Jake’s presence, right there beside him, a constant pull that tugged at him in ways he hadn’t expected. But he was afraid to speak the truth aloud—afraid that saying it might break the fragile, sacred thing they’d built in this shared silence.

“I don’t know why I’m so drawn to you,” Sam admitted suddenly, his voice almost drowned by the sound of the waves crashing. “It’s like… like something inside me knows you’re the one.”

Jake’s footsteps faltered for a second, and Sam turned just in time to see the vulnerable flicker of surprise in his eyes.

“You feel it too?” Jake’s words were soft, almost shy, a far cry from the confident smile he wore most of the time.

Sam nodded, his chest tightening. “Yeah. I don’t know how to explain it. But I do.”

There was a pause, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable one. It was a space that needed to be filled, and neither of them seemed to be in any hurry to rush it. The rain continued to fall, the world around them spinning in its usual way, but in that moment, time felt like it belonged only to them.

Jake stepped closer then, his shoulder brushing Sam’s, a gentle pressure that felt like the beginning of something new. Sam’s heart stuttered in his chest, and he couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at his lips.

“I think I’ve always known,” Jake said, his voice barely more than a whisper now. “I just didn’t know what it was until you. Until this.”

Sam met his gaze, his brown eyes locking with Jake’s blue ones, and something unspoken passed between them. It was as if the world around them didn’t matter anymore. The rain, the beach, the mist—they were all just background noise to the quiet understanding that had settled between their hearts.

“I’m glad you found me,” Sam murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Jake smiled, a slow, easy smile that reached his eyes. “I think I always knew where to look.”

The rain fell harder now, not in the soft mist it had been, but in steady, rhythmic droplets that soaked through their clothes, turning the world into a blur of wet colors. But neither of them cared. They stood there, side by side, not speaking, but feeling the words in their bones.

Sam turned to face Jake fully, his heart racing in his chest. And in that moment, there was no question, no doubt. The distance between them—emotional or physical—had disappeared. Without a word, Jake reached out, his fingers brushing Sam’s cheek in a soft, fleeting touch.

Sam closed his eyes, leaning into the warmth of Jake’s hand, and when he opened them again, Jake was there, closer than ever before, his face illuminated by the quiet storm of the day.

“I think I love you,” Sam whispered, the words tasting both strange and familiar on his tongue.

Jake didn’t need to say it back. His eyes said everything. Instead, he closed the space between them, pulling Sam into a kiss—slow, hesitant at first, as though testing the waters, then deeper, as if finally giving in to the pull that had been there all along.

The rain fell harder still, but they didn’t notice. They were lost in each other, discovering something pure and unspoken, in the way their hearts beat in time, in the quiet rhythm of a love that had always been there, just waiting to be found.
​
And in the distance, the waves kept crashing, as if the ocean itself was cheering them on.

~Wylddane