All is Fair in Love and War: Five M/M Romance Stories

✦ALEX'S POV✦

“Alex, wait! You forgot your goggles,” my mom called as I was already sprinting toward the Porsche, her voice cutting through the morning air just in time.

I turned back, jogging lightly toward her, the slight grin on my face trying to mask the rush.

“Sorry, Mom,” I said, taking the sleek goggles from her outstretched hands, feeling her warmth brush against my fingers.

“Honestly, Alex, you need to wake up earlier so you can have enough time to get yourself ready,” she said, her voice playful as she tilted her head and shook her head ever so slightly, the motion almost teasing.

I held the goggles under my arm, letting them rest there with a casual confidence, and started moving toward the Porsche again.

“Aren’t you forgetting something else?” she called, her tone cutting through my motion before I could close the distance to the Porsche door. I paused mid-step, glancing at her, my eyebrows lifting just slightly.

“Mom, I’m late as you can see,” I said, my voice light but edged with a bit of guilt that I did not quite want to admit.

“Spare me that excuse,” she said, smiling at me, her cheeks dimpling beautifully just for me in that way that always made my chest tighten.

I laughed quietly, shaking my head as I stepped closer and leaned just enough to draw my face near without intruding, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek as my lips curved into a smile that was part relief, part regret. She turned toward me fully, her own smile widening, radiating a warmth and ease that made me hesitate a fraction longer than I should have before pulling away.

“See ya, Mom,” I said, and she lifted her chin slightly, still smiling, the quiet grace in the way she held herself catching my attention.

I slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine of the Porsche 911 Carrera S, and adjusted my grip on the wheel. My eyes darted to the rear, then back to her, catching her standing in the driveway, calm and poised, hands clasped lightly in front of her, fingers intertwined in a delicate, almost rhythmic way that anchored her elegance in the early sunlight.

She waved, and I held her gaze for a moment before slowly shifting into reverse, carefully backing toward the gate, my attention fixed on the driveway behind me.

******

I turned my head slightly toward the phone resting on the chair beside me, saw Connor’s name, and tapped the earpod in my ear while keeping my eyes on the road. “Hey, Connor,” I said, steadying my grip on the wheel.

“Alex, where are you? We’re already ten minutes into stretching,” he said, voice tight and disturbed.

I sighed, glancing ahead at the curve of the street. “Blame my mom,” I said. “She delayed me with one of her last minute lectures. I walked out the door and somehow got pulled back into it.”

Connor scoffed. “Mummy's boy.”

“Connor, I don’t like you,” I replied, a grin slipping into my voice.

“Will you shut the hell up and get here real quick?” he snapped. “Don’t make me start without you.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I said with a short laugh, eyes flicking to my phone before returning to the road and catching a sleek black SUV passing in the opposite lane, my gaze moving over the front seats where a man and a woman sat stiff and composed before settling on the back, where a young man remained almost hidden, dark hair falling around his strikingly handsome face.

His pale gray eyes lifted at the exact moment, locking onto mine with a sharp, unsettling intensity that made my chest tighten.

“Alex…Alex,” Connor called again.

“Y-yes,” I said, blinking and forcing my attention back to the road. “What were you saying?”

“Get off my phone!” Connor snapped, and the call ended.

I glimpsed the SUV in the rearview mirror, slipping farther behind, and tightened my grip on the wheel, blinking hard, but the image of those gray eyes lingered, refusing to leave as I drove on.

CHAPTER 2: CLOSE, BUT NO

◈WILLIAM WOOLLETT JR. AQUATICS◈

Coach Harry clapped as the swimmers climbed out of the pool, water dripping and muscles tight with tension, calling out, “Forty-eight point seven, Alex, good job. Forty-six point nine, Marco, excellent.” The words carried over the splash of retreating water and the shuffle of bare feet on the tiles.

Swimmers hustled past, grabbing towels, shaking hair, laughing or groaning at their times, leaving only the tense murmur of exhaustion and pride.

“Connor,” Coach Harry called, voice firm but disturbed by the timing, “come here a second.” Connor, still catching his breath, jogged over, sweat slick on his skin and goggles hanging around his neck.

I leaned against the edge of the pool, towel over my shoulders, and smirked as Marco approached, dripping water glinting under the harsh gym lights. “You’re getting faster,” he said, voice low, eyes tracking me with something more than admiration.

I scoffed, shaking my head and twisting my towel. “Coming from the guy who smoked me by two seconds? Really?” My tone was playful, but I felt my chest tighten slightly.

He smiled, leaning casually on the railing, water sliding from his shoulders. “You’re stubborn, but I like it. Keep it up. Second place isn’t bad.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment,” I said, moving toward the lockers.

He laughed, falling into stride beside me, leaning back slightly with his arms crossed. “I mean it. You’ve got style, technique, the whole package. I’d say it’s unfair to the rest of us.”

“Unfair, huh?” I muttered, trying not to smile.

His grin widened. “Second isn’t bad, you know. And honestly, it’s better competition when someone actually pushes me.”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed, letting a small smirk slip anyway.

“So, you sticking around after practice or heading out?”

“Got a few things to handle,” I said, shrugging. “Mom had me running late this morning anyway, so I’m behind schedule.”

He nodded, stepping a little closer. “Maybe next time you can skip the family distractions. You’d be unstoppable in the pool if you were always on time to practice.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Family comes first. Even if it slows me down, I can survive. And make sure you flush that thought that I can’t beat you.”

Marco’s gaze lingered a moment longer than usual. I blinked, swallowed, and forced the words out. “Excuse me… I need to use the restroom.” I backed toward the door, trying to look calm, though my chest was racing.

Marco followed, careful but deliberate, his eyes flicking around the hallway before settling back on me. He matched my pace, calm and measured, like he wasn’t about to let me out of sight. As I ducked toward the restroom and swung the door open, Marco quickened his pace and slipped through the doorway with me before I could fully step inside.

His hand came up, soft but firm, pressing gently over my mouth, and I froze, caught between surprise and a rush of adrenaline. His eyes locked with mine, dark and unyielding, as the sound of someone finishing at a urinal in the next stall echoed. He waited, listening until the footsteps faded and the door clicked shut, then slowly pulled his hand away and shifted his attention back to me.

“I’m sorry,” Marco whispered, his voice trembling slightly, “I cannot hold it anymore.” His other hand brushed against mine, fingers curling around them as his gaze swept my body slowly before snapping back to my eyes.

“Alex… I’ve been holding it in, trying to stay steady, but I can’t anymore.” He took a step closer, and I stumbled back almost without realizing it.

I swallowed, gripping the edge of the counter, heart hammering. He ran a hand down his face, shaking his head slightly. “I know we’re supposed to focus on the championship, and maybe I shouldn’t… but I’ve been showing you. Every d*mn light…”

His fingers twitched at his sides, a subtle tremor I couldn’t ignore. "... and you never noticed.”

He took another step, closing the distance between us, the space impossibly small, every shallow breath between us loud, his eyes softening, almost desperate. “I love you, Alex.”

******

◈WILLIAM WOOLLETT JR. AQUATICS◈

Coach Harry clapped as the swimmers climbed out of the pool, water dripping and muscles tight with tension, calling out, “Forty-eight point seven, Alex, good job. Forty-six point nine, Marco, excellent.” The words carried over the splash of retreating water and the shuffle of bare feet on the tiles.

Swimmers hustled past, grabbing towels, shaking hair, laughing or groaning at their times, leaving only the tense murmur of exhaustion and pride.

“Connor,” Coach Harry called, voice firm but disturbed by the timing, “come here a second.” Connor, still catching his breath, jogged over, sweat slick on his skin and goggles hanging around his neck.

I leaned against the edge of the pool, towel over my shoulders, and smirked as Marco approached, dripping water glinting under the harsh gym lights. “You’re getting faster,” he said, voice low, eyes tracking me with something more than admiration.

I scoffed, shaking my head and twisting my towel. “Coming from the guy who smoked me by two seconds? Really?” My tone was playful, but I felt my chest tighten slightly.

He smiled, leaning casually on the railing, water sliding from his shoulders. “You’re stubborn, but I like it. Keep it up. Second place isn’t bad.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment,” I said, moving toward the lockers.

He laughed, falling into stride beside me, leaning back slightly with his arms crossed. “I mean it. You’ve got style, technique, the whole package. I’d say it’s unfair to the rest of us.”

“Unfair, huh?” I muttered, trying not to smile.

His grin widened. “Second isn’t bad, you know. And honestly, it’s better competition when someone actually pushes me.”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed, letting a small smirk slip anyway.

“So, you sticking around after practice or heading out?”

“Got a few things to handle,” I said, shrugging. “Mom had me running late this morning anyway, so I’m behind schedule.”

He nodded, stepping a little closer. “Maybe next time you can skip the family distractions. You’d be unstoppable in the pool if you were always on time to practice.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Family comes first. Even if it slows me down, I can survive. And make sure you flush that thought that I can’t beat you.”

Marco’s gaze lingered a moment longer than usual. I blinked, swallowed, and forced the words out. “Excuse me… I need to use the restroom.” I backed toward the door, trying to look calm, though my chest was racing.

Marco followed, careful but deliberate, his eyes flicking around the hallway before settling back on me. He matched my pace, calm and measured, like he wasn’t about to let me out of sight. As I ducked toward the restroom and swung the door open, Marco quickened his pace and slipped through the doorway with me before I could fully step inside.

His hand came up, soft but firm, pressing gently over my mouth, and I froze, caught between surprise and a rush of adrenaline. His eyes locked with mine, dark and unyielding, as the sound of someone finishing at a urinal in the next stall echoed. He waited, listening until the footsteps faded and the door clicked shut, then slowly pulled his hand away and shifted his attention back to me.

“I’m sorry,” Marco whispered, his voice trembling slightly, “I cannot hold it anymore.” His other hand brushed against mine, fingers curling around them as his gaze swept my body slowly before snapping back to my eyes.

“Alex… I’ve been holding it in, trying to stay steady, but I can’t anymore.” He took a step closer, and I stumbled back almost without realizing it.

I swallowed, gripping the edge of the counter, heart hammering. He ran a hand down his face, shaking his head slightly. “I know we’re supposed to focus on the championship, and maybe I shouldn’t… but I’ve been showing you. Every light…”

His fingers twitched at his sides, a subtle tremor I couldn’t ignore. "... and you never noticed.”

He took another step, closing the distance between us, the space impossibly small, every shallow breath between us loud, his eyes softening, almost desperate. “I love you, Alex.”

I froze, unable to look away, feeling the heat of his body pressing impossibly close. His lips hovered near mine, then touched softly, and I felt his hands trail from my thighs upward, slow and warm. My shirt shifted as his touch lingered, intense and intimate.

I pushed him away, gently, hands trembling slightly as I turned my face, eyes avoiding his. “Please, excuse me," I said softly, carefully trying to pull my hand from his grip.

“I…” he began, the word catching in his throat, his gaze fixed on mine. Slowly, he stepped back, letting the door shift slightly as his fingers brushed it for a moment before releasing my hand. He walked out slowly, and when the door closed behind him, my hand still tingled from his touch, unable to look away from the door.

******

◈GABRIEL'S MANSION◈

I walked into the house and saw Justin sitting in the living room, one leg crossed over the other, his phone loose in his hand. I kept