Jamie smiled, his lips still swollen from their kiss. “Okay,” he whispered, voice barely above a whisper.
Spencer scooped him up gently, carrying him to the bed like he weighed nothing. Jamie’s heart thudded in his chest—not from nerves, but from the tenderness in Spencer’s touch. They undressed slowly, not rushed or frantic, just quiet and careful, like they were shedding more than clothes. Like they were letting go of everything that had hurt before.
Once they were settled under the covers, Spencer began.
“There was a boy,” he said, voice low and steady, “who wanted to sing more than anything. But he wasn’t allowed. He had chores on the ranch—feeding horses, fixing fences, hauling hay. Singing didn’t fit into that world.”
Jamie listened, eyes wide, heart aching. He could hear the longing in Spencer’s voice, the way the story wasn’t just a story.
“But one day,” Spencer continued, “when he got older, he left. He joined a band. He sang. And he was happy—really happy. For the first time, he felt like he belonged.”
Jamie reached for Spencer’s hand, interlacing their fingers together.
“But then,” Spencer said, “he had to go back to the ranch. Life pulled him home. And for a while, he thought maybe that was it. Maybe the singing part of him had to stay quiet again.”
Jamie’s chest tightened. He knew that feeling too well.
“But one day,” Spencer said, voice softening, “he returned to California. And he met the cutest guy anyone could ever want. Sweet, shy, with eyes that held whole oceans. And he knew—he wanted to take him to Montana. To build something new. Only… he had to wait for the cute guy to say yes.”
Jamie’s breath caught. He turned his head slowly, eyes searching Spencer’s face. “Is that us?” he asked, voice trembling.
Spencer nodded, his gaze full of something deep and unwavering. “It’s us.”
Jamie’s heart swelled, too full to speak. He leaned in, and Spencer met him halfway, their lips brushing in a kiss that was soft and sure. It wasn’t just affection—it was a promise. That no matter what had come before, they were writing something new now. Together.
And as Jamie lay there, wrapped in Spencer’s arms, he felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Chosen. Wanted. Loved.
Chapter Fourteen
Spencer
Spencer’s breath caught, hanging there like the world had just stopped to see what he’d do next after telling his story. Jamie lay beside him, the soft lamplight catching in his hair, and suddenly the rest of existence felt far away. The silence between them wasn’t empty; it was thick with something too big for words.
He reached out, slow enough so Jamie could pull back if he wanted to. His hand hovered for a second, then found the shape of Jamie’s jaw, the one he’d memorized from glances and daydreams. The warmth of Jamie’s skin under his palm almost undid him.
God, he was beautiful. Spencer’s thumb brushed over his cheekbone, light as breath. “You are so incredibly hot,” he murmured, surprised at how rough his own voice sounded. The words came from somewhere deep and unguarded.
His fingers drifted higher, tracing the soft skin just behind Jamie’s ear, feeling the faint flutter of his pulse. He didn’t even realize he was holding his breath until he leaned in to place a kiss on the forehead, the bridge of a nose, and finally, Jamie’s lips. Itwasn’t a claiming a kind of kiss. It was more like he was checking if he was okay.
When he pulled back, he searched Jamie’s sparkling eyes for his readiness. His fingers traced soothing patterns on Jamie’s arm. “When you’re here with me like this… what color does it feel like?”
A charming smile touched his lips. “Green.” He paused. “It’s like the first time I used the green crayon in a fresh box of crayons. Safe. Alive.”
Spencer was overcome by a wave of tenderness so powerful it felt like a physical pain in his chest. He grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners as a sign of agreement. “Green.” He savored that word. “Yes. I feel that too.”
He shifted, drawing Jamie closer, tucking him against his side so Jamie’s head rested on his shoulder. He could feel the steady, trusting weight of him, and it was the most grounding sensation he had ever known.
“You are the sweetest part of my life,” Spencer whispered into Jamie’s ear. His confession felt both terrifying and utterly right.
“You’re so damn strong. Cowboy strong. When I’m with you, I feel… safe and cared for. Like nothing in the world can touch me here.”
Spencer stroked Jamie’s hair. The weight of Jamie’s trust so close was grounding in a way nothing else had ever been. Every breath they shared felt like proof they were exactly where they were supposed to be.
Their bodies fit together like two puzzle pieces, as if they had spent their whole lives waiting to find each other. The air between them felt charged—not with urgency, but with a feverish excitement. With belonging.
He tilted Jamie’s chin just enough to meet his gaze. “Please call me Daddy Spencer.”
