Tucking his legs under him, Aries sort of wished he had been thinking more clearly and didn’t do this naked. Or it might be better to be naked? If Vin was really happy with Aries’s gift, they might get dirtier before they showered. Or it might be good to remind Vin how sexy he was.
“Aries.” Vin dropped the present into his lap as he reached for Aries.
Aries caught both of Vin’s hands with his. “I love you.”
Vin’s eyes flashed red. A sure sign that his emotions were high. “You know that I love you too.”
“I do,” Aries admitted. “I was really scared to move to Vegas and be all on my own for the first time.”
Vin nodded.
“I could have been drafted to another team,” Aries said. “I think about that sometimes. How if I was in Florida or Boston or Seattle or even Canada and I wouldn’t have gotten to know you.”
“Baby—”
Aries shook his head. He needed to get this out. “But then I think that no matter what happened or how long it took, somehow I would have ended up with you.”
This time when Vin’s eyes turned red, they remained that color.
Aries picked up the present again. “Open it, please, Vin.”
Vin’s hands shook as he took the gift. Aries never called Vin by his name unless they were at practice or in a game. Vin was so much more to him than just a person. Vin was Aries’s person.
Slowly Vin unwrapped the small box.
If it was Aries, he would have been tearing off the paper and just tossing it aside. Vin wasn’t making it any easier to breathe.
Finally, after what seemed like an hour, Vin set the wrapping paper aside and held the small black box that Aries had found.
“It’s…” Aries didn’t know how to explain as Vin just stared at the box. “It’s one of those things when people say that it’s the thought that counts.”
Vin lifted his head. Yep, his eyes were still red. Did he know? No. There was no way. Was there?
“I have more presents for you,” Aries assured him. “They’re downstairs under the tree. This one…this one was just for me and you.”
Vin held the box in his right hand but opened his left arm.
Aries scrambled to fit himself in his Daddy’s lap. That was where he belonged and he felt much better just having Vin holding him.
“Hold your hand out,” Vin said quietly.
Aries held his left palm up.
Vin set the box in Aries’s palm.
Aries didn’t understand until Vin was able to use his one free hand to pull off the top.
Inside sitting on a folded white tissue paper was the shining silver key.
Aries cleared his throat when emotion welled up. “I know you already have a key. And actually, that’s my key so I’m gonna need that back to get into my apartment.” He should have made a new one. Aries had debated but he didn’t want too many keys lying around. What if someone found it and broke in?
“So…” He laughed nervously when Vin didn’t say anything. “Will you officially move in with me? Live with me?”
Vin took the box and set it on the mattress in front of them. He cupped Aries’s cheek before kissing him gently. “I would love to move in with you. I’m so happy that you asked me.”
“You are?” Aries couldn’t help but ask.
“My beloved,” Vin whispered. “I never want to be away from you. There are times that I’m afraid I will wake up and you’ll just be a dream.”
