“I love you.”
“I think I must have water in my ear. Can you repeat that?”
“Don’t be an ass.”
Tyler’s eyes twinkled with laughter, and Marcus’s lips twitched in a failed attempt to contain his smile. “You’re going to make me work for it, aren’t you?”
“Every minute of every day.”
“Forever?” Marcus nuzzled Tyler’s neck, soaking in his warmth.
“I think that could be arranged.”
Without speaking, they both rose from the tub and dried themselves off, then headed to the bedroom. They lay down together in their bed; it wasn’t just his bed any longer. Tyler had become a part of his life and his heart as if they occupied the same skin.
There was no fumbling between them as they came together, no hesitancy or second-guessing; only a sureness that this was right and meant to be. And when Marcus slid into Tyler’s body, fitting inside as sweetly tight as in a handmade suit, it took every ounce of control not to let the tears fall, knowing at last, he’d risen to the height of the mountain and stood on its peak, having conquered the last demon holding him back. After all the wasted years, he’d discovered on his own what everyone else had told him, yet he refused to accept until now. Until Tyler. His heart had woken up and come to life.
Love was inescapable, indefinable, and sometimes ill-advised. It took you by the throat and shook you until your brain rattled, yet just as gently, cradled you in its loving arms.
Tyler held him tight as they rocked together with increasing fervor, their passion for each other escalating with every thrust and whispered word. He brushed the dark spill of hair off Tyler’s face and stared into his eyes.
“What?” Tyler reached up to touch his cheek, but Marcus shook his head. It was all too real, too fresh to speak, so Marcus showed him the best way he knew how with his body, driving Tyler into the mattress, loving him.
Tyler sobbed out a choked cry, his body convulsing beneath Marcus, who lost himself in the rawness of his own orgasm splintering through him. Shaking and breathless, he collapsed on Tyler, his heart banging against his breastbone.
They lay together, and Marcus, after withdrawing from Tyler and disposing of the condom, came back to bed, sliding flush up against Tyler’s sweat-dampened body. And though he was exhausted, the scrape of Tyler’s hairy legs, the smell of his skin, flared the desire always simmering in Marcus’s blood.
With a fierceness that surprised even himself, Marcus cupped Tyler’s jaw, turning his face so their eyes met. “I promise, if I personally have to search every fucking person in New York City myself, we will find your sister.”
“I love you, Marcus. Not for what you do for me, but because of who you are when it’s only us.”
“I like the only-us part. That’s because I’m greedy and want you to myself. Preferably naked and under me.” He turned serious. “I meant it, though. I never thought I’d want this, but I do. I love you.” He tugged Tyler to him, tangling their legs together. “When imagining a life without you meant no life at all for me, I knew I was doomed.”
“Doomed, huh?” Tyler settled in next to him, a comforting weight against his shoulder. “You say the sweetest things.”
He rolled on top of Tyler. “Talk is cheap, baby. And actions speak louder than words.” He kissed Tyler’s cheek. “Get some rest now, ’cause I’m planning on keeping you busy later on tonight.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
‡
Amonth hadpassed, and though Tyler tried to keep his spirits up for Lillie’s sake, it became harder than ever to pretend. Even Marcus and his friends spoiling Lillie for both Christmas and Chanukah with a ridiculous number of toys failed to get a rise out of him to tell them to stop. As he figured it, they’d have to leave quickly once the judge ruled him incapable of taking care of her, so he’d allow her to collect as many good memories as possible.
He didn’t share his worry with Marcus; not when things were going so well between them that sometimes he woke in the middle of the night to make sure he wasn’t dreaming and that life had, for the moment, given him all that was perfect. He’d stare at Marcus’s sleeping face and wish they could grow old together.
He’d yet to secure a space for his dance studio and continued on with teaching at various schools throughout the city. Lucky for him, he kept busy every day, the running back and forth preventing him from dwelling too long on the search for Amber. That didn’t stop every phone call from ratcheting up his nerves, thinking it was Sam with some news. They’d had many leads, a few promising, but when they thought finally they’d found Amber, it fizzled out like a worn-down sparkler.
To his credit, Marcus had been an unrelenting bulldog in the search for Amber. He spoke with Sam every day, and Tyler suspected he did a little digging on his own as well. But with the deadline looming for him to provide the school with the necessary paperwork, Tyler knew they were running out of time.
Meanwhile, he had his students. Watching the various parents and babysitters pick up the boys and girls after class was over, Tyler couldn’t help but smile. Teaching them new routines and dancing for them gave him the release, however fleeting, to forget for a little while what awaited him.
The last little boy had been picked up by his mother only a few minutes ago, and he sat for a moment in the studio, busy with the next day’s schedule. At this rate, he might have to hire an assistant and made a note to go to some of the dance schools in the city to see if any of the more advanced students would be willing to work for him on a part-time basis. He needed to find a suitable space fast, yet if he was leaving… Tyler shook his head in dismay.
“Finished for the day?”
Marcus lounged in the doorway, and as always Tyler marveled that this beautiful man loved him. His heart squeezed in his chest at the thought of leaving him, now that he’d finally found someone to love. Instead of his usual clean cut, business attire, Marcus hadn’t shaved this morning; the dusting of stubble gave him a rakish appearance, and a swell of longing grew within Tyler. Although they’d made love only this morning, the ache of his desire for Marcus hadn’t waned. He doubted it ever would.
“What are you doing here? I thought you’d be at the club?”
