“Harder, come on.” My hand flashed on my shaft, and Dev increased his pace. Soon the bed was banging against the wall, creaking alarmingly, but I was too lost to care. My balls grew tight, and fire raced up my legs to explode in my belly. “Dev,” I shouted as I came, spilling through my fingers, creating a sticky mess between us.
Sweat poured from Dev’s face, and his lips thinned in an almost feral snarl of lust as he pounded into me. I was a puddle of post-orgasmic bliss, limp and drained and could only lie and watch as Dev’s eyes rolled back in his head as his thick cock pumped me full of his come. We’d stopped using condoms a few years ago, and there was nothing I loved more than feeling all that hot wetness trickle out of me.
We lay locked together, Dev’s lips pressed to the rapid pulse at my neck. I wrapped my arms around him. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”
**
Two days later, Momma and I stepped off the plane in San Diego to bright sunshine and warm sun. I stretched my arms out. “Now this is what I’m talkin’ about. Do you know it’s below freezing in the city? It’s supposed to be spring. Why do I live in New York?”
Roe laughed. “I say that to Ezra all the time. In addition to their homes in La Jolla and Beverly Hills, his parents have a house in Newport Beach they never use. All I want to know is, why am I in the snow and ice instead of lounging on the beach?”
I couldn’t agree more. And the few times a year we’d travel to the West Coast to play, we didn’t have time to visit the beach.
Dev had texted me that Ezra would be picking us up, and entering the baggage area, I spotted his blond head. He greeted Roe with a kiss, then hugged me. “Good flight?”
“I slept most of the way, even with the cramped seats.”
His eyes danced. “Sorry, but even first class is a tight squeeze for big lugs like you. Ms. Faith, how are you? I’m so glad to see you again.”
“You too, honey.”
They hugged, and I couldn’t help smiling. Over the years, Ezra had met my mother when she’d visit the city, and she loved his jokes. Ezra took her suitcase, and we were off to the garage…where Dev sat, with a grin as wide as the Pacific, waiting in the back seat of the giant Land Cruiser.
“Hello, husband-to-be.”
Overjoyed to see him, I gave him a quick kiss, knowing our reunion would be saved for later. He hugged Momma next, and my heart twisted. He still believed she wasn’t one hundred percent in his corner.
“Ms. Faith, I’m so happy to see you.”
“I am too, honey. All ready for the big day?”
Dev met my eyes. “I’ve been ready for years.”
The drive from the airport to La Jolla was pretty short, but still, I was relieved to finally get there. Ezra and Roe showed us to our rooms, but after dropping off our luggage, Dev, Momma, and I gravitated to the spacious backyard, where fragrant rose bushes dominated the landscape. A table was set with glasses, a pitcher of iced tea, and a bucket of ice filled with water bottles. Dev poured us our drinks, and we sat under the umbrella, the sun shimmering in the blue sky overhead.
“Tell me again why you came out here to get married and couldn’t do it at home or in New York,” Momma said and took a sip of lemonade.
Dev opened his mouth, but I jumped in first. “Mainly, we want to keep it secret. In every other state, a license must be filed after the commitment ceremony or marriage, and it’s public. California has a confidential license. It’s sealed, and no one but us can request a copy.”
Her face screwed up in thought. “But it’s legal in other states?”
Here came the tricky part. “Yes and no. It’s recognized, but it can get messy. Court orders are needed for proof of the license, and lawyers worry that because there’s no public record, it can be harder to prove ownership of assets in case of divorce.”
“Which isn’t going to happen,” Dev interjected. “We did all the research, and this was the best solution for now. Once we’re no longer playing and out of the public eye, we’ll do a big, more public celebration and get married in New York.”
“That makes sense. Did you invite your parents, honey?”
Joy drained from Dev’s face, and he turned away to gaze at the glittering water of the pool. “No. My parents don’t know I’m gay, and I don’t think they’d come anyway.”
“Oh, Devlin. I’m sorry. Maybe one day you’ll be able to work it out.”
Dev hung his head. “I don’t think so. Every major event in my life, I’ve always made sure to invite them, and they’ve refused every single one. It’s pretty obvious they want nothing to do with me.”
She reached out and squeezed his arm. “I love you, honey. In the beginnin’ I was hesitant, thinkin’ because you’re a big-city guy, you might be too strong an influence on Brody and lead him away from the values he grew up with. I was a little overprotective, but that was before I really got to know you.”
“I’d never do anything to hurt him,” Dev responded, his voice thick with emotion.
“I’ll admit it took me a while to realize that.”
