“Kirsty and Alfie are down the other end in the tack room and Jorge is taking hay out to the field,” I explain and he nods.
“I have a confession,” he opens with, and I wait for him to continue. “I told you I’d applied for the job with Gabriel.” This much I knew, and whilst I’ve been desperate to know more, I’ve been patient and waiting for him to tell me more.
“Well, I got an interview,” he says.
“That’s brilliant!” I want to hug him. “That’s great, when is it?” I’ll do anything to help him prepare.
“That’s my confession. I found out three days ago.” He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth.
“When were you going to tell me?” I ask. I’m a little hurt, as I thought we could tell each other anything. But I trust that he withheld the information for a reason, though I want to know why.
“When I got the job.”
“Well, now I know, and I’m just going to ask why—” I stop mid-rant and turn to face him, his words sinking in. “What did you say?”
“I got the job,” he repeats.
“Fucking hell, that’s amazing. I knew you would,” I say, my cheeks hurting from the huge smile I have. I open my arms to hug him and he jumps into them. I whirl him round and kiss him before putting him back down, then I pull back.
“Wait, are you sure? Is it what you want?”
“Yes, it sounds amazing. I get to design the kitchen, choose the staff, create the menus, everything,” he says excitedly, and I hug him close again. It’s exciting. No, more than that. It’s perfect.
“Gabriel offered me one of the cottages,” he says with a sly smile.
“And?” I hold my breath. He’s spent a lot of time with me and I’d love to make it permanent, but I understand if he wants his own space.
“We’ll, it seems to me that if I did that, it wouldn’t be very cost effective. I’d have to pay the bills, heat the place... so I wondered if you wanted to share? You know, for economic reasons.” Again he gives me his cute-as-fuck smile.
“For economic reasons?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, save on heating bills by cuddling together to keep warm.” He steps closer and I put my arms around him, pulling him into my warmth.
“You know that means we’d have to share a bed,” I say, kissing along his jaw.
“I can live with that,” he whispers, his breath hitching and sending shivers down my spine.
“Me too,” I whisper against his lips, and I kiss him deeply. He opens up, his tongue meeting mine, slowly and sensually, making my stomach flutter and my dick harden. When we finally part, I look into his beautiful blue eyes, the ones that captured me from day one. I look for uncertainty but I only see surety. I’ve never been this happy before. I have a purpose and a future with the man I love. It’s a state I never thought possible a few months ago, when I felt adrift and lonely.
“Let me put the horses out and then we can go back to the house. I want to take my time celebrating properly.”
“Are you offering me a hookup?” he asks playfully.
“I am, but I should let you know now I have rules. No kissing and no second times.”
“What happens if you break them?” he asks, leaning closer.
“I did that once, and the guy stole my heart and my horse,” I say, kissing him lightly on the nose.
“Better not let that happen, then,” he whispers, his eyes dancing.
“Definitely not. He still hasn’t told me which one he prefers,” I reply, my voice low and husky.
He just chuckles and kisses me, softly at first, then with a greater hunger. I grab his hips and he grinds into me until I can feel him hard against my thigh. I don’t need to know the answer to the question. I have everything I want. I have him.
EPILOGUE
Andrés - mid April
