Sam hugged Ollie tightly to his chest. “Thank you, love. I feel so... I can’t even find the words for it.”
Ollie closed his eyes as he settled up against Sam’s chest. Like Sam, he wasn’t really sure what to say now, how to put everything he was feeling into words. And so, he just rested his head on his boyfriend’s shoulder and repeated what he’d said earlier, glad he had those words accessible to him now. Now and forever and always.
“I love you, Sam.”
Sam shuddered and kissed the top of his head. “I’ll never get enough of hearing that, Oll.”
Ollie grinned and tilted his head back to look up at Sam. They kissed one more time, soft and tender. “I’ll tell you as often as you need, as many times as you want,” he said, and after one more kiss, he did just that. “I love you. I love you so much, Sam.”
A single tear slipped down Sam’s cheek, and Ollie reached up to wipe it away, shaking his head gently.Don’t cry, he wanted to say. But he didn’t. He understood the meaning behind Sam’s tears—his incredible happiness at this, their first timefinallymaking love; his years of worry, caring for Ollie through all of the high highs and low lows; his relief and joy and hope; his expectation and anticipation and desire.
He stretched up and kissed Sam’s cheek where the tear had fallen, and then he resettled in his spot—that place in his lover’s arms where he just felt so comfortable, where everything felt so good, so right.
Chapter 30
The chilly October morning was clear—darkness just starting to give way to day as the sun began its ascent. Sam grinned and glanced over at Ollie, who jogged up alongside him as the narrow bike path next to the road opened up. He tipped his head to the right.
“This way, love,” Sam said, and Ollie nodded and then stayed right beside him, matching his stride.
They took the next turn, moving off the busy roadway and down into a quiet neighborhood. Lake Sammamish stretched out on their right, sunlight sparkling off the top of the water. They caught glimpses of the lake in between the houses as they passed, and when they reached a fork about a quarter mile farther down the road, Sam directed Ollie to the right again.
“There, see?” He pointed off ahead of them to where the road ended at a small private park, giving them a full view of the lake bathed in the soft amber hues of sunrise.
“Wow.” Ollie moved a little closer to Sam, and together, they slowed to a walk as they approached the short fence marking the boundary of the park. Ollie’s hand slipped into Sam’s, its warmth familiar and full of promise.
“Beautiful, right?”
Ollie nodded. “Yeah, it’s . . . incredible.”
They stopped in front of the fence, and Sam released Ollie’s hand and settled his arm on his boyfriend’s shoulders. And as he pressed a kiss to Ollie’s temple, Ollie leaned into him and wrapped both arms around Sam’s waist. Sam sighed contentedly.
“You’re happy?” Ollie asked, resting his head on Sam’s shoulder.
“Mmm, I am. Very happy.Youmake me so happy, love.”
A comfortable silence grew, interrupted only by quiet sounds of birds and the occasional rustle of nearby trees. It was perfect and pleasant, and Sam’s heart seemed to want to burst with joy as he thought about... everything. Their first time together last night and then their... second time this morning had been so perfect, filled with love and hope and joy. God, it was everything he’d ever wanted it to be, everything he’d ever...
His arm tightened around Ollie’s shoulders as he imagined them, maybe a year from now, walking down this same street, watching this same sunrise, a new day bringing another opportunity to be together, to be in love. And maybe they would have a dog, maybe they’d be walking here because they’d bought one of the waterfront homes along the west bank of the lake, maybe they’d...
“Marry me?” The words left Sam’s mouth before he realized what he’d said, but as soon as he heard them, he knew it was exactly what he wanted.
Ollie shifted in Sam’s embrace, his arms still wrapped around Sam’s waist. His eyes were wide, and... was that hope? love? eagerness? Maybe all three.
“S-Sam?”
Sam bit his lip. “I-I didn’t—I didn’t plan this, and I don’t have...” He held Ollie’s gaze as he stepped back, taking Ollie’s hands in his. His heart raced now, thrumming with an unclear rhythm, and he let out a shuddering breath and dropped his eyes to their hands for a moment, gathering his thoughts. A puppy, a house, a... life together. A... wedding?
When he lifted his eyes again, he saw Ollie staring back at him, hopeful and expectant. And Sam was more than sure. Slowly, his eyes not leaving Ollie’s, he lowered himself down to one knee, a warm tingle spreading through his chest. He smiled and cleared his throat and hoped he could say... the right words.
“I love you,” Sam started, and Ollie blushed and blinked back tears as he nodded. “You’re smart and kind and brilliant, and I-I love your passion and compassion and your smile. I’ve never been happier than when I’m with you. And I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me, how much I love you.” Sam paused and blew out a shaky breath, but Ollie smiled softly and tightened his hands around Sam’s. And that little bit of encouragement was all he needed. He returned Ollie’s smile and continued, his voice now thick with emotion. “Oliver James Ellison, will you be my husband?”
The stretch of silence following his question was short, but to Sam, it felt like an entire eternity was stuffed into that single second or so. Several emotions crossed Ollie’s expression, but it was the one that made his eyes sparkle and his smile burst with joy that Sam clung onto.
Finally, Ollie blinked back tears and nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, yes, I will,” he murmured, and he tugged Sam up to his feet.
Then everything was a blur of kisses and tears and the warmest, fullest hug Sam thought he’d maybe ever felt. His heart seemed to burst with happiness and joy and love, and he felt the same emotions from Ollie in every one of their kisses. He wrapped his arms tighter around Ollie’s waist as he kissed Ollie back, again and again, both of them laughing and grinning.
When the rush eventually calmed, Sam pressed one more kiss to Ollie’s lips, lingering there, feeling the heat and softness ofhis fiancé’smouth caressing his. Then they parted reluctantly, and Sam closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Ollie’s as he continued to hold Ollie close.
