“Come with me,” Finn whispered, reaching between them to stroke Ollie’s cock in time with his thrusts. “I want to feel you.”
Ollie’s orgasm hit hard, his whole body tensing, pleasure crashing through him as he cried out Finn’s name. The sight, the sound, the feel of Ollie clenching around him pushed Finn over the edge, and he spilled into Ollie with a ragged groan, collapsing onto his chest, boneless and spent.
They stayed tangled together, catching their breath, the only sounds the slowing beats of their hearts and the soft, contented sighs that filled the room.
Finn pressed a kiss to Ollie’s temple, brushing sweaty curls from his forehead. “We’re going to be okay, aren’t we?”
Ollie smiled, tracing lazy patterns on Finn’s back. “Yeah. We’re more than okay. We’re real.”
They drifted off to sleep wrapped around each other, the last words between them a quiet promise—love wasn’t about never fighting, never hurting. It was about coming back, choosing each other, again and again, no matter what.
TWENTY-THREE
Ollie’s hands trembled slightly as he stepped back to survey Shelf Care Central, the transformation he’d worked until midnight to achieve, finally complete. Hand-lettered signs declaringLove Lives Herehung from the ceiling, tables groaned under the weight of carefully arranged book displays, and the air hummed with the kind of electric anticipation that only came before something truly special.
Ollie stood behind the counter, surveying the chaos with a mixture of pride and terror. In two hours, the store would be packed with romance readers from across the region, all eager to meet the mysterious Rhett Wilder, making his first public appearance. The local newspaper had run a feature yesterday, social media was buzzing, and Finn said pre-orders for Rhett’s books had tripled overnight.
His lucky cardigan—the faded blue one with leather patches—felt like armor this morning. He’d need all the protection he could get.
“Stop fidgeting,” Jules said, appearing at his elbow with a steaming cup of coffee. “You’re making me nervous, and I’m noteven the one whose boyfriend is about to out himself to half the county.”
Ollie’s heart raced hearing Jules refer to Finn as his boyfriend. There was no denying they were a couple, but he hadn’t claimed Finn in so many words to anyone until now.
“You have to admit, all of this is something right out of those books you love to read so much. He was an idiot keeping a secret, but not only did he finally tell you the truth, but now he’s about to reveal his deepest secret to the entire town. That’s peak boyfriend behavior.” Jules squeezed his shoulder. “How are you feeling about all this?”
Ollie considered the question, watching Sam arrange desserts from Sweet & Simple on the refreshment table while Brooklyn tested the microphone setup. His parents moved through the space with the easy confidence of people who’d spent decades running the store, greeting early arrivals with genuine warmth.
“Proud,” he said finally, the word surprising him with its certainty. “Terrified for him, but proud.”
“Good,” Jules said simply. “That’s exactly how you should feel.”
The next hour passed in a blur of final preparations. Brooklyn fussed over the lighting for author photos, muttering about shadows and angles with the intensity of a professional photographer. Maya organized the signing tables with military precision, helping the authors set up their banners without blocking one another or the displays behind them.
The energy in the store built steadily—conversations flowing between strangers bonded by their love of the genre, the rustle of pages as people discovered new authors. Ollie kept lookingaround to figure out what he’d forgotten, but as far as he could tell, the team had everything ready to go.
Exactly ten minutes before showtime, the back door opened quietly.
Finn stepped inside, and Ollie’s breath caught. He looked polished in a way Ollie had never seen—dark jeans that fit him perfectly, a navy button-down that brought out his eyes, and an air of nervous confidence that made something warm unfurl in Ollie’s chest.
“How do I look?” Finn asked, running a hand through his hair. “Brooklyn spent twenty minutes ironing this shirt. She said there’s a difference between casual and sloppy. Apparently, she felt I was the latter.”
“You look perfect,” Ollie said, meaning it. The words came out rougher than intended, carrying a weight he hadn’t expected. “You look exactly like who you are.”
Something in Finn’s expression softened at the words, vulnerability flickering beneath the polished surface. “Thank you. I know I’m the one who offered to be here, but I think I need to come out this way. Everything about going to the ceremony felt wrong, but it wasn’t until I blurted out that suggestion that I realized why. I need those who love me to know before the rest of the world.”
“Thank me after you survive the next three hours,” Ollie replied, his smile only slightly strained. “Ready to meet your adoring fans?”
Finn took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. The transformation was subtle but unmistakable—not into someone else, but into a fuller version of himself. “Ready.”
Jules materialized with a camera, snapping candid shots as Brooklyn appeared to make final adjustments to Finn’s collar. The sight of his chosen family rallying around him made Ollie’s throat tight with emotion. This was right. All of it.
“Ladies, gentlemen, and distinguished readers,” Ollie announced to the packed store, his voice carrying clearly over the excited chatter. The familiar weight of public speaking settled over him, but today it felt different. Celebratory. “Please welcome, making his very first public appearance, the author of theSmall Town Secretsseries and many other beloved novels—Rhett Wilder.”
The applause was immediate and enthusiastic, but Ollie barely heard it. His attention was fixed on Finn as he stepped forward, watching in fascination as something shifted in his posture—not a transformation exactly, but a settling into himself, into this role he’d kept hidden for so long.
“Thank you,” Finn said, his voice warm and steady, carrying easily over the crowd. “I have to admit, this is terrifying and wonderful all at once. For years, Rhett Wilder has existed only on the page, and now, here I am, standing in front of you, hoping I live up to whatever you imagined.”
A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd, and Ollie felt his own tension ease. This was Finn at his best—genuine, self-deprecating, utterly himself. The same man who enjoyed quiet nights at home watching movies, who remembered Ollie hated crowds but loved watching him get excited about new releases.
