“How is he?” Jamie asked.
Tyler smiled as he nodded, climbing under the covers and sliding across the bed until he was in Jamie’s arms. “He’s perfectly at peace.”
Jamie made that little humming sound he sometimes made when he was pleased, shifting Tyler so that he lay half-sprawled across Jamie’s chest. His skin was warm, and Tyler burrowed in close, trying to get as much of Jamie’s warmth as he could.
It felt so good to be there in Jamie’s arms, content and sated, knowing Rowan was safe.
It was a reality Tyler hadn’t considered could be his, and now that he was living it, he wanted to protect it. Wanted to treasure it, to treasureJamiemost of all.
Jamie’s lips pressed against his forehead. “We probably won’t get a lot of this.”
Tyler craned his neck to look at Jamie. “A lot of what?”
“Nights together like this.”
“I know,” Tyler said, running his fingers over the hair on Jamie’s chest.
Jamie frowned. “And that’s okay with you?”
“Yes, because it’s you. You’re worth making time for, even if all we get are little moments. Even if we only see you for a quick lunch, or if we need to come by the rink to catch you after practice.”
A soft smile spread across Jamie’s face. “And I’ll do the same for you, when I can.”
“That’s all we can do, right?” Tyler asked. “Be here, together, when we can?”
Jamie nodded, and tilted Tyler’s head back to kiss him. It was a slow, indulgent kiss, deep, but without the expectation of anything coming after. When their mouths broke apart, Jamie said, “I need you to know how happy I am. With you.Bothof you. Getting to call you mine, Tyler? It might be the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“You too,” Tyler responded, but then held up a hand. “I mean, Rowan’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but you are amazing, and–”
“Number three, remember?”
Tyler laughed, shaking his head. Above him, Jamie yawned. “Can I tell you something?”
Jamie blinked sleepily at him. “Anything, baby.”
“I know we’re not supposed to say big emotional shit after sex.”
“We’re not?”
Tyler brushed the damp, sweaty hair back from Jamie’s forehead. “So I need you to know I’ve been thinking about this. And even though it’s soon, probably way too fucking soon, I’ve beenfeelingit for a little while now.”
“Baby,” Jamie said slowly.
“I love you.”
Jamie blinked at him, and Tyler got to watch as his words sunk in. He got to watch Jamie’s lips part in a gasp, his eyes somehow widen and soften at the same time. And then Tyler got to enjoy the weight of Jamie’s body settling on top of him as Jamie kissed him, slow and sweet and lazy.
Like they had nothing but time.
“I love you, too,” Jamie whispered against his mouth when they parted.
“Are we idiots for thinking this will work?” Tyler asked, even as his whole body lit up with the heat of loving, and the warm glow of being loved.
Jamie’s eyes crinkled in the corners, and the green seemed so bright andalivein the low glow of the lamplight. “Probably.”
Tyler tried to imagine his future with Jamie, but found that it didn’t matter. Not at that moment. Right then, it was enough that they were there, together in Jamie’s big bed, choosing each other. “I don’t think I realized how lonely I was,” Tyler said. “And it wasn’t like I was lonely foranyone, you know. I think I was lonely for you.”
“We have each other now,” Jamie said, earnest as always, andfuck, Tyler loved him.
