“Are you… why… Aaron?” It’s like his brain can’t wrap itself around my actions—my voice. “This isn’t… Is it?” He sounds scared.
“Button—” I try again. “I want to boss you around for the rest of my life.”
“Oh, God.” His eyes are watering and he takes one small step toward me.
“I’ve watched you since we were children. Before we knew anything about the world. We were always together in one way or another. Even if some of that time I had to stand back and let you roam free—you were always mine and we both knew it. One of us cannot exist without the other. We willalwayscome back to each other. No matter what.” Benjamin is crying now—furiously wiping at his tears so he can see me clearly—clearing his throat.
I continue.
“I want to tie you to me. I’ve sunk my teeth down to your bones—I’ve come so deep inside of you I cried—I became the one person who you could trust no matter what, no matter where, no matter when. Baby—it’s not enough.” His eyes widen further, taking another step toward me. I could reach out and touch him if I wanted to. “I have to have you in every way. I have to claim you in every sense. Even then I don’t think it’ll be enough—I still won’t be satisfied. I won’t be close enough—I won’t have you as completely as I crave to. This need is insatiable.But—”
I take a deep breath—pull the box out and kneel onto one knee. Benjamin chokes, putting a hand over his mouth.
“Aaron.”
“If you’d let me, if you’d continue to believe in me—to keep me as your god—I think marrying you would help tame that need just a little bit more.” I open the box and he gasps, walking straight up to it, staring down.
He turns his attention to me, dropping his hand.
“You’re… You’re sure?” After everything I’ve said he still doubts his own worth.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.” Benjamin falls to his knees—grabbing my face in his hands. As he kisses me, I feel his tears, I swallow each sob. Pulling him against me I let him lick into me—taste me—explore me once again.
“Aaron—” He gasps, pulling away to look at my face. “Yes, yes I will marry you.”
My heart fucking soars and some anxiety—some fear that’s been eating at me for so long dissipates. I can feel my own tears start to stream as I smile down at him.
“I was really hoping you’d say that.” I joke—but Benjamin doesn’t laugh. He keeps hold of my face, rubbing at my cheeks with his thumbs.
“My little blue bird.” He’s trying so hard not to cry even harder. “I’ve been waiting—waiting so anxiously—waiting for you to fly away.” I pull him into a big hug, face shoved into my neck, my heart so hot and full I could just die.
“I’ve been circling you for years—I’m not flying off now.” He lets out a heavy breath. “Can I put this on?” I hold the box up again.
“Oh! Sorry—I forgot.” He sits back on his heels, holding a shaking hand out. I grab it—resting it in my palm—kissing the back of it. He shudders.
The ring is a perfect fit—thanks to string and Benjamin being a heavy sleeper—and it looksperfect.
“Beautiful.” I tell him, lifting his hand to kiss the ring where
itrests. “You are always so beautiful. Even more so now—as myfiancé.”
Benjaminmoans—pulling my face to kiss me again like it’s urgent—like he’s dying. I’m laughing against his mouth. He leans back.
“Did you pick this out?” I nod. “You know me too well, Aaron Archer. Oh my God—wait.” His eyes are wide, staring at me in awe. “I’m going to beBenjamin Archer.” I grin at him again.
“Hot—right?” His eyes change from awed to panicked as something seems to dawn on him.
“Um, Aaron… who gets Felix as their best man?” Oh, fuck.
???
I lean forward—elbows on my knees—chin resting on my closed fists. I’m staring Felix down as he looks between me and Benjamin who sits next to me—legs crisscross on the couch. He’s got that puppy-dog face going which I consider cheating.
“I never considered this as a possible problem growing up.” Felix says. “Who would get me as their best man—my brother or my best friend? In any normal instance—it’d be both.” Kayla is cracking up behind him as he sits in front of us.
“Remember—I’m your brother.” I say slowly, narrowing my eyes on him.
“Right—”
