I grin, leaning in to whisper against his ear as I roll my hips. “Don’t worry, I’m almost to the point.”
His body arches, pressing back into me. “You’ve got a point, all right.”
I grip his left cheek firmly, my thumbs kneading his soft flesh.
“I love your ass. God, this perfect peach of an ass. It does things to me. I could worship it all day, feast on it for hours with my tongue, make you come undone when I slip inside. You take my cock so good, baby.”
“Oh fuck, Aiden,” his breath stutters, his hands clenching the sheets. “You’re gonna make me come.”
“Hold on, baby, we’re almost there. Stay with me.”
I tighten my hold, then my voice catches on the most important words I’ve ever said.
“I love everything about you. But most of all, I loveyouand our life together. I want this—us, forever. Marry me, baby.”
He goes perfectly still, and I ease up so he can turn in my arms. His beautiful blue eyes lock onto mine with tenderness and certainty. I feel the pounding of his heart under my palm, and his hands tremble as he cups my face.
“Yes. Without question, a million and one times, yes.”
Tears sting my eyes as I brush my thumbs across his face.
“God, I love you, baby.”
He leans in, his voice thick. “I love you so fucking much, Aiden. I can’t wait to be your husband.”
Our lips collide in a passionate, trembling kiss, pouring out our hearts, our souls, our love for each other.
I easily slide inside him since we did this last night, making love to the man who will always be mine.
Every morning, I wake up more in love with him than the day before. He’s my best friend, my partner, my lover. When I’m with him, I feel loved, cherished, happy, and safe. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure he feels the same.
Epilogue 2
Jay
5 years later
“Baby, can you grab the platter on the counter for me?” Aiden calls out from the back deck. “The hamburgers and hot dogs are almost ready.”
I step out through the sliding glass door, handing him the large plate, where our family is gathered for our annual summer kickoff barbecue. The afternoon sun feels warm in Astoria.
A year after we got married, we settled into our two-story Colonial-style house on the outskirts of our small city. Our apartment didn’t have enough space for us once our family grew.
We didn’t plan to have kids since neither of us knew much about babies, but then we met Alex while volunteering at our local youth center. He was sixteen and had been kicked out by his father, who understood nothing about sexuality—Alex being ace—who thought he was gay because he showed no interest in girls. His home life growing up was toxic, and he was relieved to escape it.
With Heather’s help, Alex was emancipated from his parents and moved in with us to finish high school. This fall, he’ll be asophomore at my alma mater in Corvallis. We couldn’t be prouder of him.
That led us to become foster parents. Crystal and Chase’s biological parents were drug addicts and had been squatting on state land. They disappeared, leaving the kids to roam the hills alone until the state intervened.
They came to live with us three years ago, when they were ten and twelve. After facing numerous obstacles, we finalized their adoption last year. Aiden and I never thought we’d be dads, but here we are, with three young minds relying on us for guidance and wisdom. It’s scary some days, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Just as we serve the food, Alex gets home from his summer lifeguard job at the aquatic center.
“Hey, Pops,” he teases Aiden, poking him in the ribs as he walks by.
Even though we didn’t adopt Alex, he calls us Pops and Dad, and Crystal and Chase started calling us that, too.
He grabs a beer and sits next to my mom and her boyfriend. That’s a recent development that Aiden and I are still trying to wrap our heads around. A few months ago, Susan and my mom started dating brothers Troy and Steven. After what they experienced with our fathers, we’re happy they’ve found men who treat them so well.
