“It is to me.”
At his serious tone, Valon’s smile slipped away. “This really bothers you, doesn’t it?”
Marc tried not to squirm in discomfort. “Of course. You’re my everything.”
Valon’s gaze moved over Marc’s face, as if working out a puzzle in his head. “You should marry me.”
Everything inside Marc went still. He didn’t even breathe. Valon couldn’t play with him like that. Marc wasn’t that sane. Marc tried to respond, but no sound emerged. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Is that something you’d want?” He couldn’t let himself hope.
Valon clasped his hands again. This time, the gesture looked like a nervous one. It was Valon’s turn to clear his throat. “Is it something you’d consider?”
Was he fucking crazy? “Hell yeah.”
A smile exploded across Valon’s face. “Good, because I’m asking.”
The shock was thick, but so was the excitement. “I could keep saying ‘hell yeah’ all night, if you’d like. That answer’s not changing.”
For a moment, they simply stared at each other, as if basking in the reality of their conversation.
Valon ended up being the one to break the silence. “I really fucking love you.”
Marc realized something he had refused to let himself believe. Valon did love him. That adoration was in every word and touch. Deed and song. He didn’t have a good track record of things working out for him. But this was real, and he couldn’t contain it. Marc attacked. He had Valon in his arms, taking the kiss he wanted. Marc didn’t give a shit about their driver. This was their moment.
Still, Marc’s anxiety got the best of him. He spoke between kisses, needing Valon to know he wouldn’t go anywhere no matter what. “If you’re just caught up in the moment orwhatever, you can backtrack. I won’t be angry. Hurt maybe,” he added because he couldn’t completely lie.
Valon settled down. He clung to Marc’s side. “I’m not caught up in the moment. There should be a ring waiting for you when we get home. I contacted a famous jewelry maker for a custom piece a few weeks back. I hadn’t decided how I would ask, since I wanted to do something romantic. Sorry you got screwed out of that. I’m not a patient person.”
Oh, Marc was aware, and he kind of loved that about him. “No. This was perfect.” It truly was. Valon’s proposal proved how much he wanted this. His inability to wait was the best way to ask as far as Marc was concerned. Marc didn’t know if this would really happen. If so, he didn’t know how long Valon would want to wait. He imagined it took time to draw up a prenup and whatnot. Marc would sign anything. He was getting the only thing he wanted from Valon: Valon.
Between his concert and engagement, Valon rode on cloud nine. He couldn’t put into words the way Marc had changed his life. Changed him. Unfortunately, Valon wasn’t always as sure Marc could say the same. Several times during the tour, he had watched Marc become someone else. The smiles disappeared. He stayed tense and on edge. His gaze never stopped scanning every corner. Before the first time they kissed, Marc never stopped smiling. He laughed all the time and kept Valon distracted. Valon wasn’t complaining. He loved every version of Marc. Valon just worried maybe Marc wasn’t exactly as happy as Valon. Of course, this had become an issue he overthought. He had started paying closer attention to how much Marc did for him and comparing it to how much Valon gave back. The scales were uneven as hell. It was easy to get lost in the center of Marc’s orbit. Marc spoiled him nonstop, and Valon took it. That wastheir dynamic. But Valon didn’t want to be like that any longer, and he was determined to be better.
Typically, Valon loved for Marc to shower with him. He did not feel that way after concerts. Valon was a sweaty, nasty mess. Marc would never let him get clean. They had parted ways at the top of the stairs and jumped into two different showers. After a long scrub and all the good-smelling things, Valon stepped from the bathroom. He didn’t know how long it would take for Marc to finish. Valon stole his chance to pull Marc’s ring from the box and inspect the piece. It was a gorgeous ring. Even though Valon hadn’t thought he expressed himself well, it seemed Grant had known exactly what Valon meant. Valon wasn’t surprised. Grant was the highest paid and most sought-after jeweler for a reason. He was also married to a hockey player, so he understood the manly beauty Valon wanted. The band was perfect.
“Are you coming to bed, gorgeous?”
Valon nearly jumped out of his skin. He definitely dropped Marc’s ring. Thankfully, it had landed at his feet and didn’t budge. Valon picked it up. He turned and found Marc already under the sheets. Valon hadn’t even looked that way as he left the bathroom. His mind had been on making sure he had a ring on Marc’s finger before they went to sleep. Valon didn’t want even a single night more to pass without knowing Marc was permanently his.
Marc stacked his hands behind his head and watched Valon with heat-filled eyes. “Damn. Look at you. No clothes. The perfect silhouette with the bathroom light behind you.”
Valon hadn’t thought it was possible for him to blush. Something in Marc’s tone just penetrated his shamelessness. There was a tingle in Valon’s stomach. Had Marc always looked so obsessed with him? Damn. It was like owning a grizzly. Part of him was a little petrified. Yet all of him was honored to be the center of Marc’s infatuation. They would have an amazing life together.
“I hope you never stop looking at me the way you are now.”
Marc sat up. His eyes never budged from Valon. “Don’t worry. You’re the center of my universe.” Marc’s claim proved he knew exactly how he looked when he focused on Valon. Valon didn’t know if that confession should add to the fear or the happiness. Maybe it was a little of both. Marc motioned him closer. “Come here.”
Valon didn’t hesitate. The second he was within reach, Marc had him pulled onto his lap. His mouth covered Valon’s moan at having his bare body against Marc. He tried to bury his hand in Marc’s hair. The move reminded him he held Marc’s ring.
Valon pulled away for a moment. “Put this on.” He shoved the ring into Marc’s hand before shifting positions to straddle Marc. His intention had been to immediately steal Marc’s mouth again. Instead, he watched as Marc slipped the ring onto his left hand. His face held Valon captivated. Marc looked at the piece like he witnessed a miracle. He was transfixed. Valon was too. He couldn’t look away from Marc’s expression. Love swelled in his chest.
“I’ve never wanted anything as badly as I want this.” As the words left his lips, Valon realized how true they were. A lot of dreams had come true for him that other people begged for. Still, Marc was what he needed and coveted more than anything he had set his sights on. At his confession, Marc’s chin shot up. His gaze collided with Valon’s. Valon saw everything he felt staring back at him. He couldn’t stop baring his soul. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for you.” Valon had never meant anything more.
Marc’s hands smoothed their way up Valon’s back. His eyes never left Valon’s face, even as he rolled and settled between Valon’s thighs. The connection was powerful as hell. Marc was back to being the person who was nearly too intense for him. Valon had grown more than accustomed to the change.
“Sometimes, it’s like you’re two different people. One laughing goofball who brightens my life, and the guy I’m looking at right now. I’m in love with both sides of you.”
Apparently, that was the right thing to say. Marc shoved one hand beneath Valon’s ass, holding him in place as he shifted positions. His mouth covered Valon’s as his hips rolled. The sound that came from Marc as he created friction between them was the neediest whimper Valon ever heard. He wanted more.
Marc didn’t say a word. His body did all the talking. He made love to Valon. Valon felt the tender passion flowing from him. It got harder to focus on anything except the way Marc played his body. Valon felt cherished but also desired. He balanced on the edge of a knife. Valon never wanted the moment to end, but he couldn’t fight the pleasure. The sensation of the way Marc moved against him and the hunger he felt in Marc’s everymove was too much. Valon’s orgasm hit, but there was an odd peace to the moment—like a silent promise made. Then Marc’s cum also filled the space between them, and Valon automatically encircled Marc’s neck, trying to hang on to him. An irrational fear hit that Marc might slip away if he let go. He couldn’t allow that to happen. Valon would never let anything break them.
