“Simon,” he breathed against my lips.
“I need you,” I whispered, my hands sliding down to tug at his shirt. “I need to feel you. I need—”
“I know,” Tony said, his voice rough. “I know, baby. I’ve got you.”
He stood, lifting me with him, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me down the hallway to the bedroom, his lips never leaving mine.
When we reached the bed, he laid me down gently, his body covering mine. His hands moved over me with a reverence I’d never felt before, like he was worshipping every inch of me.
“I love you,” he whispered against my skin as he stripped away my clothes. “I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you too,” I gasped, my hands clutching at him. “God, Tony, I love you too.”
He paused, his eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, the world stopped.
This was real. This was happening. He was finally mine, and I was finally his, and everyone fucking knew.
We weren’t hiding anymore.
Tony kissed me again, slow and deep.
This was us.
This was forever.
And for the first time in six years, I believed it.
Epilogue
Matlock
Two weeks.
Two weeks since the DA dropped the charges. Two weeks since I’d claimed Simon in front of everyone at the diner. Two weeks since I’d stopped being a fucking coward.
And tonight, the clubhouse was packed.
Music thumped through the speakers and laughter echoed off the walls. Simon sat on my lap, his back against my chest, my arms wrapped around his waist. He was laughing at something Cash had said, his head tilted back, his throat exposed. I pressed my lips to the side of his neck, feeling his pulse jump under my mouth.
Mine.
He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine, and I kissed him. Not giving a single fuck who was watching.
“Jesus Christ, Matlock,” Gunner called from across the room, his voice carrying over the music. “Get a fucking room. Nobody wants to see that shit.”
I pulled back from Simon’s lips just long enough to flip Gunner my middle finger. “Fuck off, Gunner.”
Simon laughed, the sound vibrating through my chest. “You jealous, Goliath?” Simon called out.
The entire room laughed, and Gunner glared back at Simon. I tightened my arms around him, burying my face in his neck.
This was what I’d been missing.
This freedom. This ability to touch him without fear.
My mind drifted back ten days ago, a beautiful warm spring day where I finally did something I’d been too fucking scared to do.
“Where are we going?” Simon whined.
