Page 79 of Beyond the Hedge Maze

“Recent paintings,” Jesse chimed. “You didn’t have any recent paintings to sell.”

“After your grandfather’s funeral, I went by Bullington Road and asked what would happen to your work after the exhibition, and your studio tutor told me that it’d most likely get thrown into random storage or thrown out if you didn’t make plans to collect it.”

“I didn’t make plans to—”

Rachel lifted an eyebrow, and Oliver stopped talking. “I knew you didn't. So I took matters into my own hands, and told her to call me after the showcase was over. I’ve been holding onto them, unsure if I would just give them back when you started painting again. But then this seemed like such a good opportunity, so I…”

“Sold them,” Oliver finished.

“Yes.”

“You sold my paintings? My paintings? Paintings by me that I made with paints?”

“I think you broke him,” Michelle joked from the seat behind.

“Those paintings, yes.” Rachel’s smile was bright, but Oliver could see the tears welling up in her eyes as she continued. “I started an online campaign, told your story, told them about Ben, and let people bid on your work. Not only did everything sell, but it made up the difference needed for the roof with extra to spare!!”

All of the friends burst into applause, and Oliver stumbled to his feet towards Rachel. He pulled her into his arms, a steady stream of tears trailing down his face. “Thank you, Rach.”

Shortly after, Jesse was at his back whispering that he loved him in his ear, and that’s when the floodgates of affection opened.

Seven friends, connected through one teenage love story, found themselves huddled in front of the fire in a 270-year old library. And Oliver Catesby, technical Lord and future heir to an Earldom title he didn’t particularly care about, couldn’t wait for this next chapter of his life to begin. The one beyond the hedge maze.

Epilogue

Jesse

Eighteen Months Later

“We—oh fuck, we’re going to be l-late.”

Jesse’s left hand weaved through the light brown strands of Oliver’s hair until it settled at the base of his skull. The gold ring on his finger glinted in the light streaming through the window in the hall, its identical companion resting on Oliver’s hand that was steadily working up and down Jesse’s cock.

“Do you think they’ll like us?” Oliver asked, not slowing his pace. Jesse’s head was swimming. Did his fiancé actually expect a coherent response?

Any minute, they were supposed to be meeting a couple who were hopefully renting the ballroom for their wedding in the following year.

It was the first of what they hoped were many appointments to follow. Jesse had thrown every ounce of knowledge he had into building a business around the Chapman Estate. They had faced plenty of missteps, the actual restoration of the roof and the upper floors had threatened to ruin their relationship, but they made it through with a renewed strength in their bond.

Nothing brings a couple together or destroys a relationship quite like home DIY projects.

“I think,” Jesse mumbled as Oliver wrapped his lips around the head of Jesse’s cock. “I think…I can’t fucking think.”

Oliver pulled off and returned stroking Jesse’s cock. “They seemed really nice over the phone. Having the extra space for the bridal party seemed to be a big draw for them. And I think they want to have the rehearsal dinner here, too.”

Jesse’s grip in Oliver’s hair tightened. “Cariño, my love, do you want to stop and discuss our appointment or do you want to get me off? I didn’t ask you to—” Oliver’s mouth was back on him, answering his question without words and Jesse groaned. “God that feels so good.”

Downstairs their dog, a golden retriever puppy named Atlas, yapped excitedly, and Jesse could hear the faint sound of tires turning over the gravel drive. Oliver must have heard it, too, because his pace quickened, his left hand frantically pumping Oliver’s cock, meeting his mouth with each pass.

Jesse could feel the metal on Oliver’s ring finger slide against his length, and until then didn’t realize he had a hand kink, or a jewelry kink, or whatever you want to call it kink.

“Keep going, keep going. If you stop, I swear—” Jesse spilled down Oliver’s throat with a moan, his head thumping harshly on the wall behind him as his fiancé greedily drank him down.

As Jesse caught his breath, Oliver tucked him back into his trousers and wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb. Jesse hauled him to his feet, crushing his mouth against Oliver’s, the taste of his release on his tongue.

When he pulled away he took in Oliver’s disheveled appearance, cursing their timing because there was nothing he could do right then to reciprocate. He ran his fingers through Oliver’s hair, flattening out the strands that were sticking up in the back. His face was flushed, his glasses crooked, dimples on full display as he grinned at Jesse.

“Fuck, I love you,” Jesse said, pulling him in for one more quick kiss. The unmistakable sound of car doors shutting rang through the open windows on the second floor, and Jesse took Oliver’s hand, rushing them down the hall.