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“Mhmm. I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to give you this and now seems like the perfect time,” I say, digging into my pocket and pulling out a key. I put it into Thane’s palm, closing his hand for him around it. “I want you to have this. When this school year is over, I want you to move in.”

“I’m not even your boyfriend yet!”

I can’t help but let out a snort, surprised by the confusion in his voice. “Then let’s make it official. Be my partner, Thane. I want to be there for you through every up and down that life throws at you. I want to take care of you. I want you by my side.”

Thane looks at the river again and I can see the wheels inside his head turning. “What about the twins?” He asks, barely loud enough for my human ears to hear. “I’ve been talking with Mr. Ongash and his husband, who’s a retired lawyer. They’re helping me get all the paperwork in order.”

Now it’s time for me to feel embarrassed. “I don’t ever want to overstep,” I say, clearing my throat. “But I may have already turned one of my bedrooms into a room for them.”

“You did?”

“Yeah. It’s already set up for them and ready for when this becomes real. Or they can just use it for when they come visit you. Whatever you want, Thane. I want you and I know that means you come with the twins as well. My eyes are wide open in all of this and I want it all. Anything and everything you’re willing to share with me.”

A surprised grunt leaves my lips as I’m practically tackled against the grass. I wrap my arms around Thane, holding on tight as he buries his face against my throat. He’s sitting in my lap and if anyone was walking by, they’d think we were up to no good but that’s okay. I can’t find it in myself to really care about anything but the perfect orc sitting in my lap.

“Sometimes I worry I can’t give you my all,” Thane murmurs against my throat. “If I can’t give you my all, maybe it would be best I didn’t give you anything.”

I push him away so I can look up into his eyes. “Give me whatever you can,” I say, touching his cheek. “It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, Thane. We can meet each other in the middle.”

“Okay,” he says, his face breaking out into a grin. “Okay, yeah. I want to be your partner. I want to move in. I want the twins to have a room in our house. Yes, Maverick.”

I guide our mouths together, my head spinning as we kiss. I have to tell him. I have to tell him the true depths of my feelings.

“Thane,” I say against his lips, feeling his tusks against my cheeks. “I love you. I’m so desperately in love with you it makes me feel like I’m a teenager again. You’re everything I didn’t know I wanted in a partner and I feel so fucking lucky I know you.”

Thane sucks in a sharp breath. I pull back enough that our eyes can meet. His golden eyes are watery with unshed tears.

Have I fucked up? Is this all too much all at once?

Before I can properly second guess myself, Thane is kissing me again. This time, it’s more desperate. He makes a wounded noise against my mouth, a choked sob filled with emotion. I hold him tight as he finds his bearings.

“I love you too,” he says, cupping my face between his giant palms. I feel so small like this, so desired, so wanted. “I love you so fucking much, Maverick.”

Gods, I didn’t know being loved would feel like this.

We hold each other for a long time, just savoring this feeling, savoring this wonderful moment. I wish I could freeze it and keep it safe. I wish I could hold it in my hand as a tangible thing that I could keep close to my chest.

I let out a yawn that makes Thane chuckle. I’ve been working so many hours between the health clinic and the hospital, picking up hours where needed. I’m exhausted.

“Let’s go home,” Thane whispers, a shiver running down my spine at his choice of words.

“Home,” I murmur as we stand up. “I like the sound of that.”

Chapter Fourteen

Thane

My mind is on everything but the game going on in front of me. It’s been about two weeks since the Halloween Ball and I feel like so much has changed. At the same time, everything has been more smooth than ever before.

Our schedules don’t always line up, but we still do our best to make time to see each other. I sleep over at the house more often than I stay at my dorm room, which is fine by Simon since every time I get back, Wendy and Percy are there with him. The Ball brought the three of them together finally. They make such a cute trio and I couldn’t be happier for my friends.

Maverick has been exhausted lately. He’s working himself ragged between the university health center and picking up hours in the emergency room at the hospital. I’m starting to worry about him.

It’s still so hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that he feels the same way I feel about him. He loves me. We’re partners. Once this semester is over, I’ll officially be moving in with him.

It’s so hard to contain how fucking excited I am. At the same time, I can’t stop thinking about how this will affect the twins. I have the paperwork in Maverick’s car outside, but I’ll need my parents to sign it in order to get things rolling. How fucking hard is it going to be to actually track the two of them down? How hard will it be to convince them to sign it?

“Thane?”