Chapter Sixteen
Throughout the years, Kuba had been on several cruises.
He had been a kid back then. His mom had loved to travel, so they had been on the go while his dad stayed behind for work.
They had been on countless trips to everywhere imaginable.
The Alaskan sky had never looked more beautiful than at Diesel’s side.
They huddled together while Tory and Nova cuddled in a blanket together on their shared balcony.
The Northern Lights looked gorgeous, but nothing held his attention the way Diesel did. He outshone the sky.
Diesel smiled but kept his gaze on the lights. “You’re staring at me.”
“I’m always staring at you.” Kuba was shameless as hell.
Diesel really should know that by now. While Diesel had spent the last three months helping him stay in shape and bulk up to move up to light heavyweight competitions, they had mostly just enjoyed each other.
They had lived a quiet life, spending nearly every moment together.
Diesel was his best friend and other half.
Things between them had been like a dream. Kuba needed to make it permanent.
Diesel finally laughed and met his stare. “I thought we were here to check out these lights.”
He wouldn’t get a better opening. “Actually, we’re here so your mom can be part of this.
” He dropped to one knee and pulled a ring from his pocket as he went.
“I love you so much, and you’re so much more than I deserve.
But I'm still praying you’ll take mercy on me and marry me. So, will you marry me?”
Diesel was wide-eyed and full mouth agape.
Tory cooed while Nova laughed. “You got him. I’ve never seen him quite this speechless.”
That seemed to rally Diesel. “Yes, of fucking course. Are you kidding me? Yes.”
Kuba shot to his feet and kissed Diesel while Tory and Nova clapped.
“We’re getting a second son.”
Kuba slipped the ring onto Diesel’s finger while they smiled like fools at each other. It seemed to hit them both simultaneously.
They turned. “We?” they asked in unison.
Nova’s hand shot out from the blanket, showing off a beautiful ring. “Yes, we. We’re getting married, but we didn’t want to steal your moment by announcing it yet.”
They jumped the pair. The four of them bounced up and down talking excitedly all at once.
Diesel practically crowed. “Steal our moment? This is amazing. We’re getting married. We’re getting married,” Diesel sang the words, sounding like a big kid while Nova and Tory laughed.
Kuba couldn’t look away from Diesel’s smiling face. He had done that. Kuba had made that smile. Fuck, he couldn’t wait until Diesel was his husband.
They hugged some more and exchanged more congratulations before Nova bent and scooped up the blanket they lost in the ruckus. “Well, boys. I’m so freaking happy for you two, but I’m ready for bed, and you two should have some time alone.”
Kuba winked at her. “Love you, Mom.”
Nova wore a huge grin. “I love you too. Both of you.”
Diesel looked as if he was drunk with happiness. “I love you too.” He focused on Tory. “Truly, I’m so very happy for you. I can’t wait to have you as part of the family.”
Tory blushed. “I should probably be thanking you. Nova probably would’ve turned me down for the fourth time if you hadn’t forced her past all her fears.” She looked Nova’s way. “Which were all valid and I understood.”
Diesel shook his head and focused on Nova. “You made her ask four times? Jesus, woman.”
Nova swatted at his arm. “Hush. Not all of us are brave like you two.”
Tory jumped to her rescue. “She said yes this time. That’s all that matters. I’m tenacious. She wasn’t getting away from me.”
“Thank God for that,” Nova said as she slid open the door to their cabin. “Good night, boys. Have a glass a champagne for us too.”
“Goodnight,” Diesel and Kuba said at the same time.
The moment they were alone, Kuba met Diesel’s stare. For a moment, they simply stared into each other’s eyes before Diesel finally broke the silence. “I can’t believe you did this and no one tipped me off.”
Kuba shuffled closer. “They were good sports.”
Diesel’s smile slipped. “What about your dad? Will he be upset my mom was here, but he wasn’t?”
Kuba was fully distracted by the feel of Diesel’s hips beneath his palms. “He has something in L.A. I’d rather he focused on right now.
Dad spent his life giving me everything.
It’s important to me for him to work on his happiness right now.
We can make a big deal of our engagement with him another day. ”
Diesel shook his head as he towed Kuba against him. He swiped a kiss across Kuba’s lips. “We’re getting married.” He sounded awed, like witnessing a miracle. “Wow. You’re going to be my husband. I can’t believe it. I feel like the luckiest man alive. Thank you.”
Kuba’s forehead furrowed. “Why in the hell are you thanking me? You’re the one taking all the risks. You have a heart of gold. I’m the unstable one.”
Despite his open irritation, Diesel released a low laugh.
“Stop. You’re perfect to me. I genuinely can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.
I mean, I’d planned to anyhow. Like, seriously.
If you tried to get rid of me, I’d plan to force you to throw rocks at me like an unwanted dog to make me go away. ”
“I’d never throw rocks at dogs.”
Diesel laughed. Kuba loved that sound. “But you’d throw rocks at me?
” Kuba pinched him, making Diesel laugh again.
He rubbed his side. “Okay. Okay. I would hang on to both your legs while you shuffle to the door to put me out. I’d beg like a little kid, crying for you to please keep me while you try to get away. ”
“Fuck.” A smile exploded across Kuba’s face. He couldn’t hold it back any longer. “You’re so weird.”
Diesel shrugged. “Maybe, but I love you.” He made every inch between them vanish. “And I promise that will never stop. Until the day I die, I’ll love you every second.”
God, his heart. This was it. This was the reason he couldn’t stand for Diesel to even be out of his sight.
“Same. That’s a promise.” He kissed Diesel.
Kuba swore it was the sweetest kiss they had ever shared.
It felt like sealing a vow. Kuba had made a lot of mistakes in his life and grown up way too soon.
Diesel would never be on his list of missteps.
For as long as he lived, he would worship this man. This miracle. The love of a lifetime.
Keep an eye out for the next Steel Security, Hard as Steel.