Epilogue
IAN
Titan and Merlin race across Jaggar’s backyard, chasing tennis balls toward the tree line. The yellow balls are bright against the thick green grass, but the wildflowers scattered throughout the yard and the flowers in the bee garden beside the deck compete for brilliance.
Standing on the back deck, shaded from the strength of the summer sun, I bounce on the planks of wood we replaced last month. The planks hold sturdy, and the stain we applied highlights the wood grain. Rebuilding the deck is the latest project we checked off Jaggar’s list.
I check the time on my phone. Jaggar should be waking any minute.
“Come on, boys,” I clap my hands.
They streak toward me and drop the balls at my feet. I’m greeted with panting breaths and doggy smiles that only increase when I ruffle their fur.
Opening the door, I step aside so they can run in. The sweetness of waffles and the richness of coffee scent the air.
As at home here as I am in my own kitchen, I get the dogs settled with their breakfast, then wash my hands and put the finishing touches on Jaggar’s and mine.
We missed our six-month anniversary last week because Jaggar was on a work trip and I was on a big moving job that took me from the top of Vermont to the bottom.
We’re making up for it today, starting with breakfast in bed, then we’re helping Hawk with a pet photo shoot at the shelter for National Dog Day.
I load up the serving tray I borrowed from Conall—or, more appropriately, the one he smuggled from the pub his family owns—when I told him of my idea for breakfast in bed.
One plate loaded with chocolate waffles for us to share, a bowl of strawberries, a can of whipped cream, and two coffees.
After adding napkins and forks, and the tiny present I picked up on my way home from the move, I heft the tray and carry it through the first floor, listening for sounds of Jaggar stirring upstairs.
A few creaky stairs announce my arrival. Wondering if that woke him or if I’ll have the privilege, I step through the door to his bedroom. Sunlight slips through the spaces in the curtains.
Sprawled on the bed with the sheet pooled at his waist, Jaggar opens his eyes and smiles. “Morning.” His voice is husky from sleep.
After nudging the door shut with my hip, I set the tray on the cedar chest at the foot of the bed. “Happy anniversary.”
His smile deepens, and he sits up, his attention flitting to the tray. “What’s all this?”
“We didn’t get to celebrate last week, so we’re doing that now.” I pass him a mug.
His lips quirking up on one side, he raises the mug to his lips. “I thought we were helping Hawk.”
“We are. Later. But we’re both back home, and I didn’t want to wait another second to celebrate how happy I am that you’re in my life.”
Heat glitters in his dark brown eyes. “Come over here so I can kiss you.”
Cradling my mug in one hand, I go. The mattress dips under my weight, and Jaggar shifts closer to me.
He lays his hand on my cheek, stroking his thumb over my skin.
I could gaze into his eyes forever. The shades of brown, the way his lashes cast shadows when he blinks, the crinkles in the corners when he smiles.
The light in them whenever they look at me.
Jaggar leans in, and his lips settle on mine, warm and soft, tasting of coffee and his unique flavor. It’s been six months, but every kiss still has the power to tilt my world on its axis.
He strokes his hand into my hair as we raise our heads. “I love you.”
My heart leaps and swells. Surprise steals through me with happiness tumbling after.
We’ve not exchanged those words before. And damn, am I ready to say them back.
“I love you, too. Been feeling that way for a while. Nearly said it a dozen times. But I wanted to find the right moment, the right time and place. Today was going to be it.”
“Did I foil your plans?” His fingers continue to twirl and stroke my hair, and the contentment on his face is one I want to see over and over again for the rest of our lives.
“Never. You only ever improve them.”
He skates his hand down, along my chest, then stomach. “Can the waffles wait a while?”
My heartbeat thuds at the hungry look in his eyes, and my cock hardens at the touch and the intent in his words. “Sure. We can reheat them, and the coffee.”
Jaggar lifts the sheet and an eyebrow, and I can’t resist that invitation. We set the coffees on the nightstand; I ditch my shorts, and slide onto soft sheets and next to my sexy boyfriend.
Eyes heavy-lidded, he fits us together. He’s warm from sleep, and the heat sinks into my body. Desire spikes in my blood. I slip my arm around him, taking kiss after kiss. He nips at my lips and licks along the seam until I open for him with a groan.
Hands roaming, lips devouring, our bodies rock together. He thrust his hips against mine in a bump and grind that makes me ache. There’s an energy from exchanging I love you that makes this moment feel as significant as the first time we slept together.
Jaggar rolls on top of me, and I welcome his weight, diving my fingers into his hair. Want and need throb in every heartbeat, and I can’t get close enough. He shivers as I skate my fingers along the soft skin of his back, and he widens his legs when I reach his ass.
Our bodies are flush, chest to chest, hip to hip, and heart to heart. So close, I can feel the rhythm of his heartbeat.
He groans into my mouth. “Want it like this.”
“Just like this?” I spread his cheeks wide then slowly circle his hole. His cock jumps against my stomach. We’re leaking for each other, our slow thrusts growing faster and faster.
“Uh huh.” His hands tighten around my shoulders. “Don’t want to stop for lube. Just want to feel you.”
Throbbing for him, I tap my finger against his hole, and when he pushes back, I slip the tip of my finger into his heat.
“Fuck.” Jaggar bites his lip and arches his back. “I missed you. Dreamed about this when I was away.”
My heart kicks, and how much I love him and missed him clobbers me. “I love the way you look when you let go like this.”
He falls forward, resting his weight on one forearm, and snakes his other hand between us, taking our cocks in his grasp. His tight grip and the feel of his cock rubbing against mine send me to the edge far too fast.
Lost in the sensations of him stroking and teasing, I slam my head onto the pillow, my hips chasing his touch each time his hand slides up our shafts. A few more strokes of my cock and I’m there, spiraling into pleasure, shooting my release between us.
“I love you.” Jaggar’s soft words pant against my lips. His smooth rhythm falters into rough and uneven movements. “Gonna come.”
Clamping my hands on his ass, I rock him faster. “This is what I’ve been dreaming about.”
He stiffens in my arms, his face locked in pleasure as more heat spills between us.
We lay together, kissing, luxuriating in the feeling of being skin on skin, riding the high of endorphins and being reunited, until the need to clean up outweighs the cozy cocoon we’ve created. When I get up to grab a washcloth, he follows me into the bathroom and pulls me into the shower.
The hot spray beats down on my shoulders, still achy from days of hauling the heaviest bedroom and living room sets I’ve ever encountered.
We soap up, trading kisses, and murmuring I love you, which I will never tire of hearing or saying, and dry off to the sounds of the dogs pawing at the bedroom door.
Jaggar grabs a pair of shorts from the dresser, then tosses me a pair from my drawer. “You grab the tray, I’ll try to corral them downstairs.”
He waits until we have T-shirts on and I’m holding the tray high before he opens the door.
The dogs jump on him like they haven’t seen him in days, though they were in bed with us last night and slept snuggled against him. He was gone for a week and didn’t get in until late last night, so they have a lot of time and attention to make up for.
He snaps his fingers, and they follow him from the room. Grinning at the fact that he missed the small present, I follow them with the tray.
Jaggar keeps the dogs distracted with pull toys while I transfer everything from the tray to the counter.
As soon as the waffles are in the microwave and the coffee is warming in the pot, I pass the small gift bag to him. “Here.”
His forehead creases. “I didn’t think we were doing gifts…”
“We aren’t. Not for six months. I saw this in a shop when I stopped to refuel and get food on my way back from Stamford. It’s little, and that’s kind of the point.”
“Okay…” The word drags out, his eyes narrowing on the paper bag.
He pushes through the bundle of tissue paper and pulls out a pink ceramic elephant the size of his thumb.
Throwing his head back, he laughs so loud he startles the dogs, and they run to the front door, barking.
“It looks just like the monster-sized version that ate my living room.”
Leaning against the counter, I push the discarded bag away from the edge. “I saw it and couldn’t resist. We moved a massive elephant the day we met, so getting you a miniscule one to mark our time together seemed appropriate.”
“I love it.” Grinning, he wraps his arms around me and urges my head down to meet his kiss.
Beeping interrupts us, then the microwave falls silent. Jaggar steps back and places the elephant beside the coffeepot. “She’ll live on my desk.”
“She might not be much of a paperweight. Too light.” I grab the waffles.
He pours the coffee. “If they had delivered something this size instead of the monstrosity… it would be equally funny.”
I spoon strawberries over the waffles, then add a squirt of whipped cream. “Right? I thought the same thing.”
He takes the canister, squirts a tiny amount onto the pad of his index finger, then spreads it over my bottom lip.
Groaning, I grasp his waist, and my cock firms at the feel of him slowly licking it off. “Jag…”