Chapter 13 #2
“More. Move over.” Val waited for Saint to shimmy back to the other side of the bed, then climbed in and lay on his side facing Saint.
He was so damned beautiful and amazing. Val would be lying to himself if he said he didn’t want more at this point.
“You mean a lot to me, Saint. I love being around you, with you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and sure as hell, not this quickly.
If I give up the chance to see where this goes, I’d be making a terrible mistake. ”
“I’m ready to be all in,” Saint said softly, and Val’s heart almost beat out of him. Was Saint saying what he thought he was saying?
“You are?”
Saint nodded. “I can’t promise that everything will be smooth sailing or that I won’t make mistakes or do something that’ll make you feel shitty, but I I’ll always do my best to make things right.” He slid his hand over Val’s and laced their fingers together.
“I understand that there will be moments when you might not be ready for a certain step, and I’ll be patient,” Val promised. “You can always come to me, talk to me.”
“This is all very serious grown-up talk.”
Val couldn’t help his smile. “It is, isn’t it? What did you drink tonight?”
“Brandy, and it was gross.” Saint wrinkled his nose. It was cute. “There was no mint in it.”
“You don’t get mint with brandy.”
Saint’s eyes went huge. “That’s exactly what Ryden said.” He leaned in, eyes narrowed. “Were you there?”
“No,” Val said with a chuckle.
“I think I love you.”
Val stared at Saint. Had he just…? No. Surely, he hadn’t.
“I know it feels fast, but I’ve been kind of obsessed with you for a long time now, so I’ve been thinking about you for a really long time, and so for me, I guess it doesn’t feel too fast, and I probably shouldn’t have said anything.”
Val leaned in and kissed Saint. He wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close. “I think I love you too.”
The smile that lit up Saint’s face stole Val’s breath away, and he really hoped Saint remembered this moment in the morning, but if not, Val would happily remind him.
“Get some sleep,” Val said gently. It was obvious Saint was trying really hard to keep his eyes open. He opened his mouth like he was going to argue, then clearly decided against it.
“Okay.”
Val lay there for a few heartbeats watching Saint, the way his lips were slightly parted as he slept, his dark lashes resting on his cheeks.
His hair was a mess, probably from him running his hands through it all night.
How had Val not seen what was right in front of him all this time?
Why had he waited so long? What good did it do to protect his heart if that meant giving up the chance at something amazing?
Closing his eyes, Val felt like he was finally able to breathe. He lay his hand over Saint’s and let sleep claim him.
He opened his eyes, wondering why Saint had turned on the lights, only to discover it was morning. He tilted his head, finding Saint sitting up against the headboard, reading a book. One of Val’s books. It made Val smile.
“Good morning,” Saint said cheerfully, closing the book and placing it on the nightstand. He lay down and faced Val. “I remember.”
Val blinked at him. “I’m sorry?”
“You said I wouldn’t remember, but I did.”
“You brushed your teeth.” Val could smell Saint’s minty-fresh breath.
“I also showered and put on some clean clothes.” He wrinkled his nose. “I did not smell good.”
“What do you remember?”
Saint smiled, his eyes filled with mischief. “You said you were crazy about me, didn’t know how you’d managed without me all these years, and how if there’s ever another one cookie scenario that you would show your affection by letting me have the cookie.”
“Is that what I said?” Val pretended to think back. “I remember talking about brandy and how it doesn’t come with mint.”
“You did say that. Why is everyone so brandy savvy all of a sudden?”
“There was something else…something important.”
“You ass.” Saint flicked the tip of Val’s nose.
“Ow! Why are you inflicting pain on me so early in the morning? I haven’t even had my coffee yet.”
Saint arched an eyebrow at him. “Coffee is for boyfriends, not for non-boyfriends who pretend they don’t remember what they said the night before.”
“Oh, I did say something, didn’t I? The thing about me and you.”
“I’m going to smother you with your pillow.”
Val rolled onto his back and laughed. He got smacked in the face with a pillow for it, but it was worth it. “Okay, okay! I surrender!” The pillow got pulled away, and Val turned back to Saint. He propped himself on his elbow.
“I said, I love you.”
Saint eyed him. “You said you thought you loved me.”
“Yeah, well, I either do or don’t, right? I mean, this relationship is new, but like you said, it feels like we’ve known each other for so much longer. I’ve been a little obsessed with you too.”
Saint shrugged. “I didn’t notice.”
“You shit.”
Saint laughed and lay down to snuggle in close, his head under Val’s chin. “You know, when I first saw you, I was terrified.”
“Really? Why?” Val knew he could come off as intimidating, but surely he wasn’t that scary.
“I was terrified because I’d never looked at a man the way I’d looked at you, and it brought to the surface a lot of feelings I thought I’d buried for good.
Then the more time I spent around you, with you, the more I realized a piece of myself had been missing, and I’d done a pretty damn good job of carrying on like I was okay without it, but I wasn’t. ”
“And now?”
“And now, I’m ready for a new chapter.” He chuckled. “Without the dragons. Never took you for a fantasy and paranormal fan.”
“It’s as far away from real life as possible,” Val said. “Plus, dragons.”
“Well, I mean, when you put it that way.” He went quiet for a moment, and just when Val thought maybe Saint fell asleep, he spoke up.
“I know it’s not going to be easy, and some things will change.
Some people won’t accept that I’m in a relationship with a man, and maybe I’ll…
lose some people, but if they don’t want to be a part of my life because I’m not living my life how they want me to live it, then that’s on them, and I deserve better. ”
Val kissed the top of his head. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? That I’m happy? That I found someone amazing who loves me? I can’t control other people’s actions or thoughts, only my own.”
“Very true.”
Saint lifted his face and kissed Val’s neck.
He turned and placed kiss after gentle kiss on Val’s skin, trailing up his neck.
Val hummed, his entire body suddenly very awake, especially when Saint slid a hand under the waistband of his pants.
He wrapped his hand around Val’s dick, and Val bucked his hips, letting out a groan.
“I love how hard you get for me,” Saint murmured, poking his tongue out to lick a stripe up Val’s jawline.
“Coffee is overrated,” Val said, rolling them over so he lay between Saint’s legs. “Also, don’t think I forgot about the whole cookie forfeit thing.”
“No coffee and no cookies? Now you’re just being silly.”
Val chuckled and kissed Saint slowly at first, nipping at his bottom lip, and sucking on his tongue. Saint moaned, his hands moving to Val’s ass where he squeezed, a finger slipping between Val’s ass cheeks. A shiver went through Val, and he rubbed his erection against Saint’s hard cock.
“Val,” Saint pleaded, thrusting up as they rubbed against each other. “I want…I….”
“Say it.” Val groaned as Saint’s finger touched Val’s hole. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want to be inside you,” Saint said, breath ragged.
Val smiled and nipped at Saint’s jawline. “There’s lube and condoms in the nightstand drawer.”
“You….” Saint stared up at him. “You’d really let me do that?”
“Not let you. Want you to.” Val was so hard at the thought of Saint filling him, his underwear was soaked from his precome. “I want you to fuck me.”