Chapter 20 The Grand Finale #4
"Leander..." Tristan managed to squeak, lowering the listing only to find Leander's hand outstretched on the table again, this time with a small, discreet ring box open in his palm.
The box was discreet, though the ring inside was anything but.
A thick platinum band held a large, brilliantly blue multifaceted stone surrounded by smaller diamonds that sparkled even in the restaurant's soft lighting.
"The diamonds are lab-grown, I know how you feel about the industry," Leander said softly.
"But the sapphire is real, because I had to - Tristan, I love you.
You're the most amazing person I've ever met.
Every day I'm with you is even more amazing than the last. Of course I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
The only reason I haven't asked yet is because when you started talking with Harvard, I didn't want to influence - "
"Yes." Tristan felt like he could barely breathe, but still couldn't hold back his answer.
Leander's eyes lit up. "Yes? Wait - to me, or Harvard?"
A huffed laugh of disbelief escaped his lips, and Tristan pressed his fingers to them, not sure whether to laugh or cry. "You? I mean - both - if you - if you're asking - "
"I'm absolutely asking. I want to marry you, and move to Boston with you so you can work for Harvard and do amazing things with that beautiful genius brain, and I want to give you a beautiful house with a big library and a dungeon in the basement with a mirrored ceiling and a pool and a hot tub and I want - I want the rest of my life with you. Tristan, please would you marry me?"
Tristan managed to nod, both laughing and crying, letting Leander pull him up into his arms, into a trembling, joyful kiss, and for once it didn't matter who was looking or if everyone in the restaurant knew.
~~~
Later - much later - after champagne and dinner and more champagne, after going back to the hotel and making love, Tristan finally forced himself straight about the situation again.
Because as romantic as it was, there were still, of course, practical things to consider.
"So... You really want to be Mr. Chase-Morgan? "
"Doctor and Mr. Chase-Morgan," Leander corrected, nuzzling a kiss to his hair. "Or Morgan-Chase. Whatever's best for scientific papers. I'm not fussy, both of them sound appropriately distinguished."
Tristan couldn't help but chuckle, cuddling closer, though his thoughts had moved to other questions, other pieces of his earlier anxiety.
"Leander," he said finally, "I do very much want to marry you.
And I trust that you want that, too. But that means I.
.. we need to be open with each other, and - and realistic about what we want from each other, and - and what we can give each other. ..."
Leander drew back enough to look at him, serious despite the smile that still played about his lips. "Of course, love. I think we've been pretty good about that so far, haven't we?"
"I hope so," Tristan replied. "I just... being married, it - it doesn't necessarily have to mean... if you want things to be open..."
Leander searched his gaze carefully, despite, thank god, showing no sign of being upset from Tristan's fumbling words. "Is that what you want, love?"
"I... I don't know," Tristan said truthfully, heart aching.
"You've been so wonderful to me, Leander.
As a boyfriend and as - as a partner for - for kink.
But I know that I haven't - I don't want you to feel like - like you have to come to me for everything if I can't - um - meet all your needs. ..."
Leander started to smile again as he spoke, soft and adoring. He stroked a hand up to cup Tristan's face, thumb stroking his cheekbone. "Like dominating me?"
Tristan felt the back of his neck burn and managed a little nod.
Smiling wider, Leander arched in to kiss him.
"I want to be with you," he said, soft and serious.
"As you are, Tristan. Whether that means being your dom or even if you want me to top all the time.
We can just invest in some kinkier toys.
I mentioned the mirrored dungeon, right?
And honestly, at this point in my life, I don't really want to be dommed all that much.
But... if you're really worried, darling.
.. maybe it might be fun to discover what the kink scene is like in Boston?
And if we ever meet someone else, or another couple who we think might be fun to play with together. ..?"
The suggestion sent a course of relief through him, and Tristan found himself smiling, returning his kiss with a happy hum. "I think I'd really like that, Leander."
Leander gave a happy groan, pulling him closer and tangling their legs together. "Oh my God yes. What about finding a big, strong pair of leather daddies that will put us in our place so I can watch you get fucked while I'm getting fucked?"
It seemed incredible that he was even saying such things, and strangely, it reassured Tristan even more than his proposal had. Tristan laughed softly against his lips, cock twitching harder as he imagined it. "I think that would be really, really hot."
Leander grinned. "Absolutely perfect. And I'm gonna call my property guy tomorrow morning so we can go and see some houses while we're here, maybe even put in a conditional offer?
We could stay the whole weekend to celebrate.
Go for dinner again, hang out in the jacuzzi.
.. dream of putting in our own jacuzzi.. .."
Tristan forced himself to push away worry at the money of it all - logically, he knew Leander's finances were more than sound. "It's been a while since we've had a romantic weekend getaway... wait, wasn't there already a hot tub?"
"Well, yeah, but that's in the backyard. Hard to be naked. Need one in the basement dungeon."
Vaguely, Tristan remembered something about dungeons in Leander's excited promises about their future. There was something undeniably thrilling about the prospect, but... "You really think we need our own dungeon?"
"Of course," Leander replied, as if everyone in Cambridge had one.
"How else am I supposed to take care of my hard-working genius husband after a long day at the lab?
Ooh, can we get one of those curvy sex chaise lounges?
I've always wanted one, but they take up way too much room for a big city apartment.
Should we get it in black, blue, or purple leather?
They're probably made to order, so I should order it tomorrow, too.
Do you suppose there are interior designers who specialize in dungeons? There must be, right?"
"Let's look at the house first," Tristan laughed. "We'll need regular furniture too, my love."
"Mirrored closet doors are both kinky and practical," Leander pointed out.
It was hard to cling to practicality when Leander was so excited, green eyes bright with eager joy. Tristan drew him down into a kiss. "Alright. Mirrored doors and a sex chaise. But then we focus on regular moving things, alright?"
"Deal. God, I love you," Leander purred, kissing him deeper, and very soon proceeded to show him exactly how much for a second time before sleep finally found them both.
~~~