Chapter Forty-Five
Beau
Jackson and Maverick might have been the ones getting married, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Dean.
The flowers in his hair. The way his tuxedo fit his lean body.
All I could think about now was how I could get him alone so that I could whisper filthy things into his ear while I stripped his clothes off.
Especially when Dean gave me a shy smile across the aisle where I stood as one of Jackson’s groomsmen.
My heart thumped in my chest, and I vowed to myself to never hurt him again.
And it was a beautiful wedding. The moment Jackson saw Maverick, dressed in all white, with a crown nestled into his hair, the smile on his face never wavered.
It was obvious that the two of them loved one another, and I hoped that they were always as happy as they were today.
That Jax never had to say goodbye to Maverick again or suffer the way he had while they were apart.
Maverick might not be my biggest fan, but I wanted the same for him.
He had every right to be upset with me. But he was Dean’s brother, and I wanted us to get along, no matter how long that took.
I was going to prove to everyone that I wanted Dean as much as I said that I did. That I loved him, and he was my future.
“You and Dean Frost, huh?” Wyatt murmured next to me. He and Asher were still doing whatever the heck it was they were doing, but today they were behaving themselves. Acting more like bros than a couple.
I nodded. “Yep.” I wasn’t going to deny it.
“Wait, really?” Wyatt stared at me with wide blue eyes. “You’re together?”
I smiled as Dean turned to look at me again. “I love him,” I answered, and that left Wyatt speechless. Which was exactly what I had been going for.
I wasn’t hiding who I was anymore, which meant that I was going to talk about my sexuality without outright blasting it from the rooftops. I was too old for a coming out announcement, and I was going to be myself.
The ceremony finished, the pictures were taken, and we all sat around a large round table to eat, talk, and laugh.
Dean sat to my right as he laughed at something Killian said, and I couldn’t help but reach over to touch his hair, my fingers inching to comb through the green tresses.
It looked nice done up this way, but I preferred it down or pulled back into a ponytail.
Dean turned to smile at me, his green eyes dark with heat, and I leaned forward to press a kiss against his temple just as Maverick huffed angrily.
“You said I could.” The look of happiness that Maverick had been sporting since he said ‘I do,’ disappeared when he pouted at his husband and folded his arms over his chest.
Jackson shook his head. “I never said any such thing, Mavs. You told me you wanted to burn down your parents’ house. You’re not doing that on our wedding day.”
“Why not?” Maverick played with the boutonniere that was pinned against his husband’s tuxedo jacket as he looked up at him from under his lashes. “It could be your wedding gift to me. The flames would be all romantic and shit.”
Jackson raised his hand to trace the gold septum ring in Maverick’s nose before he tipped his head back. “Maybe I already have a gift for you. Something much better than arson.”
“Here we go.” Killian rolled his eyes, but he broke into a smile when Maverick slapped his arm. “It’s sex, right? Your gift to him? Loud, kinky sex?”
Blake wiggled his brows. “You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” He roared with laughter when Killian raised his middle finger at him.
Jackson shrugged as a smile tugged at his lips. “Could be. Or maybe it’s jewelry. Or something sexy for my husband to wear for me later.”
Maverick’s mouth formed a perfect circle, but when he went to speak again, Jackson placed a finger over his lips and then kissed him before he could say anything else. Dean leaned into me and reached over to grab my hand so that he could clasp our hands together.
“I could do it for you. Maybe as my gift or just because our parents are assholes. Anyone have a lighter?” Dean chuckled softly.
Over my dead body. “No, you will not,” I growled, and Dean’s pupils dilated. I tugged on his arm, and I didn’t care that everyone was watching. Dean climbed right up into my lap without hesitation.
“You’re such a dad.” Wyatt snorted. He and Asher hooted with laughter. “Am I wrong?”
Dean sank his teeth into his bottom lip. “No, you’re not wrong.” He flashed a shy smile around the table at everyone. “It’s kind of hot how alpha daddy he can be.”
“Blech, gross.” Killian wrinkled his nose and mimed throwing up.
Matthias bumped his shoulder. “You can be my hot alpha daddy any time, baby.”
Killian swore under his breath and then he broke into a giant smile, deep dimples appearing on his cheeks. “Are our obligations done? Can we leave?” He barked out a laugh when Maverick threw a napkin at him.
“When it’s over. Jax and I haven’t even danced yet or had cake,” he reminded everyone.
Dean rested his head on my shoulder. I loved how it felt like he was made for me.
Like he was meant to fit right here in my lap.
And that he didn’t have an issue showing everyone that we were together.
Dean didn’t know it yet, but I had plans to go introduce myself to his parents before we left here.
Jackson had given me the address, and I was surprised when I realized it wasn’t even five minutes from the Olsons’ house.
“What’s got you thinking so hard?” Dean traced my lips with the tip of his index finger. “Are you okay?”
I smiled at him. “I’m perfect, Pink, I promise.”
“When does Cole come home?” he asked, and my heart soared at how much he cared about my son. We had talked about Dean coming back with me to Boston, and I hadn’t told Cole yet. It was going to be a surprise.
I squeezed him closer. “Next Saturday.” Patty and Don were scheduled to pick him up.
“Cool. I can’t wait to see him.” Dean told me before he turned his attention back to his friends.
I was content to sit here holding my boyfriend until I caught the way Killian was watching me.
Were we going to have a problem? I raised my brows at him, and Killian rolled his eyes at me.
When I continued to stare at him, narrowing my eyes, he rolled his eyes again and then winked at me. What the hell?
“Are you two fighting?” Dean twisted around to look at me.
Killian snorted. “No. Just giving him a little warning.”
“That was a warning? You winked at me.” I didn’t have time for this. Either he hated me, or he got over whatever this was he felt. But I was in love with Dean, and Killian couldn’t change that.
“I don’t care what it was, Kill, just please. Knock it off.” Dean huffed. He quickly realized Maverick was glaring at him. “Sorry.”
Maverick sighed. “I’m going to dance with my husband.
” He jumped to his feet. “Come along, Jackson.” He held out his hand, which Jax happily took.
“And if you two even think about starting a fight at my wedding, I will end you,” he hissed between clenched teeth.
“Arson will not be the only crime I commit tonight.”
“Sweetheart, what did we say about burning down your parents’ house?” Jackson sighed as they walked toward the dance floor.
Dean smacked Killian’s shoulder. “Stop it. Right now. Both of you. Don’t you dare make a scene. I’m in love with Beau, Kill. And he loves me. I’m moving to Boston to be with him. End of story.”
“Wait, so this is serious?” Killian’s eyes ping-ponged between the two of us.
I nodded. “I love him. I want to be with him and spend the rest of my life with him.”
“And you’re going to what, exactly? Be a stepfather? Go to PTA meetings and school hockey games? Have a bake sale?” Killian whispered, and I suddenly realized it wasn’t me he hated. He hated the fact that he was going to lose his best friend.
Dean took my hand. “Cole is in high school, but maybe yes to the other stuff.”
“I think I’d like that. You going to a PTA meeting and baking cupcakes for the hockey team,” I teased just to watch Dean blush. “He’s not going anywhere, Killian. He’s going to be closer than when he was in California. You can visit any time.”
Matthias leaned close to his fiancé’s ear to whisper something none of us could hear. Whatever it was, it had Killian’s eyes flashing with heat, and a big smile spread over his face. “And you can come visit us, too, right, Killian?”
“You can’t get rid of your best friend that easily, asshole,” Dean teased. “Hey, it’s okay if that’s what this really was. If you thought I was going to forget about you.”
Killian grunted. “It wasn’t.”
“Okay.” Dean chuckled. “When do you want me to come visit? Just me. I’ll come alone.”
Killian glanced at me before he spoke again. “You can bring him if you want. And the kid.”
“Cole will lose his mind. He’s obsessed with Mulligan.” Dean grinned. “You’re always going to be my best friend, Kill, I promise.” He wiggled out of my lap and hugged him.
Killian rolled his eyes again, then returned the embrace. “I’d better be, or like Maverick said, arson won’t be the only crime you have to worry about.”
“They can all come visit, right? Killian, Matty, Blake, and Tom?” Dean whispered, and when I nodded, he leaned up to kiss me.