Chapter 4 #2
“I was so worried when you first started volunteering that you’d get your heart broken every time that a dog left. You have such a soft heart that I knew it would be tough even if you understand that they needed to go.”
“They need to be with their forever person,” Avery said.
“That’s right, baby boy.” Jace smiled. “I need that too.”
Huh? Did Jace want another dog? Like a service dog?
Jace whistled and Gus trotted forward.
Avery turned his head before he was distracted by Jace squeezing his hands again. Except now Jace was kneeling on one knee.
Oh! Ohhh! Daddy was holding his hands while down on one knee.
“I love you so very much, baby boy. You are everything that I could ever want in a partner. I love your soft heart, your kindness, and your need for me to take care of you,” Jace said.
“I love you too,” Avery whispered.
Jace released Avery’s hands then reached over to Gus and gave the black German Shepherd a scratch on the top of his head before reaching for something attached to Gus’s collar.
A box.
A very small black box.
Jace untied the box from Gus’s collar and the dog moved closer to Avery to lean against Avery’s leg.
Avery dug the fingers of his right hand into Gus’s thick fur of as he started to shake.
Still on one knee, Jace opened the box with it facing Avery.
Two beautiful shining rose gold rings sat nestled inside the black velvet padding.
“Avery, my love, my boy,” Jace said. “Will you marry me and be my forever person?”
Tears were already falling down his cheeks, making it hard to see his Daddy. His love. His everything.
Avery had not expected this. They had briefly talked about how they felt about marriage a year ago when they’d been invited to Grant and Caleb’s for a barbecue that ended up being a secret wedding that the two surprised them all with.
Caleb hadn’t warned anyone that Grant had proposed and the wedding took place a week later. Just a small ceremony with an even smaller guest list.
At the time Avery hadn’t really thought much about marriage. He already knew that Jace was it for him. No one would ever compare to the man that had stolen Avery’s heart the first time he’d held Avery on his lap as Avery had cried.
It had been in front of the restaurant Avery had worked at as Avery had waited for the bus in the cold. Jace had seen him break down and had been there to pull Avery out of the darkness and into this new wonderful life. That was also the first time that Jace had said the word Daddy.
Daddy.
His Daddy. His partner. His future husband.
“Avery,” Jace said.
He blinked. Why was Daddy still on his knees. Avery wanted to wear his new ring. He wanted to show everyone!
“I need an answer, baby,” Jace told him.
“An answer?” Avery repeated. Then it hit him. He hadn’t said yes!
Jace smiled sweetly. “Yes, an answer, baby boy.”
“Yes!” Avery launched himself into Jace’s arms and of course his Daddy caught him because Jace was the very best Daddy in all the world. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Jace kissed him, full of passion and love.
Avery kissed him back, digging his fingers into Jace’s shoulders as he clung to the man he loved.
Cheering, shouts, whooping, and cat-calls interrupted the best kiss and possibly most important of Avery’s life.
He jerked his mouth away to look back toward the kennels.
They were all there. His friends. His family.
Clint, Gio, Phil from the camp. Byron was holding Mitch as tears ran down Mitch’s cheeks and he grinned.
Caleb was in his Daddy Grant’s arms, dabbing at his own cheeks.
Hayley was bouncing as he cheered, holding on to Mac.
Jayme was dancing around with Lance before grabbing ahold of Sammy and forcing him to dance as well while Creed laughed.
Marco was clapping softly but his eyes were shining with tears as Skinner held him close against his chest. And Master Finn had two arms full of Jackson and Michael as neither seemed to be able to stand still.
“Let me put the ring on you and then we can go show our friends,” Jace said.
Daddy was so smart!
* * *
Avery
The light from the nightstand caught on Avery’s new ring as he waved his hand around to stare at the most beautiful piece of jewelry that he’d ever seen.
“It’s not going anywhere,” Jace teased from the foot of the bed.
“I don’t know, Daddy. I might have to stare at it for another hour.” He was going to get married. To his best friend. To his Daddy!
Jace chuckled as he yanked his shirt over his head. “I thought you wanted to celebrate?”
Hmm, Avery did want to celebrate but he also wanted to continue to stare at the engagement ring that fit perfectly on his finger.
He glanced down at the matching ring on Jace’s hand.
Finding out that they would both get to wear engagement rings before adding a second band for their wedding, Avery had insisted on slipping that ring in place.
It was a moment that he would never forget.
“Now you want to stare at my ring?” Jace asked.
“I’ve rather feel it wrapped around my cock, Daddy,” Avery replied sassily.
Jace paused in removing his pants. “I’m not sure how well that will work out, baby. I’m not very good with my left hand.”
Oh. That was sad. Although Avery did understand the issue. “Okay…”
“How about we get back to the celebration,” Jace suggested. He finished tossing the rest of his clothes across the room.
Avery giggled. “Daddy, you’re making a mess!”
“It’s our engagement night. I think a mess is okay.”
Their engagement night. Avery was getting married. He hadn’t even realized that he absolutely wanted for that to happen until Jace had put that ring on his finger. Jace was already Avery’s favorite person. His forever human.
The words Jace had spoken came back to him.
“Avery, my love, my boy,” Jace had said. “Will you marry me and be my forever person?”
Jace had said the most perfect words ever.
“Daddy!” Avery held his arms out. “I need you!”
Jace barked out a laugh. “I’m trying, baby boy. You didn’t help me undress you and keep getting distracted.”
But now they were both naked. Why was Jace so far away. “Come closer.”
Placing a knee on the mattress, Jace grinned. “This close?”
“Closer,” Avery said.
A second knee was placed carefully. “How about this?”
“Closer, Daddy.” Blindly reaching out, Avery patted the bed until he’d bumped the lube to him. He grabbed the bottle and held it out.
“Oh!” Jace feigned shock. “Did you want something, baby?”
“You know what I want,” Avery replied.
Jace snatched the bottle of lube from him before he popped the lid open. “Spread your legs. Let Daddy see that perfect little hole.”
Avery flung his arms up to grip the slats in the bedframe as he bent his knees and spread himself open. It was a position that still made heat flood to his face until he saw Jace’s hand start to shake.
Jace licked his lips. “So pretty.”
“All yours, Daddy,” Avery said sincerely.
“Damn right you are.” Jace dove forward to kiss Avery deeply before Avery felt a slick finger probing at his entrance. “All mine forever, boy.”
“Forever and ever,” Avery mumbled against his Daddy’s lips before kissing Jace again. He’d found his forever person after all.
The End