Chapter Eight #5
“I was going to lie to you before, because I was planning on surprising you with a very special gift. I slept alone, or in this case, barely slept, so I could have some privacy to order it. I couldn’t do that if I slept in bed with you.
I was moved to do something romantic, but it meant hiding it temporarily so I could surprise you. ”
Corbin stared at him.
And now he felt like an idiot.
“Oh.”
Alex was to the point.
“I’ve been considering it for a week now.
I just didn’t take into account that we’re both super paranoid Feds.
You were a detective, and you are accustomed to being suspicious.
I’m a Fed, and I’m accustomed to it too.
Only, the last week being locked down with you has made me think about one thing. ”
Corbin waited.
“I’m stupid in love with you in ways I never thought possible.”
He blinked.
Oh, shit.
Yep.
He’d been an idiot because Corbin didn’t detect a single, solitary lie.
Alex continued.
“No, actually, I’m three days past stupid.
I’m ‘lie to the man I love and try to buy wedding rings so I can propose to him when he doesn’t expect it’ stupid.
That’s what the receipt is for. It’s two gold bands, inscribed with something meaningful that I wanted you to have forever.
I’ve caught every single hint this week about our relationship, and I think you saw me avoiding them as me not feeling the same, when I was avoiding them so I could prove I did understand, and I feel the same. ”
At his explanation, Corbin stared in surprise and felt like the biggest fool.
“So, that’s what I was doing. I figured you wouldn’t be too suspicious because it was only one night, but I was wrong.
When you walked out, I called Noah. He’s the one who always talks me through my issues.
He said that I can’t lie or hide shit from you because clearly, you’re going to pick up on it.
I just didn’t want to wait until this was over to order the rings.
Like I said, they are being engraved, and that takes time.
My plan was to order them, get them, and do something romantic the first day we’re able to be out on the streets again. ”
Corbin couldn’t believe this was happening. What he had seen as the man pulling away was just him planning something romantic.
Alex loved him.
Alex wanted to be with him.
“I found my person,” Alex admitted. “I know it’s fast, but I genuinely have been the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, until I nearly just fucked this up.
I’ve been trying not to giggle like a freaking idiot each time you drop a hint.
It’s been so damn difficult to because I want to skip around the room like a lunatic. ”
Holy.
Shit.
Corbin hadn’t seen this ending here. This was just more proof how he tended to screw shit up.
“So, you want to marry me?” he asked. “because you don’t ever bring it up.”
He actually laughed.
“Corbin, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Only, I need Noah to be here, and Elizabeth. They are the two people who have had my back, and I wanted them to see me make the BEST decision of my life.”
Corbin felt the love.
Alex wasn’t done.
“Yes, I am moving fast, but I wasn’t sure if you were going along with me on this wild ride, or if you were going to look at me like I was insane.”
His heart raced.
“I’m going with you,” he stated. “I’m always going with you, Alex. I told you that. I meant it. I don’t do one-night stands. I do permanency.”
Then, they were on the same page.
Alex moved closer and put both his hands on Corbin’s face.
“I love you. I’m going to fuck this up so bad because you’re my first relationship. I mean, it was like I was dating Noah, when he was living with me, just without the sex, but this is my sweet spot. This is us. You’re my person.”
Corbin stood up.
“I’m sorry I ruined your surprise. I just…I was scared you were going to get free when we were allowed out of here, and never look back. I thought I did something wrong.”
Alex was honest.
“Corby, you’ve only ever done everything right. Well, except telling me I was a fuck and run, and you’d never care about me. That was all kinds of wrong.”
He cringed.
“In my defense, Alex, I never said those words exactly. You’re paraphrasing. Please tell me that’s not what is being engraved in our rings.”
Alex laughed.
“No, but paraphrasing is still pretty close.”
Well, he wasn’t wrong.
Now was he?
“Yeah, that wasn’t my finest moment,” Corbin admitted. “I’m not the sharpest tool in the romance shed.”
He laughed.
“But you’re my tool, right?” he asked. “Because over the last week, I’ve been believing that you want to be in this toolbox with me.”
Corbin put his hand on Alex’s cheek and stared into his eyes.
“I want to put my tool in that box daily. Sometimes, a few times a day.”
Alex laughed and found Corbin’s mouth.
He threw his arms around his neck and held onto him like they were going to spin out of control if he didn’t. Kissing Corbin was always an amazing experience.
He held him and didn’t leave anything to the imagination.
They might not be perfect, but they were perfectly insane for each other.
When he broke the kiss, Alex left a trail of open-mouthed kisses, on his neck, and by his ear.
Alex knew he would reassure his man one kiss at a time, if that was what it took.
He was willing to fight, and to do the work to be with this man.
“Might I interest you in some makeup sex even though it wasn’t a fight?” Alex asked, grinning mischievously.
Corbin stared into his eyes.
This reminded him of a time long ago when he’d had such hope that his life was filled with that important thing it had been missing.
LOVE.
“I mean, if it means getting naked with you, I’ll start a fight right now. I don’t like your pajamas. Take them off.”
Alex grinned.
“They’re hideous and blocking what I really want to see. Horrible.”
His man kissed him again, slowly devouring his mouth in a heated lip lock.
Holy.
Shit.
Corbin felt like he was melting. That mating of mouths was scorching hot.
When he felt Alex’s fingers on the waist of his pants, he was giddy.
He’d not fucked this up.
“You’re wearing too many things, too,” Alex admitted, as he broke the kiss. His one hand was on Corbin’s chest, and the other was on his waist.
Well, he could settle that.
Corbin took a step back and yanked his shirt off of his body so fast. If this man wanted him naked, he was absolutely getting buck-ass naked.
As he did that, Alex laughed and joined him.
Between the two of them, clothing was going everywhere but on their bodies.
Now, the fun could begin.
Moving toward him, he tossed the man over his shoulder, much to Alex’s surprise.
“We’re having sex in OUR bed. Not the guest room,” Corbin said, carrying the man toward their room. “When this is over, I want to combine our homes. Whose house do you want to sell?”
Alex was upside down.
“You want to discuss this now?” he asked, as he had a handful of Corbin’s very sexy ass. “This can’t wait?” he inquired, laughing.
The whole thing was absurd, but it was also the most amazing thing in the whole world.
He.
Was.
Loved.
Corbin took the bossy route, since he tended to be the Top in this relationship.
“I sold my house in Philly. We’ll keep yours in DC, and then I’ll sell this one if we move back. Sound good?” he asked, kicking their bedroom door shut.
Alex felt the world right itself, as he was dropped to his feet.
He found himself staring into Corbin’s eyes.
“Yes.”
The man smiled, and that dimple...
Holy shit.
That dimple would make him do stupid things each and every time it appeared in Corbin’s cheek.
The man took his face in his hands, and stared into his eyes. Alex wasn’t sure what he was going to say.
“I’m sorry that I nearly screwed this up overthinking. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a relationship. Give me grace. I’ll get back up to speed.”
Alex ran his fingers over Corbin’s lower lip.
“I’ve never been in one. Give me grace, too. We’ll figure it out. I might have to call Noah a few times as I whisper in the bathroom. Don’t panic.”
He laughed.
Ironically, he would be doing the same thing.
“I’ll be calling Gene. He’s my compass when it comes to things like this.”
Well, then, they’d be fine.
Before he could say anything else, Corbin moved closer to Alex, and they fell backward onto the bed.
As soon as they did, the bigger man took control of their lovemaking—as usual.
It was body to body, and mouth to mouth.
That deep, heated kiss took the temperature up in the room, making everything seem hotter.
When he broke the kiss, Alex was overwhelmed with all the feelings.
“Corbin,” he whispered.
The man smiled.
“I love how you say my name when you’re all flustered,” he admitted, as both of their erections had come to the party, and they were ready to go.
Go.
Wild.
Alex held on as Corbin found his mouth again. The kiss was nuclear as they rolled around on the bed, getting tangled in the unmade bedding.
When both of Alex’s wrists ended up cuffed in Corbin’s fingers above his head, that was when he broke the kiss.
“My all,” Corbin promised. “I’ll love you forever.”
And he believed him.
Alex saw how long and hard he’d mourned for Will, and that made him feel so special. He’d been chosen by this man, and he’d never forget that.
EVER.
“Show me,” Alex demanded. “Show me everything I have to look forward to.”
Oh, hell, yeah.
Corbin grinned wickedly.
“Buckle up,” he said, before starting to kiss his way down Alex’s body.
He pulled his hands to his sides, so he could keep him trapped, but also be able to head south.
To the prize.
For a few minutes, he stayed at his nipples, and teased them to rile the man up.
And it definitely worked.
Alex wasn’t just hard.
No.
He was dripping precum in anticipation of their little sexy interlude.
“I love makeup sex,” Alex admitted.
Yeah, Corbin did too.
Next, he traced a path around Alex’s belly button. He left warm kisses punctuated by nips to his flesh.
Alex whimpered in pleasure.
“Lower,” he begged. “Please.”
Oh, he was heading there.
Don’t doubt that.