“I’m so sorry. I love you. You’re my everything. I never should’ve hurt you. I don’t deserve you.”
Grayson kept petting him. “I love you too. It’s okay.”
Finley shook his head. “It’s not. I was just so scared. You can’t risk yourself like that again. My heart can’t take it. I love you. Please don’t put yourself in danger again. Please stay away from Jacob. I’ll be your family. I swear you won’t need anyone else. Please just don’t leave me.”
Grayson kissed the shell of Finley’s ear. “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. You’re my sweet daddy. I don’t need anything else. I love you.”
Finley’s muscles relaxed a hair at Grayson’s words. Then his resolve set in. He had Grayson back under his roof and in his bed. Finley would keep him safe. They would be happy, and Grayson would stay healthy. It was as simple as that. If, for any reason, Jacob came around again, Finley would kill him. Problem solved. No harm would come to his baby. Grayson would see. Life would be beautiful. He would never hurt again. Finley snuggled as close as he could without hurting Grayson. This was forever. Finley would make it great.
Chapter Twelve
Even though they were back to living together, Finley and Grayson still attended every one of Silas’ events. Not only did they enjoy the freedom of the gatherings, Silas and Benji were their friends. Grayson liked seeing them. Finley never left Grayson’s side during the parties. No one else got Finley’s attention. Grayson felt more secure than he had in years. Still, there was something more he needed.
“Daddy?”
Finley looked up from the Legos he was putting together for Grayson. “Yes, angel?”
“Will you push me on the swings?” Finley was having a jungle gym built as an early Valentine’s gift at their house, but he enjoyed taking advantage of Benji’s play area when he could.
“Aye. Let’s go.”
Grayson scrambled to his feet and skipped to the edge of the playpen. Finley lifted him over the edge before following him. Hand in hand, they headed outside. There was a bit of a nip to the air, but his pajamas kept him toasty. Outside, Grayson ran to the nearest swing and climbed on. While Finley pushed, Grayson kicked his feet. Still, he didn’t find the joy he hoped to find. He needed to fix things.
Grayson dragged his feet, stopping the swing. He turned, twisting the chains so he would spin when he lifted his feet. Grayson toed the ground, trying to work up the nerve to ask something that had been bothering him since he had moved back to where he belonged.
“What’s eating you, baby?”
A smile tugged at the corners of Grayson’s mouth. Finley knew him too well. Grayson took a quick breath. “Why don’t you call me your wee one anymore? Are you still mad at me?”
A deep line appeared between Finley’s eyebrows. “I have never, not one time, been angry with you. You asked me not to call you wee one any longer. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you, so I’ve kept my word not to call you that.”
“Oh.” Grayson lifted his feet and let the swing unwind. He still wasn’t happy. There was just this insecurity that never left since their split. He wanted to get past it. Finley wasn’t doing anything to make him feel that way. It was Grayson. His life had never been secure. He tilted his chin up and leaned back in the swing, so he looked at Finley upside down. Grayson liked the way it made him lightheaded. “Daddy?”
“Aye, wee one?”
A bright smile snapped to Grayson’s lips. Finley knew him too well. He had missed those words. “Can we get married?”
Finley plucked him from the swing, forcing Grayson to meet and hold his stare. “Are you sure you want to be stuck with me forever?”
Grayson held tightly to Finley’s neck and toyed with Finley’s hair. He nodded. “I’ve never had a steady home and someone who loves me. Not that I can recall, anyhow. I don’t want to be scared anymore.”
A slow smile spread across Finley’s face. “I love you, but I never thought you’d want to marry me after everything I’ve done. I worried you’d never trust me that much.”
Grayson’s eyebrows snapped together. “Of course I trust you. You’re my daddy.”
Finley’s smile somehow grew even bigger. “Let’s do it.”
A happy squeal burst from Grayson. Their lips met automatically, as if they went for each other at the same time. Pure joy poured through Grayson. He honestly hadn’t expected Finley to say yes, much less be enthusiastic about the idea. Grayson thought Finley wouldn’t want another husband after Coby. He had been prepared to accept that since he didn’t want to replace the man Finley had loved so much. Now he realized Finley loved him equally. It was more humbling than he’d expected. Things turned heated fast. Grayson wondered if he was about to get fucked on a jungle gym.
“I hope you two don’t mind the interruption.”
Grayson and Finley turned their heads at the sound of Max’s voice. Max, Kage, Tommy, Silas, and Benji were waiting for their attention.
Max had a bottle of champagne in each hand and one tucked beneath his arm. “I was in the bushes during your proposal for… reasons and thought this sounded like a good excuse to get fucked up.”
“He means celebrate,” Benji corrected.
Max nodded. “That too.”
Grayson smiled so hard, his cheeks ached as bottles popped and champagne passed from person to person. Before his first invite to one of these events, Grayson had never known acceptance. Never in his wildest dreams could he have foreseen how that would lead to finding so much love. So much fucking love. Grayson’s heart overflowed with it. Just like everything in his life, it hadn’t come easily. But, for once, it was worth it. His gaze slid toward the love of his life. Finley was worth it. He was imperfect. Just like Grayson. That made them even better together. They would have a great life.
Keep an eye out for the next book in the ‘D’ series, Wastrel.
Please consider leaving a review at the retailer where you purchased this book. Reviews really help with a book’s visibility, which allows me to continue writing more stories. Thank you, Charity.