“This morning, yes, Zoey and I visited. They’re good. They miss you, but they’re excited about your new job with the rodeo. Getting out of the city and state. Doing something new.”
“I love what I’m doing.” George pressed his shoulder into Levi’s. “Some days I surprise even myself.”
Some days he still surprised the crap out of Levi. George had taken an interest in the physical work involved in the rodeo. With his young age and physical flexibility, George could learn to participate in the rodeo shows, and they were slowly easing him into a few of the tricks. He would likely not perform this coming season but maybe the next. With a little more training, practice and time.
Lucky’s Rodeo was Levi’s to shape and form, and he absolutely wanted his partner’s input. For them to create a show worthy of Dad’s legacy and be as inclusive as possible going forward. An attraction that would make every past and future Peletier who worked for it proud.
“So did you get anything fun in your stocking this year?” Robin asked, seeming to direct the question to Levi.
Levi chuckled, not about to tell him about the spectacular blow job he’d gotten from George under their tiny Christmas tree. “Nothing but coal. Apparently, I was a bad boy this year and Santa didn’t approve.”
“Yeah, right.”
“There actually was one gift Levi hasn’t gotten yet,” George said, a funny hitch in his voice. “I wanted to give it to him with our family around to see.”
Curious, Levi angled to face George more fully. George put his left hand in his pocket but didn’t bring out anything yet. Whatever the gift was, it was small.
“This is going to stay PG rated, right?” Levi asked.
“Yes, it is,” George replied. He clasped Levi’s hand with his free one and squeezed. “The first time we met up at the ghost town, I knew there was something special about you, Levi, but I had no idea exactly how special you were. That you’d be my mythical knight in shining armor, saving me from my isolated life high up in a tower that I couldn’t escape from alone. You give me so many things I never knew I needed and other things I never thought I deserved. You give me peace and joy and courage. And we’re about to start a brand-new life together. Before we do, I wanted to...well...” George pulled his left hand from his pocket and held it out. On his palm were two gold bands. “I want to put a ring on it.”
Levi’s lips parted, stunned by the gesture and that George had been the one to do it first. To take another huge leap forward into his new life.
“Holy shit,” Orry squeaked. “Did you just propose?”
“Not yet,” George replied, his clear blue eyes never leaving Levi’s. “Marry me, Levi?”
“Yes.” Levi closed his free hand around the rings and held tight, his eyes burning with joyful tears. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
The call erupted with cheers and shouts, and Levi ignored it all in favor of kissing George. A long, promising kiss that only ended long enough for them to each put a ring on the other, and then they were back in each other’s arms. The laptop eventually went silent as everyone else dropped out, because Levi couldn’t stop kissing his fiancé.
Until Sporty crash landed on his lap, claws up, and he broke free with a yelp. Her job done, Sporty jumped onto the back of the couch and settled by George’s head. “You sure you’re ready for this?” Levi asked. “Three step-cats is a lot of work.”
George stroked Baby, who’d resettled on the cushion beside him. “They’re worth it. You’re worth it. Some days my life still doesn’t feel real. I think I’ll wake up in my old bed, alone with no one but my brother to defend me. Never satisfied with how my body looked. A year ago, I never would have, in my wildest fantasies, thought I’d be here. In another state, far from Orry, newly engaged, happy with who I am, and so in love my heart wants to burst.”
“I never expected to be here, either. You helped me open up and trust again, and I will always treasure that. As I’ll treasure you for the rest of our lives, George Thompson.”
“I’ll treasure you, too, Levi Peletier.”
They sealed those perfect words with another long, sensual kiss that eventually led them upstairs to the bedroom. As they moved together with all the time in the world to reach climax and no rush to get there, Levi sent silent thanks after thanks to the universe for leading him here, to this exact moment. To George.
To a future he couldn’t wait to see and experience with his husband by his side.
* * *
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Acknowledgments
Huge thanks, as always, to my amazing editor Alissa. We’ve been on quite the journey these last few years, and I am forever grateful for your guidance and friendship. To the Clean Slate Ranch fans who have followed me along on this crazy journey, thank you guys too. This found family means the world to me, as does your loyalty and support. If only CSR was a real place, I’d take you all on vacation. —A.M.
About the Author
A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone’s throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland. She’s been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn’t been coined yet back then) with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories. A.M. Arthur’s work is available from Carina Press, SMP Swerve, and Briggs-King Books.
When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder. She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she’s an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.
Contact her at [email protected] with your cooking tips (or book comments). For updates, info and the occasional freebie, sign up for her free newsletter: https://vr2.verticalresponse.com/s/signupformynewsletter16492674416904