by Sara York
“Thank you, Christopher,” Lafferty said.
“Just call me Chris. It’s easier to yell.” Chris’ lips quirked up on one side before he slid out of the seat and headed to the back door of the house.
“Was he flirting at the end there?” Lafferty asked. “Like he didn’t mean yell during sex, did he?”
Andries chuckled. “I hope not. I like him, though he is quiet.”
Lafferty’s eyebrows quirked up. “You like him?”
“Not like that. He’s nice but quiet.”
“You thought so too? I was surprised when he gave that spiel at the end. It was like he said nothing at all on the drive and then boom, a string of words.”
Lafferty opened the back of the SUV and grabbed their bags. Andries was looking at the house, slowly turning to look at the barns and fields.
“You glad we came to live here?”
Andries nodded. “So glad. I feel like this is home.”
“Me too, love. Me too.”
They made their way inside and were met by Lane and Gresh in the kitchen. Hugs were given all around. Andries seemed uncomfortable, and Lafferty guessed they needed to clear the air.
“So you both know,” Lafferty said.
Gresh nodded. “Jump explained everything.”
“I’m so sorry.” Andries’ voice broke as he spoke.
“Have a seat,” Gresh pointed to the chairs. “My leg is bothering me today. I don’t want to wear it out.”
“Are you okay?” Lafferty asked.
“Yeah, it’s just the weather.”
They sat around the kitchen table, and Andries had his eyes down. Lafferty reached out and took his hand, squeezing twice.
“When I first met Lane, my dad decided he wanted me to marry this woman. She was a family friend and was younger than me. My dad told me I had to take her around, show her Houston, and spend time with her. We weren’t compatible, and I’m gay. Anyway, he had these photographers at the restaurant. They ran a story saying I was engaged to the woman. It damn near broke us up.” Gresh reached over and took Lane’s hand. The love they shared was evident in their expressions.
“It was devastating,” Lane said.
“What happened,” Andries asked.
Lafferty knew part of the story, but he’d never heard the whole thing. He leaned in, wondering how everything fit together.
“I had to fight to get Lane back.”
“I didn’t want to leave you,” Lane said.
“I know, love. But my dad wanted me to get married to a woman, so he announced to the whole world I was engaged to her. It’s different than what happened with you, but I’d lied to my father, never once telling him I was gay. Maybe he knew, but he was a manipulator. I couldn’t be myself. I understand you telling your dad you were married. Parents are hard to please, and when they aren’t willing to listen to you, you have to do some underhanded things.”
“We didn’t want to lie to you,” Andries said. “I really thought the story would end with my dad, and I’d never see him again.”
“It never works out that way, does it,” Lane chuckled as he spoke. “I’ve gotten myself into a load of trouble over the years. I’m no angel, but I don’t purposely make problems.”
“There were a few times you were pushing it,” Gresh said.
Lane threw back his head and laughed. “So true.”
“You’re not pissed?” Lafferty asked.
“No. We understand how upset you were at seeing your dad and why you told him you were married. I wish you would have told us when you came at Christmas, but I understand how you were placed in a hard position.”
“We are in love,” Lafferty said.
“Really?” Gresh asked.
“Yeah,” Andries said as he held out his hand, and Lafferty took it. “I love Lafferty.”
“And I love him. I know we haven’t known each other for long.” Lafferty lifted Andries’ hand and kissed the back of it.
“So how long do you think you two will be staying?” Lane asked.
“Maybe a while. I need to discuss my job with Jump and Bruce.”
“Are you thinking of doing something different?” Gresh leaned back, assessing him.
“I want to be here with Andries, and I don’t want to travel as much. I think it’s time for me to settle down with a family.”
Lafferty leaned in closer and kissed Andries’ cheek. His life was this man, and he wanted to change how he’d operated over the last few years.
“Are you happy?” Lane asked.
“With Andries, yes.” Lafferty blew out a breath. “I know I ran from here after I got my college degree, and I’ve been running since. I didn’t mean to be such a jerk. I love you both. You saved me from myself and a terrible future. I know Matthew is still fighting some demons, but maybe he’ll come around soon. Before you two came into my life, some things were shit, and I was helpless. My parents proved they didn’t care, and all of the things they’d done over the years still haunts me.”
Gresh crossed his arms on the table, his expression serious. “I’m sorry. I wish we could have gone back in time and erased all the bad shit.”
Lafferty shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe if I hadn’t lived through the bad shit, I wouldn’t have been so open to Andries.”
“I was just some homeless dude who showed up on your doorstep.”
“And fell into my house when I yanked the door open.”
Andries stared at him, his eyes filled with love. Lafferty’s heart squeezed. He would work to have forever with this man.
“I was so scared that night,” Andries whispered.
“I’m glad I opened the door. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t know you. I never would have fallen for you.”
“You’re both lucky,” Lane said. “Or maybe not lucky. Maybe this was more than luck. You were meant to be together.”
“I feel like we were.” Lafferty’s heart expanded as he stared at Andries.
Lane stood and reached out to shake Andries’ hand, then Lafferty’s “We’ll let you two get settled.”
“Thanks, and thank you for welcoming me into your house,” Andries said.
Gresh chuckled. “You’ll have to put up with living with a ten-year-old boy. He’s going to be so excited you two are back. He can’t stop talking about it.”
“I can’t wait until he’s out of school today. I love seeing him,” Lafferty said. “Daniel is another reason I wanted to move back here. I miss him.”
“Lafferty, you always were caring,” Lane said as he pulled him in for a hug.
He and Andries headed to their room. It was large, and out of the way. They would have some privacy, which they would need.
They unpacked their items and took a shower. By the time they were done, Daniel was home. He bounded into their room and raced toward Lafferty. He laughed and held Daniel close, glad his little brother was happy.
“So, you’re really moving back?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, for a while.”
“And you’re living here too?” he asked Andries.
“Yes. We’re living in this room for now.”
“Awesome. I have about twenty minutes of homework, then I want to show you my new video game.”
“You got it, buddy,” Lafferty said.
He watched his little brother race out of the room. He’d missed so much leaving home. Why had he thought he would find what he needed out there.
Andries came up and hugged him from behind. Now he knew why. He hadn’t had Andries here. He turned and faced his man, finding his eyes shining with love.
“I left this ranch searching for something, and I never found it. I looked in other countries, had sex with lots of men, allowed myself to be used, and nothing ever satisfied me until I found you. Andries, you are everything to me. I love you.”
Andries dropped to one knee and kissed Lafferty’s hand. “I make mistakes all the time, but the best decision I ever made was being with you. You are the reason for everyt
hing. I fell in love with you but was too scared to figure out what our love meant. Now I know. I love you, Lafferty Miller, and I want you to be with me forever. Say yes to being my husband.”
His throat swelled as excitement blasted through him. “Are you really asking?”
“Yes. I should have asked earlier, but I wanted to ask you here. I love you. You’re the one for me. Don’t ever think otherwise. You’re it.”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” Lafferty pulled Andries up and moved them to the bed. They tumbled to the mattress, laughing as he began kissing his way down Andries’ body.
“I love you,” Andries said.
Lafferty unsnapped Andries’ jeans and pushed them low before pulling out his cock. He glanced up, and their gazes met just before he wrapped his lips around Andries’ cock. The sound of his lover gasping and sighing as Lafferty sucked on Andries and played with his balls brought satisfaction to him. He had the best man ever, and now, they were going to have forever together for real.
Chapter Sixteen
A week later, Lafferty stood on the front porch, watching Matthew drive up in a black truck. He ran down the steps and into his brother’s arms.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
“Hey, for you, I’d do anything.” Matthew used his knuckles to graze the top of Lafferty’s head. “So, you’re really getting married this time?”
“Yeah. What about you?”
His brother blew out a breath and grunted. “There are things I just can’t tell you yet. One day soon.”
“You’re incredibly secretive.”
“Truth, little bro. Where is your man?” Matthew asked as he stepped away.
Lafferty shook his head. “Don’t think I don’t notice you changing subjects. I want to know everything about you soon.”
“Sure.” Matthew tossed over his shoulder. “Hey Andries, where are you,” Matthew called out.
The door opened, and Andries stepped out. Lafferty’s heart twisted. He’d found someone he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and Andries wanted to be with him.
“Matthew, it’s good to see you.” Andries stepped right into Matthew’s arms. It was great seeing his brother accept his man. He wanted them to all be friends. Matthew’s secrets disturbed him, but he would deal with Matthew keeping the details of his life to himself.
Lane and Gresh stepped outside along with Jump and Bruce. Jamie and Kip, along with their kids, walked around the corner of the barn. He was happy everyone had shown up. They were getting married this evening. Matthew said he couldn’t stay for long, but he had happily come down for this.
After sitting around the kitchen table chatting about everything under the sun, except Matthew’s life, he went to his room to get dressed. Andries was dressing in another room of the house, and they were supposed to meet on the back deck. He couldn’t wait until they were both really married. Being in a fake relationship with Andries had been great, having a real relationship with the man would be remarkable.
His door opened, and Matthew stepped in. “How are you doing?”
Lafferty smiled. “Great. I can’t wait to marry him.”
“Love is strange. We all have things in our lives we want to be changed, but finding the one, the perfect person who completes us, it transcends all the wishing and hopes we have about ourselves. Our lives are forever changed by that person.”
“I guess it means you’ve met the one?” Lafferty said.
Matthew’s cheeks turned darker, and his lips spread into a smile as he turned away. “One day, I’ll tell you everything.”
Lafferty put his hand on Matthew’s arm, and his brother turned back to face him. “Are you happy?” Lafferty had to know. He worried about his brother.
Matthew nodded. “Very.”
“Good. Now it’s time for me to get married.”
Matthew put his hand on Lafferty’s arm. “Hold up.”
“Yeah?” Concern wove through him.
“This means something to me. It may not be much, but it’s a money clip I picked up overseas. I want you to have it because then I’ll always know you have a piece of me with you. It means something to me because when I was over there, I was hanging out with this one guy, and I bought it when he was there. There’s more to it, but this really means something. I’ve carried it since.”
Lafferty took the clip and turned it over in his hands. He glanced up, narrowing his gaze, trying to figure out Matthew. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I want you to know you’re loved. You may have a family one day, and I want to be a part of your family.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll never lose me.”
Matthew wrapped his arms around Lafferty and kissed the top of his head. His heart filled with happiness. They stepped out of the bedroom, and he moved to the door leading outside. Across the lawn, he saw Andries with his head thrown back, laughing at something Daniel was saying.
“He’s a good man,” Matthew said.
“He is. I love how happy he is.”
“Do everything you can to keep him.” Matthew opened the door, and they stepped out to the sun-warmed afternoon.
The weather was perfect, the sky bright with puffy clouds drifting across the expanse. Andries turned to him, and a smile lit his face brighter than the sun in the sky. Lafferty had found the perfect man. He moved toward Andries and met him in the middle of the lawn. They stood in front of the female pastor they’d asked to do the ceremony.
“Friends, family, Lafferty and Andries, we are gathered here today to begin the rest of your lives. To move into a place where you will lean on each other and grow together all while serving as a testament of true love to those around you.”
Her words held the weight of responsibility. They would serve as a testament, just like Lane and Gresh had. He took hold of Andries’ hand and smiled at him. The fear he felt was welcome. There were things he was bound to get wrong, and he’d need to work on parts of himself, but being married to Andries was more than he’d ever believed he would have. Now he had the chance to grow. He had the love of one man, and together they would build a future, instead of squandering it.
Pride filled him as he said “I do” and moved to place the ring on Andries’ finger. This was what it was all about. Not finding another guy to screw or seeing how many kisses he could get in one night. Life was celebrating this union, growing together, building a future, and he was thrilled he had the opportunity with a man as wonderful as Andries. Pure love flowed between them as he leaned in, his lips sliding softly over Andries’ mouth. He stood tall, happiness filling him as he noticed a large double rainbow splashed behind Andries. A cool breeze blew in, and birds chirped. It was if the whole universe was celebrating their marriage.
“Forever,” Andries whispered.
“Forever, and a day, my love.” Lafferty wrapped his arms around his husband, satisfaction filling him. He may not have the love of the parents he grew up with, but he had more. Lafferty had a family who cared, and a man who loved him. He wouldn’t trade this life for anything.
The End
About the Author
Writing is Sara's life. The stories fight to get out, often leaving her working on four or five books at once. They can't help but write. Along with her writing addiction they have a coffee addiction. Some nights, the only reason they stop writing and goes to sleep is for the fresh brewed coffee in the morning.
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Also by Sara York
The Texas Soul Series
Texas Rough
Texas Hard
Texas Twist
Texas Branded
Texas Desire
Texas Legacy
The Colorado Heart Series
Colorado Wild
Colorado Fire
Colorado Flames With a Texas Twist
; Coming to Colorado
Colorado Hitch
Colorado Connection
Colorado Flip
Colorado Heat
Leaving Colorado
Colorado Luck
Love’s First Response series
Cops, Cakes, and Coffee
Firemen, Flames, and Fettuccine
Medics, Mayhem, and Mojitos
Holiday Emergencies
Southern Thing Series
Pray The Gay Away
Sending Jack Off To Jesus
My Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding
Billy
Lucas’ Story
Torn to Shreds
Learning to Live
In Texas series
Tempted In Texas
Troubled In Texas
True to Myself series
Do I Belong
Is There More
Standalone Novels
After The End
Becoming Cherished
Can’t Hide My Love
Forever Yours, Faithfully
Not That Type of Guy
Selling It
Storm’s Desire
Velocity
Without You
Working It Out
Zane’s Inferno
Novellas
Center Stage
Healing Love
Jens and Elliot: Storming Love Series 2
The Dust of Everyday Life
Vampire Daycare
Velocity
Transparency with Ethan Stone
Alpha’s Law with H.L. Holston
Strength of the Omega with H.L. Holston
Murder Stalks
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