“Pull over.”
Declan flashed him a worried look. “What?”
Ezra crossed his arms over his chest. “You heard me. Pull over.”
Declan made his way to the shoulder of the road. The minute they were safely parked, Ezra punched Declan in the arm. Declan didn’t look fazed in any way. “What?”
“How dare you say you’re not necessary? You’re very necessary to me. Since the day Mom died, you’ve been the one who’s been here for me. You’re the one who made sure I ate and finished my online classes so I could graduate from high school. Jessie sure as heck wasn’t volunteering to help with Calculus while he was high as an ivory tower. Then, there’s Jessie. No one else in their right mind would’ve stayed by his side as long as you have. That matters to me. You have the patience of a saint and a heart as big as this truck. Declan, you are one thousand percent necessary to me. Don’t you ever say you’re not again.”
“Okay.”
Ezra huffed. “Is that it? Just okay.”
Declan smiled. “Thank you and I love you.”
With a shake of his head, Ezra looked away. “You’re welcome and I love you too.” He didn’t want Declan to see his disappointment. Ezra wanted Declan to keep talking about marriage. Instead, he’d gotten an okay. What the fluff was that?
Declan leaned Ezra’s way and pulled him in for a kiss. He didn’t stop until Ezra was damn near climbing his body, breathless and hard. Then, with flushed cheeks and panting, Declan pressed his forehead to Ezra’s. With his eyes closed, Declan took a deep breath, as if breathing him in. Ezra’s heart twisted. He loved this man more than life. It didn’t matter if Declan never talked to him about marriage again. They were enough for him. Ezra was happy with this life.
On the drive home, Declan thought everything through. He needed to talk to Jessie, but that wasn’t his biggest and most immediate concern. Declan had other things to take care of right now. With the truck unloaded at Ezra’s house, and a very happy Icarus tearing up Ezra’s backyard, Declan hoped he could duck out for a few without being too missed.
“Can you do me a favor and go rest for a few while I run a couple of errands?”
Ezra’s forehead furrowed. “Why do I need to rest while you’re out?”
Declan hovered over Ezra and rubbed his arms. “For my peace of mind, please? You’re still not at full bars and I’ll worry if you’re not resting.”
“Sure. Is everything okay?”
“I have you. Everything is perfect. I just need to take care of some things and I know you’ll try unpacking all these bags and whatnot while I’m gone if I don’t ask you to sit down.”
There was laughter in Ezra’s eyes and Declan wanted more. Ezra stood on the tips of his toes and kissed Declan’s chin. “Hurry back.”
Declan claimed Ezra’s mouth for a better kiss. It was hard to pull away. As much as Declan didn’t want to leave, he also needed to do something important. “Remember. Relax. I’ll be back as fast as possible.” Ezra followed him to the door and closed it behind him. Declan’s heart stayed behind as he climbed back behind the wheel of his truck.
Declan liked driving. It always gave him time to think. He made some of his best plans and decisions while stuck in traffic. Today was no different. The drive back from Arizona had given him plenty of time to work out a few plans. Now he needed traffic to be on his side because he had a few things to do. As if the universe was on his side, he got everything done in record time. He wondered if Ezra had actually done as he said or if he would find all their bags magically unpacked when he got home. As Declan climbed from the truck, he paused as he realized what he had just thought. This was his home now because Ezra was inside. That was his life. His steps picked up at the thought. He finally had the dream life he had wanted with every fiber of his being. Declan wouldn’t take a second of it for granted.
He struggled a little with the back door while carrying two bags of food and drinks. After a minute, he managed. As he came through the door, Declan’s heart stopped. Through the kitchen, he could see Ezra in the living room. He was on his side on the living room floor, looking like he had landed there in an unnatural position. Flashbacks of Ezra almost dying had Declan dropping the bags and running.
He skidded to a stop and dropped to his knees, only to find Ezra blinking at him in surprise like he was insane. “Hey, gorgeous. You got back fast.”
“What are you doing on the floor? You scared the shit out of me.” Declan might have roared the words like a complete lunatic, but he couldn’t help it.
Ezra looked understandably confused by Declan screaming in his face. “I kicked back in the recliner, as you suggested, then your rotten dog came running in through the doggie door with a small animal of some kind in his mouth. When I screamed, he dropped it and it scurried under the couch. I locked him in the bathroom and was trying to figure out what it is and catch it.”
Declan nearly collapsed in his relief. He wasn’t sure if he would ever feel safe with Ezra being alone again. Declan dragged a deep breath in through his nose, trying to calm his racing heart. “So he’s my rotten dog now, huh? I thought he was ours.”
Ezra chuckled as he sat up. “He’s yours when he’s trying to eat small animals.”
Declan pushed to his feet. “Okay. Let’s see what it is. I’ll lift the couch. You get ready to catch it.” Ezra gave him a sharp nod. Declan lifted the couch. Ezra dove beneath.
“Awww. It’s a baby bunny, Declan.”
Declan dropped the couch when Ezra stood. He held a tiny brown ball of fluff against his chest. Declan eyed him. “He doesn’t look any worse for the wear. Hopefully, Icarus was only trying to make a friend and not actually eat him. I’ll get the back door and you can take him out.” He watched as Ezra carried the bunny to the backyard, leaving him as far as possible away from the door. When Ezra turned back Declan’s way, he was all smiles. Something in Declan’s chest swelled. He thought it might be pride and happiness mixing together to choke him. Declan’s hand automatically went to his pocket. When Ezra was almost to the door, Declan dropped to one knee.
Ezra’s steps faltered. “Are you okay?”
Declan held out the ring he had dug from his pocket. “Will you marry me?”
Ezra didn’t even look at the ring. He launched himself into Declan’s arms and wrapped himself around Declan’s body. He kissed every place he could reach, making Declan laugh. “Are you kidding me? Yes. You didn’t even have to ask.”
Declan couldn’t stop smiling at Ezra’s over-the-top reaction. “Of course I had to ask.” He pushed to his feet with Ezra clutched to his chest. “In truth, I actually had a much nicer proposal planned. I don’t know what happened just then. You were walking toward me, and I couldn’t wait a moment longer.” Declan settled on the couch with Ezra in his lap. He took Ezra’s hand and slipped the ring on his finger. It was a little loose, but he hoped Ezra would gain weight soon. Declan’s throat tightened at the sight of the diamond on Ezra’s finger. He started rambling to hide how moved he felt. “I stopped by that super fancy Italian restaurant you love and got your favorite dinner. I planned a nice dinner and thought about having candles, maybe followed by a bubble bath. Something crazy romantic. Sorry I didn’t make it longer.”
Ezra snuggled close. He stared at the ring. “Are you joking? This was perfect. There’s nothing more romantic to me than knowing you were so overcome that you dropped to one knee and asked me to marry you because you couldn’t stop it from happening. This is beautiful.”
Declan couldn’t stop staring at Ezra. “You’re beautiful.”
A blush tinted Ezra’s cheeks. A possessive roar sounded in Declan’s head. Ezra belonged to him. He always had, but soon it would be official. No one would be allowed to touch Ezra but him. Declan shifted positions and lowered Ezra onto the couch. Ezra’s expression transformed as he stared at Declan. Declan didn’t doubt for a second he looked as hungry as he felt.
“I’m so in love with you.” Even Declan heard th
e greedy growl to his voice.
“I’m in love with you too.”
Declan gave Ezra a sharp nod, accepting his words as the truth. “You’re mine. I don’t want to wait a long time to get married.”
A flush climbed Ezra’s cheeks as Declan worked at the button and zipper on his jeans. “Okay.”
While peeling off the lower half of Ezra’s clothes, Declan kept up his end of the conversation. “You deserve a beautiful wedding, but I’m also impatient. How long do you need to plan a wedding? I don’t know how long my patience will hold out.”
Ezra openly fought to hold on to his thoughts as Declan kissed his bare knee. “Um. I don’t know. Two weeks.”
“I can give you two weeks.” Declan held Ezra’s stare as he kissed his inner thigh, working his way higher. “I’m about to suck your dick.” Ezra whimpered. Declan wasn’t done. “The sound of your pleasure better ring in my ears or I’ll make you sorry.”
Even turned on and at Declan’s mercy, Ezra tried to be sassy. “Maybe I want to be punished. How will you make me sorry?”
“There are so many choices,” Declan said, kissing Ezra’s abdomen near his erection while being careful not to touch his cock. “I could just keep kissing here and here.” He punctuated his words by kissing around Ezra’s erection with no direct contact.
Another whimper fell from Ezra’s lips. He squirmed beneath Declan’s torture. “Please?”
At Ezra’s plea, Declan lightly flicked his tongue across Ezra’s crown. Just enough to drive him crazy. An adorable growl vibrated from Ezra. An evil chuckle rose in Declan’s throat. Ezra buried his fingers in Declan’s hair and tugged, dragging him toward his hard cock. “Suck me.”
That was what Declan wanted to hear. He sucked Ezra deep. His eyes fell closed as pre-cum coated his tongue. Declan’s unhealthy obsession grew as he memorized Ezra’s flavor. No one really knew the depth of Declan’s insanity when it came to Ezra. He had loved Ezra in the dark. Declan had stalked and yearned. He had watched Ezra with something almost dark and brutal in his heart. Primal. It wasn’t enough for him to be dating Ezra. Declan had to own him. Defile him. He had to keep Ezra for only himself. Forever.
Declan traced the lines of Ezra’s body as he had while staring at his pictures in magazines. He touched Ezra in all the ways he had longed to do. Ezra whimpered and moaned while Declan licked and prodded. Every tug of Declan’s hair and scratch at his skin was another memory seared into his brain, feeding his sickness. He was never fully satisfied until they were one. Lust had his skin tightening. He massaged his erection through his jeans as he swallowed Ezra’s dick. An image of Ezra marrying him filled Declan’s brain. He rubbed harder, his motions frenzied, sucking harder and faster. Ezra writhed. The images in Declan’s head turned crazier by the second. In his head, they were chained together. Ezra couldn’t get away. Declan did everything he wanted to Ezra while knowing they were together forever now. No one else would ever touch either of them again. They were all that existed for each other. Ezra was his. A cry tore from Declan’s throat, muffled by Ezra’s cock as an orgasm rocked him. Cum filled his underwear. Ezra pulled his hair hard as he cried Declan’s name. Thick, salty fluid poured onto Declan’s tongue. His eyes burned with unshed tears. He was more than in love with Ezra. Ezra was a sickness. Declan would cherish him for the rest of his days. Fuck anyone who thought he was crazed when it came to Ezra. He was. Declan was one hundred percent completely insane and it didn’t matter at all. The subject of his imbalance had agreed to marry him. Nothing else mattered anymore. He was full.
Seven
The drive to Jessie’s was like a trip to Judgment Day. Declan knew the sooner they talked to Jessie, the better for everyone. Ezra spent several days a week visiting with Jessie and Declan wouldn’t ask him to hide them. So he would be a man and talk to Jessie face to face. Plus, they were getting married sooner rather than later. That didn’t give Declan much time. It was now or never.
Johnny met them in the driveway, prepared to sweep Ezra away. He was the one person Declan trusted to help him with this chore. Johnny opened Ezra’s door. “Hey, Ez. It’s good to see you.” He hugged Ezra while Declan watched his hands, making sure he wouldn’t have to break them. While Johnny had never showed in any interest in anyone as far as Declan had seen, Declan wouldn’t hesitate to unman him if he touched Ezra inappropriately.
Johnny moved to Declan’s side with his hand extended. “Congrats, man. I don’t know how things will go in there, but I’m happy for you two.”
The way Declan’s cheeks ached told the story about how big his smile had become. “Thank you. I appreciate your help with Ezra tonight. Things aren’t likely to go well. It’s best if Ezra gets his errands run while I hammer things out with Jessie.”
Johnny’s solemn expression said he understood the magnitude of Declan’s situation. “You already have Theo on your side. That’s more than half the battle.”
Declan and Ezra exchanged a look. With a deep breath for courage, they headed for the back door together while Johnny stayed behind ready to whisk Ezra away. The door opened before they reached it.
“Yay. My brother is back and looking fantastic.”
Ezra smiled and stepped into Jessie’s outstretched arms. The instant their hug ended, Ezra headed for Theo and pulled him aside. They spoke in quiet tones. Theo checked out Ezra’s engagement ring on the sly while Declan shook hands with Jessie.
“He looks good,” Jessie said, sounding proud. “Thank you. It looks like you’ve taken good care of him.”
Declan fought a wince. Jessie would no doubt regret those words in a minute. “Yeah. He’s doing great. The televisits with the counselor seem to be going well. He’s taking his meds and eating. I’m proud of him.”
Jessie nodded along. “I think the long trip was a good idea. Sometimes you just need out of your own space, you know?”
“Definitely.” Declan’s gaze slid Ezra and Theo’s way. Theo gave Declan a pointed look and nod behind Jessie’s back. Ezra moved to stand at Declan’s side. They linked fingers. Declan took a deep breath. “There’s something I need to talk to you about, Jessie.”
Jessie’s gaze moved from Ezra to Declan before dropping to their clasped hands and back to Declan’s face. His smile slipped away. Declan could see Jessie putting the pieces together in his mind. His features hardened. “Uh huh.” There was a definite threat to Jessie’s tone.
“I’ve asked Ezra to marry me and he’s accepted,” Declan said—like ripping off a bandage.
Jessie’s eyebrows rose. “This isn’t April first, but I damned sure better hear an April fools from one of you right now.”
Declan felt sick. He didn’t know what Jessie would do, especially after everything Wrecker had told him. “I’ve got boxes in the truck, so I can pack today.”
Jessie ran his tongue over his teeth. Declan expected him to start swinging any second. “I brought you into my home. Around my baby brother.”
“Jessie,” Theo cut in, stopping him. “May I talk to you in the other room?”
Jessie glanced over his shoulder. “In a minute.”
Theo took his hand. “Please?”
No one could miss how torn Jessie was in that moment. On one hand, he obviously wanted to kill Declan. On the other, Theo owned Jessie. Jessie couldn’t deny him a thing. Jessie flashed Declan a cold look. “Don’t move. This isn’t over.”
The moment they were gone, Ezra flashed him a huge grin. “Well, that was nowhere near as bad as I expected. Theo has a plan, so you should be good to start packing. Johnny is waiting.”
Declan tugged Ezra into his arms and kissed his forehead. “Go. I’ll be fine. If he kicks me out before you get back, I’ll text you.”
Ezra clutched the front of Declan’s shirt—like he didn’t want to pull away. “It’ll be okay. You’ll see.”
“I love you.” Declan wished there was some way he could express how much. This whole situation was choking him, but he couldn’t lose Ezra. Not even
for Jessie.
Ezra cupped Declan’s face and drew him in. “I love you too. I promise you that Jessie will come around.”
Declan swiped his lips across Ezra’s. He believed in Ezra. Everything would be fine. They just needed to get through today. Ezra’s kisses always fixed everything. He couldn’t forget that now.
It had been a long time since Johnny had been with him for the day. Back when Ezra still lived with Jessie, Declan always escorted him everywhere. Unless Jessie was on tour. Then Johnny had gone everywhere with Ezra. Johnny was the sweetest guy on the planet, and more times than Ezra could count, he had wished Johnny had been the bodyguard he fell in love with. If he had to choose one, that is. Obviously, now that everything had worked out with Declan, Ezra wouldn’t even think about being with anyone else. But back then, life would have been so much easier if it had been Johnny. For one thing, Johnny was closer to Ezra in age. Johnny was twenty-seven to Ezra’s twenty-four while Declan was thirty-four. Plus, Johnny was just uncomplicated. He was laidback and took everything in stride. Not to mention, Johnny was a really good-looking guy. His long blond hair had just a hint of wave to it. Back when Ezra had gone through his first battle with anorexia, Johnny would sit in the floor at Ezra’s feet and let Ezra braid his hair. It had given him something mindless to do that really helped keep Ezra sane. On top of all those things, Ezra had never seen Johnny date anyone at all. As far as Ezra could tell, Johnny had never brought anyone home. He was a bit of a mystery to Ezra. In a lot of ways, that was a good thing.
Ezra poked Johnny in the arm as he drove. “So how are you liking being the head guard in charge with Declan gone?”
Johnny flashed him a sexy smile. His light brown eyes flashed with mischief. “Meh. Jessie doesn’t go out that much anymore. Plus, Aspen got kind of lonely. Theo and Jessie stayed holed up in their cabin, so I was kind of stuck, finding things to keep me busy. They do have a cool bar there. It’s called Club Incubus. I spent so much time there. By the time I finally got to come home, they all knew my name.”
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