Rowan’s rich laughter filled the air as he pulled Kasen closer, wrapping his arms around him securely, “You sure do have a way with words, Baby,” He commented.
“Now hold on just a second,” Kasen chuckled. “I’m not done yet!”
“Okay, okay. I’m listening,” Rowan promised, pressing a kiss against the side of his throat. Kasen shivered, feeling his eyelids become heavy as he gently grinded against him.
“I know that you’re scared…and I’m scared, too, but the last few months have been the happiest of my life, Ro. Even with the hell that the upstanding citizens of Chartreuse have put us through; you’re the slice of heaven that keeps me going. I never knew life could be this good, and I want to keep you.”
“You want to keep me?” Rowan mused, dipping his fingertips into the back of Kasen’s briefs. He sighed contently, rubbing the scruff of his cheek against Kasen’s jaw as he mulled it over. “Hmm…”
Kasen suddenly found himself on his back with Rowan’s weight crushing him into the mattress. He let out a soft gasp as the other male’s clothed arousal teased against his own. He quickly wrapped his legs around his waist, locking his ankles together to keep him close as their lips met in the most mind-blowing kiss possible.
Every thought disappeared, including the speech he’d planned. All he could focus on was the pressure of Rowan’s mouth and the taste of his tongue as it touched against his. His fingers slid into Rowan’s dark hair, tangling into the locks as he pulled eagerly. Good Lord, how was he supposed to survive kisses like this?
Rowan’s hips rocked against his and Kasen groaned, immediately responding as he tightened his legs around him. He nipped at his lower lip and Rowan bit his in response, eliciting a louder gasp from Kasen as their bodies screamed for one another.
“I’ve made my decision,” Rowan whispered huskily, dipping his head to press kisses and tiny nips against Kasen’s collarbone.
Kasen writhed beneath him, squirming and wiggling about as he whimpered for more attention, “Yeah?” He asked breathlessly.
“Mhm,” Was Rowan’s reply as he hooked his fingers into the waistband of Kasen’s briefs. He tugged them downward, and Kasen lifted his hips in an effort to help him.
They were both completely naked beneath the blankets before Rowan spoke again. His hands were everywhere, touching and caressing; pleasing and teasing as Kasen sighed.
“Do you want to know what my answer is?” Rowan asked as his fingers curled around Kasen’s throbbing erection.
Kasen threw his head back, releasing a quiet moan as he dug his blunt nails into Rowan’s upper arm. He nodded to the best of his ability as he forced his heavily lidded eyes open to gaze at the older male, “Uh huh…”
Rowan smirked, pumping his fist up and down at a steady pace as he leaned in to brush his lips against Kasen’s, “I’m going to make a deal with you,” He murmured.
“O-okay,” Kasen swallowed hard, bucking his hips in an effort to feel more of that sweet friction. He needed more; he needed everything. He needed whatever Rowan would give him.
“I’ll let you keep me,” Rowan whispered as his lips danced over Kasen’s jawline. “But you have to let me keep you in return.”
Kasen’s breathing grew sporadic and labored as he felt the tip of Rowan’s cock teasing against his thigh. He nodded quickly, and hell, that still wasn’t fast enough as his eyes found the brilliant male’s above him.
“Can you agree to that?” Rowan asked, stilling his hand.
Kasen whined in protest, lifting his head to see Rowan reaching towards the nightstand to grab a condom from the top drawer. He bit into his bottom lip again, listening to his heart as it hammered against his ribs. He smoothed his palm down Rowan’s chest and stomach, allowing his fingertips to graze over the soft dark hairs that led to a very happy place, indeed. Happier than Disneyworld, in fact.
“I’m pretty sure I can,” Kasen joked as Rowan positioned himself between his legs. Their gazes connected again as Rowan slowly and very carefully entered him, causing both men to groan in ecstasy. Seconds ticked by as Rowan waited patiently for him to adjust, and their lips met once more in a heated, passionate kiss.
“Pretty sure, huh?” Rowan asked, tracing his fingertips down Kasen’s jawline.
“Mhm,” Kasen smiled, searching Rowan’s eyes as he turned his head to kiss at his palm. “I’ll let you keep me, Ro.”
“Good,” Rowan replied as he pulled back and then pushed his hips forward, earning another delicate moan from Kasen’s lips. “Because I’m in love with you.”
Kasen’s heart exploded right then and there as his room faded from existence. Everything disappeared except for the man gazing down at him. He tried to catch his breath as Rowan sank deeper into him, and he clung to him for dear life as those words echoed around in his pleasure-laden in mind.
“I’m in love with you, too,” Kasen smiled.
Chapter Twenty Four
The first day of 2014 had finally arrived, and Rowan discovered that life really was going in the right direction. The animal clinic was doing better than he ever imagined, he and Kasen had successfully given up smoking, and they were in the happiest relationship Rowan had ever experienced.
As he stepped out of the clinic and began locking up for the day, he couldn’t help but to smile. Today was going to be a great day for so many reasons. Despite how tiny Chartreuse was, they did have their share of festivities and one of them was the annual new year’s celebration. Apparently, they had a parade and everything, which was right up his alley. He enjoyed the small things in life, and he’d already planned out a fun-filled day.
Jessica’s divorce was officially finalized, too, so that gave them even more reason to celebrate. She was free of that lunatic husband of hers, and Rowan was already planning a future trip out of town so she could mingle with single men. Funny how that worked out. He’d never intended to play matchmaker for anyone, but she really was a sweet woman and if he could help make her life a little easier, he would. After all, she’d been rooming with Kasen for the past month and Rowan was eternally grateful to her for the security and peace of mind she provided.
The phone calls had stopped, thankfully, and they hadn’t had any more trouble out of the bigots-which was a relief. Chartreuse really was learning to accept them; it was more than Rowan could’ve ever asked for in life.
Kasen’s mother, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. He’d finally had the opportunity to meet the woman face to face on Christmas morning, and she definitely wasn’t a ray of sunshine. From the moment she set foot in Kasen’s apartment, all any of them heard was her constant complaints about…well, everything.
Rowan had to bite his tongue more than once as the woman rambled on about how having dogs in the house was gross and disturbing. He tried very hard to keep his temper in check when she scolded Napoleon for roaming into the kitchen to get a drink of water. He did fairly well, for the most part, until she decided to open her big mouth when Kasen grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hallway to retrieve the Christmas gifts they’d hidden earlier that morning to keep away from prying eyes, aka, Jessica and her relentless snooping.
“Kasen Michael Reed, you better not be committing sinful acts back there!” His mother screeched as she stomped down the hallway.
“Relax, Mama. I’m just getting the gifts, “Kasen replied as he gave Rowan ‘the look’. The look that said ‘I’m going to kill her. I swear it.” Rowan could hardly blame him for that. The woman was insane.
“Give me those,” His mother huffed as she snatched a gift out of his hand. She glared in Rowan’s direction, her nose sticking straight up in the air in disgust as she frowned. “Now you have no excuses to be alone. Get back in here.”
“She’s lovely,” Rowan said in a lower voice as she disappeared down the hallway.
“I’m sorry,” Was Kasen’s reply as they rejoined Mrs. Reed and Jessica in the kitchen.
Everything had seemingly calmed down until th
eir early Christmas dinner started. Mrs. Reed found something wrong with the silverware, the plates, and the tablecloth, too. Rowan knew she wasn’t all there mentally when she started insisting the food wasn’t fully cooked. He knew better than that-he cooked it!
“Ugh, this turkey is so dry,” Mrs. Reed stated hatefully as she dropped her fork against the plate with a loud clatter. “Honestly, Kasen, why didn’t you call me to come help with the cooking? This is a disaster!”
“The turkey tastes fine,” Kasen argued as he swallowed the mouthful of food he had, hardening his gaze at his mother. “And we didn’t need your help. Rowan is a great cook.”
His mother made a sound that was somewhere between a snort and a horse’s neigh. It caused all three sets of eyes to stare at her as she pushed back from the table and stood, “Well, I never,” She frowned. “A mother is just as capable of cooking for her son as anyone else. Today is Christmas Day, Kasen. I just wanted to spend some time with you.”
“And what do you think you’re doing, Mama?” Kasen asked as his fingers tightened around the napkin he was holding. His knuckles turned white as he stared at her, and his gaze was anything but kind. “You’re here, I’m here…we’re spending time together.”
“Oh yes, we’re spending time together,” She muttered. She moved into the kitchen to find the chilled bottle of champagne Kasen had purchased specifically for the occasion. She opened it without another word, drinking straight from the bottle while Kasen silently fumed in his seat. Rowan reached across the table to take his hand, squeezing it in a comforting manner.
Rowan had been preparing himself for this day for over a week. He knew it wouldn’t be a picnic when it came to meeting the short tempered woman, and he really was trying to keep his thoughts to himself; but it became increasingly more difficult when she slammed the near empty bottle against the countertop and moved back into the living room.
“This is a joke, Kasen,” She spat bitterly. “I knew we should’ve had the dinner at my house. Setting up your table in the living room? What were you thinking, Boy? You don’t have Christmas dinner in a living room!”
“I mean no disrespect, Mrs. Reed,” Jessica said softly, “but my family always sets up an extra table in the living room so we can have more-”
“Was I talking to you?!” Mrs. Reed turned her head to stare at Jessica. “I don’t think I was.”
“I-I..um..” Jessica’s eyes were wide and dumbfounded as she gazed at the older female. Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment as she sank down in her seat.
“Don’t talk to my friend like that!” Kasen shouted, catching everyone off guard. He stood up then, pulling away from Rowan’s touch as his gaze connected with his mother’s. “Jessica is my roommate, Mama. You can’t yell at her like you yell at me. I’m your kid-not her.”
Mrs. Reed looked as if she’d been smacked in the face as her mouth fell open. Had Kasen ever raised his voice in front of her before? Rowan was taking a jab in the dark, but his guess would be no. However, it was highly amusing. She deserved to be stood up to, and there was no better person to do it than the man who’d suffered her wrath the past twenty years; well, almost twenty years.
“How dare you talk to me like that?” Mrs. Reed whispered, lifting a hand to rest over her chest. “I am your mother. You do not take that tone with me.”
“I know you’re my mother. That’s the only reason I’m not tossing you out on your ass right now,” Kasen’s blue eyes darkened with anger as he moved to the other side of the table, resting his hands against the back of her empty seat. “Now, if you want to enjoy this dinner with us, you best sit back down, Mama.”
“Oh, well, I…” Mrs. Reed looked like she was about to have a stroke as her face turned blood red. She placed her hands on her hips, glaring at Kasen with such hate, that Rowan was beginning to wonder how in the hell this woman ever passed off as the mother of any human being. “Kasen, I am so disappointed in your behavior. I can’t believe you’d talk to me in such a way. I bet this is your influence, isn’t it?” She asked, turning her eyes to Rowan then. “You….you thing! You’ve corrupted my boy!”
Okay. Enough was enough. Jessica was on the verge of tears, the dogs were growling, and Rowan’s fingers were twitching for something to hit. He made to push himself up from the table calmly, ready to give it to her with both barrels.
“Oh, fuck off, Mama!” Kasen bellowed as he slammed a palm against the table. Everything went silent then. It was so quiet, in fact, that a pin could’ve been heard hitting the floor from ten miles down the road. Jessica gasped. Rowan’s head turned quickly in the direction of his boyfriend. Mrs. Reed’s eyes bulged out of her head as she took a step away from her son.
Kasen shook his head slowly, tracing his tongue over his lower lip before turning to face his mother. His fingers were flexing, curling against his palms as he approached her. With each step he took, she took another two backwards just to keep the distance between them. Rowan was pretty confident that she was aware she’d crossed a line.
“You think he’s corrupted me?” Kasen wondered aloud as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You think he’s capable of doing anything worse than what you’ve done to me in the past?” He threw his head back, releasing a shaky laugh full of contempt. “That’s gotta be the best line you’ve come up with in a while, Mama. Honestly,” He jabbed a finger in her direction. “The only thing Rowan has ever done is made my life worth living….made me feel worth something, which is more than I can say for you. You’ve done nothing but make my life hell for as long as I can remember. No matter what I do, it ain’t good enough for you!”
Kasen’s southern drawl was thick and was only growing more prominent with each word he spoke as he finally backed his mother into a corner. Mrs. Reed was stammering and sputtering, as if she were trying to find the words she needed to say before her son got the best of her.
“Kasen, I-”
“No, Mama!” He snapped, his teeth chomping together as every muscle in his body tensed up. “You don’t get to do the talking right now-I do. I am so sick of this. Do you have any idea what I’ve been dealing with for the past month? Huh?”
She slowly shook her head.
“Of course you don’t. It’s always gotta be about YOU. It’s always YOUR problems that I have to hear about. You never ask how I’m doing, did you know that? You never want to know how I am. You just wanna talk about you, and I’m sick of it!” Kasen turned away from her briefly, avoiding eye contact with Rowan and Jessica as he moved towards the kitchen to retrieve the bottle of champagne. He lifted it to his lips and took a few sips before slamming it against the countertop.
“Somebody threatened to kill me a few weeks ago. They broke into my home; they let my dog out. Now, Mama, I could’ve called and cried to you about everything going wrong in my life…but I didn’t. Do you know why?”
Mrs. Reed slowly shook her head in response, staring at him like a deer caught in headlights. She didn’t dare move from her spot against the wall.
“Because you wouldn’t have cared,” Kasen smiled, and it was one of those smiles that a person often donned when they weren’t sure how to handle their emotions. Rowan wanted nothing more than to wrap him up in his arms, but he knew that he couldn’t intervene. This had been a long time in the making and Mrs. Reed deserved to hear whatever her son had to say.
“I know you resent me, Mama. I know I’ve been a burden for you since the day I was born, and that’s okay. I’m a grown man now, and you’d do well to recognize that,” Kasen was suddenly standing beside Rowan, and Mrs. Reed attempted to mask her disapproval with fresh tears. Her lower lip quivered as she watched Kasen rest a hand against Rowan’s shoulder. “This thing that you speak of? He’s my boyfriend, and you better get used to that, too.”
Rowan wasn’t really surprised when he felt Kasen’s warm, trembling lips pressing against his own. In fact, he returned the kiss with equal fervor just to give the old woman a show. His fingers sank into the other male
’s soft hair as he opened his mouth to him, nearly forgetting that this was only to prove a point.
“Oh, I…Oh!” Mrs. Reed wailed. The sound of the door slamming didn’t seem to faze Kasen as his mouth dominated Rowan’s, and who was Rowan to complain? He felt the gentle nip against his lower lip, and as Kasen pulled away to gaze down at him, they heard Jessica’s excited squeal.
“That. Was. Awesome!”
And that’s exactly how they celebrated their first Christmas together. Kasen gained the backbone he’d needed all along, and Mrs. Reed had finally been put in her place. All in all, it was a good holiday. However, today was going to be better.
“Hey, Ro!” Jessica chimed cheerfully as she embraced him tightly. “Glad you could make it! Where’s Kase?”
Rowan hugged her back, a huge grin on his face as he glanced around the small street known as ‘Main Street’. Honestly, he could throw a rock from one end of the street to the other; that’s how short the distance was. He took in the sights and sounds of laughter and music before eyeing her, shrugging his shoulders, “He should be getting here anytime. He said something about getting a haircut.”
“A haircut? For what? It’s just the New Year celebration,” She scoffed, shoving her hands into her jacket pockets. “I’m hungry. Do you want to grab a burger with me while we wait for him?”
“Sure, why not?” Rowan followed along behind the bubbly blonde as his dark eyes scanned the crowd. For Chartreuse to be such a tiny town, there sure were a lot of people. He didn’t recognize some of them. Maybe this was one of those events that brought in neighboring townsfolk.
“Doctor Kelly! Hello!”
Rowan turned his head to see Mrs. Birmingham approaching him with FiFi in tow. That poor dog.
“Hello, Mrs. Birmingham,” He nodded to her, reaching out to pat FiFi on the head. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Oh, it is!” She beamed, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him. “Are you enjoying the festival so far?”
Chartreuse Page 18