by E. M. Leya
Ax's breath caught in his chest as he realized what it was. He didn't move as he raised his gaze to meet Les's.
"Um…" Les's face went red as he leaned down and picked up the small ring box from the floor. "I guess now is as good a time as any. I was waiting for the perfect moment, but…" He shrugged.
Ax swallowed hard as he watched Les come to stand before him and drop to one knee in front of him. "I know our relationship has been filled with chaos and so many ups and downs it's been crazy, but really, none of those moments are because of us. We are nearly perfect together. I've loved you for so long, and I know I will never stop. It's been a year, and each day makes me want you even more. I didn't think I'd ever find someone I wanted to grow old with and share my life with, but I have. I want that with you. Ax, you are my everything, and I want to be your everything. Will you marry me?" He opened the ring box to reveal two matching gold bands.
Ax blinked, tears falling down his cheeks. "Yes." He reached out, pulling Les into his arms, holding him so tight and never wanting to let go. "A million times, yes."
Les eased back and lifted one of the rings from the box. "Thank God. I was so worried you'd say no."
Ax held out his hand, watching as Les slipped the ring onto his finger, then kissed it. "How could you think I'd say no? I want forever too." Ax wiped the tears from his cheek with the back of his hand. "I can't believe this." He kissed Les again before pulling back and looking down at his ring. "Do I get to put the other one on you?"
Les laughed. "I hope so." He held up the ring box.
Ax's hand shook as he reached for it, carefully picking the ring out of the box. He brought it to his lips, kissing it before sliding it over Les's finger. He held his hand against his own, the two rings side by side. "They're perfect."
"We're perfect." Les hugged him tightly.
"I've had the ring for two weeks, but I couldn't find the right moment to ask, then we started moving, and it just got crazy. I put the box in my pocket today so it didn't get lost in the move. I completely forgot it was there until it fell out."
"I'm glad it did. Who knows how long I would have had to wait for you to ask. I might have ended up asking you first."
"You're right. I might have kept chickening out. I'm glad it happened this way."
"So am I." Ax's pulse was still racing as he stared at the rings. "When?"
"When do we get married?" Les grinned. "Tomorrow."
"As much as I would love that, my sister would kill me. I don't want a big wedding, but I have to at least have my sister there." Ax pulled Les off his knees and onto the couch beside him.
"How about sometime in September? That's only a few months away. It gives us time to let people know, and maybe see if we can get some time off for a honeymoon. I thought we might take some of the money Dad left me and go somewhere nice."
"I'd like that. Oh wow, you don't know how many times I'd dreamed of this day. Of finding someone I loved enough to spend my whole life with."
"Do you want a big wedding? We can do one if that's what you want." Les still clung to his hand, running his finger over his ring.
"No, not big. My family, your mom, maybe some friends. I want it simple. Maybe in our backyard or my sister's. We've got time to decide all that. I'm just excited to be able to call you my husband soon."
"Me too." Les blew out a long breath. "I'm glad that's over. I was so nervous."
"You shouldn't have been. You know how I feel about you. At least you should." Ax hoped he'd let Les know over the last year how much he loved him.
"I do know. I've never doubted. It's just such a big step, and even though it's like we are married in every other way, making it official is a huge step. I wasn't sure you were ready for that yet."
"I'm ready. I know there will never be another for me. You're it."
"It's the same for me." Les kissed him, then pulled back. "I think I owe you pizza. Not the greatest engagement day food, but I promise you we'll go somewhere nice as soon as we get settled."
"Les, I don't need nice. I need you. This day has been perfect. I wouldn't want it any other way. Go order our food. I'll be here staring at my ring, trying to convince myself I'm not dreaming."
Les laughed. "It's real. Very real. I'll spend the rest of my life showing you just how real this really is."
Ax nodded. "I look forward to every moment."
As he watched Les go for his phone, Ax stared at the ring. After a lifetime of struggling to have anyone accept him, he now had a fiancé who loved everything about him. His life couldn't be more complete. Les completed him, made him whole. No matter what the future threw at them, they would get through it together. Forever.
EPILOGUE
Les was a nervous wreck as he stood in Sarah's backyard, waiting for Ax to walk down the aisle. There wasn't a moment of regret or doubt about what he was doing, just a fear that he'd somehow do or say something to fuck the whole thing up.
As he looked over the friends and family sitting in the yard, he realized he wasn't just gaining a husband, he was gaining a whole family. Sarah and Jacob smiled at him, and beside them, his mother looked around the yard. He doubted she remembered why she was there, but he had wanted her to be there anyway. In front of them, Ax's mother sat next to an empty seat. Les was sure Ax had asked his dad to come to the wedding, but from the looks of things he hadn't. Les hated that. He hoped that Ax's family would support him and understand what an important day this was.
The rest of the crowd consisted of other family members of Ax's or friends of theirs from work. Jeff sat beside Ax's cousin Carl. They'd come a long way since that first night at the bar when he'd met Ax. It looked as if Jeff and Carl were picking up right where they left off as they shared a kiss and held hands. He hardly saw Jeff anymore, but that was okay. They still talked and kept in touch. Their lives had just taken different directions. They would always be friends.
The minister stood in front of him and softly cleared his throat as the music began to play. Ax had wanted a traditional wedding, and that was what they had planned. The Wedding March played as the backdoor to the house opened.
Les stood shocked. His first glimpse of anyone through the door was Ax's father. He ushered the young twins out the door. The boys held two baskets filled with rose petals. They lazily walked down the aisle, dropping the pedals as they went. When they got to the front, they waved at Les before running to their seats with their parents.
Les laughed watching the boys, but quickly turned his attention back to the door. The last person he thought he'd see was Ax's father, but he stood by the door, dressed in his suit, and looking as if he was the proudest man alive. Which couldn't be, because that was Les right now. He couldn't have been prouder or happier to be marrying Ax. It had killed him to wait months for the wedding.
As the music continued to play, Les watched the door, his stomach in knots as he waited to see Ax. When she finally stepped out the door, Les's breath caught as he stared at her. She wore a beautiful white dress that fit her body perfectly. It went to her knees, showing off her amazing legs as she stood on a pair of white heels. Her hair was pinned up over her head with strands perfectly falling down the sides. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.
What shocked him the most was that once she was out the door, Ax's father took her arm and started to slowly lead her down the aisle. That alone was enough to bring tears to Les's eyes. Somehow, after everything that happened in the past, Ax's father was now willing to walk his daughter down the aisle and give her away.
Refocusing on Ax, Les smiled, meeting her gaze from across the lawn. All nervousness faded, and all fear was gone. He could do this, and he would do it perfectly because he would have Ax by his side through it all.
As Ax closed the distance between them, Les hardly heard the minister ask who was giving her away. He tried to focus on her father's response, but it was impossible. Les was right there, standing beside him as he reached out and took her hand.
"
You're beautiful," he whispered as he held her hand in his.
"Thanks." A blush covered her cheeks as they turned to face the minister.
The whole thing was a blur. He said the words, did everything right, but his attention was on the woman beside him. She took his breath away.
"You may now kiss the bride."
The words seemed to echo as he leaned in and kissed Ax softly, pulling her close, needing to feel her body against his own. This was his wife. His woman. Tomorrow Ax might be his husband, his man. It didn't matter. Either way, he loved Ax, and he would spend the rest of his life reminding her just how special she was to him.
Today was the beginning of forever, and he looked forward to every moment of it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emma Marie Leya lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her daughter and two dogs. When she isn't writing, she is an avid swimmer with a passion for the mountains. You can often find her playing outdoors.
You can contact Emma and find out more about her books at…
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/E.M.LEYA
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM E.M. LEYA
Most of the books are available on Amazon and on Kindle Unlimited.
Find E.M. Leya's Author Page on Amazon by clicking here.
LOVE PLUS ONE — (mmf erotic romance)
OUT OF THE FLAMES — (mm romance)
FINDING HOPE — (mf romance)
THE JUDGE — (mmff erotic romance)
WESTERN INHERITANCE — (mm erotic romance)
UNCLE — (mm romance)
A LITTLE BIT ROCK AND ROLL— (mm romance)
COMING HOME — (mm romance)
TRUSTING TRENT — (mm romance)
LEARNING TO LOVE — (mm romance)
VACATION — (mf romance)
BIGFOOT — (mm romance)
JULIE — (mf romance)
LOST IN THE CROWD — (mm romance)
PASTOR'S DAUGHTER — (mfm erotic romance)
THE BOSS — (mm romance)
PUSHED (mm romance)
A VAMPIRE FOR HALLOWEEN (mm romance)
MASKED — (mm romance, light bdsm)
TIME GONE BY — (mm romance)
THE PRINCE (mm fantasy romance)
SECOND CHANCE (mm romance)
LOVE UNDERCOVER – (mm romance)
KITTEN CLAWS AND PUPPY BREATH- (mm romance)
PRIDE –(mm romance) coming late 2017
RAGS AND RICHES SERIES
WINTER FREEZE (mm romance)
LOVE JAKE (mm romance)
ONE MORE NIGHT (mm romance)
HEALING TOUCH (mm romance)
CAMERA SHY (mm romance)
INKED (mm romance)
THE WAY INSIDE (mm romance)
AS I AM (mm romance)
BEGIN AGAIN (mm romance) coming Aug. 2017
TALES OF THE MERMAN SERIES
SAGE — Tales of the merman 1 (mm romance)
RANDY — Tales of the merman 2 (mm romance)
HEARTS NOT PARTS BOOKS
LOVE IN TRANSITION — (transgender male to female romance)
FLUIDITY (gender fluid mm romance)
TERRIN PASS PACK SERIES
BITTEN book 1 (shifter mm romance)
ESCAPED book 2 (shifter mm romance) coming late 2017
MOTEL MINI SERIES
DEBT PAID — motel mini 1 (mmm reluctant erotica short)
MY SON'S BEST FRIEND — motel mini 2 (mm erotica short)
*SIBLING SEDUCTION — motel mini 3 (mf taboo erotica short)
MY HUSBAND'S LOVER — motel mini 4 (ff reluctant erotica)
*DOUBLE TAKE — motel mini 5 (mm taboo twin erotic short)
PAYBACK— motel mini 6 (fmmm reluctant erotica short)
BLACKMAILED-motel mini 7 (mm blackmailed erotic short)
PIERCED—motel mini 8 (ff friends to lovers erotica short)
*MOTEL MINI BOX SET Books 1-5 MM, FF, MF, Taboo, and Reluctant
*Book may not be available at all retailers
SINFUL TEMPTATION COLLECTION
HORIZONTAL ANALYSIS with Nicole Colville (mm romance)
ABSOLUTION with Nicole Colville (mm romance)
ROCKY PEAKS SERIES with Nicole Colville
The Journey Home (mm romance)
FRENCH BOOKS
LE JUGE (French Edition) — (mmff erotic romance)
*MOTEL MINI BOX SET FRENCH Books 1-5 MM, FF, MF, Taboo, and Reluctant
DETTE PAYÉE — motel mini 1
LE MEILLEUR AMI DE MON FILS — motel mini 2
*SÉDUCTION FRATERNELLE — motel mini 3
LA MAÎTRESSE DE MON MARI — motel mini 4
*DOUBLE PRISE — motel mini 5
*Comptable pourrait ne pas être disponible chez tous les détaillants