by Jaime Reese
“Say it again,” Drayton whispered.
Vann leaned in and pressed another kiss to his lips. “I love you.”
Drayton closed his eyes and sighed, letting the strength of those words fill his spirit.
“I’m a selfish asshole. I’m so fucking sorry. I should have put my stupid shit aside and just said—”
“Don’t.” He slowly opened his eyes. There was no way he’d let Vann blame himself for never having voiced the declaration when everything Vann did translated into a clear message of how much Drayton was loved and appreciated. But Vann never felt comfortable speaking words he felt he hadn’t earned a right to say.
“Say it again.”
Vann gripped his face with force, barely an inch away with a fire burning in his stare. “I promise to say it all the fucking time. So much you’ll want me to shut the hell up.”
Never. Drayton clasped Vann’s shirt, fisting it in his hands for balance.
“I love you,” Vann whispered through a hissed breath before slamming their mouths together.
Drayton ripped open Vann’s shirt, sending the buttons flying across the room. He dug his fingers into Vann’s short hair, holding him close as he angled Vann’s head to dive deeper into the desperate kiss, needing and wanting to get closer to the one man who had given him a gift he hadn’t realized he had craved more than his next breath.
They walked backward to the couch, not missing a step as Vann fumbled with Drayton’s buckle, finally yanking out his belt and flinging it across the room. Drayton dug into his back pocket and pulled out the small packet of lube before landing on the couch with a grunt and pulling Vann onto his body, needing the closeness of his familiar warmth. They tugged at the remaining bits of clothes and finished undressing in record time, then crushed their mouths together again in a branding kiss.
He dug his hands in Vann’s hair, holding him in place, groaning into the kiss with each hungry pull of his tongue. He slid his hand down Vann’s back, gripping his muscled ass and pushing his hard and ready body against him.
Vann tore away from the kiss with a growl, grabbing a packet and ripping it open with his teeth before diving in again and leaving a trail of biting kisses along Drayton’s neck.
Drayton let out a strangled moan as Vann prepared him while licking and biting every inch of exposed skin, likely leaving a visible mark to let everyone know to back the fuck off. His heart hammered against his chest and sweat burst from his pores at the possessiveness in every swipe and graze against his sweat-slicked skin. He tightened his fist in Vann’s hair, gasping each breath. “Say it again.”
Vann pulled Drayton’s leg higher and finally pushed inside, repeating those three tender words on an exhale. “I love you.”
Drayton gasped, welcoming each unhurried thrust of heat into his body and press of lips to his neck. He writhed and shifted, seeking and craving their joining, feeling each inch of love filling his soul. He curled into Vann’s body as they moved as one, gripping him tighter, grunting and panting with each claiming thrust.
A spark ignited at the base of his spine and rippled through his body. He dug his fingers into Vann’s back and skull, pulling him closer, gasping each breath as he fought the current traveling through his veins with each deep, heated slide. They moaned and grunted, tugging each other closer in the full body embrace until they finally surrendered, each spilling their release more quietly than ever before, yet somehow, with more soul-shattering intensity.
Hours later, Drayton lay sated next to Vann in bed, his leg wedged between Vann’s strong thighs and his head on Vann’s bicep. His eyes were weighted heavily with sleep from the lulling, rhythmic circle pattern Vann traced against his skin. He placed his hand on Vann’s chest, his own heartbeat matching the steady pounding of the beat against his palm. He closed his eyes and sighed, whispering the same request he had voiced at least a dozen times that night. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
He smiled when Vann’s heartbeat thumped a little quicker, then settled, just as it had each time he had said those three tiny words. I love you too.
Drayton nestled closer to Vann, pressing his cheek against the ink that matched the carving in the tree, their bond clearly etched with letters and symbols even before either of them had voiced the words. They held each other tightly, until finally, Drayton surrendered to the darkness, knowing his soul mate would always be there with him, in his heart and at his side.
Three months later
Vann tapped his thumb on the steering wheel, waiting for the streetlight to change. He exhaled a slow breath, hoping to calm his racing heart, praying he didn’t screw up tonight. He had practiced everything in his head, over and over. And tonight the full moon in the cloudless sky made it seem as if he had chosen the right time and place. But after so many years, nothing seemed perfect enough to capture everything running through his head.
He glanced over to Drayton in the passenger seat, looking peaceful with his head leaned back and his eyes closed. This man was an amazing gift he’d never take for granted. Not only had he worked his magic to bring Vann back and offer him a life he never could have imagined, Drayton had managed to push through his own anxieties and reach out to others. Because of him, Ben was now living with his sister and staying out of trouble. The staff actually took the time to stop and chat with the boss, some even offering ideas for improving areas within the company or processes. Drayton took the time to listen to everyone and never discarded a single conversation or suggestion, regardless of how negligible it might seem to others.
A smile tugged at the corner of Vann’s lips. A huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders since the reveal of the new models. Connor had held true to his word and had capitalized on the reveal. Video snippets had gone viral and orders were pouring in each day from around the world. More work lay ahead of them, but Drayton insisted the most stressful hurdle was knowing whether the new line appealed to customers. With the growing number of orders already exceeding eighteen months of production time for each of the new models, Vann was certain customer appeal wasn’t an issue. And with the number of calls from automotive and engineering magazine journalists requesting interviews, he suspected the interest would continue to grow. So much so that Drayton now received daily inquiries from designers wanting to jump on board. All of which he respectfully declined now that Vann had taken complete ownership of the design department.
Vann gripped the steering wheel as he exhaled, finally making it down the quiet, empty street. He was nervous and excited about his role in the company, but welcomed it all with open arms as long as Drayton was at his side.
“Where are we going?” Drayton asked, pivoting his head toward him.
Vann switched his focus between the road and Drayton. His chest swelled with the emotion staring back at him in those pale gray eyes. “It’s a surprise. You’ll figure it out soon enough.”
“Are you happy?” Drayton reached out and braided their fingers together.
Vann chuckled and rubbed his thumb against Drayton’s hand. “I’m living a fairy tale and I get to ride a unicorn I love. What’s not to be happy about?”
Drayton threw his head back and laughed.
A flutter thumped against Vann’s chest. He’d never tire of hearing that sound. “Are you happy?”
Drayton sighed and stared at Vann with a wistful smile. “Ridiculously happy.”
Vann pulled their clasped hands to his mouth and pressed a kiss to Drayton’s knuckles.
“So…you’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. You’ll figure it out.”
“Can I ask questions?”
“Sure.”
“Are you going to answer?”
“Maybe.” Vann bit his lip to hide a smile as he made the next right. Five. Four. Three.
“We’re going to our spot.” Drayton straightened in his seat. “Right?”
“Yes.”
Drayton rested his right elbow on the a
rmrest and leaned his head on his fist, staying oddly silent for a few moments. “I haven’t been here in years.”
“When was the last time you came here?” Vann had thought of every possible scenario but not one where Drayton would hate returning to their quiet heaven under the tree by the lake.
“I came here once after you went in.” Drayton quieted. “It was hard being away from you. I figured coming here might help.”
“Did it?”
Drayton rubbed his thumb along Vann’s fingers. “No. Made it tougher. So I didn’t come back again.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m glad we’re here together.”
Vann released Drayton’s hand as he pulled into the parking spot. He switched off the car and unclipped his seat belt. “C’mon.”
They walked the trail to their hidden spot by the lake. Vann took a few steadying, deep breaths before ducking his head and stepping into their little slice of heaven. The sound of the water trickling over the rocks still soothed him like a soft song, and the wind blowing the leaves of their tree calmed his nerves. He walked over to the tree trunk and inhaled a sharp breath, tracing his fingers over the D + V = ∞ they had carved into the bark more than a decade before.
“I can’t believe it’s still there,” Drayton whispered, coming up behind him and wrapping his arms around Vann’s waist.
“How many people do you think have come here since then?”
Drayton shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s pretty hidden but I’m sure some people have found it just like I did back then.”
“You were always more curious than most.”
Drayton pressed a kiss to Vann’s lips. “True.”
“I don’t want anyone else coming to our spot. So I’ve claimed it.”
Drayton’s eyebrows twitched. “I hope you didn’t pee on our tree to mark your territory.”
“Nope.”
“Did you plant a Shaw flag in the corner I didn’t see?”
“Nope.”
Drayton inched back from the embrace. His eyes scanned Vann’s features in that way he did when he was trying to decipher an equation on his board.
“I bought it.” Vann waited a moment until his words registered in Drayton’s expression.
“This spot?”
Vann shook his head. “Whole golf course. They didn’t want to sell off part of the land but they accepted an offer for the entire course.”
“Wait. You purchased…the golf course?”
Vann chuckled and raised his hands. “Your real estate guy—”
“Our real estate guy.”
A lopsided grin pulled at Vann’s lips. He’d never tire of Drayton correcting him with an our or ours. “Our real estate guy looked at the local comps and thought it was a steal. The owners were a brother and sister team who inherited the course from their father’s estate. They wanted to cash in quickly, so they offered to sell it just under market value for a quick turnaround. Our real estate guy is working with our financial guy to see what’s doable with the land.”
“You’re not keeping the course?” Drayton asked, cocking his head.
Vann vehemently shook his head. There was no way in hell he could keep anything remotely related to golf or nine irons. He had enough recurring nightmares to last a lifetime. “A shelter, youth center, or housing of some type. Maybe all three. They’re looking into which is the most needed for the area. It’s a waste to have all this land here so people in ugly plaid pants can chase after a fucking ball all day.”
A mix of different emotions flew across Drayton’s features. He gripped Vann’s belt buckle and tugged him close. “You’re amazing.”
Vann shrugged and placed his hands on Drayton’s waist. “It’s all your fault. But I’m still a selfish prick when it comes to you. I’m going to block off this part so no one can come here but us. It’s our spot. We’ve had a lot of firsts here and I refuse to share it.”
Drayton leaned in and pressed a kiss to Vann’s smile. “Our first kiss was here.”
“Uh-huh.” Vann bit Drayton’s earlobe, slowly releasing the tender skin between his teeth. “And this is where you first moaned my name.”
Drayton’s hand slid up the back of Vann’s neck, holding him close as Vann kiss-bit along his jaw.
“Do you remember that day…when you took me to the race track for the first time?”
Drayton inched back from the embrace, watching Vann with a heavy-lidded stare. “I remember everything.”
“Then you remember the promise I made.” His heartbeat sped when Drayton stilled, obviously remembering their conversation. “Do you remember?”
Drayton swallowed heavily then slowly nodded.
“I told you I was yours and I promised you that someday, somehow, we were going to get married so the whole world would know we belonged to each other. Do you remember that?”
Drayton stared, trying to maintain a blank expression, but his heaving chest was a dead giveaway of the emotions raging inside.
Vann returned his stare. Intently. Remembering that day as if it had happened yesterday. Once he’d made that official declaration, they’d passionately kissed, not caring about the catcalls or boos and hisses around them. The second they’d separated, with the promise of forever still sizzling between them, a woman working the stands with a camera had snapped a photo of them, capturing the grins that had split their faces. He remembered that moment of happiness and the promise he had made as much now as he did each and every time he stared at their smiles in that worn photograph he kept safely tucked away.
Drayton made him happy. But he never would have imagined he could ever feel this happy or more complete.
“It’s the only promise I ever made that I hadn’t been able to keep.” Vann took a deep breath, hoping to settle his jackhammering heartbeat. “And you know I’m a man of my word.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small black velvet box, then knelt on the ground. He snapped open the clamshell and glanced at the single platinum band with encrusted diamonds glinting in the moonlight. He took another deep breath before slowly letting his focus travel up Drayton’s torso until their eyes finally met. His throat tightened as he tried to swallow past the knot in his throat.
“Are you trying to make an honest man out of me?” Drayton whispered, his eyes glassy with emotion.
“I can’t have you stealing my last name. I’m the troublemaker in this relationship.”
A bubble of laughter escaped Drayton as a single tear escaped and trickled down his cheek.
“Say yes. You’ve got an angel pissing in your eye.”
Indisputable happiness danced in Drayton’s expression. “I think that same angel is starting to piss in yours.” He took the ring from the box and slipped it on his finger. He fisted his hand and stared at the ring, turning his hand from side to side to capture the light of the moon. “You got the diamonds shaped into a row of infinity symbols with our letters mixed in. It’s so perfect.”
Vann released a held breath on a sigh.
“I’m getting you a ring tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to get you one or not when I popped the question. I don’t know what the rules are.”
“I’m sure as hell not giving up this ring,” Drayton said, still staring at his hand.
Vann bit his lower lip, holding back a smile. “Good. Because I figured that was nicer than peeing a circle around you.”
Drayton stopped staring at the ring and narrowed his eyes. “Exactly why you’re getting a ring first thing tomorrow morning. It’s either that or I’m branding your ass.”
Vann slowly rose, possessively running his hands up the sides of Drayton’s body. He tugged Drayton close, held him in an embrace, and said the same words he whispered each morning and before going to sleep at night. “I love you.”
Drayton closed his eyes and parted his lips on a breath, just as he did each and every time Vann voiced those three tiny words.
Vann w
ould do everything in his power to make up for being so damn selfish. How could he have held back the strength of those words from the one man who had taught him the power of those very same words? He pressed their foreheads together, grateful for the ever-present love resonating between them, even in silence.
“Say yes.” He snaked his arms around Drayton’s waist, holding him close while pressing a trail of kisses along the column of his neck. He hesitated for a moment before finally ghosting his fingertips along Drayton’s cheek. He let out a shaky breath, thankful each day for the blessing of having this man in his life. His gaze traced a path along every millimeter of Drayton’s features until their eyes met.
There, in the pale gray pools of Drayton’s eyes, every question had an answer and every pain and sacrifice had purpose. He sighed as a peace settled deep within, knowing he’d do anything and everything to be worthy of the love staring back at him.
He pressed their lips together in a tender kiss before he spoke. “Meeting you here, exactly eighteen years ago today…I knew you were someone special. I just never imagined you’d ever be mine.” He brushed his fingers through Drayton’s hair, smiling when Drayton closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m yours, Dray. I always have been. And I promise to love you with all my heart and soul until my last breath. If you let me.”
“Yes,” Drayton whispered without hesitation as he tightened his grip on Vann’s waist. “I’m yours.”
“Always?” Vann teasingly asked, brushing the pad of his thumb along Drayton’s cheek, holding his breath as he usually did, even though he knew what Drayton would say next.
“Forever.”
~The Beginning of Their Infinity~
D+V=∞
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