by Tatum Throne
Levi walked around his desk, coming in close. “You are my superior, Sir.”
“Levi.”
The warning on Bray’s tongue should’ve kept Levi in place, but it didn’t. Levi loved the teasing warning that hinted of punishments to come if he didn’t do as his Dom requested. “I’m saying yes.”
“What?”
“Yes. I want us to move in together. When is your lease up?”
“A few weeks,” Bray said.
Levi came in close, lifting his hand to Bray’s face. He loved the feel of his goatee. “We can start moving you in this weekend.”
“I can’t wait.”
Desire stole his breath away when Bray dropped his gaze to his lips. Levi purposely licked his tongue over his lower lip, remembering the succulent taste of his lover. The need to taste Bray was overpowering. Levi looked up from beneath his long lashes. A groan tore from deep within Bray as he danced Levi back against the wall. The frames on his wall bumped, swinging off center. Something on his half bookshelf knocked over, falling to the carpeted floor. Bray’s mouth dropped over Levi’s. They grabbed at each other, kissing frantically. Their tongues dueled passionately. Everything Levi ever wanted was right in his arms. He couldn’t believe that life was finally perfect.
A knock sounded on the door. Levi went to open it. Hunter was on the other side.
“Hey, I got a good view of your suspect,” Hunter said.
“Good work.”
Hunter lifted the paper in his hand. “I was able to get a better view of the guy from a surveillance camera across the street from the bar.”
“Nice. This is something I can use.”
“Thanks.”
Levi closed the door, drinking Bray in with a slow and steady look that made him want to get naked. He tossed the paper onto his desk, knowing that he’d get to it later. Bray grinned, coming in close. They linked their hands together.
“Do you really want to wait until this weekend to start moving?”
“I was thinking I’d pick up some moving boxes on my way home from work tonight.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Chapter Thirteen
Levi was standing at his kitchen window, waiting for his lover to return. He sighed as Bray’s Jeep pulled into his long driveway. He loved it when Bray came home.
Bray was on his last and final load of things from his condo. They spent the last week moving his furniture into storage. Levi came through the mudroom connected to the breezeway to meet Bray in the driveway as he pulled up in his Jeep.
He shut off his Jeep and hopped out.
“Is this everything?” Levi asked.
Bray gave him a brushing kiss. “Yeah. Everything. You can’t get rid of me now.”
Bray popped opened the trunk of his Jeep. They spent the next fifteen minutes unloading the boxes from the back and putting them in the spare bedroom to go through later.
Everything in Levi’s house had a purpose and a place. He grew up with the bare essentials. So having a home with everything just so made him really happy. Homemade beef stew was simmering on the stove. Late morning sunshine caressed the budding trees in the front yard. It was almost lunchtime. The tulips in his garden were just starting to peek from the ground.
Levi spent most of the morning moving things around in his closet to give Bray space to put his things away. He loved making room in his dresser, too, for his pants, socks, and boxers. A smile crept over his lips when he thought about doing their laundry, folding it, and placing it neatly away. He couldn’t wait to take care of Bray.
“Hungry?” Levi asked.
“Starving.”
“The soup’s ready.”
“Smells good.”
Levi dished up two bowls and sliced some bread to dip into the drippings. He poured them some sweet tea. Bray was watching him closely as he served them both.
Levi smiled. “What?”
“I like this. I never had any of this growing up,” Bray said.
“I like taking care of you.”
Their hands brushed. “I was thinking we could stay in and watch that new James Bond movie.”
“I’d love that,” Levi said.
“How’s the leg?”
“Getting better every day.”
There was more Levi wanted to say, but he was having trouble expressing how happy he was to his lover. Bray came up behind Levi, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist. He gave him sweet kisses down his neck. The chain around his neck was warm from his body heat. He liked this. He loved the way he felt when he was with Bray. He loved how he made him a better person. They sat down at the table together.
“Do you think we’re going to get in trouble at work for this?” Bray asked.
Levi was silent for a long time while he thought about it. He wanted to believe that the people he worked with were tolerant and accepting. That at the end of the day the men and women he worked with weren’t homophobic.
“I hope we won’t. We shouldn’t worry about it.”
“We need to be careful,” Bray said.
“We can just tell work we’re rooming together.”
The lie felt dishonest, but there was nothing they could do about it as long as they worked together. The department was big enough that they could get along with no one ever knowing that they were lovers. Neither one of them were out. Regardless, they needed to be careful since they worked together.
“That would work.” Bray cleared the table to rinse the bowls and to put them in the dishwasher. “Let’s not worry about this right now.”
Levi wrapped the rest of the bread back up. Bray came in close, blocking him in from behind at the counter. Bray dropped his lips to the curve of Levi’s neck. He placed whisper-soft kisses over the sensitive part of his neck.
“I think we need to think about other things right now.”
“Like what, Sir?”
Bray groaned. “Like how much I like being here with you. Like how happy I am. Like how I love how domesticated you are. It turns me the fuck on.”
“Does it, Sir?”
“God, yes. I want you in nothing but an apron tonight when you cook for me.”
“I think I like that, Sir.”
“I have something for you.”
Levi grinned. “You do?”
“I was saving this for the right moment. I think that moment is now.”
Bray pulled a black velvet box from his hands. Slowly, Levi lifted his gaze up to Brayden’s face. Bray got down on his right knee.
“Will you make me the happiest man ever and marry me, Levi?”
Levi looked down at the open box. Tears rushed to his eyes as he closed the distance between them. A diamond pendant hung on a tiny clasp. Levi was certain it would hook perfectly to his choker.
“Yes, Brayden. I’ll marry you.”
A flash of white-hot desire moved through Levi’s body as Brayden jumped up, kissing him passionately. There was so much more they needed to organize in the house, but Levi didn’t care. They would get to all of it eventually. Levi wanted to know everything about Bray that came from living with another person.
He wanted everything with Bray. He always imagined his farmhouse filled with the laughter and happiness of a family. He couldn’t believe he had everything he’d always wanted and never knew he was looking for until he found Bray.
THE END
WWW.TATUMTHRONE.COM
WWW.TATUMTHRONE.BLOGSPOT.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tatum Throne has a master’s degree in social work. She left the field of medical social work to be a stay-at-home mom and to pursue her dreams of writing romance. She has three rambunctious boys with her husband, Mr. Throne, and two rowdy hamsters named Nibbler and CJ. She also has a pet rabbit named Coco who has taken over her office.
When not indulging her fantasies, Tatum enjoys baking chocolate-chip cookies, hiking, spending time with her family, and spreading awareness of Eosinophilic Disorders.
You can find Tatum all over the
web at:
WWW.TATUMTHRONE.COM
WWW.TATUMTHRONE.BLOGSPOT.COM
Find me on Facebook!
For all titles by Tatum Throne, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/tatum-throne
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com