by Jessie G
Their Reason
By Jessie G
May you live all the days of your life.
— Jonathan Swift
Their Reason
Copyright © 2015 Jessie G, Amazon Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Special thanks to:
Jessica McKenna, Literary Editor
https://www.facebook.com/JessicaMcKennaLiteraryEditor
Andrew Reyna, Dynamic Craft Studios, Cover Art, Posters
http://www.dynamiccraftstudios
My heartfelt thanks to the wonderful beta readers who provided awesome feedback. Linda, Denise and Jodi, you have been there for me from the beginning and the support you continue to show me, and my work, is more than I could have ever imagined. These books would not be published without your commitment, your feedback, and your love of my guys. Thank you.
Published by: Jessie G Books
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, Jessie G Books, [email protected]. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Jessie G Books.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase on authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material.
Their Reason is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.
Trademark acknowledgement
Disney (Mickey, Minnie, Mouseketeers, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Beach & Yacht Club, Sea Breeze Point, Crescent Cove, IllumiNations, Epcot, Disney Weddings, Elsa, Cinderella)
Rascal Flatts (Everyday)
Joe Satriani
Limerick Strand Hotel
King John’s Castle
Guinness Storehouse
Dublin Castle
Blarney Castle / Blarney Stone
Special Dedication
When I published my first book, the only family who knew were my husband, my kids, and my best friend, Michelle. I knew it wasn’t her genre of choice, but that didn’t stop her from supporting me 100%. Her encouragement of my life-long dream has been as invaluable as the last eighteen years of her friendship has been—unwavering and full of acceptance.
She’ll be the first to tell you that it was your love of my guys—especially Bull and Red—that inspired her to finally give my books a try. Even knowing she was way behind, she joined the For A Reason Group Read and dove in. As of the time I’m writing this that event is still going on, but she loved my guys so much she finished it AND all the others!
Thank you, Michelle, my “sister from another mister,” for your friendship and support. When you drove across the state with a birthday cake eighteen years ago, I don’t think either of us imagined how far we’d go together and I can’t wait to see what the next eighteen years brings.
And thank you to my awesome fans for inspiring my best friend to give my guys a chance!
From the Author
In December, I jokingly posted on Facebook that if Florida allowed gay marriage, then I would write a Sizzling Miami wedding...based in Disney! Crazy? Apparently if you say it on Facebook, you must follow through, or so my readers tell me. So this goes out to everyone who liked and commented on that post, this one is definitely for you.
On January 6, 2015 Florida became the 36th state to allow gay marriage. On January 5, 2015 Miami-Dade County became the first place in Florida to allow same-sex couples to marry, 10 hours before the gay-marriage ban that had been ruled unconstitutional was lifted in the rest of the state.
When I think about my guys and who I think marriage would mean the most to, I always think about Red. Growing up in foster care and spending his first twenty-five years just trying to survive, the concept of family is a dream he never thought would become a reality. He found a family with Bull, the Connors and our favorite guys in the garage, but marriage would really make him a Connor. Not just the piece of paper, but the vows in front of all their loved ones, the promise of forever...it’s everything Red deserves.
If you’re new to the Sizzling Miami series, you’ll want to know where Red and Bull began. For a Reason, book 2 in the series, is their story and a definite must read before diving into this.
While writing this story, I was on a trip to Europe. As fate would have it, we were in Ireland the week leading up to their own country-wide marriage equality vote. It was quite encouraging to see all the “Vote Yes” posters everywhere, to hear the taxi drivers and tour bus drivers talking about the upcoming vote, and to be handed more than one flyer encouraging citizens to “Vote Yes.” I was worried that we would leave before we found out the results, but just before our plane took off on May 23, 2015, we got the news. Not just YES, but a HELLS YES by an overwhelming vote. I was so honored to be there.
As we toured the country, with its beautiful rolling hills and historic landmarks, the idea of a honeymoon began to take root. Could there be a more perfect place for our beloved Red and Bull to spend the first days of their married life? I can’t think of one and I hope, when you get to the end, that you’ll agree.
Obviously I need to travel more often, as when I landed in New Orleans on June 26, 2015, I got a call from my oldest son to tell me that the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality for all by a five to four vote. These major rulings are just another step in the fight for LGBT equality. Unfortunately, the hate that has been directed at our LGBT brothers and sisters will not go away overnight, and they need our support now more than ever. Get involved, show acceptance, spread the love. We’re winning the battles, but that’s the only way to win the war.
Jessie G.
Chapter 1
You promised me forever
It was still dark when Bull abruptly opened his eyes, his body on full alert. He remained still, listening, trying to decide what woke him. When he didn’t hear anything outside of their room, he eased away from Red and grabbed his shorts. Red stirred, mumbled, and Bull waited until he settled before going to search the house. After going room by room and checking the locks, he found himself back in the bedroom, still confused by what woke him.
“What’s wrong?” Red looked at him in concern.
“I don’t know.” When Red lifted the sheet, Bull shucked his shorts and slid back in his lover’s arms.
“Were you dreaming?” Red asked as he wrapped around him protectively. Bull considered the question carefully. It had been months since the dreams had been vivid enough to wake him. He knew they were there, but so was Red. With those long limbs providing safe haven every night, the dreams didn’t hold the same power over him as they used to.
Finally he shook his head, pretty positive that it wasn’t a dream that woke him. “No, I don’t think so.”
Red hummed softly and continued to shift until he lay on top of him. Bull could only smile when Red rubbed his face over his chest. Of all the ways Red showed affection, having him rub that gorgeous face anywhere on his body made his heart swell. “Maybe it was the phone?”
I
t wasn’t his week to be on call for the FTR, but he reached over to check it anyway. “No, not that either.”
Red flashed him a sleepy smirk. “I’d think you were horny, but you usually have a more pleasurable approach when you want me.”
“I always want you,” Bull corrected, but knew Red was right. It wasn’t uncommon to wake up wanting and he never had a problem seducing his lover into consciousness. This wasn’t that at all, but he’d happily take it as a side benefit.
Red’s sleepy laughter filled the room. “Let’s figure out what woke you first. The last few weeks have been crazy and we really haven’t had time for ourselves. The new project I’m working on is taking a lot of time and every time we think we have time off, something else comes up.”
“You’re right.” Bull nodded slowly, thinking back over the last six months. One of Red’s marketing pieces for a popular local band caught the eye of a major marketing firm, prompting them to offer him a job. The offer had been hard to pass up, but the job was based out of New Jersey and Red refused to even consider it. That seemed to be the end of it until another piece caught their attention again, and they were willing to take him on as a remote employee. On top of that, he continued to work in the garage and for Owen, so the only time he really had to devote to the marketing position was at night. It was an impossible schedule he wouldn’t be able to maintain, but Bull knew he was so thrilled to be working that he would agree to anything and everything.
But the crazy schedule started long before that. The months between their Labor Day trip to New York to see Craig and Tommy and Christmas had been filled with drama and danger. First from Saul and Javi, then from Ty and Chase. Helping their friends was all fine and good, and they could say it was major wins all around, but things hadn’t settled like they expected. The New Year rolled around and it became one obligation after the next. Friends, family, work...it all kept them running and prevented them from just enjoying each other. Prevented them from fulfilling the promise they made to each other.
Why the hell were they putting that off? “What’s on your schedule this morning?”
Red blinked at his abrupt question. “Uhm, I’m in the garage this morning. Why?”
“You promised me forever,” Bull reminded him. “You should have been a Connor by now. Florida gave us that right months ago and we’ve let everyone else’s obligations get in the way. Why are we doing that?”
“I also promised that I would never try to change you and I know how important it is for you to help others.” Red peered up at him nervously.
“Ian, you are the most important person in my life. You. Only and always you.” Bull honestly didn’t know any other way to say it. “We need to make a deal right now. No matter what, no matter who, we take time for ourselves each week. That means we make plans and we stick to them, even if it means saying no to someone or turning off our phones.”
Red nodded quickly, eagerly, and Bull wished he’d thought of it sooner. His lover deserved better from him. “Deal. Done.”
“And no more waiting. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you Ian Connor before the month is out. We’re going to start planning it now, this morning. I’ll get Billy or Saul to open the shop.” In fact, the more Bull thought about it, the more he wondered if it was that directive that woke him. “Any objections?”
“No objections.” Red’s whisper shook with emotion. “Just one request.”
Bull didn’t need Red to elaborate. Their needs were always in sync even when the demands of others prevented them from acting on it. As Red rose over him, that gorgeous mouth covering his in a tender kiss, Bull’s resolve grew stronger. No one and nothing would stop him from making Red an official part of the Connor family. Family was something Red had been denied for too long and even though Red had come to believe he was part of the whole extended family, Bull knew he needed more. Bull needed to give him more. A real place of belonging.
“You’re frowning, Jon.” Red nipped his lower lip, suckling it before swiping his tongue across it. “I need you here with me now, not beating yourself up over lost time. We accomplished so much together and not just for ourselves. To see Saul and Javier finally put the past behind them makes it worth the wait. And having little Ava and Luc come into our lives…Jon, it was worth the wait. I never for a second doubted my place at your side or in our family.”
The words meant everything to him and only made him want Red more. With Red tight in his arms, he reared up to his knees and guided those long legs around his waist. “I need to be inside you, Ian.”
They rarely went for quick and dirty. Even when they snuck away for a lunch time quickie, they wound up getting lost in each other and had to suffer the knowing smirks from the men in the garage. Right now, though, that need to make Red his in every way had a hold on him.
“I love when your caveman comes out.” Red grinned knowingly and reached for the lube on the nightstand. He slicked his own fingers and reached back to prepare himself. Those whiskey eyes held his, showing Bull all the lust and love he needed to see, which only made what Red was doing that much hotter. Fuck, he loved how free Red was in the bedroom. Generous, inventive, teasing and demanding, and Bull would never take that for granted.
“Tell me how that feels,” Bull encouraged when Red moaned and his eyes glazed over.
“Hot, slick, tight…empty. Still tender from last night, but so very empty, Jon.” Red blinked, focused, and pinned him with a scorching look. “I need you inside me now.”
Red tried to scramble to his knees, but Bull held him firm. “No, I need you wrapped around me.” Then he grabbed two handfuls of that perfect ass, lifting Red enough so that he could reach back and guide Bull inside. There were definite perks to having a flexible lover with long limbs. The slow slide into that welcoming heat was all the gentle Bull could muster and he loved the contented sigh Red made as they connected once again.
“Make me yours, Jon,” Red demanded as he tightened his arms and legs, and tilted his head back, knowing full well that Bull would want his neck.
When one slender hand ghosted over his scalp, Bull was lost. He rose up, secured his hold on his lover and did what they both wanted. The ride was rough, almost desperate, but he knew it was what they both needed. This physical representation of the desperate need they had for each other went beyond sex. Being together was their haven, the only place they were truly safe from the demons that once ruled their lives. They were partners, lovers, friends, and soon they would be husbands, declaring their intentions before those who were most important to them. Red filled up all the empty places inside him and he only prayed he did the same in return.
“Jon.” The whispered warning tightened his balls. Red was close, so close, and Bull knew he would come from this. Could feel the pulsing of Red’s cock trapped between their bodies. “Together. Always together. Promise me.”
It was a promise he would gladly make and one he would do anything to keep. “Always, Ian.”
The hand on his scalp urged him down and he covered Red’s mouth, sinking deep, mimicking the hard thrust of his body. Bull felt Red shudder, felt those long limbs clench, and the first spurt of come between them felt like a hot brand across his flesh. All he could do was hold on tight and follow him over the edge. Red shuddered again, moaned his name, and went boneless in his arms.
“I love you, Ian,” Bull promised as they continued to kneel there, drawing strength from each other.
“You better love me, Jon, ’cause I love you so much.” Red blinked up at him and smiled. “Now carry me to the shower, caveman. We have a wedding to plan.”
Chapter 2
It was meant to be
“Are you sure you don’t want to invite the rest of your family?” Red stood at the stove flipping pancakes while Bull put together the guest list. Bull had been careful not to divide the list up into sides, knowing full well that Red would only be willing to invite Craig and Tommy from his side. In contrast, Bull had aunts, uncles, and cousins who were
close enough to expect an invitation.
Not that he hadn’t met the uncles and cousins that Craig raved about. They all flew down for a weekend, understanding his need to do it on familiar ground, and Tommy arranged a brunch at their hotel since Red wasn’t eager to open their home to them. But it had been awkward. No, worse than awkward. The disbelief, anger, hurt, and guilt were overwhelming, and none of them could seem to get past it. With every sad look, every apology, every expression of horror, he felt more and more nauseous. Even Tommy had been annoyed by their behavior, but it was Bull who finally put an end to the nightmare. With a “call us when you get your heads out of your asses” as his parting shot, Bull wrapped a strong arm around his shoulders and guided him out to the car.
“I want to invite the people that matter to both of us, together. Neither of us want a big, fancy thing, right?” Bull glanced over and he nodded quickly. They weren’t the fancy type. “We agreed on something intimate and fun. Thirty people is intimate and Disney is fun.”
“Really? When was the last time you visited the mouse?” Red just shook his head as he put their breakfast on the table and took his chair. “You’re suggesting it because it’s on my bucket list, but is that really what you want?”
“It’s actually pretty perfect. A small ceremony and reception, and then we can all cut loose in the parks. Intimate and fun.” Bull looked so pleased with himself that Red allowed himself to get excited. Did he want to get married in Disney? Hell yes! It was just shocking to think that Bull would be agreeable to it, even more that he was the one suggesting it. “So it’s been a couple of decades since I’ve been there, that’ll only make it something new we can experience together.”
How could he argue with that? He couldn’t and he didn’t really want to anyway. Maybe it was another throwback to the things he didn’t get to do as a child, but every commercial—and they were constant—only increased the longing, and he loved Bull more for indulging him.