Desires' Guardian (27 page)

“You’ve got to stop saying thanks for things like that, hun. This isn’t a favor, it’s our future. ’Kay?”

“Yes, Chase.”

“Good boy.”

Rhys growled softly. “Not a boy.”

“Baby, you’re my boy. That’s not a bad thing, is it? Being mine?”

He shook his head. “I love you too.”

L
ATER
THAT
night, he conned Rhys into taking him over to visit Dal. Getting permission wasn’t the easiest thing, nor was moving to the wheelchair, thanks to how battered he was. But eventually he approached the door to Dal’s room, Rhys right behind him.

Rhys stepped around him and knocked on the door before pushing it open and wheeling him in. His first look at Dal had Chase torn between laughing and crying. Dal was propped up in the hospital bed, but curled around him was Alex, his new boyfriend. They were absolutely adorable.

Before he could tell Rhys to take him back to his room, Dal’s gaze met his. “Hey, Chase,” he murmured. “Come in, but try to not wake Lexie, please. He passed out a little while ago.”

“He’s so sweet like that,” Rhys said, stepping around so he could sit beside Chase. “How ya doing, little brother?”

“Not too bad, considering. And well, something good came from all this mess, other than Chase being home safe. Dad met Alex and promised to drop his campaign to have me married off and making little baby Sayers.”

“Good. Still can’t believe he tried to do that to you. Anyway, Chase has been bugging me, the nurses, his mom, and anyone else he could corner into letting him visit.”

“Thanks for the intro, big guy.” Chase chuckled, then stopped short, reminded painfully that his ribs were severely bruised.

“Careful,” both men warned.

“It’s okay. I just wanted to check on you and say how sorry I am you got hurt. Are you in a lot of trouble?”

“They’re not sure the shoulder will heal up enough to let me go back to work as a beat cop, but,” Dal paused, eying Alex a moment. “I wouldn’t have been staying much longer anyway, so I’ll be okay.”

“You love being a cop, Dal. Don’t play games with me, mister.”

“I do love it, but it’s not what I want to do forever anymore. I got my prelaw degree not that long ago. I spoke to Dad and Mel about it, and I’m not going back to work here. I don’t think Alex will be too upset about my career change, once I tell him.”

“He doesn’t know?” Rhys asked, beating Chase to the punch.

“No, and I don’t want either of you telling him either,” he added with a frown. “I want to surprise him once I get my letter.”

“Means I have to wait to throw you a party too, huh?”

“Yeah, Chase, it does. But I promise to let you know as soon as I know, all right?”

Chase nodded. “I really am sorry you got hurt.”

“I know, as am I. It’s not as if I went in there thinking ‘oh, hey, can I get shot today,’ though. We just wanted you safe and home.”

“Thank you,” he barely got out, choking back tears.

Rhys stood quickly, wrapping Chase in his strong arms. “Calm down, sweetheart. He gave us all a good fright, but he’ll be fine.”

Chase nodded against Rhys’s chest, thankful to be alive and in Rhys’s arms again. “I know. I was so scared I would never get to tell you I love you or see you again. Sorry for being such a little girl.”

Six months later

C
HASE
PACED
as he waited for Rhys to get home so they could turn around and head right back out. It was their first Christmas together, and all three of their families demanded appearances. Tonight, they visited James and Seth and a few close friends; tomorrow, for brunch, they were at his parents; and then for dinner, they would go to Rhys’s parents’ house and meet up with not only his parents, but Dal and Alex, as well as Mark, Amber, and her parents.

He returned to their bedroom—still giddy at being able to call it
theirs
—to make sure Rhys’s outfit was laid out and perfect. He knew Rhys would be happy in his leather and denim, but James’s husband’s friends and family expected a bit more formality than most.
At least it’s a small gathering of close friends and family and not some huge corporate gala-style party
, he mused.

As he continued to ramble around their top-floor loft, he turned to memories of their life since that horrid night everything had changed for so many people he cared for and loved. The night he had been shot by Jonathan, Dal made a decision that ended his police career, but even with the pain, legal and physical, he’d suffered, Dal was happier now than he had ever been. He told Chase every time they spoke how thrilled he was to be with Alex in Chicago, attending law school.

Things at home had been, for the most part, blissful. He and Rhys had been living together since the moment he left the hospital. Grayson now worked for him full-time, though he still thought the man way too secretive.

What hadn’t gone so well was the fallout of what Jonathan had done before “that night.” He had killed three men, two of whom had been Chase’s exes. It took a lot of time and psychiatric care and work to get out of Jonathan why he’d done what he had. What it came down to was the damage of his teen years with his family mixing with his mental instability and the insane abuse and “reprogramming” he’d suffered in one of those “cure the gay” programs.

Jonathan had never revealed why he had taken Chase but not killed him, as he had the others, but Chase was thankful every day. He made a point to tell Rhys he loved him regularly, now knowing how delicate life really was.

The front door clicked before Rhys entered their front room with a heavy tread. “Hey, cariadon,” Rhys said as he dropped his leather coat on the couch. He brushed his lips against Chase’s briefly and then hurried into their bedroom. Moments later, the shower turned on. Chase had to remind himself they didn’t have time for him to join Rhys in the hot water right then.

A few minutes later, Rhys was out, dressed in the black dress slacks, emerald button-down silk shirt, and black-and-green tie Chase had bought him earlier that week. He had his dress coat over his arm and his polished boots in hand as he sauntered into the living room and sat to finish getting ready. When finished, he looked up and grinned. “Damn, sweetheart. You sure we have to go?” he asked as his gaze stripped Chase bare.

“Come on, big guy. We’re going to be late if we don’t leave now. I’ll ravage you when we get home. For now, though,” he continued, holding out Rhys’s long cashmere overcoat.

“You know, they won’t be upset if we aren’t there twenty minutes early.”

“We won’t be early, but I refuse to be late. Now, get that sexy ass of yours moving,” he added and slapped Rhys on said tush. Chase made sure to grab the bags of presents before they left the loft, took the steps out to Rhys’s car, and then drove over to James’s.

When they pulled up outside James’s stone cottage, Chase took a moment to look at the lights through the window. He’d helped James hang them, though no one else had been allowed to place the doves, ribbons, glass ornaments, and more. Only James knew where each piece went, but Chase had had a blast watching his best friend work hard to make the perfect holiday wonderland in his home.

“Stop staring, would ya? It’s freezing out here.” Rhys didn’t wait for him to move. He draped his arm over Chase’s shoulder and led him to the ornately decorated door.

Moments later, it swung open to reveal Danni, James’s stepdaughter, decked out in her red-and-gold dress, ribbons, and glittery red shoes. “Hi, Uncle Rhys. Hi, Uncle Chase.”

“Hey, sweet pea,” Rhys rumbled. He bent and scooped her up as they entered the great room.

“Oh, good. You made it.” James maneuvered to Chase and embraced him tightly.

“When have I not been here for one of your holidays?” Chase asked, smirking.

“Um, never? Still, you could have decided to stay in tonight. Thanks for coming.”

“No thanks required, Jamie. Now, let me put these down, and I’ll be in to help you finish up.”

James laughed and hugged him again. “It’s all done, dear. Now, hurry up. We promised Danni everyone could have one present before dinner.”

Twenty minutes later, they all had drinks—Danni’s the only non-alcoholic one—and had gathered around the huge main tree. Chase expected Seth or James to hand out the gifts, but instead, Danni bounced over to Rhys, looking up at him through her long lashes.

“Is it time, Uncle Rhys?”

“Yes, baby.” He hugged her before he handed her a small, chunky box he pulled from his inside coat pocket. “Deliver this for me like we practiced.”

She nodded, a serious look on her pixie face. She skipped to where Chase sat, curtsied, and held out the gift. “You have to open this first,” she whispered.

Chase looked around, confused, but followed her directions. When he’d gotten the wrapping out of the way and opened the small box, he was even more confused. Inside was one of those 3D red glass heart puzzles, already put together. “Um, thanks, sweetie.”

Danni shook her head and smiled again. “You already have my heart,” she paused to look at Rhys again before continuing. “Cariadon. This one is to remind you of what you have.” Rhys reached over and handed her a second box, but it was Danni who spoke again. “This is to show everyone else.” She held out the second box and giggled.

Chase looked at Rhys and asked, “Rhys, what’s all this?”

“Just open it, and then I’ll tell you.”

Nervous, but a little excited as well, he slipped the ribbon off the box and opened it. What he found inside made his head spin and his pulse race. A matched set of platinum bands with tiny Welsh dragons engraved around them was nestled on a pillow of velvet. He stared at them, then back at Rhys, confused. They had talked about marriage, and Rhys had said until Wisconsin made it legal, he wasn’t interested in getting married, so the rings made no sense to Chase.

“Breathe, sweetheart. This isn’t a proposal, exactly. In my heart, you’re already mine, just as I know I am yours. This is a promise. I promise to love you and only you for as long as I live. You are my heart. My center. My everything.” Rhys paused and cleared his throat. His voice was rough when he spoke again. “Will you wear my promise to you?”

Unable to find his voice, Chase nodded, shoved his left hand out, and wiggled his fingers.

“I love you, cariadon,” Rhys murmured as he slipped the band onto Chase’s ring finger. “And I want the world to know it. Thank you.”

Chase watched as the ring slid into place, overwhelmed by how his life had changed in so short a time. The ring matched the platinum wrist cuff he now wore—a gift from Rhys when he’d first moved in.

“Uncle Chase? You’re supposed to put the big ring on Uncle Rhys now,” Danni stage-whispered.

He let out a shaky breath and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, pixie.” He took the other ring and slipped it into place on his lover’s finger.

The room burst into applause and whoops of joy as Rhys leaned in and sealed his lips over Chase’s, pressing and nibbling lightly. With a teasing flick to his lip ring, Rhys pulled back and rested his forehead against Chase’s. His heart melted a little more, and for the first time in his life, he truly believed in miracles.

Desires Entwined: Book Three

Alexander James Noble is a gender fluid gay man who gave up on finding Mister Right a long time ago. He’s not asking for much, though. He just wants a guy who loves all of him and appreciates his feminine form too.

At the local LGBTQ center where Alex regularly volunteers, he meets Dal Sayer, an officer of the Milwaukee PD. Because he’s been rejected one too many times, Alex doesn’t trust the huge cop and the interest he shows in him, but once Dal sets his mind on something, he goes all out. Pushing aside his preconceived notions, Alex opens up just a little and soon caves.

From their first date—while dealing with his father’s failing health and his parents’ demands for him to settle down and have children—Dal never takes his eyes off his goal of making Alex his. But proving to Alex he isn’t like all the men who couldn’t see him for who he truly was and only wanted to hide him away is harder than he thought.