Chapter 18

Waking up with Yuri is the best thing I can imagine. Granted, we've been waking up with each other almost every day before I moved in, but knowing he wanted me here and we share the same space makes it better. As usual, Yuri is wrapped around me, holding me tight with his face burrowed in the back of my neck.

We've been living together for six weeks now and I can't have asked for a better boyfriend. He's a lot smarter than I would have thought, effortlessly helping me study for my exams and explaining some things I still didn't understand.

"How come you didn't go to college?" I ask him one night as we're cooking dinner. Well, Yuri is cooking. I'm mostly in his way and he's too polite to tell me to move. "You're obviously stupidly smart. You could study anything you want and be successful."

He stirs the food that's in a pot on the stove, smiling at me over his shoulder. "Thanks. I could go. It's not like I don't have enough money now to do just that." He turns the burner down and leans against the counter to look at me. "I don't know what I'd even want to go for. I still don't know what I would do if I go. Besides, going to college isn't for everyone. If I do go, it might be to get a trade. There's good money and experience in that."

I nod because he has a good point and he's right. A lot of people shit on those working a trade, but it's stupid. Just because a fuck load of money was spent on a degree doesn't mean you'll use it or find a good job when you graduate.

"You're right. If you ever decide you'd like to go, I'll help you study."

He grins and comes over to me, kissing me soundly. "Hopefully the study sessions come with hand jobs after we're finished."

I giggle, shaking my head. "Or you can have my ass."

"Or you can have mine."

Since I moved in, Yuri has let me have his ass numerous times. I don't think I'll get over how fucking phenomenal he feels. Every time I slide into him, I know there's nowhere else I'd rather be.

With his arms wrapped around me, Yuri kisses my chin. "Tomorrow is the big day. You excited?"

I grin. Tomorrow is graduation day. The last four years have been leading up to this day. Walking across that stage and getting my degree has made all the shit I've been going through to pay my tuition worth it.

"Very. My family should be in later today. They're pretty excited for me too and will take over our couches for a few hours. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. I like your family."

When my parents or brothers call, they always speak to Yuri, treating him like family. Even Jay. After a few conversations he's been less awkward when talking to Yuri. I'm glad he can see past the porn star he ogled in the past and just see him as my boyfriend now.

I pull him in for a kiss, not getting enough of his lips. "They like you too. My mom keeps asking when I'll bring you to visit Maine. Want to take a trip up there with me? Smell all the green trees and hike some trails?"

Yuri told me his hometown of Cliff Point has beautiful trails. He and Max talked about them often and in great detail. They've actually had plenty of conversations without me about trails and plants and animals and shit. Initially I was jealous of Yuri taking all the conversation with Max, but that only lasted a second. It occurred to me then that Max was comfortable talking to my boyfriend on his own.

The sound of Yuri's laughter makes my heart swell. I could listen to it all day. "Oh yeah, I'd love to. Max would as well. It's not a private affair, is it?"

God, I love how he loves my family. "Nope. Everyone is welcome. It's one of the things we do as a family. We all love the outdoors."

"Count me in."

My family arrives a few hours later, loud, overwhelming, and loving. We stay inside and order pizza, all of us trying to talk over the others. I'm used to it, since this is how I grew up. Yuri looks a little out of his element but tries to keep up. My mother peppers him with more questions, asking about his intentions with me. My face burns, but Yuri takes it in stride.

He grabs my hand and threads our fingers together, kissing the back of it. "If he lets me, I plan to take care of him for the rest of our lives."

Tommy, ever the hopeful romantic, gags, putting his hands around his throat as if he's choking. I flick him on the ear, making him laugh.

What Yuri said, I want that with him. I want him to take care of me as I take care of him. I want us to grow old together and sit on the porch while we wrangle our dogs on a large plot of land wherever he chooses. Wherever Yuri wants to go, I'll go with him.

I never thought that at the ripe age of twenty-two, I'd be ready to settle down, but here I am. Yuri is it for me. I don't want anyone else. He's the one.

My family stays for another hour or so, then go to the Airbnb I reserved for them to get some rest. Since I've been training Sam and he's referred me to his friends, I haven't been strapped for cash, even though Carnal Desires paid me a lot more. Had I known training people was so lucrative, I would have done it years ago. But I wouldn't have met Yuri, so things happened as they were supposed to.

The next morning, I wake up with a knot in my stomach, afraid something will go wrong while I'm walking across the stage. Like I trip and fall and my pants rip, showing my ass to everyone. But I relax when Yuri wraps his lips around my cock, sucking me dry and taking my mind off what I'm thinking about.

Yeah, today will be a good day.

Graduation is held inside thankfully. It's hot as fuck in the summer in Georgia. After the commencement speeches and the valedictorian gives their speech, the names of the graduates are called. When my name is called, I smile from ear to ear as I go to the dean and shake his hand, collecting my degree.

I turn to the crowd and find my family, who are all smiling back at me as they clap. My mother has tears streaking her face. I take them all in, but my eyes snag on Yuri, his bright smile, and his twinkling eyes as he stands, claps, and cheers with Tommy. My heart thuds in my chest.

Man, I'm one lucky fucking guy.

Once the ceremony is over, I make a beeline to my family and my man. Yuri walks purposefully over to me, wrapping me in his arms and spinning me around like I'm not a one-hundred-and-eighty-pound man. I don't mind though. It feels good for him to hold me and claim me like this.

Yuri and I haven't kept our relationship a secret from those close to us, but no one in school knows about me. I don't have many close friends—just Dario, who knows about us—but I have some acquaintances that have no idea I'm in a relationship with a man.

And I don't give a fuck if they know.

Setting me down, Yuri kisses me hard and quick. Against my lips, he murmurs, "Congratulations, baby."

"Thank you. I'm glad you're here."

"Me too."

My family swarms me, pulling me away from Yuri so they can hug and congratulate me. I hand my mother my degree—after she hugs me tight enough that I can't breathe. My brothers wrap me in hugs, congratulating me, but I can't take my eyes off Yuri, who can't take his eyes off me.

Fuck, I'm so lucky I decided to become a fluffer. I'm glad I didn't look up what it was before I met with Jake. Then I wouldn't have met the love of my life.

I'll forever be in Dario's debt.