Chapter Twenty-Eight

Tommy

I watched the way my brother smiled down at Maverick as they swayed along to the music, both lost in one another. Jackson pushed the hair back from his fiancé’s eyes before he pressed a kiss to his nose, and Maverick’s cheeks burned pink. Despite the odds, they were together, happy, and in love. And they would be getting married tomorrow in front of all our friends and family. It made me realize how desperately I wanted that. With the man sitting next to me.

“They’re cute, right?” Blake commented as he leaned into me. “If someone had told me Maverick would be the first one in the band to get married, I would have thought they had a few screws loose.”

I hooked my arm over his shoulders. “I can’t remember the last time Jackson was this happy. Probably the night of his going away party.”

“Maverick, too.” Blake slid his hand over my thigh and squeezed tightly. “I think I’d like to have what they have.”

I pulled away to meet his eyes. “We do.”

“No, I mean the wedding and the family.”

“I hope this isn’t your proposal, Bug. You’ll need to work on that.”

Blake nodded. “It’s always been you, Gretzky.”

I could see it, though. A big house, a couple of kids playing in the yard, and Blake welcoming me when I came through the door, his arms wide and open for me. A big smile on his handsome face. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat just as Blake leaned in to steal a kiss.

“We’re a forever kind of thing, right, Tom?” he murmured against my mouth.

I placed my palm against his cheek. “Yeah, Blake, we are.”

“I—”

I put my finger over his lips before he could continue. “It was all me, Bug. No need to apologize for something you didn’t do.” I might always have this guilt to carry around. For going behind his back, tricking his mother into going to rehab so he would pursue his dreams. But my heart had been in the right place, and that was all that mattered.

“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. I was part of the problem, too. Or did you forget that? Instead of talking it out, we hurt one another instead. You meant well, and I know that now.” Blake gave me a soft smile.

I tilted his head up and swiped my thumb against his cheekbone. “I only wanted the best for you.”

“I know you did.” Blake pressed his mouth to mine. “But what I was going to say before you stopped me was that I love you.”

I wrapped my arms around him tightly, just as Killian dropped into the chair next to Blake. I raised my brows, only for him to wink at me. Cockblocker.

“What, what’s that look for?” He grinned.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re interrupting our moment.”

“He’s good at that.” Matthias slid into the singer’s lap. “He likes being the center of attention and gets cranky when he’s not. You should know that by now.”

Killian snorted. “You’re lucky you’re cute, babe.”

“I’m more than cute, and you know it,” Matthias teased.

“You’re not light, that’s for sure.” Killian barked out a laugh when Matthias swatted his shoulder. “Mm, I love it, though. Love all of you.”

Blake groaned. “Go be gross somewhere else.”

“Go screw.” Killian shot us double middle fingers. “Don’t be haters because we’re the perfect couple.”

Maverick chose that moment to walk over to us, with Dean by his side. “I thought it would be nice to get a couple pictures of the band together. You know, for memories or whatever now that we’re all friends again.” He ducked his head. “If you wouldn’t mind. If you don’t want to, that’s cool, too.”

“Brilliant idea.” Blake climbed to his feet and winked at me. “Take care of my man, Matty.”

Killian grunted. “He will do no such thing.” He crushed his mouth against Matthias’s before he shot me a look. “I have my eye on you, Olson.”

“He’s a little possessive,” Matthias muttered as we watched the members of Mulligan Downtown walk away.

I knocked his shoulder with mine. “You think?” When he didn’t answer, I twisted my frame around to look at him. “Everything okay?”

“Everything is perfect,” Matthias assured me as he played with the ring on his left hand. “He loves me, he wants me, and everyone knows. It’s all I ever wanted from Killian.” A smile tugged at his lips.

I sighed softly as I glanced over to where the photographer was snapping pictures. Killian had positioned himself so that he could see us, his gaze glued to Matthias. “He’s watching you.”

“I know he is. He always is.” Matthias’s ears burned pink. “And I don’t hate it.”

I let my eyes move to Blake, who was listening to something Dean said before he threw his head back, laughing. “I love him, you know.”

“I know you do,” Matthias assured me. “After that night I saw you two kissing, I saw it in everything you two did together. How much you cared for one another, the love you shared. You were meant to be together. It just took a little while to get there.”

My heart rattled against my chest. “I almost lost him. I spent years hating myself because of what happened, and I don’t think I could do it again. I’m great at screwing things up in a first-class way.”

“You won’t.” Matthias gave me a big smile when my brows shot up. “We won’t let you.”

I opened my mouth to ask him who we was, but Killian and Blake suddenly rushed across the room.

“Pictures, babe.” Killian dragged him to his feet. “Come on.”

“Gretzky?” Blake held out his hand.

My skin broke out in sweat. No, I couldn’t. Not yet. I didn’t want my photo taken, the scar that ruined my life out there for everyone to see.

“I can’t.”

“Not even for me?” His brows dipped.

I heard Killian’s deep laugh, watched the way he wrapped his arms around Matthias to pull him close and then kissed him, the camera flashing in the corner. When was the last time Blake and I had taken a picture together? When I was still in high school? The mall photo booth, maybe?

“Hey.” Blake stepped between my legs. “I know you’re scared, but I’m here for you. I’ll be right by your side.”

Beau and Dean had walked over to where the pictures were being taken. When Beau reached up to pull Dean’s hair out of the ponytail and dragged his hands through the green tresses, the guitar player lit up like the Fourth of July.

“You know I’ll do anything you ask of me, Bug,” I said and stood up. “Anything at all.”

His beautiful face blossomed into a smile. “I’m going to hold you to that, Tommy.”

***

I woke to the sound of laughter outside the bedroom door and Blake’s head on my chest. He smacked his lips together before burrowing his face against my skin, and I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face. I dragged my fingers through his soft, blond hair as I listened to the commotion outside, and my mind went back to when Blake attacked me after we got back to his house after the rehearsal dinner.

“Need you.” He groaned into my mouth, shoving me onto the bed. “So bad.”

I watched with hunger as he yanked off his shirt. “You can have me any time you want.”

“Now.” Blake yanked his pants down his legs. “Right now. Inside me.”

My cock perked up and twitched at the memory. Blake was a madman as he begged me to fuck him, sobbed with pleasure when I gave him what he wanted, and screamed my name when he came all over himself. I think he gave Killian and Matthias a run for their money.

“My ass hurts.” Blake’s voice was heavy with sleep.

I snorted. “Probably because you rode me like a championship horse last night.”

Blake tilted his head up to meet my gaze, his green orbs still drowsy, and then he flipped me onto my back so he could straddle my hips. “Might do it again if you play your cards right, Gretzky.”

“Is that so?” I nipped at his chin when he bent down to kiss me, his cock rubbing against mine.

Blake groaned. “We have years to make up for.”

“Are you fucking two in there again, or are you awake?” Dean asked. Howling laughter followed. “You were loud enough to wake the dead last night.”

Blake’s chest, neck, and face flushed pink. He was absolutely perfect. “You want to watch, Frost. Is that it? Need some pointers for your own sexual escapades?”

“The hell I do.” It sounded like Dean kicked the door, then he laughed. “Our brothers are getting married today. Thought you might want to get up and, I don’t know, get ready?”

I beamed up at Blake as he canted his hips. “Yeah, just give me a few minutes.”

“I bet.” Dean chuckled.

Blake brought his hand up to my face and dragged his finger over my scar. “You’re so perfect, Tommy. Everything about you is just what I wanted.” He leaned down to press his full mouth to mine. “Everything and more.”

“Bug, you can’t say things like that.”

“I can, and I just did.”

I flipped us so that he was now below me, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he waited for my next move. “Tonight.” Kiss . “After the wedding.” Kiss . “I want you inside of me.” Kiss. Nip. Suck.

“Fuck.” Blake moaned as I dragged my tongue over his jaw and tasted his skin. His nails dug into my hips as he trembled below me. How I thought I could ever live without him was beyond me.

I smirked. “That’s the plan, Bug.”

“I like that plan,” he whispered.

I shifted off him and onto the bed. I pulled Blake closer to me as I watched him. My heart felt full, happy, and calm for the first time in years. Probably since the day he left Canfield and me behind.

“I love you.”

“Not as much as I love you,” I promised.