Authors: Jessie G
Their Reason (10 page)
“No need to call me out, Red. You’re right. These guys put up with all my shit, so I know exactly how you feel about them.” Owen looked around at all the surprised faces and smiled. “Bull told you true, family is everything and this family is the best a guy could ask for.”
Owen squirmed when they all continued to stare and it was Saul who finally broke the awkward silence. “I knew we’d wear you down eventually.”
The shared laughter eased the tension and Javier nudged Kyle up. “Who’s hungry?”
They converged on the kitchen, jockeying for a seat around the table as Javier and Kyle laid out the food. Red sat back and watched the controlled chaos as food was dished, plates were passed, and every one settled in to eat. Of all the ways they came together, this would always be the ultimate family scene for him.
“Uncle Chris says they just seem overwhelming, but they’d never hurt you,” Luc whispered confidently at his side. Did Luc think he was afraid of the guys around them? Had Luc been afraid? He supposed from a little boy’s perspective they were intimidating. Big, bold, loud, crass…yeah, they could definitely be overwhelming if you didn’t know how wonderful they were.
“Oh, I know they—” Red paused as the full meaning of Luc’s words sunk in. He leaned down and whispered back, “Uncle Chris
said
that?”
“Uh huh.” Luc looked down the table at Chris who winked back at them. “Shh, it’s a secret, ‘kay?”
“I promise,” Red assured, his eyes still on Chris who just grinned and kept eating.
“Aren’t you eating?” Bull put a plate down in front of him and looked between them quizzically. “Something going on?”
“Just some guy talk.” Red raised his glass and called out over the group, “To family!”
With his husband by his side and their loved ones around them, he had everything he ever wanted right here in this room. It wasn’t perfect and it wouldn’t always be easy, but they would see it through together…as a family.
Ceremony Outtakes
Bull and Red’s wedding has had quite the effect on my guys. Their voices got so loud in my head that they drowned out the focus of this book and I was annoyed because this was not about them. Except it is about all of them, isn’t it? This series is about the connections that make these guys a family. So, without further ado, some conversations overheard during Bull and Red’s wedding ceremony.
Ty and Chase
Ty tipped Chase’s head up and smiled when he saw him trying to blink back tears. One escaped and Ty leaned down to kiss it away. “I can’t promise I’ll be as eloquent when we get married.”
Chase grinned in real amusement. “You say that as if I’ve already said yes.”
Ty snorted. “As if you’d say no.”
“To you, never.” That amused smile softened and Chase leaned in, taking another kiss. “You know I don’t need a ring, or eloquent words, to know what we are together.”
“What are we together?” Ty wrapped an arm around Chase’s shoulders and tucked him in close. No, they didn’t need rings or even the collar Chase wore to know what they were to each other, and he wasn’t one to say the mushy words often, but he’d come to love hearing them from his boy.
“Everything,” Chase responded quickly, without thought or hesitation.
“I need the ring on your finger, Chase.” He thought that would be hard to admit, but it was Chase, so it wasn’t. “We filed all those legal documents and there are still rights we don’t have. I want us to have all those rights, not just to each other, but to Ava and Luc. So that as we walk this journey together, no one will ever be able to stop us from caring for one another. Maybe that’s not the most romantic reason, and I’m sorry for that, but it terrifies me to think that someone could keep me away from you when you need me the most because of some legal loophole.”
“You keep telling me you’re not good with the words, but you always get them right.” Chase sniffled and begged another kiss. “I love you, Master.”
“Is that a yes?” Chase just grinned and rested his head on Ty’s shoulder. Of course it was a yes. His boy never said no to him.
Saul and Kyle
“Look at how gorgeous he is,” Kyle whispered, leaning close to Saul. He couldn’t stop staring at Javier. He was so used to seeing Javier in jeans and the shop t-shirt that he’d been blown away by their lover all dressed in his wedding finest. Now he was wondering what other plans they could make that would require Javier to get dressed up because their man looked damn fine.
“Do you see how happy he is? He’s practically vibrating.” Saul’s words held a note of awe that had Kyle looking over. “That right there is all I’ve ever wanted for him. It’s beautiful to see.”
“It is.” Kyle chewed on his lower lip and looked between Saul and Javier, debating his words. “We’ve given him a solid support system, as well as room to grow, and the work he’s doing with the counselor has really helped him tremendously.”
“I know. I see him changing right before my eyes.” Saul took his hand and smiled down at him. “Perhaps it’s time I talked to that counselor on my own.”
They never suggested it, but he and Javier had discussed it. Saul never talked about the things he did in the past, or what he saw happen to Javier, or how his parents wrote him off. Those traumatic events shaped him and, like Javier, he needed to face them to put them to rest. “You said all you ever wanted was to see Javier happy. Well, that’s all we want for you, Saul.”
“It’s time for us all to be happy, Pup.” Saul squeezed his hand and leaned down to kiss his temple. “I’ll make the call when we get home.”
Javier looked between them questioningly. Their lover was becoming more attuned to them every day. It went beyond just looking to Saul for his cues—he was reading their moods, wants and needs, and trying to meet them. Just as they tried to do for him. They were well on their way to a real partnership, with that give and take Chase once told him about. This was another step in that direction and he couldn’t wait to tell Javier that it was Saul’s idea.
Alaric and Davin
“I don’t think we should do it,” Davin whispered seemingly out of the blue, drawing Alaric from his own thoughts. “Don’t get me wrong, I really love the time we spend with them, but to take that on full time? Like we don’t already have enough going on in our lives? Is it selfish to say that I want our time to just be us? We’ve lost too many years, Ric. I don’t want to share you now.”
Alaric shifted and waited until Davin lifted his gaze. “You won’t regret it?”
“No.” Davin straightened his shoulders and repeated firmly, “No. We’re in the position to make a well thought out, informed decision on whether we want to be parents. The idea of it was appealing. I mean, Ava and Luc are such great kids, but I don’t envy Ty and Chase the responsibility they’ve taken on. Great kids or not, it changed their whole lives, and maybe that makes them better than me, but I don’t want our life to change that way. Are you mad?”
Alaric could only shake his head in wonder. How could he be mad when the whole idea of sharing Davin with anyone, even an innocent child, made him crazy? “Baby, I don’t want kids. I don’t want to share you, and if that makes me selfish then we’ll be selfish together.”
“Damn it, I knew you were hiding this from me, but I don’t get why. Why didn’t you just say that it was wrong for us months ago?” Davin demanded, his voice low but firm.
“Because I needed you to think about it.” Alaric knew what Davin’s expectations were, but he also knew what he saw. Ava and Luc had an interesting effect on his lover. “I may make the decisions, but only when I know where your head is at. That’s why we talk about everything first, so I’m sure I’m making the right decision for us, not just me. You’ve been doing a lot of thinking and not much talking. I simply gave you the room to do it.”
Davin nodded slowly and Alaric could see his mind racing. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Alaric took Davin’s hand, nudging the platinum band as he turned his attention to Bull and Red. “It’s a beautiful day for a wedding.”
Davin chuckled. “I’m glad we eloped. This is a little much for us.”
“True.” Some might think him over the top and used to an extravagant lifestyle, but when it came to their special day, they only needed each other. Juan and Delia had jumped at the chance to be their witnesses and happily disappeared right after signing the marriage certificate. He was pretty sure they were having a trial run honeymoon all their own. “But it’s perfect for Red.”
To know their stories
try these other books by Jessie G
Sizzling Miami Series
Past Hurts – Alaric & Davin’s story
http://amzn.to/1Ggmt3D
For A Reason – Bull & Red’s beginning
http://amzn.to/1cttkJ2
The Protector – Saul, Javier & Kyle’s story
http://amzn.to/1FXESQI
Devils Pride MC Series
Tricking Chase – Master Ty & Chase’s story
http://amzn.to/1GgmioZ
Table of Contents
By Jessie G