“Like Olson,” Rex said just as proudly.
Olson blushed and nudged Rex in the side. “Oh, hush.”
“No hush. Olson gooood.”
Nate grinned at Olson. “Got you a good alpha.”
Olson snuggled into Rex’s side with a fond smile. “I did.”
By the time they got home, Olson was exhausted. “I just want a shower.”
“I help.” Rex brought Olson into the bathroom, helping him out of his sweatpants. Rex had since returned Storm’s pants and changed into his own; those came off, too.
When Rex was satisfied with the water temperature, he scooped Olson into the shower and sat them both on the floor, Olson arranged in his lap. Olson snuggled into his chest with a sigh.
Over the past few weeks, he’d mostly dozed while Rex bathed him. He savored Rex shampooing his hair now, the stroking pressure of Rex’s fingertips drawing soft moans from his lips. When Rex was done with Olson’s hair, he moved on to soaping up Olson’s body, soft rumbles vibrating from his chest into Olson.
It was only when Olson was thoroughly soaped that Rex washed himself. Then he stood them both up, and let the shower rinse their suds off.
“Thank you,” Olson murmured when Rex was drying them off in the bedroom. “You really did a lot while I was sleeping all the time.”
Rex laid him down on the bed and wrapped himself around Olson, dropping kisses all over his face. “Want care. My mate.”
“Yours,” Olson sleepily agreed.
Rex kissed his nose. “What... brother-in-law?”
“Oh. ‘In-law’ means your husband’s family. For example, Varrick is my brother. When you—” Olson blushed. “When you marry me, Varrick will become your brother-in-law. My dads, too—they’ll become your fathers-in-law.”
“Papa-in-law?” Rex tilted his head.
Olson grinned. “Yeah.”
Rex smiled back, growing hesitant. Slowly, he picked up the locket hanging from Olson’s necklace.
He opened it. And he plucked out the ring within, white gold inlaid with turquoise, rubbing his thumb over it.
Rex wet his lips nervously. He sat up to face Olson; he straightened his shoulders.
There could only be one reason why he was this anxious.
Olson’s heart thumped. He sat up to mirror Rex, cupping Rex’s large hands with his own.
“Olson,” Rex murmured. “I... I no speak good. But much love. Love for Olson. Want Olson. Husband.” He gulped. “Marry?”
Rex looked so hopeful, so nervous, that Olson’s chest squeezed tight.
“Of course I’ll marry you,” Olson whispered, cradling his jaw. He pressed their mouths together in the softest kiss. “I’ve only ever wanted to marry you. No one else.”
Rex’s lower lip trembled. He smiled, relieved and happy, and he swiped at his eyes. Then he tumbled Olson against the mattress, caging Olson with his body. “Mine,” Rex growled, giving Olson a messy, excited kiss. “Mine, mine, mine.”
“Yours.” Olson opened himself to his alpha, his heart skipping.
Rex kissed him breathless. Then he sat back and took Olson’s hand, slipping the ring onto his finger.
It still fit. Just like how their souls still meshed perfectly after so long apart.
“It looks good there,” Olson said, his voice stuck in his throat. “You’re supposed to get a ring, too.”