Page 20 of Just Forever

“I don’t want you to miss out on anything,” he says. “I want you to be able to hold my hand on the street and go to Pride and tell people you’re married to me.”

“All I want is to be with you,” I say. “That’s all that matters to me. The rest is just details.”

“I’m pulling you back into the closet.”

I sigh, put my hand on his cheek, and turn his face toward me. “Stop. We’ve been over this. I’m good with things the way they are.”

“But—”

“No buts.”

He clamps his mouth shut, searching my eyes before a small smile tilts the corners of his lips. “That’s just wrong. There should definitely be butts.”

My own lips start to twitch. “One butt,” I allow.

“I was thinking two.”

“Are you negotiating the number of butts in our relationship?”

“I’m being the voice of reason. I really like yours, and I’m not giving up mine, so two is kind of the minimum number of butts for us.”

“I see you’re putting that math degree to good use.”

“You like that I’m good with numbers. Admit it. You think it’s sexy,” he says.

“You’ve figured me out. The way you know two whole numbers gets me all hot. Say them again. Do it slowly.” I fan myself with my hand, then throw my head back and laugh when Ryker sends me a dirty look.

“Some days it’s a mystery what I see in you,” he says.

I lean my head on his shoulder. Just for a moment, but I do it.

“Aww, baby. You know I love your brain.”

“Well, come on. Soothe my ego and tell me how much.”

I hum thoughtfully. “I love your brain so much I’d like to take it out on a date.”

“You just know my brain would show you such a good time.”

“It always does.”

“You might even put out on the first date for my brain.” His grin is luminous in the darkness of the night.

“Might? Come on. You know as well as I do there’s no might about it. I would fuck your brain so hard.”

“It’s weird how something can sound so flattering, yet also wildly unappealing.”

“Ouch.” I do my best to look appropriately offended.

“I mean, how would you even do that? It’s not like my brain has easy access.”

“You’ve got ears.”

“Those holes are not that big,” he says.

“You say the nicest things to me.”

I grin at him, and he grins back. Everything is so easy when it’s just the two of us.

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