Page 58 of Just A Little Love

“Gabriel, you love me?”

“Rory, I do. I love you.” At my words, I leaned down and brushed a soft kiss over his slightly parted lips. When I pulled away, he chased after me and sought my lips out again. I stopped my retreat and met him halfway. Our lips parted, and this kiss was slower, more exploratory. We gently probed each other’s mouths, our tongues stroking against each other in unhurried passes.

“Oh, Daddy, I love you too. Does this mean you want to keep me?”

“Keep you? Bunny, I’m never gonna let you go. No more bargains, no more expiration dates.” Rory threw his arms around my neck and smashed his mouth to my own. He demanded entry into my mouth and took control of the kiss like he’d never done before. After being in heaven, I pulled back from the kiss. There were still some things to say. “We have to talk before this goes any further.”

Rory drew back and searched my eyes. “What, Daddy?”

“You should have come to me.” Rory hung his head down low for a moment. Because Bunny was Bunny, he raised his head backup and squared his shoulders. He looked me straight in the eye and nodded his head.

“You’re right. I should have. If I couldn’t bring myself to talk to you, I should have listened more to Anders. He pointed out all the reasons his story made no sense, but I refused to listen. I should have talked to Jakob and explained it wasn’t him I was upset with.”

He looked so sincere and earnest that I couldn’t keep myself from kissing his nose. As sorry as he felt, I couldn’t just let it go. “Bunny, tomorrow every time I ask you what to do when you’re upset, you’re going to tell me that it is to talk to me. You have to say it out loud every single time. Got it?”

“Got it, Daddy.” Bunny wrapped his arms around my torso, snuggled into my neck, and softly sighed as he burrowed in. “Can we go home now?”

“Yeah, Bunny, let’s go home.”

Epilogue

Rory/Gabriel

Rory

“Daddy, do you think these moose…meese…work here?” I fiddled with Uncle Tobias’ collection so much that I couldn’t even remember how many places I tried them. Intellectually, I knew no one cared where they went, but I wanted this Christmas party to be perfect. It would be the first time everyone would be together in our fully renovated house.

Quinn and his crew did a fantastic job of the house over the past year. They’d refinished all the floors, corrected the foundationcracks, redid the plaster where possible, and made the entire place beautiful. My only regret was that Uncle Tobias wasn’t here to see her new glory. My mom assured me that he could see it. It was a nice enough thought for me to cling to.

“Bunny, they looked great on the bookcase, too. They also looked wonderful on the mantel. The entry table was iffy but acceptable.” Daddy’s indulgent tone was not soothing at the moment. I needed him to tell me where to put the damn things.

“Uh, that is the least helpful thing you’ve said all morning.” My voice was haughty, and I spoke in an awful British accent. “If tonight is ruined because of bad moose placement, I want you to know it’s your fault. If you’re okay with that, keep making jokes.”

Daddy’s swift smack on my ass stung more than a little because the training pants I wore didn’t offer much padding. He ignored my surprised yelp and gave me a look. That last comment was maybe a smidgen too far.

“No one will consider it a bust because they don’t like where you put the moose…mooses? Shit, I can’t remember what they’re called.”

“Does anyone?” My hands were still rubbing my smarting backside when I felt Daddy’s hands drop onto my shoulders from behind. He ran his nose along the column of my neck, and I felt him nuzzle against my ear. Out of instinct, I dropped my head against his shoulder so he could have better access.

“Daddy, whatcha doing?”

“If I’m lucky, I’m going to make out with my hot, sexy, beautiful boyfriend.” Daddy’s low rumble sent shivers down my spine like it always did. I knew I was biased, but this man’s voice could melt my bones in seconds. I would not be distracted.

I turned around to face him with the sternest expression I could muster, given that I wanted to do exactly what he wanted. “No! We don’t have time for that. The wreaths needed to be hung in the front windows. The dining room had to be set up with serving dishes, and the ornament-making table had to be organized.” I tried to shoo him away, but Daddy wasn’t ready to let go yet. He gave me one more kiss on the neck, which I did not squirm away from, before he left to finish his assignments.

“Dude, you gotta let me get my stuff done.”

“Dude? That’s who I am now?”

Daddy’s grumbles continued, and I laughed my way down the hall.

***

Our home was as perfect as I knew how to make it. The construction schedule was challenging for a Christmas party on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Quinn’s crew finished painting last week, so we had Thanksgiving with my parents.

The wreaths were hung, the boughs were swagged across the porch, and the tree was up with lights already twinkling in theliving room. We’d spent so much time in London over the last year that being home for at least a few months was a welcome change. After I finished another item on my list, I headed to the newly gorgeous kitchen to find a snack. After months of renovations, it was finally usable.

Our home.

---