Page 65 of Labor of Love

“Mm?” Bracken punched at the cushion he was holding, testing it for some unknowable criterium.

“Sweetheart, put the pillow down,” Tanner coaxed, running his hand down Bracken’s forearm and unclenching his fist from the fabric. “Turn around for me.”

Bracken turned with a loud huff. “I don’t have time for a tussle right now, you oaf.” He cocked his head, his gaze running down Tanner’s bare chest. “Or…” He licked at his lips. “It would have to be a very quick one.”

“Bracken.” Tanner tilted Bracken’s chin up until their eyes met.

Bracken sighed, apparently realizing a quick tussle wasn’t in the cards. “Yes? What is it, then?”

“You know how I feel about you.”

“That I have your whole heart?” Bracken asked smugly. He did so love to repeat that line as many times as he could.

“Exactly. And I think that maybe you’re?—”

“Tolerably fond of you?” Bracken wrinkled his nose. “Yes, I suppose.”

That was, of course, the closest Tanner had gotten to any sort of real declaration. It was further than he’d hoped to get, so he was cherishing it with determined pleasure. Tanner knew his prickly fae would come around one day, and in the meantime, he was enjoying the dance between them.

But there was one thing he needed to know.

“You’re staying, aren’t you?” he asked, searching that jewel-green gaze for any sign otherwise. “After the baby comes.Longafter the baby comes. Forever.”

Bracken narrowed his eyes. “Is that some sort of proposal?”

“It could be.”

It was less eloquent than Tanner had hoped for such an occasion, but he supposed it did the trick.

Bracken stepped back, placing this hands on his hips, his belly now a sizable swell in front of him. He looked Tanner over quite deliberately. Tanner barely dared breathe under the scrutiny.

Eventually Bracken gave a decisive nod. “We’ll undergo a fae bonding ceremony. You’ll be linked to my lifespan, so your aging will slow.” He cocked his head, studying Tanner’s hair and beard. “Though I don’t mind the bits of gray. It’s a rarity among fae. Very…distinguished.”

Tanner’s slow grin grew so wide it hurt his cheeks.

Bracken made a face. “What’s your surname, anyway? I should know.”

“Tannerismy surname,” Tanner told him, rubbing at the back of his neck. “My first name is Bradley.”

He’d never seen Bracken look so stricken. Devastated, really. Like Tanner had just broken his heart into two.

“Bradley and Bracken?” Bracken asked, his eyes shiny with unshed tears. “BradleyandBracken?”

“You can stick with Tanner,” Tanner soothed. “Everyone else does.”

Bracken took a moment to come to terms with it. A very long, drawn-out moment. Tanner thought that maybe the fae had never been closer to leaving him behind.

“The baby will have my last name,” Bracken eventually said, although he was still eyeing Tanner like he was on thin ice. “Riverstone.”

“Of course. It’s a beautiful name.”

The baby could have whatever the fuck name Bracken wanted, because Bracken was staying. With Tanner. Forever.

Tanner cleared his throat. “Listen, I know this is all modest compared to what you’re used to. I’m sorry I don’t have riches to shower you with. But I’ll do my best?—”

“Oh, I have my riches,” Bracken interrupted, turning back to his pillow and giving it three swift punches.

“Um…what?”

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