Page 33 of One Last Time

I hand out the presents and sit back and watch as they open them. "Seriously?" Tyler asks as he looks at the PlayStation that I got for him. He had the old version, and there was never any money to update it.

"Seriously," I whisper as he wraps his arms around me and holds on tight. "Merry Christmas, Ty."

He quickly pulls away from me and reaches under the tree, pulling out a card and handing it to me. "Merry Christmas, Payton." He goes back to his seat on the sofa and starts to unbox his PlayStation.

Opening the card, I'm stunned when I see a bracelet inside. "Ty..." I whisper, this is an exact replica of the one my mom used to wear.

He shakes his head, "We all got it for you." He shrugs as though it's no big deal.

Tears well in my eyes and I will them not to fall. Everyone's having a good time, I don't want to spoil that. "Thank you." I say once I've gotten myself under control. "Best gift ever." They all smile as relief hits their eyes. "Open your presents," I tell them when they keep their eyes on me, almost as if they think I'm going to cry. Not yet, not here.

Mary opens her presents from me, I bought her two Hermes bags, and some Tiger lingerie, along with the new iPhone, which I also got Tyler too. Sebastian got some toys and a Nintendo. They're all happy with their loot and have big smiles .

I give Dahlia her present, it's a weekend spa trip for her and Bethan for this weekend. I'm staying here, and she's getting some time alone. She also got some Tiger lingerie.

Bianca was the hardest person to buy for, but I managed to get her something I know that she'd love. She's an amazing artist and I've booked her in to have an anonymous show in a gallery.

"Pay, this is from Silas," Dahlia tells me as she hands me a box and a card. "Why don't you go on upstairs and open it."

I take it from her and give Ty a wink. He's doing better today, but I'll be keeping an eye on him from now on. Once I'm in my bedroom, I open the card and see a letter.

Pay,

This is a promise ring.

I promise that I'll always love you.

I promise that I'll always support you.

I promise that I'll always be here for you.

I promise that we'll grow old together.

Most of all, I promise to be the man that you deserve.

Merry Christmas, baby.

I love you.

Silas.

The tears are flowing as I open the box and see a beautiful diamond ring. It's got a diamond in the center with smaller diamonds that go around the band. It's perfect and something that I'd have picked out myself.

God, this man just gets better and better. I don't think I could love anyone as much as I love him. I pray that he likes his present. He’s always wanted a motorcycle, I hope the Ducati is okay.

CHAPTER 18

Silas

My girl is fucking happy, I can hear it in her voice every time we talk. The pictures are splashed across the rags show her smiling brightly and looking more beautiful than ever. As much as I’d like to think I’m the reason for her happiness, I know that I’m not, but fuck if I'm not glad that she’s feeling this way.

We’ve been having phone sex a hell of a lot. It’s a shitty thing to think that I’ve gotten myself off more since Payton and I have been back together than I’ve gotten off inside of her. But if this is the only way that I can be with my girl, then so be it. I’ll jerk off until the day I die, as long as she’s watching. My girl is filthy, she loves when I talk dirty to her, the moans she releases as I describe what I’d love to do to her is something else. It’s a quick-fire way to ensure that I’m coming long before I fucking should.

I love seeing my ring on her finger. I know that it’s not an engagement ring, but it may as well be. The love I have for her isn’t going to change. I’m going to marry her, I knew it at seventeen, and I know it now. Payton is my forever.

“Morning,” Cas says, coming into the kitchen. Things between him and Saya are rocky to say the least. She’s barely answering his texts, and she won’t answer his calls. It’s fucking with his head. It reminds me of when things went to shit between Payton and I. He needs to nip it in the bud now before he loses her for years, just as I did with Pay.

“You good?” I ask, the dark shadows under his eyes tells me he’s far fucking from it.

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