Page 91 of The Boy from Half Moon

“So, I tell the manager I came for a job, right?” Tate smiled politely, listening to my story, probably hoping it had an ending. “He says nothing to me, but instead, he points at a pallet stacked high with 50lb bags of horse feed. ‘Can you pick that feed up?’ he asked me. And do you know what I said?”

Tate shook his head, sitting up straight on the stool like he was anxious for an answer. “I walked to the pallet, grabbed a bag with one arm, and another bag with the other. Then I looked at him and said, ‘Where do you want them, sir?’”

“Nooo,” Tate whispered.

“Yep!”

“And then what?” Tate asked, standing and heading around the island to where I was.

“And then he looked at the lady at the cash register and told her to hire me.”

“Just like that? They hired you?”

“I start next week,” I announced proudly.

Tate stared at me for five seconds or so, a smile lighting up his handsome face. “You, my love, are truly something, you know that?”

I reached for his hands and faced him. “I’m something because of you,” I said. “You make me feel like I can do anything.”

“That’s because I believe you can do anything, Luke.”

“They’re only paying me thirteen an hour to start,” I admitted. “That’s not a lot, I know, but more than I’ve ever made. And now I can help out with expenses here.”

“I think that’s a fine start,” he said. “Look at you out there doing your thing. I’m so incredibly proud of you, Luke.”

“Maybe I can work for a year and then think about college?”

“You never told me you wanted to go to college.”

I patted the countertop, asking Tate to jump up on it. Once he was situated, I moved between his knees to face him. “I want to be the best I can be for you,” I began. “I have a promise to keep to you and it requires me to be an equal in our relationship, Tate. That goal is important to me.”

“I’ll never base relationship equality on how much money one of us makes, Luke. You know that’s not high on my list for a great partner. But, with that said, I’m impressed with your goal.”

“I need to earn your respect, Tate. I love you and never want to lose you,” I specified. “I waited a lifetime, and yes, I know it’s a short lifetime so far, but still, I waited my whole life for you. I will not take a chance and lose you.”

“When did you get so wise, young man?” he asked. “Come here.”

Our mouths collided. Tate had his arms around my neck from his seated position on the island, while I wrapped mine around his lower back. Kissing Tate felt like home every time we did. He belonged to me and me to him. A feeling I hadn’t known existed met me each time we connected.

He held my face as we kissed, my reaction becoming apparent in my gray sweat shorts. “I’m ready. I want to do that now,” I whispered.

“You want to do what?” he asked.

“What you explained last night,” I said nervously. “You know, ‘the be inside you’ thing.”

I was embarrassed telling him what I was ready for, but Tate made discussing sex easy. And we had agreed to always discuss our wants and needs. He’d said that he felt it would help me be confident and find my voice when it came to sex. So far, his plan was working to perfection.

“Really?” he whispered. “And you’re sure?”

“I’m very sure,” I stated, glancing at my swelling shorts.

“What about dinner?”

I reached over and turned the stovetop off, moving the pot away as well. “After!” I exclaimed. “I want to feel what being inside you feels like, Tate.”

His hand slid down my stomach and he gripped my penis. “You’re bigger than I’ve had,” he said, rubbing me through the gray material.

I buried my face in his neck and nibbled my way to his ear. “I’m patient. Just like you,” I offered. “And only if you want to,” I added.

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