Page 109 of Without You

“I’m nervous,” he admits. “But they didn’t really care when Rhett came out, so maybe this will be kind of like that.”

“You think they’ll care that it’s you and me together?” I say, voicing my only fear.

“They love you,” Deacon reassures me. “I don’t doubt they’ll be shocked, but you’re coming to Seattle with me and they’re going to put two and two together because of that, anyway. Maybe we should go this evening so there isn’t a whole Sutton family audience,” he suggests. He grabs the collar of my shirt and pulls me to him. “Then we can head off to the hotel, and I can fuck you into Christmas day.” He presses another brief yet potent kiss against my lips. “Collect on my Christmas present.”

“What’s my Christmas present?” I ask jokingly.

Deacon nips at my earlobe and lowers his voice. “Me. It’s always going to be me.”

25

Deacon

When Julian and I finally manage to stop teasing one another the heat and banter is replaced with a more serious, worrisome mood.

I’d been so transfixed by the news that Julian was coming back to Seattle with me it took a little too long to remember what that actually meant.

He was leaving the house that had held his heart for so long. And even though he seemed completely enraptured with the excitement of his move there was no way I wasn’t going to ask how he felt before he walked out of here for the last time.

“I’m going to pack the boxes into my truck,” I tell him. “Just take your time with whatever else you need to do.”

“You can put them in my car,” he says.

I give him an exasperated look. “You are not driving this car to Seattle.”

“I need a car, Deacon.”

“I’m well aware of that, but this one is not it.” He glares at me, and it triggers an idea. “Okay, if you want this car to come with us, then you have to let me drive it home.”

“What?” he shouts.

“You heard me. I’m driving it.”

“I’m not going to win this argument, am I?” he says on a sigh.

Shamelessly, I shake my head. “Unlikely.”

Julian walks up to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I know you’re only doing this because you’re worried about me driving it, and I love you for it, I really do. But please don’t make this a thing.”

Ignoring his request I just use my selective hearing to focus on the only part of that sentence I wanted to hear again.

“Say it again,” I interrupt.

He narrows his eyes at me. “What?”

“Tell me you love me.”

Julian bites his bottom lip, stifling his smile. “How bad do you want to hear it?”

“I’ll let you drive if you say it.”

“Really?”

“Probably not.”

“Dick,” he mutters with a smile. “But I love you.”

Offering him a quick kiss, I drag my keys out of my back pocket. “Let me give you some privacy. Tell me if you need anything”

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