Page 106 of Cross My Heart

The sounds he’s making are causing my cock to leak in my fucking pants, and my nostrils flare as I restrain myself from taking him in the backseat of this truck. There’s sure as hell enough space to do it. But I won’t—because this is about him. Everything is about Tyler, and I hope he knows that. I hope he sees it. That I’m nothing without him. He’s my nirvana. My devastation. My goddamn undoing. And I don’t want to be saved.

“Oh, fuck, Noah,” Tyler moans, and I grab his balls and squeeze lightly. He thrusts up, shoving his cock forcefully down my throat, and I feel my saliva spilling down my chin and onto his shaft. It’s sloppy, fucking filthy, and I’m loving every second of it. “Like that. I’m g-gonna come. Oh, baby,yes.”

Doubling my efforts, I bob my head up and down and let him fuck my face at the same time. My eyes water from the force of his thrusts, but when he spills down my throat, I swallow his cum. I feel like I’ve accomplished something. And it has nothing to do with a blowjob.

It feels like I’m finally coming home.

Tohim.

Chapter 53

NOAH

Three months later

It’s been three months since we got back to Columbus, and it feels odd that I’m no longer a soldier. Tyler and I are doing great though. We got a house in the suburbs, a dog, and he’s going back to school in the summer. Life couldn’t be better, except that my biggest dream has been crushed.

I was discharged from the Army last month, but I started looking for a building as soon as I knew I was getting booted. It wasn’t that difficult to find one in the heart of downtown, and it works out perfectly because that’s where most of the homeless veterans stay.

I’ve decided to open a homeless shelter for veterans with an emphasis on therapy services. We offer showers, warm meals, and group as well as individual therapy. We also accept dogs. I spent a lot of time doing research and taking notes while I was at the Warrior Refuge, and I knew this was what I wanted to do when I got out. Now I’m going to school just like Tyler. I want to be a counselor.

I’m so proud of Tyler for chasing after his dreams. If he weren’t by my side, none of this would be possible. He found us a house to look at while I was still at the therapy center, and we began the buying process right away after I walked through it. He knew exactly what I’d been looking for. Now we have the house with the white picket fence, the dog, and we’re talking about kids. It’s crazy what a few months can change.

We haven’t heard from Scarlett since the hospital, then again, we didn’t expect to. She was clear that she didn’t want to talk to us ever again—that she didn’t want to be a part of our lives. I heard she’s happy though. She has a new boyfriend—Austin. After Tyler sold him the bar, he cut contact with us too. We’re no longer friends, and that stings, but I get that he’s loyal to Scarlett now. I want them to be happy. I want her to have everything she ever dreamed of. The husband, the kids, the house. And I know he can and will give her all of those things. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got married by next year.

I clasp my hands on my lap as I look around the room. The chairs are placed in a circle, and I’m sitting right next to the counselor leading the group therapy. Every chair is taken, and pride fills my chest. Today is opening day, but we’ve made sure to advertise this place everywhere. At the Veterans Affairs Hospital. On posters at the traffic lights and stop signs. Even in the military base. So I’m not surprised in the least that we have a full house, but it still feels surreal.

Tyler was at the door, leading veterans in and pointing them to the chairs, but now that everyone is seated, he exits and closes the door behind him softly. I look around again, seeing that we have ten men here. Some of them look freshly showered, and there’s even a dog next to one of them. Most of them have a smile on their face, probably because we fed them before coming in here, and they have a safe place to sleep for the night.

The counselor begins to lead group therapy and as I introduce myself to go first, I can’t help but think about how lucky I am. While this isn’t the life I envisioned for myself, I can’t deny that I’m happy. Tyler is by my side, I have this place now, and we’re both achieving goals and chasing our dreams.

I couldn’t ask for more.

Epilogue

TYLER

We’re back in Destin, Florida, on vacation. Our first vacation since we’ve been together officially. Life has been good to us lately. Noah just opened the homeless shelter a few weeks ago, and we’ve both been getting ready to start school in a few weeks for the summer semester. When I look at us now, I see how far we’ve come. I couldn’t be more proud of us.

The night sky is littered with stars, a full moon shining brightly and lighting the way for us as we walk the beach, the frigid waves lapping at our shins. Noah looks at me with a bright smile, then suddenly stops in his tracks and holds me close to his body. Our chests press together and so do our foreheads.

“Who am I to you, Ty?” he whispers, and it’s barely audible over the crash of the waves against us.

“The love of my life,” I say without hesitation. “My bestest friend. My everything.”

He presses his lips to mine softly, and it’s like I’m on a fucking cloud. My body feels light, and I swear I’m dizzy from a simple kiss. But then he sucks on my bottom lip and my blood heats immediately, and I grab the back of his neck and hold him to me. My tongue teases the seam of his lips, and when he opens up for me, I tangle mine with his.

Kissing Noah Milner is a spiritual experience, one I never want to stop experiencing. I don’t believe in God, but I believe inhim. I believe in everything he represents in my life. Love, laughter, friendship. Strength and resilience. Vulnerability. And I’d be happy worshipping him forever. I can’t believe I get to call him mine. That all my dreams finally came true.

“You’re all of those things to me, too,” he whispers against my lips, then cups my face as he pulls away from me slightly to look into my eyes. “All of that and more.”

I don’t say anything as tears sting my eyes. This moment feels like more somehow. Like we’re baring our souls to each other right here under the moonlight.

“What if I want more with you?” he asks, and my eyes widen. “What if I want it all?”

“What do you want?” I ask in a small voice, scared that if I raise it, it will ruin the moment. Pop this bubble we’ve put ourselves inside of.

“You,” he says softly, squeezing the back of my neck. “Marriage, kids.Everything.”

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