Page 44 of Duke of Ruin

“I’m not going to pretend like I’m all better now,” he says as he takes my hand. “We have a lot to get through and figure out, but you deserve my love and so much more. I love you, Noah, and we’ll be happy here, but you have to promise me something.”

“Anything,” I say, and I mean it. My heart is pounding.

“No more lies, Noah. No more hiding things from me,” he says.

“Done,” I say, relief washing over me. That’s probably the easiest promise I’ve ever made. I don’t ever want to keep anything from Eli again. He leans forward and kisses me lightly, then stands and pulls me up with him. “Should we go out and find something to eat?” I ask.

“Maybe in a little while,” Eli says with a grin. My pulse skyrockets as he leads me into the bedroom. He turns to me as we approach the bed. “I love you, Noah,” he says, then kisses me again. I relax into his arms, reaching up to cup his cheek. He leans into it as he probes my lips with his tongue and I allow him in. He kisses me in a way I’ve never felt before. There’s no shame, no apprehension. I push my lips harder into his, sucking his bottom lip into my mouth. He chuckles against me and pulls my shirt over my head. I take his off too and we collide, our skin hot and fevered. My hands touch every inch of exposed skin—his chest, his abs, his back. When I pull him against me I can feel his dick straining against his pants. I unbutton them quickly and he kicks them off as I fumble with mine.

We collapse onto the bed, our mouths meeting and separating as we kiss each other across our necks, our chests. I work my way between his legs, our shafts pressing against each other as we grind our hips. I look at him and he gives me a mischievous smile as he grabs a bottle of lube from the nightstand. I narrow my eyes, but I can’t concentrate on much more than the throbbing need pressed against his groin. I smell cinnamon as he opens the bottle, and a warming sensation creeps across my skin where he spurts the lube onto us both. I can’t help the grin spreading across my face as I massage the oil into our skin, drawing it across his hard dick before sliding my hand between his legs and pushing a finger against his opening. He rolls his head back and groans as the heat from the oil combines with the warmth of our skin. I slip another finger inside him, stretching him and preparing him for me.

“Tell me you love me, Noah,” he whispers to the headboard.

“I love you, Eli, more than you know,” I say as I slide the tip of my dick toward his opening.

“Then fuck me like you mean it,” he growls, and I almost come before I can even push inside. I barely manage to hold back as I slide into him and he moans in pleasure and pain. He tightens around my cock, and I push myself in until I’m completely buried in him. I roll my hips, making him cry out. He reaches his long arms upward and grabs the headboard as I slide out and thrust into him again.

“You don’t have to be quiet, Eli,” I growl as his face contorts in pleasure. “It’s just us.”

“Oh, fuck!” he cries as I thrust into him again. I put my weight down on him and feel his hard dick against my abs. “Harder,” he shouts, and I comply. I thrust into him again and again, his dick flexing between us. I know he’s getting close.

I lift myself up, then grab his knees and lift them over my shoulders so I can pound deeper and harder into his ass. I grab his hand and wrap it around his dick, stroking him with his own hand as I slam into him again and again and he shouts in pleasure. It takes all I have to hold back until I finally feel him flexing against me and coming all over both of us. I take his hand and suck his fingers into my mouth, licking them clean and sending me over the edge. I let out a guttural yell as I thrust into him as hard as I can and spill inside him. I continue to roll my hips, prolonging both our orgasms, before I finally collapse on top of him, fighting for breath. I lay my head down on his chest, still slick with sweat and semen.

“This is it, Noah,” he says. I want to lift my head and look at him, but I can’t move yet. “This is who we are. This is what we deserve.” My heart swells as I turn my head to kiss the line between his pecs.

“Yes it is, Eli,” I answer. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Noah,” he whispers, and my heart feels like it’s going to burst.

EPILOGUE

SEVERAL YEARS LATER

“Daddy’s home,” Noah says in a light voice to his daughter Angelica. Her little face lights up with excitement as she runs to the door. She swings it open wide as Eli comes up the walk.

“Daddy!” She runs out to greet him, and he picks her up and swings her in a circle. Noah watches the little girl, her dark hair falling in perfect ringlets around her cherubic face. Eli is beautiful, and happier than ever. Noah can’t believe that their lives have come this far. Eli takes Angelica’s hand and walks through the door, planting a soft kiss on Noah’s lips. His pulse quickens with the gesture, even after almost ten years.

“How’d it go?” Noah asks as Eli takes off his jacket and hangs it in the closet. Their cabin has gone through a few transitions over the years. It’s much messier than those first few days, now filled with toddler toys and children’s artwork.

“Our hearing will be on Thursday at nine,” he says with a smile. “Then it will be official—Angelica will be adopted.” Noah smiles at the news. Their lawyer told them repeatedly that they had nothing to worry about with the adoption, but the fear of it falling through was still there. Noah crosses the room and pulls Eli into a deep hug, both of their faces alight with joy.

“Daddy! Daddy! Look! Look what I made!” Angelica latches onto Eli’s leg, dragging his attention away from Noah. Still, they keep their hands clasped as the little girl shows Eli her newest finger-painting.

“It’s beautiful, Angelica,” Eli says as he looks over her picture. “We can display it down at the children’s center when we go tomorrow.”

The girl starts jumping up and down, her face alight with joy. Eli created the children’s center with the help of the local Arts Council. It’s a place where kids from town can come in and create all kinds of different pieces. Several local artists come in regularly to give classes, and Eli has gotten to know many of the children in town through it. His job at the machine shop lasted long enough for them to get on their feet, but then he turned his attention to the arts, where he’s made quite a name for himself around town.

Noah still has his job at the college, giving students the opportunity to learn more about criminology and criminal justice. Eli and Noah have both managed to complete their college degrees within a few years of moving to the town, and are well-loved by the community. Their lives are simple, easy, and happy.

“Can we go to the beach?” Angelica asks before Eli can even get his shoes off. Noah looks at him expectantly.

“Of course, love,” Eli says to her. “Just let me get changed.”

After a few minutes, Eli and Noah are sitting on their beach chairs hand in hand and watching little Angelica as she plays in the sand and shows off every new and interesting shell she finds along the shore of the small bay. The tide is moving out, so with each wave something new and interesting is revealed to her wondering eyes.

“Look at us, Noah,” Eli says with a smile. Noah turns to face him, reveling in the glow of happiness on his face. “Did you ever think we’d be here?”

“Not in a thousand years,” Noah answers with a chuckle. “Never even knew I wanted to be.”

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