Page 37 of Cocoa

Lucas rolled over and reached out to pet the golden fur. “Ritz. What are you doing?” He opened one eye and looked around until his gaze landed on Ryder. “Hi.”

“Hi, babe.” Ryder’s smile grew. The man in his bed – his man – was really the most adorable thing in the world. Hot, too. He took in Lucas’s bare shoulders and chest as he sat up, the blankets pooled in his lap, and sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll make coffee.”

“Mm. Yeah. I’ll just be a minute.” He headed for the bathroom, bare naked and beautiful.

Ten minutes later, they sat together in the kitchen, each cradling a steamy mug. Ritz chewed on a toy under the table. Domestic. Perfect. Thoughts swirled through Ryder’s head that he had never really considered before. Words filled his mouth,a question that he’d never wanted to ask anyone. His gaze twitched toward Lucas and away, back again, and stuck there on the man he wanted to stay in his life.

Lucas finally looked over, his brows raised. His long hair spilled over the dark blue EMT station t-shirt he stole from Ryder’s drawer. “You keep looking at me. What are you thinking?”

The words spilled out without any chance of stopping them. “I was just wondering why you still pay rent at that apartment.”

Lucas blinked, and he shook his head as if trying to settle the surprise in his mind. Just when Ryder thought he made the biggest mistake ever, Luc broke out into a wide smile.

Hope warm in his chest, Ryder barreled on. “I mean, you’re always here. You take care of Ritz and bring him treats. Your cocoa is in my cabinet. It…” He trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck. “With our wild schedules, we’d get to see each other more if you moved in.”

“Ry, you’re asking me to move in. Like permanently. Officially.”

The look in his eyes made something snap inside of Ryder, some kind of wall that had held back the full weight of his emotion for too long. He wasn’t supposed to want this. He was supposed to focus on his demanding job, stay casual, and never commit to anyone else who he’d only let down. But he did.

“Move in with me, Lucas. I want to come home from long shifts and find you here. I want you to tell me about the wonderful things you’ve photographed and the stupid clients who drive you up the wall. I want to make you coffee in the morning and cocoa in the evening and just…” He took a deep breath and reached out to grasp Lucas’s hands. The slender fingers twined with his thicker ones so perfectly. “I love you.” Somehow, the words were so easy to say.

“I love you, too.”

Ryder didn’t answer with words because there were no ones better than those they just shared. He cupped Lucas’s jaw and kissed him slow and deep, wrapped his arms around the man he loved and held on. He’d never stop.

The sharp tone of the pager charging on the counter broke the moment. It beeped, and Ryder’s phone buzzed against the table. He pulled back and groaned when he saw the screen. “A teenager fell off a roof while trying to clear an ice dam from the gutters. I’m on call, babe. I have to go.” Silently, he cursed the timing.

Lucas smiled, calm and sure as always. “I’ll make you some coffee to go.”

As Ryder rushed to the bedroom to get dressed, Lucas headed for the travel mug in the kitchen. He knew exactly where it was. Ryder knew he’d get perfect hot coffee with a scoop of cocoa for good measure. As he stomped into his boots and reached for his coat, he caught himself grinning.

“I’ll be here when you get home,” Lucas murmured, handing over the mug and a kiss.

Ryder paused at the door and looked back. His future stood there in baggy sweats and his own t-shirt, hair mussed and gaze so warm. For the first time in forever, everything in his life seemed to fit exactly where it was supposed to. With Lucas at his side, his world finally felt whole.

Epilogue

One Year Later

Folding tables spread out across the town square, and shoppers wandered back and forth checking out the offerings from local businesses and individuals. This fundraiser supported a shelter and outreach program for abused and at-risk individuals, and the turnout already looked impressive.

Lucas and Ryder stopped by Mara’s bakery table, each shortening the leash they held to prevent any table surfing or snack stealing. Ritz knew better, mostly, but Cocoa, the chocolate lab puppy they’d rescued a few months earlier, was still learning her manners.

Mara greeted them with a smile. “Perfect timing. I tried a new dog treat recipe that needs some testers.” She picked up twobone-shaped treats and handed them over. Ritz sat like the good boy he was while Cocoa wiggled uncontrollably until the snack hit her lips.

“Looks like a success,” Ryder said as Lucas handed over some cash for a half dozen muffins. With a wave, they continued down the row of vendors, weaving through the crowd.

They walked past some questionable kids’ crafts and picked up the pace when Marylou tried to rope them into an MLM presentation about essential oils. They gave a quick greeting for Finn behind the Ridge Road Repairs table, where he and Frank, the owner, offered discount service certificates. The table looked too busy for socializing, so they moved on.

At the end of the row, Greta stood behind a table with the animal shelter’s name on a banner overhead. Colorful prints, mugs, tote bags, and t-shirts with a variety of dogs and cats were up for sale, each one featuring an adoptable pet in a photo taken by Lucas.

“Were your ears burning, Lucas?” Greta grinned as she slipped some chihuahua greeting cards into a bag and took the buyer’s money. “I’ve been telling everyone you took all these great pictures. I need more business cards to hand out!”

Lucas’s teaching job had ended when the full-time instructor came back, but he’d filled his time with shelter work and freelance pet portraits. With the shared expenses and growing sales online, there was plenty of room to breathe. Working with adorable animals helped with the stress, too.

After chatting for a few minutes and letting everyone fuss over Cocoa and Ritz, Ryder and Lucas walked on. The sun peeked out between the clouds, and the huge maple on the edge of the square blazed red in the autumn light.

Halfway down the next row, Lucas gasped when he spotted someone selling gourmet cocoa mix in mason jars. He shortened the dog’s leash and eased his way through the crowd.“These look good. Midnight heat,” he read off a label. “Dark chocolate, cinnamon, and chili. Mm. And Stormy Weather, with marshmallows and sea salt.”

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