Page 107 of Needing Your Love
My hero.
The absolute love of my life.
Epilogue
Sutton, 10 months later
Ileaned against a log before the fire pit out back of our house, patting the empty space between my spread thighs. Just enough coolness slid through the September night that Jimmy had grabbed a throw blanket off the couch before joining me outside.
Neither of us held our usual after-dinner drinks, so he sank to the hard ground in his thick sweatpants, bundling up in the blanket and leaning against my chest right where I’d wanted him. I wrapped my arms around him, and he rested his head on my shoulder.
The crackling of the fire in front of us caused embers to rise into the night sky that was riddled with brilliant stars. Peace crept in, the kind of quietness that didn’t need to be filled with meaningless words or trite conversation.
As we often did, Jimmy and I simply rested, enjoying the now, who wewerein that moment.
I had considered quitting the force in the aftermath of Kurt’s death, but all of Pippen Creek had been verbal in their desire for me to keep my position as their chief. To this day, they continued to remind me of their trust, their support meaning more than I had words for. They also approved of Jimmy’s andmy relationship—not that I’d have cared either way—but I did appreciate the settled feeling deep in my bones in knowing my town had my back for what I had planned for tonight.
Jamie and Chaz had tied the knot earlier in the summer. Family and friends packed out their backyard on Pippen Creek Pond, and a friend of Kel’s had come in from out of town to cater since Jamie had insisted I enjoy the day rather than slave away at the grill.
They had said their I do’s in front of his father, who had become a civil officiant simply for the opportunity to make his son’s dream come true in marrying the man he loved. There hadn’t been a dry eye at the small ceremony, Babs included.
Mary was moving in with her sister next month, since DJ’s mom had remarried and transferred him out of our small town’s school system for this year. We didn’t get to see the kid as often as Jimmy would have liked, but Carrie allowed DJ to spend every other weekend with us and would continue to do so after Mary left for Florida.
On the nights I stayed late at the office, Jimmy often drove to Berlin to hang with him in his new backyard that had a basketball hoop set up by his stepdad, who seemed like a decent enough guy. At least he didn’t drink. He also appreciated DJ’s hyperactivity because he was the same. Two peas in a pod.
At first, Jimmy had feared losing his young buddy, but DJ had assured him his new dad wouldn’t ever take Jimmy’s place in his life.
DJ was seeing a therapist through his school in Berlin and was thriving in the new family dynamic. His mom found out in April that she was pregnant, and DJ couldn’t wait to meet his baby sister.
As for us…
I filled my lungs with the crisp evening air, thankfulness rising up to thicken my throat as it often did whenever Iconsidered the past year. The return of Jimmy, how desperately he needed my love, fulfilled me in ways I’d never imagined possible.
A lot of healing had taken place in Jimmy, new thought patterns allowing some of his insecurities to fade rather than hold precedence in the forefront of his mind. Rarely did words from the past whisper in his ears, and I made sure to give him all the love and attention he wanted.
I continued to see a therapist on a bi-monthly basis, and although nightmares or PTSD sometimes caused me to lose my shit, I was learning how to manage triggering events or situations.
I’d also found some of the confidence Darla had stolen from me and no longer feared Jimmy leaving me heartbroken.
He’d admitted to loving me for years longer than I had him, and there was one last thing I wished to do, the only way I knew how to tie him to me forever, even though he claimed he was here to stay.
I twisted enough to reach into my pocket, pulling the ring from where I’d hidden it before coming outside to start the fire.
Jimmy grumbled over my disturbing his comfortable seat, but I snuggled him back into place, platinum band held in front of his face between my pointer finger and thumb, the fire glinting through the ring.
He froze but not out of panic. “Oh. My. God.”
I nuzzled his temple, my lips lingering in a soft kiss. “Need your love every day, baby boy,” I murmured against his skin. “Want you wrapped around me, your sweet scent in my nose, your taste on my tongue. It’s my dream to have you sit with me every morning at breakfast, eat the meals I cook for dinner every night, climb into our bed even if it’s only to snuggle.”
“Are you proposing?” he whisper-hollered, tension stringing him tight.
I clutched him closer since I had plans which didn’t include him escaping me just yet. “Say you’ll be mine forever?—”
“Yes!” He wiggled, and I shushed against his ear, my dick perking up at the friction he caused with his lush ash.
“Hold still.”
He obeyed like a good boy for all of two seconds before tossing away the blanket to hold up his hand. “Put it on me, Sutton—right the fuck now. Need it.”
