Page 30 of Announcing Love
He grabbed a wrapped box from the guest bedroom closet where he had hidden it and carried it to Tip in the living room.
The air changed, turning lighter. Tip visibly brightened. “What’s this? It’s nowhere near my birthday.”
Artem passed the box to Tip. “Initially, it was a just because gift. Now you can call it a celebration of our engagement.”
Tip softened. He held Artem’s stare. “I love you. You’re the center of my universe. You know that, right?”
Artem knew he smiled like a fool. “I love you too. Open your gift. It took me a while to find these, especially since I wanted them authenticated.”
Tip gave him a curious look as he tore open the paper. He laughed as he pulled the first bat from the box. “Mickey Mantle. Nice.”
“Well, I kind of ruined your other one with Kyle’s blood and splintered it on his fat head.”
Tip released a loud bark of laughter. It died as he pulled the second bat from the box. “Holy shit, Artem. How in the hell did you even find an autographed Babe Ruth bat? These are ridiculously hard to get and cost a fucking fortune. I can’t believe it.”
Artem couldn’t stop smiling. Tip reacted exactly how Artem hoped, making his seemingly endless search worthwhile. He loved that he finally had the money to spoil Tip a little. “It took a minute, and I actually ended up having to hire a guy who specializes in finding rare items. You’re totally worth it.”
Tip set the bats aside and towed Artem into his lap. “You agreed to marry me. I never need another gift, but this is amazing. Thank you.”
Artem wrapped his arms around Tip’s neck. “Well, you’re pretty damn fantastic, so you deserve it.”
He shook his head and stared at Artem like he couldn’t believe his luck. That was such an incredible feeling, and it was how Tip made him feel every day. Artem hadn’t questioned his worth for a single moment since he’d agreed to give Tip a second chance.
“What would you like in return?”
Artem huffed. “I didn’t get you a gift to get a gift. I love you and want to show it.”
“Oh. I have an idea.” Tip’s shoulders immediately fell. “But you just took a shower.”
“Fuck that.” The words burst from Artem with way too much enthusiasm. He didn’t try to reel it in. “If you want to get dirty with me, I’m so in.”
Tip grinned like an idiot. “Let’s go.”
Artem jumped to his feet, and Tip slapped his ass before heading down the hall. Artem nearly plowed him over to rush things along when Tip started stripping along the way, dropping pieces of clothing in his wake. Except he didn’t head for their bedroom, and Artem’s curiosity was piqued. Then Tip flipped on the lights in the room Artem had chosen as his studio.
Artem froze. He had just been in there, returning the paint and easels from his afternoon with Jathan. Somehow between then and his shower, cloth tarps had been scattered across the room, covering the entire floor, and a giant canvas sat in the center.
Tip turned his way and stripped out of his final article of clothing: his underwear. He flung them toward the hall. While Artem watched, barely holding back laughter, Tip squirted paint on himself and used his free hand to smear it across his chest. “Let’s get started.”
“I didn’t know happiness like you existed.”
At his confession, Tip froze and held his stare. “I didn’t know what real love felt like before you, but here we are.”
God. Sometimes Tip wrecked him with his words.
He held up two tubes of paint. “Are you getting in on this? Baba is coming to stay with us next week. It needs time to dry so we can be the scandalous ones for once.”
With a laugh, Artem whipped his shirt up and over his head. He was definitely in. Artem wouldn’t miss a single moment of the bliss that Tip brought by just existing. He also couldn’t wait to see Baba’s face. Artem loved his life.
