Page 180 of The Husband Game

“It’s stunning. I hardly know what to say.”

Dustin smiled. “No more stunning than you, kitten. Would you like me to help you put it on?”

“Please.”

Dustin lifted the necklace out of the box, then set the box on the pile of coats.

Charlie turned away and Dustin carefully settled the jewelry around Charlie’s neck, then fastened it.

He pressed a kiss to the back of Charlie’s neck, right below his hairline, letting the touch linger.

Charlie let out a soft sigh before he turned to loop his arms around Dustin’s neck. “What’s the occasion?”

Dustin interlaced his fingers behind Charlie’s neck, brushing his thumbs across the soft spots at the hollow of his jaw. “That night in Vegas, you told me you couldn’t accept gifts like this from someone who didn’t want to keep you forever. Well, here’s me saying I want to keep you forever.”

Charlie’s mouth fell open but no words came out. He just blinked at Dustin for a few moments.

“You don’t have to say anything yet if you don’t want,” Dustin assured him. “Honest. We have a long time before our year of marriage is up. I … I needed to tell you how I feel though. I want you to know the kind of future I see with you. I don’t want a year with you. I want decades. A lifetime. As long as you’ll give me.”

Charlie swallowed audibly, his fingertips pressed to the sparkling gems at his throat.

“When I saw you for the first time at Jamie’s house, I wondered why you looked so sad. Well, I know now.” Dustin slid his hand down and rubbed his thumb along Charlie’s collarbone. “But I also know you’re the strongest man I’ve ever met. You’re strong and you’re brave, and I know I can’t fix the hurt in your past but if you’ll let me, I’d like for us to spend the rest of our lives building a happy future together.”

“Dustin. I …”

“Let me love you, Charlie.” Dustin leaned in and whispered against his temple. “Stay with me after this year is up and build a future with me. Please. Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

* * *

Charlie pulled back and stared at Dustin, his emotions spilling over into a free fall of tears. “Yes. The answer is yes.”

Dustin’s hand was warm on Charlie’s cheek as he gently wiped away his tears with his thumb. “You …”

“I love you,” Charlie said quietly. “I meant what I said earlier. I love you and I want to stay with you. And I think you love me too.”

“So much.” Dustin dipped his head and kissed him, sweet and fierce all at once. “I feel like some part of me has loved you since you rolled your eyes at me in Jamie’s kitchen.”

Charlie choked out a laugh. “You don’t mean that.”

“Maybe not love,” Dustin admitted. “But I felt something. And I think you felt it too.”

Charlie wrinkled his nose. “I didn’t want to.”

“I know. But I’m irresistible.”

Charlie laughed again, tightening his grip on Dustin’s neck. “I guess you are.”

Charlie had tried. He’d tried so very hard to resist Dustin.

But there was no way he could do that, not when Dustin was everything he never knew he wanted.

Or maybe he had known and been too afraid.

It was frightening to let someone in that way, to allow them to break down every one of his barriers, not through force, but with kindness and humor and patience.

Charlie trailed his fingers down Dustin’s face, looking at him deeply, letting himself see all of the perfection and imperfection.

The warm hazel of his eyes, the shape of his nose, the one tooth with a tiny chip in the corner, the lopsidedness of his dimples, the creases around his eyes that would become permanent someday.

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