Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
“I want you to know that nothing changed between us. I know you did it to protect me.”
Frank kissed the top of his head. “I just… He got that one more kill out of me, you know? And now you’ll never see me in the same way again.”
Ezra looked up, swallowing air as if he were about to drown in Frank’s sadness. This was a man who’d do anything for him. Even at the risk of estranging the man he loved.
He might have seen way more death than Ezra, but it affected him all the same. “I would never. Frank, you are mine,” Ezra said, stroking the scruffy cheeks with his fingers.
Frank’s eyes were like two wells of withheld pain, but Ezra wasn’t afraid to sample their waters anymore.
“Are you sure? I would understand,” he whispered, but the way he squeezed his hand on Ezra’s nape spoke of his desire to go back to the way things were hours ago, before Paul had brought violence into their home.
Ezra took a deep breath, leaning in, and when this tower of a man mirrored his gesture, their foreheads touched. His skin was on fire, but he’d rather burn to cinders than let go of the one person who truly wanted to protect him. Care for him. Love him.
“I am sure. Don’t you shut me out now.”
Finally. His heart leapt at the hint of smile on Frank’s lips.
“You’re my everything,” Frank said and dropped the flashlight to the ground to hold Ezra with both arms. “I want you to feel safe in our home, and with me.”
Being so close to him, sensing his heartbeat, and feeling the touch of smiling lips drained the fumes Ezra had been running on for the past few hours, and he let himself go limp in Frank’s arms, breathing in his essence.
“I’ve spent my life worrying for my future, but I’ve finally found it. I’m no longer afraid.”
“I’ll make it my life’s goal that you never have to be,” Frank said and even the bitter aftertaste of tobacco on his tongue tasted sweet when he kissed Ezra.
They were both home at last.
Epilogue
Ezra
The state Strongest Man contest wasn’t nearly as flashy as it would have been on a national or international level, but it didn’t matter. Frank had literally lifted a car to save Ezra’s life, and now he stood at the top of the podium, presenting his trophy while the crowd cheered.
Ezra was so proud of his man.
And the event had been such a fun and casual day out too, accompanied by a fair, people showing their horses, and a mudslide. He wouldn’t go on a mudslide if someone paid him, but it was fun to watch.
Ezra was still a bit self-conscious about the scars left behind by the terrible accident at the junkyard, but they were fading each day, and with time and the right care they might just become undetectable within a year or two.
He wished not to care, he really did, but while he’d be forever grateful that all his injuries had healed fine, he couldn’t shed the sense that he ought to mourn his no-longer perfect face. The old Ezra would have feared it might affect his market value, but that was no longer a concern, not with a man as solid as Frank at his side.
It felt good to be loved.
“I’m cheering on my Bill, but Frank does deserve it. He outdid himself this time,” Vicky said, clapping her hands beside him.
They’d only met today but had already taken a liking to each other. Her and Bill were Frank’s acquaintances, some of the people he hung out with at these contests. Vicky was blond, loud, and had rhinestones on her jeans, so Ezra was surprised how quickly they’d become friendly. But that had been the learning curve around Frank from the start. Not to judge a book by its cover. Ezra clearly still had a long way to go.
“Bill was amazing too. Must be that injury he told me about acting up,” Ezra told her, but she shook her head.
“Nah, it’s his habits. I kid you not, he says he’s refeeding, or something of that sort, but I know he just wants pizza and fried chicken way too often. We should hire you to make a nutrition plan for him, like you had for Frank. He told me all about it.”
Ezra stalled. “Oh... I don’t have the qualifications yet.”
Vicky rolled her eyes. “Bill needs all the help he can get. He won’t be asking for any certificates.”
Ezra gave a low chuckle and shrugged. “Okay then. Just call Frank, and we’ll work something out.”
Frank shook hands with the second and third place winners, but then got off the stage to be replaced by a children’s dance troupe. The crowds were still cheering for the athletes when Ezra tried to reach the edge of the bleachers, eager to congratulate his man in person rather than through intense stares. But when he reached the wooden steps and made his way to the ground, a man was already standing at Frank’s side, congratulating him with massive enthusiasm. Muscular yet not nearly as big as Frank, the stranger didn’t seem at all out of place at this kind of tournament, but when Ezra’s decision not to interfere and wait for his turn turned into way too much back-rubbing on the stranger’s part, he lost his patience and headed toward his strongman.