Total pages in book: 244
Estimated words: 236705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1184(@200wpm)___ 947(@250wpm)___ 789(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1184(@200wpm)___ 947(@250wpm)___ 789(@300wpm)
River makes me feel incredible nearly every night. Sometimes we’re our own brand of kinky, using handcuffs and ties. Sometimes we’re rough, grabbing, kneading, spanking. Sometimes, we just take it slow and sensual, and it feels like the world disappears when our bodies tangle together.
I love it all with him.
Every night. Every day.
And when the calendar turns to November again, and we’re hanging out at The Lazy Hammock with Grant and Declan, the shortstop offers us the cabin one more time.
“Yes,” River says, pouncing on the invitation in less than a second.
“I’ll just add in my yes as well, though it seems Mister Bossy has spoken.”
“Mister Bossy,” Grant says with a chuckle. “That’s a perfect name for my business partner.”
River is bossy. He likes to be in charge. He likes to be in control. But he also likes to give that power to me. To let me make him feel good. Feel wanted. Feel loved.
Fortunately, I’m great at that.
So we road trip again, snacking and arguing, debating Sleepless in Seattle this time, and deciding it didn’t age well, but that Love, Simon definitely deserves a rewatch.
“Let’s watch it tonight when we get to the Fight Club Sex Cabin,” River declares when we reach Markleeville.
“Before or after the hot tub?” I ask.
“Depends on what we’re doing in the hot tub, cutie,” he says.
“So maybe I shouldn’t exhaust you in the jacuzzi.”
“Exhaust me anywhere you want. You know I love that you’re only speedy at taking showers,” he says with a sexy wink.
“I do like to take my time on all the field-day events,” I say.
Fifteen minutes later, we pull into the driveway, cut the engine, and stare out the front window at the orange haze in the sky. “River?”
“Owen?”
“I think it’s starting to snow.”
I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Well, there’s one thing.
A little later, when we break out the champagne—using flutes this time—and settle in for a game of Would You Rather on the couch in front of the fire, I draw a quiet, measured breath.
I can do this.
I ignore all the nerves skating over my skin. The wild thrumming in my chest. I meet my boyfriend’s deep, soulful eyes. Then I ask the question I came here to ask.
“Would you rather be proposed to in front of the fire right now, or outside in the hot tub in a few minutes?”
River’s eyes pop.
His hand flies to his mouth.
And he just nods, like crazy, like he can’t stop. “Yes, yes, yes.”
My heart glows, and I take that as a now.
So I get down on one knee in front of the fire, and remove a tiny box from my pants pocket. With nervous fingers but a certain heart, I flip it open. “You’re my best friend, my boyfriend, my lover. You’re my favorite person. The one I want to curl up with every night, wake up to every morning, and spend all my days with,” I say, my throat tightening with emotion, so much it’s overflowing in me. But it feels so good to love this deeply. “River Michaels, I love you so much. I love you more than I ever thought possible. And I would be the happiest man ever if you would be my husband.”
He wastes zero time. He’s down on the floor, on his knees, clutching my face. “Yes. I say yes. I’ve been thinking about it constantly and you beat me to it, and I love that, and I love you, and you are the only man for me. So I say yes.”
I slide a platinum band on his finger, then bring him close for a tender kiss that’s full of so much love—like all these days and nights with him.
When we break the kiss, River smiles like he never intends to stop. “I guess we’ve got ourselves a marriage pact now.”
I suppose that’s the true Harry and Rod rule of falling for a friend—cherish him, love him, and let all that friendship fuel a forever with each other.
That summer, we get married in San Francisco with all our friends and family there to see us say, I do.
Delilah brings the rings down the aisle.
When the justice of the peace pronounces us husband and husband, I kiss my groom, and River kisses his.
ANOTHER EPILOGUE
River
Some facts need tweaking. Like this one. The bigger the dick, the bigger the dick.
I’m going to amend that law right now to this—the bigger the dick, the bigger the heart . . . when it comes to my husband.
That’s the true justice in the world. My hubs is packing in every department. Brains, looks, body, and the most important part of all—how he loves.
That’s why I’ve revised my Big Dick Law to The Big Heart Rule.
Find a man who’ll cherish your heart.
That’s all you really need to be happy.
And that’s a fact.