Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“But that would be so humiliating for you,” Eric said with the cutest little frown.
Hugh shrugged. “I can bear a few smug ‘I told you so’ comments from my colleagues if it means I can protect you.”
Eric’s eyes were glistening again. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips against Hugh’s and whispered, cradling Hugh’s face with his hands, “I love you so much.”
Hugh hugged him hard. His throat felt tight, and yet he felt invincible, like he could move mountains, draw water from stone, and cure the incurable. Eric felt so damn perfect in his arms, like he was an integral piece of him and now he was complete. Maybe he was.
Maybe he wouldn’t even have to lie in that interview.
“Oh gosh, this is so cute, and I never use the word cute,” Liam said.
“I dunno about cute, but they’ll sure make some cute kids,” Jules said. “He’s very hot.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about you remarking twice on Randall’s hotness,” his husband said, very dryly.
Jules laughed and there was the sound of a kiss. “Just keeping you on your toes, babe. Your jealousy is hilarious—you know perfectly well there’s no alpha on this planet hotter than you.”
“I beg to differ,” Liam said. “My husband is way hotter, in my very unbiased opinion.”
“Ugh, I refuse to see Jon like that. I still see him as a brother. You two scarred me for life! For life!”
Eric’s brothers were still bickering good-naturedly when Hugh and Eric walked away, heading toward Hugh’s helicopter.
“What am I supposed to tell your brother, kid?” Jon called out after them. “Anthony will be here any moment now.”
His hand on Hugh’s arm, Eric looked back at him with a sheepish smile. “Um, improvise?”
Jon sighed exasperatedly but his eyes were laughing as he pulled Liam close and kissed him on the temple. “Oh, well. I guess it won’t be the first time he’s royally pissed at me.”
“What’s the story there?” Hugh said, helping Eric into the helicopter and then following him in.
Eric snorted, settling beside him and putting his head on Hugh’s shoulder. “Oh, you’ll never believe it. Liam and Jon’s romance was really fucking weird and convoluted—it’s a long story.”
“We have time,” Hugh said, wrapping his arm around him. It was ridiculous how perfect Eric felt against him.
“We do, don’t we?” Eric said, entwining their fingers and smiling dazzlingly.
Hugh looked down at them, at Eric’s slimmer fingers intertwined with his larger ones, and felt his throat close up. He’d almost walked away from this again.
“All the time in the world,” he said.
Eric kissed him, very softly. “I love you,” he whispered. “It sucks so much that I had to share your love confession with my family.”
“I can say it again,” Hugh murmured, pressing their foreheads together. “I love you, baby.”
Eric grinned, his scent becoming sweeter. “I still love when you call me that,” he said, sounding a little embarrassed. “I’m too old for that, right?”
Hugh laughed. “Right, too old for endearments at the age of twenty-two. You’re positively ancient.”
“Don’t make fun of me!” Eric said, smacking him playfully on the chest. “I’m just…” He smiled crookedly, almost shyly. “This is all new for me. Getting what I want. Being happy. It feels too good to be true.”
Hugh stared at him, feeling a rush of overwhelming love and protectiveness.
He pulled Eric close and hugged him hard, and when he spoke, his voice was rough. “I’m new at this, too. We can learn together.”
They did.
And they lived happily ever after.
Epilogue
The wedding was beautiful.
Lucien smiled a little, watching Eric and Hugh exchange their vows. There was a bright red mating mark on Eric’s neck and Hugh kept glancing at it every few minutes, exuding such satisfaction Lucien would have rolled his eyes if it weren’t obvious how happy the alpha was.
Lucien was very glad to have been proven wrong about Hugh. He hadn’t liked how Hugh behaved with Eric years ago: Lucien had thought he wasn’t being honest—either with Eric or with himself—because Hugh had acted like a possessive, selfish asshole when he scent-marked Eric before introducing him to other alphas.
But looking at Hugh now, it was obvious how much he adored Eric: he looked at him like the young omega was his personal little sun that he orbited around. Lucien was happy for Eric—for them both. They deserved to be happy after what they had been through.
It was nice seeing that people could eventually find happiness regardless of the terrible things that had happened to them in their youths.
Just like he had.
“Here you are,” a deep voice said from behind him. Strong arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him back against the firm chest. “Missed you.”
Lucien melted into his mate and smiled, ignoring the looks they were receiving. People still weren’t completely over their relationship. Some people still thought it was weird and wrong. To be fair, Lucien used to think the same. But he didn’t care anymore. He hadn’t cared for years now. Happiness was such a rare thing, and life was too short to care about what other people thought. This was the man who made him happy. This was the man who was his happiness.