Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
“Alec was getting to be a lot to handle,” Arik said irritably. “Something had to be done. Keyes wanted to give you the present tomorrow morning, but you were such a brat.”
“Right on,” Dev seconded, his tone not even close to teasing. “I thought he was gonna divorce Keyes.”
“Don’t listen to them. Take me to the bike,” Alec said and kissed Keyes’s lips again.
Alec kept hold of Keyes’s neck and glanced over his shoulder. The bike was perfect. Keyes took a giant step onto the trailer. “You’re heavier than you look.”
“You’re stronger than you look. Tell me about the motorcycle,” Alec repeated as Keyes put him on the seat. It was the only way he was willing to let go of his mister. He hiked a leg over and reached for the handlebars.
“It’s built for speed but handles well on the road. You nailed it when you said I used carbon fiber. I like workin’ with it. I use it on all the bikes,” Keyes said. His voice lost the concern from earlier, building in confidence with each syllable spoken. “Every part of the bike’s designed to be lighter.”
“Remember the helmet,” Uncle Clyde said, coming up on the other side of the trailer with a helmet and leathers for riding. Alec took the offering, smiling bigger than before. The helmet matched the exact shade of blue of the bike. Alec eagerly placed it on his head and lifted the face shield to better see the leathers. The same color combination and design were woven through the pants and jacket. The TDTK logo was on the back of the jacket. His tears were back.
“This bike fits me. I feel like it’s an extension of my body. I love it so much.”
Keyes grinned, looking over at Dev, giving a thumbs-up. “That’s exactly the point of a custom sled. Now you’re gonna have to learn to ride…”
“He doesn’t know how to ride a motorcycle?” Dev hollered and tossed his hands in the air. “Goddamn, Keyes. Don’t you think you should’ve been teachin’ him this whole time?”
“No,” Keyes argued as if Dev were the dumbest person on the planet. “I didn’t want to give it away.”
“I don’t want to ride it,” Alec said, tossing in his own attitude. “It’ll go in the garage with my other cars. I can go in and enjoy it while keeping the miles low.”
“Oh my God, he’s not gonna fuckin’ drive it?” Dev asked Keyes. “I bet you fuckin’ knew that too.” He threw his hands in the air again and started for the back door. Alec was too absorbed in the moment to care about anything else.
“We’re leaving. We have a family obligation,” Arik said.
“It’s beautiful,” Kellus offered with a critical eye. “Keyes and Dev have true talent. The three-dimensional effect with the wings popping off is absolutely stunning.”
He was proud of Keyes, who smiled brightly. Kellus was a successful artist by trade with international notoriety. The admiration in his voice meant a lot.
“It’s a play on a tattoo Dev gave Keyes. I feel like this is only the beginning. Keyes and Dev will be an unstoppable team.” Alec beamed his praise at his guy.
Love made the moment perfect even though his manners continued to fail as he ignored whether Arik and Kellus actually left. He kept his focus on his present and his husband.
“I botched your presents. Nothing’s as perfect as this bike. You’re so talented,” Alec said, sitting back on the seat, the helmet still on his head.
“Your presence is enough for me.” Keyes bent and adjusted to place a chaste kiss on his lips through the helmet’s opening. “Should I have shown you earlier? I wanted to. We share so much that it was hard not to get your opinion. Did I mess anything up between us?”
“Oh no. This is perfect. I’m sorry for my behavior.”
Keyes reached a finger into the helmet to stop his words. Alec grinned and removed the helmet from his head.
“Don’t ever apologize to me. I feel lucky every day that you’re in my life. I don’t make it easy, but I try.” Keyes leaned in again and kissed Alec before saying, “Merry Christmas.”
This time, the tears built enough to fall down his cheeks. He reached his arm around Keyes’s neck, keeping him close.
“Don’t cry,” Keyes whispered. “I can’t take it.”
Alec couldn’t physically make himself let go of Keyes. It was more than just the present. Their marriage was solid. They were still on the same page, even if Alec had been pushy and impatient. He shoved the helmet toward Keyes then quickly swiped the tears away.
Reality finally settled in, making Alec hike a leg off the bike. “We should go inside. Can we bring the bike in for the night, so I don’t have to be separated from it? Can we place it near the tree? We can move it out tomorrow or never. Having it in the living room would make every day perfect.”