Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 111086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
“We don’t talk about the future,” I admitted. “The past, the present, but the future is strictly off-limits,” I murmured. “It isn’t something we even agreed to… it just is.”
“You guys can’t go on like this,” Vincent said. “It’s not good for you, and it’s not good for Reese.”
I nodded. “I love Gage and Nash as much as I loved Pierce, but Reese will always come first, no matter what. Even if he hates me for the rest of my life, he comes first.”
“Yeah,” Vincent said with a sigh.
Since I hadn’t meant the topic of conversation to get so heavy on such a special day, I brushed past Vincent and casually said, “And the sex…” I let the words hang there as I went to get Vincent’s boutonnière from the plastic housing protecting it.
“What about the sex?” Vincent asked.
“Hold still,” I chided as I got the little red rose pinned in place on his shirt. I nodded my head and said, “It’s not as good as one of my roses would have been, but it’ll do.” I stepped back to take him in.
“What about the sex?” Vincent repeated.
I ignored him as I gave him a final once-over. He was wearing black slacks with a white dress shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal his forearms, giving the outfit a little bit more of a casual look that would fit the informal ceremony and setting. His bow tie was black. It was a simple look, but he pulled it off flawlessly, and I couldn’t wait to see him and Nathan standing side by side.
“The sex, Everett,” Vincent reminded me.
I turned to check my own appearance in the mirror, then said, “Time to do this.” As I walked past Vincent, I put my arm around him and gave him one final squeeze. “Love you, Vincent.”
He clasped his arm with mine. “Love you too, Ev.”
It wasn’t until we’d reached the door to the bedroom that I said, “About the sex, Vincent?”
“Yeah?”
“Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks… and my guys have taught me a lot of tricks.”
I smiled as complete and utter silence followed me down the hallway.
Chapter 26
Nash
I’d never been to a wedding before, but as far as this one went, it took my breath away.
Mostly because it was so very simple.
The ceremony had only just begun as the sun had started to fall. Despite the cool October air, the weather gods had provided good fortune in that the forecasted rain had moved south. There’d been some last-minute scrambling to move the strings of white lights and candle-filled mason jars outside to the pier where the guys would speak their vows, but it had been worth it. The backdrop of the water and mountains, along with the fiery orange sky as the sun fell behind the horizon, was truly breathtaking. There weren’t any chairs for us to sit in, which was just more proof that the ceremony would bypass all the pomp and circumstance that wouldn’t have fit a couple like Nathan and Vincent anyway. There were only a dozen or so guests, so we lined up along the water’s edge. Everett and Brody had already taken up their spots by Dom closer to the end of the pier. There was no music as the grooms made their way down the walkway, just the gentle soundtrack of the water lapping against the wood of the dock.
Vincent and Nathan held hands as they walked. They wore nearly identical outfits, but with Nathan wearing a tie and Vincent a bow tie. As they walked, their bodies touched. It was a familiar thing because it was what Gage and I were doing. As soon as Gage and I had arrived just a few minutes earlier, Gage had held my hand as I’d been introduced to everyone. It had felt so strange to be able to do something as simple as hold hands or, in our case, hold hands and press close to one another with our bodies as we shifted our gazes back and forth between the grooms and Everett. I knew Gage was more used to being able to publicly display his affection, but it was completely new for me. Not only had there never been anyone I’d been with long enough to warrant that kind of contact, I’d been hiding for so long that the mere act of being allowed to touch another man in such an intimate way in public was a huge step for me.
But one I was enjoying every moment of. I’d enjoy it even more when Everett was free to join us.
Once Nathan and Vincent stepped onto the pier, the rest of the guests filed behind them so we’d be close enough to hear the words they spoke to one another. The dock was wide enough that there was easily room for all of us to see and hear everything. My eyes drifted to the other two men who were part of a threesome. Like us, they seemed to only have eyes for their partner, Brody, who was standing just behind Nathan. I’d gotten to see the three men interact for a few minutes before we’d gotten started and I’d been amazed at how naturally they were accepted into the fold. One of the men, Beck, was significantly younger than Brody and their partner, Quinn. He also had both of his fathers there, but no one looked at the threesome like they were any different than any of the other committed couples in attendance.