Love Theo (Dark Reserves 1.5)

by CS Joyce

  "No. I mean, what you said about 'when you know, you know'. Well I know!"

  Andrew turned right around to face him. "Oh!"

  "I don't know what to do," Theo mumbled, suddenly terrified by the realization that Dan really was his forever person. He was losing a battle trying to fight back more tears, and they skimmed his cheeks and dripped onto his shirt.

  "Want my advice? I'll give it and you don't have to take it. But in my experience, there's only one thing for it. If you really know you've found the one, then just go for it."

  They stood in silence; Andrew's gray eyes filled with kindness and a knowing smile on his face.

  "Oh my god. You're right. Should I?"

  "I can't tell you that. What does your gut tell you?"

  Theo thought for a second and then smiled. "It's telling me to stop holding back."

  Andrew smiled, and nodded. "Well then, I think you've made a decision."

  Theo's stomach fizzed and his heart thundered in his chest.

  He was going to do this.

  He was going to ask his Daddy to marry him.

  Breaking and Entering

  The sun had set, and a navy sky hung over them as they walked along the river Seine.

  "Why won't you tell me where we're going? I thought we were going to La Rose Blanche, but Google Maps said that's the other side of the city." This was the third time Theo had questioned him in the last five minutes.

  "Boy, stop asking."

  "Daddy," he whined but Dan knew he wouldn't ask again.

  "I'm not telling you, Theo, because I want to take you somewhere that you're going to love. And if I tell you it won't be a surprise."

  They wandered along the Parisian streets, Dan knowing where he was going as he led Theo along, stopping every so often as Theo became mesmerized by some new sight. He reminded Dan of a puppy that had been let out for the first time, stopping to see everything, wanting to soak up all the new experiences. When Notre Dame Cathedral came into view, Theo all but screamed.

  "Is that where we're going? Oh my god. Are we going to the concert?"

  Dan smirked and shook his head. "Nope. Come on, this way."

  They turned off, heading up a street until they arrived at the tiny storefront. "Ta-da."

  Theo tilted his head, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "You've brought me to a closed store?"

  "Not just any store, kid. Don't you recognize it?"

  The street was dark, the February sky already flooded with a yellow moon.

  "Not really." Theo crossed the street to the other side, standing under the sign over the shop.

  "Shakespeare & Co. No way!" Theo shouted and Dan chuckled, stopping alongside him.

  "Yes. I believe this is a slightly famous bookstore?" His tone was teasing, and Theo turned to look at him with wide eyes.

  "Eh, yeah. The owner was the only person who would agree to publish James Joyce's Ulysses. She was so amazing, such an incredible supporter of writers and the arts. This store is almost exactly as it was a century ago." He sucked in a breath and his expression one of awe. "I cannot believe you brought me here."

  "I know how much you love literature and I thought it would be romantic."

  "It is. It totally is," Theo murmured before adding, "I just wish we'd come earlier when it was still open."

  Dan bit his lip and stepped closer to the store. "Well, we could peep in the windows."

  Theo drifted closer to the window and peered into the shop which was in complete darkness.

  "Maybe the door is open. Do they lock their doors in Paris?" Dan placed his hand on the doorknob and the door clicked open.

  "Oh-my-god," Theo whispered, looking wild as he looked up and down the street. "What are you doing?" he hissed.

  Dan was struggling to keep his cool, excitement and laughter threatening to explode from him. Theo's face was utterly gorgeous, all freaked out.

  "Come on, it's not breaking and entering if the door is already open." He pushed the door open and stepped inside, praying that Theo would follow him.

  "Dan, Dan?" Theo was behind him, tugging on his jacket. "What are you thinking? You're a cop. You should know better. We need to leave right now."

  "I wonder what's back here?" Dan continued to a narrow staircase at the back and Theo tried, unsuccessfully, to pull him back.

  "Dan, seriously. We'll get arrested."

  Dan chuckled and started climbing the staircase. "Come on, we're just taking a peek."

  He waited at the top, his heart pounding and his palms sweating. This was it.

  "Theo, get up here. Come on," he whispered and then held his breath as he heard Theo's shoes on the steps.

  It was a moment he wanted to remember forever. That exact second when Theo appeared at the top of the narrow staircase, hair tousled and then his eyes, widening in pure shock. His mouth fell open and he burst into tears.

  "Happy Valentine's Day, baby."

  Dan stood by the tiny round table surrounded by bookcases. A small lamp glowed in the center, lighting up the two glasses of ruby red wine and a vase holding a single rose.

  "Bonsoir," a soft voice called, and Theo jumped in surprise and screeched with fright.

  "Oh. Je suis désolé. I'm sorry."

  Dan reached for Theo and pulled him in close, turning to the French woman who Theo had scared as much as she had frightened him. "He's a little in shock. We'll need a minute before dinner." Then he turned to Theo who was still utterly speechless. "This is Genevieve. She manages the store and she very kindly allowed us to hire it tonight for private dining. I told her that you adored French poetry and loved books and she agreed to let us use the store. They don't usually do this. But I thought you'd love it. Just you, me and some really old books."

  Theo laughed and his head fell against Dan's shoulder.

  "I can't believe this. It's just incredible. You did this for me?"

  Dan lifted Theo's chin with his finger. "I'd do anything for you, Theo. Anything."

  They ate their meal of beef bourguignon while Theo chatted incessantly about all the books and famous authors connected to the bookstore. Dan wasn't sure if it was the light around them or a light within Theo, but his boy seemed to radiate across from him. Blue eyes inviting him to feel things he couldn't remember ever feeling.

  "You know, Theo, I think I've been waiting for you all this time."

  Theo looked up, those blue eyes wide and innocent. His beautiful full lips parted slightly, as though to speak, but he said nothing.

  "I just want you to know," Dan continued, feeling so calm it was unnerving, "that this feels right. You feel right. And I don't want this to end. Ever.”

  Theo nodded, and reached a hand across the table, tracing his fingertips along the back of Dan's hand, sending shivers down his spine. Dan leaned forward, almost whispering now, locking eyes with his boy.

  "It's as if you're the piece that's been missing from me."

  It was now, he knew it. The perfect moment to do this. Dan leaned down under his chair and lifted a book up, placing it on the tablecloth in front of Theo. "This is my Valentine's gift to you."

  Theo's mouth quirked, his lips curving into a smile and his face lit up.

  "You bought me another book of French poetry. I love it. This is so special."

  "It's a first edition," Dan explained. "I would have bought you a first edition copy of Ulysses but apparently I'd have needed a small mortgage to afford that."

  Theo chuckled and traced his finger along the book spine. "It's perfect. Thank you."

  Dan swallowed, nerves flooding his body as he readied himself.

  "Theo, I—"

  "Oh, I can't wait anymore. I need to do this...it's.... oh god...Okay, I can do this..." Theo's face was flushed and his eyes glistened in the soft glow of the lamp.

  Dan was confused, Theo's flustered manner worrying him.

  "Dan. I want to tell you something. Ask you something. Oh, shit. Okay. So...." Theo blew out a huge exhale, and then leaned across th
e table. His pupils were large, and Dan recognized the look of adoration.

  "I know what I want in life. I knew what I wanted for my career path and other things, but I've always felt sort of lost, and you feel like the place I belong. You feel like home to me and I can't explain it other than I think we're meant to be with each other. Which is why I want to ask you if you'll marry me?"

  Theo's words hung between them in the silence and Dan sat back into his seat, shock washing over him as his heart swelled. Theo had just proposed. He'd beaten him to it. He started to laugh, the happiness and irony making him feel high.

  "I know it's fast," Theo whispered, appearing unnerved by Dan's reaction. "But life doesn't have a schedule. So, marry me. Please."

  "Theo, open the book."

  "Aren't you going to answer me?" Theo's eyes searched his.

  "Boy, open the book."

  Slowly, Theo lifted the front cover of the book and a smile lit up his face.

  "What does it say, baby? Read it out loud."

  Theo had started to cry, smiling through the tears, glancing up at Dan before nodding and stammering the words out.

  "To my wonderful boy. Happy Valentine’s Day, from your future husband. If you’ll have me."

  Theo started to laugh, his tear stained cheeks beautiful in the soft glow. "Are you serious? You were going to propose to me?"

  Dan nodded and grinned. "I was. But you got there before me. Now, to answer your question—yes, I will marry you, Theo Coleman."

  "And I'll marry you, Daddy. I'm sorry if I ruined your plans."

  Dan stood up slowly. "Don't be sorry. I can still do the second part."

  "The second part? What's that?"

  Dan bit his lip and dropped to his knee. Theo's jaw fell open as he realized what was happening.

  Dan slipped his hand into his pocket and lifted out the narrow gold band, holding it out to Theo and looking into his boy's eyes.

  "I love you. Always."

  "This is kinda awkward." Theo bit his lip and Dan tilted his head, confused,

  "Huh? Awkward? How?"

  Theo slid from his chair, kneeling in front of Dan and pulling out a thick gold band from his jeans. "Your dad helped me pick it."

  They grinned, both silent before erupting into laughter.

  "You are the worst boy I've ever known. You can't even let your Daddy propose," Dan teased and he planted kisses along his face and wrapped his arms around him.

  "Sorry, Daddy. I'm so happy I might explode." Theo burrowed his face in Dan's neck, and they knelt there holding each other, savoring the moment.

  Dan pressed his lips against Theo's warm neck and murmured against his ear. “You’re going to be so busy, my boy. You've a wedding to plan."

  "I can't wait to plan our wedding. Oh, and we'll get to pick a wedding cake. I know exactly what I want." Theo pulled back and grinned.

  "Oh yeah? Tell me."

  "White frosting with multicolored sprinkles on top!"

  Dan chuckled and shook his head. "Why doesn't that surprise me." He pulled Theo back into his arms, and his eyes fell closed, lost in the moment, and lost in his boy.

  "I'm your perfect boy, Daddy," Theo whispered, his breath hot against Dan's ear.

  "You are. And soon you'll be my perfect husband."

  ~

  The End for now...

  ~

  Coming Soon

  Dan and Theo are getting married and it’s going to be one hell of a party.

  A full-length novel featuring a four-day extravaganza with secret locations, interesting guests, misadventures, kinky shenanigans, and one very big question...

  ~

  CONNECT

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  BOOKS BY CS JOYCE

  ______________

  Dark Reserves Series

  Dark Reserves is a series of Kinky MM Romance books that follow the lives of men who work on the front line. All books in the series revolve around the relationships they forge, which include some alternative dynamics and interests.

  Book Two in the Dark Reserves series is set for release in February 2019.

  Theo’s Game (Book 1)

  Love Theo (Book 1.5, A Valentine’s Novella)

  Hunter’s Desire (Book 2, Feb 2019)

  ABOUT

  CS Joyce writes contemporary romance stories about men falling in love with men. She fiercely believes that love conquers all and aims to sprinkle a little magic with her stories. She also has a filthy mind and a propensity for kinkiness! She spends her days writing, reading and caring for the tiny people she created.