by Elle Keaton
Buck leaned toward him, brows furrowed, concern in his searching gaze. “Are you okay? Did something happen?”
“No,” Miguel rasped before clearing his throat to continue, “I mean yes, I mean Nate, uh…” Jesus Christ, why couldn’t he just say it? A little voice whispered that if he said it out loud the words would evaporate—not Miguel’s words, but Nate’s words. That somehow the past twenty-four hours would turn out to be a dream. No marriage proposal in a sex store.
Funny, it was that thought that got him going again. Not even he could make up a marriage proposal in Otto’s Erotica, and he had Otto as a witness.
“Miguel?”
“Nate asked me to marry him.” Miguel was barely able to push the words out.
“He did?” Buck beamed, standing to pull Miguel up and into a gigantic hug. “That’s great! It is great, isn’t it?” He pulled back, holding Miguel by the shoulders and looking carefully at his face, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Well, if Buck figured that out, Miguel sure hoped he would fill him in.
“I… I think so?” He sagged against his friend. The emotions of the past day had worn him out. “I spent the night watching him sleep. I’m pretty sure there’s something wrong with me.”
Buck squeezed him again—there wasn’t much better than a hug from Buck except one from Nate—then let him go to sit back in his own chair.
“Tell me everything. If I don’t have all the details when I see Joey after work, he’s going to be calling.”
“Your annoying husband is going to be calling anyway.”
Buck just looked at him, waiting.
Now that he had said the words once, they weren’t quite so scary to say again. “When we were out shopping yesterday, Nate asked me to marry him.”
“Where? I need all the details. ‘Shopping’ is just going to make Joey call you to find out exactly where you were shopping.”
Miguel took a healthy sip of his coffee before answering. “We were at Otto’s.” Miguel rolled his eyes at Buck’s chuckle. “We were doing some other shopping, so I thought I’d introduce Nate to Otto and get a few supplies. The next thing I know, he’s down on one knee asking me to marry him.”
There was a rap on the front door, startling them both. Buck jumped up and glanced at the wall clock. “Crud, I totally forgot. That’s Adam, he’s stopping by to take a look at the car.”
Miguel and Adam didn’t hang out in the same social circles, and the last time he’d seen Adam, Miguel had been wrapped in a blanket suffering shock from falling from the roof of that house to the balcony. It hadn’t been as bad as it could have, because Miguel had grabbed the edge of the rooftop on the way down, slowing his fall. The balcony had then broken his fall and his arm. Angel hadn’t panicked; he’d called 911 and covered both Nate and Miguel with blankets from the bedroom. Adam had arrived on the scene, an avenging angel of sorts, and taken care of the rest.
Buck had been working for over a year on muscle cars Adam had discovered on his dad’s property. This one was about ready to go. Rumor had it Adam was going to auction them all off and donate the proceeds to the local LGBTQIA teen community center.
He heard Buck open the door and the two of them chatting as they headed back to the office. Really? Buck was going to make him talk to an officer of the law in the middle of an emotional crisis? Some friend.
“Miguel, how are you?” Adam preceded Buck into the office. There wasn’t anywhere for him to sit, so he perched against the desk while Buck leaned against the doorjamb. Miguel didn’t know Adam very well, but if he was donating money to the teen center on top of catching bad guys, he couldn’t be all that scary, right?
“I’m freaking out because Nate asked me to marry him and to move in. Not in that order. He’d already asked me to move in, pretty much.” Adam raised his eyebrows but didn’t interrupt. “I don’t get why I’m having this reaction; I know he’s nothing like Justin.”
Adam grinned. “Congratulations. Richardson is a solid guy. And you’re right, he’s nothing like Oakes.”
“Well, don’t get excited; we’re doing it at the courthouse.”
“Do I look like I care? I figure Joey got us all off the hook for big parties for a while.”
“You said ‘yes,’ right?” Buck interjected.
“Yes, I said ‘yes.’ That’s not the problem.” The problem was he didn’t know what the problem was. Normally he was the guy handing out advice, and here he was all tied up in a knot because Nate had offered him the world.
Buck looked at him, like he was trying to sort out what was happening inside Miguel’s head. If Buck figured it out, Miguel hoped he let him in on the secret. After a moment, Buck nodded. “Come check out the car with us,” he said. He stood, motioning for Adam and Miguel to follow him.
The 1968 Pontiac GTO was beautiful. Buck had restored it to its original factory paint, a glossy black—he’d restored everything, and it was impossible not to be impressed. Adam whistled his appreciation after Buck pulled off the protective tarp.
“It’s hard to believe it’s the same car.”
“Let’s take her for a spin,” Buck suggested. “See what’s she’s got under the hood.”
“Hell yeah,” Adam muttered reverently.
Buck backed the Pontiac out of the garage, Adam riding shotgun and Miguel in the back for the moment.
None of them spoke while Buck skillfully guided them along the swooping two-lane roads outside of town. They sped past pastoral farmhouses and pasture boundaries marked by white fences. In one spot a line of defunct farming equipment, decades’ worth, formed the demarcation line between properties.
The day was beautiful and only just starting to heat up. None of them spoke, just enjoyed the way the car handled, hugging the road and effortlessly taking the hills as they came along.
Eventually Buck pulled over. “Adam, your turn.”
Adam drove sedately for a short time, getting used to the clutch and the powerful engine before taking them out past the old lumber mill and then west toward the flats where there was a wildlife refuge along the edge of the bay. Soon he had her flying along, the engine still not breaking a sweat. As they drove, Miguel felt the tension seeping out of his system. His worries swept out the open car windows to dissipate in the atmosphere. He felt like he could breathe and think—and know.
How had Buck sensed this was exactly what Miguel needed, a reminder that he wasn’t trapped? The world was out there. He had friends, a job, and now… a lover. Miguel let out a huge lungful of oxygen. For the first time since Otto’s, when Nate surprised him, he felt like was on steady ground. Everything was right. Most especially Nate Richardson.
Miguel smiled.
Forty minutes after leaving, they pulled back into the garage. Kevin and Dom were opening the doors and swarmed the car like a bunch of groupies as Adam parked.
“Guys, guys, you’ve seen it for over a year,” Buck admonished, shooing them away before he and Adam put the tarp back over the car. “She’s good to go. Lemme know when you want to pick her up.”
“Right.” Adam turned to Miguel. “Again, congratulations. I’m happy for the both of you.” He shook Miguel’s good hand before sketching a wave to Buck and striding out to his very boring four-wheel-drive wagon.
Miguel’s pocket buzzed. After fishing around one-handed, he pulled it out to see a text from Nate.
Home soon?
Smiling, he texted back: Yes.
Buck caught him by the shoulder before he left. “One more thing?”
“Sure.”
Buck looked sheepish, rocking back on his heels with his hands in the pockets of his coveralls. “Before I tell you, I want you to promise you will seriously consider what I have to say.”
Kevin and Dom must have known what was up, because they had gleeful grins on their face and were giggling like twelve-year-olds.
“Okaay. I’m listening.”
“Joey and I have talked about it, and I want to offer you a partnership.
In the business.” Miguel opened and then shut his mouth as Buck held up a hand to stop him from speaking. “See, Miguel, this was meant to be a family business… and you and Joey, you are my family. I want you to be a part of it, more than just an employee. Don’t give me any crap about money. We’ll draw up papers. Don’t forget I’ve been signing your checks and you lived with us; I have a pretty good idea much you have saved, so money wouldn’t be what would stop you. What do you think?”
What Miguel thought was that his best friend had taken one too many turns around the ill-fated merry-go-round and ended up with a head injury. All he could do was gape. After having Nate propose, this—this was—he didn’t know what to say.
“Well? I mean, if you need to think about it, I understand. But the way I see it, this way we are still family, even if you do go off and get hitched. I’m thinking we can change the name to Swanfeldt & Ramirez or something like that.”
Whatever was blooming must have blown into the shop. Miguel’s eyes got all watery again.
“Dammit, Buck.”
“Is that your way of saying yes?”
“Yes.”
Kevin and Dom whooped, rushing over to hug him. Miguel felt a little like he’d finally been adopted. His heart was full, the emotions overwhelming him again. He squeezed both of them back, planting a sloppy kiss on Kevin’s cheek. He blushed adorably.
“I need to get back to Nate, but—” he tapped Kevin on the chest, “I want to hear all about how things are going with Angel.”
Buck laughed. “Leave the kid alone, Miguel. Hop in Sheila; I’ll give you a ride home.”
A ride home sounded amazing.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Nate
“Thanks, you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty.” Nate held the tiny bag carefully in his hand.
Otto gushed, “Anything for Miguel. Between you and me, I think this is the most romantic idea I’ve ever heard. I’ve got to head back—still looking for help, it is just little ol’ me for now.” With a quick wave and maybe a skip, Otto dashed back to his car and drove off, beeping his horn goodbye.
After Otto was gone, Nate spent a frustrating while trying to wrap Miguel’s present. In the end it had looked so terrible he crumpled up the shiny paper and tossed it in the recycling, then spent ten minutes digging around for a gift bag, knowing he had one stashed away from something silly Natalia had given him.
Nate spent the rest of the morning pacing around the house waiting for Miguel to return and fussing with the sparkling pink bag on the kitchen counter. Waking up alone had not been his game plan. At least Miguel had left a note saying he’d gone to see Buck, but Nate wanted him home now. Nate wanted not to have woken up with the other side of the bed cool to his touch.
He didn’t want to wait a second longer than he had to. Nate was certain this was the right thing to do. Maybe a bit weird, but then so was he. Finally he heard a car pull to a stop in the front of the house and Miguel’s voice as he thanked the driver for the ride. Nate peeked out the kitchen window and saw Buck’s car driving away.
Finally Miguel walked through the front door. Nate examined his face for signs of… something; he wasn’t really sure what. Whatever he thought he might see, he didn’t find it.
“Hey, handsome.” Miguel beamed. “I have had the most surreal day. Morning.” He looked at the clock and corrected himself. “I can’t believe it’s not even noon yet.”
Miguel closed the distance between them. Nate backed up until he was pressed against the kitchen counter. Miguel didn’t stop until their bodies were touching shoulder to groin. Nate wrapped his good arm around Miguel and Miguel pushed even closer, tucking his face into Nate’s neck, breathing in his scent in a most possessive way.
“I’ve decided to believe.” Miguel wasn’t quite whispering, but it was difficult to hear over the pounding of Nate’s heart.
Their position was awkward because of the casts, but Nate managed to get his other arm around his partner as well, ignoring the pull on his dislocated shoulder. The pain was worth it. He loved how Miguel melted against him, how he trusted, how his eyes were full of dreams and hope. And mischief.
“I have had the most surreal morning,” Miguel repeated. “Buck offered me a partnership in his business. That was after I got to ride in a hot rod with Adam Klay taking turns at 110 miles an hour. Also, I told them you asked me to marry you.”
“Buck offered you a partnership? That’s amazing!”
“Yeah,” Miguel huffed. “I’m overwhelmed. But good. And before you ask, yes, I am going to accept. But I need to make sure the paperwork is all good and he isn’t trying to give me too much. And I need to talk to Joey.”
Nate ran his hand down Miguel’s back, shoulder to hip, reveling in the heat of his skin, in Miguel’s very alive-ness. They hadn’t known each other that long, but Miguel was already an integral part of Nate’s life. His elbow bumped against the gift bag.
“I’ve got something for you.”
Miguel pulled back to look Nate in the eyes. “What?”
Nate swiped the bag up and showed him. “You have to open it and find out.”
“Ooh, I love presents. This doesn’t look big enough to be that dildo I was looking at yesterday.”
Nate flushed, hot and fast; the thought of that set his imagination off. “No, sheesh, open it.” Before yesterday Nate had never been in an “adult” store, and now he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Miguel fumbled with the bag, finally tipping it over and letting the contents slide out. It was wrapped up in pretty tissue paper Nate knew Miguel would like; the paper was embedded with glitter and sparkled under the bright kitchen light.
“What is it?” Miguel wondered aloud even as he peeled the paper back.
Nate held his breath, hoping against hope it wasn’t too much, too presumptuous. People said he acted hastily sometimes. Nate hoped this wasn’t one of them.
In his hand Miguel held a glossy red box with gold-painted filigree on the lid and along the sides. It wasn’t exactly the same as the one he had thrown away, but it was as close as Nate had been able to find while pretending he was working on one of his online classes the day before. He’d paid an outrageous premium to have it shipped overnight. Miguel opened it; the interior was lined with silky black fabric.
“How did you know?” Miguel looked at him with confusion.
“Buck told me. When you, uh—”
“Ran away,” Miguel said for him.
“Yes, right. He was searching for you and found the box a few blocks away. He said it had been important. Buck thought that you throwing it away meant you were giving up everything. Maybe it was high-handed of me, but I thought you needed a new one—a fresh start.” His voice trailed off. “I have the old one, if you want it.”
“Wow.” Miguel looked down at the box again. “It’s beautiful. It’s perfect.” He picked up the tiny velvet bag nestled inside. “What’s this?”
Nate narrowed his eyes.
“Fine.” Miguel teased open the small bag, retrieving the contents. A small gold ring glittered in the palm of his hand. “What’s this?” The ring wasn’t a completed circle, and there was a tiny jewel dangling from it.
“Well.” Now Nate was going to burst into flames. “You work with your hands, so I hoped maybe this,” he nudged the little ring with his forefinger, “would be a good substitute for the kind of ring you wear on your finger. It’s a nipple ring. You won’t have to take it off when you work, and—” Nate was babbling.
“You know once this heals I am going to be walking around with a semi all day,” Miguel announced, tucking the ring back into the bag before setting it carefully on the counter. “What I want to do right now is get you in bed and see what other kinds of things you like. I’m thinking Nate Richardson is a little kinkier than I thought.”
They raced down the hallway like little boys running for the ice cream truck. Miguel made it into the bedroom first. It would’ve been close, but Nate started to slip on th
e hardwood and nearly banged into a wall. In the bedroom—their bedroom—Nate stopped short. Miguel was already toeing off his shoes and pulling his jeans down. Miguel didn’t wear underwear, and the sight of his beautiful rounded butt made Nate’s cock jerk in his own sleep pants.
Miguel looked over his shoulder at Nate, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “You like?” He unbuttoned his loose cotton work shirt while Nate watched. Once he was entirely naked, Miguel sat on the edge of the bed and began stroking himself. He spread his legs wide, letting Nate see how aroused he was, exposing his balls and hinting at what lay beyond.
He must have made some kind of gurgling sound, because Miguel taunted him with an amused look. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Right. Nate needed to get naked. As quickly as he could while still watching Miguel put on a show—now he’d lain back on the bed, scooting up so his heels dug into the mattress—Nate undressed, tossing the sleep pants, boxer briefs, and ripped-up T-shirt on the floor. In Miguel’s new position, not only could Nate watch him pumping himself, he had a clear view of his hole. Jesus, the sounds he was making.
“Come here,” Miguel said imperiously. “I want to feel you fucking me. Deep inside.”
Nate groaned; yeah, he wanted that too.
“First I want to watch you play with yourself. Show me what you like.”
Other than waking up with a wet spot on his pajamas, Nate hadn’t masturbated much… but he knew what turned him on. Keeping an eye on Miguel, Nate lay next to him, first palming his own erection and then letting it slide up and down in his fist. Sticking his thumbnail slightly into his slit, running his finger underneath his crown. It felt good, amazing because he was so turned on, but it felt weird too, doing something so personal in front of Miguel.
“Mmmm,” Miguel said. “I like. You think you can make yourself come, with me watching?”
“Yes,” Nate said. “But I don’t want to.”
“Oh yeah? What do you want to do?”
“I really want to be inside you.” Gah, thinking about finally experiencing Miguel, hot and tight, had him tightening his grip painfully on himself so he didn’t come right then.
