“I flew.” Shane’s voice was still full of wonder. It was a leap of faith, committing to this thing with Brandt, but if anyone was worth it, this amazing, confounding, special man was it. “You made me fly.”
“Even better.” Holding Shane tighter, Brandt rocked against him, hard cock trapped against Shane’s hip.
“You can fuck me now.” If rimming and fingering were that good, he could trust Brandt to make fucking even better, and doing it this boneless sounded marvelous.
“Oh hell no.” Brandt gave him a stern look. “You don’t get to make that call all sex drunk.”
“Wanna make you feel good.” Rolling slightly, Shane rubbed Brandt’s arms and chest.
“You are.” Brandt’s breathing was already quick, like he’d been riding the edge the whole time. Sexy as hell. Shane stretched up to nip at his shoulder as he fisted Brandt’s cock. He knew what Brandt liked, fast quick strokes and little bites on his neck.
“Fuck yes. Give me your teeth.” Moving his own hand over Shane’s, Brandt spurred him on as his head twisted to the side, baring his neck farther. He might not care about marks, but Shane tried to exercise some caution as he worked a line of love bites below where Brandt’s collar hit.
“Shane.” Brandt fucked hard into their joined hands as he shot between them, creamy ropes that made them both even messier. And happier.
“You look like a vampire snack.” It was Shane’s turn to grin and sound smug.
“Good.” Brandt gave him a sound kiss on the top of his head before wiping them both off with the towel. “I’d take being immortal if I got to do it with you.”
“That’s sweet. Volunteering to be undead just to keep me around.” Shane pulled him back down so Shane could wrap himself around him.
“I mean it.” Brandt rolled so they were face-to-face. “Love you.”
Even as his heart sung, he frowned. This might not be a tune he could trust. “What was that about not making big decisions all come-happy?”
“Not a decision.” Cupping his face, Brandt looked deep into his eyes. “A fact. Like the sunrise. I love you.”
“You’re something.” Shane exhaled sharply as hope and love and fear all wrestled in his gut. But love was winning. This was Brandt. Brandt who made him fly. Brandt who he did trust, even with something terrifying like falling in love.
“Something you can keep around?” Brandt prompted as Shane continued to breathe like he’d marched days uphill. And maybe he had, everything, every old hurt and learning experience leading him here to this moment and this man.
“Oh, I’m going to keep you. For as long as you’ll have me.”
“Forever may not be long enough.” Brandt’s voice was a whisper, but the soft kiss he pressed on Shane’s temple spoke volumes. And in that instant, Shane suddenly knew the end to the song that had been chasing him for days now. The one about Brandt that couldn’t seem to make up its mind whether it was a happy tune or not. But now he caught the melody in full, stopped fighting it and let the notes fall into place.
Leap of faith. Wasn’t that what Brandt had said on their first meeting? Shane wanted forever and if it meant going all in with Brandt Wilder, then that was exactly what he was going to do. He’d trust the music they made together, and he’d do everything in his power to give their love song the happiest of endings.
Chapter Thirty-One
Two years later
“More!” The audience roar was so loud that Brandt had to clap his hands over Jewel’s ears as the chants continued. “Encore!”
The shouts had Brandt smiling though, pride having him both impatient and vaguely giddy.
“Okay, okay, twist my arm.” Wiping sweat off his forehead, Shane still had an easy grin for the crowd. The venue was so tightly packed that Brandt bet he ended up with two Seattle shows next tour. Shane took a long drink of water before speaking more. “I guess I’ve got one more in me.”
That got a fresh round of cheers, and Shane had to make the simmer-down gesture twice so he could continue talking. His ability to banter with the audience had improved so much, and it was most evident in the looseness of his muscles as he grabbed his guitar back up again.
“And this is a special one. Going out to a special little girl I can’t wait to see soon.”
“That’s you,” Brandt whispered to Jewel, holding the toddler close. “They’re playing for you.”
“Dada sing my song?” Her whole face lit up as she did a happy humming noise. The song Shane had first performed the last time Brandt and Jewel surprised him was on constant repeat in Brandt’s car, in the kitchen, and her most requested lullaby, even when it was Brandt doing the bedtime routine on his own. And he was a piss poor substitute for the real deal.