Page 62 of For the Rest of Forever
“I am really happy, you know,” Allen said, and he held Greg’s gaze for an extra moment before dipping his chin. “And this—”
Another bark, this time much louder and more insistent, cut Allen off, and he and Greg both groaned together.
“Yeah, yeah, Beans. We’re coming,” Greg huffed, giving Allen an apologetic look. “I want to know what you were going to say, but after we get inside and appease our little whiner in there.”
Allen nodded in understanding, and together, they stood, rolled up the sleeping pad, and packed it back up in its bag. Then they headed inside the camper, where Beans greeted them both with more whiny yips and a wagging tail. Allen headed to the bathroom to wash up and get ready for bed while Greg snapped on Beans’s leash and took him out to do his business. When they returned to the camper a few minutes later, Allen was just exiting the bathroom, now dressed comfortably in plaid pajama pants and a plain white T-shirt.
Greg unclipped Beans’s leash, and the pup bounded over to Allen and hopped up to put his front paws on Allen’s thigh. A soft smile graced Allen’s lips, and he knelt down slowly and murmured some quiet words to Beans while scratching behind the dog’s ear. Greg set the leash on the counter near the door and then stepped up the last step into the camper just as Allen straightened back up.
“Go on to bed now, silly dog,” Allen said, the affection in his voice clear, and Beans—being the very, very good, very, very obedient pooch he was—did some sort of whole body shake and then trotted happily off to the bedroom area and hopped up ontheirbed rather than curling up onhisownbed, which they’d put on the floor just at the foot of their bed. Greg rolled his eyes, and Allen sighed. Beans turned around to look at both of them, wagged his tail, and then circled twice before lying down at the end of the bed, right in one corner, his head resting on his paws.
“Well, at least he doesn’t take up much space?” Greg offered, closing the rest of the distance between him and Allen. He reached out and set his hand at the small of Allen’s back, and his husband leaned into the touch with a hum of agreement. Or maybe contentment? Greg dipped his head and touched his lips to Allen’s neck as he wrapped his arms around Allen’s midsection. “I can still make him get off, though, if you want.”
“Hmm.”
Greg kissed Allen’s neck again and let one hand drift lower, under the hem of Allen’s T-shirt and then along his stomach, gently pressing himself up against Allen’s back. “Just... whatever you want.”
With another quiet hum, Allen turned in Greg’s arms until they were facing each other, and his hands slid up Greg’s chest. “I just want you.”
Allen’s soft smile was everything. Itmeanteverything, and it filled Greg’s chest with love and happiness and joy. He bent down again and brushed his lips lightly against Allen’s.
“You have me, darling. Now and forever.”
The End
