Fabian pressed his lips together, and his eyes glistened. He let out one long shuddering breath, and said, “I think it might be possible that I’ve always been in love with you. I know how absurd that sounds, but it’s the truth.”
Ryan smiled so wide it hurt. “Can I kiss you, then?”
“Yes. One moment.” Fabian climbed onto the chair he’d been sitting in, standing on it this time. He stood a couple of inches taller than Ryan now, which made Ryan laugh.
And then he tilted his head up to kiss the man he loved. Fabian wrapped his arms around Ryan’s neck, and Ryan hooked an arm under Fabian’s ass and hauled him off the chair so he could carry him to the bed.
“Your back reallyisbetter,” Fabian said happily.
“Yeah. Let me show you what else it can do.”
Fabian’s eyebrows shot up. “My goodness!”
Ryan laughed and dropped him on the mattress. “You look so sexy in that thing.”
“What?” Fabian asked, gliding a hand over the silky material of his dressing gown. “This? I’m glad you like it because I’mfreezing. It’s not at all appropriate for frigid midwinter nights.”
“I’ll warm you up.”
“Of course you will. Get your clothes off.”
“Ryan,” Fabian murmured later, when they were tangled up in bed together, sleepy and sated, “I have a very important question about your thighs.”
“What’s that?”
“What happens to them after you stop playing hockey?”
Ryan paused a moment from stroking Fabian’s hair. “They’ll probably turn into regular thighs.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
“Quitting hockey doesn’t sound so great now, does it?” Ryan teased.
“Hm. I suppose I’ll have to learn to live with only your towering height, your gorgeous face, and your enormous cock.”
“And my fun personality.”
Fabian slapped his arm lightly. “You’re plenty of fun.” He rolled on top of Ryan and gazed down at him. “And you’re sweet. And I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I’m playing some shows out of town later this month. Would you like to join me?”
“Flying?”
Fabian laughed. “You greatly overestimate the travel budget of an indie musician. No, I’ll be driving or taking the train.”
“Oh.” Ryan grinned. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll go with you. We can take my car.”
“My label is planning a Canadian tour for me this summer. If spending the summer driving for hours between Canadian cities with a rising star appeals to you, you could come along.”
For a long moment, Ryan didn’t say anything. It sounded perfect, driving across the country with the man he loved. Being there to watch Fabian dazzle audiences in different cities. Being there to kiss Fabian after his shows, and then taking him back to their hotel room and showing him exactly how proud he was to be his boyfriend.
“But this isn’t all about me,” Fabian added, breaking Ryan’s giddy fantasy. “We’re going to figure out what you need. What makes you happy, Ryan?”
At the moment, Ryan couldn’t imagine needing more than the man he had in his arms, but he said, “I don’t know. But I can’t wait to find out.”
Epilogue
