Huntsman - Morgan Brice Page 0,74

and cheered as each round out-did its predecessor, leading up to a grand finale that filled the sky with color and light that made Liam catch his breath.

He was so focused on the display that he hadn’t noticed Russ’s movement until he felt a tug at the hem of his parka. Russ knelt in front of him, holding out a small black box. People in the crowd began to nudge one another, turning to watch.

“Liam Reynard, my love, my fated mate. Will you do me the honor of also being my husband?” Russ asked, tears shining in his eyes, just like the tears that made their way, despite the cold, down Liam’s face.

“Yes! Of course. Oh, God. Yes!”

The crowd cheered again, this time helping Liam and Russ celebrate as Liam pulled Russ to his feet and yanked him by the collar into a heated kiss.

“Do you want your ring?” Russ asked when they finally broke apart.

“In the sand, in the dark? Are you kidding?” Liam replied. “You can put it on my finger when we get home, where the light’s nice and bright, and I can get a good look at it.” He didn’t mention that he’d had a ring stashed away for Russ for months, waiting for the right time. The thought of surprising Russ with his ring made Liam’s smile even broader.

Liam couldn’t wait to get back to the cabin that had come to feel like home. Well-wishers stopped them every few feet as the news spread, and while Liam appreciated their words of congratulations, he also despaired of ever making it back to the auto shop where Russ had parked.

The crowd from the fireworks had nearly dispersed as Russ eased out of the garage’s lot, mindful of pedestrians that seemed determined to dart in front of his truck. Now that the big surprise was over, Russ looked nervous in the dim glow of the dashboard lights.

“I hope you’ll like the ring,” he fretted. “And if it doesn’t fit right, or you want something else, we can take it back.”

“It will be fine. I’m sure I’ll love it,” Liam assured him. “And I love you, too.”

“Love you right back,” Russ replied with a grin. “Were you surprised?”

“Mostly.” Liam didn’t know what Russ had been planning, but his fox’s whiskers had been twitching all week with the sense that something was in the offing. “I thought you were up to something good, but I didn’t know what.”

“Hard to keep a secret with a mate bond.”

“Hardly any I’d want to keep.” At first, he’d been wary of strengthening his connection to Russ out of the fear that it would feel invasive, like having someone go through the things in his room without permission.

But the reality was entirely different. Without walls between them, he and Russ had learned to navigate soft boundaries, while avoiding stupid fights over misunderstandings or insecurities. For the first time in his life, Liam felt loved for all of who he was, and he loved Russ in the same way.

Nothing could ever be better.

When they got back to the cabin, Russ didn’t waste any time after they stripped off coats and boots. He sank down on one knee in the kitchen beneath the glare of the fluorescent overhead light, and presented the box to Liam once more. This time, he opened the lid, showing off a beautiful rose gold band.

“Yes,” Liam breathed, answering the unasked question. Russ slid the ring on the third finger of Liam’s right hand, a promise and a statement until their wedding day when the ring would move to the left hand during the ceremony.

“It’s beautiful,” he said, holding his hand out so the light reflected from the gold, making it shine.

“It looks even better on you.” Russ rose to his feet and pulled Liam in for a tender kiss.

Liam surprised him by giving him a peck and then twisting out of his arms. “Wait there.”

He hurried to the bedroom and tore through his underwear drawer, cursing under his breath until he found the elusive box, hidden inside a sock. Liam sent the sock flying and rushed back to where Russ still stood in the kitchen with a look of utter confusion on his face.

Liam dropped to his knees before he even stopped moving like he was a batter sliding into third base. He came to a halt at Russ’s feet and held up his offering in both hands with a nervous smile.

“I, um, might have been thinking along the same lines,” he