were in this life together. Nothing else mattered.
Ezra wanted Declan inside him. That was the only thing that would make things better. Declan had admitted to being in love with Ezra since he was sixteen. All these years that Ezra had longed and hurt while needing Declan, Declan had felt the same for every bit as long. They needed to be one person right now. Ezra didn’t care about anything else.
“Please,” Ezra begged when Declan didn’t do more than kiss him. “I want to watch us together.” Even he heard the desperation in his voice.
Declan dragged him from the counter and sat him on his feet. The intensity in Declan’s eyes as he stripped Ezra was captivating. Once Ezra was nude, Declan kissed him sweetly before spinning him to face the mirror. As Ezra looked on, Declan led Ezra’s hands to the counter. “Don’t move.”
At Declan’s order, Ezra had to stiffen his knees. Declan dug through a nearby box, coming out with lube and a condom. Ezra watched the reflection of his every move. When cool lubed fingers toyed with his asshole, Ezra’s gaze snapped to his image. His cheeks were flushed, and his lips were swollen from Declan’s kisses. He didn’t look like himself. For the first time, Ezra saw what Declan saw when he looked at Ezra. He couldn’t look away as Declan kissed his shoulders and back. They were beautiful together because their love couldn’t be missed. Suddenly, Ezra wanted the bed that should have always been his. This man belonged to him. Always had. It didn’t matter if they married tomorrow, ten years from now, or if they had married back when Ezra turned eighteen. They had been chosen for each other by a higher power long before they were born. They were meant to be.
“Take me to bed.”
Declan froze at the demand. His gaze met Ezra’s in the mirror. “Are you sure?”
Ezra nodded. “That’s my bed. Take me to bed.”
Declan swept Ezra into his arms. His long stride ate up the floor between the bathroom and their destination. At the edge of the mattress, he climbed on without letting go of Ezra. He stared down at Ezra as he finally settled Ezra on the bed. Declan looked hungry—like he had been waiting a million years for this moment. He massaged Ezra’s hip before moving on to his thigh. Declan urged Ezra’s leg up and his knees apart as he settled between Ezra’s thighs. Ezra’s eyes burned from his refusal to blink.
“Tell me you love me.”
“I love you,” Ezra said without hesitation.
Declan’s eyes fell closed, as if he savored the sound of Ezra’s words. He surged forward and impaled Ezra with his cock. A gasp escaped Ezra. As always, they felt perfect and right. Declan lowered his head and captured Ezra’s lips. His kiss was so sweet that Ezra found himself clinging to Declan, matching his pace. They were making love. It couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. Even as pressure climbed his erection and tightened his balls, Ezra knew this moment was about way more than an orgasm. They were sealing a promise to each other. It was them against the world. Them against every battle—internal and external. As Ezra whimpered, cried, and shook in Declan’s arms, he knew this was a forever love beyond a shadow of doubt. He didn’t have to fight his battles alone anymore. It didn’t matter if he was beautiful. They were. That was all Ezra needed to know to survive.
Eight
Singing at a backyard wedding hadn’t been on Johnny’s agenda two weeks ago. Now, here he was. It was funny. When he had moved to L.A. from Illinois eight years ago, he had big dreams. Johnny had ignored all the statistics. He had known all the way to his soul that he would be famous. Instead, he had immediately ended up living as a private security guard for one of the most famous drummers in history. The life he dreamed of having was within sight, except it wasn’t his life. He kept someone else safe who had won the fantasy Johnny never would. As much as Johnny had accepted that he would never be the one on stage surrounded by fans, Johnny still couldn’t help but dream again while singing at Jessie’s wedding. After all, he had gotten to sing for famous people. That was pretty cool. Not everyone could say that.
Johnny had been so nervous leading up to his performance that he hadn’t heard a word of the ceremony.