Freedom (The F-Word #5) - E. Davies Page 0,68

had threatened to build up like a thunderhead.

Suddenly nothing else mattered, except the way Henry kissed him deep and slow, and the intoxicating sweetness of his lips, and the way Jaden’s heart thrilled every time Henry gently brushed his hand back through Jaden’s hair.

“I love you,” Henry repeated, his voice raw and eyes damp when he pulled back. “And that’s been the point all along, isn’t it? That we don’t listen to anyone else’s normal. I’m sorry for holding back all my worries. For trying to put you in a bubble. And for not seeing that you really needed me.”

Jaden just nodded, drawing his knees up and resting them across Henry’s lap. “And I’m sorry for not really telling you what was going on . For hiding it away instead of saying it was important.”

“Me, too,” Henry murmured. He kissed Jaden’s temple softly. “But for the record, since I haven’t said it yet: yes.”

“Yes…?” Jaden blinked.

“Yes, I want you to move in with me. My house is big enough for all of us. I think you’ll love it there.” Henry’s voice grew excited. “I’ll show you today, if you want. And you can move in right now. Or whenever. I want to spend every day with you, my love.”

Oh. Jaden was exhausted now in the aftermath of all his emotion. He just nuzzled into Henry’s shoulder and whispered, “Thank you. I feel like I suck at relationships. Crying on a park bench was not how I pictured confessing my love.”

A chuckle burst out of Henry as he rocked Jaden gently. “I’m not a pro at them, either. But we’ll get better at it, hm? Together. No more second-guessing what the other one wants.”

Jaden nodded and pressed his lips against Henry’s. He didn’t give a shit who saw them. Not today, anyway.

He just lost himself in the sweet softness of Henry’s lips. Time passed like this—how much time exactly didn’t matter.

Eventually, Cece loudly huffed a sigh from where she was lying next to the bench, making them break apart with laughter.

“So, wanna see your sweet new house?” Henry grinned.

“Yeah,” Jaden whispered, brushing his hand along Henry’s cheek and gazing into those bright blue pools of warmth and love.

He couldn’t wait.

22

Henry

It was barely two weeks later, and nearly every day had been chaos. Either Henry was over at Jaden’s place helping him pack, or he was out with Trip drawing up business plans and talking to people at the bank like a couple of pros who knew what they were doing.

Apparently they managed to fool enough people into thinking they were adults to get a business bank account, state guiding licenses, and a meeting with the local tourism department.

Even that would have been surreal enough. But now… watching Jaden walk into his beautiful home and casually toss his jacket on the hook in the front hallway?

Henry could hardly believe his luck.

Jaden had been practically living here for the past couple of weeks anyway. They’d both agreed he should move in right away rather than waiting for his lease to come up. Ron clearly wanted him out, and Jaden needed to leave.

Plus, what better time to learn to live together? They’d fallen into an easy rhythm after the first week. Henry was just about used to having someone home when he got in from a long day of meetings. He could definitely get used to having a friendly face to greet him when he arrived back from a trip, exhausted and muddy.

Jaden set down the box he carried and turned to look at Henry. Then he grinned. “You’re smiling at me like that again.”

“Like what?” Henry’s cheeks flushed as Jaden danced up to him on tiptoe and pressed a kiss on his lips.

“Like my heart feels right now,” Jaden murmured.

“Oh, boy. Again?” They both turned and laughed as Spence came in, carrying two boxes and craning his neck to see around them.

Trip joined in, yelling from outside, “Tell them to get their asses out here and stop necking.”

“Sorry,” Henry said with a grin. He pecked Jaden on the lips again and waited for Spence to turn and head back out before smacking Jade’s cute little ass.

Jaden gasped silently and pretended to be offended, but when Henry led the way, he got him back with a perfectly-placed pinch.

“Your turn dealing with the lovebirds,” Trip said with a long-suffering sigh. “I’ve had to see this all week.”

“Well, you were the ones who got us together,” Jaden pointed out with a wicked grin. “So technically it’s your