poured sunshine inside.
So I held on for dear life as his breaths evened out, his limbs growing lax in sleep. His scent infused my senses, mixing with the smell of sweat and sex and us.
Pretty damned sweet.
Epilogue
Seth
Six Months Later
It had been both the longest and the shortest half a year of my life. I’d moved into my apartment because it was important to me to have a place I had chosen and loved and wanted and was all mine. And while that was great, sleeping there consistently didn’t last long. The first two months or so, Jake and I stayed back and forth at each other’s places, and I stayed on my own sometimes too.
The thing was, I really liked Jake being in my bed every night. I loved sleeping with my head on his chest and his arms around me. I loved being able to wake up and beg for his cock or to ask if I could have him, which he gave me. Mostly, I wanted to bottom. There was something empowering about allowing him inside me, choosing to give him that, but I liked to top him sometimes too.
And I also really loved Jake’s house. I had since the first time I’d been there. It felt like a home—our home. Eventually, we stayed less and less at my place, and more and more of my things were ending up at Jake’s. He always offered to go to my apartment, but I rarely took him up on it, and yeah, like I said, I really wanted to sleep with him every night.
I was thankful I’d only signed a six-month lease, and I’d officially moved into Jake’s house last week.
And tonight we were—
“Let’s see who’s more flexible! Me or Jesse!” Skylar cut off my thoughts.
“Oh, fuck you, Mr. I Was In Gymnastics And Shit My Whole Life. I’m still bendier than your ass,” Jesse replied.
“You wish!” Skylar countered.
“Wow…interesting housewarming party,” Tucker teased Jake, who laughed.
All our friends were there—the crew from the shop; Mark and Bree, who got a sitter and were there without Hailey; Jesse and Dane, of course; Skylar, and a few people I’d become friends with from cosmetology school—which I loved. It was incredible, and such an amazing feeling to love what you were doing. I didn’t know how I’d spent so many years pretending it wasn’t exactly where I belonged.
“We’re a lively bunch,” Jake told Tucker.
“You’re happy.” He nudged Jake. “It’s good to see.”
Jake wrapped an arm around me and kissed me. “I am.”
“I’m happy too.” I’d never been happier. I was working part-time at It’s a Buzz coffeehouse. While it wasn’t my dream job, it was nice to have something. I also still worked one night a week at the Playground. The owner, Chet, had offered me more days, but as much as I enjoyed it, I realized it wasn’t where I wanted to be all the time. Between a few days a week at the coffeehouse, school, and still volunteering at Rose City, I kept busy enough.
Skylar and Jesse finished their competition, each doing splits, before Dane tugged Jesse over to us, rolling his eyes. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I’m sorry. I had to show Sky up and you know it. Plus, you love it.” Jesse pressed a kiss to his lips.
“It’s such a weird lovefest in here,” Skylar said. “You guys are all falling in love.”
“Yeah, not me,” Brett replied.
“Or me,” Tad added, even though he looked longingly to where Mia was sitting with Bree.
We all laughed and joked around for a while after that, before everyone started to head home. It was after midnight when Jake and I closed the door to the last person. As soon as we did, I heard a meow.
“Come here, girl.” I picked up our calico cat, Butterscotch. “I know you don’t like people, except your daddies. They’re all gone now.” I nuzzled her as Jake petted her back.
“She really doesn’t. She stayed hidden the whole time.” He wrapped his arms around us. “Butterscotch and I are so glad this is officially your home.” He kissed the top of my head.
“I am too.” I looked over at the cabinet I’d purchased that day with Jake and Bonnie. “It fits here.”
“You fit here.”
I really did.
Jake was still going to therapy, and I’d started as well. I figured it couldn’t hurt to have someone to talk to, and found I really learned from it. I even drafted an email to Colton and said all the