Right Move (Clean Slate Ranch #6) - A.M. Arthur Page 0,118
actually was one gift Levi hasn’t gotten yet,” George said, a funny hitch in his voice. “I wanted to give it to him with our family around to see.”
Curious, Levi angled to face George more fully. George put his left hand in his pocket but didn’t bring out anything yet. Whatever the gift was, it was small.
“This is going to stay PG rated, right?” Levi asked.
“Yes, it is,” George replied. He clasped Levi’s hand with his free one and squeezed. “The first time we met up at the ghost town, I knew there was something special about you, Levi, but I had no idea exactly how special you were. That you’d be my mythical knight in shining armor, saving me from my isolated life high up in a tower that I couldn’t escape from alone. You give me so many things I never knew I needed and other things I never thought I deserved. You give me peace and joy and courage. And we’re about to start a brand-new life together. Before we do, I wanted to...well...” George pulled his left hand from his pocket and held it out. On his palm were two gold bands. “I want to put a ring on it.”
Levi’s lips parted, stunned by the gesture and that George had been the one to do it first. To take another huge leap forward into his new life.
“Holy shit,” Orry squeaked. “Did you just propose?”
“Not yet,” George replied, his clear blue eyes never leaving Levi’s. “Marry me, Levi?”
“Yes.” Levi closed his free hand around the rings and held tight, his eyes burning with joyful tears. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
The call erupted with cheers and shouts, and Levi ignored it all in favor of kissing George. A long, promising kiss that only ended long enough for them to each put a ring on the other, and then they were back in each other’s arms. The laptop eventually went silent as everyone else dropped out, because Levi couldn’t stop kissing his fiancé.
Until Sporty crash landed on his lap, claws up, and he broke free with a yelp. Her job done, Sporty jumped onto the back of the couch and settled by George’s head. “You sure you’re ready for this?” Levi asked. “Three step-cats is a lot of work.”
George stroked Baby, who’d resettled on the cushion beside him. “They’re worth it. You’re worth it. Some days my life still doesn’t feel real. I think I’ll wake up in my old bed, alone with no one but my brother to defend me. Never satisfied with how my body looked. A year ago, I never would have, in my wildest fantasies, thought I’d be here. In another state, far from Orry, newly engaged, happy with who I am, and so in love my heart wants to burst.”
“I never expected to be here, either. You helped me open up and trust again, and I will always treasure that. As I’ll treasure you for the rest of our lives, George Thompson.”
“I’ll treasure you, too, Levi Peletier.”
They sealed those perfect words with another long, sensual kiss that eventually led them upstairs to the bedroom. As they moved together with all the time in the world to reach climax and no rush to get there, Levi sent silent thanks after thanks to the universe for leading him here, to this exact moment. To George.
To a future he couldn’t wait to see and experience with his husband by his side.
* * *
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Huge thanks, as always, to my amazing editor Alissa. We’ve been on quite the journey these last few years, and I am forever grateful for your guidance and friendship. To the Clean Slate Ranch fans who have followed me along on this crazy journey, thank you guys too. This found family means the world to me, as does your loyalty and support. If only CSR was a real place, I’d take you all on vacation. —A.M.
About the Author
A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone’s throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland. She’s been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down