around him. “Yeah, let’s do that.”
“And you’ll keep your promise?” Liam lifted an eyebrow.
Amish smiled. “You can count on it.” He felt Liam tremble as they kissed. “My love,” he murmured, touching his hair. There were a few grey hairs, but it was beautiful. He was beautiful. “There is nothing more important to me than you. Do you know that?” He met his gaze.
Liam smiled and touched his cheek. “Of course, my beautiful angel.” They kissed again.
The restaurant was full, so they had to wait for a table. They sat on a bench and held hands. Liam played with his phone while Amish thought about how far they’d come together. He had no idea why he was thinking of their past. He’d fought the dark lord himself to keep this man by his side, defied the odds, fought hell itself, and here they were, still together, still in love. And every day that went by Amish was thankful for, only wanting it to last forever. But every twinge in his body, anything odd or different, teased his insecurities. His uncertainty heightened about how much longer he could be on earth living as a mortal without the sky falling on his head.
As they sat across from each other at the table, Amish watched Liam tuck into his lobster, studied his handsome face, regaled in his brilliant smile. How often he’d wished he didn’t love Liam more than anything in this universe. But that ship had sailed. He’d stolen him from the dark lord himself and had never regretted it.
“You’re not hungry?” Liam broke into his reverie.
“What?” He blinked. “Oh, yes. Sure. Good?”
“Delicious. I’m so glad you talked me into this, Amish.”
Amish was going to comment, but he suddenly couldn’t hear Liam. What was happening? There were people all around, their mouths moving, but he couldn’t hear them either. Then he saw movement in the corner of his eye. He turned his head and saw an old woman. She pointed at him, laughing. Nothing lasts forever, Amish.
“What? What are you saying?” Amish insisted.
Liam touched his hand. “Amish? Are you okay? I was saying that I really like this wine.”
“Wine? Yes. Right.” Amish looked around him. Everything seemed normal again.
“What are you looking for? The waiter?”
“No. I don’t need the waiter.” Amish said, forcing a smile.
They finished eating and took a short walk. It was a nice evening with a refreshing breeze that revived him.
“I’ve eaten way too much,” Liam announced as they approached the hotel.
“You’re on vacation,” Amish told him, looking up at the night sky. He couldn’t see any stars. “Let’s go back to the hotel.”
Liam pressed his lips to Amish’s cheek. “You’ve got a promise to keep, handsome.”
Amish pulled him closer. “I’ve thought of nothing else.”
Liam announced he was getting into the hot tub as Amish went into the bathroom. He looked in the mirror with an impending sense of something dark heading his way. He lowered his head, pain shooting down his back, across his shoulders. Nothing lasts forever, Amish. He winced, glanced back into the mirror. Whispered voices, pain, and shadows. “No,” he growled. “No.”
“Amish?” Liam was calling him. “I’m waiting, hard and horny.”
Come back. Come home. We’re waiting. The wait is over. Our Lord.
Amish swallowed the pain. He pushed the voices away. He pasted a smile on his face and walked out into the room. “Hello, baby.”
“Take off your clothes,” Liam said softly from the hot tub. “Remember, you are my slave. Slowly.”
Amish grinned. “We need striptease music.”
“No, I hear music every time I look at you.” Liam blew him a kiss. “Go on, beautiful.”
I don’t want to lose this. Please. I beg you. I can’t lose him. Despite his inner voice Amish kept the misery from his face. He took his time taking off the dark blue shirt he wore. As he did, he found moving his shoulders painful. He grunted. Keep it together. Don’t let him see. He rolled down the zipper on his pants as seductively as he could manage, letting them fall around his ankles as he lowered his underwear.
Liam moved over closer to him in the hot tub. “You’re beautiful. I want you so much. Amish.”
Amish reached out and pulled Liam’s naked body into his arms. He ignored the pain, running his hands over the wet flesh as his mouth claimed Liam’s. He pulled him closer, holding him tighter and tighter. I will never let you go. My love. Don’t let go.
“Amish, Amish? Are you all right? I can’t breathe.” Liam grunted.
Amish