“Want to talk about it?” Gene asked, about to diminish what they did, even though he didn’t want to do that.
Ethan nodded.
“Someone finally found value in me enough to want to be mine,” he said softly. “I’m valuable to someone. I want to celebrate and weep at the same time.”
That wasNOTwhat Gene expected.
The words made his heart hurt that the sweetest man he’d ever met carried that burden.
As a tear slipped down Ethan’s cheek, he saw that pain and wished he could wipe it away. His man had so much on his shoulders for so long.
“You were made for me, EJ. I just had to find you. Now that I have, we’re a couple. It’s us, baby, against the world.”
Ethan met his gaze.
“I have never wanted anything more than this,” he admitted, holding his hand up. “I know I said that I wanted to run the FBI one day, and I do, but I think that this was just something I pushed aside so it didn’t hurt to know that no one would ever find value in me.”
Gene sat up.
“I will always find value in you, EJ. You’re the most precious thing in my life. There isNOTHINGof more value than you. I can’t fix what happened to you as a child, or I would, but I can show you how love feels. I can give you all of me, and show you that you were always worthy. Before you, I felt unworthy too. Now, we get to be worthy together.”
That made him so happy.
Taking the fork from Ethan’s hand, he cut off a piece of the cake, and held it up for him.
“After you get married, you share cake,” he said. “To us, and to all of the years we have to grow stronger and better,” he said, feeding it to Ethan.
Then, he handed him the fork, teaching him how to love someone.
Ethan mimicked what he did, and cut off a piece of cake with lots of frosting because he knew it was Gene’s favorite part of a cake.
“To us, and the journey,” Ethan said. “I can’t wait to see where it takes us. You’re the best thing in my life, and I am grateful I’ve been given a good man who truly loves me.”
And he did.
Gene ate the forkful of cake and watched as his man put the cake container down and cuddled into the side of Gene so he could be held.
Gene tucked him into his body and nuzzled him as his man ran his fingers over the heart he’d drawn on his cast.
“Don’t ever let me go,” he whispered. “I need you to be mine, so I can find myself.”
That made him smile.
Yeah, he didn’t need to worry about Ethan running again. He was in for the long haul.
Gene kissed him on the temple.
He’s never letting him go.
Ethan Blackhawk could bet on that.
Forever.
Chapter Nineteen
Hotel
Sunday
