I lean down and meld our mouths together and swallow down the cry that falls from their mouth while they come for the third time. The cry rattles inside of me, igniting a thousand nerve endings from my heart all the way to my soul and then flaring through my dick. There’s a final cant of thrusts and jerks before I finally allow my body to seek the release I’d been holding at bay for so long.
My body shatters into mere atoms for I don’t even know how long, while their ass continues to hug my cock and their back heaves against me while they catch their breath.
Once their breathing calms down a bit, Qiang nestles down contentedly in my arms. It comes as no surprise that between the long day and the lovemaking, they’re exhausted.
I lean in to kiss them briefly when their hand flies back to my thigh, holding me against them.
“Don’t pull out yet. Wait until I’m asleep, please,” they murmur, already more than halfway there, and my heartbeat does this weird little cartwheel thing that’s so light and achy at the same time.
“As you wish, my love,” I murmur in their ear and relax against them, allowing my reality to shape itself around the feel of their body against mine as their breath slowly evens out.
This right here is the meaning of life. No matter where it goes, it’ll always settle around Qiang’s steady breaths against me.
EPILOGUE
Qiang’s POV
3 Years later
Qi’s arms are tight around me and pulling me so hard against him that my face is crushed against his chest. When he finally lets me go, there’ll be a makeup imprint on his shirt.
“You’re not allowed to forget me,” he murmurs, very tearfully and very irrationally, against me, with a sniffle.
“You are being absolutely ridiculous. With Marcus’s schedule, I’m gonna be back up here for visits so often that you’ll get sick of me,” I remind him drolly.
“Promise?” he asks for the thousandth time.
“Of course, Qi. You’re still my favorite person,” I remind him.
“If that were true, then you wouldn’t be leaving me for that sibling-stealer,” Qi laments dramatically, and I can’t help the snort of amusement that escapes me.
Qi absolutely adores Marcus; he’s just not happy that we’re moving. It’s still something I’m getting used to as well. I mean, Marcus and I had talked about thisoftenand had detailed all the different outcomes that could result from him declaring for the draft after his fourth college season ended.
He’d trained endlessly, constantly, from the moment he’d declared until the draft in April. It became so integral in our lives that it was surreal when it finally came to the draft announcements.
Marcus had been invited to the draft green room but declined, opting to stay home with our families, all gathered here with him.
Evidently, getting that invite spoke volumes about Marcus’s expected prospects of getting picked, but it wasn’t really until the camera crew showed up at the house that everything started to hit. And then Marcus got the call just moments before they announced his name on TV.
I almost missed the TV announcement, though, because as soon as we’d heard he’d been drafted through his speakerphone, I was immediately crushed between Marcus’s arms around me and Darryl crashing on the other side of me to get to Marcus. Several cries of Marcus getting to live the dream for both of them spilled from Darryl’s mouth while I struggled to breathe between them.
Despite how buried I was between them, I still didn’t miss the pain that flashed through Fei’s eyes at Darryl’s reaction. There’s never going to be a time when he’ll stop blaming himself for Darryl’s career-ending injury. Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I don’t know if I’d ever be able to let go of that kind of blame either.
There were so many tears shed and congratulations from everyone in the house, including all of our parents who were there, well, except for Fei’s and Darryl’s. Marcus found the South Carolina hat and threw it on for the cameras before pulling me in for a soul-altering kiss.
The following morning, an over-the-top bouquet showed up at the house from Kingston Adair, of all people, with a congratulatory card that sounded more sincere than I would have imagined after their rather hostile clashes over football years ago.
Marcus,
After years of heavy reflection and consideration,
I realize no one deserves this more than you.
From the bottom of my heart,
I wish you congratulations.
Thank you for everything you've done for me,
