Page 83 of Love Language

He was looking forward to figuring out how Keepers took care of their promisers. Maybe starting with a bath together… but not yet.

Eventually, Greg stirred, pulling just far enough away to sign.

Do you love me?

Shit.

Yes! Yes. I love you. He scrabbled for the words, fists almost hitting each other as he crossed them on his chest. I’m sorry I didn’t say it before.

He felt really stupid now. Hopefully Greg would forgive him. I wanted that to be romantic, but I totally screwed it up.

Greg just gave him a sleepy smile. That’s OK. I already knew.

Well, that was kind of romantic, too.

Chapter 16 Greg

April

When Valentine’s Day came and Greg asked Marco if it was their anniversary, he’d looked horrified and signed, God, no. I hate Valentine’s Day. Even if it was, I think we’d have to make up another date.

He’d looked a little embarrassed after he said it, but Greg thought it was hilarious. He’d always taken the romance of Valentine’s Day for granted, but when Marco explained it, he could see how it seemed commercialized and artificial.

So, they’d had a regular evening at home, Marco playing with his hair while they watched a movie and feeding him little bites of lemon cookie. It wasn’t what he’d been expecting. But it was Marco. And it was perfect.

That didn’t mean that he hadn’t checked his text history the next day, though, to figure out when their real anniversary was. April fourteenth. The night he’d reluctantly let Marco take him out to dinner and started the course of his new life.

He hadn’t said anything, though. With the way that Marco disliked Valentine’s Day, it was possible that he felt the same way about anniversaries. So, Greg let it go.

But when he went to sleep on April thirteenth, with Marco holding him in their bed and pressing kisses to the back of his neck, he thought “tomorrow it will be a year together.”

And when Marco woke him up a little early to wash him gently in the shower and make sure that his hole was extra clean, and then sent him off to work hard and needy, the thought, “this is our day. The day that my life started again.”

And when he texted Marco to tell him how hard it was for him to concentrate at work and Marco made him go into the bathroom to take a picture, and then he really couldn’t concentrate, he thought, “God, I’m glad I texted him last year.”

And when his boss asked him why he was smiling and when he got to tell her it was their anniversary, he knew he was grinning like a fool.

And when they got home, and he’d wanted to kneel, but instead Marco led him to the table where he’d made lemon chicken, and it wasn’t the most special meal because Marco spoiled him all the time, but it was special because Marco had made it and it was in the home that they shared together, he figured it was still an amazing anniversary. Not once, but twice in his life, he’d been blessed with a perfect match.

Then, just as he was finishing his last bites, Marco asked if he thought about going back to the club.

Greg hadn’t thought about it, honestly. Maybe once or twice in passing, but not as a real consideration. He wasn’t sure if he knew anyone there anymore, and he had everything that he wanted at home.

But when Marco mentioned it, he couldn’t help the pulse of excitement that raced through him. It was an easy decision. Yes. I’d like to go back sometime, if you want to.

Marco looked troubled, though. I know that you’ll have… a lot of memories of him while you’re there.

A year ago, the thought would have left him in a shrinking circle of despair. Six months ago, it would have made him nauseous with guilt, conflicted and anxious. Now, well, he just didn’t mind. He still missed Richard sometimes, but... We’ll make new memories.

Marco’s smile was breathtaking. Would you like to go tonight?

That, he hadn’t been expecting. You’d need to be a member. And I’m not even sure if I still am. Like, the payments were automatic, but I haven’t checked.

Marco narrowed his eyes, a rebuke for doubting him.

You already joined, didn’t you. It wasn’t really a question. That he’d also checked on Greg’s membership was a foregone conclusion.

Of course. Now, would you like to go tonight?