Page 51 of Tides of Love

“Alright, alright, show me this sign before I forget why we’re here.” Lucky smiled, pulling back a little.

He felt Antonio sigh, squeezing his bare shoulder before releasing him. Antonio stepped up to the covered sign. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” Lucky didn’t know what was such a big deal. His father and partner spent weeks whispering about it without letting him join the discussion. Anticipation bubbled in his gut.

Wrapping both hands in the tarp, Antonio ripped it off to reveal a wooden board driven deep into the earth. Two beautiful turtles were carved into the front on either side of elegantly scrawled text that read: Welcome to the Maria Victoria and Lucky Wilde Turtle Preserve.

“You…” Lucky shook his head, pressing a hand to his mouth as tears burned in his eyes.

“Teague said I could name the preserve since it was technically my donation. I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute.” He could hear the nerves in Antonio’s voice. Somehow, this incredible man thought Lucky wouldn’t approve.

Lucky choked on a sob.

Everything his mother dreamed of, everything he worked towards... Antonio had given him the strength to keep fighting even when it seemed impossible, had been the deciding factor in their overwhelming victory, and now turned it into a touching tribute to his mother…

He threw himself into Antonio’s arms. His hat fell off, fluttering to the ground in a forgotten heap as he kissed Antonio deeply.

“I love you.” He breathed the words against the alpha’s lips.

Antonio answered by cupping the back of his head and deepening the kiss. They moved fast at the beginning, like a crashing wave. With every day that passed, they became more like the tide. Ebbing and flowing together, fast or slow but always unstoppable. Sometimes they pulled apart, low tide dragging out as they met their responsibilities without question. Other times they were hightide, sweeping up the beach as they fell into each other’s arms and tangled in bed at the end of a long day.

When they broke apart, foreheads pressed together, Lucky rubbed his thumb along Antonio’s cheek and decided anywhere could be home. All he needed was this man.

“Come on, let me show you the nests.” He tucked himself under Antonio’s arm, curling his fingers in the back of that iconic SAR t-shirt.

Antonio’s smile was infinitely fond as he grabbed Lucky’s hat, placing it on the omega’s head as he guided him back down the beach. The sun was warm overhead as the sparkling water washed over their feet. Antonio asked leading questions about the turtle nests and listened with a fond smile as Lucky answered with endless rambling. Just like that first date, only this time there was nothing to interrupt their time.

Lucky was right, sunny days and bright blue oceans were the building blocks of life. Especially if you shared them with someone special. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The End