“We’ll talk about that too. Come on,” Alec said, stopping at the edge of the sofa, wanting Key to come with him.
“Why do we have to talk so much? Just agree,” Key said, finally making it to his feet, before slowly heading his way. “And why can’t we rest here for a few minutes?”
Thunder clapped, rattling the windows near them. Evidently the weatherman had been right this time as the forecasted storm rolled in, making the lights flicker.
“Stop whining and come on before we lose power.” Alec left Key to trail behind him, letting a smile touch his face. He was happy. Seriously, very happy.
Three months later
Alec stood in front of the bathroom mirror, knotting his silk tie while listening to Alexa play Key’s preferred morning playlist. This song was by Five Finger Death Punch, a favorite of Key’s which somehow made it a favorite of Alec’s, the only reason it still continued to play even though Key had left well over an hour ago. Alec cast an appreciative glance at the second sink in his bathroom. The one that been unused for all the months he’d lived there alone. That was no longer the case. It was Key’s sink now, his few toiletries left out for easy reach and his toothbrush securely in the holder right next to Alec’s.
No, Key hadn’t “officially” moved in. He still considered himself a guest in Alec’s home, and much to his heart’s dismay, his mister still hadn’t said those three little words, but Alec had easily justified the lapse by remembering words weren’t Key’s strong suit. Key’s actions spoke louder. What Key excelled at was showing him every single day how loved he truly was. No one had ever made him feel more valued or secure. Key slept over most nights. Only when club business called was the man absent from his dinner table or his bed. Alec had grown more resentful of the club now that he realized how much it controlled their lives.
On that note, he steeled his spine and grabbed his suit jacket before heading toward his home office. He might resent the club, but he was filled with contempt when it came to his own pretentious family. Key had shown him his value, made Alec believe he was worthy of someone’s time and attention…
Stop, justifying, Pierce. You know what needs to be done.
Key could continue the life he had, do whatever he felt obligated to do, but no more of that for Alec. He was done with his old life. Alec had purpose now and an overwhelming need to care for Key which ultimately gave him the strength to act. Starting today, he planned to live as genuinely as possible.
“Good morning, Mr. Alec.”
Shit! Alec jumped. He’d been so caught up in his self-motivational pep talk he hadn’t heard Olivia, his housekeeper, enter the house. With a hand over his pounding heart, he took a calming breath and grinned at her. “You scared me. I didn’t hear you come in. Good morning.” Then he turned to his Echo. “Alexa, stop the music.”
“I found these on the kitchen counter.” She extended her hand, giving him a pocket tire pressure tool and Key’s frayed hair tie. He took both, smiling as he imagined the fit his big, sexy biker might throw when he realized he didn’t have the hair tie on his wrist.
“Thank you.” Alec started down the hall toward his home office when he pivoted around, remembering Key’s suggestions last night for his flower beds. “Also, will you speak to your husband about adding more mums to the front and back yards. The colorful variegated ones, orange to yellow, and maybe some red or plum colors too.” His household team consisted of Olivia who took care of the interior, her husband who acted as the gardener and mechanic for his two vintage automobiles, and her sister, Gabrielle, who ran his errands, stocked the refrigerator, and handled many of the odds and ends of his day to day life. “Also, I’d like to add some cactus plants. Maybe the ones without the thorns?”
She nodded. “Variegated mums and cactus, no thorns.”
“Thank you,” he said, turning back toward his office.
Key had confessed that fall was his favorite time of the year. Apparently, he loved mums and cactus plants. Who knew? Key’s birthday fell on Halloween—information that had taken quite a bit of prodding to acquire. But Alec couldn’t be happier. Halloween happened to be Alec’s favorite holiday. They still had a few weeks to go, and if Alec played his cards right, they might actually have their first official date, almost nine months from the first day they met. He shook his head, biting back a grin at the thought. Their first date. Regardless, he envisioned dressing up from head to toe and going out as long as he could find suitable costumes this late in the game. Janice had invited them to a masquerade party at a bar she and her fiancé regularly frequented, and honestly, if he could find something to conceal their identities, there shouldn’t be any problem with them attending. With the way things were going, maybe next Halloween could be their second official date.