Order (Tattoos and Ties 2)

His hand remained up, keeping Alec at bay. He had to skirt around the man who was determined to move step for step with him. “Goddammit, Alec, you always try to put yourself on my level and you can’t.”

“I know, that’s what I’m saying. You’re too good a man. All I have is that I love you and I’m trying and I’m sorry. I keep hurting you when all I want is to give you the world.” Alec looked so anguished that Keyes relaxed his arm, dropping his hand to his side. Weirdly, Alec didn’t move forward, the invisible barrier holding between them. “I don’t deserve a man as wonderful as you. I’m lucky.”

“What?” Keyes said as if that were the most ludicrous thing he’d ever heard. Seconds passed as they stared at one another, both hurt, anxious, and their chests heaving from the stress of the moment. Their breaths mingled in the icy air as they stared at one another. Just like Alec always did, he eased the pain of losing the club, making it secondary to this generous man looking so hurt.

“For me, nothing’s changed except I have one more thing I have to make up to you. I want us together. I want to marry you. I want a home and a family and a forever life with you. This last year has meant everything to me, and I never want to be without you—not ever. Be a mechanic, rebuild bikes, go back to school, tinker around the house. Hell, build our house. Do whatever you want, just do it with me by your side,” Alec pleaded.

Keyes bowed his head, scrubbing a hand down the length of his face. There was no denying the anger and the panic of minutes ago had vanished in a flash. Alec hit many of Keyes’s truths. He wanted the life Alec just laid out in front of him. He wanted it all with Alec.

No prison—that was a relief.

No club. Keyes narrowed his eyes, for the first time seeing the benefit of no longer having to hide Alec for fear his brothers wouldn’t understand. There was relief there too.

He did like rebuilding bikes better than changing tires.

He was unemployed, but he could get work, especially with no felony conviction on his record. He’d never been one to shy away from hard work.

“Key, please say something. You’re killing me. I’m sorry I didn’t plan…”

Keyes lifted his head, and he broke the invisible barrier that kept them apart to cover Alec’s always moving lips with his fingers.

“You gotta stop takin’ responsibility for my shit.”

Alec started shaking his head no, and Keyes added pressure to the fingers on Alec’s mouth.

“And I think you’re gonna get sick of me…”

Alec couldn’t hold his tongue and started talking around the press of his hand. “I never want to lose…”

Keyes used his forefinger and thumb to mash Alec’s lips tightly together. This loving man made everything better—he always did—and as far as Keyes hoped, he always would. Keyes stepped in, coming chest to chest with Alec, anchoring a strong arm around Alec’s back to draw him closer. He stared deeply into Alec’s sad eyes. Nothing had really changed. Someday Alec would get sick of him. Someday he would wise up and see them for what they were, but Keyes was helpless to do more than try to be a man deserving of Alec Pierce.

“I want those things too—all those same things you want.”

Alec’s eyes softened as he wrapped both arms around Keyes’s waist.

“We’ll figure it all out after I kiss you. I’m gonna remove my fingers. No talkin’.”

Alec didn’t listen, he rarely did. Seconds before his mouth touched Keyes’s lips, he whispered, “I love you.”

Nine months later

Devilman raised his head and stared Alec straight in the eyes, concern lowering his brow. “You know, more than half the people I do this to get divorced, and no matter what you put here, everybody’s gonna know you were married. Ain’t none of that fancy soap gonna’ wash this shit off.” Dev’s brow lifted smugly as he delivered the final word.

Alec instantly grinned at the warning from the man sitting across the table from him, for three reasons. One, the permanent band being inked on his ring finger was already halfway finished. Two, there was never going to be a time that he allowed Key to leave him—that decision had been made months ago. Key owned him, end of story. And the third reason…he’d caught the devilish gleam in Dev’s eyes, and it was obvious the guy was trying to get under his best friend’s skin. Dev had caught on quick that Key could be a bit defensive where Alec was concerned, so the guy pushed the boundaries whenever he got the chance.

“Shut the fuck up and finish,” Key growled, and Dev jerked from the kick Key had given his chair. Alec’s eyes met Dev’s and they both chuckled at Key’s reaction.