No. That release belonged to Kellam.
He and Kell had only gotten closer over the last three weeks. They were almost done with the observing portion of their training and both had been excited when Duke told them they’d start joining them in the field next week. Work was fulfilling and the gratification of learning from such a talented group of men was more than he’d imagined. He was learning so much from Dana and his unrivaled marksman skills. Duke and Quick were an inspiration to him. They were more like brothers than best friends, their lives almost completely intertwined. Ty couldn’t keep up with Ford on that computer, but he was learning daily. Then there was Brian. When they had downtime, he found himself gravitating toward him. To how he talked. To how he would quote things his father used to say, how he would sneak a lesson in, no matter what they were doing. Ty was learning the true meaning of brotherhood. Like his father wanted him to.
Then finally, when the day was over, it was his and Kell’s time. Each evening after work they’d had dinner together and talked for long hours about their childhood and different upbringings. About Kell’s bullying and how it had led him to learn self-defense, and Ty’s own run-ins at prep school. Then they talked forever about their future aspirations. Sometimes, they went to the dojo and practiced their skills, sometimes they just walked around Peoplestown before Ty saw Kell to his front door every night. At first, Kell thought it was funny that Ty made sure he—a martial arts master—got home safely, but later he began to see the change in Kell’s eyes whenever he unlocked his door and kissed his forehead.
Kell hadn’t been to his hotel room and he’d yet to set foot inside Kell’s home. He also hadn’t been invited in… yet. He thought that had more to do with what could possibly happen if they were alone for too long with a comfortable, flat surface. Understandable. Because he was still solid in his shorts at the thought of what they were doing together in his dream, and he’d be lying if he wasn’t constantly thinking about it when they were together. He’d started watching some videos when he got back to his room at night. Videos that had him rising in his briefs and shifting his legs restlessly under the covers. Not because the men in the videos turned him on, because they didn’t, only Kell did that, but because he was imagining him doing those specific things with Kell.
Ty wanted to do a lot more than just sex him. He wanted to love him. Wanted to hold his cheek in his hand and kiss his soft-looking lips, wanted to bury his nose in his thick hair and lose himself for hours. He hadn’t done any of those things yet. But, that was all about to change. He believed he’d shown Kell that he was true, and his intentions were honorable.
They’d had another busy weekend, and it didn’t appear as if Duke was lightening up on the case load for this week either. Ty wouldn’t wait any longer.
The sun was just breaking through the dawn. He took his time grooming himself, wanting to look his absolute best. He used his hair trimmers to freshen the line on his fade and touch up his face. He went back into his room where he’d laid out his clothes for the day. He’d opted for dark blue jeans, and a gray, untucked spread-collar shirt. After he laced up his black Polo boots, his nerves finally started to kick in at what he’d planned to do today.
Hopefully this would be the day his life changed forever.
Ty went to the hotel safe and punched in the combination. His hand trembled slightly when he reached inside and removed the rectangular black velvet box. He closed the safe then took the box over to the bed and sat down. He tilted his head upward. He wanted so desperately to feel that his father was watching him with pride. All the lessons he’d had on finding his soul mate had flooded to the front of his mind the moment he laid eyes on Kell. Because he’d never thought his queen would actually be a knight, he’d had to do some serious courting to be sure. He was sure. Every minute he spent with Kell only made him greedier for more. Ty closed his eyes.
“I’m doing the right thing, Father. He’s the one. I know it. He already loves me. I’d be a fool to wait. Like you’ve always said. Receive and embrace love without hesitation.”
Ty opened the slender box and fingered the cool metal. Smiling at the special memory, he remembered when it was first presented to him on his birthday. One of several precious heirlooms left to him by his father to gift to his soulmate. When Ty had gone to the bank and retrieved it from his safety deposit box this week, he’d removed the other jewels as well. He’d make sure they were all perfect; already envisioning a badass diamond and black opal ring. Ty closed the box. This was it. The start of his life with Kell… if he said yes.