“I did it,” Ryland shouted as he stared at the last of his grades for the semester.  It hadn’t been easy, but he’d not only passed all his classes, but he’d done it with a 4.0 grade point.

Strong arms lifted him off the ground and the next thing Ryland knew, lips came down on his and he was spinning around and around.  When Draco finally broke the kiss, Ryland was breathless and more than just a little bit horny.

“I knew you could do it.”  His mate had encouraged him from the moment Ryland mentioned going back to school.  Even when Ryland had been terrified of actually having to do homework and studying, when he hadn’t done either in nearly a decade, Draco had believed in him.

It had meant everything to Ryland to have Draco by his side.  “I love you,” he said as he kissed Draco again.

“When you asked us over for dinner, I wasn’t aware there was going to be a show.”

Ryland groaned in dismay as he broke the kiss.  “You invited Chadwick and Saber for dinner?” He probably didn’t have to whine, but Ryland had been hoping for a little one on one time with Draco.

“I thought you’d want to celebrate.” Draco grimaced as he must have realized what a mistake that had been.  “I can tell them to leave if you want.”

Ryland did, but there was no point since they were already there.  “No. That was actually sweet.”

Draco sighed in relief.  “Good, because I also invited a few others.” 

The roar of motorcycles heading their way said it was more than a few.  It may not have been what he’d wanted, but the thought of getting to relax with their friends, which he hadn’t been able to do in weeks as he’d prepared for his exams, sounded good.  Of course, so did a night alone with his mate, but Ryland could have that after everyone left.

“Thank you,” he said and kissed his mate once more.  “So, what are we having for dinner?” he asked.

Jari walked in with Lucca by his side and several bags in their arms.  “Steaks,” Jari said as he held up one of the bags.  They were followed by Edrick and Nole, who brought bags of their own.  Krill and Harper came in next, carrying bakery boxes.  Soon they were followed by at least twenty others, including his sister, who had found her own mate, although they were taking things slowly as she was still working at dealing with what happened with Refugio.

Ryland couldn’t help but get excited.  “You planned a party?” he asked Draco in awe. No one had ever given him a party.  Not even when he was a kid for his birthday, although that had a lot to do with the fact that his parents worked their asses off trying to make enough to keep a roof over their heads.  There was never extra money to have a bunch of kids over for a birthday.

Draco gave a shrug.  “I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you.”

His mate was so damn sweet.  “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I thank God every day for making it happen.”

Draco pulled him close and kissed him breathless.  “Me too, gràdh.  Me too.”  Ryland wasn’t surprised that their friends had gone out to the porch to give them some privacy.  Well, that wasn’t exactly true.  He’d kind of expected a snarky comment from Chadwick, but obviously Saber had cut him off before he could.

If anyone had told him just six months ago that he’d no longer be a slave, would find his mate, and finished his first semester of college, Ryland would have assumed they were on something.  They were still on the lookout for Severus but so far, there had been no sign of him.

But even with that possible threat hanging over them, Ryland couldn’t be happier.

“Come on, gràdh, let’s go out on the porch and join our friends.” Draco wrapped an arm around his waist and led him to the sliding glass door.  “Since we aren’t going to have the entire night to ourselves, we could spend tomorrow in bed,” Draco whispered in his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

“You do know we’re all shifters and can hear you through the glass,” Chadwick yelled.

Several of their friends groaned at Chadwick while Saber chuckled.  “You didn’t need to point that out, Kitten,” Saber teased.

“I don’t see why not,” Chadwick said.  “It’s true.”

Ryland grinned.  “Because anyone with manners would have kept quiet,” he told Chadwick as he opened the sliding door.

Chadwick shook his head.  “Manners are nothing more than society’s way of forcing us to lie.  I prefer just telling it like it is.”

“You sure you don’t want me to kick them out?” Draco teased.

But Ryland shook his head.  “Nope. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”  And he meant it.  He leaned into his mate’s body, luxuriating in his strength.  From the first moment he’d met Draco, Ryland’s entire world had changed just like magic.

It was a heady feeling to know for a fact that dreams really do come true, even ones he never knew he wanted.