His body was sore, but he savored the aches and pains from two days of making up for lost time. They’d made love countless times; each time more special than the last. Harmon’s promise of having him on his dick a lot hadn’t turned into a joke, but he’d felt Harmon come around his cock too. He chuckled to himself as he attempted to work but kept getting distracted.

He’d made up for a lifetime of no sex in mere days. In no way was he complaining. Harmon needed him. Harmon loved him. He knew it despite the fact the man hadn’t said it yet. He knew Harmon would say the words when he was ready. Life made Harmon cautious, and he understood and accepted it.

It was a rare moment where he had time to himself to think. Harmon had taken off to get a haircut at Hawthorne and Cress Barbers. Going there was an experience, and as much as he’d wanted to go with Harmon, he wasn’t in the mood for the Barbers’ crazy antics. They’d become the number one show around Powers since they’d bought the place from the original owner.

He swore those two men would get arrested for one of their escalating brawls one of these days. Harmon liked the chaos, and he let him have that.

His man was back to normal, well, normal-ish. He still noticed the shadows in Harmon’s eyes when the man awakened and needed a few minutes to remember he was home. It wasn’t an overnight fix. With everything Harmon had gone through, he’d already made an appointment with Dr. Dahl, the town shrink. Harmon wasn’t looking forward to it, but they’d talked and agreed he needed a professional to talk everything through.

Harmon had more to deal with than what happened with Carrington. He knew Harmon was terrified the doctor would find something wrong with him. Harmon complained about what if his brain was broken and he wasn’t right.

Harmon was so worried that he would leave. He snorted at the thought. Yes, Harmon tended to be annoying and had a prankster streak a mile wide, but he was harmless. He hadn’t thought so when he’d awakened the day before with pink hair and hadn’t known it was temporary. Harmon just grinned as he’d jumped around. He wasn’t the pink hair type.

He checked the time on his laptop and then closed it deciding on a nap. Weeks’ worth of sleep lost, and he was feeling it.

He made his way upstairs and crawled into the messy bed—it smelled like them and sex. He really needed to change the sheets, and he’d do that, later. He reached over the side of the bed and grabbed the blanket, dragging it over him as he pushed his face into Harmon’s pillow.

Just the scent of his man relaxed him. The sound of Harmon’s gruff voice. His warmth when they cuddled on the couch or in bed. He’d never realized how much the tiny things would be so calming. He yawned as he wiggled deeper into the bed and let sleep take him.

The next thing he remembered was the scruff on Harmon’s chin, the warmed metal of his man’s lip ring, and he arched into the pleasure of it. He tried to move his arms and realized he was trapped. His eyes flew open, and he stared into mischievous jade eyes.

“What are you doing?” he asked as calmly as he could because he didn’t want to be a victim of a Harmon Little special prank. “Why am I tied up?”

“Because you distract me.”

Harmon sounded so tranquil as the big man straddled his hips. The man was fully dressed and still wearing his boots. His hair was shaved around the sides and back, longer on top and slightly sticking up. The beard and mustache were gone except for a patch of scruff on his chin and his permanent five o’clock shadow. Harmon looked like his man again. Although he would miss the roughness of Harmon’s beard that had left red marks all over his chest and neck, his thighs.

“Harmon, this isn’t funny.”

“It’s not meant to be, and you’ll only get out of the cuffs after we have a talk.”

“Okay.”

“I realized something while I had my free time today.”

He didn’t answer just waited for Harmon to continue. His man seemed to be trying to concentrate on what he wanted to say.

“Today is the five-month anniversary since I kidnapped you. The best and craziest decision I ever made. I think I loved you the moment I looked into your eyes and straightened your cute glasses.”

The only word he had focused on was loved. He wasn’t going to ruin the moment by demanding to hear him say it for real. To tell him, I love you.

“You looked so shocked, and all I could think was I needed you. Didn’t want to leave and not see you again. I know I’m not right and you’ll probably get tired of me sooner or later. No, don’t deny it, but I ain’t letting you go.”

“I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”

Harmon answered like he hadn’t said a word. “So, I made a decision, you’re marrying me, and you’re not getting out of the cuffs until you say you will. Lily will do it like she did with everyone else.”

His eyes widened until he felt a twinge and stared up at Harmon. Marriage to Harmon, okay, he’d never thought about marriage to anyone. It didn’t seem to be in the cards for him, but he wouldn’t say the idea didn’t cause him joy.

“And why should I marry you?”

Harmon snorted. “Well, you love me, and I love you, Poe. I’m not much of a prize, and you probably got a shitty deal with me, but I’m selfish. Lily and I talked today.”

He groaned. Those two talking was never good.

“I’m too old to be adopted, but Little doesn’t mean all that much. Lily and Damon want me to be a Trenton, so, you’d have to be Solomon Trenton. It’s just the way it’s gonna be.”

Harmon crossed his arms and pouted, but he couldn’t help but be amused by the fact the huge man was acting like a two-year-old.

Lily and Damon wanted Harmon to be a part of the family.

“How do you feel about being a Trenton?”

“It’s nothing but a name—”

“Harmon, how do you feel about it?”

“They want me, Poe. Me, all fucked-up and everything, they want—” Harmon’s voice broke.

He tugged at the cuffs, but it was a no go. “Come down here.”

Harmon lowered himself until their mouths almost touched.

“No matter if your last name is Little or Trenton, you were always theirs. And I would be honored to be Solomon Trenton and belong to your crazy as fuck family.”

Harmon’s lips slamming down on his took him by surprise, and Harmon’s hot breath fanned across his cheek from where Harmon’s breath moved heavily in and out through his nose.

“We haven’t fucked with one of us in handcuffs yet.” Harmon smiled against his mouth.

“That is true…I’m always up for a new experience.”

He didn’t recognize his voice as he spoke, his shirt split down the middle as he felt the cool, blunt side of a blade stroke up his stomach and chest. His pants were the next to go. Harmon eased off the bed and stripped, and then his man was flush against his side. His man’s rough hands were so gentle as they caressed every inch of him.

“I love you, Poe.” Harmon shyly whispered the words and looked up at him from under his lashes.

Only time would rid Harmon of his insecurity. Time and love, and he had plenty of both to give Harmon.

“I love you too, Harmon.”

“I’m so glad I kidnapped you.”

His laugh ended on a moan as his man started to love on him. No rush or race to the finish. Even when it was out of control—visceral—they still savored every touch and sensation. The perfection was in the minute details. The barest of touches. He knew his man could be content with nothing more than kissing. And it would always be about what made his man satisfied. They were more than some one-night stand or fleeting moments of afterglow.

It was caring, anyone could whisper empty words of love, but to care and cherish, that’s when it was true. Actions spoke so much louder than words ever could.