“To beginnings.”

Leo clinked his glass against Dustin’s. Since they’d been seated, Leo had been unable to take his eyes off him. As Dustin smiled at him, in his face, Leo saw all that he needed.

“What?” Dustin smiled self-consciously.

“Nothing. Except your toast was perfect, and I love you,” Leo said with a smile. “And now you’re blushing. I was trying to spare you the blush.”

Dustin swatted a hand in his direction, laughing. “You’re a jerk sometimes.”

“Especially before I eat. Sorry I’m so hangry. Or, you might say, hornery…”

“So wha—oh. Leo, you can’t just say that,” Dustin hissed. Even the tips of his ears were red now.

Leo smiled innocently at Dustin before reaching across the table to take his hand. “Oh, fine. I’ll be good.”

It was nice to do this in public, unafraid of who might be watching. As far as Leo was concerned, anyone who mattered didn’t mind and anyone who minded didn’t matter. Dustin seemed skittish at times, but he was coming around to the contact and growing bolder, even in these last few weeks. Leo loved seeing the changes. How much more would Dustin grow while they were together?

“I’m just glad we got to the bottom of that mystery. It’s not work talk,” Dustin quickly added, grinning at Leo. “Just a general… comment.”

Leo gave him a suspicious glance. “Sounds dangerously work-like to me.”

“Fine, fine,” Dustin grinned. “Pick another subject.”

“Am I allowed to say your eyes? I love your eyes. Oooh. The blush is back.”

Dustin pulled back from Leo with a laugh and nodded to the side. The waiter was on the way with what looked like their meals. “I have no idea how I’ll put up with you.”

“None at all?” Leo grinned. He leaned in to murmur, “There are perks.”

Dustin made a startled sound but didn’t have time to comment before they had to play out the social niceties with the waiter.

When they were alone, Dustin muttered, “Gonna kill you.”

“Did that get you feeling a bit too hot to be out in public?” Leo teased. “My apologies. Someone else is hornery, too.”

Dustin finally gave in and grinned. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, you know.”

“Something terribly bad, or terribly good?” Leo laughed.

“So good I must have had wings,” Dustin said, his voice clear and sincere as he gazed at Leo with a shake of his head.

It was Leo’s turn to blush, and as Dustin giggled, he rolled his eyes. “I guess I earned that one.”

“Yeah. You did. Come on, let’s eat up so we can get home.”

Leo grinned. “Well, now you’re not afraid to ruin the fairytale, are you?”

As Dustin started eating, he glanced over his glass once more at Leo. “I finally realized it wasn’t going away.”

“That’s right, baby.” Leo watched him with a broad smile.

The way Dustin sparkled under his attention was captivating. He even chattered when Leo let him, carried away by moments of excitement he rarely let shine through at work or out with groups. This was another side of Dustin he only saw one-on-one, and Leo wanted to cover it in bubble wrap.

But Dustin was resilient, too—strong enough to make it through the worst kind of betrayal and still look radiantly beautiful over supper that night. Fuck the military macho bullshit—Leo hoped he could be half the man Dustin was, alone in his lab studying computer images late at night.

“What?” Dustin prompted again.

“Sorry,” Leo grinned, realizing he hadn’t even started eating. “Got carried away with my fairytale, too.”

Dustin nudged his foot. “Glad you stalked me?”

“I what? I did not!” Leo protested around a bite of food.

“You sure did. That first gift card? Note under the door? Unsigned note?” Dustin teased. “That’s pretty stalkery.”

Leo groaned as the memory hit him, and Dustin laughed again. “Okay,” Leo conceded. “A little. But gimme a break. I’d never dated anyone. How was I supposed to know?”

Dustin set down his utensils for a sip of wine, watching Leo sharply. “Never?”

Leo’s cheeks flushed. Somehow, it seemed like less of a big deal now, after all they’d been through. He shook his head. “I’ve gone on dates, sure. Looked at attractive people. But… an actual relationship? You were my first, baby.”

“You didn’t say.” Dustin was smiling warmly.

“No.” Leo cleared his throat and dabbed his mouth, avoiding his gaze for a moment. “Uh, I was… worried what you’d think… worried I didn’t know what I was doing… worried about all of it.”

“You’re a natural, then,” Dustin told him. “I’ll give you all the practice you need.”

Leo grinned. “In every way, I’m sure. I know it’ll be a sacrifice, but you’ll just have to manage.”

“My pleasure,” Dustin winked and sipped his wine, giving Leo a sultry look.

Leo couldn’t resist murmuring, “There’ll be lots of that.” The look on Dustin’s face as he tried not to cough with a mouthful of wine was so worth it.

Everything else might be uncertain, even scary, but that was life. It was worth it to have a man across the table from him, glowing like the sun with love and affection and curiosity about him. Leo closed his eyes for a moment to bask in the feeling.

Dustin was the focal point of his life. Now that Leo had found him, everything else was slowly coming into the sharpest focus he’d ever known.