Gage cracked an eye open as the morning sun streaked across his face. He wasn’t ready to get out of bed yet. He’d just had the most amazing dream.

Closing his eyes again, he rolled over onto his side, bumping up against Newton’s warm, naked body.

He smiled as Newton murmured something he couldn’t understand and nuzzled closer. It hadn’t been a dream after all. Gage was really here in Newton’s apartment, in Newton’s bed, their naked bodies entwined and tangled in the sheets.

It still felt like he could be dreaming, though. It felt like paradise.

Real life wasn’t supposed to be this good, but Gage’s life had been pretty damn amazing since he’d met Newton, and it only seemed to be getting better.

“Are you awake?” Newton’s sleepy voice drifted in through Gage’s thoughts.

“I’m not sure,” Gage answered, truthfully. “It still feels like this could all be a really good dream.”

“And what about this?” Newton asked, reaching down and wrapping his hand around Gage’s already rock-hard erection.

“Now I’m definitely dreaming,” Gage laughed, finally opening his eyes to see Newton smiling back at him. “Jesus, I wish I could wake up like this every morning. I’d probably never make it out of bed.”

Gage wasn’t sure if he was supposed to say those kinds of things after just two dates, but it was the truth. He’d done his fair share of dating and had never felt like this before—and definitely not this soon.

There was just something special about Newton, something that told Gage this was it. He didn’t want to think about dating anyone else ever again. He didn’t want to think about anyone besides Newton.

“I think I know exactly what you mean,” Newton said, just confirming that he was absolutely perfect for Gage. “And the good news is that it’s Sunday. We don’t have to get out of bed if we don’t want to.”

“That is good news,” Gage said, wrapping his arms around Newton and pulling him closer. “Because I can think of plenty to do that will keep us busy right here, and it might take us all day.”

“Oh my God,” Newton said, breathless as he pressed his own steely erection against Gage’s thigh. “I might need one of those green smoothies after this.”

Gage laughed. “Whatever you need, babe. Anything and everything. I’ll give it to you.”

And yeah, Gage knew for sure he wasn’t supposed to say all of that so soon.

He couldn’t help it, though. It was the simple truth.

Gage wanted Newton. There was no sense in denying it.

He wanted Newton today, tomorrow, for as long as he could have him. He wanted to stay just like this, arms wrapped around that beautiful body as Newton nestled close against his chest.

And Gage didn’t ever want to let go.

“Your man is amazing,” Calvin said, looking through the proofs Newton had sent over, that were currently taking up every inch of space on the desk in the bookstore office. “Seriously, Gage. I don’t even know how he does this. It’s like magic.”

If Calvin had looked up, he would have seen Gage beaming over his shoulder. And while Newton wasn’t technically his man—they hadn’t really discussed anything further than their next date—it sure did feel good to hear it.

It also felt good to know that his friends recognized just how great Newton was. His work was breathtaking, of course, but it was more than that. He was a good person. He had a good heart.

He was exactly the kind of person Gage wanted to be around, and he wanted to be around Newton more and more every day.

“I know he’s been working hard on all of this,” Gage said.

It was true, too. He’d barely seen Newton since their rock climbing date two days before, and even though that actually wasn’t a long time, it had felt like an eternity.

But Newton hadn’t wanted to rest until he’d finished getting the promo materials ready for everyone to look at.

“The hard work has paid off,” Jack said, appearing in the doorway with a cup of coffee from Steamin’ Beans in each hand. “It’s paid off big time. This—” he waved toward the photo-covered desktop. “This is better than anything I could have imagined. It’s like he not only read my mind, but actually improved on my vision. I can’t wait to send these out.”

“Newton is gonna be really happy to hear that,” Gage said, picturing Newton’s bright blue eyes going wide with excitement once Gage told him how much Calvin and Jack loved the proofs. “And I’m gonna love it, too, since I might be able to actually see him after this is all wrapped up.”

“I’m sure it’s been hard to go this whole forty-eight hours,” Calvin said, smirking as he looked back over his shoulder at Gage and took one of the cups from Jack. “But we appreciate your sacrifice.”

Gage laughed. He knew how ridiculous it sounded, but he didn’t care. He missed Newton, dammit. Nothing wrong with that, was there?

Besides, he knew good and well that Calvin and Jack would be beside themselves if they had to go two whole days without seeing each other. Then again, Calvin had waited a decade before Jack came back to Silver Lake, so maybe it wasn’t the best comparison.

But Gage had been waiting a lifetime for someone like Newton.

No, not for someone like Newton.

He’d been waiting all this time for Newton.

And now he didn’t want to wait anymore. Not two days. Not two hours. Not two minutes.

“Don’t be too hard on him, babe,” Jack said, tossing Gage a wink as he walked up behind his fiancé and rested his free hand on Calvin’s shoulder. “You remember what it was like after our first couple of dates. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other.”

“Good to see that not much has changed,” Gage said, still smiling as he walked toward the door. “You two give me hope, though. Relationship goals.”

“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” Calvin said, returning his smile. “You’ll get there, too.”

“And Gage?” Jack asked, stopping Gage before he made it out of the office.

“Yeah?”

Jack reached out to pat Gage on the back, then gave his shoulder a friendly squeeze. “Newton is a good guy. Don’t let him get away. And don’t fuck it up.”

“I don’t intend to,” Gage said, meaning it. “He’s everything I’ve ever wanted. And now that I’ve found him, I don’t ever want to let go.”

And even though he had never really talked about it with Newton—not yet, anyway—he was pretty sure Newton felt the same way.

Why wouldn’t he?

They were made for each other, after all.