Chapter 22
Jonas
The salesman zeroed in on me when I walked into the jewelry store after dropping Eddie off at school Monday morning. He was dressed in a gray suit, with slick hair and a blinding white smile.
“Making big plans, or shopping for yourself?” he asked, going to stand behind the counter filled with extravagant engagement rings that were clearly made for women.
I smiled and shook my head, walking over to the display case with the men’s bands.
“My apologies,” he said, shifting to the appropriate case.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Getting engaged?”
I let out a quick breath at the word. “No. I’m looking more for something that says I’m committed to the long haul, without being an engagement.”
“A promise ring,” he said with a warm smile.
“Is that what they’re called? I haven’t done this before. I haven’t done this before, and we have kids, so—”
He wrinkled his brow, and I laughed. “I know that’s confusing. I used a surrogate to become a dad.”
“Ah,” he said. “It’s none of my business anyway.”
“True, but it’s no big deal. I wanted to be a dad, and it was the best decision of my life. Now I’m trying to make the right decision for our family, and it’s time to make things more official without going overboard.”
“Gotcha,” he said.
I looked at the rings in the case while he fiddled around with one of the locked drawers that held the merchandise, even though I hadn’t asked to look at one yet. “They’re all so gaudy,” I groaned. “I mean, they’re all right for an engagement, but they’re much too—”
He set a tray on the counter, and I stopped. “Looking for something more like this?”
“Yes!" I was excited. “This is much better.”
“Most are silver, but a few of them are from our new line. Before you say it, they’re very strong, and—”
“That one right there, with the tree carved into the silver band. That’s the one I want.”
“Excellent choice. Can I wrap it up for you?”
“Please." I looked at my watch. “We have a reservation in an hour, and I want tonight to be perfect.”
“Big anniversary?” he asked while he boxed it up.
“Better,” I said. “We’re celebrating our sons taking one step closer to acting like brothers.”
He smiled. “That is an accomplishment. Blending families can be rough. I have two stepsons myself, and my wife treats my girl like her own. It’s not every day you have such a huge milestone."
The salesman passed the wrapped ring to me and charged my card. “The gift wrapping and the chocolate truffles are on the house. I wish you and this lucky man all the best."
He winked at me, and we both laughed. “I hope you’ll think of me when you’re ready to make an honest man out of him.”
“I will,” I said, then hurried out the door, the nearly weightless bag heavy in my hand.
Tonight was the night. I just hoped Arthur was ready for a bigger commitment.
Arthur
The little bed and breakfast was quaint, tucked into a yard filled with trees that gave it the illusion of being very secluded. I wiped my hands on my slacks, then looked at myself in the rearview mirror one last time.
I was tempted by the vape pen, with its calming combination of lavender and CBD oil, but I resisted. Tonight was special, and not just because our boys had turned a corner. When Jonas had suggested paying Gina to spend the night and take the boys to school in the morning, I’d known something was up.
We were both proud of our boys, but after doing a little mental math, I realized there was more to celebrate. Today was two months to the day since we’d met at the Single Dad’s Club event, and even after everything we’d been through, we were still growing as a couple. Thriving. Living.
Happy.
A little gift box from Bounty of the Earth sat beside my overnight bag. I picked it up and looked inside, at the simple necklace with the tree of life pendant made from twisted wire by a local artisan. It wasn’t much, but when I’d noticed the colors of the four jewels woven into the tree, like sparkling fruit, I’d known that the piece had been made for us.
Hopefully, Jonas saw it the way I had.
When he pulled up and parked beside me, I quickly put the box in my bag and got out of the car. “You made it,” he said, pulling me into his arms and giving me a passionate kiss that took my breath away.
“Save some for the room,” I said when he finally let me go.
We both laughed, walking hand in hand into the beautiful cottage, then up to our room, where a lavish dinner of fresh fruit, divine finger sandwiches, and chilled wine was already laid out on a red plaid blanket spread on the floor.
“A grown-up picnic,” I said. “It’s perfect.”
“You’re perfect.”
I turned and there he was, standing there with that lopsided grin I’d grown to love, a small box in his hand and his heart on his sleeve.
“What’s that?”
“Open it,” he said. “Happy month-a-versary.”
I laughed, then produced the gift I’d brought him. “Great minds, I guess,” I said with a wink. I opened my box, and gasped when I saw the perfect ring inside.
It was a simple, wide band, with the same tree carved into it. The symbol of life, love, and family. It was hope embodied, and Jonas had chosen it for me. My hands were shaking as I slid it on the ring finger of my right hand.
“It’s a promise ring,” he said. “It’s too soon to get engaged, but I want to make my intention clear." He put his hand under my chin and tilted my face toward him. “I’m in this for the long run.”
I nodded, too overwhelmed to speak, and watched him open his box. He sucked in a quick breath when he saw it, then he looked at the tree on my ring and back to the necklace again. “Does this tree mean something? I thought it was just a tree.”
“It’s so much more,” I said, explaining the meaning.
I knew the instant he realized the significance of the tiny “apples” bejeweled in the tree. “How did you do this, Arthur? Did you have it made?”
“Nope. The jewels were already the same color as our birthstones.”
“Wow. What are the odds?”
“I’d say they’re pretty slim,” I said. “More proof that we were meant to be."
He was still smiling wide when he wrapped me in his arms and kissed me. Then he grabbed my hand and led me away from the meal spread out in the main area. “Dinner will keep,” he said. “Some things can’t wait.”
Jonas
I led Arthur into the bedroom, but bypassed the bed altogether. It was big, and the linens were divine, but the crown jewel of the room was the balcony at the back of the house. When Arthur realized where I’d taken him, he looked around, admiring the lush acre that was planted so that none of the neighboring houses were visible.
The moon cast a soft glow on the garden below, reflecting off the ripples on the small pond near the weeping willow tree.
“This is beautiful,” Arthur said.
“We’re the only ones checked in,” I said, as I unbuttoned my shirt and dropped it on the balcony floor.
He arched an eyebrow, watching me slowly remove my clothes until I was completely naked. The cool wind felt wonderful on my skin, but I was focused on Arthur. I helped him get naked, then smiled wickedly at him and turned to grab the railing.
I heard a low, guttural sound that sounded almost like a growl, then I felt his hands on me, running over my backside and my hips. Then his body was against mine, and he was kissing my neck.
He nipped a little, revving up my excitement as he rubbed himself against my backside. I arched my back until the head of his cock was pressing against me. “I’m ready,” I whispered.
“I see." He put his hands on the railing, and I threaded my fingers through his so that we were holding the same part of the twisted iron together.
“We have all night to make love,” I said, teasing him, making my needs clear. “This time, you don’t have to be gentle.”
He kissed my neck again, then slid inside me, and I moaned from the sheer pleasure of his wide shaft forcing my body to stretch around him. “You’re so fucking hot,” he said, when I arched my back more and pushed against him to take every inch of his shaft.
“You inspire me,” I said; then he began thrusting, and I couldn’t think about anything but him inside me, and the sounds of the world around us as he rode me hard and fast.
When he reached around to grab my cock, I stopped him. “You first, please,” I begged.
His hands tightened on mine, and he slammed into me. It was rough, and fast, and I loved it.
Then his breath caught, and I was flooded with his heat while he clung to me. He called my name, his hips moving so fast I could barely keep up, then fell against my back, drawing deep, shuddering breaths.
Arthur was still inside me. I tensed around him, and he froze. “You didn’t—” he began.
“I will this time,” I said with a laugh.
He was still hard. I worked my hips, stroking and teasing him, until he’d caught his breath and was ready to go again. His fingers dug into my hips and he pulled me roughly against him instead of thrusting into me, the sensation exciting as I struggled to find my footing. Then my body found his rhythm, and I was there on that balcony, naked and bent over, Arthur’s wide cock inside me, staking his claim.
He was still inside me when I came, my moans echoing into the night and carrying up to the sky. Arthur was right behind me, chasing his own pleasure and holding onto me for dear life.
We made love in the bed after that, then he fed me dinner, and we took a bath in the garden tub with jacuzzi jets before crawling into bed completely naked. We left the balcony door open and snuggled into the massive bed together, completely exhausted, and more in love than I’d ever been in my life.
Arthur was everything I’d ever wanted in a man. Taking a chance on a man I’d never dreamed I’d mess with had turned into the best decision of my life.
I was in love. After years of failed dates and one-night stands, it was an amazing feeling.