“You get one glass,” Zeppelin warned Jaxon. “The last thing I need is you and Spencer getting wasted together again and ruining my plans for the night.”
Jaxon’s cheeks flushed, but he ignored his husband and nodded at his son. “Please.”
Spencer made his way back inside, and Logan stepped out. He took a seat across from me and smirked. “Your man is getting along great with Ezra,” he taunted.
“Logan…” Jaxon warned.
“What?” Logan asked innocently. “He’s easy to rile up. Looked at Ezra a little while ago like he wanted to bash his skull open all because Ezra smiled at Preston.”
“Shall we look back at the past and how reckless you used to be?” Jaxon asked, arching a brow at him. Logan scoffed, rolling his eyes. “X doesn’t know you, and he doesn’t know Ezra, and he’s…” His voice trailed off.
“Possessive?” Shane supplied. I shot him an annoyed look, but he ignored me. “It’s a trait we’re working on.”
Zeppelin cackled before raising his beer to his lips. “Working on,” he repeated. “Wish you the best of luck, Shane. Men like us don’t get that worked out of our systems.” The salacious look he aimed Jaxon’s way was proof of that.
“Hand me that tray,” Jaxon ordered, ignoring his husband. Logan sighed dramatically but grabbed the tray off the table, nonetheless, passing it to Jaxon.
Zeppelin stood and opened the lid to the grill, the smell of sizzling beef making my stomach growl loudly. They put the steaks on the platter, then set it in the middle of the table. Logan pushed up from his chair.
“Guess that’s my cue to go help bring all the other food out,” he muttered.
“No need,” Preston said breezily as he pushed open the back door and carried out a bowl of potato salad. He was positively glowing, his cheeks a little pink and a beaming smile on his face. And I knew I’d made the right decision to bring him here, even if I wanted to do anything but spend time with all these people. Yet I knew even though it might take me a while to get used to being around this big of a family and get used to their teasing, I would for his sake.
Because Preston, after being disowned by his real family for being true to himself, deserved love and happiness and family.
“See?” Shane murmured, leaning down to whisper in my ear. “This is why I told you to rein it in. He needs this. Don’t fuck it up for him.”
I shook my head, frowning up at him. “I would never.”
Shane hummed and kissed the corner of my mouth. “I know, boy.”
I glanced at him. “Just a small kiss?” I feigned a pout.
He arched a brow at me as he rose back to his full height. “Behave and earn it.”
I huffed and rolled my eyes behind my shades, turning back to watch Preston help set the table, chatting easily with everyone as he did so.
Epilogue
Shane
ONE YEAR LATER
If someone had told me a little over a year ago that I’d not only be pursued by a sociopath who stalked me and uncovered secrets no one should have access to but that I’d also fall in love with him and his boyfriend, I’d have called them lunatics and to shut the fuck up. Or well, maybe the old me would’ve actually just ignored them because that was what I did back then. Always the silent type.
But today, I was a wholly different man as I stood at the end of the makeshift aisle in Zeppelin’s backyard with X right across from me. I actually spoke more than I ever had before, and I wasn’t so broody anymore. X and Preston had brought so much light into my life—light I hadn’t even known I needed. And they provided me with the kind of purpose I’d missed when I left the military. They gave me people to protect and take care of.
“If I didn’t love Preston so much, I’d rip this fucking suit off,” X complained, tugging at his jacket sleeves. We were both wearing white suits with royal blue ties, belts, and shoes. Preston had even forced X to pull his hair back into a half-up bun so his face was more visible for the cameras.
Honestly, wearing that suit and with his hair like that, the man looked so hot, I just wanted to force him to his knees and shove my cock down his throat. And I knew he’d be down for it, no matter who might be watching. But while the both of us were good with just exchanging rings, promising forever, and going on about our day, Preston wanted a small wedding with the people we’d come to know as family in attendance.
And if there was anything X and I agreed on, it was that Preston deserved everything he wanted, especially if it made him happy.
“You two about ready?” Jaxon asked, coming to stand with us. He’d gotten licensed to officiate the wedding just for us, and Preston almost cried when Jaxon sent the image of his certificate in the group chat we’d been added to, surprising everyone except Eros and Zeppelin, who’d known what he was up to already.
“Ready for this to be over,” X griped. I shot him an annoyed look, and he sighed. “I’m not really. I want to marry him. I’m just uncomfortable in this fucking suit. And hot. Why did he want to do this on a day it’s ninety fucking degrees?”
“Because this is for him,” I reminded him, exasperated and a little fed up with his bitching.