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“It did, and made it easier at MIT for me to go back, since the Deans are a small community they knew before I walked in with my offer.”
“You see much of Anton?”
“A little, Peter still consults for him when he’s got time and by default so do I, but I don’t.”
“Really wasn’t his fault Connor.”
“Perhaps, but when I was in Angelesk I told him that he had the harder job of keeping them together after things settled down. He didn’t listen, didn’t hear what I was trying to tell him.” Connor pulled the car to a stop in Charles Street. “You want to wait here?”
“Sure.”
Matt watched him leave, the fine cut of the pants, the expensive shoes and even without the knowledge of wealth Matt found that he admired the elegant and calm way Connor conducted himself. Nothing would make him look anything other than the gentleman he was and Matt smiled, knowing now what it meant to Peter and how he had found himself after so many years with a place and people to call family. Connor ducked into several shops, the most eclectic of his morning errands a trip into a jewelry shop, coming out with a large brown paper bag.
Doyle tossed the bags into the back and the brown bag onto Matt’s lap.
“Oh gee, you shouldn’t have.” Matt leered.
“Don’t get your hopes up, I didn’t.” Connor laughed and headed home towards Scituate.
“So you got Peter a teddy bear,” Matt foraged in the bag and pulled the cheerful dark brown teddy bear out and batted him lightly on the nose.
“It’s mink.” Connor smiled.
“It would be, hey he’s got a little box in his paws.”
“Put him back.”
“What’s in the box?”
“A ring.”
“For Peter?”
“Yes.”
“What type of ring?” Matt asked mischievously.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes it matters. You’re going to ask him aren’t you?”
Connor turned his head away looking at the traffic. “You’re an incurable romantic Praeger.”
“Hey you buy Peter a ring and a mink teddy bear, what’s a guy to think?”
“Well as luck would have it, you’d be right.”
“Hey that’s kewl!” Matt slapped the turned shoulder. “Can you two get married?”
“As far as the law is concerned I don’t know, but we already run joint accounts, have dual property titles and admit to a long term relationship. Besides Peter needs the security that I’m not about to up and run off. We’ll work the details out as we go.”
“So the teddy bear is because?”
Connor shrugged, “I don’t know, I just thought he was rather cute. Don’t spoil the surprise Matthew. Besides he may turn me down.”
“Oh yeah! Like that’s ever going to happen.” Matt grinned again and enjoyed the ride home.
The house was no different to the last time he had seen it, yet everything had changed. Where once it was picture book perfect now it looked comfortable and relaxed.
Mrs. Mac wrapped Matt in a bear hug the minute he got into the kitchen and fussed. Connor unloaded the car and carried the suitcase upstairs, complete with the brown paper bag. Matt smiled and helped himself to the still warm sweet pastries that Connor had picked up on their way home.
~~~~~****~~~~~
Long lean limbs, dusted lighted with an almost golden fur stretched on the bed. The sleigh bed with its heavily carved ends was exquisite and the soft muslin curtains danced in the light breeze. Connor closed the door and crossed to the bed, his eyes falling on the set of framed black and white photos on the wall taken almost six years ago by a gay friend who’d been dabbling in art photography. The main picture was of them entwined in a lover’s kiss; the tattoo on Peter’s hip was obvious as he curled a long leg over his lover’s hip and guided the dark head to his shoulder before taking his lips in his own. Connor remembered the embarrassment he’d felt and how Peter had once again taken him out at the knees when he stripped off and then helped Connor out of his clothes when his own fingers had faltered.
Peter hadn’t changed much. His hair was more salt than pepper, his smile more charming as he aged gracefully. His body was still strong and beautiful and the lines about his eyes faded to those of happiness. Still at times, odd times, the darkness would creep up on him and he’d be left shivering and bereft in its wake. Needing a firm hand, and loving commitment to settle him once again. Fortunately those days had grown less since they left the OSIR. Lindsey had remained on, loyal to Anton and she was a regular visitor, it would be good to reunite her with Matt. Connor smiled again as he approached the bed and took the bear from its wrapping.
He tickled down the long line of back with the mink across to the firm buttocks and bent to kiss his way along the same path.
“Taking advantage of an unconscious man?” Peter groused as he arched back into the touch and turned over, Connor would never tire of looking at his beloved’s naked form. Never tire of seeing the smile on the face or the passion stoked storm grey eyes.
“Oh you know me babe, a covert assault is always more rewarding.” Connor waggled the teddy bear before Peter’s face.
“You bought a bear?” Peter pushed up in the bed. “You were supposed to get Matt and you came home with a mink teddy bear.”
“Matt is downstairs being fussed over by Mrs. Mac. The bear is for you.” Connor crossed his legs on the bed and held onto the furry creature for a moment longer before handing it over. “He comes bearing gifts.”
“Oh now that’s bad.” Peter laughed and took the small box from his paws.
“I’ve wanted to ask you since before they separated us.” Connor said softly and Peter instinctively felt the shift in the emotion, he looked up sharply. “I never wanted us to hide and have always been proud to be with you, in whatever capacity you want. But I have wants too Peter, and I have no intention of ignoring them any longer.”
“I see.” Peter said softly.
“Do you?” Connor looked down. “I’m not much Peter, you can do better but I can’t and so I guess it’s selfish of me but I want to marry you.”
Totally caught off guard Peter didn’t know whether to cry or laugh as he looked on the beautiful features that he knew better than his own. He snapped open the lid of the jeweler’s box and found a pair of exquisite Celtic knot gold rings, one for each of them and looked up.
“Oh God they’re beautiful.” Peter fingered the gold bands again and sat further up in the bed. “You’re beautiful.” He cupped Connor’s face in his warm palm and knelt forward to kiss the sensual lips.
“Can I take that as a yes?” There was trepidation in Connor’s voice as he stroked across the planes of Peter’s chest.
“Yes. I take it you’ve worked out the details?”
Connor blushed. “No actually I haven’t, I don’t even know if we can, but even if the law and the churches say no.”
“We’ll find a way love, thank you.”
“Thank you.” Connor corrected as he heard Matt’s non-too stealthy footsteps and sat back covering Peter with the crisp ivory linen sheet.
“So?” Matt pounded on the door and opened it in the same moment.
“So what?” Peter asked innocently as Matt took in the box still clutched in his hand and the bear on his chest.
“Axon have a heart, what did you say?”
Connor got up and went across the room, pausing in the doorway next to Matt. “Yes.” Connor said gently. “He said yes.”
Finis.
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