Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(78)
Alec’s heart was so full in that moment. He stared at his man as warmth washed over him. Their love, at least for him, was a forever and always kind of love. Alec reached across the bed to take Key’s hand. They both grinned when the puppy went on the defense, turning to yap at their joined hands. “Key-baby, I want a life with you. I want a family. I want to be your reason, and in return, you be my reason. These changes I’ve made, they’re to remove some of our obstacles and to keep us together—you know all that.” Alec nodded toward the now wide awake puppy that growled and jumped on their hands. “He’s to help remind you of where we are, and that we’re here, waiting on you to get home.”
“Alec…” Key’s expressive face softened as he tightened his hold on Alec’s hand. At the same time, the rose petal moved, and the puppy turned his attention from their joined hands. His bark was so powerful it lifted his front paws off the bed—the perfect mood lightener. The sudden outburst had Key grinning from ear to ear. They watched as the little guy dove for the petal, missing his mark and landing straight on his face. “He’s perfect.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
“What’s his name gonna be?” Key asked, releasing Alec’s hand to pet the puppy. “I always wanted a dog growin’ up.”
“Me too. I’ve never had one. You name him.” Alec encouraged, wanting more than anything for Key to name this little guy.
“What do you think?” When the puppy steadily got to his feet, Key ran his fingers along the mattress toward the little guy, watching the puppy back away until he finally gathered enough courage and held his ground. What sounded like a mix between a yelp and a growl was all the warning he gave as he leaped forward, attacking. Key chuckled as he moved his fingers across the bed again and the puppy backed away.
“He’s got a ways to go before he’s a fierce guard dog.”
Alec laughed, watching the puppy brave up and attack before scurrying away when Key did it again. Alec had done the right thing; his heart filled with the perfectness of the moment.
“When I was a kid, there was a stray in my neighborhood. I named him Nash. It was short for Nasty because that’s what everyone called him. I loved that dog.”
Alec didn’t question anything about the stray, especially while watching Key’s expression turn nostalgic. He’d learned those stories ended with his heart breaking for the little boy.
“Perfect name. Nash, it is.”
Key grinned at the same time something caught the pup’s attention. It took a second for Alec to realize it was a candle’s glow flickering on the bedspread, drawing Nash’s attention this way and that, causing Key to laugh straight out loud.
“He’s perfect.” Even Key’s loud outburst didn’t sway Nash from his pursuit of the shadows crossing the bed.
“He is.” Alec reached out again, taking Key’s hand. “He needs you here, babe. He needs this to be your home.”
“Alec…”
“No. Listen to me. When I was in Westlake yesterday, I saw our future so clearly there. We don’t need all this house or this pretentious neighborhood. I see a large backyard, a huge shop, a place to store all our vehicles, for you to work on your bikes, and lots of land separating us from our neighbors,” Alec explained, painting a mental image of his dream with Key as he spoke.
“Alec…” Key said softly. “What would your family think?”
“Who took care of me when I was with them? You saved me from falling into a deep depression after spending twenty minutes with them. I don’t care in the least what they think.”
“Alec…”
“No. I anticipated the skeptical look, but I won’t be swayed. I see us as long-lasting, maybe even becoming a family. You, me, this little guy, and possibly children someday.” Maybe he’d gotten ahead of himself and said too much as Key moved back several inches, instantly raising those concrete barriers between them, completely separating him from Alec. “No, babe, listen to me. You know you feel it too. I’ve changed. You’ve changed. My world’s gotten much smaller, but given me so much more in return—it’s given me you.”
Key started to rise, scrambling to push himself off the bed. Alec reached out, palming Key’s cheek, his thumb smoothing over his lover’s beard. Alec’s gentle touch stopped Key with as much power as a forceful hold, which showed just how much his big strong biker truly respected him.
“I can’t ever make you understand. I’m a biker. That’s what I am. That’s all I’ll ever be,” Key said, desperation in his voice.
“Have I asked you to change?” Alec asked, looking down at Nash who sat watching them, his big brown eyes shifting between him and Key.
“Yesterday, the club found out Ray had dated that DA bitch like twenty years ago, and I had to hold Dev back from whoopin’ his ass,” Key explained, his gaze imploring Alec to understand.
“So that’s true?” he asked, lying back down on the bed, throwing out his arm to stop the curious pup when Nash bounced up, leaping forward to chase another flame.
“You knew?”
“Yeah, for months. I thought it might just be gossip floating around the office.” He drew Nash back toward him, and Key closed the circle, getting the little guy back between them.