Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
“Can you carry it to the back garage for me?”
The kid smirked as if the machine weighed nothing and nodded. Smartass.
“Maybe we should show him the way?” Arik suggested, reaffirming Alec’s decision to never invite him to a party again.
Except he hadn’t invited Arik. Arik had invited himself. And with more force than necessary, Arik pushed him through the door and started down the walkway toward the driveway.
“The garage is in the other direction,” Alec said, poking a thumb over his other shoulder toward the main garage.
“Hear that, guy?” Arik called over his shoulder. The kid did a one-eighty and headed in the opposite direction, but Arik didn’t change course.
“I’ll place it by the door.”
“Perfect,” Arik answered as they continued toward the driveway. Maybe he had overdone the lights with the way they twinkled off a silver bumper parked on the side of the house.
“You’re close to the airport,” Arik said. “Had any problems with them over the sheer volume of lights on the house?”
“Ha. Ha. Not an original joke,” Alec said dryly. “Where’re you walking me to?”
“Like normal, I’m taking matters into my own hands,” Arik said. “It’s painful to learn how dense my head of legal is. I might’ve paid too much to get you on my team.”
“What?” Alec paused, confused. “What’re you talking about?”
“You tell me,” Arik said, using a hand on Alec’s shoulder to shove him toward the driveway. From this angle, he saw a shiny open motorcycle trailer with a partial gleam from a bike strapped on top.
Alec’s mind glitched. The bike was stunning.
It had to be a Keyes and Dev creation, but it was different than any other motorcycle he’d ever seen before. The image before him was magical. Something unseen pulled him closer to the trailer, lost to the beauty of design and color.
The outside floodlights popped on, giving him a better view of the beautiful build. He only turned away from the vision in front of him when he sensed Keyes nearby. His guy took a couple of steps toward him, stopping at the passenger side door of the truck towing the trailer. The TDTK logo ran from where Keyes stood down the length of the bed, then onto the trailer. Their friends stood behind Keyes, close enough to take part but also giving them space. All eyes were on Alec.
“It’s beautiful,” Alec said. “Is this the carbon fiber you used to talk about?”
Keyes huffed a nod, sticking his fingers into his front jeans pocket. “I knew you’d know that. Merry Christmas.”
Alec jerked his head from the bike back to Keyes. His confused gaze searched Keyes’s face for the lie as his brain tripped in understanding. He glanced back at the motorcycle, taking in the subtle nuances that he hadn’t immediately noticed. The bike was blue. Not any blue either. The color of Keyes’s eyes. Alec’s favorite color. The rest was gray/silver. Both colors wove through every part of the sleek build.
Only then did he recognize the art. The same design as the tattoo on Keyes’s back. The winged angel that represented Alec.
“Key, what’ve you done?” Alec’s heart slammed against his rib cage. Keyes stayed rooted to his spot, making it clear he had no idea of Alec’s thoughts. Hell, he had no idea of his thoughts as something akin to fireworks shot through his vision. His heart pounded in his chest.
Alec covered his hands over his face, then dropped down into a squat on the balls of his feet. If he passed out, he’d be closer to the ground.
“Alec,” Keyes said unsteadily.
Screw passing out. He shot up, sprinting the seven or eight steps separating them. He didn’t stop as he leaped forward, wrapping his arms and legs around his beautiful mister. Keyes absorbed Alec’s body weight with a small step backward, remarkably staying on his feet. Keyes gripped Alec’s thighs, holding him in place.
It wasn’t often Alec’s face was above Keyes’s. He relished the way he looked down at his guy. “It’s the color of your eyes.”
“Seems silly now,” Keyes murmured, searching Alec’s face. The uncertainty still worrying Keyes was all Alec’s doing. He’d make it right though. Nothing could stop the joy running through him.
“No, not silly at all. It’s for me, right?” Alec asked, inches above Keyes. “Not just here to show me your work, you built the bike for me.”
“’Course. It’s the first one I built, but I’ve been tinkerin’ with—”
Alec mashed his lips against Keyes, giving him a hard, solid kiss.
When his tear-filled gaze met Keyes’s again, he stared down at his love and said, “Thank you.” Alec kissed Keyes again. “Thank you.” And again. “Take me to the motorcycle,” Alec whispered against Keyes’s mouth and kissed him again.
Keyes started toward the trailer.
Alec looked over Keyes’s shoulder to their friends. “I’m sorry I’ve been so down. It never occurred to me that the best husband in the world was building me a motorcycle. The best Christmas present ever.” Alec wrapped his arms tighter around Keyes’s neck, pulling his head closer, whispering into Keyes’s hair. “I love you.”