Kindle Alexander - Up In Arms (24 page)

The cameras in the front of the house began flashing through the blinds. Trevor supposed that meant Rylie and Elise were leaving, making their way through the masses of news crews. His mind stayed on his conversation with Rylie as he flipped off the television to stare at the darkened screen. If he were going to try to make amends with Reed, he needed to get his head right in this relationship. Self doubt and insecurity were his lifelong traits, but he had to find away to put them aside. His focus must stay on how to become the best possible man he could be in order to stand beside Reed comfortably, as his heart desperately wanted him to do.

Trevor’s body hurt from the workout he put himself through this afternoon. Reaching for the crutches resting against the night stand, he let out a small hiss. His left arm jerked in a cramp, sending the crutches flying. They scrapped against the wall, making a loud bang as they hit the hardwood flooring. It was late, Trevor was tired, and now the crutches lay out of his reach. Using the night stand and his right leg, he moved from bed, awkwardly bending to the floor. His body resisted, but he forced through it until he managed to snag a crutch in his hand.

“Trevor, what’s happened? What’re you doing?” Reed broke through the imaginary line he stayed behind all night, rushing to him.
“I dropped my crutches. Reed, I’m sorry,” Trevor said, bending over, trying to reach the other crutch. He watched Reed rush to him from under his own arm.
“Did you fall, babe? Where are you hurt?” Reed gathered the crutches while sliding an arm around Trevor, absorbing his body weight to help hold him up. Reed pushed Trevor back to bed. His eyes were concerned, watching him closely.
“I’m sorry. Please stop fussing over me for a minute. I’m fine. I just dropped my crutches. Reed, I’m sorry for all of this tonight. I’m just overwhelmed,” Trevor said, keeping his eyes trained on Reed. He knew the blush was forming. Reed didn’t seem to pay him any attention, but pulled his shirt up to check his wounds. Trevor stopped him with his hands, forcing Reed to listen to him. This was too important. If he didn’t get it out, he might not ever fully say it. “You’ve overwhelmed me, and I just didn’t feel worthy of you.”
“You don’t need to apologize. You’ve overwhelmed me from the first minute our eyes met across the Grand Ball room. The only thing I’m certain is I love you completely,” Reed said, sitting carefully on the side of the bed.
“I love you too. I do. It’s complete for me too. I’ve robbed us of a normal beginning. Of dating, getting to know each other, learning how we fit. I’m sorry about that, but if you’ll have me back, I want to stay here with you.”
“Handsome, I never wanted you gone. I’ve always wanted you right here with me,” Reed said, wrapping their fingers together in a tight hold.
“It’s gonna be hard. If at any point you can’t handle all this attention, I can go. Promise me you’ll tell me. And if your feelings change, just tell me. Promise me, Reed. If you promise me, I’ll try hard to stop second guessing all this and just go with it.” Trevor gripped Reed, bringing their joined hands to his lips for a kiss, waiting for Reed to answer.
“I’ll promise you that will never happen, but I can see by that angry brow you want my oath. Very well, Trevor, I do promise to tell you if anything changes in my feelings for you.” Reed brought his lips to Trevor’s for a soft, sweet kiss of his own.
“Now let’s get you back to our bedroom. No more of this guest bedroom business ever again. Promise me. Otherwise, I may have to make this room into a large closet or something of the sort. I don’t like you being in here, away from me.” Reed reached down, slinging his backpack over his shoulder while handing Trevor his crutches.
“I promise. I like the idea of
our
room.”
“Me too, Trevor, very much.”

Three Months later
“Baby, do I look okay? I think the uniform’s too big now. I lost some
weight. Baby... Reed...seriously, you must get up.” Leaning over the bed,
Trevor kissed Reed on his sleeping, soft lips. Reed kissed him back, but
Trevor had to dodge his arms or be pulled back into bed. Reed groaned
loudly when their alarm sounded off again after hitting the third or fourth
round of snooze. Trevor was already up, freshly showered and completely
dressed in his dress blues, too excited to sleep.
The last three months stayed a constant whirl wind for both of them.
Trevor’s permanent prosthesis came in and it was bad ass, totally state of
the art, just like they promised. Trevor wore it proudly, comfortable in it
now. His leg still required periods of rest, as the swelling wasn’t completely
under control, but Trevor tried hard to stay positive and encouraged about
the future. He still felt like he looked a little awkward while trying to walk.
It didn’t bother him, though; he stayed fully focused and vested in his
recovery, knowing it would work itself out soon.
“Mmmm...good morning to you, sexy. You smell delicious. Are you
wearing my favorite cologne? You know what it does to me,” Reed growled,
his deep voice even huskier from sleep. “It can’t be time to wake. Please just
give me five more minutes. And it would be better if you laid here with me
that same five more minutes...” Reed tried to turn over, tucking the pillow
under his head.
“No, no... Come on, honey, dress quickly and meet me in the kitchen.
I’ll have breakfast ready. But you have to open your eyes and get out of bed
to do all those things, Reed Kensington. Shake a leg! I have something I
need to tell you before we go.” Trevor popped Reed on his partially exposed
naked butt. He grabbed the bed covers, moving quickly around the mattress,
trying to get as far away from Reed’s reaching hands as he could while Reed
darted up, making a grab at him.
“Damn, you’re too quick on that leg already. I think we should revisit
the rule in which you don’t wear the leg in the house, so I can catch you
better! Come back here. We have plenty of time. I need my morning lovin’
from my sexy boyfriend.” Reed sprawled across the bed now. His head lying on his elbow, his nude body fully exposed, showing a nice enticing
view of the curve of his tight ass.
“Get dressed! Meet me in the kitchen.” Trevor waded up the bed covers,
laying them on a side chair, not looking back. He made his way to the
kitchen. Reed was too handsome and convincing. If he stayed in the room
any longer, he would be back in that bed, making love to Reed, forgetting
about the importance of what they were about to do.
Pulling bagels and fresh fruit from the refrigerator, Trevor opted for as
easy breakfast. He didn’t want to mess up his clothes before the big event.
Reed always ate breakfast in the morning, and usually ate it with a sweet
tooth. Trevor had slowly removed the bad foods from the house over the last
few months, loading the cupboards with healthier brands and items. Reed
still snuck a few bad things in, but Trevor always pretended not to notice. Setting the table, Trevor heard Reed enter the room. He smiled when
his man wrapped his arms around him from behind. Trevor’s shoulder and
chest were still not completely back to normal, but coming along better than
expected. So much so, he would be starting his new permanent training job
at the pentagon in the next couple of weeks. Trevor leaned his head back,
reaching his left arm up to wrap it around Reed’s head. He pulled Reed to
him for a small but thorough kiss.
“Sexy, you could tell me your little secret back in bed. Do you feel how
badly I want you?” Reed whispered into his ear, while brushing his rock
hard dick against Trevor’s ass.
“We made love all night last night. You can’t possibly be ready for
more. Besides, it’s time to get moving! It’s not every day someone gets the
Medal of Honor and meets the President of the United States. Chop, chop,
baby, get to movin’!” Trevor tried to pull from Reed’s arms, but he wouldn’t
let go. Instead, Reed began to place small kisses along his neck ignoring
Trevor completely.
“You know, you need to look your best. My beautiful boyfriend will be
all over the tabloids as he stands beside me today,” Trevor said. Reed gave
a little groan; he could almost see him stomping his feet. All he could do in
return was laugh. It wasn’t often Reed didn’t get what he wanted, but this
morning held too much importance to give in. Reaching across the table,
Trevor grabbed a little box he placed there earlier this morning, close to
Reed’s normal place setting. He saw now a sit down breakfast wouldn’t be
happening for them.
“Okay, wait. I have something for you. I’ve had it for a couple of months.
Rylie and I picked this up right after he got back into town. I just waited for the right time. And then I chickened out. But I want you to have it before we go today. I want you to wear it, if you want to.” Turning on his heel, Trevor
forced Reed back a step, not letting him go in for the kiss he intended. “Stop making this harder than it has to be, and listen to me.” Carefully,
Trevor dropped to one knee. He wasn’t completely comfortable on the
prosthesis yet, so he lowered his right knee to keep balanced properly,
praying it all worked. This seemed to finally capture Reed’s attention,
making Trevor all the more nervous. Heat rushed to his cheeks as he opened
the little box before turning it up for Reed to see. Trevor forced himself to
man up, and ignored his pounding heart. After a second, Trevor lifted his
gaze to Reed’s deep green eyes and watched his perfectly arched brows lift
in surprise.
“We’ve only known each other for a little over three months, but it’s been
the best three months of my life. I’ve fallen deeply and completely in love
with you. You make every one of my days better, and nights special. You’re
my best friend, my lover, my life.” Taking a deep breath, Trevor exhaled on
a huff, nervous as hell, but forging on. “Reed Kensington, you would make
me the happiest man in the world if you would promise to someday marry
me. One day. In the future...I’m not saying right now, just someday, but
sooner rather than later. If you agree.” Trevor’s heart pounded so hard in his
chest he couldn’t hear his own words, but knew he was rambling. Just like
he had to force himself to speak, he now forced himself to shut up, waiting
for Reed’s reactions.
Reed took Trevor’s hand and lowered to his knees. His emerald eyes
twinkled as his smile widened. “YES! Yes, Trevor West, I will marry you. I
want nothing more than to share the rest of my life with you! I’ve loved you
since the first time I laid eyes on you. And these past few months have been
the best of my life. I never thought I would be lucky enough to find my soul
mate...but I’ve been so blessed and I’ve found him in you...” Reed lifted his
hand, placing his palm tenderly on the side of Trevor’s face. “Baby, you are
the reason my heart beats, you are my love, my life, my everything.” “Ahh, Reed, thank you for saying yes. I love you so much,” Trevor said,
releasing the anxious breath he held. Relief flooded his heart. He gathered
Reed in his arms. His smile wouldn’t leave his lips, but the alert on his
phone sounded. Knowing what that meant, Trevor quickly kissed Reed on
the lips before pulling him up and spinning him around, pushing him to his
bathroom. “You have twenty minutes before the car picks us up. Correction,
nineteen minutes. You must hurry, baby, no primping today.” The time passed quickly with Trevor pacing the front door. The driver pulled through the gate Reed installed after the dreaded night the reporter broke their story. The horde of reporters were still camping out in the front yard. Trevor had no idea why they continued to come day after day. On occasion, Reed would send cold water bottles or iced drinks when the late summer weather got too hot. Northern Virginia in August could be miserable, and this summer already set records due to an unprecedented heat wave. Reed hated the idea of anyone suffering while waiting for a story
that never came.
“You look dashing, and we are barely late. Only by fifteen minutes.
Let’s go!” Trevor pulled Reed to the garage door, and quickly pushed it
open before stepping back to let Reed go first. His man was behind him,
and their normal stalemate took place of who would open the door and who
would walk through first. It became quite a game for them, but this morning,
they were already late, so Trevor gave in this time. The driver jumped out,
opening the Jaguar XJ door, effectively ruining their little game. Trevor
came to a complete stop.
“I don’t even know what to say. It’s a Jaguar, Reed. Did you arrange
this?” Trevor stood stockstill, looking over the car, wanting to see everything
about it.
“No, babe, it’s customary. Come on, sexy, we’re late.” Trevor didn’t
respond, but bent in the driver’s side door, looking inside, trying to see
everything he could. Hell, if he could have figured out a way to drive it
today, he would have jumped in the front seat. Reed chuckled at Trevor’s
enthusiasm. Taking his hand, Reed pulled him inside the back seat. The trip to the white house was a short one, but took well over an hour
with traffic and all the protestors. They passed several picketing groups
along the way; their causes were wide ranging and diverse, but the most
of them were centered around the pros and cons of homosexuality. Men
dressed as Jesus walked the streets, carrying big crosses, spouting loudly on
bullhorns that Jesus didn’t die to promote a gay man’s sinful agenda. Just
as loudly on the other side of the road, the gay rights group yelled back,
reciting their own bible verses to support their views. Inside the car, Reed
kept Trevor busy by kissing him behind the slightly tinted glass of the car
windows, and showing off the wedding ring he now wore on his left hand as
Trevor requested him to do. Trevor stayed so distracted with the kisses and
the ring that he didn’t notice when Reed pulled a small black box from his
pocket, placing it in his hands. Trevor pulled away, surprised. “I planned for a proper proposal, handsome. Something grand and
memorable, but I find I want this on your finger today as well. I do want the world to know they didn’t beat us and that you are truly mine. I love you, Trevor West. I want a proper wedding. I agree I would like for it to be soon, but my mother will never let us get away with a small affair. She’s too excited and proud to let this slide by without a large, eventful wedding. She made that clear when we went to pick this out together, the morning before
you flew to me from Germany.”
“Reed...I...honey, you’re such a blessing to me. I just can’t believe how
lucky I am to have found you. I love you.” Tears filled Trevor’s eyes causing
his vision to blur. He pulled the stunning diamond band from the little black
box. Trevor looked at it closely, reading the words engraved on the inside of
the band.
I love you, forever.
A grin spread across his lips. His eyes darted
up to Reed’s, excitement filling his heart.
“I know, baby. I saw it and wanted to say something, so badly. We
engraved the same words and I do love you forever, my Trevor love.”