Page 76 of Operation: Ogre

“You’re not.”

“Easy for you to say, mister business owner who knows exactly what he wants.”

I huffed a laugh. “Fine. I know what I want to do, but you’re not falling behind. Look at the school doctor. Dr. Lee has reinvented himself, and he’s not the only one. We have older than typical freshmen and transfers. Like those orc twins. The Moth Boy who wants nothing more to do with television. It’s never too late to do something different with your life.” I nudged his chin up so I could see him. “Chris, you are not falling behind.” I kissed him. “You’re perfect where you are.”

“On your lap?”

Chuckling, I replied, “I’m not mad about that, but I was more talking about in a general sense.” I kissed his ear. “There’s no rush. None. And I will be with you through it all, Christopher Kim.”

A flush rushed over his cheeks. “You promise?”

“I promise. Nothing is going to make me leave you. You’re it for me,” I confessed.

Chris turned around, almost kneeing me in the crotch. His brows were furrowed as he stared at me. Slowly, he asked, “What do you mean by that?” Before I could say anything, he continued in a rush, “I know you said we’d be friends forever. That nothing would change, but…” He swallowed. “But what you just said sounds more romantic. More… mate-like… maybe… perhaps…”

I stopped his rambling with a kiss as I gathered every ounce of courage I possessed. Cupping his cheeks, I said in a thick voice, “I’m in love with you.”

His mouth dropped open.

“I love you, Chris. I never thought I could feel about someone the way I feel about you. I love you so fucking much, I can’t believe it. And you’re my mate, if you’ll accept me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

He just continued to stare at me, his eyes wide and his mouth agape.

Pain plucked at my heart. “Babe, I need you to say something. Am I making a fool of myself?”

“No,” Chris blurted right before he crashed his mouth into mine. “Fuck, big guy,” he moaned against my lips. “You are so damn romantic.”

Clasping his hips, I asked, “Is that yes, you like me?”

“No.”

Tears instantly burned the backs of my eyes as a shattering rang in my ears.

He smiled. “I love you, Jaxon Bolder.”

“Chris,” I warbled.

Nuzzling my cheek, he whispered, “I was afraid of us changing because I can’t live without you, Jaxon. But I also can’t help being in love with you either. Though knowing you love me and want me…” He shook his head, his hair tickling me. “It makes me unafraid. It makes me brave. You make me brave.” He claimed my mouth with his. “I want to spend my life with you. Loving you. Making you laugh. Being with you.”

With a low groan, I yanked him as close as possible. “I want it all. Every moment, good or bad. I want everything, Chris.”

“Good.” He possessed my mouth again, and I melted into his confident movements. His voice low, he promised, “I’m never letting you go.”

Epilogue One

Christopher

Nine months later

“Is there something wrong with my knees? You can be honest with me,” Jaxon suddenly said, making me look up from my computer.

Blinking, I stared at him for a moment. Where in the actual fuck had that come from? I leaned back on my parents’ couch in sunny California and replied honestly, “I have never, not once, thought there was something wrong with your knees. They are lovely knees.”

“Your grandmother has said, multiple times, that my knees are cute.”

I burst into laughter and yanked Jaxon down on the couch next to me. My grandmother and grandfather were visiting from South Korea, and she was very taken with my boyfriend. My grandfather liked Jaxon as well, but he wasn’t as effusive with his affection. He was more normal with my boyfriend. I smiled. That word still made me so damn happy. Taking his hand, I snuggled against his side. “The knee thing makes sense.”

“Oh, is it a Korean thing?”