Robert smiled at Landon’s sweet attempt at making sure he didn’t grow too melancholy being there. A place Landon had asked to see, one Robert hadn’t been back to since the same day turnaround trip he’d taken for the dedication and official opening.
“We’ve been married for over twenty hours. What’s your assessment so far?”
“Honest?” Landon’s chin hit his chest, pausing for a moment. “I’m so in love with you I can’t quite process it all.” The confession was whispered in that sexy, husky tone Robert loved. Landon sounded vulnerable and unsure, reflecting Robert’s exact feelings. He could hear people downstairs. Since the library had opened, it had been surprisingly busy, more so than anyone had anticipated. Their conversation had turned intimate, maybe too much so for prying ears, and Robert left Landon there, going to the bedroom door to shut and lock them inside the room.
“You have to know I feel that same way.” Robert started back for Landon who had turned his way, leaning against the window’s edge. “I say this cautiously, but I’m beginning to understand how my daddy died so quickly. I realize I had no say with how it was going to end for him.” Robert motioned between the two of them, struggling to find the right words. “I can’t imagine the depth of how this will grow between us over forty years if we’re already here.”
“I want more than forty years,” Landon automatically said, the blurt maybe a surprise to him as his eyes widened at the revelation.
“Me too. I want forever.” Robert had never been surer of anything in his life. Robert came within inches of Landon, standing before his husband who looked concerned.
“Do you think they’ll repeal marriage for us?” Landon asked. “Our country has a history of doing shitty things like that.”
“I don’t know, but it won’t change anything for us. That’s a big reason for what Autumn took care of today. I want you cared for throughout your life.”
Landon didn’t say a word, he just took Robert’s hand and turned back to the window, bringing Robert’s arm around his waist again.
“I added you as my beneficiary. It’s small, kind of embarrassing compared to some of the numbers I saw today, but it’s yours.”
Robert grinned at the back of Landon’s head. Just knowing Landon had made sure he was taken care of in case anything happened filled him with a deep completeness.
He didn’t want to dampen their conversation, and all this talk of possible death seemed a bit morbid, so he changed the subject, pulling away to look around the room. Robert went for the enormous king-size bed, running his fingers over the bedspread he remembered from his youth.
“So many items in the house were found saved in the attic. I remember this bedspread. I was young, like four or five. I remember hearing noises. Their door was shut, and I thought something was wrong. I tried to get inside the room, but the door was locked. I ran for Autumn. We listened outside the door, and Autumn swore something was terribly wrong. She banged on the door. We were crying…” He stopped talking, remembering their fear for their fathers. His daddy opened the door in his robe, his face all red. Robert hadn’t thought of that memory in so long and wasn’t sure he’d ever reconciled what they were doing inside this room until right that minute.
Landon came toward him, a big grin on his face. “I caught my dad checking out my mom’s butt when I was about five. I’m pretty sure by second grade I figured it all out. My best friend’s older brother taught us all about sex. I couldn’t understand why anyone would ever do something like that. It seemed gross.”
“I was pretty sheltered,” Robert said, letting Landon walk right into him, that naughty smirk on his face. “I didn’t have sex for the first time until I was in college.”
“Top or bottom?”
“Top.”
“Yeah, me too.” Landon’s grin enchanted him. “How have we not discussed our firsts in all this time?”
Maybe because he liked to pretend Landon hadn’t known another man before him. Which of course sounded insane.
“Your size fits a big house like this.” Robert ran his hands down Landon’s muscular arms. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts as he looked in that direction.
“Hang on,” Robert called out, clasping Landon’s hand, keeping him in place when he started for the door. “It means the world to me that you made me your beneficiary, that you want to give me access to your world. Thank you.”
Landon looked uncomfortable, but resigned when he said, “I told Autumn I wanted to put my paycheck into the joint account you started. I send money home to my parents every month. If something happens to me, I’d need you to keep that going. I don’t send much, but it helps them.” Robert had already learned about Landon’s generosity from his uncle then again when a notification popped up on his phone while Robert had been holding it, a text from his mother, thanking him for the money.
“Landon, keep your money…” The fierce look he got immediately had him changing the direction of his words. “Whatever you want to do. Send them more if it helps. We’re in this together now.”
Landon nodded, letting out a pent-up breath. The subject of money always weighed heavily on Landon, who left his hold and went toward the bedroom door. Right before his guy pulled it open, he tossed a cocky, teasing grin over his shoulder with a gleam in his eye making Robert know something was coming, he just didn’t know what.
Landon yanked it open wide and hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward Robert.
