He shot to his feet. “Please excuse me, Mr. Kapra. I have something I need to do.”
Zander came to his feet and waved him away. “Please. Get lost. I have an MMA fight to attend.”
Ivan didn’t hear a word Zander said. His mind was already locked on a plan to own Winter for good. He had a few stops to make and he wouldn’t make it to Silver Taproom for his usual five thirty visit. As much as he hated that, Ivan had bigger plans in mind than a single drink in a dingy bar. If he got his way, Winter could hand him a drink from their living room every night for the rest of their lives without serving another soul. A nervous flutter got him moving. It was possible he was too late. He may have already ruined everything. There was no time to lose. He loved Winter. Ivan needed to do something about it.
Winter didn’t go straight home. He dipped inside the market down the street and grabbed a six pack. There was more than half a bottle of Jack in his freezer, but Winter planned to be three sheets to the wind by ten and he didn’t want to go back out tonight. Winter wanted to forget. He needed to get blackout drunk, cry, and break things. This was his mourning period. Winter intended to fully immerse himself in it.
His steps slowed as he reached his front door. It wasn’t shut all the way. He had always been told to back away and call the police if he suspected a break in. The thing was, he had been such a mess since Ivan walked away that he wasn’t a hundred percent certain he had pulled the door closed behind him on his way out earlier. Plus, he didn’t really value his life at the moment. If there was anyone inside his apartment, they had chosen the right person on the right day, because he was ready to throw down.
Winter pushed the door open way harder than necessary. He caught a quick glimpse of Ivan boxing up his things before the door bounced back and closed in his face from the force of his shove. Winter quickly turned the knob and rushed inside the apartment. His mind hadn’t been playing tricks on him. Half his living room was already in boxes and Ivan was on his knees.
Ivan sat back on his heels as Winter stepped inside. “Hey, gorgeous. You’re home early.”
He had many, many questions. “I quit my job.” Even Winter couldn’t believe how calm he sounded.
Ivan smiled. He looked so goddamn sexy with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows and just fucking being there. “Good. I’ll stand by whatever you want to do, of course. But I honestly prefer it for my husband to stay at home and relax.”
“You have a husband?” Winter heard himself. He sounded broken as hell, but shit. He had spent a month in Aspen with Ivan.
Ivan snorted. “You’re very determined to not see your worth, aren’t you? I was referring to you, sexy.”
Winter blinked. He was feeling pretty fucking thick at the moment. Nothing made sense. Half his things were in boxes and Ivan talked about husbands, yet he had obviously dumped Winter already. Winter stared at Ivan in silence, trying desperately to puzzle everything out.
Ivan stood and swiped at the knees of his pants before closing the distance between them. Winter couldn’t tear his gaze away. He didn’t as much as blink. Not even when Ivan kissed his cheek. “I love you, angel. Please stop looking so heartbroken.”
Winter’s fingers lightly stroked Ivan’s stomach as Ivan’s words slowly sank in. “I love you too.” Winter didn’t need to think about it. The words simply burst from his lips at Ivan’s confession.
He felt Ivan’s lips shape into a smile against his cheek. “Do I need to put together another treasure hunt or will you take this ring and agree to marry me just because I’m asking?”
At Ivan’s question, Winter dropped his gaze. Ivan held a ring between his fingers. It was a simple gold band with a small series of diamonds set inside. “Holy shit.” Winter dropped the bag he held. His hands shook as he reached for the ring. “You’re really serious.”
Ivan cocked his head to one side and eyed Winter. “I’m always serious.”
Winter had known that, but still. The shock was immense. He slipped the ring on. His gaze never wavered from his hand. “I thought you were done with me. Now you want to get married.”
“Winter.”
At the sound of his name on Ivan’s lips, Winter tore his gaze away from the ring to focus on Ivan’s face. Ivan looked sad. That yanked Winter from his shock. “Tell me how to fix it,” Winter said without thought. If Ivan needed him, Winter would give him anything. Ivan felt like Winter’s only family. That month together had shaped them into something that Winter couldn’t explain. Whatever bond they had formed, it felt unbreakable.
“Marry me.”
“Of course.” Even Winter heard how flippant he sounded, but really. Ivan should have realized Winter would never tell him no.
A smile exploded across Ivan’s face a half second before Winter found himself in Ivan’s arms. As always, his kiss blew Winter away. In fact, everything about Ivan blew Winter’s mind. He had been so sure they were over for good. Now he wanted to climb Ivan like a tree and cling to him forever. His eyes burned. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I’m sorry,” Ivan said between kisses. “I love you. I should have said that yesterday instead of leaving.” Ivan ran his fingers through Winter’s hair and hung on as he pressed his forehead to Winter’s. “Please forgive me.”
Tears filled Winter’s eyes. He had never been a crier but losing Ivan had broken him. Winter couldn’t go back to being alone. Ivan had filled him with love and sound. The silence was deafening now. He wouldn’t survive it. “I love you. Please don’t leave me again.”
Ivan nodded and pressed his lips to Winter’s forehead. “I told you. You’re mine. I will always take care of you.”
Winter believed him. Air filled his lungs. He knew he was safe. Ivan was his shelter. His home. As long as they lived, they would be together. Neither of them would ever be alone again. This was forever. It had been their destiny since Winter served Ivan that first drink. They had been fated to meet. Now, nothing would break them.
If you’re interested in reading the entire Sugar Daddy series, you can find it here.
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About the Author
Charity Parkerson is an award-winning and multi-published author with several companies. Born with no filter from her brain to her mouth, she decided to take this odd quirk and insert it in her characters.
*Eight-time Readers' Favorite Award Winner
*2015 Passionate Plume Award Finalist
*2013 Reviewers' Choice Award Winner
*2012 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Paranormal Romance
*Five-time winner of The Mistress of the Darkpath
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