A Bid For Love

and headed back out to the kitchen.
    "What's all this, darlin'?" Bright eyes gleamed as Scott paused at the foot of the stairs, taking in the wine and the stack of china serving dishes. "I thought we were having take-out." A smile joined the twinkle in those blue eyes. "Or can you not stand those little cardboard boxes?"
    "Cardboard is hardly befitting such an evening." Asher stepped over to wrap his arms around that solid form and press a kiss to silky lips. "Did you find a place for everything?"
    "God, yeah. Your closets are bigger than my apartment's bathroom." The minty scent of freshly brushed teeth tickled Asher's nose. "You always do Wednesdays up fancy?"
    Just having someone to talk to, some other voice in his home, made all the chaos they'd face worthwhile. That he also loved that same voice with all his heart... Asher found himself chuckling for the sheer joy of it. "Not Wednesdays. Tonight. Your first night here...well, officially." The doorbell rang just as Scott started to no doubt toss another quip. Asher grinned. "Hold that thought. Dinner's here."
    Already paid for over the phone, Asher had only to take the food and send the delivery boy on his way. Scott wandered into the kitchen area, T-shirt and cotton pants clinging to a form that appealed in so many ways now that Asher had set his desires free. "Need a hand, babe?" Like the body, that pleasing voice with its adorable drawl warmed Asher.
    "I'd love some help." All the better to surprise Scott when they walked into the other room. "I could get used to this. This house seemed so big some nights, with only me here."
    A broad and gentle hand settled over his for a moment. "I'll fill up any space you'll let me, honey. I just want to be part of your life."
    It took little time to transfer a fine Italian dinner onto the china, then take it in to the table. Asher savored the rather stunned expression on his lover's face. "How's this for telling you how much I want you here?"
    Scott's lips moved without sound and for once the impish smile faded to blank surprise. After a firm swallow and several blinks, words came. "You did all this while I was in the shower? Darlin'!" The look on his face made all Asher's efforts far more than worth it.
    "Actually, that's not all I did, but the rest will wait a bit." He motioned Scott to a chair. "The rose is unique, by the way. My newest hybrid worked out perfectly. I'm rather tempted to name it Lovers' Dream now."
    Scott considered it a moment, and Asher could actually see when the significance of it hit. "A yellow rose. Like my email." The grin blossomed, but pleased rather than impish. "Like my shirt in Italy. As for the name, well, I feel I've been living my dream the last week."
    "I feel the same." Asher took his seat. "Shall we? No sense letting the hot food get cold and the cold food warm." The answering grin he got nearly had him floating out of his chair.
    Casual conversation, current events, the latest sports standings...but absolutely nothing about what happened at the office. They'd run those rapids as they came. Asher sipped at his wine and wondered how he'd ever considered himself happy alone in this house.
    Scott's food vanished in slow bites, for once the notorious appetite seemingly put on hold. His clear gaze only left Asher rarely and then just to flick to the rose and the table setting. Eventually he noticed the final piece of Asher's carefully laid-out surprise. "What's that, darlin'? You afraid I'd bore you, so you brought some reading to the table?"
    "Actually, no." Asher wiped his mouth and set the linen napkin aside, picking up the leather portfolio and reaching into his pocket at the same time. He handed the portfolio to Scott. "I have something you might want to take a look at. Two somethings, actually, but that one first."
    All color fled Scott's face as he looked at the top page. "Your will! Honey, you're not sick, are you?" Absolute terror filled each word.
    "Good God, no!" Asher reached over and gripped Scott's hand tight. "No, sweetheart. I swear. Maybe you should look at the second document first." He indicated a blue sticky note halfway down the stack of paper. "Then the top one will make more sense. And save you a heart attack."
    Scott's fingers closed around his, the grip so firm it nearly hurt. Scott didn't let go to turn to the domestic partnership form Asher had already filled out and marked. For a moment, Asher feared he really had given his love that heart attack he joked about.