A Bid For Love

Scott's color flamed only to flee again. "You...you want us to be...permanent? Legally permanent?"
    Any more endearments died on his lips. "Isn't that what you'd hoped for?" Panic welled up. Surely, after all the trouble Scott'd gone to, all he'd said... Asher felt his hand spasm over the last part of his surprise. Well, shit. May as well make a total ass of myself and get it over with. He brought his hand up on the table and laid his offering on top of the legal documents. "I'm sorry, Scott. I guess maybe I jumped the gun a little. I just thought, since you wanted to move in here..." His throat dried up and he fought to keep his emotions in check.
    A wide-eyed gaze settled on the box. Scott reached for it and had to release Asher's hand to open it. The black platinum band with its gold inlay said so much. Or at least Asher thought it had. But then, he'd never been as good at reading people outside of criminal investigations.
    Scott lifted his gaze from the box and straight to Asher. "You bought me a ring?" Breathy words pushed out, obviously difficult. "A wedding ring?"
    "Well, I..." Damn it all. What the hell game was this, anyway? His temper struggled to get past the calm facade. "Yes. I'm sorry. It's all right if you don't want it..." God, he needed to move before he threw another punch. He stood and gathered their plates. "Never mind. Just forget I said anything."
    Now the kitchen felt too small. Hell, the whole planet felt like a vise squeezing his lungs. I don't understand. Why the hell would he put us both through all that crap if...
    Crystal rattled with the violence of Scott pushing back from the table, rushing around it, big body hurtling into Asher's. "God, I love you!" Long arms folded around Asher, nearly crushing him as a frantic kiss nearly consumed him. The velvet box was pressed into his hand. "Put it on me. Like they do at weddings and on TV. Put it on me."
    "What?" Lord, if this was what living with Scott would be like, Asher figured his therapist would be working overtime.
    Heated kisses covered his face. "You're the most wonderful man ever born. Here I was thinking I'd have to wait months, maybe a couple of years, before I dared say anything about us being forever. Terrified I'd go too fast and push you away." The sentences broke, kisses setting off the sections. "Terrified you couldn't love me as much as I love you. Not this fast and this hard. And then you do this. God, baby!"
    "Wait." Asher finally took Scott by the shoulders and eased him back a bit. "You're saying yes? But...at the table...I thought..." He closed his eyes before burning tears escaped. "Oh, love...I hate to admit it, but I wondered if maybe...after all..."
    Gentle thumbs caressed his cheeks, his temples. "What? What did you think? That I'd say no? That I wasn't ready? Yes, I'm saying yes. I'm damn near singing it." The atomic joy in Scott's smile half-blinded Asher. "I know it's been fast, darlin'. Fast and hard, like I said. We haven't taken a minute of it slow. You're allowed to not be sure. That's why I couldn't get my tongue to work. I couldn't believe something this good was really happening. I wasn't teasing, baby, just in shock."
    "For a minute I thought it really was all just a game." He had to lean against the counter before his knees gave out. "I thought you really had the whole damn building in on the joke, though how even you could mastermind that..." Tears won the battle as he felt them warm his cheeks. "Scott, I'm sorry I ever doubted you. We can wait on the paperwork if you want. I don't need a certificate. I just need you."
    "Darling." Hurt appeared for an instant before understanding settled in place. "I would never screw with your heart so cruelly. But when all the others did--stuff I didn't stop them from doing--I can get where you'd feel that way." Scott's breath shivered out in a long exhale. "It's all right, honey. I do understand. And I should've stood up to them and told them to leave you alone years ago. I didn't. And I'm sorry." Satin lips pressed to Asher's forehead. "I think we're both going to need some time. Me to earn your forgiveness and you to learn to trust. And it looks like we're going to have our whole lives to take care of that." The velvet box settled into Asher's palm again. "Put your ring on me, Asher. Make it so everyone knows I'm yours."
    "Are you absolutely sure?" His hands shook as he opened the small box, the titanium ring cool against his fingers. "I just-- Are you