Anthony had just finished up changing the catbox and was washing his hands when his cell phone went off. Even though his legal career was behind him, he still answered on the first ring, crisp and professional.
"Anthony Hewlett-Johnson."
"Mr. Hewlett-Johnson, good morning. This is Gavin Abercrombie of Crown Jewels -"
"Yes, hello." Anthony lowered his voice - Sören was painting in the studio and he wanted to keep this a surprise. "Is it ready?"
"Yes, your ring is done and ready for pickup."
"Excellent." Anthony's face lit up. "I'll be there soon, thank you!"
"You're quite welcome, Mr. Hewlett-Johnson. I hope you're pleased with it when you see it."
"I'm sure I will be. Thanks again!"
After the call ended, Anthony's next order of business was to make a reservation for dinner. He went out on the deck to do this, even more out of Sören's earshot.
Once the table was booked, Anthony came back in the house and gave the kittens some love, who cried at him like he'd been gone for hours instead of just a few minutes, and then he paused in the door of the studio room and cleared his throat.
Sören looked up - he was still working on that seascape painting. "Hi."
"Hi. I'm going out for a drive and a run."
"OK." Sören scowled a little - Anthony knew Sören was still concerned about the anxiety - but then he gave an encouraging smile. "Have fun."
"Thanks. And, Sören?"
"Jæja."
"I'm taking you on a date tonight. I know you hate getting dressed up, so I apologize in advance, but this is a fancy place that will expect you to wear a tie."
Sören rolled his eyes and gave an exaggerated groan, but then he smiled and nodded. "OK. It's nice of you to take me someplace so, ah... swanky? Is that the word?"
Anthony laughed at the word "swanky" in Sören's accent, and then he blew Sören a kiss. "You're worth it, love." He gave a little wave as he walked off. "See you in awhile."
The jeweler was sitting in the front of the shop when he arrived, and rose up right away, leading him behind the counter. "Right then. If you don't like it, I can make changes for a fee..."
"Let's see it first," Anthony said.
Anthony had paid a handsome sum for a custom engagement ring - a platinum band set with three diamonds. The center diamond was set in a North Star, four larger points and four smaller points. It was exactly how Anthony wanted it. "It's amazing work," he said sincerely.
"Thanks, laddie." Abercrombie smiled. "Although, you ought to have seen the ring I did for another fella recently. It was my most complex piece yet - the gentleman designed it, but it was a tough order to follow. He wanted emeralds, not diamonds. Like the Auryn from Neverending Story... well, never mind, you don't want to hear about all of that."
Abercrombie put the ring in a black ring box, then got out a blue gift box. Anthony waved his hand. "There's no need for the gift box, just the ring box will do." He took out his wallet - he'd paid half as a deposit up front, and now he was paying the other half. He also pulled out a hundred pound note, handing it to the jeweler. "A tip for your fine work, and getting it done so quickly."
"Thank you laddie, that's very generous. Anytime you want to come back for more, I'll give you a ten percent loyalty discount..."
Anthony didn't see himself as getting into the habit of buying jewelry regularly, as Sören didn't wear a lot of it, just his piercings and earrings, but Anthony gave a polite thanks anyway.
He fought the urge to skip out to his car, feeling downright giddy. Nervous - while the kittens were a positive sign of long-term commitment, there was still a chance Sören could say no. But giddy with the possibility of yes. He loved Sören so much his heart hurt, and he hoped the ring would express that. You are my fire, my guiding light.
_
Anthony waited on the couch in a black suit, white shirt and black tie, and when Sören finally came down the hall, Anthony let out a low whistle of appreciation. Though he liked Sören as-is - a bit of rough, his wild boy - he nevertheless thought Sören cleaned up nicely, looking dapper in a charcoal grey vest and black trousers, black tie and white button-down, though he was still wearing his Doc Martens, which Anthony knew Sören would never stop wearing. Sören had some of his curls pulled back in a tail, the rest hanging loose.
Sören gave a twirl. "We ready?"
"Yes, I'm hungry." Anthony winked at Sören. "And food sounds good, too."
Sören giggled, crinkled his nose and bit his lower lip. Then his eyes widened and he put up an index finger. "Forgot something," Sören said, and dashed down the hall to his studio. Anthony wondered what it could be - especially when it was in his studio and Sören wasn't gone long - but his curiosity was distracted when Sören came back and took his hand. Anthony's heart beat a little faster as they walked to the Audi and Anthony got behind the wheel. I'm doing this. I'm really doing this. I'm going to ask him to marry me. This is really happening. A shiver went down Anthony's spine, arms breaking out in gooseflesh under his suit.
At the restaurant, Anthony had the pan seared hake served with tomato confit, spinach, asparagus, and shellfish bisque, and Sören had barbecue duck breast with burnt raspberries, hazelnuts, and pickled kohlrabi. They ordered glasses of Botter Prosecco Spumante, and Anthony kept looking into the bubbly champagne, wondering how or why people even proposed with a ring in the glass.
Throughout dinner Anthony reached under the table to touch the ring box in his pocket, both as an assurance it was still there, and to try to motivate himself to pop the question. But they were hardly alone in the restaurant, and Anthony was getting increasingly nervous about proposing in front of a full house of other people, making a scene, and getting all emotional. It was something he could handle better in front of a few strangers, but not a restaurant full.
And so it was that when they left the restaurant and got in the car, Anthony still hadn't popped the question. He wanted to kick himself, but he knew, too, timing was everything. Proposing in a restaurant wasn't just making a scene in front of a lot of strangers didn't feel romantic enough, and putting a ring in champagne sounded like a recipe for disaster. The expensive and delicious dinner had been romantic - Anthony liked spoiling Sören, especially knowing Sören came from a rough, working-class background - but Sören deserved something else. Just like a plain engagement band had seemed too ordinary.
"I feel like I need some air after all that food," Anthony said to Sören. "You agree? You want to go for a walk?"
"Can we walk along the beach and watch the sunset?" Sören asked.
Anthony grinned. "That sounds perfect."
The sky was on fire tonight, a blaze of red, orange, pink and gold that reflected into the sea. Hand in hand, Sören and Anthony walked along the pebbled shore, watching the tide roll in; the salt breeze felt good after the heat of the restaurant and the fullness of the meal. Anthony admired Sören's beauty, and when Sören caught him looking Anthony grinned and took both Sören's hands in his. They paused in their tracks then - the guitarist was just a couple meters away and he was playing. Sören leaned on Anthony and they listened to him, with Anthony petting Sören's curls, kissing the top of Sören's head, rubbing his nose in Sören's hair and breathing in the spicy-sweet floral Omega scent.
Anthony's eyes met the guitarist's, and the man smiled at him - god, he's gorgeous, Anthony thought to himself, a flutter in his stomach. The music paused, and the guitarist looked at him, long dark hair streaming in the breeze, silver eyes intense, as if to say, Go on, then.
"Sören," Anthony husked.
"Hm?"
He let go of Sören's hands, and pulled him into a deep, hungry kiss. The guitarist began to play, singing softly along with the chords.
Take me now, baby, here as I am
Pull me close, try and understand
Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
Love is a banquet on which we feed
Sören's hands roamed over Anthony's chest and then a hand was stroking his face, as Sören looked up at him and Anthony looked into Sören's eyes, his lips parting as his breath caught like he was seeing Sören for the first time, seeing his entire world.
He took one hand off Sören's waist and reached into his pocket for the ring box.
Come on now try and understand
The way I feel when I'm in your hands
Take my hand come undercover
Anthony got on one knee; Sören saw him holding something.
"Sören. Will you marry me?"
They can't hurt you now
Can't hurt you now, can't hurt you now
Sören's laughter rang out and he nodded vehemently just before pulling out a ring box from his pocket, revealing the very ring Gavin Abercrombie had described that morning - two snakes in the shape of the Auryn with emerald eyes, flanked by golden flowers, a larger emerald in the center. "I was going to ask you."
Anthony smiled so hard his face hurt, feeling a surge of euphoria. "Great minds."
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
They exchanged rings - Anthony was pleased by Sören's creativity, the ring a nod to the painting Sören had made of him, the painting a nod to Anthony's love of gardening and nature - and then Anthony twirled Sören around before kissing him hard. They were both crying a little now, and they continued kissing and petting each other, rocking together through the rest of the song.
When it was over, the guitarist called to them. "Congratulations, you two."
Sören grinned and so did Anthony. "Takk," Sören replied.
"Thank you," Anthony told him. "That was... incredible... by the way. You've got such a lovely voice."
"You do. You should go on one of those idol shows or something," Sören said.
The guitarist looked down with a little smile, shook his head, and said, "Thank you, but no. Celebrity isn't what it's cracked up to be."
"OK, but it seems a crime for the entire world to not hear that voice." Sören meant it. "And that was brilliant timing with the song." He looked at Anthony. "We should play that at our wedding." He looked back at the guitarist. "You should play that at our wedding."
The guitarist laughed. "We'll see. Now get out of here, you crazy kids."
"Who are you calling a kid?" Anthony snapped. "You don't look that old yourself..."
The guitarist walked off, waving, and Sören and Anthony also waved, before Anthony put an arm around Sören and marched him to the house. On the walk there Anthony kept admiring his ring - how much love had gone into the design. He was deeply touched knowing Sören had been intending on proposing to him as well tonight, that Sören was just as sure of this as he was.
The fierce, passionate love coursing through him made him randy, and as soon as they were inside, Anthony slammed Sören against the wall, kissing him hard. They were both hard, rubbing against each other.
"Anthony." Sören's pupils were blown wide, a hungry look on his face, the floral spice of his Omega scent touched by musk and woodsmoke. There was one more thing they hadn't done since the knife attack...
Anthony kicked off his brogues and Sören kicked off his boots and they undid their belts, trousers and boxer-briefs pooling to the floor. Then Anthony lifted Sören up, with Sören's back against the wall, and Sören wrapped his arms and legs around him, holding on tight. Sören was already drenched with slick, and Anthony sank into him easily.
With the wall to support Sören, Anthony rocked into him and Sören bucked back at him. "God, I love you," Sören moaned between kisses.
"I love you." Anthony shivered, and let out a grunt as he felt his knot swelling.
Sören let out a little whimper. "Fuck, you feel so good like this..."
"I love that I can take you against the wall again." Anthony nibbled Sören's lower lip before kissing him hard. "That I can fuck you just like this." Anthony kissed Sören deep. "Mine."
"Oh god, Anthony..." Sören's nails dug into him through his blazer. "Take me... take what's yours..."
"Mine. My Sören." Their eyes met. "My husband. My love." Anthony kissed him again.
Sören moaned, and Anthony started to thrust faster, harder. He was close, and he badly needed to come, but he wanted Sören to come first. Needed Sören to come like this, taking back what was stolen from them, taking back what was theirs, his... "I belong to you too," Anthony whispered.
"Yes." Sören kissed him. "Always."
Then Anthony bit the hollow of Sören's neck and shoulder, claiming. Sören cried out and started clenching around him, grasping and squeezing him again and again, heat and a flood of wetness. Sören spurted onto Anthony's shirt and tie and Anthony didn't even care. He kissed Sören deeply, letting Sören taste the blood of the claiming bite, and Sören whimpered into the kiss. Anthony answered with a deep grunt of his own, spending into Sören, thrusting once, twice, three times as he soared and his soul crashed into Sören's, and they crashed into the clouds, ripping them asunder with fiery light.
"Oh my god." Sören was shaking against him, even his breath was shaking. Their hearts were racing in the same rhythm.
Still fused together by Anthony's knot, Anthony carried Sören to the couch and Sören sat on his lap, Anthony's knot inside him, and Anthony cradled him, petting. The kittens climbed up on them, purring along with Anthony.
Sören dozed off, and was roused back to consciousness a few minutes later by Anthony letting out a little gasp, realizing. "Oh god, I have to tell Mum and Dad..."
"Later."
"You're right. I can call them tomorrow..."
"No I mean like, later later. You know how your mum likes to fuss and I don't know about you, but I'd rather have a simple, quiet wedding. It's bad enough I'm gonna have to wear a suit." Sören made a face; Anthony couldn't help laughing. "I think we ought to plan a date and a location first, then tell your parents 'this is the time and place.'"
"Hmm, you're right." Anthony frowned slightly, also knowing how Elaine was - she meant well. That was the problem. He looked at Sören. "How soon do you want to do this..."
"Well, I'd like it to be soon, honestly. I don't see how a long engagement won't show us anything about each other we don't already know, you know? Besides, the longer we wait, the more time your mother will have to plan. So we want to give everyone just enough notice to come out to do the thing, but not so much notice that our plans get overrun by your mother's plans."
"Good thinking." Anthony nodded. He spent a few moments considering, scrunching his nose a little, and then he felt the light go off in his head. "November, sometime? That's two months away, a fall wedding sounds romantic, and our honeymoon will be during your birthday."
"OK." Sören's eyebrows shot up. "Oh god, we're gonna do a proper honeymoon...?"
"Yes, and I'd like to spoil you for your birthday by taking you somewhere, besides. So you can be thinking about that. In the meantime..." Anthony kissed him. "I'd like you to think about something else. Like what every night is going to be like, from now on." Anthony kissed him harder, and Sören moaned into the kiss, moaning again when Anthony took Sören's cock in his hand, stroking it back to life.
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