Page 23 of Approved (The Dapper Duck #1)

Chapter twenty-threeEpilogue

Eighteen months or so later…

TYLER

“Earl no. Weren’t you supposed to be on your leash? Did your other Daddy believe that you were going to behave yourself?” I picked up the cupcake, then Earl and I headed to the staff room with Yogi at my heels.

I set Earl on the table and let him finish his stolen confection.

West rushed around the corner.

“Have you seen? There he is. I was with the Senator discussing a speech on Capitol Hill covering the laws we are trying to pass. Allison was supposed to sit on the sofa with Earl on his leash. Well, you know, how that turned out.”

He petted the dragon.

“Got yourself a cupcake, did ya?” Earl looked up at him, his face covered in frosting.

Without any comment, West got a towel and wiped Earl clean, like he had done hundreds of times before.

It didn’t matter.

Today, we had an open house where we would feed some donors fancy finger foods.

I then hoped people would pay too much for some donated goods and go home with less money than they arrived with.

Charlie’s Place had helped forty-three teens so far, twelve of them stayed in our rooms for a few days, having run away from a camp with nothing.

We had shelves with clothes, toiletries, and other necessities to set up for kids who needed them.

Many kids were there for a few hours until safe places were found for them.

We had a few dozen households that had been vetted, where they could stay until they were adults, or if they were already over eighteen, they could get out on their own.

We had job resources and a small fund, which allowed us to give them enough to survive for a few months.

Charlie’s place was making a difference in people’s lives.

All of the teens who passed through our doors heard my story and went to therapy.

As far as I was aware, they all continued to care for themselves by coming back to our therapists or going to one of the ones on our list.

I hoped they would reach out in a few years and let me know how their lives were going.

“You’ve got Earl under control?” I asked West while he put his leash back on.

“Yeah, I do.” He pulled me against him and gave me a deep, toe-curling kiss.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Let me go rub elbows for a while longer. That trip to DC will be expensive, so we need to get some extra funds.” I couldn’t believe he was being asked to talk on Capitol Hill, which was huge for the cause.

I was so proud of him.

When we got home several hours later, we headed to bed, where we found Larry and Charlie asleep in the middle.

Yogi had been taken off duty in the car, so he trudged up behind us and went to his bed, spinning around until he settled with a loud sigh.

“I hear you, buddy, it’s been a long day.”

The day-to-day of the foundation was out of our hands.

A wonderful group managed most of the things that kept it running.

Flower Power was incredibly popular, and was something I loved doing.

We still did foot traffic, but weddings and parties were scheduled every weekend.

I had to hire two more full-time people to keep up with our orders, and I promoted Jamie officially to manager.

West climbed into bed beside me, and I snuggled against his chest.

As I lay there, I realized that had he not insisted I get the help I needed, we would probably not be here.

He loved me enough then to push; I was lucky.

Leaning up, I kissed him deeply.

Every time his tongue touched mine, an electric spark would travel along my body, and a lot of it pooled in my groin.

I always wanted and needed him, and tonight wasn’t different.

WEST

I loved it when I could feel Tyler’s desire as he kissed me; it was electric and felt like my entire body was charged.

Tonight wasn’t any different.

We had a few bumps at the beginning of our relationship, but we found our rhythm, and I couldn’t be happier.

Everything I needed in life, I had, which amazed me since I didn’t even think I would meet someone who could put up with me.

While we kissed, I could feel him rubbing his solid shaft against my thigh.

It seems like the longer we are together the hornier for each other we got, after nearly two and a half years we still couldn’t keep our hands off each other.

I thought about the times I would head to work with a sore ass from the pounding he gave me, or covered in hickeys that were impossible to hide.

The sex was amazing.

Even if we didn’t have that, I would think Tyler was perfect for me.

He brought out all my best parts and made me a better man.

I let my tongue tangle with his, soaking in the heat as we battled for dominance.

I pulled back.

“I won’t go to Washington, DC for at least eight months.”

He looked at me.

“Really, we are going to talk about that now?”

I shrugged as he dove back in and claimed my mouth like he was starving.

As I kissed him back, I knew he wouldn’t be happy when I tried to continue the conversation.

His mouth was hot, as I tasted him, knowing how he liked when I sucked his tongue lightly.

Then I pulled back again and looked him in the eye.

“Yeah. It’s a perfect amount of time.” He had an irked look in his eye.

“Well, I was thinking.” He huffed and got out of bed.

“Are you serious right now, I am trying to get you to fuck me and you want to talk. Is this it? You used to always be interested in sex. Has that ended?” Yogi got up and sat next to Tyler while he glared at me, then put his paw on Tyler’s thigh.

My man looked so broken, but I plowed on because I knew in a moment, at least I hoped in a moment, that he would be back in bed with me with a whole lot more enthusiasm.

“Well, I was thinking.”

He huffed.

“What were you thinking, West? Tell me the thing that is so much more important than your cock in my ass?” He said, obviously upset.

“Since we are up in that area, we could spend a few weeks on a honeymoon in Maine. You said you always wanted to spend time in that area in the Spring.”

“I really can’t believe when I am trying to….” He stopped and looked at me.

“What did you just say?”

Holding a ring, I sat up and slipped to the ground on one knee.

“Marry me?”

“You asshole. Yes. Of course. Yes.” He grabbed the ring and shoved it on his finger.

“Oh, it’s very nice. Maine sounds nice. Now can I fuck my fiancé?”

I laughed and pulled him back on the bed with me.

It wasn’t a fancy proposal, but I didn’t feel like it had to be, because we were a little messy.

None of that mattered, though, because together we were perfect.

“As a reward you get to pick whom fucks whom.” He looked at me, obviously pleased with himself.

Over the last year, he had embraced being a little dirtier, and I liked it.

“How am I supposed to decide that? Those are two amazing choices.” He laughed while we started to make out again, the rest of the world forgotten because I had my happily ever after wrapped in my arms.