Page 118 of By Rude Strength

“Anytime.” LA glanced around at the paint smeared everywhere and drying between them. “Sorry about your floor.”

“It’s all right.” Cass grinned, lifting his hips to pull out the canvas. It was a wildly smeared kaleidoscope of colors but mostly green. “Seems we made a bit of a mess.”

“A mess? What are you talking about?” LA laughed. “This is art!” He gestured to the canvas. “You know I could totally sell that to Georgina.”

“You are not selling our sex painting.”

“Oh? You wanna hang it up?”

“Maybe I do.” Cass turned up his nose. “After all, it is a very nice souvenir, don’t you think?”

“Of the first time we fucked?”

“The first time we made love,” Cass corrected. “And the first time I said I love you.”

LA’s brain didn’t process the statement. “But you didn’t say…” His heart thumped and he stared at Cass. “Are you saying…”

Cass purred, his eyes gleaming as he said, “Lawrence Alexander Holmes, I love you. So very much. For the man you were, the man you are, and the man you want to be. You mean the world to me, and I am so, so very happy that you’re mine.”

LA swallowed hard and he pulled Cass in for a deep kiss. “I love you too, Cass Duckey.”

Cass squeaked. “Really?”

LA chuckled. “Yes.”

“Really really? You love me?”

“Yes!” LA laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised. You’re amazing. My life wouldn’t be the same without you, baby. I wouldn’t be me without you helping me remember who the fuck that is.”

“I love you,” Cass whispered.

“I love you too,” LA whispered back.

Cass squeaked again.

“Better get used to hearing it,” LA teased. “Because I have a feeling we’re gonna be saying it a lot.”

“It’s wonderful.” Cass sighed happily. “I am very, very happy.” He glanced down. “And sticky. And crusty. And, hmm, we should probably take a shower.”

“What? You don’t enjoy the crunch of drying jizz and paint?”

“Ew.” Cass made a face. “Shower. Now.”

LA chuckled as they got up, reaching for Cass’s paws to help steady him. “Shower. Dinner. Hmm, and thenA Knight’s Tale?”

Cass squeaked softly. “Really?”

“Well, yeah. We’ve already watched every Alan Tudyk movie and TV show and everything ever. Figured it would be nice to put on a classic.” LA smiled. “Plus, it’s the first one we watched together.”

“I would like that very, very much.” Cass hugged LA close. “I love you too, Elly.”

“I love you too, Cassie.” LA smiled. “Now come on. My ass cheeks are gonna glue themselves together if we don’t wash up.”

Cass grimaced. “Ew.Rude.”

“You love me anyway.”

“Yes. Very, very much.”