Page 22

The water was crystal clear and cold.

The sun was hot, even after my dip.

I slid my shades and hat on and glanced over at Skyler.

He was standing up on his own paddleboard, and behind him, lush trees lined the bank.

Cyprus, pines, and oaks dripping Spanish moss.

Low brush, shrubs, and ferns filled in every gap.

I knew better, but it felt like we were out in the middle of nowhere.

“Crow! Crow! Look.” He pointed to a large floating mass of weeds, seagrass, and lilies.

I paddled a little closer to see what he was so excited about.

Deep in the center, a tiny alligator floated.

It would have been easy to miss.

“You have eagle eyes.”

“Shh…Don’t bother him.” He paddled away.

I had to get him his own board.

He wasn’t sure about it at first, but he enjoyed paddling independently and not being attached to me.

And I loved seeing him do it.

The joy on his face.

He was so relaxed.

And after several months of difficult cases, he needed the break.

Since he officially moved in with me, I tried to make it as relaxing as possible for him.

Drinks at the pool, soaking in the tub, or just sitting in the living room together.

He read while I researched the latest investment opportunities with the fireplace on and the TV off.

But there was nothing like getting away from everything out here in nature.

We’d arrived early so we could spend time on the water before dinner.

I’d rented an RV for this trip.

No fucking on an air mattress this time.

“Ready to head back?” I asked, stomach growling.

I had burgers ready to pop onto the grill at our campsite.

“No. But let’s go ahead and turn around. We can take our time getting back. Right?”

“Sure.”

Skyler hooted and jumped in the water.

He was clever enough to strap his board to his ankle so he could swim around without worrying about it floating off or needing my help to hold it.

I shouldn’t have been surprised; my boy liked all kinds of straps.

We now had an assortment at home.

And we often put them to good use.

We also had been back to Afterglow several times, but not to the swing room.

That was going to be a hard pass.

Even if Skyler wanted to try it again, I wouldn’t let him.

That had scared the ever-loving life out of me.

But it had also been a turning point for our relationship.

When we returned home, we made sweet, slow love, and Skyler finally admitted he loved me.

But he also laid down the law.

We now had a once-a-week check-in on how we were feeling and what was going on with the relationship.

When I shared well, he rewarded me by riding my dick.

Nothing like watching him pleasure himself like that.

Fuck!

I was so gone for him.

And I had a huge surprise.

We hadn’t been together long, but there was no way I was letting him get away from me now.

After swimming a bit, Skyler climbed back on his board and paddled over to me.

He sat and propped his feet on my board, so I sat as well, and we drifted along.

I only paddled to avoid crashing into the trees, but mostly we stayed in the middle.

It was late summer, nearly fall, but still hot with plenty of other people on the river.

“This reminds me, I saw the pictures Levi’s nephew took at the PRIDE trip. He got a few great shots of me.”

“I’d love to see them.”

“I’ll send them to you.” I could practically see his brain churning as he leaned back with his hands behind him to prop himself up.

“What’s on your mind, Skyler?”

“I don’t know. Just. We don’t have any pictures of us together.”

“We’ll get some. Promise.”

“I’m not much on selfies. But…”

“Right. We’ve been together too long to not have any. You know Warner and Cody are coming out tomorrow. We’ll get them to take some.”

“Sounds great. But…”

“Out with it already.”

He stuck his tongue out at me.

“I want maybe something more professionally done. Would you do that?”

“Absolutely.” He had my brain spinning.

I could think of a few really good reasons for doing that, but I wasn’t ready to share.

Yet.

“Awesome.” He smiled and the sun lit his beautiful green eyes.

After dinner, we sat in camp chairs in front of the RV and sipped my favorite camping sangria.

I had his surprise in my pocket and was gathering the guts to do it.

“You’re looking pretty smug over there, Daddy Crow.” He tapped my knee with his bare toes.

I loved it when he went barefoot.

I grabbed his toes.

“You have the sexiest feet.”

Skyler scoffed.

“I’m going for a refill. Want one?”

“Sure.” I handed him my plastic cup and watched him cross to the big water cooler filled with punch.

He stuck each cup under the spout, freshening up both drinks.

He came back and handed me one.

“Skyler?”

“Yeah?” He sat and took a sip.

“I love having you here.”

“Me too.”

“Not just here. I love having you in my life.”

He quirked his eyebrow up.

I had his attention.

“I love being in your life, Crow.”

I pursed my lips.

I had more to say but it was all jumbled up in my chest.

He waited me out.

I took a long, deep breath.

“I want you in my life. Forever.” I got up and knelt in front of him.

I pulled the box out of my pocket and handed it up to him.

“I want everything with you. Skyler Liam Baldwin, will you marry me?”

“What the fuck!”

Had I fucked up again?

“No, no, no. Don’t do that with your face.” He sank down to his knees in front of me and grabbed my cheeks.

“You surprised me. I love you, Crow. I’m not going anywhere.” He looked back and forth between my eyes.

“Oh yes, Daddy Crow. I’ll most certainly marry you.”

“I think my heart exploded.” I held my chest with one hand.

Skyler tugged the box out of my other hand and opened it.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Not traditional.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Neither am I.” He flung his hand and the ring back to me.

“Put it on.”

I slid the white gold band on his finger.

It was encrusted with diamonds and peridots.

“It matches your eyes. I had it made especially for you. It is one of a kind. Just like you.”

He jumped forward, landing in my arms.

I would always catch him.

We hugged hard and then he pulled back and cupped my cheek before kissing me softly.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Skyler.” We stood together, still embracing.

“This is the happiest day of my life so far.”

“Mine too.”

“Now, about those pictures you want…”

Thanks for reading Only One Tent .

I hope you fell in love with Skyler and Crow.