“I’m good. Just not as fit as I should be. And soon will be at this rate.” He laughed.

  “This hill is bigger than I remember it being,” Levi admitted. “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine. I’m sure the view will be spectacular.”

  And it was. When they reached the pinnacle, it was breathtaking. Marcus could see for miles even on the slightly overcast day.

  “Wow,” he said, tugging Levi into his side. “This is amazing. Thank you for bringing me here.”

  Levi beamed up at him. “I don’t come here too often because, as you know, the drive is quite long, but it’s worth it.”

  Levi had mentioned wanting to go climbing in Yorkshire during one of their conversations, and Marcus had asked Amelia which mountain he liked to climb. Once he had the information, he’d booked them a weekend away. That morning had been the first time he’d woken up in the same bed as Levi, and he couldn’t imagine not doing it again and again.

  Marcus took off his backpack and laid a picnic blanket on the ground. It was chilly and a little windy, but with two backpacks in the corners and Marcus and Levi sitting on the blanket, it would be fine. He pulled out two bottles and two tubs and set them on the ground, then beckoned for Levi to sit with him. With Levi’s back to his front, they drank and ate and talked with the immense view. It was even better than Arthur’s Seat, although that would always have a big place in his heart.

  “Thank you, Daddy.”

  Marcus pressed a kiss to his temple. “You’re welcome, little one. I’m glad you’re letting me join you on these walks. I’ve enjoyed them more than I thought I would.”

  “I just wish we could go to different places so you get to enjoy yourself, too.”

  Levi’s anxiety made visiting tourist attractions more difficult, but Marcus found he didn’t miss them as much as he thought he would. Levi, however, was always worried that he was stopping Marcus from doing things, and so far, nothing Marcus said made him any less concerned.

  He cupped Levi’s jaw, turning his face to him. “I will tell you the same answer every time. I want to spend time with you. It doesn’t matter where that is. It could be on top of a mountain, in a hotel room, at home. It doesn’t matter. As long as you’re with me, I’m happy.”

  “Please tell me if you ever become not okay with it. I’m trying to get better—”

  “You don’t need to get better, Levi, because there’s nothing wrong with the way you are. You’re working hard with your therapist, but I promise you, we’re all good.”

  If anything, Marcus was finding it nice to not have to go places and socialise too much. Levi had allowed Evelyn to visit once, although he was a bundle of nerves the entire time she was there, but it was a step in the right direction. Levi had introduced Marcus to his friends, and they seemed nice. All in all, their relationship was growing in strength every day.

  He’d found it a lot easier to work decent hours now he had Levi in his life. Before, he’d been working stupid hours to get his business off the ground, but he’d found that working those extra hours did nothing but stress him out. Now, he got all that work done in the hours he’d set aside, and what didn’t get done he transferred to the next day. His client base had grown, and he was happy with how it worked, and he arrived at Levi’s in time to cook dinner most nights.

  Levi shivered.

  “Do you want to start back down now?” Marcus asked.

  “Yeah, I think rain is coming, although the forecast said it wasn’t supposed to.” Levi clambered up, helping Marcus to pack the items in their backpacks.

  Marcus held out his hand. “Ready, little one.”

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  The rain reached them just as they arrived at the car, and they threw their bags into the boot and climbed in, laughing.

  “I think we need a bubble bath when we get back to the hotel. What do you think?” he asked his boy.

  “Yay!” Levi clapped, then frowned. “But I’ve left my toys at home.”

  Marcus winked at him. “You might have a surprise when we get back.”

  Levi beamed, and Marcus would never tire of those smiles sent his way. Maybe he spoilt his boy too much, but Levi deserved every last bit.

  Marcus settled behind Levi in the warm water and watched him play with the new squirty animals he’d bought for him. Levi was animal mad, and his apartment had become its own zoo with how many cuddly toys and ornaments he’d gained over the past few weeks. It still amazed Marcus that they had not been together for far longer than the three weeks they had been because it felt like he’d always been a part of Levi’s life, and vice versa.

  He couldn’t imagine life without him and hoped he’d never have to know.

  ****

  Chapter 12

  Levi

  Eighteen months later

  Levi clutched at Amelia’s arm as they stepped out of the hotel room. His stomach was a mass of butterflies, but he was determined to do this. He couldn’t not do this.

  “You’re doing great, Levi,” Amelia said. “Not far to go.”

  “I just need to stare ahead and not look to the side,” he reminded himself of the words his therapist had told him in the run-up to the event.

  “That’s right. There’s nobody here but you, me and Marcus.” Amelia chuckled. “That sounds rather kinky.”

  Levi chuckled despite himself. “Stay away from my Daddy.” He tried to sound menacing but failed miserably.

  “I love you, Levi. Don’t ever change.”

  Levi squeezed her arm, then tensed as the door to the outside appeared. He could see the white voile draping around the area, but he focused straight ahead, seeing Daddy waiting for him. This had been a day he’d been excited for but also dreading, but he refused to ruin it for his Daddy.

  As he walked towards his soon-to-be husband, he thought back to the day Levi had ignored his anxiety and proposed to Daddy.

  They sat at the top of Arthur’s Seat one year to the day from when they met. Levi was a bundle of nerves, as usual, but not because of the number of people that were around them. He wanted to show Daddy how much he loved him and proposing to him at the place where they’d first kissed was the best he could come up with.

  “What’s wrong, little one? You’re rather fidgety today.”

  Levi couldn’t stand it anymore and turned around. “I love you, Daddy,” he whispered. “I know we say the words every day, but I wanted to say them again.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Daddy went to slip his arms around him, but Levi stepped back, making Daddy frown. Levi ignored the people around him and dropped to one knee, fighting to get the ring from his pocket. He heard whispers around him, but he focused solely on Daddy; otherwise, he wouldn’t get through it.

  “I love you. I can’t fully explain how you’ve changed my life, but I hope I show you every day how much I care for you and want you with me. Will you marry me?”

  Daddy grinned and nodded. “Yes. Definitely, yes.”

  Levi rose and slipped the ring on his finger, then Daddy enclosed him in his arms as cheers and claps sounded around them. Levi tensed, but Daddy whispered how much he loved him in his ear, making it okay.

  As the warm summer air brushed over his skin, he stared at Daddy. When they had been planning the wedding, Daddy had said they could have something small with only close friends and family, but Levi had argued that it was a big day, and he wanted everyone important included. When they couldn’t decide how to do it, Helena had enlisted the help of a wedding planner she knew, and an idea was born. Levi got his outdoor wedding, and Daddy got to invite whoever he wanted.

  The guests were sitting on either side of an aisle, but instead of them being in full view of him, they were slightly hidden behind gossamer curtains. It enabled Levi to walk down the aisle and not see the guests easily. It was almost as if he was walking through a tunnel of shimmering fabric with Daddy as his gift at the end.

  Amelia squeezed his hand. “You’re doing well, Levi. Almost there.”

  “I can’t wait to be Levi Evans,” he whispered, staring at the vision of his Daddy in his black tuxedo, which matched his own.

  “Not long now.”

  They reached the front, and Amelia held Levi’s hand until Daddy took over, then she disappeared, and all Levi could see was Daddy. Daddy tightened his grip on Levi’s hand and smiled, mouthing, “I love you.”

  Levi grinned, biting his lip.

  “Good morning,” Brody said.

  When the issue came up of who would officiate the wedding, they’d struggled until Daddy’s brother, Brody, had offered to become ordained so he could do it. Levi had become accustomed to Daddy’s family over the year, so it seemed the perfect answer.

  “We are here to celebrate the joining of Marcus and Levi. It is my pleasure to stand before you as these two men recite their vows, making a promise to one another. Marcus Evans, do you take Levi Campbell to be your husband, in sickness and in health, to honour and support and to love, to comfort and to cherish for all time?”

  “I do,” Daddy said, loud and clear.

  “Levi Campbell, do you take Marcus Evans to be your husband, in sickness and in health, to honour and support and to love, to comfort and to cherish for all time?”

  “I do,” he said, staring into Daddy’s eyes.

  “Please swap rings,” Brody said.

  Evelyn came forward, holding the pillow she nestled the rings on. Daddy took one, and Levi reached for the other. They slid them on each other’s fingers, and Levi’s heart lifted.

  “By the powers vested in me, I pronounce you husbands. You may kiss.”

  Levi could hear the smile in Brody’s voice, but he ignored it in favour of wrapping his arms around Daddy’s neck and kissing him. Wolf whistles drew them apart, but Daddy dropped another kiss on his mouth before pulling back and linking their fingers.

  “Ready?” Daddy whispered.

  Levi inhaled and turned his gaze to the end of the aisle where his mother waited. They’d quickly realised he needed an anchor at each end of the aisle so he wouldn’t focus on the people they walked past. Daddy had been the first, but he couldn’t be there when they walked back after being married, so they’d asked Levi’s mother if she would do it. Isabella had cried and agreed on the spot.

  As they reached her, Isabella drew Levi into her arms and whispered, “I’m so proud of you.”

  Levi kissed her cheek as did Daddy, then they headed into the hotel and back to their suite. Once they locked the door, Levi’s legs turned to jelly, and Daddy caught him before he collapsed to the floor and carried him to the large sofa. Levi snuggled into Daddy’s lap.

  “I’m so proud of you, little one. You managed the entire ceremony without any trouble. You didn’t have to do this, but thank you so much.”

  Levi couldn’t answer because he was shaking too much, but he pressed a kiss to Daddy’s neck while he settled down. His therapist and Daddy had both told him that by holding in his anxiety during the ceremony, he might need some time afterwards to decompress. Levi hadn’t thought he would, but they were right. As always.

  “I think it’s time for a nap,” Daddy said.

  They had arranged for the guests to have lunch without them, and they didn’t have to see anyone else for the rest of the day.

  “Can we have a bath later?” Levi murmured.

  “Definitely. But sleep first.”

  Levi climbed off Daddy, and they headed for the bedroom. He wanted to take his time to undress Daddy because he never tired of exploring his body. With every button he unfastened, he placed a kiss on his exposed skin, and by the time he was down to his boxers, Daddy had started on Levi’s clothes. It was usually the other way around, so it was nice that his Daddy had let him explore.

  When Levi’s shirt slipped from his shoulders, he lay back on the bed and waited. Daddy didn’t disappoint. He crawled up Levi’s body and kissed him, but this was not about sex. They were both tired, and their kisses were reminders—promises that they had all the time in the world to continue.

  Daddy pulled free and tugged at Levi’s trousers. Levi lifted his hips, helping to remove the fabric, and when Daddy covered him again, Levi slid his arms around his neck and enjoyed the leisurely kisses. Rolling Daddy to his back, Levi snuggled into his chest—his favourite position—and settled down to sleep, but a rubber teat pushed at his lips, and he took it in without opening his eyes, sucking gently on the teat of his dummy. They’d found that Levi was his own version of little. Sometimes, he was younger, needing bottles, dummies and nappies, and other times, he was older, wanting to relax with a video game. They’d found their own rules and had gone with them. Levi had, despite his anxiety, friended someone online who was in the lifestyle, and though they had never spoken on the phone or seen each in real life, they were friends. It made things easier to talk about when he couldn’t see the other person.

  The scent of Daddy and the suckling of the dummy soothed him, and he slept.

  ****

  Marcus

  Marcus held Levi as he fell into sleep, the suckling sound making him smile, but he couldn’t sleep himself. He was too excited. He’d married the man of his dreams and could hold him in his arms for days, weeks, months and years to come. Excluding Levi, Marcus would never be as grateful to anyone as he was to Illuminate Matchmaking. He was thankful his sister had signed him up, but for the company to find someone so perfect for him was…everything.

  Who would’ve thought that when he climbed onto that train a year ago, he’d find the man he would want to spend the rest of his life with?

  He would’ve liked to know what had happened with the others on the train, though. He hoped they had as much success as he had. Life with Levi was not what he’d envisaged, but it was so much better than he could’ve expected. It didn’t matter what happened next because as long as Levi was by his side, he could do anything.

  He pressed his lips to Levi’s head and closed his eyes. He doubted he’d sleep, but he was content to lie with Levi in his arms for as long as he was needed.

  If Marcus had his way, it would be forever.

  ****

  I hope you enjoyed Marcus and Levi’s story. The next in the series is Scorch, which follows Riley and Xander as they try and figure out what they’re doing—with each other and with life. And have you caught up with the other books in the series so far? Ignite and Blaze are out in the world for you to read now.

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  Books by Elouise East

  Illuminate Matchmaking

  Ignite

  Blaze

  Kindle

  Scorch

  Club Royal

  Royal Firsts

  Rogue Royal

  Secretive Royal

  Grieving Royal

  Disowned Royal

  Trained Royal

  Awakened Royal

  Commanding Royal

  Boys, Daddies, Snuggles & More

  Need Him

  Trust Him

  Daddy

  Love Me, Daddy

  Soothe Me, Daddy

  Spoil Me, Daddy

  The Complete Daddy Series Box Set

  Love in Flames

  Out of the Frying Pan

  Smokescreen

  Breathing Fire

  Crush

  Love Conquers

  Instant Desire

  Primary Seduction

  Deep Down

  A Crush for Christmas

  Life Support

  Covert Strength

  Love Scene

  Lawful Attraction

  Crush Box Set 1-3

  Crush Box Set 4-6

  Crush Box Set 7-9

  Just A Little Crush

  First Kiss

  He’s Behind You

  A Special Love

  Standalone

  Treehouse Whispers

  Star-Crossed

  Protecting the Thief

  Sizzling Chauffeur

  Elouise R East (taboo)

  Dark & Divergent

  Forbidden Temptation

  Too Many Secrets

  Collide

  When Fantasies Collide

  When Dreams Collide

  When Pleasures Collide

  When Cravings Collide

  About Elouise East

  Elouise East writes sweet and steamy connections in gay romance. She also touches on taboo stories under the name Elouise R East.

  Books that tell the stories where friendship and family are the focal point - be it blood family or chosen - are very important to her. That’s why she includes a variety of personalities, talents, ages, situations and abilities as she believes a story or character needs. She wants her characters to be real, to be relatable, to be free to have whatever views they tell her they have. And trust her, most of the time, she does not have any say in the matter!

  Her characters come to life on the page for her as well as her readers. Their stories unfold in front of her as she writes, and she has very little input into how they want to be shown. Just like real life, the lives of her characters change with every choice, every interaction and every conversation. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  She writes books that are emotionally realistic, even if liberties are taken with other aspects of the stories. She doesn’t know any other way to write. It comes from deep inside.

  Who is she? A single parent to two children living in the UK. An avid reader who still tries to devour every book she can get her hands on. A student of learning about any subject that takes her fancy. An author of books she would read herself. And a romantic at heart who loves anything cheesy.