“Come here, you mangey butthole,” I hissed at Hobbes, trying to pull him off the shelf above my washing machine, “I have to take you to Aunt Laney.”

Hobbes hunkered down and I sighed, staring at him.

“Hobbes!” Alexander called from my living room and Hobbes bounced down, running toward the sound of his voice, “there you are,” Alexander cooed as I came into the room, holding Hobbes in his arms, “stop making things hard! You’ll be fine.”

“I hate that he comes to you when you call,” huffing, I flopped onto the couch and double-checked all of my documents, “is all of your stuff updated?”

“Of course. All of yours are processed. You could freely stay in New Zealand for twelve weeks.”

“We’re only staying for two. I can’t afford any more than that.”

“I know,” he cupped my chin and kissed me softly, Hobbes letting out a meow as he did, “jealous boy. I swear.”

“Only when it’s you. He couldn’t care less about me.”

“Oh stop that. He was so excited when we got back from Montana. He refused to let you out of his sight,” Alexander gently set Hobbes into the travel carrier, “Alright. Do you have everything packed?”

“Mhm,” I nodded and Alexander grabbed the two bags I had sitting near the door, “we’re heading to your place?”

“Yep and then to Taupaki first thing in the morning,” he smiled, his entire face filled with excitement and I felt my heart clench, knowing how desperately Alexander wanted to be with his family permanently.

After the wedding, Alexander and I came back to Indiana and returned to our normal schedule. The only change was that he would spend the night a few days a week. I had grown to notice a few things about Alexander the longer we were together. The first was the fact he was incredibly silly and childish, often playing hide and seek with Hobbes. The second was his desire to be of help at all times. He regularly gave homeless people money, regardless of what people may say. He also donated money to a local animal shelter and would go once a month to take a few of the dogs for walks that were still waiting to be adopted. Finally, he hated living in America. He complained constantly about wanting to be home but having to be patient and I realized he was lying to me. I had taken the time to look up what I would need to transfer my license and the correct visa to work there. I applied for both and was approved a week ago, meaning it had taken me less than five months. I had a job waiting for me whenever Alexander was ready to move, a local office in Taupaki needing an actual licensed doctor to run their physical therapy center and I had been guaranteed this spot under contract, regardless of when I moved. I was frustrated with him, knowing that as a natural citizen of New Zealand, the process would have been far easier for him than it was for me. I just wanted the truth.

“Alexi?” I called softly from his bed as he checked over all of our flight information at his desk.

“Yeah, baby.”

“We’ve been together for six months. But… babe something is bothering me.”

“Explain.”

“Why did you lie to me? About it taking two years to transfer things? I looked it up, Alexander. I already have a job waiting for me, and my work visa. As long as I renew it twice, I can apply for citizenship in five years. So why… are you lying?”

“Because I won’t be a practicing doctor anymore when I move home,” he looked at me over his shoulder and I stared at him surprised, “or I don’t plan to be. Someone has to take over the dairy farm when my dad is ready. It’ll be me, I guess. Zeke wants to but I…”

“If he wants to,” I climbed off the bed, my hair flowing behind me as I wrapped my arms around him from behind, “you can’t take that away. You’re a phenomenal doctor, Alexi.”

“I… want Ezekiel to want more from life than running a dairy farm…”

“He’ll need to go to college,” I came around and straddled him, my arms around his neck, “to learn agriculture and business management. He’s 11. Would Zeke really want you to throw away all the time, hard work, and stress you went through to become a doctor?”

“No,” he whispered, staring at me, “no he… he would be mad if I walked away and took over the farm.”

“Exactly. So stop it. Finish what you need to do to transfer. Why are you hesitating?”

“I just… wanted to meet someone before I left. I don’t think six months is enough time for you to decide to move home with me like that.”

“Please,” I rolled my eyes before kissing him softly, “I already did everything I needed. I can go when you’re ready. I have a job waiting and I know you’ll help me find a house.”

“Well, I… own one. Actually.”

“Really?”

“Mhm. I didn’t want to stay there while we were in Taupaki because I wanted to surprise you with it when we moved. But I’m being stupid, I know that. I’m just so scared, Cae. So tired of moving my life around. Is it too much to ask to just… settle down?”

“Not at all.”

“I want to go home…”

“I know you do. So let’s have a lovely visit with your family. It’ll help me figure out if I truly belong there with you. If we feel the same, if this is a good move for us, then we can leave at the end of this year or January next year. Whatever you want to do, as long as you don’t leave me.”

“I could never,” he smiled and tangled a hand into my hair, pressing his forehead to mine, “are you sure? Things are finally good with your family.”

“We can come back and visit during holidays and life events. Being with you in Taupaki is what I want, babe. Don’t do this. Don’t try and make me doubt what I have in mind and heart. It’s you. You’ve settled in there and I don’t want to pull you out. I was waiting for you, Alexander,” I whispered before slowly kissing him, pressing my chest against his, “this entire time. I was waiting for you.”

Alexander slowly picked me up, carrying me to his bed, and laid me down gently. He studied me for a moment, watching the way my pajama top had shifted, the buttons undone enough to see my sternum, my shorts riding up to show my thighs. He hummed gently and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my chest. The warmth of his breath on my skin made my hips buck and Alexander laughed quietly, still kissing my chest.

“Alexi,” I whined, my voice breathy and he looked up at me, his left hand now wrapped around the bottom of my thigh, “What are you…”

“I’m not doing anything,” he laughed, suddenly flipping me onto my stomach and straddling my back, “I just wanted to be close to you,” he leaned down, pushing my hair away from the nape of my neck and suddenly bit down, making me groan, “you smell good tonight.”

“I uh… um…” I couldn’t string a thought together as he started massaging my back under my shirt, his hands soft against my skin.

“Caelan,” he let out another hum, moving further back and nipping at my sides, “god…”

“Baby… why are you acting so aggressive?” I panted softly, my eyes fluttering closed, “You… never touch me like this.”

“I have no idea,” he muttered, wrapping his hands around my hips as he continued to kiss my back and sides, “just wanted to see how you’d taste. I know what it’s like kissing you. But I had to know if the rest of you was as soft as your lips. I’m glad to know that it is. I don’t want to do anything, we have to get up in five hours, but can I keep kissing you?”

“Y-yes,” I nodded, gripping one of the pillows and Alexander kept his promise.

Slowly, for over an hour, he managed to move my clothes and kiss or lick every part of my body except my groin and rear. I was struggling, trying to stop myself from spilling over until he pressed his hips against my rear, clearly as ready as I was.

“Alexi,” I whimpered, digging my nails into the mattress.

“I’m sorry. I’m… I feel like I’m going to…” he groaned, running his hands from my shoulders to my fingers, lacing them together and pining me to the bed, his hips still shoving against me harder than before, “Cae… Caelan…”

“I…” was all I could say as my stomach started to tense, the pressure in my groin more than I could handle, “Oh my God… oh fuck…” I cried out, biting Alexander on the forearm.

“There we go,” he laughed, his voice deeper than usual as he let out a grunt, kissing the back of my head, “We uh… made a mess, didn’t we?”

“What happened to not doing anything?” I laughed breathlessly, reaching back to wrap my hand around the back of his head.

“I didn’t plan on it. Scouts honor. I just got carried away and you were clearly enjoying it. I couldn’t stop myself anymore,” he kissed my cheek gently and I turned my head to make eye contact, “god you’re… so beautiful.”

“Huh?” my eyes grew wide and he swiftly kissed me with a smile.

“You’re the most attractive person I have ever seen. I wish you could see what I do when I find you in your sunroom, reading a book and drinking your tea. It’s almost like I walk in on a God enjoying his leisure time. I adore you. Every bit of you. The freckles on your shoulders, the color of your eyes. The flame red of your hair instantly drew me to you. Even if Delaney hadn’t brought us together under the intention of us being together, if I had seen you in the bar all alone, I would have come up to you anyway. I promised to sweep you off your feet. I think I’m doing a pretty damn good job.”

“I’m currently in your bed, covered in… fun stuff, we leave for your home country tomorrow so I can meet your family. You met my entire family and they adore you. You never swept me off my feet, Alexi. You opened my heart back up. It’s still pretty closed off from everything. Except for you. Thank you,” I leaned forward and kissed him softly before rubbing my nose against his, “you brought me back to myself.”

“I never had the intention to do that. I just wanted to make you happy.”

“You’ve always been good at that. We should probably shower and get ready for bed.”

“Hm,” he whined softly, kissing behind my ear, “fine.”

“Alexander,” I rolled my eyes before laughing, “I’m not going to bed covered in this mess. I love this. I love having you close, it brings me peace. But I need a shower.”

“Fine,” he rolled off of me, crossing his arms across his chest and pretending to pout.

“Would it make you happier if I abandon the pajamas and sleep in just my briefs?”

“Yes,” he nodded excitedly and I cupped his chin, leaning down as if I was going to kiss him. Instead, I licked along his lips, kissed the tip of his nose, and walked away, “Caelan!”

“What? I wasn’t doing anything,” I winked, my hand resting on the door frame.

“You’re… such a tease.”

“You don’t like it?”

“I love it,” he smiled, running his tongue along his bottom lip, “go get cleaned up. I’ll be right here when you’re done.”

“Don’t you need a shower as well?”

“Mhm but I’ll wait until you’re done.”

“Okay.”

I left the bedroom and started to open the bathroom door when I heard a screech and slammed it shut.

“Go away!” Delaney yelled.

“Laney, I need a shower!” I yelled back at her.

“Go away, Cae! I uh…”

“She’s not alone in here,” Serena laughed and I grimaced.

“Oh nasty!”

“Shut up, we could hear you and Alexi,” Delaney started to laugh as well and I grumbled, walking away from the door.

“Alexi,” I groaned, walking into his bedroom.

“Is Laney using the bathroom again?” he laughed, fixing the band of his boxers as he climbed into bed.

“Yes. What do I do? They’re… having fun.”

“Oh, I forgot Serena came over. I have baby wipes. They’re not exactly as good as a shower but you’ll feel clean.”

“Sure.”

He tossed me the pack of baby wipes before leaving the room. I changed as quickly as possible, grateful to have some semblance of feeling clean, before opening the door and dragging Alexander inside, both of us falling onto his bed as soon as we got close to it.

“Are you sure about our life together? Moving to Taupaki? Giving up what you have here?” Alexander took one of my hands in both of his, confusion and fear blatant in his eyes.

“Yes,” I kissed his knuckles softly, “there’s nothing more that I could ask from life.”

“Okay,” he smiled, finally relaxing, “I’m sorry I lied. It was easier. I thought we’d need more time as a couple before we decided on this. So I was willing to stay here as long as it took to make you feel comfortable. But I am so miserable. You’re the only part of being in Indiana that I adore. Other than that, I don’t have anything here.”

“I feel the same way about you, Alexi. Don’t be scared to tell me these things. I love my family, but I want to be where you are and they’ll understand that. Or they won’t but that doesn’t affect what I choose to do. I want this life. I want you. For as long as you’ll want to keep making this work.”

“We talk about this a lot don’t we?” he laughed gently, pressing his forehead to mine, “we always make these promises to not leave each other. I don’t think we need to confirm it as often. We finally have each other. I won’t leave, Caelan. I promise baby.”

“I believe you,” I yawned softly, burying my face against his chest, “goodnight, honey.”

“Sleep good. I’ll wake you up for our flight.”

“Can’t wait.”