Hello dear all :-) A big apology for making you wait over two weeks for an update of our ESHMETT, Emmett+Shane, but had little time.

This is NOT the epilogue, but the last chapter before the epilogue..and many things will happen in here and hope very much you like it, so please let me know with you lovely comments! A huge thank you for your comments, messages and vote: you're incredible fans and readers and the support and affection you show to me is priceless! THANK YOU!

On the right a picture of the typical Irish-Celtic Claddagh ring.

Dedicated to all of you and in particular to NORAJC56 as a sincere and sweet thank you for your kind and lovely comments! xox

Cheers

SHANE POV

THREE YEARS LATER

I collected the books, i-pad, notes and some other papers and stuffed everything in my back-pack and then darted out of the class, almost slamming against a pair of classmates that were taking their fecking time in simply chit-chatting right in front of the door. C’mon, move, going to be late otherwise and today I had to hurry home and make sure everything was perfect. I had actually just finished an exam and believe it went grand, given I knew every question and when it was asked to solve the problems it seem fairly easy. Hope so, because every time I went back home with a striking grade, Emmett would be overly happy and decide to spoil me the entire weekend. It was my third year of college and with my fourth and last year of college, my Bachelor Honour Degree would be completed; I chuckled and thought tonight it was me going to spoil him, since it was his birthday.

“Hey Shane, how did it go? I had no idea how to solve the third problem, but everything else was grand, at least I hope so.” A classmate of mine named Aoife saw me trying to dodge two girls standing right in front of me and waved at me; she was a nice girl and just have a bloody guess. She was Sean’s girlfriend.

“Hiya Aoife, I think it was grand and the problem wasn’t so complicated, but it took me a moment to realize which formula and theorem were required.” I checked the time on the phone and she smiled widely.

“Don’t tell me you are in a hurry to see that hot boyfriend of yours..”

“Totally going to tell Sean about this.” I teased her and she simply shrugged her shoulders.

“Just admit you’re jealous, twat and that’d be easier. My baby knows what I think of your sweetheart: he is bloody hot.” I snorted at her comment, but then laughed. It was the normal reaction among girls and you have no idea the fecking fuss he stirred the times he came to the campus and decided to have lunch with me at the cafeteria. “But bet he is even more jealous and possessive.” She winked and I rolled my eyes.

She was right, though. In that my man hasn’t changed one bit: whenever he was around here and a girl eyed me, according to him anyway, he would wrapped an arm around me quite tightly or slip a hand in my back jeans pocket. Tool, he liked to provoke me around people, but about that I was even worse and he loved that, because it gave me a pretext to some mind-blowing pay-back; pay-back that I bloody loved, if you know what I mean. As you can understand, nothing has much changed between us. Probably what slightly transformed was my accepting his taking care of me and spoiling me; Emmett loved that and after a long while and after few arguments, which we clarified and ended in our bedroom, I came to realize it was good to be spoilt sometimes. But, it had to be the other way round and he finally let me do it.

“Yeah well, he’s even more jealous and possessive, so..” I smirked at her and then cursed, realizing I was wasting fecking time here chit-chatting while I had a dinner to take care of. “Sorry, gotta go now. Today it’s his birthday and our friends are coming over.”

“Oh, that is so romantic, wish him happy birthday from me.” I smiled at her and ran away, hoping to be on time to catch the right bus. I had to stop in the city centre and get few things, since Enna and Roman would come over and cook dinner together.

If you remember well, more than three years ago Em managed to convince me to apply to college and with not little effort and extra exams I had been admitted inside one of the best in Dublin. At first, after the bloody horrible experience with those knackers that were supposed to be my family, I thought I should have applied to law school, but my man asked me if that was my real dream and told me to pursue what I really liked and wanted and I thought carefully about his words. When I decided to go for Applied Physics, which was what truly interested me, Emmett said he was incredibly proud of me and that he would support me in every way. And he did so. It was quite a pain in the ass to fit the entry requirements, but we did it.

Yep, we and not just I, because Em helped me very much and without him I wasn’t so sure everything would have gone that smoothly. Also Enna and Roman were there for me and turned out my friend kept me working in his salon, pleasing in this way my bloody protective and controlling boyfriend. I chuckled. In more than three years nothing has changed between us and he still was that same arrogant and over confident tool and I was his provoking and cocky brat. And we loved each other even more.

As you can see, things haven’t changed very much since we began to out together, and then became a couple and Em actually asked me to be his partner and lover for the entire life. Bloody hell, he really asked me that and it all happened after the university sent me the admission letter to let me know I had been accepted. I can still remember everything as if happened yesterday. I can still feel the same rush of emotions and feelings crushing inside me and almost sending me crazy; Emmett decided to celebrate my admission to college by flying to the south coast of England and there he rented a small cottage facing the cliff and the sea and it was beautiful.

The evening we arrived we made dinner and since we were completely alone, we made love over a blanket in the garden under a breath-taking sky sparkling with stars. After telling me how much he loved me and how much he was happy and proud of me, he searched for something inside the pocket of his jeans and produced in front of my eyes a golden Claddagh ring, which is a ring that men in the West part of Ireland originally wore as a marriage token and it represented a love, loyalty and friendship. The design was simple and linear, but you could recognize distinctively the two hands holding a crowded heart. I remembered staring at it completely speechless and that made him chuckled in his usual way, very much pleased he had succeeded in shocking me. He told me that he would always and only love me, that he would take care of me in every way and never failing in that and that I could always trust in him and he would always trust me; then he said we were not only lover, but friends as well and that he would always be there for me. Emmett then sat on his knees and slipped the ring on my finger and kissed it; I still remember his words clearly.

“Shane, I love you and I know we cannot effectively marry here, but please, be my love, my partner, my boyfriend, my lover, my friend, my other half forever. Be mine forever. Will you?”

To me it felt as if he was asking me to marry him and after managing to level my breath and somehow calm down, if that could be considered calming down, I assaulted him with a desperate and bloody insane kiss and in between the twirls and rubbing of our tongues, I whispered and moaned to him thousands times “yes”.

“Oh brat, I’m going to love you and drive you crazy your entire life.” That was what he groaned between our hot sessions of searing kisses.

“Right back at you, sham...hmm...so going to love you and ahh..that’s unfair, too.. bloody hell, I’m so going to drive you nuts, too, completely and fecking crazy.” Had been my answer.

Well, I believe you have an idea how we spent our night and the following morning and it was good we were alone and we had no neighbours, but not so sure Em would have cared anyway about them. It was fecking incredible how little he cared about what people thought about us being an open gay couple; well, let’s say he couldn’t give bollocks about it. My man was very strong and determined and those were qualities that I loved in him and made our life together a quiet and safe boat trip, since I never felt alone or scared, worried or hopeless. Emmett was my solid and guiding lighthouse.

Thinking about that night, or even just thinking about our last wild night, which had been yesterday night because I needed to vent out my stress before the exam, sent tingling and hot shivers down my spine and I felt my mouth water at the idea of having him. Goodness, couldn’t wait to be home and be in his arms, to see his conceited smirk and feel his lips on my skin, to hear his husky and strong voice, to surprise him. Now it was me smirking; working my ass off helped to save money in order to buy his present and I knew he would love it. But this was the second present, the one I would give him once alone in our bedroom; the official present was simply a fancy shirt of some fecking class brand Enna advised me and a CD of one of my favourite bands.

The bus arrived strangely on time and didn’t get stuck in the traffic typical of this hour, so in no time I was running through Grafton Street to reach Marks & Spencer and get all I needed for tonight; Roman informed he was going to provide the drinks and knew he was going to bring us champagne. I was grateful for that, because I sucked bollocks about picking wines and sure didn’t want to screw it tonight. The plan was to bake the typical American apple pie and had barely enough time for it; therefore I moved my ass faster and once got home, I tossed everything on the kitchen counter, yanked my books and papers away in somewhere in our studio, made a quick shower and changed into something more decent and attractive and began to work on the pie.

Right when it was half way through, Emmett came back home and I cursed, because he was supposed to arrive later; he reached the kitchen and smirked understanding what was going on. Arrogant tool.

“Hmm, smell delicious, Shane. What are you baking this time? Is it for me?” He had taken few steps towards me and snatched my body in his arms.

“You know it’s for you, Em. Couldn’t you come back just a bit later?” I grunted. He laughed out loud and threw his head back, having me staring at him with darkening eyes; Em was bloody handsome when he laughed.

“Sorry about that, but couldn’t wait to see you and know how the exam went. The stupid battery ran off and so couldn’t call you.” Grand, he was forgiven for showing up earlier than expected.

“Then I forgive you.” I teased him with a wicked and provoking smirk.

“You do, brat?” He played along pressing me harder against him and bloody hell, we both were already burning and craving for each other.

“It’s your birthday, sham and I know you’re going to love it.” My voice had lowered and now it was a teasing purr over his ear; Emmett growled softly and I felt his hands cupping my ass. I shivered and he smirked on my neck.

“Oh, I sure am going to love it, no doubt about it. But first tell me how the exam went.”

“I think it was grand, knew all the answer and solved the problems hopefully in the right way..” Damn it, I was already panting, since his fingers were now pressuring a certain fecking distracting point.

“Of course you solved it correctly, you always do Shane.” He nibbled my neck and I grinded on him, purposely letting my now hardening shaft stroke his growing length. “Now tell me, how much time we have until they come over?”

“Still a couple of hours..”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.” He groaned.

“Em, but the pie doesn’t have two hours.” I pointed out breathing on his ear and drawing the line with the tip of my tongue, while my hands were already unzipping his jumper. Oh dear God, his scent was about to turn me insane, as it was a mix of his Emmett’s scent, his embracing cologne and his usual shower gel. He had been at the gym and showered there and I knew he had done some work out and his god-like body was waiting for me.

“Then we’ll have to make it quick, brat.” He stated and in a blink I found myself being lifted from the floor and pressed against the wall of the kitchen. I loved whenever we had quickie inside our apartment; they were so wild and arousing and always so bloody great.

My feet touched again the floor, but only to permit his hands to hastily tear open my jeans and threw them down to pool at my ankle along with my underwear. The same happened to Em’s tracksuit and boxers, since I was burning to feel him inside me and right now couldn’t care less whether we were harsh and rough; I loved every bit of our love making. He stared at my eyes with blazing and commanding gaze and my blood rushed faster together with my breathing, going now rawer. My man had such an effect on me. I felt his hands roaming hungrily my stomach and tracing the line of my abdominals and then slid on my back and while he smirked, they reached my ass and possessively fondled it. With an assertive and strong pull Emmett had my legs wrapping his waist and one of his fingers began to toy with my entrance.

“Em...I want you inside me. NOW.” I ordered and he growled and shot me a liquefying stare; he was still the same, the same Emmett that loved to be in charge and set the rules, but that loved my provocations.

At the beginning he was the one deciding and somehow commanding; now it was exactly equal and mutual. I would surprise him or decide to take lead of our hot and wild love making and Em loved it. No bollocks, he really loved it and it turned him into the incredible passionate, intense, ardent, hard and animalistic lover he was. But, we never switched; I loved having him inside me too much and never felt the desire of trying otherwise. I loved the way he took me and showed me how deeply he loved me and craved for me.

“Brat, it’s going to be... now.”

The moment he hissed the “now” his hard and powerful cock penetrated me in one deep and breath-taking go and filled me completely. I trashed my head back against the wall and shamelessly cried out in pure ecstasy. Emmett pulled back slowly and then slammed back again in that excruciating slowness few times, never setting free my eyes and always governing my hips at his will. His smirk grew darker and more sinful and with that grew harder and faster his pace, his member taking me with bloody avid passion and wildness, pounding and ramming inside of me as if wanting to bury himself into me. I was going crazy for the pleasure and so began to pull him deeper around me, swallowing him the most I could, tightening the grip on his side and slamming him pressed on me. The rhythm increased so much that for a moment I thought the wall would give in on us, but forgot about it when his lips took mine for a heart-stopping kiss. My hands ran on his hair and tugged them harshly, making him growl in my mouth.

“Shane...” He murmured on my lips, biting them. I moaned and stared at his beautiful eyes. “Shane...ahhh...I’m so fucking close, you turn me on too much.”

“Same for me, Em..ohhh...fuck..” He had been hitting my sweet spot on and on and now I was an incoherent stream of pants, moans and dirty words, just like my man, who loved dirty-talking, especially when it was something this raw and primal.

“Touch yourself and look into my eyes.” And with that I was already falling into insane pleasure.

I locked my eyes with his and gave him my best and most lustful and tempting smirk and began to stroke myself at the same pace he penetrated me. I was about to explode and so was he, because looking at each other the way we were now only enhanced the excitement and with a crushing and bloody deep thrust I found myself coming bloody long and crazily in my hand, while he shot restless and hard in me. Our bodies trembled and resonated of our overwhelming climax and both of us groaned and panted when we reached the highest peak; Em kept buried inside me and after a burning exchange of glares, he claimed me for a kiss that left me limp. Goodness, he was such a fucking heart-threatening kisser.

“Hmm...it was damn quick, but damn strong..hmmm...I still feel it.” He mouthed on my lips. I simply nodded and let my forehead rest on his for few second, feeling my heart and breathing slowly decreasing speed.

“Em, you’re the best and don’t even give bollocks how this will inflate your ego. You’re the best, nope, way more than simply the best.”

He growled playfully in a satisfied and happy way.

“That’s how it must be, but Shane..right back at you.” We smiled at each other like a couple of love-struck twats, completely lost in our world and only when the aroma of cake filled the air around us and tickled our noses, I broke the daze and cursed, terribly worried I had fucked it up.

“Bloody hell, the cake..” Em released me and chuckled in seeing me jerking to the stove and checking my masterpiece. “Damn, I hope it’s grand and not burnt, because that would be only your fecking fault.”

He walked to me and hugged me from behind.

“The aroma I sniff is telling me that your cake is going to taste just fine, brat.”

“Let me see first.” I checked it and sighed in relief. It was fine and perfectly baked and had that yummy and inviting golden shade and the fragrance of the cinnamon and apples had me mouth-watering.

“See? It’s perfect, now will you take care of your man?” He asked tightening the grip and pulling me pressed against his muscular and stone-like body.

“Em, you’re still hard.”

“Didn’t I tell you to take care of your boyfriend?”

“Well, I’m taking care of you, tool.”

EMMETT POV

Shane had shoed me away after having a quick but absolutely mind-blowing quickie on our sofa and told me to take another shower, alone he made sure to point out clearly, and dress up for the evening. I chuckled and after stealing a sweet and tender kiss, I followed his orders. Right, my man was still one of the most stubborn person on this world, but he was the love of my life and terribly sensual and alluring, and couldn’t deny him anything. Well, might say it was mutual, given he couldn’t deny me anything, too.

After wearing a nice and branded pair of dark blue jeans, the shirt Shane gave me as present and dark, army green blazer made of light velvet, I walked into the kitchen and asked whether he needed my help, but he said only to sit down and behave like the one going to have a birthday party. I let it go and simply kept staring at him and thought how proud I was of him for how great he was doing in college; he had a straight A average score, even though here the grading system was different, but that was how you would translate according American system and he had just come back from an exchange in Germany. During their third year they were supposed to move around and try to study and research in other universities and first he spent two months in England and in spring it was in Germany, in Berlin. You think I just let him go for two months without seeing him the entire time? Well, you don’t know me well at all. I obviously let him go, because I had no rights in stopping and why should I have done it? It was just normal and a wonderful chance for him and it made me happy as consequence. I simply flew over every weekend and Shane admitted he was glad I did so. He confessed he would have missed me too much otherwise.

“Hmm, Em..you look so bloody hot.” He said peeking from his shoulder and shooting me a quite tempting glance.

“So do you, brat. You look gorgeous.” And my brat really looked to lose sanity, as usual.

My life, aside Shane, hasn’t changed much. I still taught in that school, worked at the gym, talked with Alice and Jordan, but not my family; speaking of wrecked and fucked up families. Shane’s relatives never contacted us in these past three years and it was like for them my brat never existed and I was glad of that, because by now he had almost removed everything of that horrible and unforgivable experience. Now it was just us and three years ago I had asked Shane clearly to be my companion, partner, lover and half for my entire life and he gifted me with a positive reply. So, even though we weren’t married according the law or we didn’t sign a contract or anything, in our hearts and minds we were husband and husband. And you have no idea how I loved that feeling.

These past three years have been a blissful gift to me and I only came to love my brat more and more. Sure, we would argue sometimes, because we both had damn stubborn and strong personalities, but it would fade away in no time and most of the times, in our bedroom or living room.

Basketball somehow came back into my life when it hit me the idea of wanting to help kids and punks going through shit and so with the help of the thug, we managed to convince the social services and a small college to open few classes in the afternoon to take care of young kids with family issues, or that were living difficult situation or even worse, where in an orphanage, and gave them a bit of distraction and some help. Believe it or not, but sport was a good medicine in some cases. It turned out they liked basket and when Shane was free, he helped me out and so did Roman and Enna. Must admit, that bastard was a great person and for some weird reason, kids loved him. Needless to say they adored Enna and Shane and once Alice and Jordan came over, it was the end of the world.

It gave a gratifying feeling to use your own skills to make some good deeds and it left me feeling better, as if I had finally completely paid my debts with the past. My sexy devil told me my debts had been long being paid and according to him that happened the day I decided to take him with me. Shane remembered the date of when I asked him, alright told him, to be my man and God, I could I forget it? So yeah, we have been celebrating it every year.

The doorbell rang and it drew me out of my deep thinking and I strolled to the door to open it and as soon as I did it, two sets of skinny arms lunched on me and hugged me almost to chock me. I rolled my eyes, it was that loud doll and her girlfriend and I saw that arrogant bastard smirking amused and so I shot him a dark glare, but then let it go.

“For Pity’s sake, Ciara. Leave Emmett alone, you are almost strangling him.” Enna chimed, shaking his white-blonde head.

“Oh sorry, Emmett, but we are simply wishing you happy birthday!!” They both sang with tinker-bell like voice. Those two looked so alike and I think she couldn’t find better half.

“Well, thank you Ciara and thank you Anka.” I managed to untangle their arms, but soon felt Enna’s and I decided to give up. Good thing Roman decided to go a normal hand-shake.

“Emmett, happy birthday.” He said with his usual calm and hard voice.

“Thank you, Roman.”

“Where is Shane? You know how the exam did go? Is Alice calling you tonight? I can smell something delicious, did he bake a cake?” Enna was a stream of questions and I just groaned in frustration and that had the arrogant thug to chuckle at me.

“My love, I believe Shane is in the kitchen, is that correct?”

“Yes, am here guys.. Enna come over, need your help.” Shane called from the there and the two siblings and girlfriend skipped there giggling and talking about what they were going to make. God, save me please from their enthusiasm.

“This is for you, Emmett. I believe you might appreciate a good bottle better rather than some random presents.” Roman handed me a chilled bottle of Dom Perignon Rose and I smiled.

“Thank you, we are going to enjoy this in a little while.”

“So, how did the exam go?”

“I think well, he said he knew everything, but don’t see the point of worrying about it. He is a smartass, a sexy smartass.” I winked and he rolled his eyes.

“It is so refreshing to witness you two talking civilly without aiming at each other throat..” Enna twitted while helping Shane with something. He had brought his famous Irish seafood chowder and had no idea what they planned to cook now.

“That’s right, now you just need to admit you are best buddies.” Shane echoed, smirking at me in that way that had his eyes gleaming with dark light and liquid mischievousness. Such an enticing sexy devil he was.

“Now, best buddies is a bit too much.” I pointed out and Roman simply chuckled and walked to his half, giving him a passionate but tender kiss.

“You need help, my angel?”

“No, thank you love.”

We decided to leave the four of them alone and simply enjoyed a glass of wine in the living room, talking about business and the like. When dinner was ready, we first made a toast that wonderful champagne and then enjoyed an extremely delicious dinner and might say Shane had become a surprising cook and it was obvious how much he enjoyed making food for me. When we had basically ate the entire pie, which was so mouth-watering that led me to help myself with three slices, we sat in the living room having another glass of champagne and in that moment Alice called me on Skype and she was there with Jordan.

God, I had no chance to see and speak to my sister for the first few minutes, because Enna, Shane and Ciara jumped in front of me and took possession of my laptop. Yeah, they all loved my little mouse and you blame them?

“C’mon guys, move your pretty ass away, I want to talk to my sister.” I told them getting irritated.

“Ahahaha, the old master is still the same.” Jordan joked and I snorted loud, but then smiled. They looked so good and happy together that their blissful joy radiated from the computer to us.

Roman came over and greeting my sister and friend, and I should have thanked him for that, because his beloved half forgot about everything else and concentrated only on his man’s strong arms and lips travelling probably tenderly on his neck.

“Sorry Emmett, but you know I love your beautiful sister.” Enna said smiling in his feminine and elegant way.

“Oh I love you, too and you’re so beautiful, too.” Alice echoed and I wished to disappear from there.

“Don’t be a pain in the ass, Em. Alice is your sister, so you already have her undivided attention.” Shane stood up from the chair and walked to me like a feline, wrapping his arms around my neck. He tiptoed and whispered something only for me to hear. “I’ll make it up later..” I gripped his sides strongly and gulped down silently, feeling my jeans growing tighter.

“You have no idea how much and long I’ll make you make it up, Shane.” Now it was him gulping down his arousal and burning lust.

They finally let me have a quiet chat with them and Shane sat on my laps.

“Happy birthday, Metty!”

“Yo Johnson, happy birthday!” Jordan mirrored my sister and kept her in a tight hug. They have been living together for more than two years by now and I couldn’t be happier for them both, especially for my sister.

“Thank you. We just had a wonderful dinner and you see they were all here with us and Shane baked a delicious apple pie, isn’t that right, brat?”

“Right, sham, and you loved it.”

“Yes, I did..”

“Stop flirting with your boyfriend.” My little sister mocked me, but wasn’t serious, given she was beaming like the summer sun. She exchanged a meaningful but short glance with Jordan and I felt something tingling inside me, biting my neck. My instinct, and it told me there was something behind that intense exchange of looks. “Em, we have something to tell you.”

I froze on the spot and Shane felt it, because he shifted his eyes to mine and gave me a questioning look; his hand travelled quietly on my hair and began to stroke them. I felt blood draining out of me as I pictured what that could be and found that couldn’t hold my thoughts concealed. It was my sister and I loved her very much and even if I was beyond happy for their relationship, you can still try to understand my state of mind.

“Don’t tell you’re pregnant..” I murmured; Shane went rigid and narrowed his eyes on me and then smoothed softer my hair. He knew how that soothed me.

I mean, not that I would really mind it, but she was my sister and you know what I mean and they weren’t married and I knew what her feelings were about marriage. Alice had been dreaming the perfect and romantic wedding since she was a little kid, telling me how her dress would be, how the church would be decorated and all those particulars. Alright, nothing wrong about getting married whit already a kid, but shit, she was my sister.

“No, Metty. Relax and just listen to us, ok? I am not, so relax, ok?”

“Yeah dawg, ever heard of condom and birth-control pill? Alright, ya guys sure don’t have this problem, but ya’re too old for not knowing such things.”

“Ha, ha..very funny.” I exhaled and told them to go on, now relaxing and having Shane softly chuckling at me. I am sure my expression of before was quite the expression of someone very freaked out.

“Well, I am not, but ... Jordan asked me to marry him and I said yes and in September we are getting married.”

BAM.

This was huge.

My little sister was getting married and getting married very soon. Getting married with my best friend and former teammate that adored and loved her like no other man will ever do.  That I knew clearly.

The entire room turned completely silent as they were all listening to our conversation and I could picture their wide eyes and hanging mouths; ok, not for that thug, but I am sure he was as much surprised as I was. Surprised...was I really surprised? They loved each other and it was evident even to the most blind and stupid person, so wasn’t this only logical? Wasn’t this the natural and normal course of event? Yes, it was. Didn’t I want the same, but didn’t have the chance? Yes, it was like that, so what there was to be surprised of? Nothing.

God, my little mouse was getting married.

“Em..” Shane whispered to me.

I snapped back and realized everybody was waiting for my answer, because I had spaced out big time and now I felt a genuine smile forming on my lips. My sexy devil grinned understanding what that meant and turned his beautiful eyes to the monitor, while tugging my hair in a way that expressed his overwhelming feelings.

“Alice, this is wonderful and I am sincerely happy for you. Jordan, you couldn’t be luckier to have Alice as wife. I wish you both endless joy and happiness and love.”

“Metty...thank you..” She whispered in a breath, her voice betraying the tension she held hidden from me waiting for my answer.

“Bloody hell, this is brilliant and I can’t wait for it, so happy for you guys!” Shane cheered almost hugging my laptop and I just let out a carefree laugh and everyone in the room broke out with cheering and jumped around the computer.

“You are all invited, so Enna, Roman, Ciara and Anka, please, you must all come over.”

“Thank you sunshine, but of course we will come over and you must keep me and my annoying little flea updated about your wedding dress, unless you already have one.”

“No, to be honest don’t have one.”

“Then, let’s Skype and exchange pictures whenever you go and look for a dress.”

“Oh yes, please and I am not an annoying little flea.”

“Yes you are, Ciara.”

“Amn’t.”

“You bloody are.” Shane said bursting out laughing quite loud and we all followed him, the little flea, too.

“Alright, whatever, but I get to follow the preparations.”

“And I will make your hair and makeup.” Enna stated resolute. I peeked at Roman and he was looking at his man with a tender and full of love smile.

“Oh dear, will you? Thank you so much, Enna, because I already thought about asking you and then I think Jordan has something to ask as well.”

“Yeah Johnson, will ya be my best man?” I smirked and shook my head.

“Of course I will, buddy.”

“Shane?” Alice called. “Will you be my... “best man”?” My sexy devil widened his eyes in clear surprise and I knew something like this was coming and that was the reason I wasn’t so surprised and shocked. Al was special.

“But Alice, you have plenty of friends and maybe a girl will be better and..”

“Oh shut up handsome, I want you as my “best man” and since Metty will be my future husband’s, I think this is perfect and brother?”

“Yes?”

“Will you walk me to the altar?” Now it was my turn to stare at her in disbelief.

“What about...our father?”

“You perfectly know I don’t speak anymore with them, but Jordan insisted to invite the whole family anyway and let them know, so I shall give them notice. But I want you, the person I love the most to walk me to the altar. Please...” Could I deny her such a request? Not a chance.

“Alright little mouse, I will there for you and with you and buddy, no crazy bachelor party, you are going to marry my sister.” I warned him sincerely, even though it was pointless; in a way it was as if they already were married.

“C’mon man, give me some credit.” He whined shaking his hands in front of me and then pulling Alice in a strong embrace. “I love my future wife, don’t need stupid parties.”

“I believe we can take care of it.” Roman suggested and the way he said that, well, it sounded more a menace than a promise of fun.

What followed the main announcement was a stream of questions to Alice from Enna, Ciara and her girlfriend about how my best friend proposed to her, what sort of dress she had in mind, the church, the decorations and God knows what else. They were driving me nuts and I still wondered how that arrogant bastard could simply stand there as it was nothing and keeping his arms protectively around his angel.

“Well, this sure is quite an interesting birthday, don’t you think Em?” Shane asked me still sitting on my laps.

“You can say that, but I truly am happy from the bottom of my heart for them. It’s amazing and I know they’ll grow old together and still be a silly couple of love birds.” I smiled and then dragged him closer to me, to look at his gorgeous liquid jades. “I love you and thank you for tonight.”

“Love you, too.” He smiled and then pecked my lips, but heard someone calling me and realized it was Alice.

“Mett, sorry to bring you so many things to you tonight, especially during your birthday, but..” She bit her lip and I suddenly felt again nervous. She had the same face and eyes of that night of three years ago when Jordan was there. I gulped, but my mouth had gone dry and my brat immediately picked the change of my mood and looked from the monitor to me several times. “Well, there is someone here that has been pestering me to see you for some time and you know me..”

“Al, who the hell is there with you?” I demanded with now firm and low voice. Everyone in the room froze again, but this time it was different; this time they realized it could be something not so wonderful. My sister took hold of someone and pulled it in front of the webcam and everything stopped there.

I couldn’t believe it.

“Emmett...sorry, I have been asking Alice so long to see you and I have so many things to talk about and..”

I felt a hand on my shoulder and it was Roman’s.

“Thank you for tonight Emmett and we wish you again happy birthday; now it is late and it is about time to leave and go home.” Enna smiled softly beside him and I gave them a grateful nod and half smile. Shane waved them off, but never left my laps.

Only when the house was quiet and it was just the two of us, I dared to speak.

“Jamie.” I simply said.

“Hey big brother..I ..” My younger brother was standing there looking completely uneasy and worried, his face pale and tensed and visibly feeling guilty. My younger brother Jamie. “Emmett, I am so sorry for the way I behaved and I know how only few words cannot change what happened, but I have been talking to Alice recently and felt such a douche bag for the way I treated you when you most needed help and support and..”

“Jamie, this is all in the past. I already paid my debt with it and truth be told, I don’t think about it anymore.” Shane smiled at me and slipped his arms around my torso to offer me an understanding hug. “If you talked with Alice and I suppose with Jordan, you must know about Shane and the fact he is my partner and boyfriend and that I love him and we live together.”

My brother only nodded and shifted his eyes on Shane, which shot back a hard and daring look.

“If you cannot accept this reality and cannot respect my man, then we have nothing to talk about.” I had been harsh on purpose and didn’t regret it.

Shane straightened up and glared at me widening his eyes as if asking what was I saying, but I had long pasted the guilty period when I would be crawling in suffocating blame and remorse, feeling a pathetic being and worthless man; when I was alone with my ghosts and drowning in self-pity. That was over and I recognized that what happened, my mistake now belonged with the past and it was over. Now I lived my life for myself and for Shane and he was before everything else and everyone else.

Jamie widened his eyes quite shocked and immediately began to shake his hands in front of me along with his head.

“Oh no, I know about you and Shane and I have nothing against it and Alice told me what he means for you and how he helped you; therefore your partner has my complete respect and gratitude.” He paused a moment and looked at my man. “You are Shane, right?”

“That’s me, sham.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Jameson, Emmett’s younger brother, but just call me Jamie.” He was studying his face in search of a little hope; my brother hasn’t changed one bit. He was still the same soft kid that needed our parents and mine appreciation and love; and the look on his face told me he was trying his best and was sincere in what he said.

“Em told me about you, and you and your snobbish family deserve a bloody punch in your hypocritical face, but you are here for him and pretty much sweating bullets, so I’ll withdraw the armies and keep calm and civil for Emmett’s sake. I am Shane and I am your brother’s partner, boyfriend and the love of his life, just like he’s the love of my life.” I gripped him stronger and felt a wave of burning emotions travelling my body. Jamie dropped his face and something glinted in his eyes.

“You are right, Shane. We deserve a punch and I more than anyone else deserve more than a mere punch.”

“You can bet your bollocks you do.” My sexy devil snorted.

“Emmett, I miss you and I am sorry for everything. I am not asking for your forgiveness, because I know it might never come, but I am asking to try to be brothers again, can we?”

I looked at him and then at Alice that followed the whole conversation in deep and cautious silence; she was worried about me, but as well for our brothers; my eyes travelled to Shane’s and when I saw his expression and the determination in them, I smiled and nodded to Jamie.

“We can try it, Jamie. I miss you, too.”

It would take time and I knew it was only him and not my parents, but with them it was like my remorse and guilt. Everything deep buried in the past.

“Em..I think you did well.” Shane whispered to me and I believe what he said was right.

After the incredible evening and birthday, I needed some time to process everything and decided to post-pone it tomorrow. It was my birthday, even though now it was past midnight, and Shane was here with me. We lay in bed in the semi-darkness of our bedroom and he was cuddled on my side softly tracing imaginary lines on my chest and abs. He knew for now I didn’t want to talk about what happened and he understood I only wanted to be with him and let everything else out of my mind. Now it was just Shane and I.

“Thank you for tonight; should let you cook more often.”

“Finally, twat.” He playfully snorted and I chuckled. My brat suddenly pushed himself up and stared with spine-chilling intensity at my eyes, his blazing with that particular light. “Em, have got something else for you.” He stood up and walked towards his nightstand and pulled open the drawer, retrieving something from it. What that could have been? Another lovely and wonderful weekend somewhere? We wanted to visit Paris and many other cities. We wanted to do so many things together. He walked back and climbed on bed, sitting right astride me and a very small bag made of dark blue velvet appeared in front of me. “For you.”

“Thank you, Shane.” For some reason I felt my heart skipping a bit. My instinct again.

“Open it.” He told me when he saw that I kept looking at it and I did so.

I took a sharp breath and almost gasped when I realized it was a golden Claddagh ring, the exact shape of the one I gave Shane that night in the south of England of three years ago.

Shane had given me a ring and before assaulting his mouth for a mind-screwing kiss, I found some control to thank him. Shane was basically asking me to be his for the entire life and you couldn’t understand what that meant for me.

“Thank you..”

“Wait, it’s not just a ring, look inside and look also at mine.” He removed his and handed it to me and I did what he said. Inside the rings where written our names all around it and ended with the symbol of infinite. Oh brat...this was...beyond words. “Emmett, as you told me almost three years ago, I love you and you are my world and the love of my life. Please be my partner, lover, boyfriend, friend, my half and love through our entire life; please be mine forever, will you, Em?”

I smiled feeling something in my throat, a big and pushing lump. Love was such an incredible and crazy feeling and it moved mountains and seas and operated miracles; for me, it did grant me one miracle. My Shane. I slipped a hand in his messy hair and pulled his head towards mine, our lips almost brushing together.

“Yes Shane, I want to be yours forever, but you already have me, my mind, my body, my love and my heart.” He beamed at me with his eyes shining and quickly slipped the ring in my finger, gazing at it a moment, and closed the distance between our lips, claiming mine with a deep and passionate kiss. We lost ourselves in that for long time and he pulled back only to whisper me few words.

“I love you so bloody much Emmett and I will always love you.”

“Me too, brat.”

-FOUR MONTHS LATER, ALICE AND JORDAN’S WEDDING-

The ceremony had been hold in a beautiful church of our hometown and Alice looked radiant, beautiful and impossibly happy. Her smile was brighter than the sun and wider than the sky and so was for her now husband, Jordan. Unfortunately my words might not make justice in describing the elegance of the location and the magnificence yet simplicity of Al’s dress. My best buddy went for the classic black tuxedo and must admit he looked pretty handsome himself. But my sister, well, everyone had their eyes on her, because the long ivory dress wrapped around her perfectly leaving her arms free and exposed and it had a tasteful v-neck that the soft veil covered until Jordan had received permission to kiss her. I think it was made of some particular lace, but couldn’t remember right now the details; I can say it had a long and generous train and that my little mouse looked like a dream-like princess.

As I said, she looked absolutely beautiful and my words didn’t make half justice to her radiance and beauty.

Enna had helped via Skype to select the dress and somehow assisted my sister, together with that loud skinny doll of his sister, in arranging and planning the decoration of the church and of the venue, a beautiful private garden with fountains and a Roman style swimming pool. The weather had been merciful with us and gifted the day with lovely sun, bright blue sky and a cool and collected breeze. In a word, perfect. We all wore tuxedos and elegant dresses and must say Enna looked quite stunning in a man-suit and still managed to have that feminine and ethereal air around him and he outshone many women at the ceremony. But it wasn’t Enna that had my undivided attention and that made my heart race crazily; it wasn’t him that made my breath struck in my throat once my eyes landed on his beaming and bright face, on his vivid and liquid Ocean-green eyes that never left mine and never let that dazzling smile go away.

My man, the only love of my life, Shane, was beyond mere words.

He was a vision of pure beauty, masculine elegance, incredibly temptation and wicked sweetness. When he walked out of our room all dressed and ready, I had the urge of slamming him against the door of our bedroom and kiss him senseless for hours, then to drag him down and order the minister to marry us. He gave me that usual cocky smirk and I answered with mine and neither of us said a word for few seconds, only drinking each other presence and view and let me tell you, Shane was a sanity threatening view. I remember murmuring to him with husky and raw voice these words.

“Shane, you look breath-taking... I should take you down there and marry you instantly.”

“You already did, in a way, Em and ...” His words only inflamed me more and seeing him slowly pacing towards to slightly grind me in the successful purpose of provoking me didn’t help in the matter. “You look so bloody handsome and I want you later to tear apart my suit.”

“Your wish will be granted, brat.”

During the function, Shane and I exchanged many looks and I could guess what was going on in his mind, because it was what was running in mine.

Alice didn’t cry for the emotions, but simply smiled wider and wider, while Jordan showed clearly the turmoil of feelings going inside him and relaxed only when they both pronounced the fatidic “yes”. He later confessed me he was terrified of something going wrong, because he wanted for Alice the most romantic and perfect wedding and they sure had it. The ceremony took place in the late morning and so after the photos session, we drove to the location of the feast, because that was what they organized. An incredible feast.

I saw many former teammates and most of them came over and hugged me and told me they missed me and sure didn’t miss their surprised and shocked expression when I introduced them Shane as my partner. They first couldn’t believe I was set on complete and sincere commitment and secondly they couldn’t believe I was gay. Alright, gay only for Shane. My former teammates liked my man, but hey, who wouldn’t? I guess my family, but I didn’t give a damn about them and avoided any contact with the people that once were my parents. The rest of the family was there only for Alice and most of them ignored me, but as I said, I felt nothing because to me they were no longer my relatives. Only few of them took a brave step and broke the family important facade and came to talk to me and wanted to meet Shane; to say they were shocked was the statement of the year.

Jamie was there with his girlfriend and she was a nice and kind-hearted person and I could tell she had part in my brother’s coming back to me; she was eager to meet me and my man and then she stayed with us the entire day. Things with my brother were getting better and he really tried his best and I did the same. It would be a lie to say I didn’t miss Jamie and to be fair, I never blamed him; therefore that phone call of four months ago only brought in my life more happiness. It was wonderful to have in your life your sister and brother, I am telling you, especially when they both got along with your man.

Now we were lazily making conversation with the other guests and we had just witnessed Alice and Jordan cutting together the first slice of cake and having the first bite. They looked so much in love... Enna and Roman sat with us and so did Ciara and Anka, now vividly talking with Viviane, Jamie’s girlfriend. Jamie was telling us how the NFL season was going, since he played for one of the strongest teams. Yes, my brother was into football and I was glad his girlfriend wasn’t a model or actress or whatever the like, but a down to earth girl working as paediatrician at the local hospital. I have no idea how they met, but no doubt my brother would tell me. Shane seemed to like football, something completely different from rugby, but he admitted he still preferred soccer and old good European rugby.

While I was enjoying a flute of white and fragrant wine, having my arm around my man’s shoulders and discussing about our future plans, about his plan of going to attend a master degree and then hopefully a research programme, someone politely placed a hand on my shoulder and asked me whether I was that Emmett Johnson.

“I am sorry to disturb this lovely conversation and distract you from your family, friends and partner.” The man around fifty smiled at me and then at the others sitting there and casted a brief look at Shane, probably understanding the situation. It wasn’t a hard or judgemental glance, simply one that wanted to assess the truth by himself. “I believe you are the famous and discussed Emmett Johnson, is that correct?”

“Yes, that would be me and this is Shane Callan, my partner.” He shook hands with my man and nodded to the other people there that I introduced. “And may I ask for your name?” The man hadn’t introduced himself yet and I had no idea who the heck he could be or what he wanted from me.

“Certainly and please excuse my bad manners. My name is Aaron J. Warren manager of the Lakers, the Los Angeles Lakers. May we speak more privately for few minutes, Mr. Johnson? I have something I would like to discuss with you.”

My breathing stopped and struck in my throat and my heart jumped and skipped threatening to break my ribcage. Did I hear just well? The manager of the Lakers had something to discuss with me? I felt a firm squeeze on my hand and slowly shifted my eyes to Shane; he gave me and tender and joyous smile and nodded. I smiled back at my man and found the necessary calm to turn back to Mr. Warren and answer his question.

“Yes, Mr. Warren.” He gave me a polite and satisfied smile and I stood up motioning for the man to walk somewhere quieter. Before leaving, Shane grabbed my arm and tugged it.

“You must tell me everything.” He whispered.

“You know I will. Love you, Shane.”

“Love you, too, Em.”

Author's chit-chat:

This is NOT the epilogue! The epilogue is coming in two days, so no worries about it :-)

Now tell me my dearest readers and fans, what do you think of this chapter? Did you expect the exchange of rings between Emmett and Shane? Did you see coming the wedding of Alice and Jordan?

What do you think that man had asked to Emmett? Any guess? I think you might know it very well..

Ok, epilogue coming very soon and then we will say good bye to this crazy and deeply in love couple..but don't be sad, Enna and Roman story will follow.

Until next time xox