This time it was Marly's time to snort. "Not going to happen just yet, mate. As much as I'm tempted, at the moment I need my friends to keep me sane. I might not like them touching me, but they don't have a problem with coming to lunch if I ask."
Tilting Marly's head up, Trent was pleased to see that those lovely eyes were free from tears, even if a little red rimmed. "You won't be lonely anymore. I give you my word." Marly nodded, his eyes serious, and Trent could see Marly was fighting to trust in his mate, which was totally understandable. But then Marly offered up his lips for a kiss, and Trent took the offer gratefully, understanding that now it was up to him to prove himself.
When Trent came up for air some time later, he said, "I meant what I said. I do love you and I always will."
Marly looked at Trent for a long time, studying his face. Then he nodded again. "I love you too," he said quietly. "Don't ever doubt that. I'd just like to love you more."
"You will," Trent vowed, bending his head again. He would prove to his little mate that he was a man of his word, and that he could be the man and wolf, that his mate deserved. Kisses were a good place to start.
Epilogue
Marly smiled as he heard the unmistakable sound of Harley motorcycles fill the air, and then come to a stop outside of Cody's Corner. Trent had dropped him off at work that morning, and said he would be there to pick him up when he had finished. His mate was five minutes early. Checking the clock, Marly hurriedly tallied up the till and got the banking ready for his boss, the actual Cody, who was in his office. Who used to be in his office, but apparently Cody heard the motorbikes too, and had come out to see Marly's mate. Cody was happily married, and adored his suit and tie husband, but he had confided to Marly more than once, usually while drunk, that he had always fancied a bit of rough. In the three months Trent had been ferrying Marly to and from work, Cody was nearly always at the counter getting his biker fix through the plate glass window.
"You do know they're all straight, don't you," Marly teased Cody, not for the first time.
"Hmmm, I know and I'm just looking," Cody said. "Hunter would look absolutely hunky in leather, but the stubborn man won't let me get him any."
"I've never seen Trent in a suit, but I imagine he'd look pretty hot in that too. Face it, he looks even better naked."
"I don't want to know, you horrid man," Cody said with a fake gasp. "Besides my imagination works perfectly well thank you."
"Well," Marly said checking the clock again. "I'll leave you to your imagination and go and play with mine. See you Monday."
Walking outside, Marly could see that Trent was with Clive, Levi and Saul. Even though Trent had loosened up considerably since their talk, Marly still felt a twinge of uncomfortableness when they were around the other Epitaph's and he resigned himself to waiting for his kiss until he and Trent were alone.
"Fancy a trip, precious?" Trent said with a grin. "Bike's packed, we're gassed up and ready to go if you're game." Damn, thought Marly. Guess that kiss is going to have to wait longer than I thought. But on the outside he smiled and nodded, pulling on the jacket Trent had gotten him, now complete with his own small Epitaphs patch. At least he'd be able to grope his man while they were going to … well, wherever they were going.
As he went to climb on the bike behind Trent, Trent grabbed him and pulled him close and before Marly had a chance to register what was happening, Trent's lips were on his, and man, it was a scorcher of a kiss. Without thinking Marly threaded his fingers through Trent's growing hair, and gave as good as he got. After all, he had been at work for six hours.
When Trent finally pulled back, Marly swallowed a whimper. Holy fucking damn, he could kiss his mate all day and twice on Sunday. Then he looked around and saw that Clive, Levi and Saul were all looking on with amusement, and he felt his face flush a hot red.
"What … why … ?" Okay, his brain was still scrambled, but Trent was still smiling.
"We're heading to Knoxville, precious. Long time to go without lips."
"Knoxville?" Quickly Marly did a rough calculation in his head. "But that's like ten hours from here. I've got to be back at work on Monday."
"No you don't," Cody called out from where he'd apparently been watching the show from the door. "Your man already rang me, and asked for you to have the time off. I'll see you Monday, all right, but that's next Monday, not this."
Totally surprised at his mate's thoughtfulness, Marly grinned his thanks, and hopped up behind Trent.
"So why are we going to Knoxville in particular?" he said as he wrapped his arms around Trent's waist.
"Dollywood," Levi yelled as he started up his bike. "The home of big tits, barbecues and blue grass music."
"Er, he does know it's a theme park, doesn't he?" Marly asked as Trent started his bike.
Trent laughed. "Levi doesn't care. The Barbecue and Blue Grass festival is on and he's been a fan for decades. When I mentioned I wanted to go on a trip with you, he came up with the idea. Ready to go?"
"Yes," Marly said, even though he hated big tits and wasn't a huge fan of country music either. His mate had kissed him, on the street, in the middle of the day, with the Fates, his friends, and the public watching. As Marly settled in for the long ride, he really didn't care where they were going. He was sitting behind his mate, on a Fat Boy motorbike, heading off into the countryside. As far as Marly was concerned he was living his dream, and he couldn't be happier. Oh and Trent had mentioned barbecue. Yes, life was sweet with his Alpha.