Seb

“Holy beefcake!” My jaw went slack, heat flushed through me, and I quickly pressed my hand to my lips to check for drool.

Even though Elijah had his shoulders back and stood tall, the unease in his eyes told me my reaction mattered. I knew full well he’d never admit it, though.

I stepped into his space, my eyes drinking in every inch of him. A quick peck on his lips and I pulled away, simply because I had to take a look at his arse. “Urgh….” It was not the most eloquent of responses, but hot damn, the way the chaps framed his backside covered in the flimsy bright blue fabric of his jocks was enough to have me reaching down for him.

His arse cheeks fit so perfectly in my palms. I sighed loudly, earning me a “Hey, watch the merchandise.” Elijah turned around, brow quirked high, and any trace of nervousness wiped clear.

“You look delectable.”

A grin stretched his mouth wide. “You approve then?” He looked down at himself, my gaze following the trail his took. A bare chest, those sinful jocks, and leather chaps teamed with cowboy boots that I’d found at the back of our wardrobe.

When I’d moved in with Elijah eight months ago, I’d had such fun exploring my new domain. And the cheeky secrets he’d kept hidden. The boots being one of them.

The rest of his outfit was new by order of Marco aka the talented Lady Bra Ga. I owed Marco big time for his insistence that for this second Sunny Coast Pride Festival, Elijah get more heavily involved.

“I definitely approve.” I angled up, moved onto my tiptoes, and pressed my lips against his, happily dipping in a bit of tongue to show him just how much I approved.

“I can’t enter a single room without seeing you attached in some way,” Tom groused.

I pulled away from Elijah and angled around his body to see Tom entering the room. It was impossible not to laugh when I saw him do a double take, his eyes landing on my boyfriend’s arse, bright red quickly lighting his cheeks.

“Oh my God, this is all too much,” he said, shaking his head and placing both hands out on front of him as if blocking off the view of his boss’s butt.

Elijah turned around. “Do my buttocks offend you, Tom?” Amusement filled his voice.

I stepped to Elijah’s side, curving my hand around one of said buttocks. He didn’t even flinch, his stare still on Tom, whose eyes had goggled when they’d fallen to Elijah’s blue-covered junk.

“I don’t get paid enough for this.” Tom shook his head, eyes wide, a mix of horror and embarrassment reflected in their depths.

Meanwhile, my laughter continued, to the point where my eyes filled with tears. Poor Tom. I got it. Elijah dressed like this was a lot to take. Obviously, he was as hot as sin, but dressed so deliciously, so proactively, with a rainbow flag painted on his bicep, he screamed of a fun Elijah very few people got to see.

Tom flicked his gaze to me. “It’s not that funny.”

I snorted harder. “Your reaction so is.”

He sighed and shook his head. “The bar’s been restocked ready for this afternoon,” he said, changing the subject. “You need anything else before I get changed?”

Elijah shook his head. “Nah, all good.”

“Thank Christ for that. I’ll only need five minutes.” Tom glanced at his phone. “Everyone should be outside in ten, so I’ll see you out front.”

With another glance at his boss followed by a shake of his head, Tom hightailed it out of here.

“I think you’ve traumatized him,” I said, my laughter finally calming.

“I can’t help being the hottest cowboy in the Sunshine State,” he said, throwing his arm around my shoulders. He glanced down at me. “And you look impossibly cute.”

I grinned up at him and nodded. “Thank you. I was going for cute, with a good hit of sexy.”

“You nailed it,” he said, dropping a quick kiss to my mouth.

I sighed, happy, thinking my own cowboy outfit, complete with shiny silver fabric and waistcoat with rainbow-coloured tassels, was adorable. My silver shorts were super short, and I wore matching cowboy boots that pinched my toes like a lobster or some other shelled creature was having a go at them, but hell, my legs and arse looked kinda fabulous.

It was amazing how since meeting Elijah, my world had changed so much. And part of that was the confidence to wear such an outfit without fear. Some of that quite possibly had to do with Lady Bra Ga too. She was the bomb with all things sparkly and had even convinced me a few months back to try some eyeliner.

That first time I’d worn it and shown Elijah, I’d been convinced I’d pass out with nervous excitement, and his reaction had been completely worth it.

He liked the look of eyeliner on me. A lot. And I’d had numerous orgasms to prove it.

“Come on, best get going.” Elijah took my hand and led me towards the door where we’d be meeting the staff and regulars who were joining the Bar QK group for the small parade part of the festival.

I squeezed his hand, so pleased we were doing this.

Last year had been brilliant, but with the whole festival being new, we’d spent so much time behind the scenes, we hadn’t got the full effect. But this time, we’re were walking the route, waving an assortment of rainbow flags and Bar QK flags to hopefully drum up some business too.

Stepping outside into the warm air, I smiled, inhaling the scent of the ocean and absorbing the excited buzz in the air. Once everyone had arrived, we headed to the start of parade, about a ten-minute walk away.

It didn’t take long for us to get organised and in place. I grinned and said hi to the faces I recognised in a few other groups. Unsurprisingly, our Bar QK lot were the nosiest and the largest of the groups participating.

When the music started pounding through the streets, it was time to begin. Already, hundreds of people lined the streets ahead, waving at the parade, lifting flags of unity, and so many fun outfits were being worn. As I took in how many different kinds of faces were peering back to show their support, I quickly swallowed back my emotion.

“You okay?” Elijah’s deep voice reached my ear as he leaned in close. I startled at the sound and loosened my grip on his hand, not realising just how tightly I’d been gripping it.

I bobbed my head and looked up at him. “Yeah. Just took me by surprise, you know?”

He remained quiet for a beat, his assessing gaze unwavering. He then nodded and gifted me a small smile. “It’s easy to forget the love and support around us when we deal with so much bullshit, right?”

I snorted my answer. “Yeah, for sure.” I peered away and waved at a couple of kids, who were bobbing up and down, the little boy wearing a tiara, and the girl wearing a rainbow bandana. And then I faltered when the boy waved madly, his eyes on mine as he reached out in my direction. In his hand was a matching tiara to the one he wore.

I eased out of the walking and dancing parade with Elijah still holding my hand. “This for me?”

The boy, who could be no older than seven, nodded, the head bob large and overexaggerated. “Yes. It matches your sparkles.”

I glanced down at the sequins on my silver outfit that sparkled in the morning sunshine, and grinned when I looked back at the boy. Smiling, I took the plastic tiara, removed my cowboy hat, and placed the silver tiara on my head. “What do you think?”

The boy grinned widely at me. “It looks pretty.”

I glanced behind him at who I assumed was his mum, and his dad at her side. The woman wore a tee saying Mum Hugs Here.

“I’ll take one of those, if that’s okay?” I said, ignoring the emotion in my throat.

“Absolutely.” The brown-haired woman reached out and hugged me tightly. I released Elijah’s hand and hugged her back. “Keep being happy and you,” she said close to my ear and gave a tighter squeeze.

I nodded and pulled back. “Thank you. Can I thank your boy too?” I asked.

“You sure can. Marley gives the best of hugs,” she said with a wink.

I scooted down to Marley, saying, “Thanks so much for my tiara. It’s the best gift I’ve ever got.” I reached out to shake his hand but was almost bowled over when the kid launched and wrapped his arms around my neck and squeezed.

I clutched onto this moment, happiness bubbling in my chest. When I pulled away, I handed him my silver cowboy hat. “You take this for another time.”

His eyes widened, a grin stretching his mouth. “Thanks.” He looked back at his dad and I gazed up, seeing him nod that it was okay. The boy took it and hugged it close.

“I better go, but it was lovely meeting you.”

The kid nodded as I stood and reached out to Elijah, who immediately took my hand and stroked a finger against my skin.

The two of us waved goodbye to the family and made our way back to our group; the whole way, my heart sang with contentment.

“The tiara’s a good fit,” Elijah said after a couple of minutes, and I knew he’d given me time to collect myself.

I laughed and touched the plastic. “I think so. Cute, right?”

“Definitely. The diamonds will match this one,” he said, causing me to frown, confused.

I glanced over, searching his eyes, still walking and trying to make sure I didn’t stumble or walk into anyone. “What?”

“This.” He indicated to his hand holding a silver band. He held it up higher. In the sunshine, I caught a slight sparkle from a single diamond flush with the metal band.

Wide-eyed, I stopped dead in my tracks, not even thinking about anyone walking behind me. “Holy shit. Is that…?”

Elijah broke eye contact for the barest of seconds, I assumed to make sure we weren’t going to get crushed, before he looked back at me and dropped to one knee.

My breath caught. My eyes welled when he took my left hand in his. And my heart threatened to beat out of my chest when he said, “Marry me.”

Bobbing my head up and down, I said, “Yes. Hell yes. I’ll marry you.” And then I threw myself at him. He was on his knees, me in his arms, as my mouth latched on to his.

There were no tongues, no sweet kisses, no heavy snogs. It was all impossible with how wide my smile was as I tried to kiss him, while laughing, while telling him just how much I loved him.

He pulled back, an equally large smile on his face as he leaned away to place the ring on my finger. Once it was in position, and looking pretty damn perfect on my hand, our gazes locked.

“I love you,” Elijah said. “So much.”

I pressed my lips to his for a sweet peck before pulling away so I could properly see him. “I love you so much too.” He tugged me close and wrapped me up in a hug, at which point the sound of cheers and clapping finally reached me. I opened my eyes and looked around, realising we’d halted the parade.

But from the smiles of the friends around us, and even the cheers of those watching from the sides, I didn’t for a minute believe anyone minded.

And me? I inched back and pressed my lips to my fiancé’s neck, mumbling, “We’re celebrating tonight in just my tiara and your chaps.”

He snorted a laugh as we got our arses off the ground. “Deal,” he said, and before he kissed me again, this one all sweetness and love, he whispered, “But only because you look so damn cute.”

I grinned, owning it, owning this moment, just like we owned each other’s hearts.