(BL) Taming the Field Guide

Chapter 219: A man with a plan

Rhys wouldn’t stop staring at his left hand, his other hand holding onto Kellen’s hand tightly. He would not let Kellen go, even if he shifted slightly next to him on the booth bench.

They were still in the restaurant, the server having walked in just seconds after Kellen had slid the ring onto Rhys’ finger. They had gasped, surprised, before genuinely congratulating them. Rhys had beamed, the proudest man ever as he showed off his new ring. Kellen had melted at the sight, and even now he was completely smitten with the big, powerful Esper simply gushing happiness at such a little, shiny thing.

The staff had grabbed them two glasses of champagne, on the house, and Kellen was glad that he hadn’t told them what was going on. He was sure something even crazier could have happened otherwise, especially at the glittering delight in the eyes of all of the staff congratulating him.

Kellen watched Rhys, his heart light as Rhys kept turning over his hand, staring at the entirety of the ring. He’d even demanded Kellen give him a whole overview of the ring and where he’d gotten it made. He didn’t even consider that it was a ring that Kellen hadn’t had it made.

Kellen felt seen at the assumption.

"Do you like it that much?" Kellen asked, teasing him. He was very happy that Rhys liked the ring as much as he did. Rhys raised his yellow gaze up, beaming.

"I love it. I love it even more that you used something Gwen gave you." Rhys told him. Kellen let out a soft breath. He already loved the man, had proposed to him, but hearing him say it made him even more thankful that he had him in his life.

"Can I propose to you again?" Kellen asked and Rhys’ eyes looked so genuinely happy in coordination with his smile. He raised their joined hands, pressing a tender, loving kiss against his skin.

"Not for another five years. I’ll accept another proposal then." Rhys told him seriously and Kellen laughed.

"What? Planning to renew our vows that frequently? Even my parents don’t do that." Kellen teased and Rhys snorted.

"They’re imprinted. It’s different. We’re both going to get a little crazy, and I want it to be for us that we are crazy in love, not just crazy." Rhys’ eyes glittered like gems. "Or should I propose next time? We can take turns." Rhys told him, before he laughed. "I won’t lie and say I’m not a little miffed that my proposal plans are out of the window now. I was thinking about doing it after we brought Brent home. I can’t believe you beat me to it." He didn’t sound as upset as he should be.

Kellen relaxed.

He wouldn’t lie and say that hadn’t been something he had considered. It had only shown up in the back of his mind after he’d gotten the jeweler to start working on the rings. What if Rhys already had something in the works?

Seeing the look of panic on Kellen’s face, Rhys leaned in and kissed his lips slowly, lovingly.

"Don’t worry, I’m not really upset. I am just used to having control of these kinds of situations. I didn’t even get a hint that you were planning to propose. I didn’t even catch on. How many people around us knew?" Rhys asked and Kellen swallowed.

"Well, Brent did, as did my parents, Taylor, Charlie. Pretty sure everyone else picked up on it, and Sergei probably knew as well." Kellen said. Rhys seemed a little surprised.

"That many people knew and I...didn’t pick up on it?" Rhys asked, sounding surprised even to himself. Kellen let out a soft sigh.

"I was very nervous that you were going to sense that something was up." Kellen admitted. "I tried my best to be calm and collected, but it’s a good thing that I didn’t have to travel with the ring. I only got it yesterday and I was having a hard time sticking to the plan. I just wanted to make you mine." Kellen admitted quietly. "Is that...bad?" Kellen asked, staring into Rhys’ yellow gaze.

Rhys seemed to be at a loss for words for a long, heavy moment before he reached for Kellen and hugged him close. His arms squeezed Kellen tightly, his breath warm against his neck.

"Never. Never ever. Fuck. Make me mine as much as you want." Rhys breathed. "I will never get upset about it. I told you to put a collar on me, remember?" Rhys asked, squeezing him again. Kellen let out a tight laugh.

"I suggested something similar to that, kind of as a joke, and Dad lost his mind. He told me no son of his would ever do that." Rhys snorted.

"Well, he doesn’t have to know if we ever decide to do something like that in the future, does he? We can keep it to just us, and our bedroom." Rhys said, before he sighed. "And Green." Kellen felt his laughter bubble up.

"And Brent, can’t forget that." Kellen pointed out and Rhys scowled. "And Hill, if things continue going the way that they are." Rhys blinked, before a light went off behind his eyes.

"Right! Karen is making her move, isn’t she? Has Green said anything to you about it?" Rhys asked, curious as he slowly pulled Kellen into his lap and held him in his arms. Kellen didn’t protest. Why would he? He was exactly where he wanted to be.

Kellen began to tell Rhys all about what he knew and what he thought was going on between the two women, Rhys still staring at his own ring on his finger, and the one that glittered on Kellen’s as well. There was a calmness to him that Kellen hadn’t observed before. A collected chill that made Kellen almost feel bad that he hadn’t done this earlier. For Rhys’ peace of mind, and so that Kellen could see this more relaxed, calm Rhys more often.

He’d practically disappeared as soon as the poison gate had shown up. Now he was back, and it was all because Kellen had placed his mark on him.

"We aren’t going to rush the wedding, are we?" Kellen asked and Rhys paused. He gave Kellen a curious look.

"Are you wanting it one way or the other?" Rhys asked and Kellen shrugged.

"Not really. I just...had a feeling it could go either way with you. Fast because you want everyone to know we’re together, or slow because you want to put on a grand event to celebrate everything." Kellen said. He narrowed his gaze, staring at Rhys for a long, heavy moment while Rhys sweated. "I’m personally leaning more towards you wanting to make it a large spectacle. I don’t hate it, but I could also do a courtroom wedding so that we can throw a big event later." Rhys looked like that thought hadn’t crossed his mind before, if ever.

"Why had I never considered that?" Rhys asked, proving that Kellen was right. Kellen grinned.

"Hmm. I don’t know. We’ve never really discussed marriage or weddings or anything like that. We were flirting with each other while a danger hung over our city. We had more things to worry about and only celebrated small things until now." Kellen was rather practical about the whole thing. "And, I was being a butt head and hiding from you and myself." Kellen said with a shrug. Rhys stiffened.

"Don’t say that." He rumbled, like he was actually angry at Kellen for pointing it out. Kellen gave him a strange look.

"Why not? I’m not lying, nor am I badmouthing anyone. I hid it because I thought it was the right thing to do when I did it. I was a fool for thinking otherwise. Why else would I have kept a secret box of photos of you into my 20’s? Or not even consider anyone else?" Kellen told him bluntly. Rhys stared at him and Kellen felt his face warm. He probably shouldn’t say the next part, but he was feeling a little tipsy and he didn’t want to keep things from Rhys. "While we weren’t really talking to each other and being really awkward I uh, made a little shrine with the photos in the back of my closet." Kellen admitted. "And I wore the jacket you gave me a lot too. That’s how it became a habit."

Rhys was quiet, his eyes wide as he stared at the other man.

"Kellen Woods, I hope you are ready to have to call the healer tomorrow." Rhys warned and Kellen felt his face warm.

"We’re here for work." Kellen reminded him, but he wasn’t really saying no. Rhys chuckled, leaning in and pressing a tender kiss against his cheek.

"And we just got engaged. We’re allowed this much. If you’re too embarrassed to meet his gaze, I can call him while you’re asleep." Rhys told him sweetly, his words in contrast to his gentle actions. Kellen flushed.

"I’m just...embarrassed. Almost all of the Lieutenants are people I grew up with, Rhys!" Kellen protested. "It’s different when it’s Taylor because she’s my best friend. I’ve never had to go to other Healers for things like this before." Rhys smirked.

"You’re so cute. Lots of Guides have to do this, Espers too. This is your first time experiencing this. Look at how pink your cheeks are." Rhys’ teasing was warm, if not a little frustrating.

"What if you’re the one who’ll need a Healer?" Kellen blurted, trying to turn the tables on him. He felt ridiculous as soon as the words left his mouth. Rhys could just reset himself, while Kellen couldn’t. Damn S Class Esper.

Rhys was quiet for a moment, but that didn’t mean nothing was happening. Rhys’ eyes swirled. Chaotic and wild and dipping into a colour that Kellen was very, very familiar with. Kellen had officially lit the fuse and now they were working on a very tight timeline.

"Is that a promise?" Rhys asked, his breath a little ragged. "You can do whatever you want, Kellen. I promise. Gods, I don’t know if I grabbed enough condoms for this." Rhys let out a shaky breath and Kellen flushed.

He let out a shaky breath of his own, his elation that everything had gone well filling him completely.

"We’ll stop by a store on the way home." Kellen told him seriously. "I’m sure they have stores that are open late. That way we can decide on what we want together." Kellen took this very seriously and Rhys’ eyes glittered.

"You aren’t talking about just condoms, are you?" Rhys asked and Kellen felt his face warm. Damn it, it was good that they knew each other so well, but sometimes he didn’t want to hear his truth out loud like that. Rhys’ grip tightened on him as he pulled Kellen closer, kissing him deeply.

Kellen sighed into the touch, his body pliant as Rhys kissed him senseless. When he pulled back, both men were flushed, eager, and Kellen felt his body tense.

"We should go." Kellen whispered, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair out of Rhys’ face. Rhys smiled.

"We should." He agreed. Kellen could feel his heart pound in his chest. Was he going to be able to survive the night in one piece?