Moving Forward - 59. Chapter 59 (14.3)

When they returned to their room, Lee called Room Service and ordered a bottle of Prosecco. “Want anything to eat with that?” he asked Marshall.

Marshall considered for a moment. He wasn’t really hungry now, but he might be later.

“Maybe some of that lava cake we had before?” Something sweet would hit the spot after making love.

“Sounds good to me.” Lee relayed the order, then hung up.

“What’s Prosecco?” Marshall asked.

“It’s like champagne, but sweeter,” Lee replied. “A little something special for our last night here.”

Lee pulled Marshall closer to him, circling his waist. “A special night for a special guy.”

Marshall warmed at Lee’s words. “Being with you is what makes everything special,” he said sincerely.

Lee kissed him softly, then with a growing fervor as they pressed together, losing themselves in one another. Only a knock at the door kept them from escalating their kisses to the next step. They drew apart reluctantly. Lee answered the knock and admitted a steward with their order.

“Good evening, sirs,” the steward greeted them as he rolled a cart into their suite. “Celebrating our last night on board, are we?”

“We are indeed,” Lee replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few bills which he handed to the man. “Thank you very much, we can take it from here.”

“Very good, sir. Enjoy your evening.” He nodded at each of them then discreetly withdrew.

Lee verified that the door was locked behind him, then turned to Marshall, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Alone at last,” he said with a grin. “Still want to drink this in the hot tub?”

“You know it.”

“No time like the present then. Grab the glasses.”

Marshall quickly obeyed, as Lee picked up the ice-filled bucket containing the Prosecco. They carried everything out to the deck and left it on the table beside the hot tub, then returned to their room and stripped before returning to the hot tub.

The night was balmy, with just the hint of a spice-laden breeze. They could hear music from one of the other decks, some kind of jazz. Just loud enough to be heard without being intrusive.

Lee popped the cork on the Prosecco and poured it into two glasses before they climbed into the warm water, sitting across from one another. He handed one of the glasses to Marshall and took the other.

“What shall we toast to?” Lee asked.

“To the best time of our lives,” Marshall promptly replied, clinking his glass against Lee’s.

“To the best time,” Lee repeated. They each drank.

“I think I like this even better than the champagne,” Marshall commented. “It does tickle a mite, though.”

“As I recall, the champagne did that too,” Lee drawled, and Marshall had to laugh at that.

“Yeah, I guess it did.” He took another sip. “It’s really good. I’m glad you thought of it.”

“I am too.”

Nothing more was said for a moment. Then Lee cleared his throat, and shifted his position. Marshall wondered if he was making room for him to come over, and he began to move toward him, but Lee held up one hand.

“Not yet. I want to talk to you first.”

That sounded ominous.

“Did I do something wrong?”Marshall asked anxiously.

“What? Oh God no, don’t think that,” Lee hastened to assure him. “Nothing like that. Just have something on my mind, and I want to say it to you, but I want it to come out right, that’s all.” He reached for Marshall’s hand and when he received it, he squeezed it.

“Marshall, you know you mean the world to me, right?”

Marshall nodded.

“And you know I’d do anything for you, don’t you?”

Marshall nodded again.

“This trip… it’s been more than a great time. I think I’ve had my eyes opened to something I probably should have realized sooner.”

Marshall couldn’t help but feel anxious again. This sounded so ominous. Surely he wasn’t going to start that stuff about Marshall needing or wanting someone closer to his own age, someone who wasn’t Lee.

“Lee, you know I want you and only you, forever.” Marshall tried to control his quivering lip. Damned if he was going to cry. No way.

“I know that,” Lee said solemnly. “That’s why I’m asking you this… will you marry me?”