The Hollow Hills - 31. Chapter 31

Joshua

The bright, citrus scent of orange burst forth as I plunged my thumb into the round fruit and peeled the rind away from the flesh. I’d already grated the zest off the pith, now I needed to peel some for juice and some to dice into small pieces to add to the cranberry relish. I jumped and almost dropped the orange when Galen slammed a bowl of peeled and quartered potatoes on the island in front of me. He stood, leaning on the bowl, glaring at me.

“What the hell, Galen?”

“I should be saying that to you,” he replied.

I frowned. I thought I’d gotten used to Galen’s unpredictable moods, but sometimes he still managed to surprise me. His PTSD occasionally caused him to overreact and misinterpret otherwise benign situations. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ve barely said two words to me all morning, other than ‘hand me the grater’ or ‘peel the potatoes’. What’s your problem?”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t have a problem.”

Galen’s posture stiffened, and I was glad the daggers shooting from his eyes weren’t real. “You’re fucking kidding me, right?”

I exhaled sharply. “What do you want from me?”

“Communication!” he yelled. “Stop shutting me out!”

“Shutting—Galen, seriously. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Well let me know when you figure it out.” He stalked into the dining room and from the sound of clanking dishes, I hoped he wasn’t breaking my good china in the process of setting the table.

I set the orange down on the island. The day was supposed to be a day of giving thanks and reflecting on the good things in life. I had things planned to the last detail, including a surprise for Galen. Instead, it was apparently turning into a nightmare.

I was at a loss as to how to respond to Galen. Things had been going remarkably well between us. We were communicating and progressing in our relationship. An involuntary smile spread across my face when I thought about what we had done the day before. My expression sobered when I had a chilling thought. Maybe Galen hadn’t been as into our activities as I’d thought.

I had the day from hell at work and had just arrived home. I headed right for our bedroom and heard the shower running. Galen must have just finished work. I smiled, thinking the day was about to get much better. Galen had been so loving lately. Our physical relationship was moving forward—Galen seemed to be comfortable going down on me, but was still reluctant to let me reciprocate, even though I was aching with the desire to. He did allow me to touch him once, which was a step in the right direction.

I opened the bathroom door and stepped inside. “Hey, sweetheart. I’m home.”

“I’ll be right out,” he yelled.

I removed my clothes and approached the shower. “How about I join you?” I asked as I slid the glass door open.

The look of panic on his face felt like a punch in my gut.

“What are you doing? I said I’d be right out!”

Despite the combination of fear and anger clouding his features, his beauty took my breath away. His hair was slicked back and water cascaded down his face, along his stubble, falling like a waterfall down his chest hair and treasure trail to his manhood, and down the hair on his legs. The physical labor of working the barn had toned his muscles perfectly. Unfortunately, my body reacted to his physical perfection and my love for him. It was the last thing Galen needed to see.

“I thought we could shower together,” I replied.

“Josh! Oh my God… I’m not ready for this! Get out!” He covered himself.

“Are you kidding me? I said shower together—not have sex.” I shut the shower door and snatched my clothes off the floor, then headed into our bedroom. I sat on the bed with my head in my hands, gritting my teeth. Frustration and anger warred within me. I felt like a fool and wondered what I should do. A part of me wanted to challenge Galen’s boundaries. He kept telling me he trusted me and wanted to do more. But then when we tried, he pushed me away.

The other part of me, the more insistent part, told me he hadn’t really forgiven me. That he still blamed me for what happened and would never be happy with me.

“Josh? Are you still out there?” Galen called.

I hesitated for a minute, but the tremor in Galen’s voice made me re-enter the bathroom. “Yeah, I’m still here.”

He audibly exhaled. “Please… come here.”

I approached the shower warily and stood at the partially-opened door. Galen leaned against the shower wall, his head on his arms. The water flowed over his back and circled down the drain.

“Tell me what you need,” I said softly.

He turned to look at me. His whole body shook, despite the hot water. He held out a trembling hand. The look on his face was a combination of need and fear.

Anger flared within me. Not at Galen, but at Roger/Michael for what he had done to the man I loved. I pushed the anger away. Galen needed love, not pity. I took his hand and squeezed, hoping to still the tremors. “Sweetheart, let me look at you.”

He stared at me like a deer in headlights.

Galen looked crestfallen. “Josh… I—”

“Stop looking at me like I’m going to rape you. I’ve never pushed you for sex and I never will. I’d hope by now you’d know that.”

“I’m trying.”

“I can’t keep walking on eggshells around you. Either trust me or don’t.”

I couldn’t tell if the moisture streaming down his face was water, tears, or a mixture of both. He stepped tentatively toward me and let go of my hand. He stood before me, naked, and reached out to touch my shoulders, then pulled me close to him, underneath the almost-scalding-hot water.

The feel of his naked body against mine was intoxicating. I moved my hands to his waist, then ran them up his back, reveling in the feeling of his slippery flesh. I felt him tense when my erection touched his thigh, but then he exhaled and moved closer, creating friction that caused me to hiss in pleasure.

“Oh, Galen….” I moaned. I nuzzled my head into his neck, kissing my way up to behind his ear. He loved it when I massaged that spot when we cuddled. We were standing close enough for me to feel his body respond, and my heart soared. I moved to kiss his mouth. His face flushed bright red, and his eyes were wide and dilated.

We made out for a few minutes, my hands exploring everywhere except his erection, before he pulled away. He smiled and placed his palm on my chest. His hand rose and fell with my breaths.

“Turn around,” I said, my voice husky with desire.

He looked at me quizzically. “What?”

“You always stand or sit facing me. Turn around.”

He hesitated, muscles tense.

“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

“I know. It’s just… well… I don’t want you to see—”

“I’ve seen the scars, sweetheart.”

He nodded, then slowly turned his back to me, trembling.

“I’m going to touch you now,” I said softly, then placed my hands lightly on his shoulders. He flinched, then his shoulders rose as he inhaled and held his breath. They lowered as he slowly exhaled, and I moved my hands lower, tracing my fingers over the long, raised lines that marred his otherwise beautiful body.

I felt each intrusion into his body as I traced the horrific marks. How anyone could hurt such an incredible man was beyond my understanding. My hand shook as I explored each scar with my hands, then kissed each one in turn. Galen reached behind him and threaded his hand into my hair as I reached his lower back. He lightly pressed downward, guiding me around to his front.

I dropped to my knees, ignoring the discomfort from the hard tile floor, and looked up at him. He swallowed and nodded. I ran my hands along the front of his thighs to the back and rested my cheek against his upper leg. His dick was right in front of me, half-hard. I relished the sight before I moved my head and kissed his inner thigh. He jumped and inhaled sharply, holding his breath. I caressed the spot with my hand, waiting for him to relax. When I felt his exhale, I kissed the same spot, then slowly moved my hand closer to his now-increasing erection and touched it lightly. He tensed again and I repeated the process until I was able to grasp him fully. The water had gone from hot to warm by the time I took him into my mouth, and was cold when he released without warning, moaning loudly.

I swallowed and stood holding him close. He kissed me and swayed slightly. I turned the water off and led him out of the shower stall so I could grab a towel and dry him off.

“Josh?”

“Yeah, angel?”

“I… well, uh… I never thought I’d be able to do that again.”

I wrapped the towel around his shivering body and embraced him. “You were incredible,” I whispered. “I love you so much, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too.”

Was Galen upset about what we’d done? He hadn’t acted that way afterwards. There was now silence from the dining room, so I wiped my hands on a kitchen towel and went to check on him. Galen wasn’t there. My heart beat faster, and I wondered when he’d left and how upset he was. I dreaded the possibility of a confrontation. While we’d improved our communication, we still had our moments.

I figured he had to be in our room since he hadn’t gone through the kitchen to go the barn. I walked into the living room and saw Galen sitting on the couch, staring at the fire, his arms wrapped around his knees. I sat next to him. He looked at me and frowned.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I asked.

“You tell me.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”

He turned to face me. “You’ve been ignoring me all morning.”

“If I have, it’s not on purpose. I have a lot on my mind.”

He looked at me doubtfully. “So you’re not mad at me?”

I smiled and put my arm around him, drawing him close. “Mad at you? No, not at all.” I kissed the side of his head. “You’re not upset about yesterday, are you?”

The corner of his mouth upturned. He shook his head. “No. It was amazing.”

I lifted his chin and looked into his bright, emerald eyes. There wasn’t a trace of fear or doubt. I kissed him. “It was, wasn’t it?”

He sighed. “I’m sorry I freaked out on you earlier. It’s just… well, you caught me by surprise.”

I rubbed my thumb along his scruff. “I should have given you some warning. You’ve been doing so well lately… I wasn’t thinking.”

He curled into my side and my heart soared. This was what I’d been waiting my whole life for. And what I wanted for the rest of my life.

“While I’d like nothing more than to spend the day like this, we have a lot more meal prep to do,” I stated.

He nodded, but neither of us moved for several more minutes.

“What time are Eddie and Matt arriving?” I asked as I shaved a Brussels sprout on a mandoline.

“Around two. Are you sure you don’t mind Matt bringing dessert?” Galen replied.

He looked so worried I abandoned my pile of sprouts and walked over to the sink, where he was washing dishes. I slid my arms around his waist and kissed below his ear. “Relax, sweetheart. I said it was fine. You know I’m not the best pastry cook. I’m happy to have someone else in charge of dessert.”

He smiled and leaned back, into my embrace. “Your worst attempts are better than most people’s best,” he stated.

I laughed. “Anyway, it’s been a while since I’ve cooked such a large thanksgiving feast. I think the last time was before Adam went to college.” I headed back to finish shaving the rest of the Brussels sprouts.

“When’s he coming back from Europe?”

“Not ‘til summer. He’s hoping to qualify for the World Equestrian Games and wants to get as much experience in Europe as he can.”

“You miss him, don’t you?”

I sighed. “Yeah. It’s been hard having him away for so long. But the best dressage trainers are in Europe, so it makes sense for him to train over there. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

Galen smiled. “Yeah, same here.”

Galen’s smile never failed to send a thrill coursing through me, and thankfully I was finished with my task. The possibility of cutting myself on the mandoline because I was distracted by my hot partner was very real. I scooped the shaved veggies into a large bowl and set them on the counter, then grabbed a loaf of crusty bread and cut it into even cubes for the stuffing.

Galen moved from the sink and stood on the opposite side of the kitchen island. “What do you want me to do next?”

“You can cube the cornbread, if you want. It’s on the counter near the fridge.”

“Sure,” he replied, then went to retrieve the pan.

We worked in comfortable silence, prepping the sides for our big celebration later. A twenty pound turkey was ready for roasting once I finished making sausage stuffing for the cavity. I’d slathered herbed butter underneath the skin and placed strips of bacon on the outside. I planned on making a second kind of stuffing—jalapeno cornbread. For sides we were making roasted garlic mashed potatoes, a fall dinner salad, gravy, shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon and toasted pecans, and cranberry/orange relish. We also made an assortment of appetizers, and I had a special surprise hidden in the back of the fridge.

I added some orange juice to the relish and stirred all the ingredients together. I jumped when I felt Galen’s arms around my midsection. He rested his head against my shoulder.

“You’ve been stirring that relish for five minutes. I think it’s good.”

I set the spoon down and turned around, drawing him closer. I ran my hand through his hair and rubbed underneath his ear. The up and down movement of his ribcage as he sighed was something I’d never get tired of. Holding him in my arms felt so right—it was a feeling I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to. I wanted to grasp that feeling with both hands and never let go.

*****

I was a nervous wreck through dinner, but tried not to let it show. Everyone raved about the food, which made me proud of Galen. Dinner had been a joint effort. Afterwards, Galen dragged me into the living room to socialize, refusing to let me hide in the kitchen, doing dishes. I didn’t really mind, though. Galen was drawing out my social side, and I found myself enjoying it.

Eddie and Matt sat on one couch next to Liam and Alannah, and Jody and Sally occupied the other couch. Galen and I sat together in an oversized chair, facing the fireplace. Having him so close was both a blessing and a curse. He was the cause of my frazzled nerves, but also the balm that soothed them.

I made eye contact with Liam, and he nodded toward the kitchen. I took a deep breath and wiped my hands on my pants. I wiggled out from under Galen and stood.

“I’ll be right back.”

He looked at me funny, but nodded and continued his conversation with Jody. I followed Liam into the kitchen.

“Everything all set?” he asked.

“I think so. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this nervous. If ever.”

Liam smiled. “Relax. It’s all good.”

“I hope so.”

Liam grabbed a bunch of wine glasses along with a couple of silver trays from the cupboard near the stove, while I retrieved two bottles of sparkling cider from the back of the fridge. I would have bought champagne, but Galen couldn’t drink alcohol due to his meds. Liam poured the cider into the glasses, then we each grabbed a tray.

He grinned. “It’s show time!”

I laughed. Liam had been a godsend, helping me plan my special surprise. We entered the living room and distributed the glasses of amber liquid.

“What’s this?” Galen asked.

“Sparkling cider,” I replied as I set the tray down on the coffee table and grabbed the last two glasses. I handed him one, then sat next to him.

Liam cleared his throat. “Me and Jo were talking recently about family traditions. One of his is for everyone to say what they’re thankful for. I think it’s a great idea, so I’ll start.” He turned to Alannah and held her hand. “I’m thankful I finally found the guts to ask this gal out.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Gal? And it’s about bloody time.”

We all laughed. Liam moved to face Galen. “But most of all, I’m thankful to have Galen here to celebrate with us.”

Everyone was silent as they looked at Galen and nodded. He leaned into my side, and I put my arm around him. He clung to me as his closest friends took turns stating what they were thankful for. Alannah was thankful for Liam and for Galen coming to the farm. She said he was an invaluable part of our household and family. Eddie and Matt were grateful for each other and for meeting me and Galen. Jody and Sally were also thankful for each other and for their upcoming addition to their family. Jody teared up when he spoke about how much Galen meant to him and how happy he was to have him back in his life.

Galen gripped my arm tightly and slid his hand down to mine. His beautiful green eyes glistened with moisture. “It looks like I’m next.”

I shook my head. “Actually, it’s my turn.” I turned until I faced Galen and held both his hands. “We both know communication isn’t my strong point, but I’m going to do my best. To say I’m thankful for you is the understatement of the year. You’ve changed my life in so many ways. I’m a better man for knowing you.”

Galen squeezed my hands. A trail of tears streamed down his face. “I’m thankful for—”

I placed a finger against his lips. The feeling of the soft, wet flesh caused a wave of desire to flood through me. God, I loved this man. “I’m not done.” I inhaled. “When I first moved to the farm, I wanted nothing more than to find someone to share it with. I eventually gave up on that fantasy. I told myself it wasn’t in the cards for me, and I thought I was all right with that.” I paused. “Until I met you.”

I slid out from the chair and onto the floor, bending down on one knee. Galen gasped and put his hand over his mouth, his emerald eyes wide with shock. I reached under the chair for the box I’d placed there earlier that morning and opened it, removing the white gold Claddagh ring. The design consisted of two hearts (a variation of the traditional one heart) between a crown on top and a pair of clasped hands on the bottom. Celtic knots spread from the hands down the side of the ring. It was a traditional Irish engagement ring—the hands stood for friendship, the hearts for love, and the crown for loyalty.

“I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I want to wake up next to you each morning and fall asleep holding you every night. I want to go on trail rides together and cook our meals together and—well, you get the idea. I want to grow old together and give you all the best life has to offer. Marry me, angel?”

Galen stared at me with his mouth open.

My heart pounded in my chest. I wondered if I’d made a mistake. Our relationship was still pretty new. We were learning how to communicate and how to function as a couple. We had a long way to go in the sex department. I still wasn’t convinced Galen trusted me, despite our shower encounter. The only way I could think of to show him how much he meant to me was to propose. I meant every word I’d said. I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with the beautiful man staring at me in wonder.

“Galen, you’re killing me here,” I said.

He grasped my hand so tightly I winced. “Josh… I…” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”

I nodded and clenched my jaw. My heart sank and I braced myself for rejection. I couldn’t imagine life without Galen.

“I’ve loved you from the moment I set eyes on you,” he whispered.

“So have I. It just took me longer to admit it,” I replied.

He ran his hand through my hair and down my face. “You really want to spend the rest of your life with me?”

I nodded. “More than anything.”

He grinned and nodded. “Yes.”

It took a minute for the word to sink in. “Yes?”

“Yes, Joshua Rhiordan. I will marry you.”

I needed both my hands to put the ring on Galen’s finger since I was shaking so badly. He threw his arms around me and kissed me. I held onto him for dear life and cried into his shoulder. This man who had been through hell and survived. Whom I’d caused immeasurable amount of pain… this beautiful person saw all of my faults and wanted to marry me anyway.

I barely registered the whistles and shouts of congratulations from our friends and family. Galen kissed me again, then rose from the chair and threw himself onto Jody’s lap. I thought the burly man was going to crush my fiancé from the way he hugged him.

“I’m getting married, Jo!” he yelled.

“I heard! I damn well better be your best man,” Jody replied.

“You and Liam will be co-best men.”

I didn’t hear the rest of the conversation as I was enveloped in a sea of hugs, handshakes, and back slaps. I grinned as Liam clasped my hand and pulled me into a bear hug. “Welcome to the family.”

Relief, elation, and love for Galen overwhelmed me, preventing me from speaking, so I nodded. I watched Galen as he chatted with Jody and Sally. I wanted to grab my fiancé and run to our bedroom to celebrate in whatever way he was comfortable. I smiled and turned to Eddie and Matt as they stepped up to congratulate me. I’d have to wait for a private celebration with Galen. But that was OK. We had the rest of our lives for that.

Well... this is it!  The final chapter.  Thanks to all who read and supported me.  I'd like to extend a special thank you to Cole Matthews, Lisa, and Parker Owens for their help in making this story come to life.  While I can't promise a sequel, I can promise that I'm not done with these guys.  You will see more from this universe in the future.