There had been a distinct possibility in Asherâs mind that Jackson would simply say no. He would have accepted that because he knew that Jackson had so many reasons to not be ready. âNo not tomorrow.â He smiled and kissed the top of his head. âMarch is a damn fine month. Beginning of Spring and all that. Seems to me that we got lots to figure out and plan out so March is soon enough.â He wished he could stop smiling like a fool. It wasnât happening tomorrow, but it was happening.Â
Jackson carefully moved to set his sketchbook aside on the night-table, because right now the moment demanded all of his attention. He turned to face Asher head on, meeting his eyes and taking in that bright, beautiful smile. He loved that he could make Asher smile like that. There was a part of him that would absolutely wear this manâs collar tomorrow, given the right circumstances. But Jackson knew that this sort of thing took time and planning, and not only that, but he knew he wouldnât be able to dedicate himself wholly to a trial claim during the month of February. That month held too much emotional baggage for him. Despite that, he couldnât help but feel this had come at the perfect time... Sure, heâd grieve the anniversaries the month held; the day his trial claim with Steven had started, the anniversary of their first kiss, the day he died, and the day of his burial. But this year, instead of looking into the future and seeing nothing but uncertainty and grief, he could look forward and realistically picture a life where he was happy. And it had been such a long time since Jackson was able to do that... as he stared at Asher, he saw a future heâd been keeping locked away from even his own mind. He saw that smile greeting him each morning as Jackson set a plate of freshly cooked breakfast down for him. For the first time he pictured a life beyond the age of thirty, and before he knew it he was pressed into Asherâs chest, hugging him tightly and experiencing a tidal wave of emotions hitting him all at once.Â