Conveniently Married - BuckTommy - Ch. 27/27
Summary: Regency AU. Tommy thought he would never marry anyone, let alone a man. Buck had no real choice between marrying a man or a worse fate. Neither knew that being married to each other would be the best thing that could have ever happened to them. Rating: M Words: 4.8k Notes: If anyone wants to be tagged on future chapters let me know in the notes/dms/asks. Read on Ao3 Prologue - Chapter One - Chapter Two - Chapter Three - Chapter Four - Chapter Five - Chapter Six - Chapter Seven - Chapter Eight - Chapter Nine - Chapter Ten - Chapter Eleven - Chapter Twelve - Chapter Thirteen - Chapter Fourteen - Chapter Fifteen - Chapter Sixteen - Chapter Seventeen - Chapter Eighteen - Chapter Nineteen - Chapter Twenty - Chapter Twenty-One - Chapter Twenty-Two - Chapter Twenty-Three - Chapter Twenty-Four - Chapter Twenty-Five - Chapter Twenty-Six
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Chapter Twenty-Seven
Evan looked at him, eyes wide and he shook his head. His lips were pressed into a line and he stopped Pearl with a tug of the lead. Tommy stopped too, watching Evan. Bracing himself for it. At least he was on a horse and if he needed to leave, he could go and find somewhere to lick his wounds.
“How could you think that?” Evan asked, voice small.
“Evan, come on, you just brought up Eddie.”
“Because I thought it was funny how wrong I was about the two of you,” Evan said, a little louder. “Because I misinterpreted what I saw and jumped to conclusions. The same thing you’re doing right now, actually.”
Tommy knew, then, that he had been a little hasty in suggesting that Evan might have harbored feelings for Eddie. He didn’t really think that, but wasn’t it possible that one day Evan would just meet someone and fall for them?
“Alright, so you were never interested in Eddie.”
Evan laughed, but his laugh held no humor in it and then he shook his head. “No. I’ve never been interested in Eddie. It’s always been you. Always.”
Tommy didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t even look at Evan, instead staring down at Copper’s lead where his knuckles had turned so white from how tight he was holding onto the leather. Of course, he knew that Evan was attracted to him. Of course he knew that Evan cared about him to some extent. He had hoped that it was an attachment as deep as his, but he was also still the first man that Evan had ever been with. He loved Harbour and the land and the people. Staying married to Tommy gave him all of that, and it was reasonable that Evan wouldn’t want to lose that. It didn’t mean that he actually loved Tommy and—
“Damn it, Tommy,” Evan said, “won’t you even look at me?”
It had all started so well. Things had finally settled down for Maddie. Doug was in the ground. He and Evan were happy, weren’t they?
Tommy raised his head. Evan’s eyes glistened and Tommy could see that from his horse feet away from Evan. He never wanted to put tears in Evan’s eyes. Evan should always be smiling. He should always be happy.
Evan took a breath. “I’d be lying if I said that Eddie wasn’t attractive and you know that. You have eyes. But even if he were an option, he is not what I want. Never has been. Never will be. What I want is you.”
Tommy had thought that he was over what Evan had said that day in the carriage. He had pushed it so far down and things had been so much better since they cleared things up after Henry. It was still there, though, floating in the back of his head. They never talked about it. Tommy had wanted to, he’d meant to bring it up. It had felt so much like disturbing everything they had, but they couldn’t move on without addressing it. Tommy needed to be sure.
“What is it?” Evan asked.
“I know we’re exclusive,” Tommy said. “I know you said this isn’t just convenient, but, Evan, in your mind you separate sex and love and everything between us is—”
“When did I say that?” Evan asked, interrupting him.
“We were coming back from dinner with Hen and Karen and—”
Evan frowned and he seemed to come to it at once. “Oh,” he said, brows still furrowed. “But I wasn’t talking about us.”
Tommy inhaled a breath.
“We were talking about Maddie. About Doug. I didn’t mean us. I never meant us.”
Us. Hearing that made his heart soar and so did everything else that Evan had just said. He still looked befuddled and it was as cute as every other expression that ever crossed Evan’s face.
“Have you thought that was all this was all this time?” Evan asked and he wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Maybe not so much recently,” Tommy admitted.
Because he hadn’t. He and Evan had been more solid than ever. Partners. Friends. Lovers. Husbands.
“Good,” Evan said. He was smiling. It was a smile that Tommy loved, one he wanted to see for the rest of his days.
Evan then got down from Pearl. Tommy could only watch him as he made his way to where Tommy was on Copper.
“Come down here,” Evan said
He got down where Evan was waiting, right into Evan’s arms, his hands running up his sides to cross at Tommy’s back. He wrapped his own around Evan’s shoulders and it felt so absolutely grounding to touch him and for everything between them to have not been ruined by a stupid question. He leaned in to kiss him, needing to feel Evan’s lips on his own, but Evan stopped him, pressing a hand to his chest. Tommy didn’t know what to make of his expression, of the way that his eyes were still shining.
“Evan?” He asked, keeping his voice a little higher than a whisper.
“I need to say this,” Evan said. “Not just for myself, but because you need to hear it. The thing is, Tommy, I think I’ve loved you for so much longer than I’ve known. Maybe even from the very first time I saw you.”
-
Buck could feel the way that Tommy’s heart was racing. It probably matched his own. He felt nervous and the angry tears from earlier were drying on his face and he almost couldn’t stop smiling. He felt it when Tommy inhaled a breath that he let out shakily and he met his eyes. They were so blue and shiny and full, he knew, of love.
“Evan,” Tommy said and his name sounded reverent from his lips.
“Yes?”
“I love you too,” Tommy said. “So much that it is difficult to put into words.”
Buck kissed him then and Tommy crushed him into his chest, kissing back just as eagerly. Nothing else mattered but the two of them standing between their horses kissing passionately and clutching at each other as if at any moment one or both of them could disappear.
They came out of it, gasping for breath, but stayed put, foreheads pressed together.
Copper gave a loud snorting neigh and Buck laughed against Tommy. Tommy joined him and they kissed again and again and again until the horses both interrupted again.
“We, uh, we should get going,” Tommy said.
Buck didn’t want to let him go and he could tell that Tommy felt the same way, but they got back on their horses.
“Where to?” Evan asked.
“All I can think right now is how much I want to make love to you,” Tommy said.
Buck’s mouth went dry and he had to think quickly. They weren’t far from the house, but his sister was in the sitting room and Eddie would notice they got back too fast. None of that mattered, but it did mean they might not make it to their rooms as fast as either of them wanted to, if they even made it there at all.
He thought of the cave. The most isolated place on their land and yet the thought of climbing those boulders and making it to the other side. No, he didn’t want to go back there and remember the fear he’d felt that he might lose Maddie.
“The forest,” Buck said.
“The forest?” Tommy asked, eyebrow raised.
Buck shrugged. “That, uh, that clearing where we had that picnic. Near the water.”
“I don’t have any oil on me,” Tommy mused.
“That’s alright, but tonight when we’re back in our room I want you to fuck me Tommy. I want to feel it for days.”
Tommy licked his lips. He gave and nod and then he and Copper were off and Buck and Pearl followed. Buck felt the anticipation down to his bones.
It didn’t take them long to get there or to tie up the horses. Buck got the blanket from his bag out, glad that he’d thought to grab it when they were in the stables. Tommy didn’t give him the time to put it down, because as soon as he was done with Copper, he pulled Buck towards him and slanted his lips over his. The blanket dropped to the ground and Buck leaned into Tommy, kissing him back just as deeply and hungrily, pressing right into his space and slipping a hand into Tommy’s hair.
Tommy moaned against him, pulling him even closer and Buck pressed right into him, losing himself to kissing Tommy, to the taste of him, the smell of him, the way that he felt against him. How magical his tongue was. He was going to get to keep this. He’d known that already, but somehow it felt like it was actually real now that he and Tommy had expressed their feelings out loud because it wasn’t just convenient or because neither of them had any other choice.
It was love.
They were in love.
“Love you,” Buck muttered against his lips.
He was a little out of breath but he didn’t care to catch it even as Tommy kissed him again and then began to work his lips down over Buck’s jaw right to his ear.
“Evan, I love you so much,” Tommy said right against his ear and then he kissed down his neck, his fingers reaching up to fumble with Buck’s cravat.
Buck reached up to help him and Tommy had it off and wrapped around his hand as he undid the buttons of Buck’s waistcoat. He laid kisses on Buck’s neck and Buck stretched his head to the side to give him room to work even as he made work of Tommy’s coat, helping him out of it. Tommy let it fall to the ground and Buck’s own coat and waistcoat followed.
A pile soon formed and they were down to just their breeches in the clearing of a forest with the sounds of birds calling above them. Tommy grabbed the blanket and together they spread it on the ground near their clothes. Tommy sat down first, working his boots off and he beckoned for Buck to join in, lifting his hand towards him.
It was a nice day out. Sunny and warm and Buck could feel the warmth of the sun on his bare back. He slipped out of his boots and joined Tommy on the blanket. The ground wasn’t even or flat, but neither of them cared.
Tommy drew him in, hand reaching up to cradle his face, giving his cheek a caress and pressing their foreheads together. Buck wrapped an arm around him, but his other hand was on Tommy’s chest, moving over the muscular panes of his chest and up to his shoulders.
“I’m yours, Evan,” Tommy said, voice little more than whisper.
“And I’m yours,” Buck said. “I have been for a while now.”
Tommy’s kiss was just a brush of his lips against Buck’s and then he pulled back only to kiss him again slow and gentle. Buck gasped against him and Tommy laid him down, keeping one hand behind his head as he kissed him a little deeper, their tongues sliding together as Tommy’s other hand went down to Buck’s breeches, working the buttons open and reaching in to grasp Buck’s hardening cock.
Buck moaned against him and Tommy smirked against his lips.
“I love every sound that you make,” Tommy said. “The way you give yourself to me every time.”
Tommy kissed him again. His hand was gripping Buck’s cock, tugging on it with the practiced ease of someone who knew exactly what Buck wanted and what Buck liked and how Buck could be teased just so. Buck gasped out his name and Tommy’s smile was on his neck.
“You sound so pretty, darling,” Tommy said. “You always do. And you feel so good. So big. So wet. Loveliest cock, I’ve ever seen.”
Buck made a loud guttural sound that probably scared at least some animals in the forest as Tommy’s pace got a little faster.
“The way you go so pink all over your chest. My gorgeous husband.”
Tommy kissed his chest, licked one of Buck’s nipples and then the other and his hand just kept moving.
“So responsive. So gorgeous. Mine. My love.”
“Yours,” Buck gasped out. “Yours, Tommy. Always…always…ahhhh, I’m so…love you. Tommy! Tommy!”
-
Evan pushed him onto his back, leaning over him to kiss him, hands on Tommy’s chest. Tommy grabbed for him, feeling the warm silky skin of his back and down to the top of his pants when the swell of his ass started. Evan moaned against him and he ground down into Tommy, his softening cock was still wet from his own release and Tommy groaned. Evan’s hands were shaky as they tried to open Tommy’s pants, so Tommy reached down and did it for him, popping the buttons open and Evan’s hand was there to take over, taking Tommy’s cock out.
“Fuck,” Tommy said. “Evan, please.”
Evan kissed his neck and down his chest in a trail that left nothing but heat behind and then his lips made it to where Tommy wanted them the most. Evan kissed the very tip of Tommy’s cock, lips puckered out and his eyes shining when they met Tommy’s.
“Oh, darling,” Tommy said.
Evan lifted his face up and he shot Tommy a smile and then he took the head of Tommy’s cock into his mouth, lips stretched over him in the most delicious way, his tongue resting against the underside and then slow as he could, Evan took the rest of him in his mouth.
Tommy groaned and one of his hands reached for Evan, sliding into his hair.
“Ev! Evan, so good, darling. So good.”
It didn’t take long. Tommy had been close even when he was just giving Evan a handjob and having Evan’s mouth on him, watching him as he bobbed his head up and down looking just as gorgeous as ever and the feeling of his hand gripping him and twisting to meet his mouth had him grasping at the blanket and tugging just a little on Evan’s hair.
Evan took his load right in his mouth, licking his lips afterwards, making Tommy’s cock make a valiant attempt at getting hard again.
Tommy brought him down onto his chest and Evan went willingly, kissing Tommy’s chest and tucking his face into his neck. Tommy held him, kissed the top of his head, and rubbed a hand over his bicep.
“I love you,” Evan said.
“I love you too,” Tommy said. It still felt more than a little wondrous to say it and to hear it returned.
He felt Evan’s lips curl into a smile against his chest.
It was a while before either of them felt the need to move, except that they were outside and as nice a day as it had been, the sun was getting lower and the breeze that had felt good when they were both running a little too warm was beginning to feel cold again. Tommy could hardly keep his eyes away from Evan even as he redressed and bent to pick up the blanket. He didn’t think that he would ever stop wanting to just look at Evan.
“I think they’re judging us,” Evan said.
“What?”
“Copper and Pearl,” Evan supplied.
Tommy shook his head. “I don’t think the horses know or care what we were just doing.”
“No, they’re judging. I can tell.”
“Well, then let them,” Tommy said, catching Evan’s hand and bringing him into his chest and capturing his lips again.
Evan gave into the kiss with ease and Tommy thought that that was another thing he was never going to be tired of. Kissing him.
It was difficult to tear himself away from Evan, but he did when Copper made a loud neigh that sent Evan into laughter.
“See, he’s judging,” Evan said and he stepped out of Tommy’s arms to go to Pearl.
Tommy watched him as Evan murmured to the horse, hands wrapped around Pearl’s face, rubbing down her neck.
They rode back together and as they approached the stables, Tommy felt like whatever weight had been left from not truly knowing where he and Evan stood had fallen away, replaced by the hope, no, the understanding that they would have a long and happy future together.
Evan threw him a smile before he went into Pearl’s stall and Tommy smiled back, when they were done with the horses, they walked out together.
“What are you thinking?” Evan asked.
“Just how happy I am.”
“Oh?”
Tommy stopped and stepped in front of Evan, matching his smile. “Yes. Incandescently so.”
-
Several Months Later
“I admit, I’d never been in this part of the country before,” Bobby said.
They were walking up on the cliff that overlooked the cove, a royal guard hanging back as they did. If that was weird for Bobby, he didn’t show it. Maybe he’d gotten used to constantly being accompanied everywhere he went. Buck didn’t think it was something he could ever get used to.
“How do you like it?” Buck asked.
“It’s nice here. Peaceful. I can see why you like it.”
He watched as Bobby looked out at the water.
“This is where that shipwreck happened?” Bobby asked.
Buck nodded. “And those rocks over there, that’s where Doug fell.”
He didn’t tell Bobby that right there on that beach had also been where he and Tommy kissed for the first time in any meaningful way. Or that several days before Bobby and Athena arrived, he and Tommy had gone swimming out on the water and had been too caught up in each other to care when they got out of the water that they’d shared blowjobs right there where anyone could see them. As far as they knew, no one had.
“It must have felt like a relief when that happened,” Bobby said.
“I was just happy Maddie was alright. I mean, that would have happened anyway, right? If he was captured.”
“More than likely,” Bobby said. “But there might have been a trial.”
Buck didn’t care too much. Everyone knew that Doug was guilty of treason and acts against the crown. He’d also hit his own wife. He deserved his end and Buck would stand by that.
“Well, my sister is better off without him. I just wanted her to be alright.”
Bobby nodded with a smile. “I think she’s better than alright.”
Buck laughed. His sister was happier than Buck could have ever hoped to see her. Buck knew that a big part of it was the threat of Doug no longer hanging over her, but the other aspect was Chim. It hadn’t taken very long after the funeral before Chim made his intentions known. He was patient with Maddie, giving her all the time she needed before he started courting her seriously and then he’d come to Buck to ask for her hand and Buck had told him that it was Maddie’s to give. He wasn’t surprised when they were engaged within the week and married a few weeks later.
When he asked Maddie about it, she admitted that she’d been feeling something for Chim since he’d helped her through the loss of the baby, that it had only intensified when he got her away from Doug. So, they’d been married and Maddie had never looked happier than when she was with her new husband.
He and Bobby were turning back from the cliff when the sound of a horse coming caught their attention. The royal guards moved closer to them. The horse didn’t slow, but Lucy did turn to wave at them as she went.
“That was Miss Donato?” Bobby asked.
“Yes,” Buck said. “Our neighbor.”
They headed back up towards the house, the breeze from the ocean blowing in on them. As the days had gotten warmer, Buck had found himself falling even more in love with Harbour. Wildflowers were growing everywhere and the grasses had grown taller. New flowers were blooming in the garden and so far Buck’s greenhouse was finally coming together.
In the paddock, Buck could see Blaze and Minnie with Eddie. Blaze had grown considerably over the last few months.
“That one there,” Buck said, “that’s the horse I helped birth.”
Bobby smiled at him and gave his arm a squeeze. “I really am so proud of you, my boy,” Bobby said.
“Thanks, Bobby. Sometimes I remember how much of this wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you.”
They found Queen Athena in the sitting room when they entered the house, a tray of tea and scones next to her and Tommy sitting across from her, a game of chess between them.
Athena smiled at them as they entered and Bobby headed towards her, kissing her cheek before he took the armchair nearest her. Buck went to Tommy.
“Hello,” Tommy said, grinning.
Buck placed a kiss on his lips before sitting. “Who’s winning?”
“Your husband is an admirable player,” Athena said, “but I think I’ll win.”
Buck grinned at her and he settled in to watch. Bobby and Athena were only going to be with them for a few more days before they continued on their tour, and as much as everyone in the house had stressed over it, Buck was more than happy to have them. He hoped that they could repeat it someday, but he knew it wouldn’t be any time soon. He and Tommy would probably have to go to them and probably would in some months for Ravi and May’s wedding.
“I was thinking we could have a small dinner party tomorrow night,” Tommy said after he made his move on the board. “Hen and Karen. Lucy, now she’s back. Chim and Maddie.”
“That’d be nice,” Buck said. “We can send them all invitations.”
Although Buck had wanted nothing more than for Maddie to stay with them, even telling her Chim could move in and they could have a whole wing of the house to themselves, his sister hadn’t wanted to start her new marriage there. It was somewhat understandable. So, Tommy had offered up another option. The dowager house.
It was a house on the estate that had once belonged to Tommy’s grandmother and it had been empty since her death and everything considered, it was going to continue to be empty. It had taken some convincing, but in the end they had agreed to move there. Chim continued working with Hen and between them they took care of the illnesses and injuries of anyone in the village as well as the tenant farmers. Maddie had started helping them too and Buck could tell it made her happy to be useful.
Athena moved a piece on the board and Buck saw her mistake maybe a second before she did. Tommy didn’t miss it either and his piece moved on the queen.
“Like I said,” Athena said, “he’s very good.”
“The best,” Buck said, kissing the side of Tommy’s head.
-
“You are a doctor,” Athena said, addressing Hen.
“I am,” Hen said.
Athena nodded thoughtfully. “I appreciate seeing women in professions previously only belonging to men. I’d love to hear more about your training and how you came to be here.”
Tommy left them to it. If he was honest, he’d been a little concerned about the visit from the queen. Bobby was one thing, but the queen was something else entirely. As much as they got along, she was also still intimidating. Having all of their friends over for dinner with her had felt a little like throwing them to the wolves, but it seemed to be going well.
He rejoined Evan on the couch and Evan took his hand, lacing their fingers together, smiling a little.
“How is that going?”
“Athena and Hen are getting along well.”
Karen had joined the conversation too and they heard Athena laugh.
“Really well,” Evan said. “I’m glad. I was a little worried when Maddie declined the invitation.”
“That was inevitable,” Tommy said.
He had expected it even when he made the suggestion. Maddie would always blame Athena for the part she had played in destroying Maddie’s family and Tommy wasn’t going to hold it against her. He and Evan had gotten past things and for Evan, it was more important to still have some level of connection to Bobby.
“What are you two whispering about?” Lucy asked.
“Nothing important,” Buck said. “How are you, Lucy?”
She grinned at them. “I’m great. But tell me, how are the orchids doing?”
Lucy, when she finally returned home some months back, had brought with her an assortment of orchids for Evan and she’d been a bit mum about their origin until a few weeks later when he and Evan saw an unfamiliar carriage go through the village and then in the direction of Lucy’s house. It was a few days later that they saw her guest. Taylor Kelly.
“They’re thriving. You’ll need to stop by and see them. Maybe bring Taylor along.”
“I — maybe.” Lucy said, but her cheeks had gone a little pink.
For Tommy, all that really mattered was that Lucy was happy and that she had found someone that made her happy no matter what it looked like. There was nothing quite like being able to have and keep the person that you loved.
The rest of the night went well. Mrs. Laurent had outdone herself with the meal and then when they went back out to the sitting room, he could see how relaxed Athena was this time speaking to Lucy and Bobby. Evan sat down to join them and Tommy found himself with Bobby and Hen.
The night didn’t end until Athena deemed it so, calling it a night by standing and saying her farewells.
“We do have an early start tomorrow,” she said, “but it was lovely to meet you all.”
She and Bobby walked out and Tommy was amused at the way that Hen and Karen looked after them as if a little starstruck.
“She’s amazing,” Hen said. “I knew that already, but to meet her and have a conversation with her. Wow.”
“She is pretty impressive,” Lucy said.
As they headed out, Tommy was reminded of the first dinner party he’d held after he and Evan were married. Evan had been so nervous to meet his friends. Now, they were all as close to Evan as they were to him.
Evan hugged Hen and Karen at the door before they climbed into a carriage and then Lucy too before Tommy got his turn and they saw her get on her horse and ride home.
“Come on, we can have a drink in the office,” Tommy said.
They walked together to the office and Evan didn’t even let him get them drinks before, he pushed Tommy against the door, fitting their lips together. Tommy wrapped his arms around Evan, holding him close and kissing back.
“I did mean for us to get a drink,” he said against Evan.
Evan laughed. “Yes, but it’s been so long since I’ve kissed you.”
Tommy kissed him again because his husband did make a good point. It had been several hours.
It had been in this very office where Tommy had opened the letter from the queen informing him that a marriage could be arranged for him if it were to take place with one Evan Buckley. Tommy could hardly remember how he’d felt in that moment other than resigned. He knew what he felt now.
“I love you,” he said against Evan’s lips and Evan kissed him again, pulling him off the door and pushing him towards the desk.
“Let me show you how much I love you,” Evan said, lips turned up into a smirk and then he rounded the desk and ruffled through a drawer. “Aha, here it is.”
Tommy caught the bottle when it was thrown at him and then Evan was back in his space, pressing right against him as he went for another kiss. Tommy felt the heat between them, the sparks that flew every time they were near and touching and kissing and just being and even so many months later it didn’t seem like it was a thing that would fade. He hoped it never would. Considering he thought he loved Evan more and more every day, he didn’t think it would.
“What are you thinking?” Evan said.
“Just about you. Us. The way I love you. The way you are mine.”
Evan hummed. “I am,” Evan said. “I am yours and you are mine ‘til death do us part.”
The End
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