My heart pounded in my chest and my mouth continued to hang open, staring at what I hoped wasn't just wishful thinking on my part. Was Brian actually standing here? I received my answer when, smirking, he reached around to the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a Pirates baseball cap, placing it haphazardly on his tousled, auburn head. "Ready to catch some balls, Sport?" he asked, his eyebrows wiggling in an obvious invitation.

I couldn't speak; I was so overcome with emotion after being without my partner for two weeks. I simply chose to answer him by launching myself bodily into his waiting arms, relishing in the feeling of his familiar body against mine as I practically plastered myself to him, his own lean, toned arms snaking around my waist to embrace me firmly in return. "Brian," I finally murmured against his chest, not caring in the least if we were creating some type of spectacle or not. To me, there was no one else there at the moment except Brian.

"Miss me a little, Sunshine?" he kidded softly, as his arms began to rub tantalizing paths across my back, eliciting a moan and an involuntary little shiver of anticipation from me; when it came to my partner, my body was on overload and ready for takeoff, especially with that fashion accessory perched jauntily on his head. Just that piece of apparel alone was producing all kinds of delicious thoughts into my overactive little head, as well as agitating other parts of my anatomy.

Brian must have figured that part out already, because he didn't give me a chance to respond verbally before answering me teasingly, "Yeah, I guess you did." He finally released his firm hold on me long enough to lean back to stare into my eyes. "Well, Sunshine, I missed you too," he admitted, causing my heart to beat even faster. He took one of my hands and pushed it down between our bodies, pressing it into his cock. "A LOT."

Okay, that wasn't a good idea, because suddenly I wanted nothing more than to fuck my catcher senseless right into the pavement; did this man not realize that I had just spent two weeks as a virtual eunuch at his evil expense? "Brian, please" I barely managed to squeak out, partly in warning and partly in extreme longing; so much for being the one in control here.

A delicious tingle went through my body as he leaned down to whisper in my ear, "Uh, uh, uh, Sunshine, you haven't answered my question yet." He punctuated his statement with a lick and extended nibble on my ear. My brain was totally dysfunctional by now; what was he saying?

"Mmmmmm?" That was about all I could eke out at this point.

"I asked you a question, Justin," he continued seductively, again emphasizing the question with another nibble, this time on my neck. The way he said my name just made my cock harden even more, which I would have thought impossible at this point. I finally managed to murmur, "Huh?"

I continued to wantonly rub myself against Brian's chest, just like a purring alley cat stroking himself against someone's pant leg; after two weeks of deprivation, I simply couldn't get enough of this man – his smell, his feel, his voice. I was in heaven.

"Justin." This time Brian said my name with more urgency in his voice, as he placed a hand on each of my arms to try and get my attention to focus on what he was saying. I finally managed to direct my blue eyes toward his hazel ones long enough to try and concentrate on what he was saying. "I asked you a question." Smiling at me tenderly, I was practically melting by now as he said to me, "What do you say, Sunshine? Will you marry me for real this time?" Looking into the eyes I knew so well, I almost thought I saw some uncertainty in them, even some nervousness. Was this man actually afraid I would turn that type of invitation down? Was he fucking crazy??

My eyes filled with tears – happy ones this time, though. My conversation earlier today with Diane at the park filtered through my mind: "I always thought it's not the end but the journey that's meaningful. Maybe you and Brian can find a way to make the journey together and still do what you both love."

Looking into his eyes, I smiled at him as I answered his question without hesitation. "Yes." I couldn't help kissing those luscious lips for emphasis. "Yes." Another kiss. "Yes." Well, what's one more?

Brian's gold-flecked eyes lit up at my response; his smile almost matched the ones I was famous for as he practically beamed at me. He couldn't help asking me, "Yes, what?" This time, though, I knew he really didn't need a confirmation, as he released one hand from the hold on my arm and presented me with the red rose, which I dutifully took, not able to stop myself from inhaling the intoxicating smell. Almost as wonderful as Brian's smell, but NOT quite, I decided.

Then he opened the box he held in the other hand; I had assumed he was holding our wedding bands that he had been keeping ever since I left for New York, but he surprised me. He handed me the box and encouraged me softly to open it. Furrowing my brow, I slowly opened the lid and looked inside. Instead of our rings, the box contained a gleaming platinum key ring with a small, solitary key attached, a heart charm dangling from it. "Turn it over," he instructed shyly, his lip curling under in a manner that was purely Brian.

As I did as he asked, I noticed an inscription on the back of the charm: To my prince – the key to my heart. I honestly thought my OWN heart would explode at that moment. My eyes teared up again, and this time I was unable to prevent a few of the drops from escaping down my cheeks.

"Damn sentimental twat," Brian chided tenderly, before he reached up and brushed my cheeks with both hands to wipe the tears away. I looked at him then, an unbidden question on my lips.

"You want to know what the key is for." He stated, as if he could read my mind. That was how deep our bond was, and how intimately we knew each other. I simply nodded my confirmation.

"It's a key for your new luggage back at the loft," he explained. "You're going to need it for the honeymoon."

"Rather sure of yourself, weren't you, Mr. Kinney?" I asked him gruffly, emphasizing his last name as I pretended to be indignant when I knew he could see right through me.

Brian smiled at me, before responding with surprising truthfulness, "Just hopeful."

My mind suddenly targeted another question, my curiosity suddenly piqued. "Where are we going?" I asked breathlessly. I really didn't care, though, as long as I was with the man I loved more than life itself. The man who would soon be my husband; just the thought made me terribly excited.

"Well, Sunshine, you'll just have to find out, now won't you? I've rented a suite at the Trump Hotel – got any ideas how you might be able to wrestle the answer out of me?" he drawled seductively and smirked, before taking his ball cap and placing it firmly on my head, giving the top of my scalp a firm smack.

I grinned wickedly in return; I think you're right, Diane – the journey is DEFINITELY better than the actual destination, especially after spending the last 14 days with an overactive imagination and thoroughly stunted libido. Somebody needs to do a LOT of sucking up to me - literally. Leering at him in return, I reached down between us and gave my catcher's balls a firm squeeze, producing an audible moan from my star player, before I replied, "I'm sure I can come up with something. Why don't we go back to your hotel suite so we can do some practice shagging?"

"I thought you'd never ask, Sunshine," Brian said softly. "Let's get out of here and go run some bases."

I downright giggled as I thought about my dream from the other night, receiving a puzzled look from Brian. "I'll explain later," I said, grinning, as arms around each other's waists, we walked away from what would be my last long-distance assignment.