title: Test of Faith
author: Jace, Alex
description: Max is completely, helplessly in love with his partner Arjen. He knows this is forever. Yet when Arjen’s parents ask when they’re planning to get married, Max panics. Because after Max’s violent family, there is nothing more terrifying - or more miraculous - than the thought of getting married. It is just too dangerous to even think about. But with Arjen at his side, his anchor in this storm, Max just might pass this test of faith.
  
  6200-word MM erotic romance. Last in a series.
  
  Excerpt:
  
  Arjen turned on him already storming. “Your family is appalling!”
  
  Max flinched. He knew exactly how appalling his family was. Arjen had seen his true colours now: Arjen understood what type of man he was, what kind of background he came from. Max began to plead. “I can fix this. I can fix everything. I can do whatever you want. Please don’t leave me, I love you, I—”
  
  “For Christ’s sake!” Arjen nearly snarled. Max wondered numbly if Arjen was about to hit him. Max was twice his size and yet Max could not even attempt to defend himself against this man. “How can you say that? What are you thinking? Have you not listened to a single word I’ve ever said?” Arjen was getting steadily louder. “Did you not hear me when I said I’d never let you go? What, do you think I was lying? What did I ever say to make you doubt me?”
  
  Max shrank. “I don’t…”
  
  “Let me spell this out for you again. In simple words this time.” Arjen prodded him in the chest with each sentence. Hard. “I’m in love with you, you idiot. I’m absolutely, totally, helplessly in love with you and I plan to spend the rest of my life with you. You need to get this through your thick skull, because you don’t seem to be listening to me. I want to marry you. And in my family we marry for life.”
  
  It hit Max suddenly that Arjen was proposing to him. Max sputtered. “Are you—is that—”
  
  “Just give me a sign and I will. I’ll give you a ring, I’ll do it by candlelight, the whole nine yards. I’ll marry you and I’ll keep you forever. But you’d better be sure, because I’m only asking you once.”
  
  “I don’t… I…” Max swallowed hard, trying not to crack. “I’m—I’m not sure.” He forced out the word that mattered. “Yet. I’m not sure yet.”
  
  Arjen reached up and took his face in his hands, looking at him in a way that killed Max a little bit with how intensely Max loved him. “Then I’ll wait. I’ll wait.”