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Christian gazed into the pale green of David’s eyes. They reminded him of old jade. “Maybe Ethan, but you took care of Philip.”

David nuzzled into Christian’s neck, kissing it. “I just...imagine if it had been anyone else but Philip. All these years I’ve kept that folder, just in case. I never knew what that case might be, but something told me to keep hold of it and not let it out of my sight.”

“I think that means you should be listening to your gut more often,” Christian pointed out.

David’s eyes flashed open completely, and he smiled. “That’s...good advice, and I think I’ll do just that.”

Christian’s chest tightened. “Yeah?”

David tucked an elbow beneath him so he hovered over Christian’s face. “Yes. When you originally presented the idea of you and I being more than just a one-night fling, I told you I needed more time to think about it. To weigh the benefits and the risks.”

“You did,” Christian said, swallowing.

“And I’m realizing that was a clinical way of handling it. It was cold, and I apologize. I should have handled it better.”

Christian blinked. “Wait, you’re worried that I took offense?”

“It was quite blunt.”

Christian laughed. “Yes, andyouare blunt, you absolute dork.”

“Dork?”

Christian continued to laugh, pushing David onto his back so he could lay across him. “I never once took offense to what you said. You’re always measuring things against one another, weighing the pros and cons. You think things through and use your brain to make your decisions. That’s just who you are, and it’s not like I suddenly expected you to be any different because I was asking you to be serious with me. Hell, I would have been shocked if you had an answer right away.”

David shook his head, running a hand along Christian’s neck. “I suppose you are used to me.”

“I am. I know how you operate. And I know what I asked wasn’t the easiest thing to think about either. At the end of the day, what we did could put us at risk...and obviously, there was some threat to it. I could and can understand if that threat is too much for you,” Christian said softly.

David cupped the back of Christian’s head. “I thought much the same thing. It seemed like a monumental risk, and for something we...have no idea will work.”

“Your career. Mine,” Christian agreed.

“And any future aspirations you might have. That sort of thing could follow you around forever.”

“And ruin what you have now.”

David nodded. “But I’ve decided I don’t care.”

Christian froze. “Wait...really?”

“Of course. I should have known that anyone willing to go to the lengths you did to protect me was worth keeping close. And I should have known it was a sign when I was willing to ignore a strict rule, all for one night with you. And then I should have known when I didn’t give you an immediate answer when you asked for something more. There have been a lot of signspointing me in the direction I’ve been heading the whole time, but the last piece of the puzzle slipped into place last night.”

Christian laughed. “I didn’t know the sex wasthatgood.”

David rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t the sex. It was seeing you standing on the balcony by yourself.”

Christian wrinkled his nose. “Seriously? I looked like an absolute mess.”

“You looked like someone who had been through the wringer, that’s true.”

“You’re...helping my case, not yours here.”

David ignored him. “And you looked absolutely amazing to me. I realized I was seeing under all the smart jokes, under the efficient, dedicated workmanship. Past the smiles, the happy-go-lucky attitude and the patience for dealing with everyone all the time. I was seeing the Christian who was worn out, driven half-mad, and fed up with everything. And I realized I wanted nothing more than to draw you close and never let you go. You didn’t look like a mess. You looked like a man I could give my heart to.”

Christian had teased the general about his inability to give compliments, and now he was fully prepared to take back that comment and never let it loose again. His mouth dried as he stared at David, dumbfounded.

“I...have never had anyone say...anything like that to me before,” Christian admitted.