Page 17

Royal

“Well don’t you look handsome.” Myra beamed with her hands on her hips. “Doesn’t he look amazing, Pearl?”

Mrs. Pearl set her cup of tea down and turned to look him up and down. “Oh yes. Stone won’t know what hit him tonight.”

Royal rolled his eyes, trying not to blush as he ventured further into the kitchen. He nervously ran his hands down his suede, knee-length coat. “Will you two knock it off. It’s just dinner,” Royal went to the counter and glanced inside the to-go tote bags. “Are these mine? I sure hope so. Oh my gosh it smells so good.”

Mrs. Pearl took another sip of her tea. “She’s been guarding that bag like its full of diamonds and pearls.”

“Well, I made it especially for you and Stone.” Myra lifted her chin with pride. “it’s got several of his favorites in there.”

“Oh yeah,” Royal smiled. But when he saw the dozens of containers his grin faded, “Wait, What do you mean all? I only asked for dinner for one night.”

“Well,” she hummed. “One, could turn into two, then two to three, then three—”

“Oh, for shit’s sake,” he murmured.

“Language,” Mrs. Pearl chided.

“There’s bangers and mash with onion gravy, three-meat lasagna, deluxe mushroom stroganoff, and of course I have plenty of rolls and my whipped butter that you love so much, Royal.” Myra sealed the other insulated bag, “And in here is your chocolate lava cake and whisky bread pudding for dessert.”

Royal stood with his mouth hanging open. “You made enough to feed a small army.”

“Just eat whichever meal you want tonight and put the rest in the fridge. Everything I made is easy to reheat.”

“Myra. I can’t thank you enough.” Royal hugged her. “You’re so generous.”

“She most certainly is.” Mrs. Pearl hefted a clipboard she’d had sitting on the counter in front of her. “I’m trying to keep the grocery order to a minimal this month so we can hopefully turn a hefty profit from the festival, and here this woman is making gourmet meals for her two favorite people.”

“Let’s pray this storm they’re predicting passes us over,” Myra sighed.

Mrs. Pearl crossed her fingers.

“What kind of storm?” Royal frowned. “I haven’t heard anything about bad weather.”

“That’s because all you watch is Netflix,” Myra laughed. “Perhaps you should watch the evening news sometimes.”

Okay, Royal guessed she had a point.

“We’ve sure had our fair share of snowstorms, blizzards, and even an avalanche or two, but never during the week of our biggest tourists’ season.”

Royal kissed Mrs. Pearl. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

She lowered her gaze back to her clipboard still appearing nervous.

Royal hugged Myra. “You’ve outdone yourself, as usual.”

He’d left a considerable sized tip for the meals he’d charged to his room last week. Next week when he paid, he’d triple it.

“So, how long should I suspend housekeeping services on your room?” Mrs. Pearl winked.

“You two are such meddlers,” he said with fake stern sternness. “But I’ll be back in the morning , okay. Stone didn’t ask me to move in.”

“No. Not yet anyway.”

Royal sucked in a lungful of air, almost choking on it. He didn’t turn towards the door, not trusting himself to remain composed, but he could feel it, the weight of Stone’s presence in the room, as though the temperature had risen several degrees.

When he did find the nerve to turn around, his pulse skittered almost to a stop.

Stone’s huge frame filled the kitchen doorway. Royal gazed at the mountain of muscles and broad chest that tapered down to a trim waist. But it was all the little details that made Royal’s breath seize.

Stone’s dark wavy hair laced with silver streaks that looked like it belonged on a model—a rugged one. The strands were long enough to brush the collar of his heavy coat, but it was well-groomed, shiny, even in the dim lighting of the kitchen.

Royal blinked, as he scanned Stone’s face. Something was a little different about his beard. The bits of silver throughout gleamed like polished metal. It was kept but still wild, if that was possible.

Royal’s mouth became dry. He struggled to think straight as he narrowed his focus to Stone’s thick bulge restrained behind the of those dark jeans.

“Evening,” Stone rumbled, his voice so rough and deep, as if he were speaking from an abyss.

Royal’s body responded without permission, a pulse of longing rising from his groin. He almost couldn’t restrain himself. He had no control over how much he wanted to feel that big body stretched on top of him as he sank his fingers into that full beard, and kissed Stone until he was grasping for breath.

“Royal…Stone just greeted you,” Myra said around a snicker.

“Hey, um…hi.” He blinked, his smile forced and tight. He pointed at Myra and Mrs. Pearl. “We were uh, just, uh, talking about…”

“I was just teasing Royal that you two have enough dinner here to last for several nights,” Myra chimed in.

Royal nodded, his thoughts scattered. It was hard enough to hide his visceral want from Stone, but the way the women were watching him—teasing and knowing—only made him feel more busted.

“Ready to go…I’m famished ,” Stone glared at him in a way that made Royal’s cock jerk. “I’m gonna eat until I’m good and satisfied.”

“Well Myra made plenty enough food to do just that, Stone.” Mrs. Pearl smiled warmly.

The meaning behind those words may’ve gone over Mrs. Pearl’s head, but not his. Stone was ready to make him pay for those teasing text messages.

Royal hurried and said goodnight to his favorite ladies and hefted the totes off the counter before his face got any hotter.

His legs were unsteady but he managed to walk towards the door. When he stepped outside the rush of cold air, and thick snowflakes, hit Royal’s face, but his cheeks still burned from Stone’s innuendo.

Stone took the totes from him, his arm brushing his, that minimal contact almost too much to bear. He put the cases in the back seat, then opened the passenger door for him.

Stone

Stone was glad his windows were tinted black—just in case Mrs. Peal and Myra were looking out of the window—so no one could see him yank Royal across the bench seat and slam his mouth over his.

Stone clamped his arms around Royal’s slim waist and pulled him closer until he was almost on his lap. If it wasn’t for the steering wheel, he would’ve been able to.

The kiss started fervently with an intense warmth that ignited into an inferno. Ever since Royal had teased Stone with those texts all he’d been able to think about was getting his hands on him and taking a much deeper taste than he had before.

Royal moaned into his mouth and grabbed two handfuls of his hair, urging him closer.

Stone poured every ounce of passion he had into that intoxicating moment.

The scent of Royal’s clean-smelling cologne intermingled with the warmth of his breath, creating an atmosphere too intense for him to breathe.

They had to break apart for air, but not their bodies. Royal stayed pressed to him, burying his face in his neck and inhaling deeply.

“You smell so good, Bo,” Royal whispered, licking at the hot skin over his Adam’s apple.

Stone groaned so hard at the bliss racing through him it almost scared him.

His name being whimpered like that made him want to eliminate all barriers between them and bury himself inside him.

“Baby,” he murmured, sucking hard on Royal’s throat. “I want you so fuckin bad.”

He was sure he was leaving red marks and burns from his beard on Royal’s ivory skin, but he didn’t stop.

“Yes,” Royal hissed, throwing his head back as he squirmed to get their lower bodies in contact.

His truck was big, but there was no way they could get into the position they wanted, to do what they craved.

Stone got a firm grip on Royal’s hips and eased his frantic movements to a halt.

Their breathing slowed along with their fevered touches as Stone laved at a tender, sweet-smelling patch of skin on Royal’s jaw.

“How far away is your cabin?” Royal sighed against his lips.

Further than I want it to be.

Stone’s cock was hard enough to split wood, trapped behind his zipper.

“About a half hour.”

Royal’s low curse and the slight pout of his pink lips were so endearing it made warmth bloom in Stone’s chest.

He felt the lightness of a smile in his spirit.

He gripped the back of Royal’s neck. “If you climb back over into your seat and let me start the ignition, the sooner we can get there.”

“Mmm,” Royal hummed into his beard. “I’m trying to take my hands off you. But I didn’t expect you to show up looking and smelling this wonderful.”

Royal cupped his cheek with one hand while he combed his fingers through his beard with the other.

Stone closed his eyes and enjoyed the touch of Royal’s gentle hands. Hands that weren’t hardened and nicked from tree bark, and he wanted those hands everywhere on his body.

“Bo, look at me,” Royal whispered. His voice was so calm and comforting it made him want to wrap his world around it.

Stone gazed into Royal’s rich brown eyes.

They stayed that way for a couple of minutes before Royal placed one last tender kiss on his lips then slid back across the bench seat and snapped his seatbelt on.

The ride had been quiet but no less sexually charged.

When he turned onto the winding road leading up to his cabin. Royal stared out of the passenger window as if he were trying to memorize the route.

Stone rounded the bend and his cabin came into view. Royal’s startled breath was nice to hear. He’d put a lot of work into his home before and after Ben died. The extensive renovations had kept his mind occupied and off his heartache.

“Bo,” Royal said in a voice full of awe. “Your cabin is insane.”

Stone pressed the clicker attached to his visor and steered his truck into the three-car garage.

After he cut the engine, he went around the cab and opened Royal’s door. As soon as he had both feet on the ground, Stone was on him again, pressing his back into the truck. He kissed him so deep and hard that Royal began to climb him as if he were an oak tree.

Long legs hooked tight around his waist, and Stone walked them to the door and through his kitchen, his mouth never leaving Royal’s. Once inside, he made a beeline towards his bedroom.

They broke apart only long enough to breathe. Royal hurried and shucked his coat and let it fall to the floor.

“You’re getting the five-cent tour right now. Kitchen, bathroom,” Stone said while walking faster. “Den, living room—”

Stone growled as Royal bit down on his neck and ground his hard cock against his abdomen. It almost caused him to stumble as he bumped into the walls on his way to his bedroom.

He moaned as his kneecaps hit the edge of his bed and he damn near tossed Royal onto the mattress.

Royal barely scanned the room before his eyes—smoldering with lust—landed back on him.

Stone stood over him and yanked his sweater, then T-shirt over his head. Royal panted as his gaze started at his chest then roamed down to where he was unbuckling his belt.

Royal’s hands shook as he went for the top button of his own shirt.

“Don’t,” Stone commanded, his voice raw. “I’ve been waiting all week to undress you in my bed.”

“Then hurry,” Royal moaned. “I’ve been waiting all week to feel you on top of me.”

Stone finished removing his jeans but left his briefs on as he climbed over Royal and slowly lowered all of his two-hundred and sixty pounds on top of him.

“Yes,” Royal groaned, arching his back.

Stone thrust his hard cock over Royal’s in a way that made his toes curl. A few thrusts and he was able to ease the ache before he slid his hand between their bodies and began to unbutton Royal’s shirt. He rose just enough to fully remove his pants, then his tight black briefs until there was no barrier between him and Royal’s sleek skin.

Stone couldn’t resist. He had to get up on his knees and look.

Royal had a body that deserved admiration.

Oh my gosh…

Stone had never seen a more stunning man. Royal was flawless.

“Do you have any fuckin’ idea how beautiful you are?”

Stone ran his rough fingertips across Royal’s hairless chest and down his cut abs. His skin was a blend of warmth and satin. The moonlight created a natural glow, a subtle luminosity in his creamy tone, exuding the most irresistible heat.

Royal had a body that’d clearly never endured harsh weather and had stayed wrapped in designer suits made only of the finest fabrics.

“Bo, damnit.”

The desperation in Royal’s voice pulled him from his eye-fucking and wrenched him into action. Royal’s cock was pointed towards him, the head flushed and beaded with a thick drop of pre-cum.

Stone covered him again and kissed Royal with less urgency and more affection. He could feel the ache of what Royal needed stabbing at him. Ignoring it for now, wanting to stretch this first time out as long as he could handle, he brushed his lips over Royal’s stiff, pink nipples with lightest touch.

He glanced up to see pure bliss all over Royal’s face as his eyes fluttered closed. Stone writhed against him, groaning at the sacred slowness of how they moved together in a perfect rhythm, so tender it hurt.

Stone pulled back just enough so their lips brushed each other, breaths mingling.

Then he couldn’t resist, he kissed Royal again, slow and cherishing. Royal dragged his hands up the rigid muscles in Stone’s back as he glided his supple mouth over his beard then back in the sexiest way.

The tenderness in Royal’s touch soothed the ache that’d ruled Stone’s world for so long.

“When’s the last time you had a hot mouth swallow your cock, baby?” Stone gritted, already sliding down Royal’s body.

Royal’s breathing quickened, his chest rising and falling so fast Stone thought he might pass out.

“N-never,” Royal managed.

Stone held their eye contact as he teased Royal with his mouth, barely brushing the head of his dick, allowing the anticipation to build before he engulfed Royal’s full length, not stopping until his lips were nestled in his pubic hair.

Stone was dead fucking serious when he’d said he hadn’t forgotten how to do this. He still knew how to make a man scream his name.