Page 27

Royal

Royal woke slowly, not wanting to rush and leave the safety of the moment. There was a heavy but comforting weight on him. Stone’s arm was draped over him, curving over his chest as if it had been made to fit there. He was held tight as if Stone was afraid he’d slip away again.

Royal inched backwards, grazing Stone’s semierect cock with his ass. His chest hair tickled his back and he tried not to chuckle at the light snores behind his ear. The steady rise and fall of Stone’s chest was soothing enough to lure him back to sleep.

When he woke again, Stone was rubbing his beard along his sensitive skin. Stone rumbled and shifted closer, squeezing him tighter. Royal was unsure how that was possible since they were already sealed together head to toe.

Rough fingers caressed his jaw before trailing down his throat. The touch made shivers ripple through him, and Royal couldn’t help but smile. He felt peace, he felt loved. Stone’s arms and his bed felt like home.

He let out a small sigh as Stone whispered a kiss at the nape of his neck before burying his nose in his hair.

“Say it again,” Stone grumbled, his gravelly morning voice making Royal’s cock stand to full attention.

He turned so he could stare into Stone’s beautiful blue eyes before he did. His drowsy gaze met his, and he saw warmth and affection staring back at him. It was so strong it made Royal’s heart ache.

He tucked a long, silver strand of Stone’s hair behind his ear before he palmed his cheek, knowing how much Stone loved the feel of his skin. Stone pressed harder into his hand, then placed a tender kiss there.

“I love you, Bo.” Royal draped his leg over Stone’s hip. “I’ve never been in love before but I know with everything in me, that I’m in love with you.”

Stone rolled on top of him, his weight so impressive he felt overpowered…in the best way.

“This is how I wanna start every day, every morning, just like this.” Stone ground on top of him.

Royal arched, wanting Stone again, wanting what he was asking for.

Forever.

Royal tried not to be distracted by Stone as he sat across the small dining room at the bed and breakfast while Royal met with the town’s officials.

Myra and Jojo were still fawning all over him and plying him with food as if he’d been lost in the wilderness for months and not hiding from life in his cabin for three days. Actually, they’d been fussing over both of them since they’d got there a little before noon.

“Here sweetheart, I brought you a sample of Brissy’s butternut squash soup. It’s been simmering for hours.” Myra beamed, setting yet another bowl in front of Stone.

“Myra. I’m stuffed. I can’t eat another—”

“Big Hank said these are the sweetest squash you’ll ever eat. He brought them to me last week and let me tell ya, those things were as big as his head,” Myra laughed.

Royal hid his grin behind his hand when Stone threw him a pleading glance.

When Stone didn’t lift the spoon, Myra did it for him. “Here you are, open up.”

“Myra, I’m sure it’s delicious but—”

“Open, open, open, you probably didn’t eat the whole time Royal was gone.”

Stone shook his head adamantly. “I ate a little.”

“That’s not enough,” she pestered. “A man your size needs plenty of calories.”

“And you’ve more than made up for that the last two hours.”

“Come on, open those tight lips. This soup’s guaranteed to warm your bones,” she sang, chasing his mouth with the steaming liquid on a spoon.

Stone craned his neck, trying to back away from the spoon being pressed against his bottom lip.

“I’m plenty warm enough, Myra since you damn near got me sitting inside this fireplace.”

“Oh shush, you been up there in those mountains, freezing all alone in that cabin. I know you’re still cold and hungry.”

“I—”

Myra shoved the spoon into Stone’s mouth cutting off any further protest.

“Oppsie, got a little in your beard there.” She chuckled, wiping at the mess she’d made with her towel.

Stone gave her a wry glare and Royal could barely withhold his snort.

“Royal. Are you listening?” Council Member Lewis asked.

Royal cleared his throat and turned away from the hilarious sight.

“Yes, I heard every word,” he lied, trying to hide his smile behind his coffee mug.

“We all just can’t believe that you were able to secure these kinds of funds with no strings attached,” she gasped. “It’s incredibly generous.”

Royal refocused his attention on the town manager and other officials sitting around the table.

“I care about this town, I care about the people in it.” Royal cut his eyes to Stone. “You now have a chance to turn this setback into an opportunity, and I’d like to help make that possible.”

The four of them were almost on the edges of their seats.

“This money gives you a chance to rebuild and to think about other sustainable revenue sources.”

Royal took another sip of the strong brew.

“I’m only wanting this town to succeed, and in all of my years in finance, I know of one cardinal rule, and that’s to not rely on a sole source of income.”

He could feel Stone’s eyes on him and Royal made sure to raise his voice so his lover could hear.

“I plan on staying in Windeville. I want it to be my home. So, if you’re open to it, I’d like to assist you further in your long-term planning. Not to sound like a braggard, but I have a strong financial background. I’d like to talk about a possible advisory role in the town’s finance department, at least for the next few years.”

The mayor’s dark eyes glittered like onyx, her smile growing wider the more he spoke.

“I believe I have some pretty good ideas on additional revenue sources and improving your budget process.”

Mayor Jenkins glanced around at her colleagues, receiving subtle nods from each of them before she pulled out a manila envelope from her briefcase.

“I have another proposal, Royal.” She slid over what looked like a contract and stopped it in front of him. “Since Windeville will be your home. I’d prefer you to have a more formal role. What would you say to being my town’s financial manager?”

“We don’t want to put pressure on you or anything,” a council member said quickly. “But we’ve never had anyone here with your level of expertise, and we know that you would be the perfect one to help guide us through any financial crises going forward.”

“If we ever have any again,” the mayor laughed.

“And the hours won’t be demanding. You can set your own hours. Oh, and Mrs. Parks is an amazing executive assistant. Somehow she keeps up with all official matters, you won’t find a better, more detail-oriented secretary in all of Maine.”

Royal smiled. He liked Mrs. Parks. He’d run in to her a few times at the general store, loading her cart with printer paper. She’d be a far cry from his past assistants.

Royal knew he’d have to occupy his time somehow. He couldn’t just sit in Myra’s kitchen tasting samples of her dishes or waiting on the couch for Stone to come home from work.

That may suffice for a while but eventually his mind would need a bit more stimulation.

He glanced towards Stone and saw him staring back at him with so much love and confidence that there were only three words that came to mind, wanting to keep that expression on Stone’s face for the rest of their days.

“I’d be honored.” He nodded and accepted the folder. “I’ll read this over and get it back to you by next week.”

“A toast.” The mayor stood with her cup of her tea. “I’m sure in Manhattan they toast with a much classier drink, but this is what we prefer in our little neck of the woods.”

Royal smiled. “It’s what I prefer as well, Madam Mayor.”