Page 9

Stone

Stone stood at the foot of the stairs leading to Royal’s room, clinging to the sensitive moment they’d shared.

He’d kept his mind and heart behind a strict no-access barrier since his husband’s passing. But now, in the quiet of the night, standing so close to Royal, that barrier was close to being breached and he wasn’t fighting to stop it.

Royal was a stark contrast to Ben, the opposite in every way a man could be.

Royal was lithe and shorter than him by several inches. He was clean-shaven and mellow-spoken, the kind of guy who wore his exhaustion and worry like a second skin.

But the town’s friendliness was already working its way into Royal’s bones. The burdened, guilt-ridden mentality and solemn demeanor he’d brought with him was slowly eroding. And Stone was very attracted to the man underneath all that.

It’d been a long time for Stone, but he still recognized desire when he saw it. Royal was searching his face as if he were trying to catch a fleeting moment of reciprocated interest.

Stone lowered his guard and stared back.

He’s too young, too beautiful for me.

Royal’s light brown eyes were the color of earth after a misty rain. He’d gotten rid of the stuffy clothes, polished boots, and money-thirsty corporate mentality—the kind of man Stone knew he could never relate to. And now, donned a humbled spirit beneath a plush sweater and denims that fit him like a second skin.

Stone had just had his hand in Royal’s hair—it smelled of citrus and the jasmine flowers growing in the forest behind his cabin.

His pulse thrummed in his ears, his breath coming a little faster than normal. His throat felt dry and tight with a kind of hunger he’d forgotten existed—an all-consuming craving.

Royal’s gaze seared into him and before he knew what he was saying, it was already coming out of his mouth.

“Do you wanna go on a date with me tomorrow?”

“Yes,” Royal answered so fast, his cheeks turned a beautiful pink before he added, “I’d like that. I’d love to see more of your work.”

Stone nodded, then shifted his weight, leaning in closer. He could feel the heat of Royals’ body. It was almost painful how bad he wanted to touch him again—everywhere.

“I’ll pick you up in the morning. I don’t wanna wait until nightfall.”

“Stone…” Royal’s voice was as quiet as the night.

His name whispered on those pretty lips made pounding knock between Stone’s thighs.

“Yeah?” he answered hoarsely, leaning even closer.

“I…” Royal hesitated, then took a slow breath. “I’m not…I don’t really know what I’m doing here. I mean, I don’t know how to do this ,” he dropped his eyes to Stone’s belt. “But I want to.”

In that moment all the doubts and fears Stone had buried deep within vanished at Royal’s honest confession.

He didn’t know how to respond, so instead, Stone did what always worked when words failed him, he reacted. He reached out, and brushed his thumb along Royal’s cheek.

It was the gentlest touch but the contact was electric.

Stone slowly stretched out every precious second as he glided his thumb across Royal’s smooth skin. The caress light but powerful.