Page 30 of If the Shoe Fits (Rainbow Tales #2)

Everything seemed clearer when Leo was in Xander's arms. He knew what he wanted and was determined to get it.

Despite what Xander said, he knew this would end with them leaving the kingdom and starting fresh somewhere else.

When he wasn't with Xander, that thought scared him.

Made his stomach sour. But, lying there, with both of them naked, and Xander holding him, Leo was certain of that path. It was the only one that made sense.

“What are you thinking about?” Xander asked him.

“You. Me. Our future.” Leo angled his head to look at Xander and was surprised to see his lover's expression tighten. “Hey.” He sat up. “I'm not tricking you, Xander. I meant what I said. I want a life with you. I don't care if I have to leave the kingdom to do it. Honestly, it would be a relief.”

Xander sat up, pulled his knees up, and braced his arms on them. “I think you're caught up in the thrill of this. Change is exciting. You're talking about relief. That tells me you're under a lot of stress. And that's the worst way to make a decision that will change your life.”

Leo's chest clenched. “Are you . . . are you ending this?”

“No!” Xander cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “No, of course not.” He stroked Leo's cheek. “I can't. But I don't want to start a life with you only for you to regret it later. You'd resent me. Then you'd leave me.”

“No, I wouldn't.” Leo took his hand. “I will never leave you.”

“I don't have a lot of experience with lovers.” Xander grimaced.

“No experience at all. But those words feel like something you say to a lover but don't fully mean.” He held up his hand when Leo opened his mouth to protest. “I know you think you mean them now, but emotions are so . . . flighty. They change.”

“Not these emotions, Xander.”

“All emotions.”

“Do you think what you feel for me will change?”

Xander chuckled. “We're not talking about me.”

“Uh-huh.” Leo flung himself at his lover, taking Xander back down onto the horse blanket.

Leaning on his forearms over him, Leo stared down at the face that had become like air for him.

“Stop trying to be a martyr. I know it won't be easy.

And I know there will be moments when I'll regret leaving my family. But you can regret leaving something behind while not regretting what you left it for. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Xander whispered.

“Asher!” the screech filtered in to them.

Xander winced. “I've got to go.”

Leovar's chest burned with fury. He pushed himself upright and then to his feet to glare in the direction of the house. “Damn that evil bitch. I'm so fucking close!”

“Close?” Xander pulled on his pants.

“To proving what she did.”

Xander paused in buttoning his pants. “What? But you said you failed. ”

“I failed to prove it in a week, as I promised. But I did find proof that your father had a son. You. It was enough to form an inquisition.”

“A what?”

“We will question your stepmother. She will have to prove that you died. And she won't be able to do that, will she?”

“But . . . what if she does?”

“Ah!” Leo pointed at him. “Then she'd be a suspect in your murder.”

“Holy shit,” Xander whispered.

“Yes. She will be facing punishment for either stealing your inheritance or murdering you. I think she'll choose the former.”

“Leo, you didn't fail me at all.”

The heaviness that had filled Leo's chest all night as he tossed in his bed left him in a second. He hugged Xander. With his face pressed against Xander's chest, he said, “I may fail you yet, but I promise I will keep trying until I succeed.”

“That's all I can ask.”

“Asher!”

Xander flinched.

Leo let him go, but just to meet his stare. “I swear to you that I will free you of this life. We will be together.”

Xander leaned his forehead against Leo's and closed his eyes. “I believe you.” But then he pulled away and finished dressing.

Leo got dressed too, but before Xander could leave, he grabbed him and pulled him into a kiss. “I love you, Xander. ”

Xander's tight expression softened. “I love you, too.”

Then a shriek came from the manor house, followed by, “Elmer!”

“It looks as if you don't have to leave anymore,” Leo said.

“Maybe a little fairy has his magic on my behalf.” Xander smiled, flicking his gaze off to the side in silent thanks to Nevan, and drew Leo back down to the hay.