Page 40 of Storm In The Sky

His bedroom door was closed when he stepped back into it, but there was a tray with a pile of sandwiches on his dresser, as promised. He smiled and went to poke at them, deciding he’d eat a few before getting into bed, but a knock on his door interrupted him.

He frowned, wondering who was there. The best way to find out was to open the door, so he did and froze.

“Sorry to bother you,” Keylon said.

He’d showered, too, and was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. His feet were bare, and he kept looking from left to right as if he expected someone to see him there. Winter didn’t think he’d be ashamed to be found at Winter’s door, but it looked like Keylon was here for a reason, and maybe he didn’t want his family to know just yet.

“You’re not bothering me,” Winter said as he stepped to the side. “Come in.”

Keylon looked nervous as he obeyed. Winter closed the door behind him, wincing when Keylon jumped a little. “I can keep the door open if you’re more comfortable,” he offered.

Keylon shook his head. “No, closed is fine. It’s probably better, actually. I’d rather not do this with an audience.”

Winter’s stomach dropped. Usually, that kind of conversation never went well. Why did Keylon need privacy? Maybe he didn’t want his family to see Winter break down when he rejected him. Winter wasn’t sure how he’d react if Keylon told him he didn’t want him in his life, after all. It sounded like it was what he was about to say, though, and Winter held his breath.

Keylon faced him. For a moment, they stared at each other. Winter’s heart broke a little at the thought that he’d never have this again if Keylon kicked him out of his life. He deserved it. He’d had a chance with Keylon, and he’d wasted it by being an idiot. He wouldn’t blame Keylon if he decided he wasn’t ready to give him a second chance. No one would.

“You can tell me whatever’s on your mind,” he whispered. He didn’t want Keylon to second-guess himself.

He was doing this for himself, and that was what he should focus on. Winter could take care of his own broken heart.

Instead of telling Winter he didn’t want him, Keylon stepped closer. Winter didn’t know what to expect, but his heart raced as Keylon stopped in front of him. He leaned forward, and Winter knew what he was doing. He was stunned, but he yearned for another kiss, so he didn’t hesitate to press closer. When Keylon kissed him, Winter knew he’d been wrong.

Keylon wasn’t here to tell him he’d changed his mind about them being together. He was here because, just like Winter, he had enough of keeping his distance. He wanted more, and Winter was on board with that.

* * * *

Keylon prayed he wasn’t making a mistake. Winter had already broken his heart once. He didn’t think he would survive if he did it again.

But Keylon had to take a chance. It didn’t matter how scary it was. His future depended on it, and even though he was terrified, he wanted to hope. Things had gotten so much better recently. Winter had let go of the idea of becoming Samuel’s shield. He’d told Keylon that he didn’t want their bond to be broken. That had to mean he was in this for the long term, right? It had to mean they had a future together.

When Keylon leaned back, Winter blinked at him. He licked his lips, and Keylon had to resist the urge to kiss him again. He wanted to, but he suspected it would be better if they talked first. They didn’t have to hash everything out, but Winter deserved to know what was going on in Keylon’s brain.

“I’m tired of keeping my distance from you,” Keylon admitted. “I’ve been telling myself I need to be careful and that you would hurt me if I wasn’t, but I don’t care anymore.”

Winter shook his head. “You should care. You should take good care of your heart.”

“You think I’m not if I hand it to you?”

Winter stared.

It was a lot to ask of him, especially considering how terrified he’d been about all of this. Keylon had to remind himself that Winter had no memories of them every time they spent time together. He couldn’t act familiar with Winter. He certainly couldn’t act like he would have with Alvin. Winter might look like Alvin, but he was an entirely different person.

And Keylon liked him just as much.

He couldn’t say it was love yet, not the kind of love he’d felt for Alvin, but it might turn into that if he and Winter gave each other a chance. It felt like a lot to ask for, but was it?

Winter wanted to be Keylon’s dragon. He wanted to protect him in the fight against Carlyle, and hopefully, he’d stick around once it was over. Was it really that foolish to hope there could be more than a protective bond between them?

“I can’t promise that I won’t hurt you again,” Winter murmured.

“I don’t need you to promise that. I know you’ll hurt me. We’ll hurt each other, but that’s normal. It’s what every couple does.”

“Is that what you want? To be with me?”

Maybe Keylon was rushing. Maybe Winter was right that he should shield his heart better and be more careful, but he was so tired. He wanted this to go right, and he couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. He was sure it had to do with Alvin and Winter looking like him—being him in a way—but it didn’t matter. Keylon liked Winter as much as he’d liked Alvin initially, and he wanted to see if things could work between them. He wanted them to at leasttry.

He nodded. He had no idea what was going to happen or how Winter would react, but he’d done it. He might as well get to the end and see what happened.

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