Page 19 of Cold Winter Nights

“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 dothis,” 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.

Royal

Royal stood by the window in his room, mesmerized at the serenity of the early morning.

His mind drifted back to the previous night, replaying the vivid moments of his first date. Well, more like a coerced dinner orchestrated by a meddling cook, but the way it’d ended had sure felt like a date.

He could still feel the rough brush of Stone’s hand against his cheek—the sparks it’d ignited. Royal closed his eyes, conjuring the intoxicating smell of Stone’s natural scent and the way his blue eyes had stared so deep into him.

Royal touched his fingers to his bottom lip. Time had stood still when Stone was an inch away from his mouth, it was as if not only him but the universe had held its breath in anticipation.

The almost kiss was like a silent promise that’d left a pining brewing deep inside him.

An abrupt knock at his door made his heart give a strange, erratic beat. Without thought, he knew who it was.

Royal opened the door, and Stone’s broad frame filled the doorway. He had his beanie in one hand as he ran his fingers nervously over his long untamed hair. It was wavy, and longer on the top, the silver streaks running through the dark strands reminded him of the moon’s light piercing a black sky.

It was gorgeous,hewas gorgeous.

Stone’s gaze lingered the same as his until a quiet passion settled in his bones.

“Morning,” Stone said, his rusty voice a touch gentler in the warmth of the morning light.

“Good morning.” Royal grabbed his heavy coat and scarf from the coat tree, “I’m ready for my tour.”

Stone nodded then moved to the side for Royal to come out. When he shut his door behind him, Mrs. Pearl was there with a set of folded linens in her hands. Her look of surprise transformed to knowing amusement in a heartbeat.

“Good morning, you two.” Mrs. Pearl chuckled before she walked past, giving Stone a cute wink. “Atta boy.”

“For heaven’s sake,” Stone muttered under his breath, then gestured for Royal to walk ahead of him.

Once they were outside, he said out of the corner of his mouth. “The whole town will know we’re on a date in about fifteen minutes.”

“Would that embarrass you?” Royal ducked his head. “Do you not want anyone to know?”

Stone scoffed, then stepped closer, took Royal’s scarf and wrapped it around his neck in a way that would keep him warmer than the way he’d done it.

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