Page 20 of Hold my Reins

Lynck glanced away, his gaze on the water. “I can’t go home.”

“Oh. Can I ask why?”

“You just did.” Lynck smiled.

“Is it because you’re gay?”

“No. There was a battle, and I hesitated when I should’ve fought. The kelpie I was riding was killed, and I was captured.”

“But you got free because you’re here.”

“I did. But going home, not only to my herd but through the portal, is too dangerous.”

“Because you escaped?”

“Yes.”

Rox guessed that wasn’t the full answer, but he didn’t need to learn everything now. “I’m sorry you had to fight and that you were caught.” Even though he didn’t fully understand what that meant, it was a terrible thing for anyone to go through.

Lynck’s ears twitched in acknowledgment. “It is the past. I have made a new life here. But perhaps other humans sensed that I was holding back.”

“Or they were dicks.”

Lynck laughed. “Some of them definitely were.”

Rox lifted his eyebrows. “So a kelpie first date is going for a run?”

“It is.”

“You have long legs?—”

“I hate running on two legs, and you run more than me. But it is not a race.”

“What is it for?” What was the point of racing if not to win?

“To see how well we run together.” Lynck considered him for a couple of heartbeats. “Do you want to run?”

As first dates went, assuming that is what this had become, it wasn’t the strangest one he’d ever been on. “Why not?”

Lynck stared at him as if he’d sprouted ears. “You want to run with me?”

Rox smiled. “I’ve got my runners on.”

This had not been part of his plans for tonight, but it was a detour he wanted to take.

“Then run.”

His heart kicked over. “Are you going to chase me?”

“Are you going to run away from me?”

“That depends on how fast you run.” Rox took off at a jog. He glanced back to see Lynck stamp his hoof once before following him.

Rox ran a little faster, planning on slowing in a bit to let Lynck catch up. In his next breath, Lynck swept him off the ground, and Rox yelped, not expecting the kelpie to catch up so fast. They tumbled to the sand, Rox landing on top of Lynck, staring into his dark eyes. “You caught me.”

“I did. Did you not want me to?”

Rox kissed him. “I thought you were going to chase me for longer.”

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