Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“He must have been special,” I said after a moment.
Mr. Gowan smiled. “David changed my life in every way possible. Thanks to him, I went from scrubbing toilets at the college to attending and eventually graduating from Caltech. We were career employees at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, roommates, and the very best of friends.”
“No one suspected you were more than friends?” Pierce asked.
“Maybe. Probably.” Mr. Gowan’s expression turned sad. “Early on, we played our parts to a tee. We dated women sometimes and made sure not to be seen together too often in public. It was necessary in the beginning—like a sacrifice to ensure our peace.”
“That’s not right or fair,” I growled.
“Fair? What is that?” Mr. Gowan scoffed. “Even now, fairness is a luxury not everyone is entitled to. But back then, no one talked about gay rights or racial equality. Those were pie-in-the-sky dreams, not reality. I’d like to think I could have been a marvelous activist in another day and age, but the truth is…I would have been dead within a month, standing on that corner like a common tart, if I hadn’t met David.”
I smiled. “It was fate.”
“Perhaps. I like to think that if we pay attention, the universe guides us. And if we’re very lucky, we meet exactly the right person at the right time. David was that for me. He was east to my west, my sunrise, my sunset, my purpose.” His voice cracked with a raw scraping wheeze that hurt the ears. “Fifty years wasn’t enough.”
10
PIERCE
I was quiet when we pulled away from Mr. Gowan’s house. Probably too quiet. My mind was whirling in a dozen directions simultaneously.
Jasper, David…who were these people, and why did I care? And this man next to me…this was sex. Lo and I were just two horny dudes sharing space for a short time.
I stole a peek at Lo in the SUV’s dark interior and couldn’t look away. Shadows fell in deep slants across his forehead, accentuating his long eyelashes and full lips. He was pretty and smart, and so…kind. The way he spoke to the old man with patience, genuine interest, and respect was kind of beautiful. It fascinated me that he’d care so much.
And he seemingly cared a great deal. He hung on Gowan’s every word, pulling stories from him, and urging him to weave intimate tales.
Fifty years wasn’t enough.
I rested my head on the seat and blew out a ragged breath. “You coming to my place?”
“Are you asking if I want your dick?”
“You do,” I replied automatically, lifting a brow when he chuckled at my timing.
“I can’t decide if your confidence is annoying or charming.”
“Hmm.”
What was the point in playing coy?
Sex didn’t confuse me. Desire didn’t confuse me. I got off on the thrill of the chase, clandestine meetings, and whizzing around on my motorcycle in the dead of night. I liked the idea that we were getting away with something.
It was everything else that confused the hell out of me.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just reeling from my Scrabble loss,” I lied.
Lorenzo slid his hand up my forearm. “Thank you for tonight. You’re a horrible Scrabble player, but you’re a good sport.”
I lifted his fingers to my lips and bit his thumb. “You cheated.”
He slugged my biceps. “I did not cheat.”
“You used extreme poetic license. Admit it. What the fuck is a paczki?”
“A donut.”
“I know donuts. That is not a donut,” I griped.
He rolled his eyes so wide, the whites glimmered in the dark. “Oh, puh-lease. Best donut ever…go.”
“Easy. Plain ol’ glaze.”
“How do you feel about chocolate glaze?”
“I could be down,” I commented. “But you know what sounds very fucking amazing right now? A hot dog.”
Lorenzo gave me a WTF look. “Has anyone told you that you have the palate of a ten-year-old?”
“You’re never too old for hot dogs, Lo. And I happen to know where to get the very best ones. Have you been to Pink’s? Their chili dogs are amazing.”
Lo pulled at my arm when I leaned forward to tap the privacy screen.
“Let’s save it for another day. It’s late and…I’m hungry for something else.” He lowered his head bashfully and snickered. “How corny was that?”
“Very corny,” I assured him with a laugh, grabbing a handful of his shirt and fusing my mouth to his.
“Did you need something, Pierce?” Raul asked.
I broke the kiss and nodded. “Yeah, let’s get Pink’s hot dogs, the usual times two, and head to the lookout point at Mulholland. Oh, and Raul…no hurry.”
“You got it.”
When the screen silently slid into place, Lorenzo burst into giggles. “I don’t want a fucking hot dog.”
“You want my hot dog. Go on. Say it.”
Lorenzo snorted. “You’re an idiot.”
I pushed the console so it was flush with the middle seat, unbuckled my seat belt, and dove for him. Our tongues tangled in a messy kiss made sweet by our laughter. We smiled into the connection, chuckling when our noses brushed.