Page 52 of Fractured Destiny

His fingers tighten around mine. “Together.”

“Together.” We walk back toward the living room without letting go.

Levi’s rocks are scattered across the rug exactly where he left them. We get to work putting them away.

“So…” I pick up the amethyst. “How many rock shops did you terrorize?”

He laughs. “You’d be surprised how many people collect rocks around the country.”

“You’re an incredible father.” I beam at him as I put the last crystal on the shelf and shut the cabinet door.

Lake shrugs, almost embarrassed. He moves closer and wraps his arms around me as we look out across the lake.

His condo is quiet now. For the first time since I introduced him to Levi, there isn’t a schedule waiting for us. No supervisor. No countdown clock. No goodbye hanging over the visit.

The man beside me traces slow circles across my back with his thumb.

I rest my head against his shoulder.

Neither of us says another word.

We don’t need to.

fifteen

Six Months Later

I’ve lit a couple dozen candles in the bedroom of our new house on Leschi.

Small ones on the dresser. Tall ones on the nightstand. A pair of columns inside glass hurricanes on the floor by the wall of windows. A hand-poured black-fig on the side table.

The room glows.

Levi’s sound asleep down the hall, out for the night. His moon nightlight is on and I can hear him snoring through the monitor. Noa should be done with her bath soon, and I’m ready.

They moved in six weeks ago. Some boxes are still stacked in the second bedroom I use for a home office. We’re actually looking for a bigger place, and our realtor sent us three new listings this morning. We’re hoping to have our forever home within a month or two.

Months of counseling has done wonders for both of us. Noa has reclaimed her body one session at a time, taking back what she thought she gave away. Our sex life is off the charts. She fucks me as a woman who owns her own skin, making me the most fortunate man alive.

“Hey, handsome.” Noa’s in the silk robe the color of butter I bought her in Paris on tour. Her hair’s piled on top of her head with a clip and one damp strand hangs against her neck. Her eyes find me across the room and land, and I feel my cock grow harder against the front of my briefs.

“Fuck.” I cup myself. “You’re spectacular.”

She glances around the room. “You lit every candle in this condo.”

“Yep. Every candle.” I beckon her. “Now, come here.”

She crosses the room. Bare feet on the rug. She stops between my knees where I sit on the edge of the bed and I put my hands on her hips over the silk. “Untie it.”

Her fingers go to the sash at her hip. She pulls it free. The silk parts. She lets it drop.

I take her in. Full breasts. Nipples tight from the cool air. The tiny gold cross at her collarbone. The dark strip of hair between her legs framing her pussy where I smell her arousal. She’s already wet. “Christ, baby.”

“You look at me the same every day.” Her mouth curves.

I slide my hands to cup her ass. “Because you always look this good.”

“Sit still.” She puts one knee up on the bed beside my hip, then the other, and settles onto my thighs. Slides her arms around my neck. Her tits are inches from my mouth.