Page 36 of Hard as Steel

“Never.” Krystof held Steel tighter. His response wasn’t just an emotional one. That one word was a vow. Never again until death took him. Maybe not even then.

Chapter Thirteen

Snow fell on Krystof’s hair, holding Steel’s focus. A smile touched his lips.

“What?”

Steel shook his head. Krystof’s puzzled face was adorable. “I just had a random thought. With the snow in your hair, I got a flash of the future. You’ll be sexy with salt and pepper hair.”

Krystof curled his nose. “I have no intention of growing old gracefully.”

His eyes were so beautiful, Steel sometimes couldn’t look away. “I can’t wait to see you. Old, wrinkly and mine.”

A sharp laugh burst from Krystof. “Watch it. You’re only five years younger than me. If I’m old and wrinkly, you will be too.” Krystof paused and stared into space for a moment. “You’re right. I can’t wait to see you still in my arms.”

Steel shuffled forward and snagged Krystof’s waist and pulled him close. “Bring on the wrinkles. Growing old with you will be a privilege, and my biggest dream come true.”

Krystof wrapped his arms around Steel’s neck. “You should see the way you’re looking at me right now.”

“How am I looking at you?”

“You have that intense look you get where your eyes show your every emotion while your face stays carved out of stone. I still remember the very first time I saw you look at me like this. Your eyes seemed almost pleading while the rest of your face stayed tense and frozen. I knew then I wouldn’t be happy until you loved me.”

Steel kissed Krystof’s cheek. He didn’t back away. His forehead touched Krystof’s, letting Krystof get an up-close look at the desperate eyes Steel had never lost since they met. “I know exactly what night you’re talking about. It was the second weekend I spent at your place. It was time for me to leave after three of the best days and nights of my life. When I got to the door, I turned to say goodbye, and I caught your expression right before you quickly hid behind your high-society mask. The longing that hit me nearly brought me to my knees. You looked at me as if I was crushing you by leaving. That look struck me so fucking hard because I didn’t want to go. Reality waited on the other side of that front door, and I wanted no part of it. I wanted to keep pretending you loved me and never wake up from the fantasy. In all my life, I’d never felt the way you made me feel. The thought of walking out the door nearly snapped my mind.”

“And you stayed.”

Steel brushed his lips across Krystof’s before responding. “I never left again. Being with you is the best dream I’ve accomplished. If you want me gone now, you’ll have to throw me out.”

Krystof stole a sweet kiss. “We should finish this snowman so we can get to bed.”

Steel barked out a laugh. “It’s three in the afternoon.”

Krystof’s expression turned wicked, giving Steel all the dirty thoughts. “I didn’t stutter.”

Steel jumped back and dug into the snow, acting ridiculous just to hear Krystof laugh. “I’m about to make the fastest fucking snowman you’ve ever seen. They’ll put me in the record books.”

Krystof tossed his head back and roared with laughter. Steel couldn’t look away. Making Krystof happy was the greatest achievement of his life. He hadn’t done anything that made him prouder. Steel silently vowed he wouldn’t stop. He would keep Krystof laughing for the rest of his life. He would be honored.

Snow kept them snuggled inside with a roaring fire in their Colorado cabin. Krystof stared out the window at the hills of white that glistened in the sun. He also couldn’t stop watching Kuba and Diesel. They took turns chasing each other around the huge snowman they had made. Both grinned and laughed like idiots. They tossed snowballs and tackled each other in the snow. He couldn’t describe how happy seeing his son thrive made him. Kuba lived the life Krystof had wanted. Krystof had a hand in that. He had finally broken the family curse of misery for money.

“This is perfect snowman weather.”

Krystof laughed. He looked Steel’s way. “As fun as that sounds, these old joints hurt just thinking about the cold.”

Steel’s eyes sparkled with good humor. “Oh, I wasn’t suggesting we build one. Fuck that shit. That’s for the young folk.”

They shared a chuckle.

Steel went back to rubbing Krystof’s feet.

Krystof switched from staring out the window to focusing on Steel. He had a little gray in his hair. Krystof smiled. He could picture them sitting in rocking chairs and holding hands, white-haired and wrinkly. Krystof couldn’t think of a more perfect future.

Kuba and Diesel burst through the door, laughing and bringing snow inside on their boots.

Buttercup lifted her head from her spot in front of the fire. She snuggled deeper into her winter pajamas and went back to dozing.

“Oops.” Kuba took off his boots, knocking more snow from the bottoms. “Holy shit. It’s cold.” He jumped up and down as if trying to get warm.