Chapter Ten
Buckcouldn’tstoptracingthe shell of Sterling’s ear. With Sterling’s head in his lap, his feet kicked up, and a TV playing an old movie, Buck was in his version of heaven. They had only been living together for two weeks. Buck already knew he couldn’t live any other way. The peace that had settled in his soul was unmatched. He finally had the exact life he wanted.
“I love you.” Buck wondered if Sterling was sick of hearing those three words. They popped out hundreds of times a day without thinking. His heart was too full. It didn’t have any other release. At least not one he could do a hundred times a day.
Sterling rolled onto his back. They had the front door open, letting the sunlight inside. The screen door kept out the bugs but let the cool air flow. Sterling might have money, but Buck had been poor his entire life. Electric bills got high.
The light streaming through the open door cast across Sterling’s face. His pupils immediately constricted in the bright sun. His green eyes looked so big and pretty. Buck couldn’t think about anything else. He brushed the back of his knuckles down Sterling’s cheek. He couldn’t even recall if they had been talking about something. Everything inside him was filled with obsession. He could stay like this forever and never notice the passage of time.
“I love you too.”
Buck smiled. Oh yeah. That was what he’d said. “Can we stay like this and never move again?”
A luminous smile stretched Sterling’s lips. “I’d love that, but I also adore moving around some with you.”
Buck realized he smiled like an idiot. Damn. He was just thrilled with life. “You can do that too… whenever you want.” Sexual promise hung in the air. Heat built between them as they held each other’s stare.
“You’re beautiful.”
Buck’s out-of-control smile might have made an immediate reappearance if he wasn’t so invested in the growing lust. “Funny. I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
“Good. We’ll make beautiful babies.” Sterling’s goofy smile made Buck burst into laughter. Oh God, he loved this man so fucking hard. It was one of those things that would be just sickening to anyone within miles of their obnoxious fawning. Nothing else mattered. He was a full-on addict.
“I mean, I’m always game to try.”
“We should—” A shadow disturbed the light on Sterling’s face half a second before the doorbell rang, stopping whatever Sterling intended to say.
Both of their heads whipped toward the door. A tall guy wearing a business suit stood on the other side. “Sorry to bother you.”
Sterling rolled to his feet and headed for the door. He didn’t hesitate to let the guy inside. “Hey, Rocky. I didn’t expect to see you today.”
A loud groan ran through Buck’s head. Rocky was Sterling’s agent. He had only seen the guy from a distance and recognized the name, but they’d never met.
Rocky nodded at Buck before going right back to focusing on Sterling. “Yeah. Sorry for not calling. I was already here to talk to Tip. I took a chance you’d be here.”
Sterling made a dismissive gesture. “It’s fine. Come have a seat.” He motioned Buck’s way. “This is my fiancé, Buck. Buck, this is my agent, Rocky.”
Rocky shook Buck’s hand before sitting. His gaze stayed on Buck. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Sterling has told me all about you.”
Buck didn’t know how to feel. A nervous laugh escaped him. “That can’t be good.”
Sterling huffed as he filled the spot next to Buck.
Rocky chuckled. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. I half expected you to be eight feet tall with the way Sterling always sings your praises.”
Well, shit. He hadn’t expected that. Thankfully, Rocky turned his attention to Sterling, so Buck didn’t need to respond. “I’ve finished negotiating and lining up your options.”
“Okay.”
Buck linked fingers with Sterling to give him strength. Truthfully, he was the one who really needed it.
Rocky turned business-like. “While the team lost its right to demand non-disclosure thanks to the confession.”
Buck was fucking grateful Rocky didn’t say the bastard’s name.
Sterling cut in. “Speaking of that. How did that happen? Why would he just confess like that? Not that I’m complaining, but he’s probably done the same thing to other people countless times and gotten away with it. Why now?”
The evil smile that stretched Rocky’s lips would have made Buck take a step back if he’d been standing. “I have some powerful clients. It was nothing to call in a favor.”
