“And the car?” she asked.
When he chuckled, she thought she’d neverheard a more fabulous sound. “I fancy cars.”
Given the seriousness and heartbreak of their conversation, she was surprised to find herself smiling.
For a long time, neither of them spoke. She hadn’t realized how long until her stomach growled noisily, reminding her she’d forgotten to check her backpack for her stash of granola bars.
Easily remedied, she thought, ready to push out ofbed and go in search of sustenance.
She was stopped, however, by a soft snore. Smiling, she grabbed the edge of the sheet, wrapped them both in a sweet-smelling cotton cocoon, and snuggled close to him. Food could wait. For now, she’d allow herself to enjoy lying in the mysterious and powerful and oh-so-human Christian Watson’s arms.
Another snore broke the silence and had her battlinglaughter. He snored. Hesnored!
He wasn’t so perfect after all.
Good. There was no fun in perfection.
* * *
Rusty had stomped upstairs to find a book to read, anything to take his mind off the golden-haired flyboy. But none of the titles had caught his eye, so he’d sat on one of the sofas and brooded. It was only after Ace shook him awake that he realized he’d unintentionally dozedoff.
“Whaaa?” he asked groggily, frowning when he blinked and saw full-on darkness had claimed the room.
Okay, so maybe it wasn’tfull-on darkness. There were a couple of those plastic night-light thingies plugged into outlets that providedsomelight. Enough to see that, sure as shit, Ace was as annoyingly handsome as ever.
The rat bastard.
And why the hell did Rusty feel likethe world stopped spinning every time he looked into those ocean blues?
“What time is it?” He peered through the darkness at his watch.
“A little before twenty-three hundred. Angel’s back,” Ace said. “He brought food with him. Well”—his expression twisted—“if you consider a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and some strawberry jam food. I thought you might be hungry. You haven’t eatensince breakfast.”
“Neither have you.” Rusty pushed into a seated position and realized…
Great.He’d drooled. Since there was no way to nonchalantly wipe the wet patch off his cheek, he thoughtfuck itand didn’t try to be coy. Using his sleeve, he scrubbed at the drool until his skin tingled and his beard stubble protested.
“Yeah.” Ace nodded. “But you’re a good fifty pounds heavierthan I am. You need more calories than I do.”
All the anger and desire and embarrassment from earlier came back to Rusty in a flash. “So now you’re calling me fat? For crying in the sink, man, enough is enough.”
“You’re not serious.” Ace, who had been leaning toward him, straightened, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’m dead serious. Ever since I told you about my folks, about notbeing out, you’ve been finding ways to insult me.”
“In what world?” Ace’s voice lifted an octave. It was too dark to be certain, but Rusty thought he saw two patches of red flood onto Ace’s cheeks. “I’mnot the one who barged into the roomyouwere in, slammed the door, and then started yelling. If memory serves, that wasyou!”
Rusty opened his mouth to respond, but Ace pressed on beforehe could. “You’re trying to make this about me, but the truth is it’s all aboutyou!” Ace pointed a finger at Rusty’s nose, and Rusty was overcome with the intense desire to break the fucker off, or kiss it. He wasn’t sure which. “It’s about your shame, your fear. And it makes me so sad.” Ace shook his head. “Because our people have suffered so much, have fought so hard to be accepted, to gainus the same liberties and rights and freedoms that—”
“Our people?” Rusty interjected, shoving to a stand.
Ace stumbled back. Rusty liked that. Liked that Ace had to look up at him. He’d never used his size against someone before, at least not someone who wasn’t an enemy combatant, but he used it now, advancing on Ace, who retreated until he bumped into one of the wingback armchairs andcould go no farther.
“Our people?” Rusty said again, or rathershouted. He was usually a quiet guy, slow to anger. But something about Ace and this day was making him lose his shit. “I don’t want to be part ofourpeople! I just want to bepeople! No labels. No distinctions.”
“Hogwash!” Ace stomped up to him until they were toe to toe.
“Excuse me?”
