“I had another idea,” Colson says. “I think it could help.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll post on my page that I’ll be trying a new routine tonight. If he’s stalking my socials, he’ll see it. Maybe it’ll draw him out.”
My jaw tenses but I nod. “Good idea.”
Colson cups my face, searching my eyes. “Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“You’ll be careful tonight, and every night. You made me fall in love with you, so now you have to be okay. You have to come home.”
“I promise,mon amour.”
A beautiful smile sweeps across his face. “Very sexy,mon tueur.”
“I’d gag if this weren’t so damn beautiful to witness.” Wraith gets to his feet. “Let me know when it’s time to roll.”
“I will.”
Wraith leaves us and Colson wraps his arms around my neck. We sit like that for several minutes, not speaking, just breathing each other in. My chest feels full, as if it’s actually filled with tangible love for him. It’s like nothing I’ve experienced before.
“I can make you happy, Colson.”
“I know.” He leans in and brushes his soft lips to my forehead. “I’ve always believed in the beauty of human connection. It’s why I dance. It’s why music and literature and film exist. It’s why artists paint and sculpt. It’sla raison d'être,the reason to get up every day and try again.”
I smile, lost in the beautiful person he is.
“But I had no idea how much deeper, how life-altering it could really get. I didn’t want to love anyone. It’s safer and easier not to. There are fewer stakes when you keep to yourself.”
“Yeah.”
“I wouldn’t trade this feeling for safety though. Not for ease. Not for anything. I’d rather die knowing you loved me than live forever without it.”
I lift his hand and kiss the back of it. “How about living for a really long time with it?”
Colson smiles, nodding. “Sounds good.”
Arriving at Segreto, I take a quick look around, but it’s obvious no one but a few staff members is here. Colson talked to Jimmy and then Gus before I came, explaining the situation. We got the all clear for me to hang out inside.
I approach the door and knock. It opens a few seconds later and Gus gestures for me to enter.
“Hey, man.”
“Hey, Gus.”
“We got a chair set up for you in the back where you can watch the security cameras if you want to.”
“Thanks. I’ll probably float around but stay mostly out of sight of other customers. If he turns up, I don’t want him to know I’m here.”
“Is Cashmere okay?”
“He’s great. I’ll make sure he stays that way too.”
“Let me know if I can do anything to help.”
“Just do what you normally do. If you see anything weird, let me know.”
