LOGINMy dad greets him with such genuine joy and excitement that it makes my heart swell with joy. They talk for a few minutes about Dominic’s day before dad gives him a little nudge back towards the gate where Kent and I are waiting. Dominic gives dad a kiss before running ahead again. My dad waves to
“Papa!” Dominic shouts, startling me out of my reverie as he drops my hand and darts down the road. I look up, a huge smile breaking out on my face again as I see Kent on the sidewalk just ahead. His back is to us as he speaks companionably with the butcher, a heavy bag of his purchases already hung
As I walk down the street towards the little Italian kindergarten, the whispers start around me, as they always do. I listen to all of them, a big German Shepherd padding quietly at my heels. “Is that her?” “Yes, that’s the one – I heard she was her husband’s mistress before he married her – tha
Both Kent and I laugh, but Don Bianci – across the baptismal font from us – snaps his eyes up, perhaps not liking the joke as much as we do. But I just ignore it, because dad’s right, frankly – and it’s too happy a day to care. After the final blessing everyone applauds Dominic – he likes that, bl
“Well, it didn’t seem to affect your first very badly,” Ivan says with a shrug, peering around Kent to where Daniel is laughing with an arm around Jerome’s shoulders. “So…maybe keep it up.” I smirk, squeezing Ivan’s hand once more before standing and moving to Kent’s side, tucking myself against h
“Hey, gorgeous,” Ivan says, his mouth turned up in a smirk as I cross the churchyard, beaming at him. “Look who’s talking,” I say, laughing and reaching for him when I come close enough. Ivan wraps me in a hug, dropping a kiss to my cheek as I hold Dominic a bit to the side so he doesn’t get squis
While all the while, Kent’s been…making space for me. Here. In his super cozy secret lair. I bite my lip as my smile fades from my lips, as I look seriously at him and consider…well, what that means. Kent gives me a brash little smile and leans forward, planting a quick kiss on my lips. “Don’t o
Kent leans against the wall outside of Fay’s room for a moment after he leaves, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath through his nose. That girl… She’s going to be the death of me, that girl, Kent thinks as he clenches his jaw, grinding his teeth. It had been…so fucking difficult. So damn h
I make myself a little espresso before heading up the stairs because, if I’m going to be up at 4:30 in the morning, I’m at least going to be caffeinated. And then the hours pass more quickly than I thought they would. I shower, fix my hair, and change into the clothes that are delivered promptly at
And also, he’s stupid hot…when I think about what we almost got to last night, about the way his skin felt under my hands, the fact that I could have, if I wanted to, pulled that shirt from his body and inspected the intricacies of those hidden tattoos, the forbidden parts of him… I groan and turn







