Page 77 of Silver & Gold

Their spot overlooked a cliff. Nearby, a waterfall tumbled down into a pool beyond their sight.

“You want to stay here?” Seth asked, sounding wary.

“I didn’t say that. But isn’t this what you wanted? A safe place?”

“Do you really think it’s safe?”

“Safer than anywhere else we could be.”

Seth’s chest rose against Raider’s back. He let out a heavy exhalation. “Maybe.”

“Just enjoy the moment, Seth.”

“I enjoy you.”

Raider chuckled. “That’ll work too.”

Raider let himself relax and go quiet. This was everything he wanted. The feel of Seth’s body. The certainty that he would get to enjoy it in all the ways he wanted. Which meant there was no hurry. Right now, he could simply enjoy this.

Raider had one hand resting on Seth’s thigh, right over where the wound had been. Seth’s fingers were tracing idly up and down his arm.

Seth asked softly, “Can I talk to you, baby?”

Raider’s heart skipped. It was something serious or Seth wouldn’t ask like that. And he was asking. If Raider said no, he knew that Seth would respect it and let his questions go, at least for now. But they did need to talk. About a lot of things.

“Yeah, Seth, you can talk to me.”

“It’s a difficult subject.”

“I can tell. What is it?”

“You told me you were on your own at ten.”

Raider’s heart skipped again. Somehow, he hadn’t expected that. “Yeah?”

“Will you tell me what happened? Your life before that.”

“I feel like you have some reason to ask beyond mere curiosity.”

“I do, yes, and we’ll get there, but I need to know if you’re okay with talking about this.”

Raider took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’ll tell you. I, um … it’s a little complicated. I kind of have to start with …” Raider felt his chest tighten.

“Take your time, baby. We can just sit however long you want.”

Raider sighed and relaxed against Seth. He watched the waterfall and listened to the birds. The tightness eased and the words came to him.

“My mother came from a wealthy family. She was young when she got pregnant with me. Unwed. Her father found her a husband, to cover the shame, but it wasn’t cheap. The man who married her did it for the money, of course. And she was very beautiful. I’m sure that didn’t hurt. But he still hated her. In public, he called her his honored wife. In private, he called her a whore.”

Raider fell silent, stuck there.

Seth’s fingers had stilled on Raider’s arm. “And you?”

“He mostly ignored me.”

“Mostly?” When Raider didn’t respond to that, Seth asked in a measured voice, “Did he hurt you?”

Raider shrugged. “Sometimes.”