Page 24 of Cold Winter Nights

Royal gave him a chaste, lingering kiss on his lower jaw, and whispered. “No more, okay…no more cold and lonely winter nights, for either of us.”

Royal

He and Stone stood in the doorway of his room, a calming silence hanging between them.

“Today was…really nice,” Royal whispered, his voice shy. He looked down at his hiking boots before glancing back up at Stone’s eyes. “I, uh, I had a good time.”

“I had a good time, too.” Stone rumbled.

Royal took a tentative step forward, instinct pulling him closer, as Stone mirrored his movements, closing the space until he could feel his breath on his forehead.

His stomach thudded with nerves as if they hadn’t done this a half hour ago, but he wanted more.

“Kiss me again,” he pleaded against Stone’s chin, loving how the hairs tickled his lips.

Stone’s rough hum of appreciation vibrated his chest as he cupped his cheek and pulled him up to his mouth.

Royal didn’t think he’d ever get tired of the hot press of Stone’s lips to his, or the dominant hand he kept on the back of his neck while he commanded the kiss.

This kiss was more than a simple joining of their lips, it was a deep, soul-searching connection, a quiet unraveling of everything he thought he knew, as he allowed himself to get lost to the feelings.

Why the fuck did he ever think he could go through life without this? Kissing Stone was an awakening, a revelation, a surrendering.

When it ended, and Stone eased back, Royal could still feel him, could feel the imprint he’d made on his heart.

Royal stroked Stone’s cheek, dragging his blunt nails through his gorgeous beard.

“So the rest of the week is gonna be crazy since my crew will be hauling in the new Christmas trees and helping set up for the festival this weekend.”

“Okay.” Royal nodded.

“Do you wanna maybe come to my cabin on Friday night and have dinner with me?” Stone asked.

He was gazing down on him with such craving, Royal had no doubt what would be happening that night if he said yes.

“Yes, Stone,” he whispered.

After a long, charged moment, Royal began to retreat but Stone didn’t move. He seemed unsure, shifting back and forth while scratching the back of his neck.

Stone

“Stone,” Royal said, his voice warm like the start of a fresh fire. Gentle and calming. “is everything okay?”

Stone shifted. He had to say something, he couldn’t keep standing there like a fool. He wanted to make a request, a rather odd one, but he wanted this. Everything about Royal was so different, he was unlike anything Stone had ever experienced and he wanted it to stay that way.

Stone wanted it all to stay new.

He’d been“Stone”for years, ever since he was a boy. His husband had called him Stone, the town knew him as Stone, hewanted this newness that had drifted into his life so suddenly to call him something else. To call him a name no one ever had.

“Royal,” he started, his voice sounding as rough as granite. “I know you’ve been calling me Stone, and that’s fine. It’s just…I’d rather you call me by my name.”

Royal tilted his head as if he were confused.

“Yeah?” Royal’s voice was lower now, holding a hint of curiosity, “What would you prefer?”

Stone hesitated for a long moment, the words thick in his throat. It felt strange to say, like he hadn’t said it out loud himself in a lifetime. But it was his name. His real name. And for once, he didn’t want Royal to associate him with the man that everyone else did.

“Bo,” he said, the name coming out ragged and worn, as if it hadn’t seen the light of day in years. “My name is Beauregard. Not Stone. I—”