offering him an opportunity that no one had given him before—to be honestwith himself.
He lowered his hands to the table, his breath leveling out, the shaking gone. The deep compassion displayed across Carter’s face held him firmer than the hand that still embraced his forearm. He cleared his throat, the rumble breaking the silence that seemed to enclose them in their own little bubble.
“I’m gay.” The truth was there in the clear resonance that rang across the space to lift Carter’s lips into the most stunning smile Rock had ever seen. He’d said it, but even better was the weighted ton of baggage that ceased to exist within him. His chest expanded and for the first time ever, he took a breath that seemed to reach his soul.
It was amazing.
Carter released his arm but kept his hand extended, a grin on his face. “Hi, Rockford. I’m Carter Montgomery. It’s really nice to meet you. And did you know? I’m gay.”
Rock settled his hand in Carter’s and forced himself not to squeeze that lifeline too hard. The connection was about more than heat and desire and fucking. This touch, this hold, was about freedom. “Hi, Carter. I’m Rockford Fielding.” He wet his lips, his smile breaking to scrunch his cheeks tight. “I can’t believe you’re still here. And did you know?” He let the question hang, savoring the words before they sang from his mouth. “I’m gay, too.”
Chapter Nine
Rock lifted his chin and inhaled the brittle air into his nose. The crisp chill raced down his nasal passages with a sharp, dry edge that he usually hated. Today it was fresh and filling. The crunch of their boots over the ice-covered snow mimicked breaking glass as they crossed the small parking lot behind the diner.
He glanced at the man beside him and was at a loss when a smile spread wide over his own lips. It was so out of character he didn’t know how to process the changes that had occurred within him so quickly.
Someone knew his secret. Not just someone—Carter knew he was gay. He’d said it, finally, and he had no desire to take it back.
“Thank you,” he said when they stopped beside a dark blue sedan that he assumed was Carter’s car.
“For what?” Carter turned to face Rock, his back to the car. His hands were tucked in the pockets of his bomber jacket and a questioning smile lined his face. Right there, in the shadows of the quiet lot, hair slightly messed and dropping over his brow, Carter took his breath away.
Rock ducked his head before drawing up tall. “Does it sound too corny if I say ‘everything’?”
Carter gave a low grunt of amusement before he shook his head. “I was just there. You did the hard stuff.”
Yeah, he had been there. “That’s more than anyone else has done.”
“Really?” His brows rose, eyes widening, which only made the blue more prominent. “Then I’m glad I was.”
Rock glanced around the small parking lot. It was tucked behind the diner and banked on both sides by three-story brick buildings that blocked the sun. The place was isolated and empty, except for them.
He took a step closer, then another until the fog of Carter’s breath spread around his face. The slight hint of mint from the candies by the diner exit tingled over his nose and he sucked in another icy breath, trying to find that scent that was Carter’s. His groin tightened when he found it and it took all of his will not to close his eyes and groan.
Carter watched him, not moving, and Rock understood that he was letting him find his way. Despite everything, there was still a part of him that doubted Carter’s motives. But it wasn’t something to worry about now.
Now he wanted to kiss the man. Really kiss him.
Rock tugged his hands from the warmth and safety of his pockets, the cold wrapping around his fingers almost instantly. He didn’t care. The edge of Carter’s jaw felt chilly beneath the pads of Rock’s fingers. “It’s so smooth,” he said, unthinking.
The corner of
He lowered his hands to the table, his breath leveling out, the shaking gone. The deep compassion displayed across Carter’s face held him firmer than the hand that still embraced his forearm. He cleared his throat, the rumble breaking the silence that seemed to enclose them in their own little bubble.
“I’m gay.” The truth was there in the clear resonance that rang across the space to lift Carter’s lips into the most stunning smile Rock had ever seen. He’d said it, but even better was the weighted ton of baggage that ceased to exist within him. His chest expanded and for the first time ever, he took a breath that seemed to reach his soul.
It was amazing.
Carter released his arm but kept his hand extended, a grin on his face. “Hi, Rockford. I’m Carter Montgomery. It’s really nice to meet you. And did you know? I’m gay.”
Rock settled his hand in Carter’s and forced himself not to squeeze that lifeline too hard. The connection was about more than heat and desire and fucking. This touch, this hold, was about freedom. “Hi, Carter. I’m Rockford Fielding.” He wet his lips, his smile breaking to scrunch his cheeks tight. “I can’t believe you’re still here. And did you know?” He let the question hang, savoring the words before they sang from his mouth. “I’m gay, too.”
Chapter Nine
Rock lifted his chin and inhaled the brittle air into his nose. The crisp chill raced down his nasal passages with a sharp, dry edge that he usually hated. Today it was fresh and filling. The crunch of their boots over the ice-covered snow mimicked breaking glass as they crossed the small parking lot behind the diner.
He glanced at the man beside him and was at a loss when a smile spread wide over his own lips. It was so out of character he didn’t know how to process the changes that had occurred within him so quickly.
Someone knew his secret. Not just someone—Carter knew he was gay. He’d said it, finally, and he had no desire to take it back.
“Thank you,” he said when they stopped beside a dark blue sedan that he assumed was Carter’s car.
“For what?” Carter turned to face Rock, his back to the car. His hands were tucked in the pockets of his bomber jacket and a questioning smile lined his face. Right there, in the shadows of the quiet lot, hair slightly messed and dropping over his brow, Carter took his breath away.
Rock ducked his head before drawing up tall. “Does it sound too corny if I say ‘everything’?”
Carter gave a low grunt of amusement before he shook his head. “I was just there. You did the hard stuff.”
Yeah, he had been there. “That’s more than anyone else has done.”
“Really?” His brows rose, eyes widening, which only made the blue more prominent. “Then I’m glad I was.”
Rock glanced around the small parking lot. It was tucked behind the diner and banked on both sides by three-story brick buildings that blocked the sun. The place was isolated and empty, except for them.
He took a step closer, then another until the fog of Carter’s breath spread around his face. The slight hint of mint from the candies by the diner exit tingled over his nose and he sucked in another icy breath, trying to find that scent that was Carter’s. His groin tightened when he found it and it took all of his will not to close his eyes and groan.
Carter watched him, not moving, and Rock understood that he was letting him find his way. Despite everything, there was still a part of him that doubted Carter’s motives. But it wasn’t something to worry about now.
Now he wanted to kiss the man. Really kiss him.
Rock tugged his hands from the warmth and safety of his pockets, the cold wrapping around his fingers almost instantly. He didn’t care. The edge of Carter’s jaw felt chilly beneath the pads of Rock’s fingers. “It’s so smooth,” he said, unthinking.
The corner of
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