Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
“Oh, Jesus fuck,” Marc gasped. “I don’t think my arms and legs are going to keep holding me up.”
Royce chuckled. He could definitely agree with that. He didn’t want to pull away from Marc, but he was about to collapse. Carefully, he slipped free of Marc and helped his lover straighten. They shed their clothes, leaving their expensive suits in a pile on the floor before climbing into bed. Marc pulled Royce close, wrapping his arms and legs around him.
“You know that was all an act with József, right?”
Royce tipped his face up, nuzzling Marc’s neck with his bearded cheeks and chin until a shiver swept through Marc’s long form. “Of course. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy staking a claim.”
Marc ran his bare foot along Royce’s calf and released a sated sigh. “Anytime you want.”
Royce closed his eyes and relaxed against Marc, ready to settle in for a few hours of sleep. Then he’d wake and fuck Marc all over again before they boarded a plane for home.
“Oh, my God!” Marc suddenly cried, causing Royce’s eyes to snap back open. He leaned up on his elbow to look into Marc’s face. “I totally forgot to ask if you if you got the picture.”
Royce chuckled as he crawled to the end of the bed and sifted through the pile of clothes until he located his blazer. From the interior pocket, he pulled out his cell phone. Royce returned to where he was lying next to Marc. He thumbed through the apps until he pulled up the photo gallery.
Marc grabbed the phone and swiped through to see several very clear pictures of the lost Alexander III Commemorative Fabergé egg with the gold wire stand.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Marc,” Royce murmured, brushing a kiss across his temple.
“This…this is the best fucking gift you could ever give me,” Marc said, smiling broadly up at Royce.
That smile was easily the best gift Royce had ever received. And he was determined to put it on Marc’s face again and again. Even if it meant some unorthodox Valentine’s Days.
4
Naked Battle
Shane Stephens looked up at the night sky and made a wish.
Stay clear tonight.
There was a chance of rain, but it was minuscule, so he’d decided to have his Valentine’s Day celebration with his boyfriend at their favorite spot.
He surveyed his rooftop deck with satisfaction. He had the small, wicker coffee table set with dishes, and he’d bring up the food he ordered when Quinn got home from work. Two thick blankets were placed on the outdoor couch, ready for some serious snuggling. He’d set up Quinn’s favorite video game system, complete with a new game he’d been looking forward to. One that Quinn thought had sold out before they’d snatched up a copy. Shane had even purchased a small chimenea and filled it with wood to give them more heat.
Although the Cincinnati temperature was still February-cold, today wasn’t that bad at nearly fifty degrees. Plus, they’d have the blankets, fire, and their body heat to keep them warm when it cooled down more.
It would be a Valentine’s night perfect for his boyfriend. Good food, video games, and sex. Quinn adored this rooftop, and a night in with games fit him more than some romantic dinner out. After over a year together, Shane knew his boyfriend well.
His private investigation firm had been short-handed with his partner out of town, so he’d been pulling long hours. He and Quinn hadn’t had a moment to themselves, so he was looking forward to the evening—especially the snuggling part.
The door slammed below and Shane hurried down the stairs into the condo’s kitchen to see Quinn hanging his jacket on one of the nearby hooks.
Quinn grinned at Shane as he set a box down on the counter. “Brought those pastries from Rialto you love. But you wouldn’t believe the day I had. We had another stalker case, and I got to use some of my older skills to ferret out some information for Rowe. Tracked that asshole down and the cops picked him up half an hour ago. Turned out this person wasn’t any ordinary stalker. He was actually following three separate people, and one of them had disappeared.”
“Disappeared?”
He nodded and pushed his black glasses up his nose, his mouth turned down into a concerned frown. “I hope they find her, but we got him. That part was awesome!”
“There’s my talented hacker,” Shane said, moving forward to kiss him hello. He lingered over it, enjoying the soft firmness of Quinn’s lips. Quinn kissed back, his hands coming up to clutch Shane’s hips. Shane pulled his head away—as always, loving to look at the man who was now his partner in life. Quinn’s dark hair was mussed, his cheeks red from walking in the cold, and his glasses were slightly askew from the kiss. He was fucking adorable. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”