Page 19 of Hard as Steel

“Marry me.”

Steel blinked. His trance vanished. “What?”

Krystof swiped a sweet kiss across his lips. “You heard me. You need to know I won’t hurt you again. It’s important for me to give you the security of my name. If you decide you don’t want me, you can take me to the cleaners. I want you to know I’m serious about being with you for the rest of my life.”

“Um.” A nervous-sounding chuckle slipped out. “That’s a bold move.”

“Marrying you is a move I would absolutely make anytime you’re ready to say yes. If I had married you when I should have…”

“You wouldn’t have your son,” Steel finished for him. The more he talked about Krystof having a living, breathing child he raised to adulthood, the words came easier. He knew in his heart that life had turned out exactly as it was meant to be. Being at the shit end of the stick didn’t change reality. Kuba existed as he was today because of Krystof, and Steel was damn glad he did. Truth be told, he had no idea where to go with that knowledge. Still, Krystof looked as if he braced himself for rejection, and Steel couldn’t have that. They were starting anew. This was a fresh start.

“Can I think about it?”

Krystof took a step back. “Of course.” Despite Krystof’s calm expression, Steel knew him. He had just cut Krystof to the bone.

Steel took a step forward, refusing to let Krystof put distance between them. “Okay. I’ve thought about it. Let’s do it. I mean, maybe not today, though.” Steel added a chuckle so Krystof wouldn’t think this was just a no he saved for later. That might happen. But for now, he couldn’t let Krystof down. He was still working through his emotions, but he needed them to really try. If he didn’t give this a real shot, and they didn’t make it, he would know for the rest of his life he hadn’t done all he could do. There was a reason they had never moved on from each other. That reason was love.

Steel kissed him. He meant to give Krystof a quick but sweet kiss. Instead, Krystof buried his hand in Steel’s hair and held on. He kissed Steel like the world was coming to an end. When he pulled away, Steel chased his mouth. He wasn’t ready to give up their kiss. Krystof gave in for a moment before pulling back again.

“I won’t rush you.”

Steel didn’t care. His mind was elsewhere. He kissed Krystof’s neck since he couldn’t have his mouth.

“You deserve a beautiful wedding where everyone sees me promise my life to you.”

Steel wasn’t the least bit concerned about any of that. Krystof couldn’t know how desperately Steel missed this. No one knew his body the way Krystof did. That was probably Steel’s fault. He wasn’t much on going back for seconds when he had no intention of building anything with anyone else. But Krystof had years of learning every aspect of Steel’s body. Sex with Krystof was off the charts. He had always stirred an old hunger in Steel no one else could quench. He needed Krystof to touch him. Steel had been empty without him for way too long.

“We’ll do whatever you want. Now stop talking.” Steel kissed him again. This time, Krystof obviously understood the assignment. He didn’t wait to see what Steel would do. His hands went straight to the button on Steel’s jeans. When he ripped open Steel’s zipper and shoved his hand in Steel’s pants, Steel was hit by an epiphany. Nothing about them had changed. Maybe they were older and different people, but as a couple, it was as if they had picked up their life together the day before Krystof had gone to Greece all those years ago. They felt the same. His heart needed this.

For the first time in a long time, Krystof’s mind wasn’t a mess. He kissed Steel. Steel’s dick was in his hand. The world was quiet and stood still. Nothing existed but the moment. Krystof didn’t care about his pleasure. The sounds Steel made as Krystof stroked him was all he needed. He owned the world. Of course, so typically Steel, he wouldn’t let Krystof keep the moment one-sided. Krystof’s feet left the floor.

“Where’s your room?”

“Where our room has always been.”

Steel headed for the opposite end of the house. His gaze stayed straight ahead while Krystof eyed his every feature. He didn’t even look winded. Steel had gotten twice the muscle he used to have, and that said a lot. He was solid and sexy.

“Wow. You didn’t pull a muscle or anything.”

Steel’s hard, determined expression didn’t budge. “You don’t weigh anything.” He paused. Steel met his gaze. “I can tell you haven’t been eating. That stops with me.”

God, Krystof missed this so much. “Okay.” Steel had always been the one in control. He took care of Krystof and gave Krystof a soft, unburdened life. Krystof didn’t even have to think with Steel. Steel made all the decisions. All Krystof had to do was love Steel. Steel did the rest.

When Steel reached their room, he froze. His gaze swept from wall to wall. “I thought you didn’t want to see me everywhere you looked. Nothing has changed.”

Krystof never looked away from Steel. He knew what their bedroom looked like. He had gone out of his way to keep buying the same everything they had owned. “This is the one place I couldn’t let go. The things you left behind are in your closet. Sometimes I would go in there and pretend I waited for you to get home. I never stopped hoping.”

Steel carried Krystof to the bed and crawled onto the mattress. He didn’t set Krystof down until he reached the middle of the bed. Instead of attacking him and ripping off his clothes the way Krystof expected, Steel curled his body around Krystof, holding him. He kissed Krystof’s temple, lips lingering.

Krystof’s chest swelled with love. “I thought you wanted me to touch you.”

He felt Steel smile against his skin. “You are. I didn’t realize how much I missed this. Some of the best nights of sleep in my life were right here.”

Krystof chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll bet. You’re a cover hog.”

Steel sucked in an exaggerated gasp. “Blatant lies. You have me to keep you warm, and if I have all the covers, so do you. I’m always using you as a mattress.”

He couldn’t stop smiling. Steel made it sound as if they had never been apart. “I’m honored for that to be my lot in life.”