Page 24 of Hard as Steel

Chapter Nine

Kuba ran in circles, laughing as Gracie and he took turns chasing each other around the backyard. Gracie’s tail wagged a mile a minute while wearing a big doggy grin. He loved watching Kuba just be a kid.

“Our parents would’ve fainted in distress if we ever played with a pet.”

Krystof smiled at Ana’s observation. “They would’ve melted down if we as much as giggled.”

Ana laughed. “I never would’ve made it without you always helping me get away with whatever foolish antic I chose to pull.”

Krystof took her hand and kissed it. He didn’t release her. Kuba and she were the only human touch he ever received. “I lived for your shenanigans. God knows I was never brave enough to do anything on my own.”

“Pssh. What are you even saying? You moved to a whole other country alone. I could never. Without you, I’d still be in Greece, withering away. More likely, my father would’ve berated me into marrying some old, disgusting politician. I may have happily done so just to be free of his taunting voice.”

“Moving here wasn’t bravery. It was running for my life. The moment Dad mentioned me working to expand the company, I ran to that plane like my life depended on it, because it did. I’d planned to ask you to join me, but by then, he who shall not be named had already swept you off your feet.”

“It’s for the best.” Ana always sounded nonchalant about that bastard Dread, but Krystof heard the pain she hid. “If I hadn’t stayed behind, Kuba wouldn’t exist, and you wouldn’t have gotten the chance to find yourself.”

There was no missing the way she avoided the topic of Steel, even though he knew what she meant. “There’s that. What would I do without Kuba and you?”

“You’d live the life I begged you to keep, but I won’t harp on that. I already feel guilty every damn day.”

Krystof looked her way. “Don’t. I love you two with my whole heart. I can’t even imagine Kuba being anyone else’s son. He’s mine whether I helped create him or not. I wouldn’t trade that for a hundred men.”

Ana took a sip of the lemonade she held. She hid a smile behind her glass. “A hundred men would be one hell of a good time, though,”

Krystof laughed and shook his head. “That they would.”

They leaned closer, resting against each other while they watched the son they raised enjoy childhood in a way they never could. Yeah, Krystof was where he was supposed to be. He couldn’t let himself think anything else. This was his life now. That was just how it was.

The sound of the door beeping from being opened made Krystof wince. Steel’s truck was in the garage. Knowing him, he was likely already asleep. Krystof snorted. He supposed it was exhausting fucking someone else. Krystof let Buttercup off her leash and hung the leash by the door. He turned to find Steel leaning against the wall at the mouth of the room.

“I was worried about you.”

Krystof was torn between the love he felt and the heartbreak that consumed him. “I took Buttercup out for a daddy-dog date since you planned to be late.” Krystof bit back the again part.

Steel looked genuinely upset. “You haven’t been returning my calls or texts.”

“Oh.” He genuinely hadn’t known that. “My phone died around five.”

Steel blew out a sigh and headed his way. He dug into Krystof’s pocket and pulled out his phone. Steel didn’t check it. He kissed Krystof. The way his heart screamed, Krystof was surprised he couldn’t hear the sound it made. Krystof kissed him back because he didn’t have the strength not to. He couldn’t stop loving Steel no matter how hard he tried.

Steel swiped a final sweet kiss across his lips before taking his hand and heading into the adjacent kitchen. “I’ll put this on charge if you want to get ready for bed.”

Krystof nodded and practically ran for the safety of the bathroom. The desire to burst into ugly tears sat on his chest, suffocating him. He started the shower. The water would carry his tears away while he washed. Once he was under the deluge of water, nothing happened. Maybe he had no more tears left to cry.

He saw Steel come into the bathroom. Through the glass door, he watched Steel strip. Every fiber of Krystof’s being fired to life. His breathing shallowed. Krystof’s brain shut down. His emotions took control. He ate Steel alive with his stare. Every inch of Steel from his name to the color of his eyes to the hardness of his form, Krystof was obsessed. He was sexiness incarnate. There wasn’t a single molecule in Krystof’s body that didn’t ache for Steel’s touch each second of the day. When their gazes held the way they did now, Krystof didn’t doubt Steel wanted him too. His eyes showed his hunger. As long as Krystof had a piece of himself left to give Steel, he would.

When Steel’s body molded against him, his soul cried for what he thought they were and would be. “I love you.” That was all Krystof had.

If Steel heard the pain behind those words, he didn’t show it. “I love you too.” His hand slid down Krystof’s body and squeezed his ass. “I’ve been waiting all night to do this. Your ass feels perfect in my hands. It’s like you were made specifically for me.”

“I was.” Why couldn’t he shove Steel away and save a sliver of pride? Because he deserved this punishment, that was why. “You should fuck me.”

Steel’s mouth lifted in one corner in a wicked smile. “I haven’t heard those words from you in years.”

“I want you to hurt me.” No matter what went on between them or how Steel really felt about him, Krystof still knew he was safe to say those words to Steel. Steel knew him and his body. Krystof also knew, even though they usually kept to the roles they preferred, Steel was down to do anything.

Steel backed him against the wall. “Your wish is my command. I’ve got you.”