Page 7 of With the Stars

“As I said, that wasn’t part of my plan when I came in to see you. I wanted us to talk and date, then maybe go from there.”

“Do you date?” Peter tilted his head, watching Minho. Minho snorted, then shook his head. “No?”

“When it’s two of us,” Minho pointed to his chest, “we know. We feel the connection between us, so things tend to move at a faster pace.”

“You have to be slower because of me.”

“You seem to like this to go at a slower pace.” You, as in humans.

“We can’t feel this connection the same as you. I can sense something. A knowing? I don’t think that’s the right word.”Peter closed his eyes and went inside himself. Yes, there was something there, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Opening his eyes, he placed his hand on his chest. “I feel something, but I don’t know how to describe it.”

Nodding, Minho smiled at the waiter when he placed their beers in front of them. “It is hard to describe.” He shifted, the shirt pulling taut across his chest, and Peter wanted them both naked. Blinking, he shook his head, a small move that Minho picked up. “What?”

“I’ve never been attracted to a man before. I can find a man attractive, acknowledge he is, but not want to act on it because I’ve never had that desire. With you… it’s strange.” Straightening in his chair, Peter looked Minho in the eyes. “I want you again. We could leave here right now and I’d go where you wanted as long as we both knew what was going to happen when we arrived.”

Minho’s nostrils flared, his eyes glowed briefly until he looked away. “Peter,” his name sounded more like a caress, whispered over his skin. “Keep that thought until after we’ve eaten. What kind of partner would I be if I didn’t feed you?”

“An aroused one,” Peter murmured. “Like me.”

The food arrived and Peter considered asking it to be bagged up to go so he and Minho could be somewhere more private. Minho licked his lips and began to eat, but he made it obvious he wanted to be gone as much as Peter, by the frequent hot looks he sent Peter’s way.

“Eat up, Peter. We have somewhere to go after this.”

“Rex is staying at a friend’s tonight and Sammy is at college.”

Minho inhaled, then released it slowly. “Good to know.” After eating a few mouthfuls of food, Minho told him, “I came to the opening of your cafe.”

“I never saw you.” Peter was certain he would have remembered seeing Minho there. He wasn’t a man you forgot unless you’d been in a car crash.

“I stayed outside. I was proud of you. Proud of you both. I know you saved as much as you could so you could open your own place.”

“Diane’s parents gave us something toward it before they passed.” Diane’s parents had had her later in life so had given them help when starting the cafe. “Then what they left us in the will helped as well.”

“You’re doing well.”

“We hit a rough patch at one point, but things are good now.” There was a time when Peter had been certain the cafe would have to close, but they’d survived and were in a much better place now.

“Ever thought about expanding?”

“God no. One place is enough for me. I’m happy running it, and I know Sammy wants to be more involved once he’s completed his business degree.”

“Is that why he decided on that degree?”

“Yes. He’s always been interested in business and I let him see how the cafe operates, showed him how to do accounts, and stock taking and place orders. He has a head for it. As for Rex…” Peter pursed his lips. “Just when I think I have him figured out, he throws me off by behaving in a way I would have never expected.”

“He’s still young. Just eighteen. Sammy is older so has his head screwed on better.”

“I forget you know them. You probably watched them grow up.”

“They’re your children. You’re important to me, so they are as well. If things go the way I want them to, I’ll technically be their stepfather.”

Peter snorted then laughed. “Oh, that’s—that’s funny. I can see their faces as I sit them down and introduce you.”

“I’ll wait until you tell me it’s safe.” Minho grinned, his white teeth flashing. The skin glowed under the light, and Peter felt his body tighten in response. Minho inhaled, his eyes hooding. “Tell me we can leave.”

Peter leaned back, a sly grin on his face. “Not just yet.”

Minho groaned then carried on eating. “Tease.”

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