Page 59 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

He shrugged.Then he spun and tapped the wall.“Want to give me a tour?”

Right up to my bedroom?Sure.

Or not.

“Just on the market and a good price.”I handed him the brochure and his brows shot up.Although Gertie would enjoy the extra money to spoil her grandkids, she didn’t need it.She was splitting part of the profits with me, but I was more concerned about finding the right buyer.“I’m hoping whomever buys it won’t tear it down.”

His eyes widened in evident horror.“This house is practically on the heritage list.It’d be a travesty to tear it down.”

Well, hadn’t quite achieved official heritage status, but it meant a lot to me.So did his obvious horror at destroying the one place I felt truly safe.

“Why are you selling it?”

The question startled me.“Well, with Gertie gone, it seemed silly to hold on to it.I have my condo…” And why wasn’t I just moving back in?I could sell the condo and send the money to Gertie.Hell, she’d gift me the house if she knew I was staying in it.I thought part of her heart was breaking selling the thing.She was as adamant as me about not tearing the grand dame down.But I couldn’t control what a buyer chose to do.I could only choose a buyer carefully.

We wandered into the kitchen.“All the appliances are updated.We did the wiring back in the late nineties when technology took a huge leap forward.The ladies had all the most modern amenities.”

Marcus spun in the space.“Yet kept all its charm.I love the yellow paint.So bright.”

I’d once thought it dated.Now, in his eyes, the appeal was clear.I pointed to the huge windows.“With the southern exposure, this room is really bright on a sunny day.”

Uh, why was he staring at me like that?I forced myself to not turn around to see if there was something interesting behind me.

“The laundry room is in the basement.Bit of a hassle, but typical for these old places.There’s a recreation room downstairs that could be converted into an exercise room.And it’s accessible from the side of the house.No stairs.You could install a bathroom down there.”

And still his eyes ate me up.

“There are three bedrooms upstairs.The master isn’t a bad size.My bedroom is decent as well, and the third is currently a sewing room.But you could turn that into a small office.”

“Your boyfriend not want to move in?”

“My…?”I furrowed my brow.

“You were with that guy.”He gesticulated in some undiscernible manner.

“Oh, yeah, that guy.”I knew who he was referring to.Or at least I thought he did.“We didn’t last long.I was into monogamy.He apparently wasn’t.”I hadn’t been all that upset when I booted the asshole to the curb.Better to take out the trash before it stank up my pristine house.

“And you’re not with anyone?”

Where is he going with this?He advanced toward me.I backed up a step.

He halted.

But I didn’t want him to.

He opened his arms and I stepped into the embrace.A hug, right?I bit my lip.

He licked his.“I want to kiss you.”

That was all the warning I got.I could’ve said no.Could’ve held up my hand.He’d stop.

He sucked on my lower lip, coaxing my mouth open.

Oh…The thrust of tongue matched the grinding of hips and,holy hell, my cock hardened.When it brushed Marcus’s erection, life suddenly looked very different.

Yanking my mouth away, I fought for breath.“You’re gay?”Dumbest question ever, right?But he’d never even hinted at being gay, while I’d flaunted it.Gertie and Miss Mabel had told me to rejoice in being unique and beautiful.They loved me the way I was.

“I’ve always wanted you—always loved you.”

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