Page 16 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

“That’s bullshit.”

Nicholas arched his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

“I trust my instincts, and they tell me you’re not speaking the truth.” Jake covered Nicholas’s hand with his own. “If you can be straight with anyone, it’s me.”

That earned him a smile. “Except I’m not. Straight, that is. And neither are you, it seems. Have you always known you’re bisexual?”

“Always.” Jake couldn’t hold back a second longer. “Just like I always knew you had feelings for me.”

Nicholas’s breathing hitched. “You… you knew?”

He nodded. “But what’s really going to surprise the hell out of you? I had feelings for you too.”

“But….” Nicholas swallowed. “You and Miranda….”

“Who also knew how I felt. Want to hear the shocker? She suggested I sleep with you.”

His jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”

“She thought I should find out what I was missing out on.”

“Then… have you ever…. With a man?”

Jake bit back a smile. “Uh-uh. There’s only ever been one lover in my life, and that was her. What happened in the intervening years since they took me?” He scowled. “It doesn’t count.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Nicholas agreed with some vehemence. He stared at Jake. “Okay, if you can be that honest, then so can I. The reason I never married? There was never anyone who made my heart beat the way you did. Anything else would have seemed like a poor substitute. It wouldn’t have been fair to them, because I would always be comparing them to you. No matter who it was, they would have lost out. And I guess part of me always hoped for the impossible.”

“And what was that?”

Nicholas locked gazes with him. “That one day I’d find you again, and that I’d have enough courage to tell you I… I loved you.”

Warmth surged through him. “I loved you too.”

“And now? Do you think you can still love me?”

Jake smiled. “I wouldn’t be sitting here with you if I didn’t.” He paused. “I know it’s been years, but I… I want to take things slow.”

Nicholas chuckled. “You could’ve fooled me. That kiss was right off the blocks.”

“I had to know.” Jake cupped his face. “But I’m really an old-fashioned kinda guy. I want to get to know you all over again before we take the next step.”

That hitch in Nicholas’s breathing was all the sweeter the second time around. “Then wearegoing to—”

Jake cut off his words with a kiss, keeping it chaste. “Yes, we are,” he whispered. “If that’s what you want.”

Nicholas nodded. “With all my heart.” Then he laughed softly. “You know, it’s my sixtieth birthday in a few days, but right now? I feel as though my life is starting all over again.”

Me too. Gods, I love him.

Nicholas stiffened, his eyes wide.

“Hey. What’s wrong?” Jake grabbed his hands.

“I just heard you in my head,” he blurted.

Holy hell.

What about now?

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