Page 71 of Sapphire Storm

Ethan was still struggling for breath.

“Not used to having guys unlock your naughty million-dollaranswers, are you?”

“No,” Ethan whispered.

After a gentle kiss on the lips, the man beneath himwhispered, “Well, get ready because there’s plenty more where that came from.”

I am done for,Ethan thought as their mouthstouched.I am absolutely, totally, and blissfully done for.

20

The deadbolt clicking into place roused him from adreamless sleep. It was five minutes after eight, but Ethan felt compensatedfor the early wake-up by the sight of the gorgeous, freshly showered young mancharging into his hotel room with a beaming smile. Roman held a grease-stainedwhite paper bag emanating a sweet aroma.

“You know,” Ethan said between yawns, “I keep hoping to wakeup with you in my arms only to regain consciousness in an empty bed.”

“That’s ’cause I keep planning fun stuff. Besides, I’mRestless Roman. What do you expect?” After freeing the Danishes from theirmoist wrappings of wax paper, he kicked his shoes off, then scooted across thecovers toward Ethan on his knees, a treat in each hand. When he raised a pastryto Ethan’s lips, the look Ethan gave the thing caused him to draw it awayquickly. “Okay, fine. They’re from the deli in the lobby. I didn’t have time towhip something up in the kitchen.”

“Not complaining, just examining.”

“Bet you’d scarf it down in a hot second if I put it on myass.”

“Correct,” Ethan answered with a wicked grin.

“I’ll save one for later then.”

Roman airplaned the Danish toward his open mouth. “Thankyou,” he said once he’d swallowed.

After a bite of his own, Roman chewed manically, then swallowedquickly, all signs he was bursting with something he wanted to say. Finally, hesputtered, “You’re going to be totally excited for my big, amazing plan for theday!”

“We just made a plan. Ass up, mister.” He waggled hiseyebrows, then swiped up a glob of lemon filling from one corner of his mouthwith his tongue.

“That’s fortonight, Daddy.My bigger,better, and totally amazing plan is for the daylight hours.” Roman set what hehadn’t devoured on the nightstand, planted his fists against the mattress oneither side of Ethan’s chest, and brought their noses together. “We’re goingparagliding!”

Ethan swallowed.

“You know what paragliding is, right?”

Ethan hoped the proximity of their faces didn’t make iteasier for Roman to see he was fighting the urge to barf Danish onto hisstomach. “Of course,” Ethan said calmly. “It’s the thing you learned how to doafter your snake encounter when you were a teenager. Are you sure the weather’sright for it?”

Roman leapt off the bed and tore open the drapes. Hoping forthunderheads and lightning bolts, Ethan instead found himself raising an arm toshield his eyes from the fiercely sunny day outside. “They have a glider portover in La Jolla.”

“I know,” Ethan said with forced cheer. “I worked in LaJolla for years. I used to see them sailing off the cliffs all the time.” Andwhenever he did, he’d turn to the person next to him and say something alongthe lines of,You couldn’t pay me a trillion dollars to get up there withthose fucking lunatics.

Roman threw himself onto the foot of the bed and bounced upand down to vent his excitement. “We’re going to do it, right? Can we do it?Please. Please.Please.”

“Of course.” Ethan cleared his throat. “I would be honoredto take you paragliding. How long since you’ve done it?”

“No, no.We’regoing to do it! I got certified as apilot when I was eighteen.”

Every muscle in Ethan’s body tensed. “A pilot is required?Fascinating.”

“It’s a tandem chair, and we both sit in it.” Roman’s eyeslit up. “I’ve been on the phone with the glider port all morning, getting themcopies of my certifications, and it sounds like we’re good to go.” He threw hisarms around him, a good thing since it allowed Ethan to look at the ceiling andsilently pray. Part of him thought he should fess up and admit his fear ofheights. But was that something a strong, confident, older man would say? Wasthat something that should come out of the mouth of the man who’d plowed Romaninto bliss hours before and wanted eagerly to do so again? The man Roman hadheld on to on the deck of theGolden Boyas if he were a rock instormy seas?

Roman broke their hug. “I was lying here all morning thinkingabout what I could do for you, you know.”

“Oh, you did plenty last night.”

“I know, but beyond bussy. I mean, I know it’s not asamazing as you talking to your lawyer about the trust. But it’s sofun,and you’re going to have such a good time.”

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