Page 78 of Sliding into Love
They take a sip of their coffee, watching me over the rim of their mug. I soak up every second of it since I can’t seem to get enough.
When they speak again, it takes me a second to follow along. “Do you need to leave already? I know we both have work later, but I thought maybe we could have a slow morning first."
"A slow morning sounds perfect." I take a drink of my coffee. "What time do you need to be at the office?"
"Not until eleven. We have a meeting with the marketing team about next week's promotions. What about you?" They set their mug on the nightstand and turn to face me more fully.
"Same, actually. Meeting at eleven with the lawyers to finalize some transfer paperwork." I mirror their position, both of us sitting cross-legged on the bed facing each other.
"So we have a few hours."
"We do."
There's heat in their gaze now, but also a contemplative look. "Kenny, about last night. It’s the second time?—”
"What happens now?" I ask, voicing the question that's been hovering in the back of my mind since I woke up and stopping whatever speech they might have been about to give. "I mean, we crossed a line again. A good line, an amazing line, but still. Where do we go from here?"
They reach out, taking my free hand. "Where do you want to go?"
"Forward," I say without hesitation. "I want to keep doing this. Whatever this is. I want mornings like this, and late nights at the stadium, and figuring out how we fit together now that everything's changed."
"Everything has changed," they agree quietly. "My last day officially working with you on the team is next week. After that, there's no professional boundary keeping us apart. Unless, of course, you decide to stay on. The offer still stands.”
"Is that what you want? For there to be nothing keeping us apart?"
They squeeze my hand. "I want you. No more dancing around it, no more pretending this is just physical attraction or convenient timing. I want to build something with you to see where this goes.”
The words settle over me like a warmth I didn't know I was missing. "Real," I repeat. "Like relationship real? Partners real?"
"Exactly that real." They shift closer, their knee touching mine. "But I need you to know what that means. My life is complicated. There are parts of it I haven't fully explained yet, things that might make this harder than a normal relationship."
"Your other work. I know you have a lot of responsibilities away from the team too,” I say.
They nod. "That, and everything that comes with being a Bellport. The public events, the scrutiny, the expectations. And my own baggage. Therapy is helping, but I'm still working through things. Healing isn’t linear.”
"Royce." I set my coffee aside so I can cup their face with both hands. "I don't want easy. I want you. All of you, complications included. And yeah, we'll have to figure things out as we go, but that's what relationships are, right? Figuring it out together?"
"Together," they murmur, leaning into my touch. "I like the sound of that."
I pull them closer, kissing them softly. "So do I. What happens now is that we try. We build something. One day at a time."
"One day at a time," they agree. "Starting with cinnamon rolls and slow mornings."
I smile against their lips. "Best plan I've heard all week."
We do eventually make it to the kitchen, where the cinnamon rolls are cooling on the counter. Royce plates them while I refillour coffee, and we eat standing at the kitchen island, shoulders touching, stealing bites from each other's plates.
"These are really good," I say around a mouthful.
"They're from a can."
"Still good." I lean over to kiss their cheek, leaving a small smear of icing. "Everything's better when you're near.”
They laugh, wiping their face. "You're such a softie.”
"Only for you, Your Majesty."
The title makes them pause, their expression growing more serious. "Is that still okay? The whole dynamic we fell into?"
