Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(74)

“Hey, no,” Trent said, taking his turn to kiss Ashby’s hand. “I’m happy doing whatever. I just wanted to offer it and not make assumptions.”

Ashby shook his head. “I can’t believe I ever thought you were scary,” he said with a giggle. “You’re the loveliest teddy bear. Oh!” Excitement brightened his face. “We could play with toys, though, if you wanted to try something new?”

Trent shivered, surprised by how turned on he was by the idea. He drew Ashby to him so they could kiss. “I’d love you to fuck me with a toy,” he rasped. Ashby moaned and kissed him harder.

“Good thing I’m sticking around, then,” he said. “We’ll have lots of time to experiment.”

They made out for a while, but they were still too wrung out from fucking to get all that hot and heavy. “Does that mean you’re not taking that flight back to London?” Trent asked.

Ashby ran his fingers through Trent’s hair, caressing the back of his neck. “You said you were here for three months before you were going back to work?” Trent nodded. “Then yes, I’m sticking around.” He licked his lips and sighed. But a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I love London, but home is where the heart is. And…I feel like my heart belongs near you.”

Trent closed his eyes and rested their foreheads together. “I couldn’t agree more,” he murmured. “I want to make this work.”

“Me too,” Ashby said. “I don’t really feel like putting an ocean between us just yet.”

“How long is your current visa?” Trent asked. “Three months, right?”

A mischievous glint sparkled in Ashby’s eyes. “I was actually thinking of something a little more permanent,” he said. “I told you my mum is from the States, didn’t I?”

“Yeah,” said Trent. He didn’t want to get his hopes up too much, but he couldn’t help it.

Ashby Bit his lip. “Well, my parents never applied for dual citizenship for me. But because my mum and grandparents are American, it will make things easier to get a green card and become a permanent resident. Then I’d be eligible to become a citizen for good.”

Trent’s heart skipped a beat. “You’d really move here?” he said. “For us?”

Ashby looked upward, thinking. “As much as I want this to work, I know it’s only early stages still. I do think a relationship stands a better chance if the people in it actually see each other. But that isn’t my main reason for considering moving so soon. It’s part of it, but I don’t think I’d change my whole life after a week with someone. I hope you’re not disappointed?”

Trent shook his head. “That’s very sensible,” he said honestly. As much as he would have supported Ashby moving closer so their love could stand a better chance of flourishing, it was a relief to know it wasn’t the only drive behind it. “What’s the other reason?”

That devilment was back on Ashby’s face. “I’ve had the most delicious idea,” he said.





31





Ashby





“Well, look what the cat dragged in.”

Ashby smiled at Kiefer as he and Trent entered one of the resort’s only conference rooms. Like the rest of the place, the walls were beige and the carpet a faded and threadbare brown. A sad-looking potted fern sat drooping in the corner. Poorly painted watercolors of the mountains hung in frames on the walls.

A cream oval table with eight chairs dominated most of the space in the room. Kiefer sat toward one end with two other guys, all still wearing their Stetsons. One was large, the other tall and lanky. Ashby’s English sensibilities were offended by the bad manners of wearing hats indoors, let alone to a meeting, but he smiled and ignored the cultural clash. Let them think this was their meeting.

“Mr. Burton,” Ashby said cheerfully. “How lovely to see you again. You’ll be delighted to know Mr. Charles Sr. was reunited with his beloved dog Merlin. I know you must have been terribly worried after your faux-pas the other day.”

Kiefer took a sip of whiskey from the tumbler he had in front of him, as did the two men flanking him. “Of course,” he said dryly and licked his lips. “You seen any more reporters on the premises? I’d hate for you boys to have been bothered any further.”

Ashby hummed as he and Trent took their seats down at the other end of the table. He wouldn’t have been surprised if Kiefer was inviting the paparazzi in with open arms to harass him and Trent some more. Luckily, there hadn’t been any other incidents so far.

“Oh, we’ve got far more important things to worry about than some silly photographers,” Ashby said with a wave of his hand, his bangles chinking quietly together. He placed the file he held down on the table and offered the other men a sweet smile. Trent sat in silent support beside him.

Ashby had thought very carefully about what he wanted to wear today. He knew first hand it was tricky to come across with authority to people who were narrow minded if he presented as too feminine. But he also knew he was more confident when he looked like himself. With Trent beside him, he had decided to push his gender boundaries as much as he felt able to for this occasion.

He had on his favorite black boots with the small heel and black leggings with a white shirt loosely tucked in. But he finished the look with a beaded necklace under the collar, one of his flowing cardigans in teal that reached down to his knees, and had slicked on a little eyeliner. He could feel the other men in the room casting suspicious gazes over him. But this was a conservative look to Ashby. Just enough to make him feel like a bloody warrior.