Attorney Charles Barnett thought it was all over for him and his heart. In the three years since his partner died, he hasn't felt so much as a spark of attraction to another man. That suddenly changes when Charles is assigned a new case and meets his new client.<br><br>Recent widower Philip d'Autremont has been traveling in all the same circles as Charles, but somehow they've never managed to meet. Now that they have, both men find themselves falling hard and fast.<br><br>But there's more than one hurdle to Charles and Philip beginning a love affair, much less maintaining it: Philip is on trial for murder, a politically ambitious and homophobic district attorney is determined to convict him, and Charles is responsible for Philip's defense.

Trial

When I began to wake up, I was in the same position on my side, but when I became fully awake, I realized that he’d turned over to face me and was wide awake, so I said, “How long have you been awake?”


“I don’t know. I woke up, rolled over, and have been lying here, watching you sleep.”


“Why? You were sleeping soundly and obviously needed it. It was nice to lie here and watch over you.” He paused, then continued, “I also want to thank you for last night.”


“It really isn’t necessary, but you’re welcome.”


“Oh, yes, it was,” he said, “and so is this.” With that, he started kissing me, at first innocently and then with increasing passion. This time, however, there was less urgency in our lovemaking.


Chapter 29