Can two broken men build one life? Ten years. That’s what Makai lost for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s been exonerated, but the abuse he suffered in prison isn’t so easy to leave behind. He heads to the one place he remembers being happy: Acker, Wisconsin, where he spent summers with his grandpa. Unfortunately, not everyone wants Makai there. Ten days. That’s how long Emil, now twenty-one, was held prisoner as a teenager. The mental and physical injuries he suffered at the hands of a drug trafficking ring still haunt him. Nightmares, anxiety, and PTSD challenge the connection forming between Makai and Emil, though together, they might find a way to move beyond their pain and into a future -- and a relationship -- that both had thought impossible. Now they just have to convince Emil’s father, the town sheriff. It won’t be easy with danger closer than they know ...

The first touch of tongues sent fire into Emil’s body. He pulled Makai impossibly closer and felt overjoyed when Makai whined into the kiss.


Just like Emil didn’t know who initiated the kiss, he wasn’t sure who ended it, either. At one point they were kissing, another, pulling apart and breathing heavily to the ending of “Do I Wanna Know?” and Emil had no clue how the song could be ending already.


“Whoa,” he breathed and hated the feeling of Makai untangling his fingers from his curls but understood the need for space between them. He forced his fingers to let go of Makai’s shirt where he’d stretched it by his hip without realizing.


“Oh yes.” Makai took half a step back but didn’t let go of Emil’s hand. “That was….”


“It’s a great song,” Makai clearly held back a smile.


Emil let go of his hand first. “Go fix the dresser. You need somewhere to put your clothes.”


Chapter 64