When unlikely attraction blossoms between a twentysomething genderqueer tattoo artist and an older, small-town veterinarian, both are forced to face their pasts for a chance at a loving future. Four years ago Padraig Donovan lost his husband, the only man he’d ever been with. Now his life consists of the work he loves, a big empty house, and the possibility of a lonely future. Kaos’s experiments with makeup landed him in the hospital at the hands of his disapproving ex. With nowhere else to turn, he flees to Acker, Wisconsin ... and runs into a sexy widower and the kindest man he’s ever met. Padraig and Kaos know there’s something worth exploring between them, and as they raise a puppy and deal with the ups and downs of their respective jobs, they fit into each other’s lives in ways they never expected. Being with Kaos -- who is so different than the guys he’s always been attracted to -- opens up an exciting new world for Padraig. But can he convince Kaos to trust another man with his body ... let alone his heart?

Four

“Hey, there’s coffee soon,” Emil said, then leaned back on the couch so Makai could kiss him in passing.


They did the upside-down Spider-Man kiss thing, and Kaos felt oddly conflicted about seeing it. He didn’t necessarily want a relationship like theirs for himself, but it made him somewhat wistful anyway.


“Let me go wash my hands,” Makai said after they separated, and he went to the bathroom to do so.


“What are you drawing?” Emil asked, reaching out a hand to block Mouse, who tried to sniff his camera.


“Just an idea for a tattoo I had. A regular client I have wants to start a back piece, and she told me she’ll come here if need be to get it.” Kaos huffed in half amusement, half self-deprecation.


“Oh? I think Makai said you worked at a tattoo studio, but nothing else, really. Are you looking to start your own or something like that?”


Chapter 10