Chapter 40

“Actually, I was thinking I’d move in here. You’ve got plenty of space. You just need a bigger bed. We can turn the spare room into our office. I can keep my clothes in that closet.”

“You’d better take my closet. You have too many clothes.” Nikoloz imagined Vincent here. He thought of the morning sunlight streaming through the skylight and lighting his partner’s body. He thought of sitting on the balcony, watching the city lights below them. He thought of them cooking together, cleaning together, even just sitting on the sofa in companionable silence. “I would like that very much, Vikushka.”

“What about at work, though?” Vincent stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I’m not sure how Alexander would react if he found out we were partners in more than one sense of the word. And I know there’ll be talk if I quit playing the field.”