Student of letters, Micah Yardley wants one thing: to meet the poet Jefferson Dering. After hearing his idol speak at Harvard, Micah travels to Jefferson’s home in nearby Wroxham, entertaining visions of discussing poetry over dinner and drinks. What he experiences exceeds anything he ever anticipated.<br><br>Jefferson finds Micah mesmerizing and passionate, everything he has ever wanted. But after getting caught in a compromising position with another young man a decade earlier, he exiled himself from Boston and from affairs of the heart. Jefferson represses his longing for Micah, but his tumultuous emotions cannot be contained.<br><br>Micah denies the truth of his desire for Jefferson. Jefferson refuses to act on his passion for Micah. But all it takes is a single kiss in Wroxham's haunted church to change the course of their lives ... and ignite the flame that could fulfill a generations-old promise.

A Hidden Beauty

When Micah had casually mentioned the invitation to read one of his poems in his last letter, Jefferson knew he could not miss it. He wanted Micah to understand he was serious about supporting his work, and if that meant traveling six hours so he could listen to Micah read for five minutes, then he would do it. Without regret or hesitation.


He knew it would be difficult to see Micah again, especially given the tone of their last letters. His dreams were becoming more vivid, his fantasies more specific. Seeing Micah in person was exactly like seeing Micah behind his closed eyes every night, and yet, completely different. He hadn’t expected the urge to touch Micah to be quite so overwhelming. He hadn’t expected to taste his desire on the back of his tongue. He hadn’t expected Micah’s resonating voice to make him hard.


Chapter 41