Dustin gave up on being worthy of anyone's affections a long time ago, drowning his problems in substance abuse and meaningless encounters. He has learned it's better to avoid love altogether than risk the inevitable moment when it all comes crashing down.<br><br>Nicolae has neither eyesight nor excess, but he does have a wealth of family and intuition. He is nothing Dustin would have anticipated in a potential lover, but the more Dustin discovers, the more he finds himself willing to accept the risk ... even if his conscience and the people in his life keep warning him away.

?nflori

He could smell the tart, herbal odor of tea, and he grimaced when he opened the teapot and saw little reddish-orange orbs floating in the water. Whatever the heck they were, they were no doubt good for him, required for whatever the reason might prove to be, and about to be completely dismissed unless Nicolae came in and insisted otherwise. Instead he dug to the back of the fridge for the cans of cola that Nicolae kept for him. Begrudgingly and not without argument, but kept regardless.


Chapter 43