Chapter 22

“Holy fuckin’ frijoles.” Manuel’s shocked whisper came out muffled through their connected lips.

Finally, Alex drew back.

“I ain’t the prince, either, but that was still extraordinary.” Alex gave his head a quick shake, trying to clear away the lingering dizziness.

“So where do we go next?” Manuel asked.

Alex searched his partner’s face. A slanting beam of the low sun slid through a gap in the blinds and shone across Manuel’s dusky visage. The golden light brought out a bronze sheen in his skin and lit a spark within his dark eyes.

Absorbed in a study of his partner’s handsome face, Alex spoke at last. “You’re a good-looking guy. I’m surprised you don’t have a whole pack of females and some guys all chasing after you.”

Manuel’s expression hardened for a moment. “No way. I never encouraged anybody, never made myself agreeable or available. The shifting thing…I was scared about it, what people might think when they found out. I didn’t dare let anyone that close.”