Ball & Chain(21)

Ty pointed a finger in his face. “I knew someone was watching me!”

Nick and Kelly laughed.

“You let me think I was being stalked by a ghost, you fuck nuts!”

Kelly laughed harder. He pushed at the angel’s wing, and the opening in the wall creaked closed.

“Are there more doorways?” Zane asked.

Kelly shrugged. Ty grumbled at Nick and shoved him lightly, and Nick swatted at him.

“We can go back in later and explore,” Kelly said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“I think something in there made me itchy,” Nick said.

“But you’re not allergic to anything,” Kelly argued.

“I know, but I showered and I’m not itchy anymore.”

“You got groped by a ghost,” Ty teased.

“Shut up.”

“A ghost gave you crabs,” Ty added as he hopped toward the door.

“Shut up!” Nick was looking around for something to throw, and Ty darted for the door. He and Zane made their escape as Kelly peered at the wall and the angel who was chained to the fireplace and Nick hunted for a projectile.





Zane and Ty had just enough time to shower and wind down, and that was what they did. Together. When the water started running cold, they turned it off and stayed in the shower for several more minutes, until it got cold enough to drive them into the bed and under the covers. They fell asleep wrapped up in each other.

When Zane woke, he slipped out of Ty’s arms and pulled on a robe. He headed for the doors to the balcony and stood leaning against the frame, gazing out at the gardens, the cliffs, and the choppy ocean beyond.

The bed creaked, and he turned. Ty was sitting on the edge, wearing only his sweatpants, watching him. “What do you think?” he asked after another moment of silence.

“It’s gorgeous. I didn’t figure it would be so fucking beautiful. But it’s . . . rugged and captivating.”

Ty’s eyes strayed to the pristine vista behind Zane, then back to Zane. He smiled slowly.

“Kind of like someone else I know,” Zane added. He raised an eyebrow. “I sense mischief brewing.”

Ty stood and joined Zane by the doors. Zane turned, and Ty stopped in the doorway, facing him with the same crooked smile still on his lips. It felt like he had something important to say, but the surroundings seemed to be outdoing him. Beyond the manicured gardens below, a sheer cliff stretched in either direction, ushering the angry sea along its way.

“Ty?”

Ty took a deep breath and grasped Zane’s hand.

“What are you up to now?” Zane asked, even more suspicious.

“Marry me, Zane.”

Zane’s breath caught. His hand involuntarily tightened on Ty’s, and all he could do was stare into Ty’s eyes. He’d never dreamed he’d hear Ty say those words, especially not so soon after returning home. He’d never dreamed he’d experience half the things Ty had offered him. He brought Ty’s hand to his lips and kissed his fingers, inhaling deeply to calm everything that was suddenly churning inside him.

Zane did want to marry Ty. But he didn’t want it yet, not when they still had so much to learn about themselves and each other.

“No,” he breathed.

“No?”

“No,” Zane repeated shakily. Ty huffed. Thank God he looked bemused instead of upset, one eyebrow cocked and a gentle smile on his lips.

“You’re not even going to think about it?”

“No,” Zane repeated, more confident this time. He was relieved Ty didn’t appear to be hurt, but he also knew how well Ty could hide his feelings. He took Ty’s face in his hands, hurrying to explain. “I know you, Ty. And I know the thought probably just popped into your mind. You haven’t thought it through. You haven’t looked at it from any angle other than the one we can see from our balcony.”

“That doesn’t make it any less sincere,” Ty said, frowning.

“I know, doll.” Zane took a deep breath, wishing he had the words to explain just what Ty meant to him, how much he really did want what Ty was asking. The time just wasn’t right. It didn’t feel right saying yes, not after they’d been apart for so long, not after all that had happened to them. Not after they’d both changed so much. Nothing seemed like an adequate explanation, though, not when so much of him wanted to just say yes. Instead he sighed. “Let’s . . . let’s get to know each other again first. And you give it as much thought as I do everything. And if you can convince me you’ve done that, then when you ask me, I’ll answer as fast as you always do.”

Ty’s lips quirked up, and he didn’t take his eyes off Zane’s when he leaned back. “You’re saying no?”