Page 45

“Yeah.” Tyler roused and brought his legs together to stand. “Your wish is my only desire, milord. And your desire my only wish.”

Outside the maze, long shadows now streaked the jousting field and paths as Josh and Tyler emerged into the main grounds again.

As dusk fell, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire began to wind down. Stalls shuttered their windows, and performers took their final bows. Everyone seemed happy and muted.

Josh and Tyler sauntered back toward the entrance, their path illuminated by arches and trees twined with pale fairy lights. Outside the main gate, the vast lot had started to empty, exposing their truck, which mercifully shortened their search.

Tyler pointed at it with a cry. “My kingdom for a pickup.”

Once they reached it, Josh pressed the key ring fob and the lights flashed and the locks beeped open. Tyler hesitated for a moment before grimacing. “Do you mind if I change out of this gear?”

“’Course not.”

“I’m too tired to do it inside the cab.” Tyler opened the driver’s door and stood behind it, his thick belt dangling from one fist. “But I don’t want anyone— Can you stand guard and watch for any dick pic drones or iPhones?”

Josh nodded and faced the main gate, trying to be a gentleman. As it happened, the door mostly hid Tyler from nipples to knees.

“We need to bring back codpieces.” There was rustling and some groans as he tossed something onto the seat, presumably his bedazzled rooster cup. “Still good?” Tyler asked.

“You’re good. Not a soul but us for fifty yards.” A couple of the streetlamps had clicked on. Josh hadn’t realized how late it was.

One boot came off and then the other. Tyler’s bare feet lowered carefully onto the ground. “Better. Much better.”

Josh blinked. “Dude, your feet are gigantic.”

“Yep. Size seventeen.” Tyler’s head poked around, still wearing the half mask. In one hand he held a loose T-shirt and jeans. “Last call. I’m about to get butt-ass naked right here in Los Angeles County. Full dangle. Am I clear?”

“No stalkers. No paparazzi.” Josh scanned the lot and sky and saw no movement at all. “Clear for naked.”

Tyler bent over and hissed at something. “Yessss. Jesus.” He straightened again and adjusted something. “Oh, that’s better. Whew. Oh, my nuts.”

Up top, his upper chest showed through the window. On the bottom, Josh could only see his calves flex and his ginormous bare feet on the hard-packed dirt one at a time as he skinned out of the tights. Tyler leaned into the truck, and the feet stepped into blue jeans; then he reemerged looking sheepish and shy. “Thank you most heartily, my lord. My butt was wet and my balls were about to bust. Both butt and balls express their most salty gratitude.” He bowed.

Tyler seemed sore and tired after their long day together.

“Hey, why don’t I drive us home?” Josh said. “You can even conk out if you want.”

“Deal.” Tyler’s smile deepened. “Thanks, Coach. I knew there was a reason I always do what you tell me.”

“Always?” Josh teased.

“Mmh.” Tyler said softly. “Big bananas.”

“Let me take the keys,” Josh offered, concern lacing his voice. “I’m pretty sure I know the way.”

Tyler looked up with a grateful smile as he held out the keys. “It’s your day off, after all. You got school first thing. You sure?”

“I’m kidnapping you this time, big guy,” Josh insisted, sliding behind the wheel. “Get some rest.”

As they cruised south on I-15 in the dark, a huge grin spread across Josh’s face, his heart full to bursting.

Twenty minutes out of Irwindale, Tyler fell asleep, first leaning back in a doze but then gradually drifting sideways until his head rested gently on Josh’s shoulder. His hair smelled like cider and sunlight. The intimacy of the moment felt like home, and after the amazing day they’d shared, Josh reveled in the fantasy of Tyler as his happy other half.

Josh drove through the sparkling dark, glancing over now and then at Tyler dozing against his shoulder. His heart swelled with tenderness at how vulnerable Tyler seemed in sleep, the handsome face softened by dreaming. All his wild bravado had fallen away, leaving the real Tyler that Josh had always glimpsed beneath the swagger.

I have to say something while I have the chance.

With each mile that passed, Josh’s determination to confess his true feelings solidified. Before Tyler left to rejoin his team in San Diego, Josh vowed to come clean about the crush and everything else.