On a Saturday morning in October, the weather cool and the sky crystal blue, Mason and Rhy packed a lunch and hiked to the summit of the mountain. Mason wanted to bring Dora, like they did for shorter walks, but Rhy worried she might wander off the path and get hurt in the rugged terrain.

The leaves were at their peak, cloaking the slope in rich burgundy, orange, and gold. As they neared the top, they stopped and looked out over the valley. Mason had never seen a prettier sight. Peace settled over him, and a bloom of joy filled his heart.

Now that Heather and Travis were back at school, Mason and Rhy’s life together had found a comfortable rhythm. Mostly, they spent the week at Mason’s house and the weekends at the cabin. Thanks to Travis’s help, the renovations had taken less time than expected. Mason had his dream home—and his dream life.

They set down their backpacks and got out their refillable water bottles. Staying hydrated was important, even at this time of year. The spot was so pretty, Mason was in no hurry to leave. So he sat on an outcrop of bedrock and looked over the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the morning fog burning away, and breathed in the clean air.

It was nice spending time with Rhy, just the two of them. Rhy had been pretty busy in recent weeks launching the Azalea Meadows website. Mr. Mendoza wanted to take advantage of the fall weather and the picturesque views to start selling the lots in phase one.

Now that the website was live, Rhy could relax a little. Work would be steady over the next year as the new phases were brought on board, but hopefully there wouldn’t be a big crunch again. Mason would have Rhy to himself most of the time.

Rhy was still going to therapy, but he hadn’t had a panic attack since that day he ran into his dad at the drugstore. He was hoping to go off the medication in a few weeks, if Dr. Chin said it was okay. It wasn’t a good idea to stop cold turkey, so she would wean him off it. Whatever happened, he and Mason would get through it together.

Rhy zipped up his backpack, then came and sat beside him. “It feels like we’re on top of the world.” He looked out over the valley. “How amazing is it that we live within walking distance of this view?”

“Pretty amazing.” Mason took his hand.

“I used to think I was unlucky, after what happened with my parents. But everything in my life has led me here, to this moment with you. I can’t imagine being happier than I am right now. You’ve made it all worthwhile.”

Joy swelled Mason’s chest. “I’ve never been happier, either.”

Rhy grinned. “In that case, there’s something I want to ask you.” He stood and faced Mason, then pulled a box from his pocket and got down on one knee.

Mason gasped. “Holy shit!”

“That’s not a very romantic reaction.” Rhy opened the box, revealing the white gold ring encircled with diamonds that Mason had shown him in the jeweler’s window that night in June. It sparkled in the sunlight, the gems alive with prismatic colors.

Mason held out his hand, palm down and fingers spread. “Put it on me.”

“I’m supposed to ask the question first.”

Mason’s whole body vibrated with joy and excitement. This was everything he’d ever wanted, even better than he’d dreamed of. “I can’t wait. And besides, the answer is yes. Of course it’s yes.”

Rhy slid the ring on Mason’s finger, then stood and kissed him. “You like it?”

Mason sniffled. “I love it.”

“Good.” Rhy took something out of his other pocket and got down on one knee again. Before Mason could figure out what was going on, Rhy opened the other box and said, “Will you marry me?”

Tears sprang to Mason’s eyes when he saw the matching rose gold band, the one in his heart of hearts he wanted. He tried to speak, but his throat was so full he couldn’t even swallow. He dried his face and finally said, “You got me two engagement rings?”

“Sometimes you’re not a practical guy, and you like things just because they’re pretty. And I love that about you, so I got both.”

Now Rhy was crying. Mason knelt next to him and hugged him. “I have the most amazing boyfriend.”

“Fiancé,” Rhy corrected.

Mason beamed. “Fiancé.” He liked the way the word felt on his tongue.

He wrapped his arms around Rhy’s neck, kissing him. It started slow, a tender brush of lips. Mason cupped Rhy’s face in his hands, lingering in the quiet embrace. The moment was so perfect, he wanted to savor it, to sear it into his memory.

The scent of Rhy reached inside him, awakening the longing that closeness to his lover always did. It was something beyond desire, beyond the physical realm. Their souls fit together in the purest harmony, an understanding more profound than words.

Rhy deepened the kiss, the brush of tongues a gentle exploration. Mason leaned into his touch, ghosting his hands down Rhy’s back. Beneath the open sky, it was as if they were the only two people on earth, their love as natural and beautiful as the mountain itself.

Rhy opened the collar of Mason’s shirt, kissing hungrily along his neck. Lightning shot through Mason’s body. “More.”

Rhy suckled along the curve from Mason’s neck to his shoulder, hard enough to leave a mark. Mason reveled in it. He wanted to be possessed by Rhy, to be taken and used. And a little bit of pain always sharpened the pleasure.

Mason unbuttoned Rhy’s shirt, running his hands across his firm chest, finding the nipples. Rhy moaned at the contact. Mason pinched and sucked until Rhy was rutting against him, their erections fitting together in a rough, frantic slide.

“I brought lube,” Rhy said.

“Good man.”

Rhy went to his backpack, and Mason looked around. There was probably no one for miles, but Mason didn’t want to take any chances. A wild growth of shrubs on the other side of the boulder offered a little more privacy than the open clearing.

They found a spot and laid down the blanket Mason had brought for the picnic. Rhy suckled Mason’s earlobe and asked, “Is it okay if I tie you up?”

Mason’s cock said yes to that. Rhy took off his belt and used it to bind Mason’s wrists. Kneeling beside the rock with Mason holding onto it for support, Rhy got behind him, dropping Mason’s jeans and briefs. Mason shivered at the bit of cold, but soon Rhy’s hands were on him, exploring.

With a couple fingers of lube, Rhy pushed inside him. The stretch of it awakened his senses, and need built in his core. “Take me,” Mason begged.

Rhy pressed his slicked-up cock against Mason’s hole, and Mason relaxed against him. Rhy popped inside with no resistance, entering with one long stroke. Mason cried out at the intensity of it, the sensation enveloping his entire being.

He was Rhy’s in every way it was possible to belong to another person. Every inch of his body wanted this, to be owned and cherished in this way. Rhy’s arms encircled him, keeping their bodies close against the slight chill in the air, showing his adoration with kisses along the base of Mason’s neck. The slide of lips, the scrape of teeth sent tingles through him, increasing his desire.

This was a new beginning for them, a start of a lifetime of love and commitment. Mason could picture them in twenty years, in fifty, growing closer as time passed. This was his forever love, and it was all he hoped it would be.

Rhy groaned and sped up the pace. Mason shuddered with the pleasure of it. “So good, babe,” Mason said.

“Perfect.” Rhy fisted Mason’s cock.

Mason keened, the pleasure ripping through him, laying him bare. He couldn’t resist Rhy, couldn’t hide from the need his lover brought out in him. The dual sensations of Rhy on his cock and inside him were irresistible, and the orgasm came barreling over him with no hope of his stopping it, even if he wanted to. Ribbons of cum spilled over Rhy’s hand. The next moment, Rhy bucked and cried out, gooseflesh rising on his arms. Mason craned his neck for a kiss.

They breathed in unison, coming down from the high. Rhy untied Mason’s hands. Cleaning up with some wet wipes, they reassembled themselves between sweet kisses.

Mason thought back to when he and Rhy first met, how he had dreamed of them living together in the cabin one day, curled up on the couch together on cold winter nights, a black lab at their feet. And now it was happening. His dream was coming true.

Once dressed, Mason, looked down over the leafy multicolored trees that lined the rolling slopes. Inhaling the clean air, he felt the life flow through his body. He turned to Rhy and squeezed his hand, seeing his future in those pale blue eyes.

With one ring on Mason’s finger and the other safely stowed in his backpack, the two headed back to the path, then made their way toward the summit.

 

***

 

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Excerpt from

 

Dylan McCann walked into the men’s room at work and literally banged his head against the wall. His mom needed a solution, and fast. Debt collectors were threatening to put a lien on her house, and she didn’t see a way out.

He splashed water on his face and quickly dried it. The situation sucked. He’d spent hours working with her to find foundations and government organizations that could help—even offered to set up a GoFundMe page (which she wouldn’t hear of, of course). She still had tens of thousands in medical bills and no way to pay them.

His phone rang again, and he stepped out into the hallway. “What if I get a home equity loan?” she asked.

“You don’t have any way to pay it back—not until you’re able to go back to work.” He shook his head. “Mom, bankruptcy is your best option. It exists for cases like this. You shouldn’t have to lose everything because of a medical condition.”

“Bankruptcy will destroy my credit rating for seven years. I’m all alone, Dylan, since your dad died. I never did have much of a head for finance, but I was raised to believe that people take responsibility for their obligations.”

Heading back to his cube while listening to her talk, he checked the status of the computer he was working on. The program to wipe a client’s machine was still running. Finally, he said to his mom, “The only asset you’ve got left is the house. Would you consider selling it and moving into a smaller place?”

“I won’t be able to get anything decent with what’s left after the bills have been paid.”

He massaged the bridge of his nose. Words hung unsaid between them, the way they had for months—a request she was too kind to make. “I’ve only got a one-bedroom apartment,” he said. “You know that.”

“I could sleep on a pullout couch. It won’t be forever, honey. Once I go back to work, I can buy a new place—maybe a nice little townhouse with no upkeep.”

He wanted to argue, but how could he? She was his mom. She’d taken care of him his whole life, and now it was his turn to take care of her.

“Okay, I’ll come over this weekend, we can talk about it.”

“You’re a life saver, honey. Thank you.”

Ending the call, he slumped down into his desk chair, completely numb. He’d been saving for a bigger place before her accident, and he’d spent all of it to help her out. Now this. He and his mom got along okay, but that apartment was meant for one person. There was barely room for him and Ginger, his dachshund. Where would his mom even put her clothes?

The situation was too depressing. When his dad had died, his mom had lost her health insurance. Before she was able to sign up for a new policy, she took a terrible fall that left her hospitalized for months. In the space of a few short weeks, Dylan had gone from having two loving parents to losing his dad and watching his mom in ICU hovering between life and death. After two years, he still felt disoriented. Seeing him mom struggle to come back both physically and emotionally had been difficult and draining.

He needed his luck to change.

His mind kept wandering to the same fantasy, something that could potentially get him and his mom out of this mess. It was a long shot, and the thought of it made Dylan feel a little like he’d be selling himself. But that wasn’t true, was it? This was something he wanted for himself, and money had nothing to do with it.

His eyes turned to the company website displayed on his own computer screen. The image of their CEO, Noah Harrison, knotted his stomach. Noah looked like a Nordic god, and the company promo materials took full advantage of that. Blond hair, blue eyes, wicked smile. Specially tailored dress shirts because his biceps were so thick.

Of course, Dylan knew things about Noah the company website didn’t say. His cock was oversized just like his upper arms were. His cum tasted like melon, thanks to a vegan diet. And he liked it rough, which was good, because Dylan did, too.

Now that Noah was single again, Dylan couldn’t help thinking about him. Did the guy even remember him? They’d both been drinking when they hooked up at the company Christmas party, and the next Monday, Noah had acted like he didn’t know Dylan existed.

Which was a total dick move. Dylan was still pissed about it. He shouldn’t even give the guy a second thought.

But he did. Lately, more and more. Dylan hadn’t dated anyone seriously in a while, and Noah made excellent whack material. He imagined Noah on his knees returning the favor, Dylan’s cock sliding between those sweet, red lips.

There were a hundred reasons Dylan shouldn’t get involved with his company CEO. But there were two big reasons why he should: sex and money. Those things weren’t related, but Dylan needed both. The fact remained, if Dylan didn’t come up with a hundred grand, his mom would have to sell her house and move in with him.

Where else could he find that kind of money?

It was a ridiculous dream, of course. Dylan would never act on it. Even if he did, the odds were small that Noah would end up bailing Dylan’s mom out of her financial predicament in time. This was just a fantasy—no Prince Charming was going to ride in on his white horse and save Dylan. Somehow, he’d have to do that all on his own.

But how? He couldn’t see a way out.

 

***

 

Noah Harrison sat at the head of the cherry wood conference table surrounded by people in dark suits. Even the women wore dark suits—no dresses with jackets. Suits. Because that’s how Noah wanted it, and Noah got what he wanted.

When he had taken over as CEO after his father died, the place had had a “bring your dog to work” vibe. No more. It was all business, and people who didn’t like it could leave. A few had, which was fine. They didn’t fit in with the new corporate culture. Noah had found replacements who did.

“Finance?” Noah said.

CFO Dan spoke up. “Commodity prices are rising. We’ve got a fixed-price contract, so we’re okay until the end of the quarter. If prices don’t stabilize, we should consider a two percent across-the-board price increase next quarter.”

“Let’s do a one percent price increase now,” Noah replied.

“Sir, commodities prices are volatile. They could go back down again, and a price increase could be unnecessary.”

“One percent across-the-board now, and another increase next quarter if we need it. Operations?”

Mandy—or was it Mindy?—leaned forward and said, “Turnover is still a problem at the Monterrey plant. Factory workers are leaving if they can get a one-peso-an-hour increase somewhere else. We need to do more to promote loyalty, like maybe a wellness program—”

“If they’re leaving for a peso more an hour, then they don’t care about the touchy-feely stuff. We need to pay more attention to the marketplace and be a wage leader, not a wage follower. H.R., get on that.”

“Yes, sir,” the new girl said. Well, not a girl, really. She looked to be in her late twenties, same age as Noah. She was a real go-getter. Noah had liked her as soon as they met for the interview. He wished he could remember her name.

When he left the meeting, he headed back to his office. Passing his assistant’s desk, he said, “Coffee, Patty.”

“Yes, sir,” she said.

Kathy. Her name was Kathy.

In her mid-forties with graying brown curls, she was short and on the heavy side. She had a bright and cheerful nature, and her work was impeccable.

She brought him the coffee—she seemed to know when he was talking to her no matter what name he called her by. Since she’d been working for him for two months now, he should probably try harder.

Although, he had his coffee, and that was what mattered.

She stood holding an overnight envelope in her hand. “This came for you, sir. It’s from Troy, so I opened it, thinking it might be admin stuff—”

“What is it?” He held out his hand.

“Your visa renewal application.” She handed him the package. “There’s a note saying he forgot to file it.”

Noah’s face grew cold. This was not possible. He’d been so diligent about it. Noah never missed deadlines. “We filled that out months ago. We spent hours on it. All he had to do was mail it.”

She fidgeted. “I’m sorry, sir.”

Noah jumped to his feet, toppling his chair. The expression in Troy’s voice had been downright venomous when he’d quit his job and broken up with Noah in the same breath. “That conniving little shit,” Noah said, the realization dawning on him. “He planned this.”

Kathy wrung her hands, her face drawn with worry. “Can I can do anything?”

“Find out when my visa expires, if it hasn’t already,” he said. She nodded and went back to her desk. His stomach bottomed out as he realized he might already be in the country illegally.

This is why I have an assistant. So I don’t have to worry about details like this. Fucking Troy.

Granted, sleeping with his assistant wasn’t the smartest thing he’d ever done. But it had worked out, at least from Noah’s perspective. He and Troy were already spending ten or twelve hours a day together. It was convenient for Noah, getting his needs taken care of after a hard day at work. And he’d been good to Troy. He’d been faithful and showered him with gifts. Taken him out sometimes so it wasn’t always just a quick fuck in the executive suite. What more could the guy ask for?

But then Troy had turned on him. Just shown up at the office one day to say he’d found someone else, and Noah could fuck off. Noah had had no idea Troy was unhappy, either as his boyfriend or his assistant.

And two months later, Noah still didn’t know what he’d done wrong.

It’s not like his heart was broken. He’d cared about Troy, but he hadn’t been in love. Troy, on the other hand, had despised him. That had been clear in his attitude when he quit. And Noah didn’t know when that had started or why.

Maybe Troy had hated him all along.

Noah had realized back in middle school that sometimes people became his friend just because he had money. By the time he started college, he’d basically given up on trying to make real human connections. He couldn’t bear that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach when he realized someone he trusted was looking for a handout.

So he stopped trusting, and that had worked out. Well, for the most part. Noah had come to trust Troy as an employee, and then extended that trust to his role as boyfriend.

He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

And now—fuck!—Noah might have to leave the country. Immediately. With a big distributor meeting scheduled for the next week.

Everyone would be gathered in Seattle. Could he possibly run the meeting from Vancouver? Maybe Patty—Kathy—could find a studio where he could webcast it.

Troy’s parting blow. Completely brilliant. Maximum pain and humiliation.

Noah sat down—well, first he almost fell on his ass, and then he picked up his chair from where it was lying sideways on the floor—and rested his head in his hands with his elbows on his desk. The paperwork could take weeks, even months. Noah needed a quick solution. And the quickest solution he knew of was to get married.

Since his last boyfriend was actively trying to destroy his life, Noah couldn’t go that route. Before that, he hadn’t been in a serious relationship for a while. There had been hookups—most of them disasters, too—but the fact was, there was no one in the world who cared enough about Noah Harrison to be his fake husband.

He would have to pay someone.

It would have to be someone believable, someone he knew, someone he could pass off as being his true love. The immigration service would suspect a quickie marriage, so he and his groom-to-be would have to work to make it seem real. Or they could get into serious trouble.

Fake marrying someone to stay in the country was probably, like, a federal crime or something.

Noah needed to go for a walk and figure this out. He couldn’t ask Pat—Kathy to research this for him. He’d have to do that on his own.

He stepped out of his office and Kathy stopped him. “I checked your renewal paperwork from last time. Your visa expires in a week.”

“Fuckity fuck.” Every muscle in Noah’s body tensed. “Before the distributor meeting, or after?”

“Before.”

Noah shook his head, rage and helplessness warring in his stomach. “A thousand bucks says Troy scheduled the distributor meeting with that in mind.”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“Thanks, Kathy.” He looked her in the eyes. “Your name is Kathy.”

She smiled. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

He headed for the elevator, then turned back to her, a sudden thought entering his mind. “Am I a prick to work for?”

“All bosses are difficult sometimes.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “But am I difficult enough that you’d want to sabotage my career and get me thrown out of the country?”

“Not so far.” She grinned.

He smiled back and decided to send her flowers. She put up with a lot from him and never complained.

In the elevator, he flipped through his phone to find out what would be required to get his visa extended. He’d basically decided against the fake marriage idea—it was too risky—when the elevator doors opened in the lobby, and Dylan McCann was waiting to get on.

Dylan. The sight of him made Noah’s knees weak. Tall and dark-haired with a slim build and broad shoulders, the IT specialist was holding his laptop like he was on his way to a meeting. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Dylan gave him a wry smile.

“Getting off?”

Noah blinked. “What?” He thought about getting off every time he saw Dylan, but that seemed like a rather direct question in a place of business.

“Are you getting off the elevator?”

“Oh. I was, but now…” Noah held open the doors. “I’ve got an idea. Do you have a minute?”

“I’ve got a meeting—”

“Who’s the organizer?”

“Riya Shah.”

Noah dialed Kathy. “Contact Riya Shah and tell her Dylan McCann won’t be able to make her meeting. I need him.” He ended the call and waved for Dylan to get on the elevator.

“Problem with your PC?” Dylan asked as Noah pushed the button for the top floor.

“Problem with my visa.”

“Oh, that’s right, you’re Canadian, eh?” Dylan teased.

“That’s not funny. And making fun of the CEO is a good way to get fired.”

Dylan chuckled. Anyone else would have looked terrified. That was one of the things Noah liked about Dylan—the guy couldn’t be intimidated. He had a strong sense of himself, and he could see through Noah’s façade. Dylan turned Noah into a squishy mess, and apparently he knew it.

As the doors closed, the tension rose along with the elevator car. The two hadn’t been alone together since that night at the Christmas party, when Dylan had given Noah the best blowjob of his life. He’d found ways of giving Noah pleasure that Noah didn’t know existed.

It was all Noah could do to keep his hands to himself.

They stepped off the elevator and headed toward Noah’s office. “Kathy, hold my calls,” he said as they went inside.

Noah locked the door and paced. He pressed his hands flat together and tapped them against his lips. Dylan, meanwhile, set his computer on the small round conference table and slid his hands into his pockets.

Noah took a deep breath. “I’ll make this brief. My visa expires in a week, and I need to find a way to stay in the country.”

A blank look crossed Dylan’s features. “I’m sorry. That’s harsh.” He crossed his arms. “But dude, I’m in IT. Unless you’re asking me to hack into the Homeland Security computers—and by the way, if you are, the answer is no—then I don’t see how I can help you.”

“You realize I’m the CEO. Most people around here call me sir, not dude.”

“Most people around here haven’t had your dick in their mouth.” Dylan’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Or maybe they have. Maybe that’s your thing.”

“It’s not my thing.” Noah instantly regretted his sharp tone. To be honest, he liked that Dylan felt comfortable teasing him. No one else in the world seemed to. “I’m sorry about what happened at the Christmas party. I mean, I’m not sorry it happened. I’m sorry I treated you like shit afterward.”

Dylan nodded. “It’s okay. I wasn’t expecting you to marry me or anything.” The smirk Dylan had been wearing throughout the conversation melted away, and was replaced by a look of horror. “You are not suggesting I marry you? No way, dude. We couldn’t pull off a fake marriage, and I’m not going to jail for you.”

“I’m not talking about a fake marriage. I’m talking about a real marriage. We’d move in together, share a bed, be faithful to one another. We’d have joint bank accounts, spend holidays with each other’s families—”

“And maybe I’d get Canadian citizenship out of it? Because that might be an inducement.”

“You’re being sarcastic, right?”

“What do you think?” Dylan’s eyes flashed with anger.

This had been a terrible idea.

 

***

 

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