The moment he slid his hand around Landon’s, the man jerked away like he’d been burned and stepped away. “What’re you doing?”
The shock on Landon’s face stunned Robert and held him frozen in embarrassment as his world tilted and his heart dropped to his stomach. He’d messed up and now he felt stupid. How could he have misread the signs? He’d been so eager to discover everything about Landon, but he hadn’t taken into consideration the real possibility that Landon might not feel the same. He’d confused their chemistry as something otherworldly. Based on the scorn in Landon’s eyes and the rapid rise and fall of the man’s chest, Robert had read their connection wrong.
“I’m sorry. I thought— I was trying to hold your hand. I… Did I mess up?”
“Why would you hold my hand?” He heard accusation and outrage. Oh man, this wasn’t good.
“Isn’t that what people do on dates?” he said simply, his heart breaking in two.
“I’m on a date with you?” Landon took another small step backward as if he’d been caught off guard by Robert’s words.
“Aren’t we? We just spent the last five hours having dinner and drinks. I had a wonderful time. I enjoyed spending the evening with you. Yes. I believe we were on a date. I don’t…”
Landon must have found what he’d said amusing. He laughed a mocking chuckle and shook his head as he spoke. “No, Doc. There’s no fairytale in which you date someone like me.” Landon spun around as though he were searching for an escape route.
That was the last thing Robert wanted. He gripped Landon’s elbow, stopping the sudden retreat. “Wait, please don’t walk away. Explain what you mean.”
The hot-blooded man reared around on him, taking several steps into Robert, almost throwing him off balance, not with his body but with the words that came out of his mouth. “I’m not sure what you want from me, Doc. What do I have to offer someone like you? Do you just wanna fuck?”
Landon was magnificent in all his indignation. Absolutely, he wanted to fuck Landon into the mattress, but first, he had to remove whatever social stigma or economic class hierarchy Landon was trying to place between them.
“Right now, I just want to hold your hand and walk along the harbor. I see couples do it all the time. I want that with you. I don’t expect anything more.”
Landon studied him, searching his face with uncertain eyes as if Robert’s words hadn’t been truthful. Landon started to turn away then looked back at him again. Robert was serious—dead serious. But he could tell Landon struggled to understand exactly how serious he’d been. Robert stepped forward and the man backed away again. They repeated that move once more, until Landon lifted a hand to keep Robert at a distance.
“What’re you saying?”
Feeling completely undone, Robert’s heart demanded he do whatever it took to halt the sudden derailment of this magical night. They’d had a great evening together. Better than he’d dreamed. The connection they’d shared in Germany was right back, drawing him like a moth to a flame. All he wanted to do was get closer to Landon.
Take a breath, be patient, and don’t get frantic.
He slowly drew in a breath, allowing the fresh air to fill his lungs, and forced himself to calm down.
“I need you to answer the question, Doc.”
“I want this to be our first date, and I’m asking for more dates with you. I want to get to know you now that we’re both healthier and located on the same side of the world. I feel a connection with you that I can no longer ignore. I felt drawn to you in Germany. The second I stepped into your room everything in my life shifted. I don’t want just a friendship with you. I’m asking for more.” He lifted a hand toward the restaurant, reminding Landon about the wonderful time they’d shared less than five minutes ago. “We get along very well together. You’re all I’ve thought about for the last month. I can’t get you out of my head.”
Robert’s words trailed off as energy charged the air. He could almost hear the transfer of negative to positive the moment Landon grasped the meaning in his words. Their connection snapped back into place. There was no mistaking what he felt. Their attraction was a tangible, physical force. An amatory current raising the hair on the back of his neck, sending tingles down his arms. Landon shook his head as if trying to clear the haze of the recent revelation.
It was a lot to digest, but Robert would be a fool if he let Landon walk away without fighting for him. Landon was his future. Those dark eyes locked onto his, passion swirling in their depths, but the uncertainty that blanketed the sergeant’s brow had Robert’s breath trapped in his throat. What if Landon rejected him? Pain lanced his heart as it hammered frantically against his ribs.
Landon’s hand curled into a fist, grabbing the front of Robert’s shirt. Robert was wrenched forward, completely caught off guard as Landon’s open mouth forcefully met his lips. Emotions arced wildly before their bodies ever connected. Landon’s tongue thrust forward, demanding and eager. His casted arm locked around Robert’s waist, holding him in place.
In a whiplash of emotion, Robert’s head finally caught up and his heart sang its praise. Landon’s mouth was as greedy and sweet as Robert had dreamed it would be. He surrendered to the passionate kiss, melting against Landon’s hard body, kissing him with total abandon. Every single one of his senses flared to life as he palmed Landon’s face and sucked the sergeant’s tongue deeper inside
