A Bid For Love

didn't have everything he'd ever wanted holding his hand. "It is the grand romance you were hoping for, then?"
    "It is, signora ." The look on Asher's face as he said it left Scott warm all over. "So much so that I must ask a favor. Please take whatever charges this wonderful seduction included and move them to my account." Firm fingers caught Scott's lips mid-protest. "Not a word. I'm not going to leave you broke because of this. It's worth every dime."
    The girl just grinned while Scott felt his heart would detonate. Worth every dime. Sweet Lord above, he couldn't breathe. Not when Asher's fingers felt so soft but strong and his face glowed with...love. Real love. The thing Scott had prayed for and never really expected to gain. His throat filled and blocked his ability to speak. He pressed his lips to Asher's fingers, his hand coming up to hold that precious touch close.
    Whatever paper shuffling was involved, it happened without him being conscious of it because the next thing he knew they were upstairs in the room and Asher was loosening Scott's tie, that same loving smile rivaling the gold of the setting sun lighting their room.
    Warm, precious hands cradled Scott's cheeks. " Ti amo ."
    His ability to breathe fled again. "Asher!" Finally. Maybe not in the language he'd expected, but the words he wanted so badly at last. "God, I love you, too." Had done and always would.
    "Would you mind if we just sort of coasted tonight? For a while, at least?" Asher slipped his own jacket and tie off, unbuttoning a couple of shirt studs as well. "Today has been so incredible, I just... I just want to enjoy being with you without...melting the walls, as it were." A shy smile made that handsome face just glow. "I'm sure we'll get there eventually."
    "Yeah, I imagine we will, darlin'." Darling. Scott's mind went off on several tangents, all of them having to do with the true meaning of that word. And more than just any darling lover. "My darling." It sounded odd to his ears, but so accurate. "I think I need a bit of quiet time myself."
    "Well, then let's see if there's a soccer game on that plasma satellite television they advertised so proudly."
    It took only minutes to change from tuxes to pajamas, and Scott had to smile at the sight of Asher, hair askew and bare-chested, stretched out on the length of the bed with a TV remote in his hand. Just not an image you thought of, to see the upper-crust Philadelphian at work. But gorgeous all the same. Relaxed, happy...and all Scott's.
    The vision looked his way. "Are you joining me?" The teasing smile softened. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"
    Sweetheart! Scott's heart melted. So did his knees.
    "Come here, love."
    God, that voice! Beyond velvet...pure silk, soft and warm. He couldn't move fast enough, wrapping his arms around that solid torso, easing back onto the pillows and basking in the glow from Asher's eyes.
    A long breath eased from Asher. "I think I could become addicted to this." His arms wrapped about Scott in turn. "You're amazingly comfortable to hold."
    Well, that just fixed it. "Honey, let's skip the TV. Find some music and let's just be. I can watch soccer when I get home. I'd rather watch you right now."
    Asher turned off the TV and flipped the remote to the foot of the bed. "Really? Well, no accounting for taste. Though I have to say, I find you far more interesting than any football game."
    Just right, Scott thought later, just lying there and talking for a couple hours, soft kisses and so much warmth. He grinned and pressed his lips to Asher's hair. They never did get around to anything more. Asher drifted off with his arms around Scott, murmuring that Italian "I love you" again.
    Scott closed his eyes, reluctant to lose the vision of Asher so soft and open, but sleep making his limbs heavy. He'd dream of Asher. And that phrase. Maybe in English this time.

Chapter 5
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    Canyons of angel hair flowed beneath Asher's plane, reminding him of his last day in Italy. God, he loved that country so deeply now and always would. It had brought him so much.
    He smiled out at the landscape of deceptively solid-looking mist. "I believe I can see a dragon again." His fingers tightened around Scott's as they had yesterday, lying in dense grass on an Italian hillside. "And no, it doesn't look more like a bunny." His smile grew at the memory of that discussion. Watching clouds, speculating on what their shifting shapes most resembled. Freedom. The carefree liberty Scott had