Ascension by Bailey Bradford (desktop ebook reader txt) 📕

Ro frowned harder, until his forehead kind of ached with it. “What would I be hurting, going in and checking on him?”

Conner licked his lips and glanced away.

The man was sexy as fuck but Ro wasn’t going to be put off. He had the distinct impression Conner knew something he didn’t. “Where did you go earlier? Just to see how my dad was?”

“I went to see Laine, too.” Conner still wouldn’t look at him, and for the first time, Ro wondered if Conner was still in love with Laine, if there was something going on between the two. He didn’t think Laine would ever cheat on Sev, but if it was with a spirit, would it count?

“Rogelio, I don’t know where your mind went to but get it out of there, because that ain’t good thoughts you’re having.”

Ro squirmed and moved until he had himself turned around, kneeling and facing Conner. “Are you still in love with Laine?” Even asking made him want to cry, a stupid reaction for a man his age, but he’d wanted Conner for so long—

“I’ll always love him,” Conner said slowly, caution clear in his pretty blue eyes. “But not like that kind of love, Ro. I don’t pine after him anymore, or fantasize that he’s mine.” Conner’s cheeks went ruddy and he looked down at his hands, folded on his belly. “I won’t lie and say I didn’t do that for some time, because I sure enough did. Even after he and Sev fell in love, sometimes I’d let myself imagine me and Laine together again, in life or in death. But…” Conner raised his gaze back to Ro’s. “But one morning I peeked in on them, and they were making love.”

He smiled cheekily, looking for all the world like a mischievous kid. “I’ve never had an issue with how nosy I am, and Laine and Sev didn’t really seem to mind most of the time. Usually I’d goose one of them or throw sheets over them, just mess with them and throw ’em off stride.”

Ro wasn’t sure what to make of that. He had no desire to see Laine and Sev having sex. The very thought of it made him shudder.

“Well it probably grosses you out because they’re your family,” Conner said, having obviously figured out Ro’s ick factor with the whole thing. “But they aren’t mine, and I’ve always been a prankster. But anyway, I stayed hovering, stunned by the way Laine was touching Sev. There was such…” Conner hummed for a second then nodded. “Reverence, that’s the word. Laine touched Sev with such reverence, like he was the most precious thing in the world. And Sev was the same way with Laine. It was beautiful, and I learned then that I could still cry, that my heart could break even though I was so happy for them both. That’s when I stopped letting my loneliness dictate my behavior so much.”

“I’ve seen them touch and look at each other like there’s no one else in the world,” Ro said, scooting closer to Conner. “My parents were like that. I don’t think I ever heard either of them ever say a truly harsh word to the other. They didn’t let Mom’s parents divide them when it came down to the nitty-gritty. Instead they brought us here, to McKinton, and raised us away from the toxic people we’d been around before then.”

“You ever heard from your grandparents on your mom’s side, or any of your aunts and uncles in San Antonio?”

“No.” And Ro didn’t care to. That side of the family had disowned Sev for being gay, for being psychic—just for not being someone they could control. When Alma had taken a stand as well, her parents had reacted with hate and that was something Ro couldn’t forget. “My family is here, in McKinton, and wherever Adela and Martin are. We aren’t as close as we used to be, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love each other. We just have different lives—I mean—”

Conner stopped him from babbling by leaning forward and brushing a soft kiss over Ro’s lips. “I know what you mean.”

Ro moved closer, chasing Conner’s lips when Conner sat back again, but Conner stopped him with a gentle hand to his chest. “Are you done asking questions about where I was?”

How the hell was he supposed to think with Conner touching him? Ro took a moment to gather his thoughts then he rocked back onto his heels. “Why don’t you just tell me?”

Conner hitched up a shoulder and winked at him. “Thought you were enjoying grilling me.”

Was Conner trying to distract him? Was he hiding something from Ro? It seemed best to just ask and be direct. “Where were you, and are you trying to mess with me, confuse me?”

Conner immediately looked contrite, the amusement vanishing from his expression. “I’m sorry. I was just teasing. I never know when to stop, I guess.”

“Shit.” Ro rubbed his forehead. “Can we get headaches? I swear I’ve got a mother of one building up right here.”

“I dunno, I never had them when I was alive.” Conner nudged his hand aside. “Let me try, okay?”

“Okay,” Ro agreed. “I’m sorry. I guess we don’t know each other well, really.” He moaned softly as Conner used his thumbs to massage Ro’s forehead, chasing away even the memory of pain there. “God, that feels good.”

“I’m glad it helps,” Conner murmured. “As for knowing each other, I think I know you, Ro. I’ve watched you for years, even though I didn’t interact with you. I think some part of me knew that I’d fall toes over tits for you.”

Ro huffed then snickered and peered at Conner as best he could with the man’s hands on his head. “That’s somehow not as romantic as head over heels, but you get points for being original.”

“I’ll take it. I strive to be an original.” Another wink, and that delightful spark was