Rhys
I had done it. I had told Kayden I loved him, and it was the first ti I had ever confessed those words to anyone.
When I had said it, I didn’t wait for his reaction because I was scared of what that reaction might be and had kissed him imdiately.
My heart pounded hard against my ribs with a force that made my hands tremble after the confession.
As our lips moved slowly against each other, the world around us felt like it had stopped, yet my mind was still spiraling.
I wondered what his response would be when I finally let him speak. I wondered if I had moved too fast or if I had misread the look in his eyes back at the ice rink.
Did he love too?
Finally, when we pulled away, I stared into his obsidian eyes. Both of us were panting for breath, the cool harbor air rushing between us.
For a mont, we didn’t say anything. The silence felt like it lasted an eternity until he suddenly lunged forward and hugged .
"What... what are you doing?" I asked, my voice sounding strained as I felt the impact of him against my chest.
"I love you too!" he yelled into my chest, his grip tightening around . "I had wanted to say it all night long, but I didn’t think you loved back and I..."
I pulled back just enough to look at him, my brow furrowing in confusion. "Why would you think I didn’t love you?"
Kayden let out a shaky breath, his eyes searching mine. "I asked you at the hot spring, Rhys. I asked if you... and you didn’t respond. You just went quiet and I thought maybe you didn’t and I..."
I felt a pang of guilt hit . I rembered that mont. When he had asked , I had wanted to tell him, but the words were stuck in my throat.
"I wanted to say it then, too," I admitted, my voice dropping. "But I thought... I was terrified that if I said it too soon, I’d scare you off. I thought you weren’t ready for soone like ."
We stared at each other for a beat, letting the gravity of our misunderstanding sink in. Then, a low chuckle bubbled up in my chest until I was laughing out loud.
"We’re both stupid," I said, shaking my head.
Kayden laughed with and shook his head. "Yeah," he agreed, wiping a stray tear from the corner of his eye. "We really are."
I took his hand and pulled him toward the table.
The candlelight flickered in the breeze, casting a soft glow over the setup. I pulled out the chair for him, waiting until he was settled before I took my own seat opposite him. I was desperate to find out if he liked the setup.
We both started to speak at the exact sa ti, our words crashing into each other.
"I..."
"You..."
I held up a hand, giving him a small, encouraging smile. "Please, go ahead. You first."
Kayden looked around the deck, taking in the crystal, the silver, and the way the yacht moved gently with the tide. "Wow, Rhys. You really outdid yourself. The setting is great, and the scent..." He inhaled deeply, a soft look crossing his face. "And the Orchid flowers? It slls just like ."
I leaned back, watching the way the candlelight danced in his dark eyes. "I told you already," I said softly. "I love your scent so much and inhaling it every second is soothing."
Right after I spoke, the attendants appeared with the first course. They placed shallow white bowls before us containing a vibrant lobster bisque, drizzled with a swirl of cream and topped with delicate micro-greens.
Beside it sat a small plate of seared scallops, perfectly caralized and resting on a bed of silky cauliflower purée.
For the main course, they served a center-cut wagyu steak accompanied by roasted heirloom carrots and a rich red wine reduction. The aroma of the seared at mingled with the faint, sweet scent of the orchids on the table.
"Another feast!" Kayden shouted excitedly, clapping his hands together like a kid on Christmas who was about to open his present.
I couldn’t help but giggle as I watched him act so silly; it was a side of him the rest of the world rarely got to see.
I pointed toward his plate with a small smile. "Please, eat. I had this prepared for you so please let know if you like it."
He nodded and imdiately picked up his fork and knife to get started. "Mmm this tastes good," he comnted, giving a thumbs up. "You really outdid yourself."
"I am glad that you like it," I told him.
As he continued eating, the attendant returned to the table, leaning in to pour a deep, dark red wine into our crystal glasses.
"Thank you," I said, reaching out to take a slow sip.
Over the rim of the glass, I watched Kayden, but my mind was already drifting away from the luxury of the yacht.
I was thinking about what I needed to say to him next.
The night was perfect; we had both confessed to loving each other, but there was a weight I hadn’t yet shared. It was about my grandfather.
I needed to tell him everything that man had planned, but I hadn’t figured out how to go about it yet.
Kayden raised his head from his al, and his eyes t mine. He seed to sense the shift in my energy, the way my grip had tightened on the stem of my wine glass.
He reached for his napkin, dabbing the corner of his mouth before setting it down. He dropped the fork in his hand, the silver clinking softly against the porcelain.
"Rhys," he said, leaning forward into the candlelight. "I have been wanting to ask you this," he paused and smiled as his eyes t mine. "When did you realize that you loved ?"
I froze for a second, the wine still cooling my tongue. I hadn’t expected the question to be so direct, but looking at him now, I knew he was seeking answers and it was ti to let him know everything.
"I..." I cleared my throat, looking down at the dark swirl of wine in my glass before eting his eyes. "I fell for you during those talks we had at Lake City," I started, my voice sounding clearer than I expected.
"That night at the pier, I figured out I loved you. But that wasn’t the whole of it." I took a breath, rembering the weight of his arms around when I was at my lowest. "The night I found out I truly loved you was the night I cried in your arms. Right after I left my grandfather’s side."
Kayden’s expression shifted, the excitent from the al fading into a serious look of concern. "You still haven’t told what he said to you that night," he pointed out.
"I rember how you shook terribly in my arms. What could make you act that way? What did your grandfather say to you, Rhys?"
I heaved a deep sigh. I had wanted to tell him all along, but the words had felt like a death sentence to the peace we had found; however, there was no running away from it anymore.
He deserved to know.
I picked up my glass again and took a long, sharp drink, letting the burn settle my nerves, then I faced him.
"My grandfather wants to marry Eliana," I muttered. "But that wasn’t all he said that night." I shifted in the chair. "Kayden, my grandfather has been digging into you ever since his birthday ceremony, and he..." I stamred and heaved a deep sigh before letting the words out.
"He knows about you, Kayden. Everything from how you are an oga, your father and how he is in prison and..."
I didn’t know if I should tell him about his mother, but I didn’t want to hide secrets anymore. I hate a relationship built on deceit, and it was the last thing I wanted Rhys and my relationship to end up like.
"And he told Linda is your mother."
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