Under One Roof

eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or
given away as it is an infringement of the copyright of this
work.

UNDER ONE ROOF

Perfect Strangers Collection

Cover art by Amanda Kelsey

Edited by Trinity Scott

ISBN: 978-1-936387-39-7

ISBN 10: 1-936387-39-5

All Romance eBooks, LLC

Palm Harbor, Florida 34684

www.allromanceebooks.com

This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons,

living or dead, or business establishments, events, or locales is
coincidental.

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or

reproduced in any manner whatsoever with out written
permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
critical articles and reviews.

First All Romance eBooks publication: February 2012

Chapter One

Korbin tapped the wheel, singing to the radio. His

foot  even  bounced  a  little,  trying  to  keep  the  beat  while
paying  attention  to  the  road.  Where  is  that  stupid  stop
sign? Aha! The tree branches moved in the breeze and the
stop sign appeared. He slowed and made the stop, the lone
car at the four-way, then pressed for gas.

A sudden and very loud pop made him startle as he

reached the other side. Then his car wobbled and thunked.

“You have got to be kidding me.” He smacked the

wheel with a fist.

Checking his mirrors more out of habit than there

being anyone else on the road, he limped to the side, then
put  the  car  in  park  on  the  shoulder.  After  releasing  his
belt, he raised his left arm out of the way to snag the door
handle with his right fingers. Once the latch was loose, he
pushed with his shoulder and the door swung open. It was
a  practiced  move,  and  had  been  for  the  last  two  weeks.
The  cast  on  his  arm  was  a  hindrance  he’d  learned  to
maneuver around.

He walked to the front of the car and groaned, then

cussed a little under his breath while he was at it. Now
there was no doubt he was going to be late to meet the

Diana DeRicci

renter for the interview at his house. Korbin kicked the
tire and flinched at the shot of pain that lanced his toes.

“Smooth, dummy.” Why doncha break a foot and an

arm? Well, nothing to be done about it now. Maybe if he
was lucky, the guy he was meeting was desperate for a
place to stay and would wait.

He could hope.
Leaning through the car window, he popped the trunk

and turned on the flashers. The tick-tock of the lights
blinking made his teeth clench. Today was not a day he
needed this to happen.

What sucked was he was off the beaten path, a back

road  to  his  place  that  would  have  saved  him  about  ten
minutes, making it to  his house before his  visitor easily.
That cushion of time was now destroyed.

Rummaging through the trunk, he pulled the floor

cover  out  of  the  way  to  expose  the  wheel  well.  He  was
bent  over  the  trunk  lip  with  his  rear  in  the  air  when  the
sound of a car right behind him had him peering over his
shoulder. He straightened, taking in the bright blue, small-
size pickup.

The man behind the wheel gave him a welcoming

smile and opened his door with a metal creak. “Need
some help?” he called, standing to his feet on the ground.
Korbin had become used to the accents of the area since
coming to live there, but this man’s was rich and robust,
pure southern hospitality.

“Depends. I don’t have any money.”
The guy standing beside the truck blinked and

gripped the door, not coming any closer. “Money? I
thought you needed help.”

Korbin crossed his arms and leaned a hip on the car’s

Under One Roof

bumper. “Unofficially, I do. I have to change a tire and
this makes it difficult.” He dropped his chin to his healing
arm.

A gaze of sympathy swept over the guy’s face. “Oh,

man. What happened?”

“Me and a ladder had a disagreement. The ladder

won by dumping me twelve feet.”

The man behind the open truck door winced. “Sorry,

but ouch.”

Korbin chuckled. “No biggie. I’m a klutz by nature.”
“Well, I can help with that,” he said, meaning the tire

with a pointed look to the car. “And I won’t charge you,
though if you could tell me how to get to Honeyhock
Road, I’d appreciate it.”

“I can do that,” Korbin replied, though he was more

afraid  of  being  mugged  than  having  to  pay  for  the  help.
The  man  smiled  again  and  Korbin  took  in  his  friendly
appearance, still on his guard. A man doesn’t move out of
the big city and forget everything he’d learned because he
was  now  in  some  small  everyone-knows-everyone
country town.

As he approached, Korbin admitted he was good

looking. Solid shoulders with a body that tapered to snug
jeans and a firm waist. He was probably a few years older
than Korbin. From the distance he couldn’t make out his
eyes, other than they sparkled and he tended to squint a
little when he smiled. Thick brown hair was trimmed over
his ears and was most likely finger combed more than not.
It looked rugged but good on him.

“Let’s see what we have to work with.”
Korbin stepped to the side, out of arm’s reach as the

man neared.

Diana DeRicci

“I’m Cage.” He offered a hand. Korbin’s hesitation to

shake didn’t go unnoticed and Cage let his hand fall. “Are
you sure you’re okay? You seem awful skittish.” Green
eyes regarded him. Now that he was closer, Korbin could
tell they were definitely green.

“Sorry. I guess I am.” He wasn’t about to tell this

stranger why.

“No worries. Let’s get you going again.”
Then Cage got to work, unbolting the tire from its

well in the trunk to tug it out. He rolled it to the front of
the car, then came back for the jack. He didn’t try to make
more  small  talk,  and  for  that  Korbin  was  sorry  and
grateful. He wasn’t a damsel in need of rescue, and could
have changed his own tire. It just would have taken about
four times as long as  Cage was knocking  it out.  He was
sorry because he actually liked the sound of Cage’s voice.

Even better, with the speed Cage had, he might be

able to salvage the meeting he was now definitely late for.

Less than ten minutes later, Cage dropped the flat

into the trunk, ensuring the jack was settled, then smacked
the top down.

“I do appreciate this,” Korbin said, trying to sound

maybe a little more welcoming than he had in the
beginning. “Honeyhock Road is three miles up and a left
turn.”

“Great. Thanks.” Cage didn’t try to shake again,

rather giving him a smart salute over his eye and climbing
into his truck. He pulled away with a final wave and with
him departing, Korbin relaxed enough to give him a
broader smile of thanks.

“Probably thinks I’m the world’s largest dick,” he

muttered, climbing into his car, then starting the engine.

Under One Roof

Driving onto his street, he took in the full oak trees,

the one large magnolia in front of Mrs. Steiner’s, and the
single tire swing that hung lazily in the mid-morning heat.
He  loved  living  there.  It  was  quiet,  he  had  zero  visitors
and no one  ever called  except  for his agent. Korbin was
perfectly fine with that. His mother had passed away five
years before and he couldn’t remember his father, though
he  guessed  he  had  one.  His  mother  never  really  spoke
about it.

Nearing his house, his mouth fell open, jarring him

out of his thoughts. “You have got to be kidding me!” he
choked out, then laughed at the cruel joke.

Sitting in his driveway was Cage, leaning against the

fender  of  his  truck,  punching  buttons  on  his  cell  phone.
Slowing,  Korbin  pressed  his  forehead  to  the  wheel,
muttering  more  curses.  He’d  already  blown  any  chances
at  a  first  impression  with  his  potential  renter  by  simply
having bad luck.

* * * *

Cage checked the address again, then frowned.

Where was the guy? He glanced at his watch. He wasn’t
early and he wasn’t late. Cage didn’t think anyone was so
strict as to penalize him for three minutes. He huffed, then
crossed his arms and legs to wait. There wasn’t anything
else he could do. If the owner didn’t show, then he was
screwed back to square one.

The grind of approaching tires had him whipping

around to investigate. His eyes widened disbelievingly at
the car pulling in behind him. Then he laughed. Son of a
bitch. He should have known. He didn’t move, well
aware—now—his new landlord, if all went well, was not
touchy-feely.

Diana DeRicci

“We meet again, Mr. Bond,” Cage drawled with a

grin when the other man approached. “Korbin Myers,
right?”

Korbin sighed wryly. “Yes. That is me, but Cage

isn’t Quinton,” he offered in answer with a hint of
confusion.

“Quinton is what’s on my birth certificate and my

degrees. Cage is what I go by. Less pretentious if you ask
me.”

Korbin chuckled, apparently relaxing. “Parents. What

can you do with them? Come on inside and you can tell
me what you think. When do you start at the Constable’s
offices?”

“Next week. Gives me a few days to get settled,”

Cage answered. “Beautiful house, by the way. I was
raised in one like this.”

Korbin opened the front door and held it for him to

go first. “I was raised in southern Michigan.”

“Long way from home and family,” Cage mentioned.
“No family.” Korbin shut and locked the door. “This

way to your rooms. You do get free run of the house. All I
ask is that you leave the office alone. You’re welcome to
use the computer and fax or whatever, but it’s where I
work and I hate when things are out of place.”

“Not a problem. I have my own laptop, but the fax is

a  nice  touch.”  Cage  trailed  Korbin  through  the  house,
taking in the white-washed walls and faint accents in the
corners. The molding was beautifully done and looked to
have  been  an  addition.  Gauzy  spring  curtains  hung
gathered  on  ties  allowing  light  and  air  flow  through  the
large, open windows. Polished wood floors were sparsely
covered with an occasional rug, and shone beautifully in

Under One Roof

the sunlight. Cage had a lot of good memories from his
childhood home and this one was like walking back
through time.

Climbing the stairs to the second floor, Korbin led

him  to  his  rooms.  “This  floor  is  yours,  including  the
bathroom and extra room for whatever you need. Mine is
downstairs. I sometimes wake with writing insomnia and
I’ve  found  it’s  just  safer  to  avoid  the  stairs  when  I’m
stumbling  through  the  dark.”  Cage  smiled  at  Korbin’s
poking fun.

“I’ve never known an actual author.” Cage walked

into the bedroom, running a hand over the furniture as he
went. It was cared for and had been recently painted. That
was one of the reasons he’d liked this offer. It came
furnished. He’d left a lot of things behind; the reasons too
deep to want to think about. “What do you write?”

“A little of everything,” Korbin replied dismissively.

“It pays the bills. Is the rent comfortable for you?”

Cage studied him. Was he about to ask for more?
He held his hands in front of him, obviously reading

his silence. “Because if it’s a stretch just starting, I’m
flexible.”

Cage heaved in light relief. “No, it’s fine. I have

some savings and a moving stipend.”

Apparently happy with that, Korbin said, “Come on

downstairs. Let me show you the rest and the backyard.”

Korbin went to turn out of the room, but Cage

stopped him before he cleared the doorway. “Korbin?” He
paused and gazed right at Cage with the most stunning
brown eyes he had ever been privileged to know. His gut
clenched as heat filled his veins. He drew a slow breath
through his nose to calm the burst of wanting. Not good!

Diana DeRicci

Not  that  it  helped.  He’d  sensed  an  attraction  when  he’d
first  spoken  to  Korbin  on  the  roadside,  but  under  the
circumstances  had  left  it  behind.  The  fact  that  the  man
and  the  attraction  were  both  well  and  within  reach  were
going  to  take  some  control.  Especially  since  he  didn’t
know and couldn’t tell if Korbin was gay. It hadn’t been
on  the  application  or  discussed.  And  one  thing  he’d
learned was not to advertise. It just wasn’t safe.

Cage came to stand at his shoulder. “The rest doesn’t

matter. If it works and doesn’t bite, I’ll be happy here.”

Korbin’s smile was off the Richter scale. Cage

followed  Korbin  downstairs  as  he  chattered  through  the
details, though he only heard about half of it. He was too
busy arguing with  himself while staring at  the nice buns
in the cargo pants.

Chapter Two

Cage moved in and, between them, they hit a rhythm

over the next few weeks. Cage worked the overnight shift
as the new guy on the payroll. Korbin wasn’t a noisy day
person, so Cage could sleep while Korbin wrote, which
meant Korbin had the house to himself most of the time.
Korbin was actually very thankful for the polar opposites
of their schedules.

He never did fully explain what he wrote. He’d only

told one person and his agent.

Korbin was still friends with his agent.
Larissa handled his mainstream work, the name the

science-fiction readers clamored for. She knew about his
alter ego and encouraged it, even though she didn’t handle
that part of his writing. He wrote gay romance for a small
epress. Money was money the way he saw it, and he had
bills just like every other adult.

The different style of writing was a brain break when

the rest of his writing froze, or when worlds and species
and rules became cluttered. That and he just liked giving
someone in his life a happy ending without laser
shootouts or bloody wars and body parts being thrown all
over kingdom come. Oh, and sex. Because he definitely

Diana DeRicci

wasn’t getting that, either.

A light tap on the door frame dragged him from his

computer screen. “Hey, Kor. Thanks for leaving me some
dinner.”

“Anytime. Though how you can eat spaghetti at

eight-thirty in the morning…” Korbin shrugged.

Cage smiled, sipping on a glass of soda. “It’s pretty

easy when you’ve been up for fourteen hours. I’m going
to go catch a nap. Can you wake me in a few hours? I
have to run to the store.” The green of his eyes sparkled
with the life that he’d learned was Cage, though he looked
drained. Working nights wasn’t for everyone.

“Sure. Is it something I can get for you?”
Cage scratched his chin, the small cleft there in need

of a shave. “Not this time. Are you still going to be
around tonight?”

“Should be,” Korbin replied.
Cage looked relieved. “Good.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Not really. My sister is driving through and wants to

say hi.”

“Is that code for wants to check out the pad?”
Cage gave him a boyish smile. “You could say that.

She’s a little protective of her younger brother.”

“This is the same brother who’s a cop, right?”
“That would be him.”
Korbin stretched his arms over his body, yawning

through a laugh. “Go get some zees. I’m going to get
another cup of coffee.”

Cage unbuttoned the from top of his uniform to the

hem, the black splitting to reveal the white T-shirt
beneath. Korbin caught a glimpse of hard chest beneath

Under One Roof

the white. Dazed, he shook himself, realizing he was
alone and Cage had vanished several moments before.

Get a grip. Korbin palmed his coffee cup and walked

to the kitchen for that refill. Obviously ogling and
enjoying Cage’s body parts meant he needed to be more
awake. And if he had been, he might have seen the wall
when it jumped out and smacked him in the face instead
of looking over his shoulder, hoping for a last peek at the
man.

His coffee cup tumbled from his hand and shattered

on the floor. Korbin skidded then landed on his ass with
an oomph and a few stars. “Damn it!”

“Korbin!” Bare feet thudded down the stairs. “Are

you okay?” A strong, gentle hand curled around his arm
and helped him stand. Cage eased one of Korbin’s arms
over his shoulders and led him to the kitchen. “Here. Sit.
You’re bleeding.”

“I am?” Korbin didn’t think he’d cut himself. It

wasn’t like that had been the first cup to be sacrificed by
him.

“Yes. Tip back.” Cage pressed a towel beneath his

nose. “Give me your hand.” Korbin did. “Pinch here.”

“Okay,” he answered, muffled. He blinked to clear

his  vision, and almost  swallowed his  tongue and not  out
of  pain.  Cage  was  strutting  around  the  kitchen  in
underwear.  Just  underwear.  The  man  was  magnificent.
Korbin  heard  him  often  working  with  his  weights  and  it
showed.  Arms  toned  and  defined,  a  flat  stomach  that
proved he wasn’t a stranger to sit-ups and the way those
underwear  clung…  Korbin  held  his  nose  and  prayed,
because he hadn’t seen that hot of a sight in a long time,
and never in his own home.

Diana DeRicci

Cage hunted around for the broom and dustpan then

vanished, returning a moment later to put the shards in the
trash. He put it all away then washed his hands.

“Here. Let me see.” He eased away the towel. “You

clocked  yourself  good.”  He  replaced  it,  grinning
crookedly.  Korbin  followed  him  as  Cage  filled  a  clean
hand towel  with  ice and made him switch, still pinching
his nose and staying tipped on his neck.

Cage pulled out a chair and sat with him, knee to

knee. Green eyes danced with humor. “You weren’t
kidding.”

“Total klutz,” Korbin reiterated. “Not the first cup to

die at my hand, either.”

Cage’s shoulders shook. “Poor cups. Think of the

families!” he joked.

“I do. I only use the left handed ones.”
Cage blinked, then curled over in laughter at the

monotone response.

Korbin slid his cast covered arm onto the table to

brace himself. He couldn’t wait to get rid of the stupid
thing.

“Okay. Let’s see what it looks like now,” Cage asked

when he could talk sensibly.

Korbin let Cage remove the towel then released his

hand and slowly straightened. “Still bleeding?”

“No. How sore is it?”
Korbin ran delicate fingers over the bridge and along

the eye that bore the brunt of his inattention. “Doesn’t feel
broken.”

“Has it been?”
“Once.”
“Another wall?” Cage asked, with understanding

Under One Roof

amusement.

“No, not that time.” Korbin let his gaze slide away,

not wanting to answer any questions about it.

Cage didn’t press, puttering and mothering for a few

more  minutes.  “Keep  the  ice  on  it  to  keep  your  sinuses
from swelling and you should be okay in a couple hours.”
Cage stood and tucked the chair under the table. “See you
in  a  few.”  He  patted  Korbin  on  the  shoulder  then
sauntered out of the room.

Even after running face first into a wall over the man,

Korbin couldn’t stop himself from watching him leave.

* * * *

Cage rubbed a hand over his eyes and groaned.

Stupid  dreams.  Rolling  over,  he  caught  the  time  on  the
clock.  He  should  get  up.  He  burrowed  down  into  the
blankets,  unwilling  to  go  through  with  it.  With Korbin’s
help,  he’d  blacked  out  the  windows  so  daylight  was
muted and the dim light made it easier for him to  sleep.
Too bad the lack of light didn’t keep him from dreaming.

Ever since he’d met Korbin, his dreams had been

messing with him, playing on his desires. Seeing him this
morning in a lightweight pair of cotton sleep bottoms and
a  plain  T-shirt  hadn’t  helped  any.  He  was  an  average
build,  not  too  thick  but  with  a  nice  chest  and  smooth
arms. He even had a nice ass, a little round and absolutely
nibble worthy.

It was the smile, though, that did him in.
Every time Korbin smiled, Cage wanted to melt

through  the  floor.  He  couldn’t  name  one  man  who’d  hit
him  with  lust  so  deeply  or  quickly  in  his  life.  Korbin
wasn’t  bad  looking.  Quite  the  opposite.  Brown  eyes  on
many were boring, but not his. They were golden brown,

Diana DeRicci

like brown sugar mixed with melted butter. He snorted at
the comparison, remembering where he’d seen that.
Baking cookies with his mother when he was still a kid.
He had a shock of brown curls for hair, tight little loops
that he kept close to his nape. Cage sighed when his
fingers stretched, wanting to dig into that thatch and feel
it.

A light knock on his door popped him out of his

thoughts and his warm cocoon.

“Cage? It’s after two. Ready to get up?”
“Yeah,” he called, his voice a bit rusty. He

swallowed, and tried again. “Yeah. I’m awake.”

“Okay.” The slight scuff of feet vanished quickly.
Cage stretched, then tossed off his blankets to scrub

his face with stiff palms once he sat at the edge of the bed.
Shower, then the rest of the world.

Cage washed on autopilot, letting his mind wander.

He’d  almost  turned  down  the  position  because  of  the
living  situation.  He’d  never  roomed  with  anyone,  not
counting his brother, but when he’d learned about Korbin
hunting  for  a  roommate  through  his  supervisor,  he
thought  it  wouldn’t  hurt  to  at  least  talk  to  him,  find  out
about him. He’d liked the town and wanted the job. If it
wasn’t what Cage wanted, he’d just make a very focused
effort to find his own place as soon as possible, even if he
had to get an apartment in the next town.

They’d chatted a few times through email. That was

when  Cage  learned  he  was  an  author  and  worked  from
home.  He  had  this  huge  house  and  had  only  recently
decided to open it to a renter. An extra body and a little
extra money.

Korbin had admitted one night not too long after

Under One Roof

Cage  moved  in  that  he’d  been  very  careful  about  who
knew about the room offer. He hadn’t wanted some sleazy
squatter  moving  in.  Cage  hadn’t  even  minded  when
Korbin said he’d run a background check and verified his
pending  employment.  Cage  knew  it  was  a  common
practice  to  verify  information  on  an  application.
Apparently Korbin took care of it personally. He’d joked
about being the one to live with the new person, he sure
as heck wanted to know what he was getting into.

Cage didn’t really believe in fate or the cosmos, but

almost immediately, he’d felt…something.  Like this was
where he was supposed to be. It was the smile then, too,
that  hooked  him  and  he  chose  to  accept  the  rental
agreement.

Of course, that would be when everything became

difficult  because  he  very  definitely  found  his  landlord
attractive.  If  he’d  been  a  smarter  man,  he  would  have
turned tail and ran instead of accepting Korbin’s offer.

Rinsing his hair, he ducked under the spray and

twisted his head to get the good spots with the hot water.

And tonight, Patty was coming by. Cage knew she

was just worried about him, the same way he looked out
for  her.  His  sister  was  a  traveling  consultant  for  the
natural  disaster  division  of  one  of  the  largest  insurance
agencies.  Cage  checking  in  with  her  was  like  trying  to
catch the wind. Sadly, this had been a very busy year for
her  and  they  hadn’t  been  able  to  connect  often.  At  least
with  him  settling  into  his  position,  he  wasn’t  going
anywhere any time soon.

Out of the shower, clean and dressed, he heard the

muted clicking of the keyboard coming from Korbin’s
office. Korbin didn’t close the door all the way, leaving it

Diana DeRicci

about  two  inches  open  so,  if  necessary,  he  could  hear.
Cage  had  already  learned  when  Korbin  was  working,  he
was almost deaf to the outside world.

Cage was very impressed by Korbin. The man was a

workaholic  and  wrote  six  days  a  week.  How  he  could
keep  that  kind  of  mental  stream  going  without  fail  was
beyond him. He’d told Cage his pen name for his science-
fiction, and when he’d had downtime in his cruiser, he’d
Googled the name.

Saying what Korbin wrote paid the bills was modest.

His book list was at least a dozen books long. What Cage
hadn’t  told  Korbin  was  he’d  secretly  ordered  one  that
sounded  really  good  and  was  reading  it  when  he  could.
The  man’s  imagination  blew  Cage  away.  Of  course,  he
didn’t  tell  anyone  the  two  were  the  same  person.  If
Korbin wasn’t sharing, then neither was he.

Strolling into the kitchen, he smiled as his senses

came  alive.  Korbin  had  made  a  fresh  pot  of  coffee.  He
knew Korbin wasn’t doing things specifically for him, but
it  was  working  well  that  their  needs  synced  so  well  to
work  for  them  both.  Dinner  at  sunrise.  Coffee  mid-
afternoon.  Korbin  had  even  helped  Cage  set  up  his
weights in the extra bedroom. Korbin as a roommate was
working out better than he’d ever expected.

After his first sip, he reversed direction to say hi to

Korbin and to see if there was anything he could get the
other man on his store run. He hoped Kor didn’t mind, but
Patty had asked him if he’d cook and knowing how rarely
she ate anything not processed, he’d agreed.

The office door was partially opened and he pushed it

in quietly. The office was empty. The computer was still
on, so he knew Korbin would be right back. Also

Under One Roof

knowing what the man wrote, and reading it himself, he
was curious about what was knocking around in his head
for his latest.

Cage walked in the four paces to stand behind the

office chair. He took a slow sip of his coffee and read.

Ben’s fingers trailed over Joshua’s strong shoulder

to  his  smooth  chest,  eliciting  a  short  sigh  of  pleasure.
Joshua  delved  between  Ben’s  muscled  thighs,  caressing
the skin of his sac with the blunt nails that he knew drove
Ben  mad  with  need.  Lying  together,  teasing  flesh  with
faint nips of teeth and fleeting kisses was just an appetizer
to what they knew would come.

Ben kissed a path beneath Joshua’s chin, licking the

faint scar around his throat. The only sign of his captivity.
He cherished that scar, even when Joshua had the
nightmares, because Ben would have never found his
mate if he hadn’t been captured for the slaves’ auction.

Joshua tilted and Ben gave what his man needed,

sucking  at  the  hollow  of  his  throat,  kissing  the  hard,
erratic  beat  of  his  pulse  beneath  golden  skin.  Joshua’s
growled  moan  sliced  a  shiver  of  lust  into  Ben,  and  his
cock  thickened,  aching  for  more.  Ben  gasped  when
Joshua finally—

“What are you doing?”
Cage gulped, swallowing the coffee that had been

forgotten in his mouth, spinning on a heel. His face
burned with guilty heat.

And an undeniable ache in his jeans that he had no

way to hide.

Chapter Three

Korbin heard Cage moving around upstairs, running

water  and  the  unmistakable  sounds  of  life.  He  supposed
he  should  go  dress  himself.  He  was  still  in  his  pajamas
from that morning. Korbin had no complaints that he was
living with someone, though he missed being able to stay
in his PJs all day. He prayed that when Cage came back
downstairs  he  was  in  more  than  his  underwear,  though.
That was just plain torture.

After Cage strolled by the office for the kitchen,

Korbin finished the last paragraph he was on and made a
scurried dash for his  bedroom  when the  coast  was clear.
His  room  was  smaller  than  the  ones  upstairs,  meant  as
either a secondary or guest room, but Korbin didn’t care.

He wasn’t crazy enough to walk down stairs at night,

half asleep, when his brain was focused on anything and
everything  except  ambulatory  motion  and  his
surroundings.  He’d  whacked  enough  toes,  elbows  and
fingers to know better at his age.

Once he was dressed, he tussled his hair to massage

his scalp a little, a stretch following right behind it. He
really needed to get out of that chair more often. He was
smiling at his self scolding when he reached the open

Under One Roof

door of his office.

And froze. Cage was reading off his screen. Oh shit!
“What are you doing?” Korbin demanded while sour

heat swirled through his stomach.

Cage whirled, his eyes wide. “Hey. Uh… I— I

wanted to ask—”

Korbin dashed forward and hit the power button to

his monitor. “How much did you read?”

“I wasn’t—”
“Don’t lie to me, Cage!” Korbin backed up. He really

didn’t want to be punched again.

Cage’s shoulders bowed in. “Okay. I read a little, but

it was really good.”

Korbin blinked. “What?” His heart raced. He knew

what he’d last written.

“I didn’t want to say anything, but I’m reading Star

Mercenary. I know you’re private so no one knows the
connection, but I liked the sound of it. I’m already
halfway through it.”

“You’re reading my science-fiction?” Korbin

sounded like a shocked third grader and he knew it.

Cage rolled a shoulder. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s

damned good and I do read.”

Korbin trembled. “I just… I guess…” He couldn’t

put a coherent sentence together.

Cage walked up to him. “Don’t worry, Kor. Your

secret is safe with me.” He gave Korbin a gentle smile. “I
did need to ask you something.”

“Oh, okay.” Korbin was still stuttering through the

last  five  minutes.  Cage  wasn’t  going  ballistic  over  what
he’d  read?  He  had  to  know  what  that  was.  Two  men  in
bed  was  not  your  typical  type  of  writing,  science-fiction

Diana DeRicci

or otherwise.

“Do you mind if I make dinner tonight? I promised

Patty I would.”

“Mind?” Korbin blinked, whipping from the

computer to Cage. “Dinner?”

Cage tipped his head, concern starting to build in his

eyes. “Korbin, are you okay? If it bothers you that much,
I’ll never read off your screen again, but I reserve the
right to read it when it’s published.”

“You want to read that?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I told you it sounded good.”

Confusion tinged his voice.

Korbin slid another step away. “Because it’s gay

erotica.”  Flashbacks  of  Tony’s  fist  right  after  he’d  said
those  exact  same  words,  believing  his  closest  friend
would  be  thrilled  for  him,  made  his  heart  trip.  Tony
hadn’t known then that Korbin was gay. He did after that.

“And your point is?” Cage sipped his coffee.
“Gay. As in male-on-male sex.” Like he was

explaining it to a challenged person. Maybe it was Korbin
who was lacking, because Cage didn’t seem upset by this
newsflash at all.

“I know what gay erotica is, Korbin,” he intoned

dryly, a slight hitch to one eyebrow over those incredible
green eyes. “Never could read the lesbian style. I guess
it’s too far apart from what I prefer.”

Korbin’s throat was tightening up. “What you

prefer?” Could he manage anything except to repeat
Cage’s answers as questions?

Cage sighed, letting his hands fall to his sides,

holding his cup within the brace of his fingertips by his
thigh. “Korbin. I’m gay. I didn’t say anything because I

Under One Roof

didn’t want it to mess up our situation. I hope it still
doesn’t.” He drew then let out a steeling breath, standing
straight. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll cook tonight.” End of
discussion.

Korbin answered automatically, still trying to

assimilate this enlightenment. “Of course it’s okay. I’m
not Paula Dean, for heaven’s sakes.”

“No, but you haven’t eaten my grub either,” Cage

teased back. He went to walk out of the office. “Korbin. I
really hope we can still be friends.” Then he was gone.

Korbin staggered to his chair and pulled it out, sitting

down weakly. He turned the monitor on and read what he
knew Cage must have been reading. Had been liking.

Because Cage was gay.
He buried his face into his hands. Korbin was so

screwed.

* * * *

Korbin didn’t come out of his office for the rest of

the afternoon. Cage hoped that wasn’t a bad sign and that
he’d  just  been  swept  up  into  whatever  it  was  Ben  and
Joshua—lucky  shits—were  getting  to  do.  He  made  his
trip  to  the  grocery  store  without  any  problems,  finding
what  he  needed  for  the  meatloaf  he  had  planned.  He
wasn’t  Paula  either,  but  he  could  keep  people  from
starving if they weren’t too picky.

With the loaf in the pan and the potatoes seasoned

and loaded, he put them both in the oven to cook. The
ingredients for the gravy were waiting for him. A trick
from his mother was to add some of the fat from the meat
into the gravy for more flavor. His stomach rumbled just
thinking about it. It had been a while since he’d cooked,
and nothing beat a plate of Southern comfort food.

Diana DeRicci

After pouring a glass of soda, he backtracked to the

office and knocked. The door was definitely closed now,
and it was his fault.

“Come in.”
He stuck his head in. “I brought you a drink.”
Korbin blinked, rubbing his eyes. He twisted on his

chair to face him. “You did?”

He walked in, offering a smile. “I am sorry, Korbin.

It doesn’t bother me that a straight guy is making a living
doing  this.  We  all  have  to  do  what  it  takes  to  make  it,
right? Heck, at least now I know who to read,” he teased
lightly, and he meant that. He’d love to know about Ben
and  Joshua.  He  handed  over  the  drink.  “Dinner  will  be
ready  in  about  an  hour  or  so.  I  talked  to  Patty  and  she
should be here by then.” When Korbin took the drink in
his  hand,  Cage  retreated,  closing  the  door  behind  him
respectfully.  He  just  prayed  his  straight  landlord  didn’t
have a problem with his gay tenant.

Leaving Korbin alone, he shuffled to the living room

to watch TV while waiting for his sister to show up. He’d
lost count of the channels he’d numbly flipped through
when there was a knock on the door.

Cage knew he was grinning like an idiot when he

opened it. “Patty!” He wrapped his arms around her and
swung her around, hearing her laughter fill the front of the
house.

“Put me down, you horse!” She slapped his shoulder

when he did. “It’s not like I never see you.”

“Close,” he corrected her, letting her enter through

the door to shut it behind her.

“Not my fault. You moved again.”
“Yeah.” Cage sighed. “It was better for everyone.”

Under One Roof

She ran a hand over his bicep. “I know. Sorry. Didn’t

mean to bring it up.”

“It’s okay.” He shook off the melancholy of the

memories, replacing it with a broad smile. “Let me get
Korbin. You have to meet him. He’s great.”

Her focus flicked beyond Cage. “You mean the guy

standing behind you?”

Cage whirled. Chuckling, he said, “That would be

him. Korbin, Patty.”

She held out a hand. “Patricia actually, but Patty

won’t get you hurt.”

Cage leaned close as Korbin let her go. “Just not

Peppermint Patty.” Then he cackled evilly and dashed out
of range when she lifted a hand menacingly.

“How old is he again?” he heard Korbin ask in a

lowered voice.

“Four.”
Korbin laughed and Cage hoped that meant he’d been

forgiven. He really didn’t want to be on Korbin’s bad
side.

* * * *

Korbin was trying to figure out which of the siblings

was the milkman’s baby. Where Cage had green eyes and
thick, straight brown hair, Patty had hazel eyes and nearly
blond hair. Cage was six feet of well-muscled stud, and
Patty was a diminutive five feet, maybe a little more.

Patty walked at Korbin’s side as they strolled to the

kitchen, which was where Cage had dashed after his little
tease.

“Cage said you were driving through and that you’re

a disaster assessment agent,” Korbin said, opening up
conversation.

Diana DeRicci

“I am, on both counts. I’m on my way to Texas at the

moment.”

Korbin nodded. The entire state had been in the news

most of the summer. “Why do you drive?”

“I get deathly sick when I fly. Can’t do it.”
“That sucks,” Korbin sympathized. “I guess you’re

not going to Europe then, huh?”

“Not unless I can stowaway,” she replied with a

cheeky wink.

“Here you go.” Cage held out two glasses, giving one

to Patty and the other to Korbin. He reached for a third on
the counter. “It’s diet. I didn’t forget.”

“He’s so well trained,” she remarked, accepting the

drink. “It only took thirty years.”

“Bite me,” Cage retorted.
“No thanks. I don’t know where that ass has been.”
Cage and Korbin both choked and snorted their

drinks.

“Not nice!” Though Cage gurgled with rough

laughter. He grasped a towel to hand to Korbin and wiped
his face with a second.

“It smells good,” Korbin said, changing the subject.

He really didn’t want to be thinking about Cage’s ass.

“Mom’s recipe. I hope I didn’t screw it up.”
“I’m sure it’ll be great.” The smile Cage gave Korbin

lit up the kitchen. Korbin’s heart stammered and kicked.
He gulped a drink from the glass in his hand to try to hide
his reaction.

Cage was his tenant, and regardless if he was gay, he

thought Korbin was straight. He knew that was for the
best. He’d been just fine with the status quo, alone before
Cage arrived. Korbin would be fine once he left. He had

Chapter Four

“So, have you two hooked up?”
Cage blinked, taken aback and lost. “Who?”
She smacked his chest. “You and the Lone Ranger.

Korbin, you idjet.”

“But he’s straight.” Cage rubbed a flat hand over

where she got him. Tiny was just an illusion for his sister.

“Cage, he’s as straight as an S curve.” She dug the

keys out of her purse, hitting the button once they were in
her hand. The car lights flashed and locks snapped. She
gazed up at him. “You really don’t see it, do you?”

“Patty, you are way off on Korbin.”
She opened the door and tossed in her purse. “Let me

do this. When Mac died you had choices, right?”

He frowned, not wanting to be reminded. “Thought

you weren’t going to bring that up?”

“I wasn’t, but I think you need to stop living with

your eyes closed. What are the chances that you would
find the perfect roommate, with the best job ever, when
you needed it the most?”

“Have you been reading the horoscopes again?”
“Every day,” she replied, without a hint of guilt. “It’s

why I wanted to meet him.”

“I thought you wanted to see me.” That stung and he

Under One Roof

pouted.

“Cutie Q, you know I do. Any and every time I get

the chance, but I’ve been watching and I think this is
where you’re supposed to heal. And he’s damned cute. If
he were straight, I’d be all over him.”

“But I rent—”
“So find a new place.”
“Patty.” He shook his head and leaned forward to

kiss her forehead. “He’s a good guy, has been a great
friend. I’m not leaving just on the chance he’s gay and
may like me.”

Patty smirked. Cage hated that look. Whenever it

came out, he was inevitably proven wrong.

“Just open your eyes. I know it hurts, but Mac is

gone. I know you loved him. He would have been a
fabulous cop, just like you, and a wonderful partner for
you. Except…”

“He’s not here,” he whispered, stuffing his hands into

his pockets. His head sagged some. “I know. Okay, but
I’m not jumping his bones just ’cause you think he’s the
one for me.” He’d figure that much out for himself, thank
you very much.

She wound a hand up into his hair and tugged him

south, kissing his cheek. “Love you, Q. I know you’ll be
happy.”

“I’m happy now,” he told her.
“You’re content now,” she corrected him. “Happy is

shared.”

“Where’s your happy, then, Miss Know-it-all.”
A secret smile slipped over her lips. “That’s for

another day. You’re closer to your happy right now than I
am.” She shook him. “Go get it. Oh, and quit letting the

Diana DeRicci

man walk into walls. He looks like an extra for
Braveheart with that bruise.”

Pulling his hands free of his pockets and shaking his

head at her impertinence, he gathered her close. “Thanks,
sis. Love you.”

“I know. Love you too.”
He let her go and she climbed into the car, shutting

the door. Cage waved as she backed up and she blew him
a kiss, making a phone motion by her ear before she
disappeared.

Yeah, he knew she’d be calling. Probably very, very

soon.

When she was gone, he turned to go inside and clean

up.  Dinner  had  gone  over  really  well.  Korbin  had  eaten
two  helpings  of  everything,  moaning  when  he  was  done
that he was going to pop. The man needed more than toast
if  he  thought  Cage’s  cooking  was  good,  but  he  liked  it
when Korbin smiled, so he wasn’t going to argue.

Entering the kitchen, he found Korbin in front of the

sink, humming as he rinsed the dishes for the dishwasher.
He was doing a good job of keeping his cast out of the
way. A few more days and then it was a trip to the
doctor’s to get the stupid thing removed. He was surprised
Korbin hadn’t tried to gnaw it off himself.

“You don’t have to do that,” Cage said walking up

behind him.

Korbin shrugged. “You cooked. I don’t mind. I put

the leftovers away. There’s enough for a lunch for your
next duty day.” Korbin slid him a sideways glance when
he reached the same counter and started helping with the
larger dishes. “I like her. You two are a pair, I’ll give you
that.”

Under One Roof

“She loves to stop and see me. Since she does drive

everywhere, she can usually sidetrack to do it.”

“That’s nice,” Korbin murmured.
“You don’t have any family?” Cage grabbed another

plate, waiting.

“No.” Korbin scrubbed a pan. “I left Michigan when

I was twenty-four. There was no one left behind.”

“Quite the change.”
“Why did you have to move?” Korbin blushed,

pinching his lips together. He unclenched his shoulders.
“Sorry. You don’t have to answer that.”

Cage paused in loading the dishwasher. “You heard

her earlier, didn’t you?”

Korbin stopped scrubbing and twisted on a hip,

giving him a full view of those brown eyes. “Yeah, sorry.
I’d just walked out and heard her.”

He knew this was what Patty had meant. Didn’t mean

he had to like it, or agree with her, but he couldn’t change
the  past.  Mac  was  gone.  Like  a  Band-aid.  Cage  drew  a
breath and let it spill out. “My lover was attacked outside
the gym and beaten to death. I didn’t have to move, but it
was  better  to  leave,  for  everyone.”  Cage  had  decided  it
was for the best when it began affecting his work and who
he felt he could trust because even if he’d wanted it kept
under  wraps,  after  the  trial,  everyone  knew  he  was  gay.
He may go home eventually. He’d have to see how it felt
in a few years. Maybe.

Korbin’s jaw dropped open as horror darkened his

gaze. “Gay bashed?”

Cage nodded, swallowing. “Yeah. We were both

about to graduate the academy. Some didn’t like the idea
that a gay man was going to be a cop. We met in college

Diana DeRicci

and  joined  the  law  enforcement  academy  at  the  same
time.  You  know  the  type.  Big  plans,  full  of  ourselves,
thinking  we’d  be  heroes.”  A  shudder  rocked  him  as
memories flooded his mind. “There were at least five that
night, and two of them had chains.”

Korbin twisted, forgetting all about the dishes, drying

off his hands then turning off the water. “Were they
caught?”

“Eventually.” He grunted rudely. “Two of them were

classmates. How fucked up is that?”

“Oh, God, Cage,” he whispered. Cage went blindly

when Korbin brought him into his chest. “That is the
worst thing I’ve ever heard.” Korbin caressed his spine
with caring sweeps. “And you’re still a cop?”

Cage’s arms encircled him naturally, his cheek

resting on a shoulder. “I did  it for him in the beginning,
but  learned  to  enjoy  the  work  for  me.  It’s  what  I  had
wanted to do, why I trained in the first place. I just had to
find that in me again.”

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Cage

heard, “That really makes a punch in the face seem so
minor.”

Cage straightened to study him, thinking he’d heard

wrong. “Someone punched you?”

Korbin’s eyes slid away and he chewed on his lip as

he debated something. He nodded then licked his lips,
softening the slightly abused spot. “When I told my best
friend I’d had my writing accepted. The erotica. He was
appalled that I’d been writing it to begin with, angry when
I was already making a name for myself, then…”

“Then?” Cage prompted, lifting a hand to run through

his hair. Tight curls that welcomed him, clinging to his

Under One Roof

fingers, coils of softness. It was everything he’d imagined
and more. Korbin didn’t flinch or anything. He almost
pushed into the caress. Fuck, I am so going to kill Patty.
The witch was right. Again.

Korbin’s gaze rose and locked with his. “Then… He

asked if I was gay,” he whispered faintly.

“He hit you when you said yes.”
Though it wasn’t a question, Korbin nodded.
“Damn,  Kor,”  he  murmured,  molding  them  closer

together. “That’s why you didn’t want to be touched in
the beginning.” Why he didn’t deny being straight.

Korbin lowered his chin, a light tremble vibrating

Korbin’s chest. “I’m sorry.”

Cage lifted him from his hiding with a free hand. His

chest  swelled  at  the  warm  trust  gazing  at  him.  He  never
wanted  to  hurt  Korbin,  never  wanted  to  see  him  hurt
again.  “Never  apologize  for  someone  else’s  stupidity.”
Cage drew a shaky breath, feeling himself be sucked into
the  brown  of  Korbin’s  eyes.  Longing  simmered  beneath
his skin. “Can I kiss you, Korbin?”

With a hesitant hitch, Korbin crept forward a

fraction, his gaze sliding from Cage’s eyes to his lips and
back again.

Cage closed the distance when he didn’t retreat.

Korbin melted beneath Cage. There was no other way to
describe it. Lashes lowered, hiding his expressive eyes.
Cage held him close, held him tight and Korbin did the
same. His lips were soft and smooth, and so perfect.

Cage licked the curve of his upper lip with the tip of

his tongue and Korbin whimpered, opening hungrily for
more. Cage gave it, thrusting deep and tangling with
Korbin.

Diana DeRicci

He pulled away a few minutes later, trying to breathe.

Blood pounded against his ears, a heady rush he hadn’t
felt in years. He hadn’t wanted to feel. Korbin was killing
him.

“Not right,” Korbin was saying. “You are my tenant.

So wrong.” Strong hands rose and cupped Cage’s jaw, a
sense of desperation in his trembling body. “Cage, if this
is going to blow up in my face, tell me, because I want
you so much right now.”

“I’ve wanted you since I met you,” Cage admitted.

“Thinking you were straight kept me from attacking you.”

“Attacking me?” Korbin’s chest staggered and his

whole body stiffened within Cage’s embrace.

“From throwing you to the floor and sucking the life

out of you through your dick.”

Korbin’s lashes fluttered. “Oh, God.” Gathering

himself, he put a steadier palm on Cage’s chest. He tried
to make a rational argument. “You haven’t even been here
a month.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to make sure you never need a

renter again,” he stated with a firm growl.

He claimed Korbin’s lips and kissed him until he

went pliant again. He loved that, feeling Korbin languid
against his body.

“You’re staying?” Korbin gasped the next chance

Cage let him breathe.

“Babe, I’m staying, you’re taken and I’m going to

keep  you  naked  as  often  as  possible.”  He  drifted  from
Korbin’s lips to his throat, licking beneath his ear. “Want
you.  Dream  about  you.  It  was  harder  than  hell  watching
you  and  knowing  you  work  in  your  damned  PJs.”  He
dropped a hand and formed it to Korbin’s butt. “The way

Under One Roof

this looks.” He shivered. He had a lot of mental snapshots
stored.

“Me?” Korbin cried. He gave a light shove, glaring

though not strongly when Cage gave him an inch of
space. “You and your damned underwear.”

Cage grinned crookedly. “Really?” When Korbin just

stood there, Cage felt his heart lighten. Korbin wanted
him. Cage could see the desire flaming brightly in brown
eyes. So much for his personal gaydar. “Honestly, I
should have figured it out,” Cage muttered.

“If you think it’s because I write what I do, you’d be

wrong.”

“Oh?” That’s exactly why Cage…
“I’ll show you the authors I know of. You’ll be

surprised.” Korbin smirked.

“More hot stuff like yours?”
“Hotter.”
Heat suffused Cage.
Korbin’s  hands  slid  down  Cage’s  chest.  Things  had

slowed down enough for the both of them to think. Cage
was sorry but knew he couldn’t push Korbin.

“Do you mean it?” Korbin asked.
Cage captured Korbin’s hands and brought them to

meet behind his back, circling Korbin again with his own.
“Unless you don’t want me, then, yes, I want to see what
we have.”

Korbin rolled his eyes. “Really? Not want you?” He

moved his hips to press a hardness Cage couldn’t mistake
against him. “You weren’t paying attention.”

Cage chuckled, a throaty sound that he was pleased

to see got Korbin’s pulse jumping. “Oh, trust me,
gorgeous. I noticed.” Leaning close, right before Cage

Chapter Five

Korbin whimpered. A strong hand slipped from his

waist to cup his butt. After weeks of dancing around and
denying the attraction for Cage, he was being kissed. Not
just kissed. Devoured.

He moved readily when Cage spun them, pinning

him  against  the  counter.  Keeping  the  cast-encased  arm
around Cage’s waist, he threaded the other through thick
strands  of  hair.  “How  are  you  so  dark  and  your  sister  is
blonde?” he wondered aloud when Cage released him to
kiss his chin.

“We’re adopted.”
Korbin blinked, studying him. “Really? But you’re so

close.”

“She’s only eighteen months older than me. You’d

love my mom.” Cage lifted a hand and stroked Korbin’s
chin where he’d just kissed him, a feathery touch that shot
shivers down Korbin’s body. “They’re going to love
you.”

“You want me to meet your family?” Korbin’s head

was spinning.

“Not now, later. You’ve already met Patty,” Cage

said, caressing his jaw. “Darrel and Hanna still live near
home.” Cage moved in again, teasing at Korbin’s throat

Diana DeRicci

with a hot tongue. “I love the way you taste.” Hot breath
fanned over Korbin. He moaned before he could catch it.

“This isn’t to get out of paying rent, is it?” Korbin

shivered when the hand on his rear was joined by its mate
on the other side.

“Definitely not. If it’s too fast, we’ll slow down.”
Korbin heard the wanting and disappointment in that,

though. He just wasn’t sure what to think.

“Wanted you since the minute I saw this cute ass

sticking in the air out of your trunk. When I saw you…”
Cage murmured between kisses. “I was only looking for
directions, didn’t know you had a flat until I stopped.”

“What were you doing on Posey Road?” Korbin had

always wondered.

“Stan at the Constable’s office gave me directions

from Main Street.” He offered a quirky smile and a shrug.
“I’ve learned since then to not get directions from him.
He can get lost going around the block.”

Korbin smiled, then gasped. His eyes shot to Cage’s

when those same hands clutched and lifted to prop him on
the counter, with Cage sliding into the vee of his legs
naturally.

“We’ll take this as slow as you need and want, Kor,

but I won’t lie to you. You’ve been getting to me a day at
a time.”

Korbin rested his free palm on Cage’s chest, feeling

the  way  it  trembled  beneath  his  touch,  the  hard  rise  and
fall  of  Cage’s  aroused  breathing.  “It’s  been  a  long  time,
Cage,”  he  whispered.  He  swallowed  and  shook  his  head
when  Cage  opened  his  mouth.  “As  in  never.”  He  didn’t
have the courage to see what was happening behind those
green eyes again.

Under One Roof

Cage sighed his name, then leaned forward to claim

Korbin’s lips in the softest kiss of his life. Korbin’s heart
did  a  little  flip.  He  heard  a  small  whine,  a  hungry
whimper.  It  took  a  second  to  realize  he  was  the  one
making it. Korbin’s arms looped Cage’s neck. A heartbeat
later,  Cage  pinned  them  chest  to  chest,  lifting  him  from
where he sat.

“Hang on, baby.”
Korbin gulped but did as asked. Held in the frame of

strong arms, he was carried out of the kitchen, then past
his office down the short hallway that led to his room.

Cage kissed him as he laid him on the bed. “Only

what you want, Korbin. I promise.” Lying side by side on
the  bed,  Cage  toed  off  his  sneakers  and  Korbin  did  the
same. Little whipped flicks of his tongue teased Korbin’s
earlobe.  He  arched, offering himself, panting and unable
to focus. Korbin fisted cloth into his hands and he realized
it was Cage’s shirt.

“Have you had boyfriends?” Cage asked gently,

sucking lightly on his ear.

Korbin nodded. “One. He left…me, broke up.” He

moaned, his spine tightening as delicious shocks careened
up his back.

“Left you?” Cage paused, gazing down at him, the

light stroke of tender fingers continuing on Korbin’s
cheek.

“I didn’t trust him, and I was right not to.” Focusing

to  find  Cage,  he  explained,  “I  learned  after  he  lost  his
patience  with  me,  he  had  another  guy  on  the  side.  Then
the fight  with  Tony  happened.  I said  enough  and  moved
here.” When there was more time, he’d explain it better,
but  right  at  that  moment  his  answer  seemed  to  satisfy

Diana DeRicci

Cage’s question.

Cage crooned in understanding, that southern burr

that so many did naturally. Korbin loved it. He wanted to
bottle it.

“I was working and writing part-time, so every spare

minute I had was put into my career. I went dancing if I
needed a break.”

“I bet you made every guy there hot.” Cage ran

questing fingertips into Korbin’s hair.

“I don’t know. It was to blow steam, not get laid, not

after  what  happened  with  the  ex.  I  think  after  the  first
month  or  so,  that  got  around  and  they  left  me  alone.”
Korbin  honestly  had  guessed  it  was  more  likely  that  he
hadn’t appealed to any of them. He was skinny, pale, and
definitely  not  ripped,  which  seemed  to  be  a  necessity  to
catch  anyone’s  attention  for  more  than  a  five-minute
escape.

Cage wriggled until he rested above Korbin, looking

down  at  him.  “I  can  guarantee  you  make  me  hot.”  He
sipped a kiss from Korbin’s lips. “I look forward to seeing
you every morning when I come home, just to talk for a
few minutes. And you were always so cute when I found
you,  your  brow  scrunched  up  as  you  thought  over  what
you  were  writing.”  He  rubbed  a  thumb  between  his
eyebrows,  soothing  the  imaginary  crease.  A  shudder
shook  Cage  and  chest  to  chest,  Korbin  couldn’t  miss  it.
“Those  PJs.  Especially  the  blue  ones.  I  dreamed  almost
from the first time I saw you wearing them of running my
hands all over you, taking them off and making you moan
and scream with licking you all over.”

Korbin was panting again. “You have?” God, Cage

was making him throb.

Under One Roof

“Korbin,” Cage said solemnly, looking right into his

eyes. The green was so dark, so intense, Korbin couldn’t
look away. “I’ve been half in love with you since I moved
in.” He huffed and a half smile tipped the corner of his
lips. “Patty even suggested I find another place to live so I
could date you. If you really want me to, I will. I don’t
want you to think I’m interested in you because you gave
me a roof over my head.”

That floored Korbin. “You’d move out?”
“Tomorrow, if that was it took to prove that being

here and being with you are not the same thing, not to
me.”

Korbin raised his hand, the one that had been

gripping Cage’s shirt and slid over his neck. “Cage?”

“Yeah?”
“Kiss me.”
Korbin moaned when he did.

* * * *

Cage trembled. He needed to learn to keep his trap

shut, though if he hadn’t by this age… At least Korbin
wasn’t freaking out. He’d never been able to curb what he
felt, unlike his brother Darrel, who was as tightlipped as
Scrooge was tightfisted.

Korbin’s free hand was digging and clutching

through his hair, pinning him close. Then Korbin twisted
his hips and Cage shifted to straddle his leg, a thigh
rubbing against his groin with each harsh, panted breath.

“Feels so good,” Korbin gasped.
A thud hit Cage’s ribs, interrupting the lip-fest and he

glanced down.

“I’m sorry!” Korbin quickly dropped his arm to the

bed. “I forgot about it.” He glared at the cast. “I wish it

Diana DeRicci

was gone.”

“Shh. It will be soon. It’s not bothering me.” Cage

took the momentary distraction to glide Korbin’s shirt up.
“Sit up a little. I want to see you.”

Korbin’s cheeks heated, but he did as asked. “I’m not

much to look at,” he warned.

“Let me be the judge of that.” Cage tossed the shirt

and admired all the pale skin beneath him when Korbin
stretched out. “How did you get such curly hair?” He
even had a thin smatter of pencil-tight curls on his chest.
Cage smiled, tugging his fingers through them.

“Irish blood. It’s why I’m as pale as Casper.”
“Oh, no, baby. This isn’t pale. This is beautiful.” He

leaned forward and licked right up Korbin’s sternum. He
grunted  in  answer,  his  eyes  slamming  shut  as  sensation
stole  over  him.  That’s  beautiful,  Cage  thought  in  awe,
watching  Korbin  become  lost.  He  sipped  soft  kisses
across his bared chest, hovering over one of his pink buds.
He bathed the skin in hot breath. Korbin’s body clenched
in response, from his shoulders to his calves. Holding him
by the shoulders, Cage bent at the waist and formed a hot,
wet circle around the flesh, slowly stroking over the peak
with  the  flat  of  his  tongue.  Korbin  whined,  sweet  little
sounds that shot surges of need through Cage’s blood. He
didn’t  rush,  giving  caring  attention  to  every  inch  of
viewable skin.

Sliding down his body, he deftly released the button

on Korbin’s jeans. Korbin’s stomach jumped and twitched
with every kiss and caress. He grunted when Cage dipped
his tongue into his belly button, sucking on the sweet skin
of his stomach. Cage was far from being inexperienced,
but he’d never run across anyone as sensitive or

Under One Roof

responsive as Korbin. His heart was beating so hard, Cage
could make out the pulse in his chest. Korbin’s smooth,
milky skin was flushed and rosy from his rising passion.

“I’m going to take these off you, Korbin.” When

Korbin  gasped  and  nodded,  he  eased  them  off,  tugging
Korbin’s socks with them until he lay like a sleek god on
the  bed.  His  hardened  length  reached  for  his  stomach
from a nest of curls as dark and tight as those on his head,
not  too  thin  and  perfectly  formed,  with  a  flat  head  that
cried to be licked. “God, Korbin. You’re amazing.”

Cage jerked off his shirt and shucked his jeans,

reversing  the  journey  he’d  just  made,  dropping  kisses
everywhere  he  could  until  he  hovered  over  those  lips
again.

“You’re so strong, Cage.” Korbin ran a learning hand

up his side, cuffing his arm with a snug palm and
caressing it. Lashes lowered. “I’ve imagined you when
you’re working out. Drives me nuts.”

Cage pressed into Korbin’s shoulder and growled.

“God, man. You kill me.”

He lowered himself between Korbin’s splayed thighs

to  blanket  Korbin’s  frame,  holding  his  weight  on  his
knees  and  elbows.  When  their  shafts  rubbed,  he  thought
he’d  explode  right  there.  Nothing  had  ever  felt  so
heavenly. Sensation rocketed through him.

“Hook your legs below my ass.” Cage sucked at

quivering skin under his lips to smile when shivers rolled
down Korbin’s length. No one like you, Kor.

When Korbin was braced, he rocked on his arms in a

slow  sawing  motion.  A  guttural  hiss  and  groan  slipped
from  Korbin,  his  body  undulating  in  answer.  Fire  was
building,  climbing  from  the  inside.  He’d  wanted  Korbin

Diana DeRicci

for weeks even if he’d never acknowledged it, avoided it.
Now, with their lengths side by side, he was slowly going
out of his mind. Silken steel and heated suede. “How does
that feel?” He had to grit his teeth.

Korbin whimpered. His head was tossed back, his

eyes pinched shut while gasping and moaning.

“Shit, Korbin.” Cage groaned and covered his lips,

thrusting  between  and  staking  claim  to  him  entirely.
Korbin’s  whimpers  began  to  grow  desperate.  His
unencumbered hand clawed at him, gripping his back, his
ass,  anything,  as  desire  and  need  crashed  through  them
both. “That’s it.  Let  me  feel  it. Want  you so bad.” Cage
knew  if  skin  to  skin  felt  this  incredible,  when  he  fully
loved Korbin he was going to melt from the inside out. He
didn’t have a prayer, and he didn’t want one.

“Oh! Oh! Cage!” Korbin stiffened, his hips thrusting

erratically against Cage and the heated silk of his release
coated Cage’s groin and abdomen.

Cage ground down once more, a hand cupping

Korbin’s hip as bliss coursed up his spine, holding them
together  as  his  brain  became  mush.  Sparks  sizzled,
popping  across  his  vision  as  he  pulsed  his  seed.  He
groaned  and  collapsed,  holding  half  his  weight  above
Korbin to not crush him.

“What was that?” Korbin managed, raw and breathy

a few minutes later.

“That was utterly amazing,” Cage rasped, panting,

his damp forehead pressed to Korbin’s temple. He lipped
over the shell of Korbin’s ear, unable to hide the smile
when Korbin giggled.

A contented sigh said it all when Korbin relaxed,

holding Cage close and not letting him go, even when he

Under One Roof

rolled to his side to ease his weight off him.

He drifted light fingers through Korbin’s tight curls,

caressing his jaw to do it again. Cage only left him to get
a damp cloth to clean them both up. His heart kicked and
he warmed clear through when Korbin lifted an arm and
welcomed him right back to where he’d been.

Chapter Six

Korbin reached, focused on the loose shutter, only

half-hearing the noises around him. Birds were singing in
the trees, and a few kids were out on the sidewalks, riding
bikes or playing catch. Those didn’t give him a second’s
pause. Though a certain voice right below where he
dangled had him overreaching and gripping the ladder at
the low spoken admonishment.

“Babe, what are you doing?”
Korbin clenched his eyes, clinging to the ladder,

waiting for the collapse of all mankind as he stiffened and
swayed. Slowly, he blinked open an eye. The world
hadn’t tilted. He hadn’t made a communal thud with the
ground.

He looked down into the patient face of his lover.

Green eyes gleamed up at him. “Uh, hi.” He wiggled his
fingers in a playfully embarrassed wave, not wanting to
release the ladder.

“Hey there, gorgeous. Trying to find another reason

to see Dr. Hubst?” Cage had a strong hand wrapped
around the ladder, holding it steady. “You and this ladder
should not be allowed to play together.”

“The shutter was driving me nuts. The storm last

week knocked it loose.”

Under One Roof

“Tell me next time, okay?” Cage whispered in that

voice that made Korbin melt into his shoes. His best
friend and his lover. Cage took care of him like no one in
his lifetime. “The cast hasn’t been off a month yet. Let’s
see if we can go two.”

Korbin rolled his eyes, but didn’t argue. Except for a

bruised knee, he’d been doing pretty good since Cage had
moved in, not counting the wall episode. But Korbin still
put that solely on Cage’s fantastic shoulders for causing
it.

Cautiously taking the rungs one at a time, he almost

made  it  to  the  bottom  when  he  slipped.  He  cried  out,
feeling  himself  fall  backward.  Strong  arms  wrapped
around his middle and pulled him away in a twirl. Korbin
winced  when  the  ladder  made  a  metallic  clang  on  the
ground.

“That’s just not fair,” Cage was saying, pinning him

against his hard chest, putting Korbin on his feet slowly.
“You in shorts.” A hand hidden between their bodies
caressed Korbin, making it clear which part of him Cage
liked the most.

“Please. I’m fish belly white.”
Cage chuckled. “We’ve had this argument. You’re

like cream, and I’m the cat that likes to lick you clean.”
Cage kissed at his neck gently before letting him go
completely.

Korbin faced him, unable to restrain his smile.

“You’re the gorgeous one. I love you.”

Cage stuttered to a frozen stop, his face a flat pane of

shock.

Korbin swallowed, his throat tightening. He tried to

sidestep, to run though his feet refused to move. Fear and

Diana DeRicci

uncertainty nipped at his heels. “Cage, I…” His heart was
pounding painfully into his ribs. And not in any way he’d
liked in the past. He’d never said that to anyone. It had
tripped off his tongue as easy as his own name.

And he couldn’t take it back.
Cage captured a wrist in an unrelenting clutch and

pulled him into the house, smacking the door closed
behind them, rattling the wall. The ladder was forgotten.

Cage thrust Korbin against the door. Arms were steel

pillars, blocking Korbin in, pinning him to the door.

“Say it again.” Something elemental and consuming

burned in Cage’s eyes.

Korbin’s heart was flitting like a hummingbird

against his ribs. Finding his voice, he said, “I love you.”

Cage’s body caved forward, covering Korbin chest to

knee. “God, Korbin.”

His kiss was heaven, sweet, gentle and so intense,

Korbin forgot everything. His name, the broken shutter,
the ladder out front. He dug clinging fingers into Cage’s
thick hair and held on.

“I’ve hoped, Korbin,” Cage whispered, panting above

his lips. “I knew I was falling hard. Love you so much. So
damn glad I found you.”

Reality was filtering through. “You’re not mad?”
Cage’s chuckle was hoarse. “No, baby. You shocked

me. Just out of the blue, and when you said it… I will
remember that smile for the rest of my life.”

“My smile?” he echoed, tipping his chin. Cage had

moved from his lips to his throat, warm lips delivering
mind-sparking shocks and adoration.

He made that humming sound, the one that drove

Korbin insane. “Your smile. First thing I fell in love

About the Author

Diana  DeRicci  is  the  sexy,  flirty  pen  name  of  Diana
Castilleja.  A  romance  author  at  heart,  DeRicci’s  writing
takes you into a saucier spectrum of sensuality and sexual
adventure,  where  a  happily-ever-after  is  still  the  key  to
any story. Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband,
one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal.

For more information  on other books by Diana,  visit  the
author’s official website:

Document Outline