Looking back, thinking about the first time he’d seen the man who was now his husband, Dee couldn’t help smiling. Ryo had been so taken aback when his Dee had invaded his personal space, looking deep into his eyes; he obviously hadn’t been used to anyone getting so up close and personal, especially not some guy he’d only just met. He’d been wide-eyed and not quite panicked, but definitely startled, and Dee had known right off that he could have some fun with his new partner.

It hadn’t been love at first sight, that had come later, but he remembered there being a healthy dose of lust, because in terms of physical attractiveness, the newly-minted Detective Maclean had ticked all of Dee’s boxes. A little shorter than Dee, slim and long-legged, leanly muscled, with bright hair and those amazing eyes, so deep and dark a guy could drown in them… Yeah, he’d had the hots for Ryo from day one.

Kissing him, earning that shocked, confused look, the bashful blush, had gotten Dee’s motor revving every time. Ryo had tried to deny that he was interested, but while he could maybe fool himself, his body had been telling a very different story. Yeah, even back then Ryo had wanted him, he’d simply been too deep in denial to accept the truth.

Ryo paused, frowning at his husband. “Why’re you looking at me like that?”

Dee’s grin grew wider, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Just rememberin’ the day we met. Damn, I couldn’t believe how lucky I was, gettin’ a sexy guy like you as my new partner.”

“Dee.” Ryo shook his head, but he was smiling. “You were so full of yourself. I couldn’t believe I’d been lumbered with someone so egotistical, and with zero respect for personal space.”

“But you liked me anyway, I could tell.”

“I did, I couldn’t help it. There was just something about you that made it impossible not to.”

“Hah! I knew it!”

“Don’t let it go to your head. Those first few weeks, I spent half my time wanting to kill you. I’d never met anyone so charming and at the same time so insufferable.”

“You know that was mostly an act, right?”

“I know that now.” Stepping closer, Ryo kissed Dee lightly on the lips. “But I think part of me knew, right from the start, that you’d change my life.”


The End