Sequel to Taste
Horizons Series: Book Three
Six months after meeting at the Taste of Chicago, Lil Lampert and Grier Dilorio are living together. Their physical bond glows brighter than ever, but the couple soon realizes that it takes more than three magic words and outstanding sex to make a partnership work.
Like any fledgling, Grier is learning how to navigate his new life. His problems should have ended when Jillian signed the papers acknowledging him as Luca’s biological father and he got the opportunity to pursue a career in interior design. Instead, he’s hampered by old fears and bad habits that are hard to let go.
Adjusting to a small apartment in a four-season state—with a much younger man sporting a stubborn streak—is a challenge for Lil. His position as Luca’s “Daddio” is a delicate balancing act between doing what he thinks is right and deferring to Grier’s eight years of experience.
Life is stressed enough, but now Lil and Grier also face an unexpected complication from a powerful, far-reaching ruling body. Suddenly Luca’s safety—and their happiness as an emerging family—depends on Lil’s keen understanding of human nature and Grier’s willingness to learn.
Cover Artist: Anne Cain
Chapter One
LUCA sprinted across the carpet and landed on the pile of blankets in a running leap, startling both Grier and Lil out of a sound sleep.
“Daddy, it’s snowing!”
“Awesome,” Grier mumbled.
“Come on,” Luca said, impatiently plucking at the covers. He shook the other body that lay huddled underneath the warm down quilt. “Please, Daddio?”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph… I really wish this child wasn’t such a morning person,” Lil murmured, struggling to wake up. He opened one eye and saw Luca’s face inches away, looking at him expectantly. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
“It’s thnowing,” Luca screeched, lapsing into a panicked lisp. “We need to go out there and make angels.”
“Oh Christ,” Lil groaned, jabbing at Grier with his elbow. “Get up.”
“You too,” Grier slurred. “I’m not doing this by myself.”
“What exactly are we doing?” Lil asked, pushing away the comforter and sitting up reluctantly. “Luca, do you have any idea how much I hate the snow?”
“Why?”
“It’s so cold.”
“It’s supposed to be cold, Daddio. It’s snow!”
Lil sighed in defeat. “Do I even own a pair of gloves?”
“We bought some the other day at L.L. Bean,” Grier mumbled, finally lifting his head off the pillow. “They’re guaranteed to keep you warm in minus ten degrees.”
“Holy shi… sugar! It’s not that bad, is it?”
“Wind chill,” Grier said.
“Nice. You do realize my blood hasn’t thickened yet. I’ve only been here for five months.”
“Am I the only one who’s been on a slow boil since then?”
Lil smiled at the gorgeous face that grinned up at him. “Hush. There are little ears present.”
“Daddio? Are you getting up or what?”
“Oh, I’m up,” Lil said pointedly.
Grier peeked underneath the blanket and saw that Lil was most definitely “up.” He locked eyes with his lover, then winked conspiratorially. “Luca, go get dressed. Daddio and I will be along in a minute.”
“Promise? No more cuddling?”
“Did he say cuddling or canoodling?”
“Same difference.”
“He knows his daddies.”
“He’s too smart for his own good,” Grier said under his breath. “I promise, Luca. Now scoot!”
After Luca’s exit, Lil slid back down into the warm depths of the comfortable bed and was pleased when Grier gathered him closer. “Let’s stay for a second.”
“It’s just our luck that it had to snow on our weekend with Luca.”
“It’s December,” Grier pointed out. “Did you think we were kidding when we warned you about the shitty weather?”
“Obviously not, but I’m a dreamer.”
“You’re gorgeous,” Grier said, leaving a trail of kisses down Lil’s torso as he made his way south.
“Grier, don’t start.”
“It’ll just take a minute.”
“What if he comes back?”
“I’ll be under the covers.”
“You like to live on the edge, don’t you?” Lil gasped when he felt the warm mouth engulf him in one slick move. “Oh God,” he moaned, closing his eyes and letting Grier transport him to a much warmer place. Knowing what awaited him outside their apartment wasn’t enough to put a damper on his need for Grier, which had taken root since his move last August. They were like newlyweds and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. The biggest problem was finding the right time, especially when Luca was around. Grier was determined to be a model father, and a part of that was avoiding anything out of the ordinary. He wanted Luca’s childhood experiences to be the same as any other kid raised in a traditional household. The difference, of course, was that his father was gay. Telling Luca about his orientation was one of the most difficult things Grier had ever done in his life, but he was adamant about being honest after all the lies he’d perpetuated since the boy’s birth. Luca had taken the pronouncement in stride, helped in large part by his love for Grier, and for Lil, whom he’d affectionately dubbed Daddio. The fact that his father and Daddio shared a bed was irrelevant to the eight-year-old.
Luca’s mother, Jillian, was another story altogether. She had been furious when the court had awarded Grier joint custody, especially when she found out that Lil was moving in with Grier. She’d protested vehemently, telling the judge that Luca would be “turned” by two gay men. Fortunately, the judge wasn’t swayed by her vitriol and had been generous and exceedingly fair about Grier’s parental rights. He did say, though, that Grier had to be better than the average father for the simple reason that he was gay, and the cards were stacked against him. All this was said in the privacy of the judge’s chambers after the decision had come down.
One wrong move and Jillian could take him back to court and press for sole custody. So far, Grier and Lil had been models of restraint, and they hardly touched each other in Luca’s presence. They kept their public displays to a bare minimum. Hand holding and hugging were acceptable as was the occasional kiss. Rules were enforced, such as knocking before entering, teaching Luca how to respect one’s space and need for privacy. This morning’s rude awakening was out of the ordinary due to the first snowfall, but Lil planned on mentioning it at a later time. He didn’t want to take on the role of the evil stepfather, but if he was going to be a part of this family, he needed to be able to speak his mind and discipline Luca when necessary. Lil did not believe in corporal punishment, and neither did Grier, but rules were established for a reason, and breaking them came with a price.