A Promise of Tomorrow Read Online Free
Author: Rowan McAllister
thereinlaythe cause ofhis anxiety. Ifhe couldn’t puzzle out what he’d done before the end of the night, Victor would be evenangrier at his stupidity.
When they stopped at the edge of the ballroom and Victor released his arm, Kyle rubbed the tender spot with his palm and looked expectantly toward his lover, but Victor had already turned away from him and was speaking casually to a friend, leaving Kyle feelingevenmore anxious.
The truth was, he couldn’t seem to do anything that made Victor happy anymore. Ever since they’d come to London, everything he did or said seemed to be wrong. The only thing he could do that seemed to please his lover was dress in the fine clothes that were bought for him, play the pianoforte for his guests, and remain silent unless spoken to. Kyle had learned to say as little as possible in the past few months lest he open himself, or Victor, to ridicule for his lack ofrefinement.
As Victor continued to ignore him, Kyle decided he’d best spend his time siftingthroughthe events ofthe evening, tryingto figure out what he’d done wrong. He didn’t think he’d said anything untoward. He’d been polite when addressed but otherwise kept his thoughts to himself. In fact, the evening had seemed to be going quite well. Victor had had plenty of opportunities to speak with his friends and conduct a little business, which always seemed to make him happy.
Kyle let his mind and eyes wander about the room, stillpuzzling over Victor’s sudden change in mood, until he realized he was looking for someone in particular and a sudden guilty thought occurred to him. The man in the ballroom. Had Victor caught him staringat the other man?
Kyle swallowed nervously and looked to his lover. He knew Victor had seen the other man looking in their direction. Victor always noticed things like that, most of the time long before Kyle did. His lover told him frequently that men watched him when they were out together, though Kyle never saw them, and usually the idea seemed to make Victor happy. He would say that he liked that other men wanted what was his. Kyle had never liked being referred to as a possession, but he’d learned to keep those feelings to himself. Nothinggood ever came fromarguingwithVictor.
Maybe Victor was angry because this time Kyle had been the one doing the looking. Kyle bit his lip as his stomach fluttered nervously. It had only been a look, nothing else. He’d been bored and a little anxious, as he always was at formal gatherings, just looking about the room for something to distract himself. He hadn’t been focused on anyone or anything in particular until he caught sight of the giant of a man against the wall. He hadn’t really meant to stare at him, but when those intense brown eyes had met his, he hadn’t beenable to look away.
Who was he ?
He had thought at the time that he looked vaguely familiar but was sure he would have remembered if he’d ever seen the man before. It wasn’t just that he was handsome, though that certainly hadn’t escaped his notice. But his eyes were what Kyle remembered more than anything else. They were warmand deep, kind and strong and so many other things Kyle couldn’t name. In that moment, he’d had the fantastic notion that he could get lost in them forever if he were given half a chance. Now, out from under their spell and standing next to an irritated Victor, Kyle felt foolish for his fanciful notions. Victor was right. He’d been reading too many of Mrs. Radcliffe’s novels.
Thinking of Victor brought him back to the present and the realization that perhaps he was indeed at fault for Victor’s anger. Kyle sighed to himself and settled in for another miserable night. He could do nothing about it now except try to avoid any other mistakes and hope Victor’s anger would coolafter a few more hours. Perhaps if he played one of Victor’s favorite songs when they returned home or he thought ofsomethingspecialto do for himintheir
When they stopped at the edge of the ballroom and Victor released his arm, Kyle rubbed the tender spot with his palm and looked expectantly toward his lover, but Victor had already turned away from him and was speaking casually to a friend, leaving Kyle feelingevenmore anxious.
The truth was, he couldn’t seem to do anything that made Victor happy anymore. Ever since they’d come to London, everything he did or said seemed to be wrong. The only thing he could do that seemed to please his lover was dress in the fine clothes that were bought for him, play the pianoforte for his guests, and remain silent unless spoken to. Kyle had learned to say as little as possible in the past few months lest he open himself, or Victor, to ridicule for his lack ofrefinement.
As Victor continued to ignore him, Kyle decided he’d best spend his time siftingthroughthe events ofthe evening, tryingto figure out what he’d done wrong. He didn’t think he’d said anything untoward. He’d been polite when addressed but otherwise kept his thoughts to himself. In fact, the evening had seemed to be going quite well. Victor had had plenty of opportunities to speak with his friends and conduct a little business, which always seemed to make him happy.
Kyle let his mind and eyes wander about the room, stillpuzzling over Victor’s sudden change in mood, until he realized he was looking for someone in particular and a sudden guilty thought occurred to him. The man in the ballroom. Had Victor caught him staringat the other man?
Kyle swallowed nervously and looked to his lover. He knew Victor had seen the other man looking in their direction. Victor always noticed things like that, most of the time long before Kyle did. His lover told him frequently that men watched him when they were out together, though Kyle never saw them, and usually the idea seemed to make Victor happy. He would say that he liked that other men wanted what was his. Kyle had never liked being referred to as a possession, but he’d learned to keep those feelings to himself. Nothinggood ever came fromarguingwithVictor.
Maybe Victor was angry because this time Kyle had been the one doing the looking. Kyle bit his lip as his stomach fluttered nervously. It had only been a look, nothing else. He’d been bored and a little anxious, as he always was at formal gatherings, just looking about the room for something to distract himself. He hadn’t been focused on anyone or anything in particular until he caught sight of the giant of a man against the wall. He hadn’t really meant to stare at him, but when those intense brown eyes had met his, he hadn’t beenable to look away.
Who was he ?
He had thought at the time that he looked vaguely familiar but was sure he would have remembered if he’d ever seen the man before. It wasn’t just that he was handsome, though that certainly hadn’t escaped his notice. But his eyes were what Kyle remembered more than anything else. They were warmand deep, kind and strong and so many other things Kyle couldn’t name. In that moment, he’d had the fantastic notion that he could get lost in them forever if he were given half a chance. Now, out from under their spell and standing next to an irritated Victor, Kyle felt foolish for his fanciful notions. Victor was right. He’d been reading too many of Mrs. Radcliffe’s novels.
Thinking of Victor brought him back to the present and the realization that perhaps he was indeed at fault for Victor’s anger. Kyle sighed to himself and settled in for another miserable night. He could do nothing about it now except try to avoid any other mistakes and hope Victor’s anger would coolafter a few more hours. Perhaps if he played one of Victor’s favorite songs when they returned home or he thought ofsomethingspecialto do for himintheir
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