It was quite pretty, gleaming white brick against the early November sun. Almost like the turret of a castle. “Weird how you can’t see it from town.”
“It’s just far enough away. The copper mines were farther north of town, and the ports are of course nowhere near the city, since we sit on a high cliff ourselves.”
“Why did they build the town so high up? I was surprised I didn’t see a bay full of sailboats.”
“The port is over by the country club. However, there aren’t as many boats as you might be thinking of. Lake Superior is cold and can be incredibly dangerous. If you want picturesque moments on the water, go over to Door County and Lake Michigan. The water is cold there too, unfortunately.”
“I like the cold.” Rasul threaded his fingers behind his head and looked out the window. “Before I came here, I was in LA. Too hot, too dry.”
Jacob glanced over at him. “You don’t miss California? The parties?”
Rasul snorted. “I hated the parties.”
“Yet you went all the time.”
Rasul couldn’t decide if he was flattered or mortified. Both, maybe. “I couldn’t stand to be alone with myself, facing how badly I was failing.”
“Do you feel like you’re failing now?”
Unexpectedly, Rasul’s heart seized. He let out a ragged breath to relax the muscles in his chest. “No. I feel like I’ve stumbled into the most magical place in the world.”
Jacob laughed. “Copper Point? Really?”
It’s not Copper Point that draws me, not the most. Rasul ran a hand through his hair. “I like it here. Teaching is going better than I thought it would. The people are great, at the university and in town in general.”
The man who owns the bookstore, in particular.
Jacob nodded. “You haven’t talked about teaching as much lately. I worried you didn’t like it.”
“Oh no, it’s great. It’s not what I expected, but it’s fun. I like watching people find their feet. The fanfic writers are my favorite. They’re so… pure. They just want to eat, breathe, and sleep the characters that started out as someone else’s and then became their own.” He rested his arm on the window. “I kind of want to do something for my students when we finish the second semester—they’re all staying on for round two. Have them do a short story anthology or something. You can print all kinds of stuff on demand for cheap nowadays.”
“If you do, I’ll host an event for them in the store. Let them have a signing.”
Rasul beamed. “You would? That’d be amazing.”
“Of course. It’s what we do.”
It was, Rasul realized. Jacob, Gus, Matt—even Christopher and Ram—they all took care of one another. That was what Rasul loved about this place too.
Mostly, though, Copper Point was Jacob. It would always be Jacob, and the story he helped Rasul create.
It was windy when they got out of the car, making Rasul extra glad they’d stopped for a hat and pair of gloves. The lighthouse was a self-guided tour, with warning signs about the stairs. By the time they got to the top, Rasul’s legs were jelly. The view was worth it, however.
“This is amazing.” He gripped the iron rail and stared out across the bay toward the place where it spilled into mist.
“It’s a popular confession point for high schoolers and kids at the college. Which I never understood. As soon as you pulled off onto this road or even headed in this direction, wouldn’t you know?”
Rasul scoffed. “The anticipation is only part of the experience. Walking up the stairs, heart pounding, knowing what you were about to hear…. Good place for a first kiss too. That’s worth hiking for.” He rested his elbows on the rail and let his gaze unfocus, writing brain taking over. “Except if I were writing it, I’d build up the anticipation and then have something go haywire. Or I’d have the wrong love interest bring them up here, and it would be a breakup instead of a proposal. Talk about getting somebody to hate a character.” He winced and rubbed his cheek. “Sorry, lousy side effect of dating a writer.”
“I don’t mind. It’s interesting.” Jacob was leaning on the rail too, inches from Rasul. He stared easily over the water, as if he were incredibly comfortable.
Suddenly Rasul wanted to make sure Jacob wasn’t comfortable. He should be sweating the same way Rasul was.
Turning to face Jacob, Rasul ran a gloved finger down his boyfriend’s arm. “Maybe we should have our first kiss here.”
Mmm, but it was delicious the way Jacob leapt back. “I—I thought you said—your book—”
“I said I’d wait until I finished to take you to bed.” Rasul took a slow, predatory step toward Jacob, who backed up again. “Too cold to have sex up here, but a kiss would warm me right up.”
“Wait, that’s not why—” Jacob almost tripped over his feet in his haste to get further away.
Rasul swept in and caught him. He felt Jacob trembling as he righted him. “Don’t want a kiss from me?”
“That’s not—I don’t—” With a shuddering sigh, Jacob closed his eyes. “You’re doing this on purpose, sending me to pieces.”
“Mmm-hmm. Because you’re so delicious when you’re a mess.” Jacob’s eyes flared open, and Rasul laughed. “But you’re also delightful when ferocious. You’re perfect, full stop, Jacob Moore. Let me kiss you. Please.”
Jacob let out a shaking breath. His gaze fell on Rasul’s lips.
The wind whipped around them, but Rasul was full of warmth. For the first time in a long, long time, the universe felt right and good, and he didn’t want this moment to end.
Sliding a hand behind Jacob’s head, Rasul pulled himself forward and kissed him.
It wasn’t the kiss he’d anticipated giving him. It was soft and sweet, almost hesitant. For all Jacob’s outward panic, it was Rasul’s soul that screamed in terror, afraid to leap, afraid to dream. This man had changed everything, and with the snap of his fingers, he could do it again. It would be so easy, so terrifyingly easy, for Rasul to find himself more alone than ever.
But he wasn’t alone right now. Oh, he absolutely wasn’t alone.
Letting out a breath, he tilted his head and opened his mouth over Jacob’s.
Jacob startled, hesitated, then kissed him with all the passion Rasul had seen banked in his eyes.
They clutched at each other, grabbing jackets, tugging at hats. Rasul’s glasses bumped Jacob’s face, but he kept going, extricating his hands from his gloves so he could feel the faint trail of stubble along Jacob’s cheek, down his neck.
When they ran out of air, they pressed their foreheads together and held on to each other’s heads.
“Your hat went over the side, I think,” Jacob said at last.
“Wasn’t that great of a hat anyway.” Rasul couldn’t stop stroking Jacob’s cheeks with his thumbs.
Jacob let his hands slip to Rasul’s neck. “I was going to suggest we take the picnic to my apartment, but that seems like a bad idea now.”
Oh, it seemed like an incredible idea. But Rasul could be patient. “We can eat in the car.” When Jacob gave him a look, he laughed. “The front seat, you dirty-minded man.” He pressed a kiss to Jacob’s nose. “Then take me back. I want to go finish this story, so I can show it to you, and so….”