The Firedancer (Black Cat Circus #2)

by Rye Cox

“Bri wasn’t wrong. That’s exactly what I intend to do now, and for the rest of our lives,” he said breathlessly. I was instantly on him, touching hi...

our lovemaking

Rhett pulled back and steadied himself on his elbows. His eyes were filled with so much emotion, so much love that I felt it caress my skin like a warm embrace. “I love you too. I didn’t know what to expect joining the circus, but I know now that I’m exactly where I should be. I was led here to meet you,” Rhett said before leaning down for a kiss. When our lips met, everything in the world was perfect. Nothing existed but him, me, and my fire that burned hotter than I’d ever felt it before, and yet I still survived. And I would continue to dominate the fire inside of me for the sake of Rhett’s and my future. Compared

to that, fighting something like a little flame didn’t seem scary at all. Rhett snuggled back against me. His arms wrapped around my middle, claiming me, owning me, and I happily basked in his warmth. In a short amount of time, Rhett had come to mean the world to me. I didn’t expect him, but was so fucking thankful that fate had brought him to me. He was my love. My home. My everything.

“But actually, there is something I want to tell you,” I said and paused as I shot a covert glance at Coal. His warm hand on my thigh gave me courage to continue. “I met someone.” I watched Hector’s expression turn from shock into delight. I prayed that his smile didn’t disappear after I confessed who that someone was. “Oh, wow. This is a bit unexpected, but I’m happy for you. Who is she?” Of course he would think the person was a woman. Why wouldn’t he when I’d never given him a hint that I was into men. “Actually, it’s a man,” I blurted out. Better to rip off the Band-Aid, right? “Oh,” was all Hector replied. His smile had turned into shock, then into his usual scowl. This time, I

couldn’t tell if it was a good scowl or bad. “Say something,” I said. I wasn’t above begging if it meant I could get him to accept me for loving a man. He thought for a second, studying me, before saying, “Does he make you happy?” “Yes, the happiest. He makes me feel like I finally belong,” I replied honestly. I prayed that all his following questions were also this simple. “Then that’s all that matters,” he said with a huge smile. My mouth hung open. I was glad that he was accepting this, but I wasn’t expecting him to accept it so easily. “That’s all?” “What? Were you expecting some kind of lecture or something?” Hector said as a small smirk appeared on his face. “Well, no, but I thought you’d have some reservations about me being with a man. It’s not normal,” I said, almost gritting out those words. It was a phrase I’d heard a lot in my hometown. It wasn’t hard to imagine what the folks in Kither Springs would have thought about my sexuality. I didn’t give a fuck what they considered normal or not, but I sure as hell cared about Hector’s opinion. Hector shrugged. “Who decides what’s normal? If we all do things that are out of the norm, then that will become the new normal. And honestly, I could care less what parts your partner has. All I care about is that they treat you right and make you happy, because that’s what you deserve, kid.”

Tears blurred my vision of the man who had accepted me even when I wasn’t considered normal for our town. I tried telling myself that it wouldn’t matter if he rejected this part of me, but in reality, it mattered a shit fuck ton. Now that he accepted me having a boyfriend, I didn’t have to worry about the possibility of losing him from my life. Sniffling, I wiped the tear that escaped and shot him a million watt smile. “Would you like to meet him?” I asked. “You mean he’s there now?” Hector replied. His eyes widened comically behind his glasses. I turned the phone a li...

Hector narrowed his eyes, probably studying Coal. I didn’t blame him. When Coal wasn’t smiling, he had a resting bitch face that was almost as grumpy as Hector’s. “And I know nothing about you. I assumed you heard what I told Rhett? You better treat him right, you hear? I’ll be watching,” Hector said. He used his threatening tone, the one he reserved for the drunks who’d wandered into the diner in the middle of the night. Coal sat straight up as he answered seriously, “I will. There’s nothing more important to me than Rhett, and I plan to treasure him for the rest...

“Good. I hope to meet you the next time the circus is in town. It’ll be nice to see you again too, kid,” Hector said, his voice softening. I read between the lines to all the words he wasn’t saying. “I miss you too,” I said, and he broke out in a toothy smile. “We’ll definitely make sure to visit you the next time we’re in town. You and Coal can really get to know each other then, isn’t that right?” I said. The thought of the two most important men in my life meeting had me giddy with excitement. Then the image of these two stoic men awkwardly staring at each other, trying to make conversation appeared in my mind, and I ...

people tended to fall in love with someone who resembled their parents. And while it was very disturbing to think of falling in love with someone like Hector when I’d considered him someone like a father, I couldn’t deny that he and Coal shared some similarities. They were both the silent, scary looking, broody types, but they had hearts of gold. As they watched me with concern apparent in their gazes, I was struck with how freaking lucky I was to have them both of them caring for me and having my back. They played very different roles to me—one a father figure and the other the love of my life—but they...

We chatted with Hector for a bit longer before hanging up. I placed the phone on the table and climbed onto Coal’s lap. “I love you,” I whispered against his lips. The brilliant smile that was becoming more common these days lit up his face. Small embers suddenly appeared in the air around. Coal didn’t hold back his fire anymore when we were alone, and I fucking loved it. “I love you too,” he kissed me, and everythi...