“A conductor… even a composer,” Alex said, “gives of himself. He gets pleasure in return.”
“Yes. Of course.”
“But when does anyone do something for him?”
David frowned once more. “I don’t see where this is going.”
Alex pulled David up to a sitting position. “Sometimes it’s nice to have someone do something for you.”
“You do plenty,” David protested.
“Maybe.” Alex reached for David’s chin and brushed his thumb over the edge of it. “But sometimes it’s just not enough.”
“I’m happy. That’s enough for me.” Every word David said was true. He’d almost forgotten what life had been like before Alex. Almost.
“It’s not enough for me.” Alex’s tender kiss immediately erased David’s fears. “So I figured I’d be the soloist this time and take the next step.”
“Step?”
Another kiss. “Yep. I did a little planning of my own.”
David laughed. “What did you do?”
“Turns out the only ones with a New Year’s Eve gig are Jules and Jason,” Alex said with a wicked grin. “And that just happens to be in New York.”
“And?” David prodded, knowing Alex wanted him to press him on this.
“And I’ve arranged for the Prelude to be in port.”
“I thought you said Jules and Jason had a gig?”
“They do.” Alex pursed his lips. “I hired them.”
“You hired them?”
“Well, I tried to hire them. They won’t let me pay. But they’ll be playing for the reception to celebrate Aiden and Sam’s wedding.”
“On board?”
“Yep. It’s not the grand ballroom at the estate, but it’s plenty big enough for a reception. I’d actually figured we could have the marriage ceremony there as well, but since Sam and Aiden up and got married….” Alex looked expectantly to David. “Well, what do you think?”
“I think it’s perfect. And you did this all without me knowing.”
“Seems that way.” Alex leaned in and met David’s lips again. “But there’s one more thing.”
“There’s more?” David laughed to see the expression of glee on Alex’s face. He wondered if Alex knew how much he loved him in that moment. Probably. There wasn’t much he could get by Alex. It was part of why he loved him so much.
“Yeah.” Alex reached under his pillow and pulled out a tiny enameled box. David had seen boxes like that at the monthly antiques market that ran along the Naviglio Grande, the oldest canal in Milan. “Here. Open it.”
David looked to Alex for an explanation, but Alex said, “Just open it.”
David pressed back the tiny latch with his thumb to reveal a red silk pouch inside. He set the box beside him, then released the drawstrings that held the bag closed. He emptied the contents into his open palm: two gold rings with intricate carving. Italian. Very old, judging from the workmanship. Simply stunning.
“Marry me, David.”
David was momentarily speechless. He looked down at the rings. His chest ached and his eyes burned as he struggled to maintain his composure.
“You don’t have to hide from me, you know,” Alex said in a soft voice. “Look at me, David.”
David met Alex’s gaze and forced himself not to look away. Alex shimmered at the periphery of his consciousness. But it wasn’t just Alex’s music he heard this time—there was something more. This was their music. Comforting and vulnerable. Passionate and familiar.
“Yes.” David swallowed hard and embraced Alex, rings clutched tightly in his hand. He knew he should have something to say, something to express what he was feeling, but all he could do was repeat the word again. “Yes.”
By SHIRA ANTHONY
The Dream of a Thousand Nights
BLUE NOTES
Blue Notes
The Melody Thief
Aria
Prelude
Symphony in Blue
Encore
MERMAN OF EA
Stealing the Wind
With VENONA KEYES
The Trust
With EM LYNLEY
A DELECTABLE NOVEL
Lighting the Way Home
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
About the Author
SHIRA ANTHONY was a professional opera singer in her last incarnation, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.
Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs, and when she’s not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 35’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.
Shira’s Blue Notes Series of classical-music-themed gay romances was named one of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Word’s “Best Series of 2012,” and The Melody Thief was named one of the “Best Novels in a Series of 2012.” The Melody Thief also received an honorable mention, “One Perfect Score” at the 2012 Rainbow Awards.
Shira can be found on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shira.anthony
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4641776.Shira_Anthony
Twitter: @WriterShira
Website: http://www.shiraanthony.com
E-mail: [email protected]
The Blue Notes Series
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
The Blue Notes Series Continues…
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From SHIRA ANTHONY
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
From SHIRA ANTHONY
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
From SHIRA ANTHONY & EM LYNLEY
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From SHIRA ANTHONY & VENONA KEYES
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Copyright
Published by
Dreamspinner Press
5032 Capital Circle SW
Suite 2, PMB# 279
Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886
USA
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Symphony in Blue
© 2013 Shira Anthony.
Cover Art
© 2013 Catt Ford.
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-62798-394-5
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition
December 2013
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