With Storm so close, Saul could smell the man that he was. He smelled like the wild prairie, the hot sun, and the reckless wind. It was a cowboy’s cologne, and it mixed well with his persona. All of it together lit a fire in his soul, heating his cock almost to the point of boiling. Without rhyme or reason, they moved closer to each other as they leaned against the bar. Saul could feel the fierce chemistry between them and put out his hand in friendship.

“I’m ...” He’d considered giving Storm a fake name, but decided against it at the last moment. “... Saul Denis,” he said.

When Storm took his hand, Saul’s eyes closed when he felt his body’s warmth. The intimacy of it spurred his senses. A dark and wonderful place existed in his mind -- a place where only he and Storm lived. He’d imagined any number of times how it would be. His kiss would be far from tender. It would be fierce, hot, and hungry ...

“I’m Storm Benedict.”

His words made the dream dissolve away slowly like a smoldering flame, and his eyes opened slowly, his desire showing in every flicker of his gaze. Would Storm guess without him having to tell him? And what would be his response? “Storm,” he repeated softly. “Let me guess. You were born during a storm.”

“Actually, when I was put on my ma’s doorstep, I didn’t even have a name. But you’re right. It was in the middle of a storm. She always thought it was kind of a miracle that I didn’t get blown away. She always said that one of God’s angels must have kept me there.” He looked down into his drink, remembering. “She was kind of religious.”

“You said was. Does that mean ...?”

“Yeah, they’re both dead. Yellow fever.” Storm lowered his head, still feeling the ache that had settled in his heart when he thought about them. When he had wandered away, they were still alive, but when he came back, he found that they had died of yellow fever, so it seemed as if their death was only yesterday.

Saul could see the pain in Storm’s eyes. “God, I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay. Each day it gets a little easier.”

Saul gazed at Storm for a moment, almost envying him. There were very few women in his past that he revered. Certainly not his own mother, and Sable didn’t really count since she was his sister. Because he preferred men, he was a loner until he met Linus. Their affair lasted only a year, but it was enough time to convince him that he was different. He was instantly attracted to Linus and didn’t think he would ever meet another man like him until he picked up that picture and saw Storm.

Now, as he looked into Storm’s sexy eyes and watched his smooth, catlike movements, he wondered how he would take it if he told him that he was his ... mail-order bride.