HIS TRUTH
RILEY HART
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 03.29.18
COVER DESIGN: X-Potion Designs
BLURB
They were only kids when they met for the first time. Leo Mancini was the son of a judge. Roman Cipriani the son of a criminal. So different, yet as they shared stolen kisses and secret moments, they fell in love. One day they would run away together, have the future they deserved, because no one loved Leo like Roman did, or Roman like Leo did. But before they could make their dreams come true, their future was viciously stolen and their lives changed forever.
Roman has spent the last twelve years repressing the trauma in his past, trying to pretend it didn’t exist, until even he believed his own lies.
Leo won’t let himself forget what happened because he doesn’t ever want to be that person again. He won’t become the man his father wanted him to be or the guy who gets hurt when he lets someone in.
But in that split second when their eyes meet again, everything changes. Despite Leo’s anger and Roman’s denial, the connection they shared as teens is still there, too powerful to deny. Now, when their moments don’t have to be stolen, they cling to what they’ve always craved—each other.
Roman and Leo aren’t kids anymore, though—they can’t lock themselves away from the world and pretend nothing exists but each other. A trauma like Roman suffered doesn’t just go away, but now that Roman accepts his truth, can the two of them escape their demons before they destroy Roman and Leo a second time?
Leo tossed and turned for he didn’t know how much longer. It felt as though the second he closed his eyes to sleep, he was woken up by a pounding on his door. For a minute, he almost ignored it, but then something made him force himself out of his bed. He pulled on a pair of shorts and stumbled to the door. When he opened it, he wasn’t surprised to see Roman standing there.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come so early,”Roman said as Leo scratched the back of his head. He wore a white, button-down shirt rolled up to his elbows and a pair of jeans. He looked embarrassed, and as much as Leo wasn’t sure how he felt about it, he thought it was cute that Roman was obviously excited to have come so early.
“No, it’s fine. Come in.”Leo stepped back. Roman walked inside the small apartment and held up a plastic bag.
“I made crostoli.”
His stomach growled. The sweet pastry sounded delicious. “This early?”Leo closed the door behind them.
“I couldn’t sleep. They won’t be as good because they’re not warm, but I thought you might enjoy them.”
Leo nodded, felt something warm in his chest as he looked at the other man. At his smooth brown skin and dark hair. The lines of his jaw that made him model-gorgeous. He was beautiful. Roman had always been beautiful. When he was younger it was more of a harsh beauty than now.
“Let’s sit.”He nodded toward the small table. Roman made his way over while Leo went into the kitchen to start coffee. He excused himself to go to the restroom, and by the time he made it out, he was able to stop the pot long enough to pour them each a cup.
A few moments later, he set the mugs down as Roman pulled the sugar-covered pastries from the bag. They were on a plate he must have brought from home. He grabbed napkins and set one in front of himself and one in front of the other chair for Leo.
“I didn’t know you cooked…or baked, would it be?”he said when he sat down. He took a bite and nearly moaned at the sweet, flaky treat. “I didn’t use to. I started cooking in college. I remember my mom making crostoli before she left. She’d told me she learned from her grandma and she would teach me one day. She never did, but I perfected them on my own.”
Leo nodded, seeing shadows of the past darken Roman’s eyes. “You did. They’re good. You’ll have to make them here one time so I can taste them warm.”
Roman eyed him. He looked serious all the time now. Looked at Leo as though he’d asked him to move in rather than just finding a way to invite him over again. It put Leo’s senses on alert. He didn’t know what this was between them, but they needed to tread carefully.
“I’d like that,”Roman finally replied.
“You wanna cook for me?”Leo winked, and Roman smiled. “You won’t see me arguing about that.”
Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic, a lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together.
She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.
Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.
