by R. J. Scott
“It’s been forever,” he muttered against Jared’s throat, then kissed from throat to hip bone before coming back for more drugging kisses. “Oh, God…”
They set a rhythm, rocking, so close, and the kisses exchanged heated breaths and tangling tongues, and then Nate warning he was close, and he was going to end this if they weren’t careful.
“Do you… can I …” He pulled away, lying on his back, and Jared got his first good look at Nate’s cock, the perfect size, wanting his mouth there. Nate stopped him with a hand to his chest before tracing down to Jared’s cock and wrapping his hand around his erection. “I have condoms,” he sounded almost shy, and then kissed Jared. “Will you fuck me?”
Jesus. “Holy…” Jared was running out of superlatives, then when Nate reached for condoms and lube it seemed as if the entire room shrunk in on them and it was all too real. “Are you sure that—”
Nate stopped the question with a kiss, then widened his legs and reached between them, lube dripping from his hand, cursing when he couldn’t get the right angle. Jared was there in an instant, swiping his fingers through the lube and pushing inside Nate, a little bit, but enough so Nate would feel him. Nate pushed down against the touch, then moaned and closed his eyes, arching his neck, and Jared withdrew his fingers and suited up before he got covered in lube and lost focus to the slippery mess. Then he went back to work, stretching, kissing, catching Nate’s hand until they were both pressing inside, and then in a smooth action Nate moved to all fours.
“Now,” he ordered.
Jared had never seen anything so hot, changing position fast so he was there, pushing gently until he was seated deep inside Nate, and then he couldn’t move, because if he pressed any deeper he was going to lose it in an instant.
“Please…” Nate murmured, and Jared began to move, reaching around to get his hands on Nate’s beautiful cock. The rhythm he set was slow, certain, strong, and all too soon he was close and then Nate stiffened and groaned. “I’m… fuck…”
Jared’s orgasm came as Nate clamped down on him, when the wet heat of Nate’s cum coated his hand.
They both collapsed back onto the mattress, panting, blissed-out.
Or is that just me?
“Holy shit,” Nate muttered and then rolled on his side to kiss close to Jared’s sensitive nipples, but then he traveled up and captured another kiss. “That was…”
“Yeah…”
“I needed that more than you’ll ever know,” he admitted.
“Happy to oblige,” Jared offered, his sixth sense with these things sensing that Nate was withdrawing, maybe even regretting. “It was fun,” he tried for light and easy, and eventually he managed to kiss a smile back on Nate’s face.
Keep it simple. Don’t push him.
“We have to do that again,” Nate stated and laughed into a beautiful promise of a kiss, which Jared knew he would remember forever, even if this was the one sole time they ever got to do this.
They kissed lazily, explored each other, breaking apart when Jared knew he really had to leave. He might have fucked up one too many jobs for Bryant & Waites, but tomorrow was a commitment, and as much as he wanted to stay wrapped in Nate’s arms, he had to make a move. They kissed as Jared dressed, when they made it to the door, and when they said goodbye.
“Call me?” Jared asked.
“Yep.”
“I’ll call you.”
Another kiss.
“We can call each other.”
“We can do that.”
One last kiss, then Nate cradled Jared’s face. “You’re beautiful.”
Another kiss. Just one, and then Jared really had to go. “So are you.”
“I wish you didn’t have to go.” Nate smiled into yet another final kiss.
And then there was no way to avoid the fact that he had to leave. He walked backward down the hall like a lovesick teenager, sketched a small wave and then he turned his back on everything they’d done and headed home. He made it all the way to the sidewalk, heading left before his phone rang—Nate.
“Hey, you,” Jared murmured.
“This is me calling. Just to say night.”
“I’ll let you know when I get home.”
Neither of them ended the call. Jared encouraged Nate as they talked about everything and nothing, both wrapped up in the sensory hangover of what they’d done, until at last Jared was at his door.
“I’m home and now I need to go,” Jared said.
“Jared?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m falling for you; I should warn you about that.”
Jared smiled into the night and pressed the numbers to get into his building.
“Too late, I’m already falling for you, too. Night.”
“Night, Jared.”
Chapter Fourteen
Nate stood in front of the bookcase. His gaze was fixed on the photograph from his and Rhea’s wedding day. He thumbed the back of his wedding band.
It had been almost a week since he’d slept with Jared. The sex had been hot, satisfying. But that wasn’t all his time with Jared had been. They’d had a date, talked, connected, held hands across the table. The urge to get closer had built from there and sex had happened. Sure, it might have scratched an itch, but it was an itch Jared had started. He’d wanted to be with Jared because it was him.
It had to be him.
He glanced at his ring. He thought he would wear it forever, but if he had a chance at something new, something different… A new relationship, a new love. Could there finally be a reason to remove it?
Getting ahead of yourself.
They had been on one date.
We should probably make it to two before I start throwing around love.
“If that’s okay with you?” he said to Rhea’s image. She was smiling, and it almost felt as if that smile was from right then, real and warm and giving him permission.
Maybe I’m going crazy.
“Dad!”
Nate looked over his shoulder when Luka came running into the front room. His eyes were wide, and he held the cordless phone in one hand and performed a peculiar interpretive dance while waving his other arm around. “What is it?”
“Can I go?”
“Go where?”
“To the movies with Keegan?” He shoved the phone in Nate’s direction.
“Sure, when?”
“Now. His mom will come get me.”
Nate opened his mouth. “Right now? Okay, but”—Luka darted out of the room—”remember I’m working tonight so you’ll need to go to Lee’s when you get back,” he called after him.
“Dad said yes,” Luka said loudly. “Okay. Bye.”
Nate sighed, following after him. Luka rushed about his room, opened his drawers and closet, pulling out clothes, adding to the already scattered toys and books and belongings on the floor.
“Luka,” Nate chided. “I thought I asked you to clean up, not make more mess.”
“I’ll tidy it,” he insisted. “I want to wear my Pac-Man Tee.”
Nate glanced over the piles of clothes. “Here.” He bent down and pulled the black T-shirt from among some others.
Luka grinned. “Thanks, Dad.”
“No problem. Now, before Keegan’s mom gets here, pick the stuff you want me to drop at Lee’s for tonight, okay?”
Luka nodded. “Okay.”
Fifteen minutes later and Luka was heading out the door. “Here,” Nate said and handed him some bills. “But not too many snacks, got it?”
With a nod, Luka huddled with Keegan, the boys laughing together.
“He’s staying at my neighbor’s tonight because of work. You have her number still? Just in case.”
“I do.” Keegan’s mother smiled. She was a tall woman with long, straight black hair and heavy bangs set against her pale skin. She had the appearance of a porcelain doll, but appearances were deceptive, she was anything but a fragile doll. “Come on you pair,” she said in a brisk tone. “Yo
u want to have time to get popcorn and sodas before the movie starts, don’t you?” She walked away.
“Yes, Mom,” Keegan said and stood straight, gripping Luka by the wrist and dragging him along as they followed her.
“Bye,” Nate called after them.
He shut the door, considered what to do with his time before heading to the bar. First, he needed to take Luka’s things over to Lee’s. He made his way to Luka’s room and surveyed the chaos. Luka was a kid and made kid-mess, but this was on a whole new level.
“Oh, Luka,” he grumbled and started picking up the clothes Luka had thrown about. Luka had been asking for his room to be decorated for the last month. There needed to be a serious decluttering before that happened.
Carefully, Nate folded the clean T-shirts and put them in the dresser, piled some of the books Luka had left lying around, and generally tidied around, then picked up the backpack Luka had set aside. He hadn’t realized the zipper was open and cursed as the contents in the top of the bag fell on his foot. He pressed his lips in a line and wiggled his toes, and with a sigh, bent down, tucked Luka’s journal back in his bag and collected the loose sheets of paper that had scattered across the floor.
What’s this?
Beneath one of the pages was what looked like a business card.
“Bryant and Waites,” he read, having picked it up. “Who are they? Attorneys?” He turned the card over. It was a simple design—all black and gold and angled lines. Apart from the company name the only other detail was a phone number. He stared at the digits. Why did Luka have something like this?
He tapped the card on the back of his hand, considered what to do. Was this something Luka had picked up or had someone approached him and handed it to him? Why?
Screw it. Before his mind crafted some bizarre scenario, he should just call the number on the card. He pulled out his cell, typed in the digits and waited.
“Hello. Bryant and Waites, boyfriend hire service. This is Rowan speaking; how can I help?”
Nate quickly hung up. “Boyfriend hire,” he uttered. He eyed the card. What kind of hire? Escorts? Was it that kind of thing? Not that it mattered, he was more concerned with how Luka had gotten hold of their business card. His first instinct was to head straight to the cinema, wrap Luka in a hug and insist they talk—what in god’s name had Luka gotten hold of? Panic gripped him along with the idea of calling the cops and sickening thoughts of who had been around his son, but then he counted down from ten and pulled himself together. No point in panicking yet.
I need to talk to Luka.
He glanced at Luka’s journal. He had promised himself, and Luka, to never pry, to give Luka his own space for his thoughts and feelings, but finding the card wasn’t sitting right with Nate. The journal’s lock was just for show and with a squeeze of the clasp it opened.
I’ll just skim through for any mention of this Bryant-Waites place. Nate felt bad but he wanted to be sure. As far as he knew Luka hadn’t been acting any differently, and if he had, he was nearly a teenager so acting differently and teen years went hand-in-hand. Apart from taking off by himself the other week, everything had been the same as normal.
He started at the end of the journal, flicked back through the pages. He didn’t read every word as he scanned for any mention of the company. Jared’s name appeared in some of the newer entries, but Nate didn’t read further. When or if he and Jared looked to become a real, lasting relationship, then he would talk to Luka.
“Oh,” he said out loud then read from the page he’d stopped at, “Dear Mr. or Mrs. Bryant and Waites, my Auntie Lee said that you let people borrow boyfriends…” Nate raised an eyebrow. “Lee, what on earth have you been telling him?” He continued, “… and I want one for my dad. It’s his birthday… a nice present…”
It’s your birthday soon. I wanted to get you something.
“Luka. Don’t tell me…”
Your son was near my work.
Nate closed the journal, slipped it back inside Luka’s bag and closed the zipper.
He hesitated for a moment, then redialed the number.
“Hello. Bryant and Waites. This is Rowan speaking; how can I help you?”
“Hi, sorry to bother you but I was wondering if Jared was in today?”
“He isn’t I’m afraid. Is there something I can help you with? Do you have a reference number from a booking or—”
“No, no reference number.”
“Oh, okay. So, is this for a new hire? If so, you’ll need to send us through your requirements, location, dates etcetera. Is it Jared in particular you’re after? Did he work with you on a previous occasion?”
“Actually,” Nate massaged his brow, “I’m sorry, something’s just come up, but thank you for your help.”
“Oh, sure. Not a problem. We look forward to hearing from you.”
“Yeah.” He ended the call, then stared at the phone for the longest time. Had Jared been hired? And with what money? And what was Jared out there doing? And how could that affect Luka? He pulled up his contacts to make another call.
“Hey, you,” Jared answered after a couple of rings.
“Am I disturbing you?” Nate asked.
Jared made a strained sound, as if he was stretching. “Nope. I was just reading the same page in a textbook for the tenth time.”
Nate picked up the business card, tapped it on his chin. “Can I see you tonight? I think we need to talk.”
“Is everything okay?”
Was it? Nate didn’t know what to say or think, but he let his rational side do the talking. “Yeah, just some stuff came up. Come to the bar when you can.”
“I’m nearly done here, meet you soon?”
“I’ll be there.”
When Nate hung up he stared at the phone some more, as if it could give him all the answers. He didn’t want this to be an issue, he liked Jared a lot—more than a lot maybe—and he didn’t want this to be fake. What have I gotten myself into? He groaned and scrubbed at his eyes. “Luka, what did you do?”
“Your beer,” Nate said with a smile, and handed Jared his drink.
“Thanks.” Jared brushed the back of Nate’s hand as he took the bottle.
Nate caught Gregg’s eye. “I’m just going to take a quick break. I’ll be in the office if you need me.” He indicated to Jared to follow him through to the back.
“So, we’re back where the magic happens,” Jared said as he stepped inside.
“Something like that,” Nate said with a laugh and closed the door behind them. He stood for a moment and observed Jared who seemed relaxed in the small space.
“I was happy when you said you wanted to see me. Not that your texts hadn’t made me happy, but seeing you again…” He sipped his beer. “I really enjoyed dinner last week.”
“Me, too,” Nate said.
Jared placed his drink on the desk, then came to stand in front of Nate. “Can I kiss you?”
Even though he wanted to talk, it was suddenly imperative that he got one last innocent kiss. Just to remind him if he was on his own again.
Nate nodded. He closed his eyes as Jared cupped his face with one hand as he kissed him. Jared ran his other hand over Nate’s hip, teasing his fingers beneath the bottom of his shirt and brushing the skin of Nate’s stomach.
A shiver ran up Nate’s spine and the chill made way for a heat that immediately headed south. “Wait,” he said and pulled back.
Jared gently stroked his thumb over Nate’s cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re serious about this, us, right?” Nate reached into the back pocket of his pants.
“Yes.”
“You remember how I said I was falling for you. I want to be able to fall, but I need to be sure.”
“Of course I’m serious about you. Why wouldn’t I be—” He looked down when Nate brought up his hand and pressed it, along with the business card to his chest.
“So, that job of yours?” Nate said. “I’d love to hear more about
it.”
Jared’s eyes widened. “Where did you get that?”
“It doesn’t matter where I got it. I just need for you to explain to me what this is.” He held up the card. “What is it you do, Jared?”
“It’s sorta complicated.”
Nate shook his head. “It doesn’t have to be. I called the number on the back. A boyfriend hire service I think whoever answered said.”
“That would be Rowan.”
“I don’t think that really matters right now. Is this place a… Are you a…”
“Am I what?”
“Are you an escort?” Nate rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, I’m not judging you, I mean, I’m sure it’s a great job and as long as you’re being safe when you’re with people then you’re an adult so… It’s just… Luka. I have to think about Luka and what’s best for him. I know it should be about me and you, and maybe if it was just us I could handle what you do, but it’s not. Luka is a thing and always will be. I mean, you’re a student and I guess the money must be good.” He met Jared’s eyes. “You weren’t made to do it, were you? You haven’t got piles of debts have you?”
Jared shook his head. “Nobody’s making me do anything.”
“Right. So, you really are…”
“Wait. That’s not what I meant. I’m not an escort.” Nate leaned back when Jared gripped his shoulders. “I’m what we call a boyfriend. One you can hire. A companion available for weddings, parties, events. They can hire me for a day or a week or whatever, within reason.”
“So, not an escort?”
“No. No, definitely not. I’m not saying others might not have, you know, and I’m certainly not saying I haven’t been propositioned, but that is not the role I’m hired to do. I’m simply there to help people. Be it for support maybe while attending a wedding, or so someone can show an ex how they’ve moved on, or just simply being a friend and spending time with them. I guess being a psychology student I found the people who used such a service interesting.”
“Okay.”
“Okay? Okay, what?”
“Just, okay. I don’t know what else to say.”
Jared gripped him more tightly. “Then what do you need to hear? I meant what I said. I am serious about us and I didn’t mean to lie, well, I didn’t lie-lie. I didn’t think it mattered, not in the beginning.”
