Guys on the Bottom - Guys Book Three
Page 29
And I liked the spankings Duncan gave me frequently, whether I’d been naughty or not.
One of the elves on duty took the tray of drinks from me and brought it over to her cohorts, then walked over to tend Corey and Angelo’s table.
“It’ll pick up,” Robert said. “It’s Friday night. People tend to show up later on Friday because they’re just getting home from work and figuring their shit out.”
Robert’s brown skin was also painted with glitter, and he wore the same pointed ears I did, but he still wore a leafy, fitted costume. He didn’t seem to mind. He got a lot of attention from customers and made a lot of tips.
I looked up, then did a double-take when I saw Doug and Stewart walk in and join Corey and Angelo at their table. A couple minutes later, Jairo came in with Rod, and they sat at the table next to the others.
“Well shit,” I said.
Robert snickered.
I looked at him. “What the hell is going on?”
He ignored me, and left the bar hut. He walked over and whispered something in Barry’s ear. Barry got up and strolled over to me, leaning his elbows on the bar and smiling. “You’re off-duty, kid.”
“What? Why?”
He turned around and pointed. A stream of people came through the entrance to the garden. I saw employees from the main bar, then Sarah and Yvonne, even my fucking mother, and my head was spinning. At the end of the line, was Duncan, holding a cake with candles on it, and I laughed and doubled over, resting my head on the bar as they started to sing.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”
I looked up when they finished, blushing as the crowd cheered. The cake was set down on a table near the bar, and Duncan came round and grabbed my arm. “Come on. You have to blow out the candles.”
“My birthday’s not ‘til next week,” I said as I followed him out, but I couldn’t stop smiling.
“That’s why we had to do it on a night you wouldn’t expect,” Duncan said. “Now go on. Make a wish.”
“Oh my God,” I said. “You got me a unicorn cake.”
“There’s unicorn meat in it,” Stewart said. “Are you allowed to eat that?”
“There is not! It’s a vegan unicorn cake,” Sarah said. “I made sure.”
My smile widened. “It’s vegan, really?”
“Just a tiny bit of unicorn cock in it,” Corey said. “Unicorn foreskin, good for virility. It’ll make your dick as stiff as a horn.”
My mother scowled up at him. “Corey Stengel! Watch your mouth.”
“Sorry.” Corey winced and wrapped his arm around my mother. “Forgot you were here.”
“Come on,” Doug said. “Make a wish and blow out the candles!”
I looked around at the crowd gathered near the cake. At the fairy lights and fountains and trees, the elves and friends and people I loved. How could I make a wish? I already had everything I wanted. So I simply wished for continued happiness, and blew out my candles.
There were more cheers, then loud music started, and the party was on. Duncan had closed the garden to the public for the occasion, but it was still pretty damn full, and I couldn’t stop marveling that all these people were here for me. For a guy who’d spent the better part of a year basically alone and unloved, it wasn’t a bad deal. A man I loved who loved me back. The perfect job. And these people here now, everyone I cared about, brought together as one. My tribe.
Before I knew it, the night had grown late, and I was bidding my goodbyes as guests trickled out of the garden. I was given joke gifts by my friends, kissed on the cheeks by elves, and hugged by my mom. It was a whirlwind, and once it was over, I sat down at a table near the big fountain and groaned, putting my feet up on a chair.
Duncan came over and sat down with me, looking gorgeous and tan in a white tee shirt. “Had enough, my birthday boy?”
“I’m exhausted. But thank you.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him in for a kiss. “Thank you so much, this was great. I was stunned.”
“I was hoping so. I had to pretend you were working tonight, otherwise you wouldn’t have worn the ears and makeup.”
I snickered. “You wanted me to match the scenery for my birthday?”
“I did.” He reached over and peeled my ear tips off. “But now you’re officially off duty.”
I slid my hand up his thigh, grinning. “Where are we sleeping tonight? Because I expect a birthday fuck, if this is my night.”
“I have something for you.” He slid me a card.
I opened it, finding a gift certificate to one of those fancy kitchen stores downtown. We’d been there once, and I’d freaked out, wanting to buy everything. The gift certificate was for a ridiculous amount of money. “Oh, Duncan. I love the stuff in there.”
“I know. You were like a kid in a candy store when I took you there.”
“Oh my God, they have so much great stuff. I’m excited, thank you.”
“You said you wanted to experiment with your cooking. I figured you should have the supplies you want.”
“But this is too much. I’ll never fit…” I stopped myself, flushing. “Thank you. It’s great.”
Duncan stood and held his hand out. “Dance with me a minute?”
“Dance with you?” I stood. “We don’t dance.”
He pulled me in and we began to sway to the soft music still piping through the sound system. “We do tonight,” Duncan said. “A birthday dance.”
I sighed and rubbed my cheek against his, inhaling his scent. “You are so thoughtful. Thank you again for tonight.”
“You deserve it.” He eased back and looked into my eyes. “You have made my life so incredible. Do you know that?”
I smiled. “Your life was pretty incredible already when we met.”
Smirking, he pinched my ass. “Do not offer counterpoints when I’m trying to express my feelings. Especially since you kicked my ass so hard for not doing so in the past.”
“I’m sorry. You’ve made my life incredible too.”
“I was thinking.” He pulled me close again as we swayed together by the fountain. “You’d have more room to experiment with your cooking if you gave up your apartment and moved into my house.”
Emotions rolled over me, so sudden and unexpected I let my face fall onto his shoulder, trying to keep tears at bay.
“Zach?”
I sniffled. “Yeah.”
“Oh shit,” Duncan said, rubbing my back. “I asked too soon, didn’t I?”
“No.” I eased back and kissed him, then chuckled. “I just didn’t want you to see me cry like a fucking idiot. I would love to move in with you.”
Duncan wiped a tear from my cheek and let out a relieved breath. “Oh, thank God. I thought you were upset.”
“No.” I hugged him and chuckled against his neck. “I love you.” I pulled back and kissed him. “I fucking love you.”
He lifted my face, his fingers on my chin. “I love you, Zach. Are you sure you want this? Because I’ll warn you. Once I get you living under my roof, I’m never letting you escape.”
“I told you that night you pulled me into your car that I didn’t want to escape. I still don’t. Ever.”
“You ready to go home then?”
I smiled and wiped my eyes. “Yeah. Let’s go home.”
THE END
Darien Cox lives in New England, and enjoys using romantic fiction to explore the intensity, insanity, humor, and chaos that accompanies Cupid's arrow.
Author site: DarienCox.com
Books by Darien Cox
Safe in Your Fire: The Village – Book One
Deep in Your Shadows: The Village – Book Two
Trapped in Your Storm: The Village – Book Three
Stirring Creatures: The Village 3.5 – Holiday Special
Victim of Love
Fit For the Job
Guys on Top – Guys Book One
Guys on the Side – Guys Book Two
Guys on the Bottom – Guys Book T
hree
Criminal Pleasures
Seducing Professor Coyle