“She’s got time at three but that’s all until next Tuesday. Can you make it?” Leaf asked.
“I have to work next Tuesday,” Luca replied. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there at three.”
“Okay, babe.” Leaf hung up and Luca set down the phone before looking back at Kane.
“Fine. I have some time. What do you want to ask me?”
“How long have you known Mr. Lombardi?” Kane asked.
Luca shrugged. “I’m not sure. About a year, I guess.”
“You guess?” Kane asked him pointedly.
“Yeah. I guess. I’m not sure. I have a lot of friends. I met Freddy through one of my former employees. He had some work done at his firm and…”
“Fine. About a year,” Kane said. “And, what do you know about his past? Has he ever hustled before? Is it possible he could have known Slade Ruiz before that night your friend Corey saw him dancing with him?”
“Nothing, how do I know, and anything is possible,” Luca replied, ticking off the answers to Kane’s questions as rapidly as he’d asked him. He knew he sounded annoyed but he hated the way the man liked to trample over him and interrupt all the time.
“What’s your problem, anyway?” Kane growled.
“You interrupted me again,” Luca shot back.
“Okay, guys, this isn’t getting either one of you anywhere,” Kelly said, looking directly at Kane. “Either you start being nicer, or you’re leaving so I can finish the interview without you. I drove so you can grab an Uber.”
“Fine. Sorry,” Kane said. When he turned back to Luca, Luca was pretty sure he looked almost embarrassed. If Luca hadn’t been so irritated, he would have thought he looked almost shamefaced. “Does Corey know Freddy better? Should I interview him?” Kane asked.
Luca shook his head. “I’ve actually known him the longest out of our group from Barcelona.”
“What do you mean your group at Barcelona? You have different groups of friends at different bars?”
Luca stared at him, squirming just a little. He had friends all over town but since most of his social life took place in bars, it was kind of hard to explain to a straight guy that he went to certain bars to dance and certain bars just to pick up a piece of tail. He figured he’d go with the simplest answer.
“I hang out in bars, dance clubs, whatever. In the case of Barcelona, Freddy is one of the guys who hangs with our group there. I’ve rarely seen him at other bars.”
“Fine,” Kane said. “If I understand, you guys all hang there in a group, right?”
Luca nodded.
“Okay, so does Freddy have a particular friend that he’s close to the way you seem to be close to Corey? A platonic friend? You and Corey are platonic, right?”
“That is a personal question.” Luca shot Kelly a look. “Do I need to answer that?”
Kelly cleared her throat and leaned close to him. She reached over and touched his hand. “This isn’t about you and Corey but yes, if you can answer, it would be better.”
Luca nodded and looked back at Kane. “Okay, yes, then. Corey and I are platonic just like Freddy and I are platonic which is why it was so weird for him to try to get me to go home and sleep with him. He likes to kiss on the mouth which I don’t do unless I’m really crazy about someone but then…” He trailed off, as he felt the blush wash over him. He couldn’t believe he’d said that. Sometimes his mouth worked faster than his brain did. He was so embarrassed it wasn’t even funny.
Kane looked like a deer in the headlights. He kept blinking at Luca until he was convinced the man was having a seizure. Luca dragged his eyes away from Kane and glanced at Kelly. He didn’t know what to say. Even though he wasn’t sure she knew they’d slept together, what he’d just said drew attention to that fact. He felt tears burn behind his eyes and he stood up suddenly, turning away before either of them could see.
“Luca…,” Kelly began.
“Sorry, I’ll just be…” He turned and ran out of the room, fleeing to his bedroom where at least he could cry without an audience. He’d asked Kelly to handle things with Kane for exactly this reason. He couldn’t stand to see him anymore. It was breaking his heart. He slammed his door and sat down on his bed, dropped his face into his hands, and felt the tears leaking from his eyes. On the other side of his bedroom door, Luca heard the front door of his apartment open and close. He blew out a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn’t have to face Kane again. Whatever they’d had was over and done and hopefully, Kane would have everything he needed to be able to figure out what was happening to Freddy. As soon as he got his shit together, he was going to call Kelly and beg her not to bring Kane around anymore. It was too painful.
He stood up, walked into the bathroom on shaking legs, and ran cold water over a washcloth. He was pressing it against his red eyes when he heard someone tapping lightly on the door to his bedroom. At first he wasn’t sure he’d heard it at all but he turned and walked out of the bathroom to the bedroom door, leaning close without opening it. He listened and when gentle tapping came again, he nearly jumped out of his skin. He held his hand over his heart and reached for the doorknob, turning it slowly. When he opened it, Luca was shocked to see that it was Kane and not Kelly who loomed just outside.
Chapter Four
Kane watched the play of emotions across Luca’s red-rimmed eyes with a singular feeling of dread. Ever since running into him at Carina’s, he’d felt like a monster. For weeks he’d been pushing Luca away, first by calling him less and less and then by making a fool of himself and showing up at the bar with Kimber. Worse, he’d known what he was doing and his actions had been deliberate. Seeing Luca looking utterly wounded because of what he’d done made him sick to his stomach. Now, standing in front of him, he didn’t know what to do. He’d come to show contrition but when he reached out to wipe away a stray tear, Luca flinched away from him.
Oh, God.
“Luca…”
“What are you doing here? Where’s Kelly?” Luca asked, doing his best to peer around Kane’s wider body.
“Kelly’s gone. It’s just us now.” Kane took a tentative step closer and reached out, trying again. This time, he set both of his hands on Luca’s hips and curled his fingers into the fabric of his yoga pants, holding him in place.
“Why?” Luca raised his chin in defiance and Kane felt a tiny smile tug at his lips. Luca’s beauty even in all that indignant rage simply took his breath away. Luca’s gray-blue eyes, earlier clear and bright, were filled with storm clouds now. The realization that he’d contributed to that pain in his eyes felt like a punch to the gut.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” he breathed, taking another step forward. “I wanted to talk to you. That’s why I sent Kelly away without me.”
Luca’s lower lip trembled and Kane’s gaze was drawn to it, lost in his memories of the last time they’d kissed. He’d been such a fool to walk away from this man. Kane sighed deeply. He had to get Luca to talk to him again. He just didn’t know how.
“I know you don’t trust me. I’ve never given you a reason to, but if you’ll just sit down and talk with me, I promise I’ll explain things.”
Luca shook his head and another lone tear rolled down his face. Kane’s stomach clenched as he watched it track slowly down his cheek and into the short stubble on his chin. He knew how soft the hair was and it was everything he could do to keep from leaning down and kissing his tears away.
“I don’t need any explanations, Delancey,” Luca said, softly. His words were heavy as if weighed down by defeat. “I know why you did the things you did. I know why you stopped calling. I even know why you made Kelly bring you here. You are confused about your sexuality and…”
Kane stopped his words with a tiny snort, shaking his head.
“You don’t know shit, Luca.” His fingers tightened and he brought Luca’s hips forward until his groin was crushed up against his body. He leaned down and took his mouth in one fell swoop.
Luca gasped as Kane parted
his lips, breathing in the minty scent of his mouth as he found home. Luca struggled to extricate himself from Kane’s grasp, but there was no way he was letting him go, now that he had him close again. Kane slid his tongue inside Luca’s mouth, wrapping both arms around his back and pulling him even tighter until they were flush against each other from knee to chest. After a moment or two, Luca’s body relaxed and he began kissing Kane back. The animal in him roared in triumph when Luca’s arms snaked around his middle and held on for dear life.
They kissed slowly, diving into greater and greater depths as their mouths moved together. Kane didn’t want to let go of the man in his arms because holding on to him felt the way he knew things should be. Luca wanted to talk about his sexuality… like that would ever happen. Luca thought he had Kane all figured out.
Truthfully, if Kane hadn’t been watching Luca’s gorgeous lips say something that stupid, he probably would have dragged him to the couch, sat him down, and just listened to Luca tell him everything he did wrong. He already knew what he’d done wrong. He’d been beating himself up for it since he stopped calling. He missed Luca like crazy. No one else could make him laugh or roll his eyes as much as the challenging man in front of him. Besides, this—this was so much better. Being in Luca’s orbit was better. Watching Luca lose his appetite because he couldn’t concentrate with him in the room was better. Listening to Luca try to explain potbelly pig yoga was better. This man was everything.
They stood just inside the bedroom kissing for what seemed like ages before Luca’s arms finally loosened and Kane reluctantly broke the kiss. He kept his head bent, gazing down into gray depths that possessed the power to destroy him if he ever looked away. When Luca blinked his long dark lashes, the spell was finally broken and Kane straightened, letting go of him. He didn’t step back, merely slipped a hand into Luca’s and tugged him out of the bedroom. Luca followed until they were in the living room where Kane led him to the couch. He held a hand out and waved it at the sofa.
“Please, Luca. Sit and talk with me.” Kane ignored his body’s need for his lover. His dick was hard and throbbing, but as much as he wanted to take Luca right back into the bedroom and lay him out on his bed so he could kiss every inch of his gorgeous body, Kane had things to say. Luca sat beside him and pulled his legs up, crossing them and setting his hands primly into his lap. His body language was clear. He would listen, but he wasn’t prepared to believe anything Kane said. Kane knew he had to be completely honest.
“Thank you for talking with me,” Kane began.
“What is it? Why did you send Kelly away? What’s so important? I thought we were both fairly clear about this the last time we saw each other.” Luca was still eyeing him warily as he waved a hand back and forth in the space between them.
“I was an idiot the last time we saw each other and we both know it.” Kane was slightly nervous, unused to talking about his feelings with anyone. When Luca nodded, he went on.
“I deliberately chose Carina’s to take my date to.” He watched Luca’s eyes for any sign that what he was saying was going to matter. He wanted to be honest, but he felt like each word he uttered might have the power to make coming clean, backfire. “I chose that place because honestly, I thought I might run into you there. You told me before that you go there a lot and I guess…” He paused. It was harder than he thought it would be to admit he’d been a deliberate douche.
Luca frowned, tilting his head ever so slightly as if trying to parse that. “Why?”
Kane sighed and dragged his gaze away. It hurt just to look Luca in the eyes. He’d been such a royal asshole to him. He stared at his lap for several seconds before looking up again. Luca was watching him, waiting patiently.
“After we kissed that first time in the elevator, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stop kissing you and pursuing you until I had you under me.” He watched Luca for a clear sign that what he was saying was getting through. Luca’s expression remained impassive. Kane sighed again. “You understand, I have never felt like this in my life. I know some guys go out with men and women, preferring variety.” Luca’s tilted his head.
He is listening.
“I’ve never been like that, Luca. I was never even attracted to a man before meeting you. I swear to God, I never checked out guys in locker rooms or when I watched straight porn or when I saw couples on dance floors. I never looked at a guy and thought that I wanted to touch him.
“But… since meeting you, you’re all I can think about. All I could think was what it would feel like to touch you, kiss you, hell… just to sit down and listen to the sound of your voice. I swear, Luca, I love the sound of your voice.” He knew his words came out in a rush but he couldn’t help it. “You’re warm and funny and beautiful.” He stopped and leaned forward, reaching out to cup Luca’s cheek, looking deeply into the gray-blue depths of his magnificent eyes. “I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful in my life. The moment I first saw you at Marty’s, I knew I had to have you.”
Luca offered a slight smile. “Your date didn’t look too happy with you that night.”
Kane chuckled. “She stepped on me with her heels when we got out to the parking lot. I had bruises from her stilettos on the tops of my feet for a month.”
Luca smiled at him but it fell away much too quickly as he dropped his gaze back down to his clasped hands. Kane felt a sudden wave of panic. What was he going to do if Luca wouldn’t accept his apology? He reached out and took hold of both of Luca’s hands. The single silver bead he wore on one wrist on a black cord looked as sexy as it always did. Luca glanced up, staring at him.
Kane sighed. “I don’t really know what to do now, Luca. The truth is that I don’t want to think of my life without you in it, but I know I’ve hurt you so much.” He paused and watched Luca’s expression as the realization of what he was saying hit home. Kane let go of Luca’s hands and cupped both of his cheeks in his hands, staring into those gorgeous eyes. “I don’t know how to do this, Luca. I don’t know how to be gay or even be a…” Kane glanced away and then turned back. Luca was utterly focused on his face. Kane swallowed hard as he forced the next words out. “I know I don’t deserve your trust, but do you think you can… give me another chance, baby?” His words were nothing more than a whisper.
Luca gazed at him for a long while. He looked as though he was thinking things over before he finally spoke softly.
“I know it’s hard for you. I know you never expected to be with a guy. That fact was clear to me from the very beginning, Kane,” Luca said. Kane dropped his hands as Luca continued. “From the moment I met you, I wanted you.” He paused until Kane smiled. “I think we have to put effort into making this work. If we don’t at least try, we’ll both regret it… I mean I will.”
Kane nodded slowly, offering a tiny smile. “I will too. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
Kane was relieved. He hadn’t known what reaction he’d get from Luca but once he’d opened up and spoken from the heart—Luca had accepted what he said without judging him. That meant more to Kane than anything he could have hoped for. He leaned close and kissed him again, drawing Luca onto his lap until he was straddling him. Their groins brushed as Kane grew hard… all over again. He lingered in Luca’s mouth, tasting him, running his fingers up into Luca’s hair, seducing tiny moans out of him that nearly drove him wild. He’d never had this kind of connection with another person in his life.
What was I thinking when I was picking up women? I have the most beautiful angel in the world… right here… right now.
When they finally broke the kiss, Luca was smiling. His lips were swollen, his dimples popped, and all Kane could do was to lean his forehead against Luca’s and sigh in contentment. They gazed into each other’s eyes until Luca finally grinned widely, sitting up straight. Kane looked at him curiously. Luca’s cock was tenting the yoga pants he wore and all Kane could think about was how fucking lucky he was.
He slid his hand down and cupped Luca’s h
ard cock through the fabric, making him moan. Luca’s groans of pleasure were driving Kane insane. He needed to be inside this beautiful man. He tightened his grip on Luca’s uncut cock, smelling the precome that was already leaving a wet spot on the front of his pants. Kane gazed at his face, hungering for him more than he’d realized. He leaned forward until their lips barely brushed, both of their hard cocks pressing against fabric that needed to disappear… right now.
“I want to see you come, Luca. I want you to come all over me, baby,” he whispered against Luca’s mouth. He felt the man smile against his lips.
“Well, are you taking me to bed or not?” Luca asked, playfully. “After all, Vanna White won’t wait forever.”
Kane laughed and grasped both of Luca’s ass cheeks, lifting him clear of his body as he stood. Luca’s legs wrapped around him, holding him tight. He loved the feeling of being necessary in someone’s life. This was the man who made him feel that way. He took off toward the hallway and as Kane carried him, they kissed all the way to the bedroom. As soon as they were inside, Kane kicked the door shut with finality. He had Luca right where he belonged.
｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
Kane tossed Luca into the center of his bed and began yanking his clothes off even before Luca stopped bouncing. Luca laughed. This was going to be so much fun. He hadn’t expected to see Kane again so when he’d shown up with Kelly and then stayed to offer—what most people would agree—an epic apology, Luca felt like the king of the world. He pulled off his clothes and lay back on the bed as Kane squatted to take off his shoes and socks and then stood to shuck his pants. When he finally climbed onto the bed and stalked over to him, he was gloriously naked.
Play With Me Page 6
