“Goodnight, Caleb.”
“Night, Heath, see you soon.” Caleb smoothed Heath’s hair back, gave him a chaste kiss on his forehead, winked and got into the car.
*~~~*
At Santorno the next day, Stefan spent part of the afternoon going over Caleb Vaughn’s background check. It was clean. His parents disowned him at seventeen because was gay and therefore, according to them, ruined their social standing. That made Stefan angry. Kick your kid out because your shallow friends are more important than your child? What assholes.
Caleb was making straight As when his parents kicked him out on his own. He continued to make them in college. There were no run-ins with the law, no drugs, no nothing.
Stefan smiled. This kid deserved a break.
“Mr. Youngblood?” Stefan’s intercom system interrupted his thoughts.
“Yes, Lucy?”
“I have HR on the line.”
“Put them through.”
Stefan hit speakerphone.
“Mr. Youngblood, I just met the young man you told me about this morning. His resume is impeccable. He is definitely the man for the job. Shall I hire him?”
“I have no say in the matter, Linda. This one is up to you.” Stefan twirled his pencil.
“Well then, I’m hiring him. It’s what’s best for the company.”
“Hire away, Linda. Thank you.”
Stefan hung up the phone and smiled. He didn’t know why, but he liked Caleb immensely. Maybe it was because he had been there for Heath through all of this and had never tried to fuck him. Heath had pouted when he told them how many times Caleb had said no when he tried to get more intimate. Maybe it was the fact that Caleb was head over heels in love with his son. It was like a bright shining beacon in the night. Stefan laughed.
“Mr. Youngblood?”
“Yes, Lucy?”
“Your aunt is here.”
Stefan frowned and huffed out a breath. “Fine. Send her in.”
Angela blew in and took a seat. She could tell her nephew’s anger had not dissipated.
“Stefan.”
“Aunt Angela.”
“Tristan O’Conner is no longer my employee. He has quit. He blackmailed me with the photos.”
“I know.” Stefan smiled.
“What?”
“Yes, Jordan put him up to that. But you would have kept him on, wouldn’t you? Even after everything, if he had not blackmailed you. You would have kept him working for you. That’s just how greedy you are, Aunt Angela.”
“Stefan, I want us to get past this.”
“That won’t happen anytime soon.”
“Stefan, please? I am sorry I hurt Isabelle. I have tried to call her and apologize. She won’t take my calls.”
“Then take the hint. She doesn’t want to talk to you and right now, neither do I.”
“Stefan…”
“Leave. Don’t forget how many shares I own in your company.”
“Are you threatening me, Stefan?”
“Now why would I do that?” Stefan smiled menacingly.
Angela didn’t like what she saw. This was not the sweet nephew she knew so well.
“Fine. I will leave. But I still love you, Stefan. Maybe someday you and Isabelle can forgive me.”
“Maybe, but for now, stay away from my children. All of them.”
“Goodbye, Stefan.”
Angela left and Stefan leaned back in his chair. He could pull Global out from under her, but he wouldn't. This minute he was more concerned about the letter on his desk. He needed to talk to his father, his biological one. And soon.
*~~*
Isabelle had finally talked to Jacob about Tristan’s letter. She was sitting on his bed watching him pack his duffel bag to go back to Missouri for the last eight months of his contract.
“So, what do you think?”
“I think you should call him and meet with him.”
“Why, Jacob?”
“Get closure.”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“I think it would be best, Izzy.”
Now, as she sat across from Tristan at the coffee shop, everything he had said to her that night came flooding back.
He had called her a slut.
“I’m sorry, Isabelle. I really am.” Tristan sounded completely sincere.
“I know you are, but it’s over. You actually thought I would willingly be part of my great-aunt’s scheme.”
“I know; I should have never gone there.”
Isabelle considered him carefully. Whatever feelings she’d had were gone.
“No, you shouldn’t have. And the fact that it took my father pointing it out instead of you realizing it on your own makes it that much worse.”
Isabelle’s phone rang; it was Bethany.
“Honey, did you and Jacob have a fight?”
“No, why?”
“He got a cab to the airport, said you would be better off with someone close by who cared about you. What is going on?”
“What flight, Aunt Bethany?”
“232, leaves in half an hour.”
“Thanks, Aunt Bethany!”
Isabelle hung up. “I have to go. The love of my life is trying to leave and I’ll be damned if he does it again.”
“Good luck, Isabelle.” Tristan smiled.
Isabelle sped to the airport. She dashed in and got caught at the security line. She could see Jacob’s back in the crowd; he was in full uniform.
“JACOB!” she screamed.
She watched him turn around. He saw her and came running. She broke through the barrier and ran into his arms.
The security guard was going to stop her until the other guard stopped him. “This isn’t a terrorist threat. This is love,” she laughed.
“What are you doing here, Izzy?” Jacob kissed her hard and hugged her.
“What do you mean me? What did you think you were doing?”
“I thought maybe Tristan had made amends. You could have a life, you know? With someone who isn’t gone — or damaged.”
“You are so stupid! Don’t you know that YOU are my life?” Isabelle kissed him. The whole airport erupted in clapping.
“So, you’ll wait?” Jacob smiled.
“Of course I will, idiot!!” She kissed him again.
*~~~*
Damon and Tyler were hanging out by the pond. It was Valentine’s Day and each had gotten a card for the other.
“This is so sappy, Tyler,” Damon laughed.
“Yeah, I think yours is worse.” Tyler shoved his shoulder, nearly sending him over.
“I couldn’t find one that said ‘I care about you a hell of a lot’.” Damon grinned.
“Yeah? Me neither,” Tyler agreed.
“I didn’t want to get you some joke card, either. I really like you. I mean really.” Damon glanced sideways at Tyler.
“Yeah? I really like you, too,” Tyler whispered.
Damon leaned in and kissed Tyler softly. He pushed him back gently to the ground and deepened the kiss. He slid his hands under Tyler’s shirt, and felt his heart rate speed up immediately. Tyler’s tongue explored his mouth slowly and Damon moaned when Tyler’s hand went to the front of his jeans.
“Tyler…” Damon breathed.
“I want to feel you.” Tyler kissed him again.
“I want you to touch me, but not here.” Damon looked into Tyler’s eyes.
“Where?”
“Come on.” Damon led Tyler into the woods. He found a nice grassy spot and sat down.
Tyler pushed him back slowly. He moved in between Damon’s legs and held himself above him.
“I’m not ready for sex, Damon, but I want to feel you, if that’s okay?”
“I’m not, either. Of course it’s okay.” Damon pulled down Tyler’s sweats and stroked him before wriggling his own pants past his knees.
Tyler’s hand gripped Damon’s erection and he rubbed his thumb over the head. They looked into each other’s eyes,
breathing hard. Tyler moved Damon’s hand from his erection and pressed against him, his hands on either side of Damon. He rocked back and forth, their hard cocks pressed together, slick skin rubbing like silk. They both came hard and fast.
“Tyler!” Damon panted.
“That was… yeah.” Tyler kissed Damon.
They cleaned each other up and walked hand and hand toward the house.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Tyler.” Damon kissed him again.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Damon.” Tyler pulled him in for a hug.
~*~
Steve and Charlie enjoyed a Valentine’s dinner and then headed to their ‘spot.’ Steve had given her a dozen red roses and a necklace with a heart pendant. Now, they were making out in the bed of his truck.
“We have to stop, Charlie.” Steve was trying to get his breath back.
“I know.”
“As much as I want you, I want to wait.” Steve moved away a few inches and looked at her.
“Me too.”
“You do?”
“Well, yes. I mean, I care about you a lot. But this is a big step. You know?”
“I would think so, since I’ve been saying it for months.” Steve smiled.
“Shut up.” She playfully smacked him.
“Next year, you’ll be a senior, and I’ll be away at college.”
“Have you decided where you’re going?”
“I got accepted at Harvard.”
“Wow, Steve! That’s great!” Charlie hugged him hard.
“But it’s so far away, Charlie.”
“Don’t you dare! You will go to Harvard. Understand?” She pulled his face to hers.
“I’ll miss you.” Steve kissed her.
“I’ll miss you, too,” Charlie whispered.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Charlie.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Steve.” Charlie smiled. There were a few things Steve didn’t know, and she wasn’t telling. Not yet, anyway.
*~~~*
Heath and Caleb had gone to the movies and were now finishing dinner. Caleb had taken him out of town to his favorite restaurant, and Heath hadn’t stopped eating since they got there.
“Wow, you can put it away.” Caleb gaped at him.
“I’m a growing boy.” Heath winked at him.
“Okay, don’t do that.” Caleb shifted.
“Don’t do what?” Heath raised an eyebrow.
“Look at me like that. Jesus, you really have no idea the effect you have on me, do you?”
“No, tell me.” Heath lowered his voice.
“Oh hell.” Caleb ran his hand through his hair.
“Can we go now?”
Caleb felt his temperature rise.
“Yes.”
Minutes later, they were in the car and Heath’s hand was running up Caleb’s thigh.
“Heath, please, I’m trying to drive.”
“Pull over. I need to kiss you right now.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
Caleb pulled over. He had barely shut off the engine before Heath was in his lap, kissing him.
“Damn, Heath!” Caleb was trying to breathe. Heath was all over him. “Not that I’m complaining, but what’s gotten into you?”
“I can finally be me. I want to take you somewhere. Will you come with me?”
“Of course.”
“After I finish kissing you for a while, of course.” Heath pounced again.
Later, they went to Sal’s where they sat in full view of the door. Heath held Caleb’s hand.
“Heath, are you sure?”
A group of Heath’s friends came in. They took in the scene and approached the table.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” Heath smiled.
“Um ... nothing. Who’s this?”
“This is my boyfriend, Caleb. Caleb, um…people.” He smiled again.
There was a moment of silence and then his friends joined them. Caleb squeezed his hand and smiled. Heath answered questions for the next two hours. When Caleb finally got him home, Heath was exhausted.
“Your friends took that well.” Caleb palmed his face.
“I think my friends have huge crushes on you.” Heath nuzzled Caleb’s neck.
“Yeah? Which ones?”
“All of them,” Heath laughed.
“So, boyfriend, huh?” Caleb tried to hide his smile.
“I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that.” He pulled away.
“Do you want me to be your boyfriend, Heath?” Caleb tipped up Heath’s face and studied the deep brown eyes.
“Yes,” Heath whispered, worried he had taken too much for granted.
“Then I am.” Caleb let his smile spread and pulled him in for a kiss. He held him tightly and kissed him passionately. Heath moved his hands to Caleb’s hair, threading his fingers through the soft strands.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Heath.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Caleb.”
“I should go.” Caleb moved away.
“Why? I want you so much.”
Heath had that “look” that drove him crazy. God, he wanted him, but he would wait. He had to.
“Why? Because I want you too, Heath. You have no idea.”
“Why? Why are you making me wait, Caleb?”
Caleb looked him in the eye. “Because when we make love I want you to love me, too.”
Caleb got into his car and drove away, leaving Heath in the front doorway.
Heath was rooted to the floor in shock. “Too?”
*~~~*
Stefan and Jordan were relaxing in the living room as the kids came home one by one. Isabelle was holed up in her room, Skyping with Jacob. They watched as each child strolled in, each wearing an expression of deep thought.
“What’s wrong with our children, Jordan?”
“Life?”
“You know I thought it would get easier when they got older. It just gets harder, with a whole new set of problems,” Stefan sighed.
“Yeah, like sex.” Jordan snorted.
“Speaking of sex ...” Stefan smiled and ran his hand up Jordan’s thigh.
“Damn, Stefan.” Jordan felt the goose bumps go up his arms.
“I say we head to our room. It is Valentine’s Day.” Stefan waggled his eyebrows.
“Okay, but we have to wait a little bit. Make sure the kids are asleep. You’re loud.”
“Me? Have you heard yourself when I’m giving you…?”
“Stop…shhh…don’t say that out loud.” Jordan put his hand over Stefan’s mouth.
“A back rub? “ Stefan finished. “Golly, Dr. Youngblood, you have a dirty mind! ”
“You will pay.” Jordan gave him a wicked look.
“Oh, don’t threaten me with a good time.” Stefan licked his lips.
“I’m going to fuck you so hard.” Jordan licked his own lips.
“Yeah? Let’s go.” Stefan pulled Jordan up and dragged him to their room.
Jordan put the TV on loud and locked the door. He ripped Stefan’s shirt off and pulled his pants down. He pushed him onto the bed on his stomach. Jordan lubed himself, picked Stefan up by his hips, and entered him fast and hard.
“Fuck!” Stefan put his face in a pillow.
Jordan pounded Stefan into the bed. He smacked his ass hard and smiled when he heard a grunt.
“Faster, baby?” Jordan smiled.
“God, yes,” Stefan’s voice was muffled.
Jordan slammed into Stefan mercilessly. He could feel his own orgasm rising and he came with a low moan. He flipped Stefan over and took him in his mouth, his head bobbing up and down.
Stefan was on his back, with a pillow over his face. The sensation of Jordan sucking his cock was driving him crazy.
“Deeper, Jordan — take it all!” Stefan pushed Jordan’s head down.
Jordan doubled his efforts and smiled when he felt Stefan come in his mouth.
Jordan climbed up Stefan and kissed him. “God
, I love you.”
“I love you too. Next time it’s my turn.” Stefan grinned wickedly.
Chapter 11
Stefan’s charitable foundation party was in full swing and he was watching the crowd engaged in dancing, laughing, talking, eating and generally having a good time. There were men in tuxedos as far as the eye could see, as well as elegantly dressed women. All in all, it was a quite a turnout.
Then again, when someone came to him to solicit money for a cause, it never hurt for them to have supported Stefan’s charitable foundation before they approached him with their hand extended for their own. Sort of a do-gooding tit-for-tat.
Stefan smiled with pride as Jordan made the rounds. His husband looked so damned sexy in a tuxedo — and making small talk was not easy for him. Stefan got hard at the sexy sight and the depths Jordan would go to for his husband. He continued his sweep of the room and spotted Heath and Caleb in deep conversation by one of the buffet tables. Caleb looked upset. It appeared as if Heath was trying to comfort him.
They left the table and approached a couple laughing with other patrons. Caleb extend his hand to the man, only to have the man turn his back on him. Caleb’s hand dropped to his side and Stefan could tell Heath was getting angry. The woman spoke to them and Caleb’s face went pale.
Stefan had had enough. He walked toward them, the tension washing over him in waves as he approached.
“Is there a problem here?” He smiled pleasantly, glancing from his son to the couple.
“Oh, Mr. Youngblood, I’m so glad to meet you,” the woman gushed. “I’m Cynthia Vaughn, and this is my husband, David.” She put her hand out and Stefan shook it.
“What’s wrong, Heath?” Up close, Stefan verified that his son was definitely upset.
Cynthia spoke up again. “We’re so happy to be here. Our medical research has come so far with your donations, Mr. Youngblood.” She gave him a wide, overly whitened smile.
“Caleb?” Stefan studied Caleb’s face. “Are you all right?”
“It’s okay, Mr. Youngblood.” Caleb cast his eyes to the floor.
Stefan peered closely at Caleb’s face and light dawned. The woman had said ‘Vaughn.’ These were Caleb’s parents.
“Well you should be very proud of your son, Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn. He works for me at Santorno shipping and he’s become indispensable.” Stefan smiled again.
An Eye for an Eye (The Santorno Stories 2): The Santorno Stories Page 14
