Landon full belly laughed. “I’m marrying another man and you’re worried if she’ll be upset that you’re a bartender?”
Carl rolled his eyes. “Give me a fucking break here. In less than six months, I have discovered and admitted than I am indeed gay, I’ve professed my love for you and you have moved in with me and in a few short weeks we’re getting married. If I’m a tad bit worried about your mom accepting me, you’ll have to forgive me.”
“Don’t worry, she’s going to love you as much as I do,” Landon leaned over the table and kissed him. “Let’s get the waitress to pack this up and go home, we’ll order some Thai donuts and peanut sauce to go with it…and then I’ll pour it all over your body and lick it off.”
“Waitress,” Carl called holding his hand in the air and snapping his fingers.
***
The next day after their tux fitting, they went to the local florist and had a nice arrangement of daisies and baby’s breath made up in a teacup for Landon’s mom, before going to her waterfront condo.
Her living room window looked out over Rose Kennedy Greenway, it was hard to imagine now with all the lush green foliage and multiple gardens, that it was once an ugly dirty highway spanning through the heart of the city. Off in the distance you could just make out the top of the carrousel and see the fountains where children normally ran through the water screaming and laughing. This time of year was too chilly but didn’t stop people enjoying the park anyway. It was a little bit of heaven mingled amongst the concrete and steel monsters of the city.
To Carl’s relief Landon’s mom turned out to be a real gem. She greeted them with overly exuberant hugs and kisses, happy to see them both, then proceeded to give Landon a proper verbal scolding for staying away far too long. She was over the moon about the upcoming wedding and said she couldn’t be happier in Landon’s choice, fussing over Carl like he was her own.
She was fascinated or at least she faked interest in life as a bartender, asking lots of questions. Carl figured in her mind she saw him as Sam’s character from Cheers, where he was the go-to for advice and an ear to listen, she wasn’t too far off. Conversation led to dreams of doing other things, forcing him to reveal his having a business degree, to the shock of Landon.
“I wasn’t aware you had a degree, Babes,” Landon said.
“I have a Bachelor in Business Administration. It’s an unused one but I have it.”
Good to know, Landon thought with a sneaky grin.
As Landon had only given her a six hour warning, she served raspberry coffee cake that she purchased at the bakery and extremely strong coffee. Landon took a sip of his coffee looked at Carl with a cringe. Carl nearly choked on a mouthful of cake and laughed while Landon thumped him on the back trying desperately to resuscitate him.
“So if you have a degree, why are you a bartender then?” Landon’s mom asked him. “Landon could find you a position at Liberator; it’s a shame to waste the skills of a very intelligent man.”
“You’re very kind Mrs. Liberatore,” Carl said, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment. “But I’m very happy at the club, I practically run the place and who knows, now that Mik has Emma, she may ask me to step up into a management position.”
“Call me Carmen,” she tittered, “or mom.”
Landon had his mom’s dark hair and mocha colored eyes and from photos she shared, his chiseled features and stunning smile came from his dad.
“Tell me about the wedding,” she asked, refreshing Carl’s coffee.
She was a bit put out that she had not been included in the wedding planning and insisted on giving them the honeymoon of a lifetime.
“Italy, you have to stay at the Liberatore estate for a few days, see where it all started with your grandfather. And then I’d recommend at least a week in Spain, it’s so beautiful there. You’re going to need at least a month for a proper honeymoon.”
Carl was adamant that they were only taking a two week honeymoon. Landon told his mom that Paris had to be woven somewhere into her plans.
She caved, he clearly was the apple of her eye and Carmen was pleased to do anything to make her son happy.
“Paris, Italy and Spain,” Carmen announced. “All rolled into a two week period, you won’t have time to see it all.”
“We’ll be too busy to care, mom.” Landon winked and Carmen’s eyes widened once she understood his meaning.
“Landon,” she scolded, turning her attention to Carl. “Make sure he takes you to the hotspots at least. You must see the Eiffel Tower and the buildings in Barcelona are spectacular.”
“I will,” Carl grinned
***
A few hours later, they walked hand in hand and all smiles into Pulse. Rex had his arm draped over Tristan’s shoulder and they were laughing, strange because Rex wasn’t a funny guy. The happy quickly left their faces.
“Is there a reason our customers are sitting with empty glasses gentlemen?” Carl barked as Landon left the room.
“Because they haven’t ordered more?” Tristan asked.
“And why would that be, Tristan?”
He shrugged his shoulder. “Don’t know.”
“Could it be because you’re too busy fucking around behind the bar, and not over there serving them?”
“Sorry,” Tristan grabbed an order pad and pen and flew across the room to the patiently waiting customers.
Carl glared Rex’s way. “You know better.”
“Sorry man, we were just talking.”
“Keep it on your own time,” Carl warned.
“Hey, the new guys interested in working the side line, he wants to escort.”
“Fine, then send him to Mikala, it’s not your place to be telling him fuck all…can we get back to work now? You can rotate the beer cooler there’s a delivery due this afternoon.”
“Yes sir,” Rex said, with a scathing salute.
Tristan was taking orders, laughing and joking with three women seated too far from the bar to hear what they were saying, but Carl was entranced. Tristan was every bit the young gay spirit, no one needed to wonder or question his sexuality; he stood out and wore who he was strong and proud. Carl envied that, he wished he hadn’t hidden behind a faux persona for so long.
When Tristan came back to place the ladies’ orders, Carl got a close magnified look at Tristan’s face. His light brown hair was messy, a kind of purposeful messy with side burns that fed into a perfectly groomed scruff at his jaw. His eyes were water blue outlined in black making them appear overly bright. And his smile was gleaming, his teeth pearly white and his mouth cricked up slightly more on one side. The young man was perfect.
Perfect face.
Perfect hair.
Perfect body.
A twinge of jealousy nipped at Carl when he imagined Landon and Tristen together, Landon being the epitome of dominance, and Tristan of course being the perfect definition of a submissive.
“Carl,” Tristan said, shaking him from his daydream. “Did you hear me?”
“Sorry, say again?”
“Two whiskey sours and a G&T,” Tristan tilted his head. “Are you okay?”
“Fanfuckingtastic,” Carl snarled, as he reached for a glass and scooped ice into it.
Taking the rum from the shelf, Tristan clamped his hand over Carl’s wrist. “There’s no rum in a whiskey sour, is something bothering you?”
“My minds elsewhere, can you finish here for me, I need to take care of something,” Carl said, walking off before Tristan had a chance to answer.
Carl found Landon in the security room, leaning on the counter watching the screens. He walked up behind him and hugged him around the waist from behind.
“What was that all about?” Landon asked. “You and Tristan…it looked intense.” Landon turned in Carl’s arms. “You were checking him out, weren’t you?”
“I had a look.”
Landon grasped Carl’s chin and pulled his face close. “I don’t like you checking out other guys, d
on’t fucking do it again.”
“I only have eyes for you, baby,” Carl pulled Landon’s hand away. “Only for you.”
“Then why were you eyeing up Tristan?”
“Checking out the competition, that’s all.”
Carl tried to move in for a kiss and Landon wrapped his hand around Carl’s throat. A thrill ran up Carl’s spine and he sucked in a deep breath as if it were the last he’d be taking today. Landon’s scowl quickly turned to lust as he smashed his mouth over Carl’s devouring him whole. He was rough and greedy in his quest and caused Carl to jump when he palmed his manhood.
“There is absolutely no competition, there’s no one I want but you. Do you hear me? No one.”
“I’m just saying he’s,” Carl was stopped by Landon’s large hand covering his mouth.
“No one,” Landon snarled, tugging Carl’s button fly front jeans open. “I’m going to show you who I want, right this fucking minute.
Landon had his pants open and his cock out, slathered in lube before Carl had a chance to protest, like he was going too, not. He shoved Carl over the control panel and held him in place as he slid his jeans to his knees and fingered his hole eagerly.
“You’re going to ride me until you can’t see straight and after I come, I’m going to fuck you good and hard.”
Sitting on the swivel chair he ordered Carl to straddle him, then glided him onto his shaft and growled as Carl swallowed him into his depth. Carl’s head dropped back against Landon’s shoulder and he curved his back, turning to face Landon and licked across his lips.
“Feet on my knees.”
Landon grinned as Carl kicked off his shoes. Landon’s eyes narrowed as he clamped his hands on Carl’s thighs and assisted him into position. He pumped into him with all the fury he could muster, Carl panted and sat forward grasping the armrests for support.
Landon’s mouth formed the perfect O as he moved Carl smoothly along his shaft and tightened his grip, leaving finger impressions in the flesh of his hips. Like many times before, there were going to be bruises and Landon would gloat after leaving his man marked. His lips touched the soft flesh on the back of Carl’s arm and he nipped gently, listening to Carl moan with pleasure as he picked up the pace and watched a drop of sweat slither along Carl’s spine to the crack of his ass.
Carl’s face contorted into the look of agonized glory, both pain and pleasure mingled into one triumphant mess as Carl spurted cum across the room.
“Fuck!” Carl roared.
“That was fucking beautiful,” Landon laughed and then grunted as he shot his load into Carl.
However it wasn’t over just yet, Landon had other plans. He lifted Carl from his lap and spun him around, holding his face in his hands he kissed him with unbridled passion forcing his tongue between Carl’s lips and consuming him.
Though his cock had started to deflate, he was getting hard again, lengthening and thickening as he tasted all that was his man. He was insatiable and demanding, ducking down and scooping Carl from the floor, his arms wrapped around his thighs and grunted as he slammed him against the wall.
“Round two,” Landon grunted.
And although he couldn’t get as deep inside Carl as he normally liked, he pushed into him and stepped back holding Carl in the air as he pumped him up and down his cock and Carl latched onto Landon’s neck crying out.
“I could do this all night, you feel so good on me,” Landon grimaced. “But my arms won’t hold out.”
He pulled from Carl and placed him on his feet, turned him towards the wall of screens, then lifted his one leg onto the control panel table top and entered him with a swift thrust. With each thrust Landon rumbled a mouthful of profanities and lifted Carl off his foot. Carl took hold of the counters edge and held tight, groaning his pleasure, enjoying the rough play. His cock grew hard as Landon drilled into him and reached around taking hold of Carl’s cock, whacking him off as he raced to a finish.
“Oh fuck, baby…again!” Carl yelled as he emptied onto the floor with a loud amplified cry.
“I so fucking own you,” Landon whispered into his ear. “Every fucking inch of you, I own.”
“Yes you do,” Carl admitted.
The grasp Landon set on Carl’s hips as he buried himself deep and shot his wad into him blending old with new, was stinging with pain. No doubt bruising his skin, leaving his mark and claiming Carl as his. Landon was a delicious caveman when the mood took him. Carl smiled and bit into his lip.
TWENTY-THREE
The countdown was on as Landon took a mouthful of coffee and placed his cup on the end of the bar, he didn’t have much time, his first meeting was scheduled for ten. He adjusted his tie and held up a silver tray checking himself out.
“Looking good Landon,” Tristan said, as he came from the kitchen.
“What are you doing here?”
“Carl asked me to come in early and receive the first delivery. I was getting myself a coffee. You want one?”
“I have to go,” Landon told him. “Why are you here, Tristan?”
“I told you.”
“No, I want you to tell me why you’re here in Boston,” Landon’s brows knit together as he stepped closer. “Did you come looking for me? Because you sure as hell didn’t go to school.”
Studying his face, he could see him thinking up a lie that Landon would fall for, it was taking him too long for the next words to cross his lips and Landon was growing frustrated with the challenge.
“Let’s try the truth and then you won’t have to work so hard at convincing me.”
“Fine,” Tristan snapped. “I came here looking for you. I missed you and thought maybe we could start again where we left off.”
“We left off at goodbye, Tristan. We’re not trying anything again,” Landon boldly told him and turned to walk away.
Tristan darted into his path, setting his palms on Landon’s chest. “Not even one last fling before your so called wedding?”
“Don’t go there.”
Tristan stood on tip toe and planted his lips to Landon’s, holding tight to his neck while Landon squirmed from his grasp.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?” Landon shoved him away. “Don’t fuck with my life Tristan, it will do you no good you’ll come out of it a bloody mess.”
“Are you threatening me?” he asked, looking confused.
“I never threaten,” Landon held up a hand when Tristen stepped forward. “But I sure as fuck promise if you mess with me and Carl, I’ll take great pleasure in making you pay. Now just do your job, or I will see to it that you’re fired.”
Tristan stormed off in a huff, Landon watched as he flew through the kitchen doorway and a shadow off to the left caught Landon’s eye, whoever it was cleared out too fast for Landon to see. He shrugged it off and left for the office, he was going to be late thanks to Tristan and his childish behavior.
***
Three days until the wedding and with everything that needed to be taken care of at Liberator before Landon took off for his honeymoon, he wasn’t spending a lot of time with Carl.
By the time he got home each night too tired to be bothered with much more than sleeping, he would fell into bed exhausted. And by the time Carl closed up each night and had gotten himself into bed, they saw each other long enough to say goodnight, then good morning before parting.
Landon was feeling lonely.
He took five minutes from his meeting and sent Carl a text.
I miss you, tell me you’re missing me too. L.
I’m feeling lonely as fuck around here without you, Rex is being a nightmare and Tristan’s a pain in the ass. C.
Clarify pain in the ass. L.
Ha Ha Ha! C.
I need you, want to go on a date? L.
Yes. You, me and a set of powder blue satin sheets? C.
I like that idea, but I was thinking Chinese takeout and somewhere no one will find us for a few hours. L.
Okay. C.
Meet me o
ut back at 6:30. L.
6:30. C.
Dress warm and don’t wear underwear. L.
***
Carl sat with a thud, taking a deep breath and blinking several times at the screen. At the onset of shock his eyes filled with tears and then the longer he stared at the phone, the angrier he became.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, with only three days until the wedding, a shot of Tristan with his arms wrapped lovingly around Landon’s neck with their lips locked together appears on his phone. Clearly not a picture from Landon’s past, the Congratulations L&C banner in the background gave the date away.
He didn’t recognize the number that sent it and didn’t much care, he was more concerned by the fact that Landon had his lips on another man’s.
A message alert warned of a new text, he looked up at the clock on the wall and scowled. He wasn’t entirely sure how to handle the situation and it being six thirty-five, he knew the text was from Landon, he didn’t need to look.
The second alert followed a minute later, Mr. Demanding didn’t like to wait and Carl was well aware of that fact.
Ready, Babes? L.
Carl read the words and his chest tightened.
Foods getting cold. L.
A large lump formed in Carl’s throat as he typed his short but unsweet message.
Go straight to hell! C.
A reply came on the tail end of him sending the bitter message, surprising Carl, even though he shouldn’t have been.
WTF? L.
Carl waited the moment it took Landon to realize no reply was coming.
Carl, are you playing with me? L.
Carlton Ward, I’m being very patient here. L.
Fine I’m coming up. L.
Carl locked the door, slid the chain into place and jammed a chair under the door handle. He heard the sound of Landon running up the stairs and his key slide into the lock. The handle rattled, but the door didn’t open and Landon cursed as he slammed his shoulder against the door.
Landon's Desire (Book Three of The Pulse Series 3) Page 26
