by Lyn, Viki
A sharp pain cut across Graham at being judged. Maybe he’d been right in assuming Chris and Henry were fucking each other. Or was Henry an overprotective guard dog, all hard muscles with a snarling personality? Chris had mentioned Henry was an old friend but never said he was a lover.
Resigned to disliking the artist, Graham curbed the urge to lash out. “Not that’s it’s any of your business, but if you haven’t noticed, Chris is an adult. He can make his own decisions about who he wants to date.”
Henry let out a breath. “You don’t know shit about him.”
Graham got ahead in the world by not beating a dead horse. While it took a shitload of effort to rein in his temper, he had two options. Storm out of the room or find out what was bugging this guy. If he got on Henry’s good side, then this would make Chris happy. And damn he wanted to make Chris happy.
Graham pulled out a stool near an easel and sat. He leaned slightly forward with his hands on his thighs. “Then enlighten me. I like Chris. I’m not interested in playing with his feelings or hurting him. Do you two have a thing?”
“Shit no. He’s like a brother to me. My parents were good friends with Pete and Bob. They all belonged to a writer’s circle.”
“Didn’t know they wrote.”
Henry shook his head. “They wrote together like they did everything together. Ever hear of Bob Peters?”
“Fuck, no joke? I devoured the series.”
“Yeah, that’s right. They traveled to Greece once a year. Especially loved that ancient history shit. Me? I live in the present, but they ate that shit up. Took Chris with them everywhere they went. Closed Secretus. Didn’t care if it was tourist season. They wanted to take Chris, so they did.”
“I’ve seen some of the photos. They seem like great guys. Chris sure misses them.”
“They encouraged Chris, made him strong.” Henry’s smile slipped. “Before the fire. Now? He hasn’t been the same since. I promised Pete and Bob I’d look after him. That’s what I’m doing.”
Graham steered the conversation back to the beginning. “Look, I like Chris. And he likes me. He’s not a rich kid’s toy if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“You aren’t sticking around, and he’s a sensitive dude. You’ll hurt him.”
Graham refused to back down. “Stop treating him as if he doesn’t have a brain. He’s smart and has a lot going for him. If or when something happens between us, it’ll be mutual. End of discussion.”
Graham pointed to a painting he’d first noticed. “I’d like to purchase this, despite your shitty personality. Plus one more.”
A deep growl came from Henry, but as Graham figured, the artist wouldn’t pass up a sale.
“For you, $12,000, and that’s a bargain.”
More like a bargain with the devil, but Graham paid the price.
13
From the bottom of the stairs, Chris overheard the confrontation between Graham and Henry. Embarrassed by Henry’s overprotective nature, he sneaked up the steps and listened in.
Ever since Chris could remember, Henry had been his protector. He’d come to young Chris’s rescue more than once, trouncing the bullies who ambushed him on the way home from school. Being just two years older, Henry had the height and breadth of someone older than his years. Mostly a quiet guy, when confronted with social injustice, he went on a tear. Luckily for Chris, Henry had liked him.
Getting read the riot act by Henry was no picnic, but Graham handled himself like a pro. Better yet, Graham saw Chris as an equal and not someone he needed to coddle.
Before Chris could make it back to the kitchen, Graham strode down the stairs, carrying two paintings and insisting they leave.
Back in the car, Chris’s anxiety lightened now that he’d put distance between Graham and Henry.
“Where are you taking me?” Graham asked.
“Nepenthe. You’ll love the views and the laid-back vibe.”
Nepenthe’s had opened in the 1950s. From the Beat Generation to the flower children to the yuppies, the restaurant continued to thrive in the twenty-first century. The building was on the edge of a bluff with one of the most spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.
The restaurant’s parking lot was full, but Chris got lucky as a car pulled out from their spot. His luck continued as he snagged two seats at the outdoor counter that wrapped around the dramatic cliffs where rocks below warred with the encroaching ocean.
Chris picked up the menu for something to do. He already knew every item listed.
Graham whistled as he settled on his high-back stool. “What a view. I bet you never get tired of it. I can’t believe I never stopped here for a drink.”
Pleased he was the person to introduce Graham to this unique place, Chris asked, “Have you driven through before?”
Graham unbuttoned his cable knit sweater and draped it across the back of the chair. “Yeah, in passing through to LA. I’ve stayed on the Amalfi Coast, but this view has it beat.”
“Italy’s coast is spectacular, but I have to agree with you. I like the ruggedness of the cliffs and how the waves are furious. As if they wanted to beat the shit out of the rocks.”
Graham playfully bumped Chris’s shoulder. “That’s poetic. Your dads’ influence?”
“Henry told you they wrote, didn’t he?”
“I’m a big fan. I’ve read every one of their mysteries. Even brought one with me on this trip. They’re the reason I got interested in ancient history. I had a double major. Business was a cover for my love of history.”
“Did you want to get a degree in it?”
“Yeah. One time I thought I might write. And teach at a university.” Graham set his gaze on Chris. “Imagine me in tweed jackets with patches.”
“Hard to imagine, but yeah, why not?”
“Father died. That’s why. I had my family to consider. Both my uncles were against me running the company. Father had gambled most of the profits. It was touch and go, but finally, we’re on solid ground.”
“With the purchase of Freedom Press.” Chris said, without heat but stated as a fact, because this was Graham’s way out of the red. He understood that even if he didn’t agree with Graham’s reason.
“I wish I could take another path.”
“I know.”
They paused in their conversation to order drinks and salads; then Graham slipped his hand into Chris’s resting on the counter. “Do you mind? It’s nice to hold a man’s hand in public without worrying about it. No one here knows me.”
Chris stared at their intertwined fingers. “I like how this feels.” A warm sensation spread through Chris as he sat with Graham, holding his hand as if this were a regular occurrence.
Not that this meant Graham thought of him as boyfriend material. Holding hands was no big deal. They liked each other, and that was enough. New experiences were a good thing. And if he thought of this enough times, he’d believe it.
“Henry told me you traveled every year to Greece with your dads. You’ve traveled quite a bit,” Graham said. “I’m envious. My parents never took me anywhere. They would take off for Europe and leave me in boarding school.”
“Sounds lonely.”
Graham shrugged. “That’s all I knew. Didn’t think too much about it at the time, but seems I’ve missed a lot.”
“Pete and Bob believed in sharing experiences. I benefitted. Traveling in foreign countries was a liberating experience for me.”
Graham brushed a wayward curl behind Chris’s ear. “Why is that?”
Chris shivered, unable to keep his attraction for Graham in check, his emotional barrier no longer on autopilot. He rubbed where Graham had touched him.
“I’ll have to ask my shrink,” he said, drily.
Graham chuckled, taking his napkin and folding it in his lap. The waiter set down the two cocktails and quietly left.
“You’re seeing a head doctor?”
“Seen, past tense. Does that bother you?”
“Why sh
ould it? Takes courage to ask for help.”
“What about you? You ever ask for help?”
Graham studied the sparkling cocktail sending up tiny bubbles in his fluted glass. “I tend to go my own way, figure things out for myself. Sometimes that can be a mistake.”
“So you advise everyone else.”
The smile that rarely left Graham’s face disappeared. “Yeah. Jillian calls me Mr. Fix-It.”
I get it now. You want to fix me. Like I’m broken or something. That remark was on the tip of Chris’s tongue, but the sincerity in Graham’s voice made him reconsider. Graham could be irritating but he was honest. There wasn’t anything in his manner that suggested he thought Chris a broken man.
“This is my first vacation since I took over Winter Media,” Graham said. “I travel all over the world for business, but in so many ways, my world has gotten smaller.”
“I’m sure you have it together, better than most of us.” Chris patted Graham’s arm. “So what’s missing from Graham Winter’s grand scheme?”
“Well, one thing. You were missing.”
Chris’s pulse quickened. Although he loved how much Graham cared, he still floundered when complimented. Just like this guy to blurt out something so impulsive. Tapping down his anxious heart, he willed his mind not to over think the situation.
A blush suffused Graham’s face. “Ah, what I mean is, someone like you, you know, someone I can get serious about. I forgot what it’s like to be with someone who I enjoy, who I care about.” Graham looked away a second before turning his attention back to Chris. “How do you feel about me?”
Dizziness flashed through Chris, so fast he swayed. Confused. Wonderful. Scared as hell.
Graham grasped his shoulder. “Hey, let’s drop it. No pressure. I’m okay with us just being friends.”
The grip was reassuring. Chris’s dizziness subsided, and his jitters vanished as fast as they came on. Graham had the uncanny ability to soothe his anxiousness.
“Fuck, I’m a head case since the fire.” Couldn’t Graham see that?
“I can’t imagine how I’d handle something like that. Hey. We can leave if you want.”
“I want to stay. I enjoy your company. You don’t bore me. And you make me comfortable, too.”
Graham rested his arm across the back of Chris’s chair. To anyone looking on, it signaled Graham was with Chris, and everyone else should back off. He basked in Graham’s attention. Not once had Graham checked out another guy, although several men and women gave him the once-over.
“If you’re sure? I don’t mind leaving. We can get our salads to go.” Graham kissed the tip of Chris’s ear. “We could go back to your place and hit the Jacuzzi.”
Jacuzzi was a code word for fucking. While Chris expected this would be how the evening would end, he was having fun despite the anxious hiccup when discussing his feelings. “Let’s stay. Enjoy the view. Jacuzzi later.”
The conversation turned to safer subjects for the rest of the meal. Graham kept the topics light. Chris settled into the easygoing rhythm of their conversations while distancing his thoughts from what they would do once they were home. Before they left, they spent time in Nepenthe’s gift shop, where Graham purchased presents for his staff.
Chris helped carry several bags to the car. “I’m impressed how well you know your staff.” He stored the bags in the trunk. “The gifts you bought were personal.”
“I try to know everyone’s name and their family members. They are the heart of the company and work their asses off. The least I can do is treat them with the respect they deserve. See, I can be a nice guy as well as an arrogant asshole.”
“They say the company is only as good as the guy at the top.”
Graham pulled down the visor and checked his hair in the mirror. “So what about you? You get along great with Josh, and I know you take pride in your staff. I’ve seen the way you interact with them.”
Chris clipped on his seat belt. “Yeah, they’re great. They helped me get up to speed when I took over. I’m a behind-the-scenes kinda guy, and happy-go-lucky Josh is the face of the resort.”
Graham laughed. “Yeah, no shit.”
“Unlike you—the face of your company and a handsome face.”
“Wow, a compliment.” Graham rubbed his chin. “Glad you think I have a nice mug.”
“Don’t get too cocky. So, you want to see more galleries?”
“I vote for the Jacuzzi.”
Chris smiled, warming up to the idea of seeing Graham naked. Then again, that meant he had to strip down as well. Might as well give in. Graham wouldn’t let up until he got his way, so why not speed things along?
“I don’t strip for just any guest.” Chris leaned in and lightly kissed Graham’s cheek. The smell of Graham’s cologne sped up his heart. He was losing himself over this guy.
“Naked… Yeah, I like the sound of that.”
Chris laughed while shaking his head. “Don’t get too ahead of yourself.”
Graham winked. “It’s in my nature.”
14
Steam curled from the surface of the water. The temperature was 102 degrees—perfect. For Graham, the day had been, well, perfect, except for that asshole, Henry. But Henry wasn’t here with them in the hot tub.
Graham let out a sigh of contentment. “This is heaven.”
Chris sat on the edge of the Jacuzzi, dangling his feet in the water, a towel around his waist. The sun eased behind the clear horizon. “We might see the green flash. My dads used to tell me that if you saw it with your lover, it was true love.”
Graham looked toward the sun. “That’s a nice sentiment. It’s probably why I’ve never seen it. How about you?”
“Yeah, more than most, since I live here. Although not lately.”
“Because of work?”
“I live in one of the most beautiful spots on earth, but you know, I take it for granted. What about you? Was Henry right about you? Do you live in one of those fancy penthouses that you can skateboard in?”
What could Graham say in his defense? Henry had pegged him, but Graham didn’t do sofa art. He collected art objects that held meaning for him. He wasn’t some shallow a-hole flaunting his wealth. “What if I say yes to the penthouse? Think less of me? You’re not exactly living among the people.”
“Yeah, I got lucky. I’m grateful too. But I’m more grateful for having had my dads in my life, or else I’d have been another statistic in a jail cell.”
“Can’t picture you doing anything illegal.”
“I could have easily become a street kid. I’d have been pimped out or worse.”
A shiver ran through Graham as he envisioned Chris on the streets, homeless and desperate. He did a silent prayer of thanks to Pete and Bob for taking in the young boy. Chris was right. A beautiful, destitute gay boy had few choices. “I want to hug your dads right now.”
Graham waded across the Jacuzzi and sat on the ledge next to Chris. Water ran down Graham’s chest, and Chris wiped the water droplets with his towel. This pampered feeling felt nice. More than anything, Graham hoped Chris would take a chance on him. He held Chris’s hand, happy when he didn’t pull away. Going slow was a novelty, but he’d enjoyed getting to know Chris first.
Silence descended as they watched the sunset. The roar of pounding waves swept up the cliff, and Graham fell into a peaceful state. His “all work, no play” attitude seemed another lifetime ago. Since yesterday, he hadn’t checked his phone for messages. When was the last time he had done that? Business didn’t encroach on his time here. He could enjoy however the day unfolded. He was free to be gay and have a man he admired by his side.
The glowing orb sank below the horizon, leaving a striated purple-and-pink sky. No green flash tonight but a spectacular sunset.
Chris shivered, and Graham draped his towel across Chris’s shoulders. Shadows of color splayed across the balcony, painting Chris in orange light. Graham brushed loose strands of hair from his soon-to-be lover’
s face. His hand trembled from excitement. He didn’t want to hurt Chris in any way. And he might if Chris got too attached to him. But hell, he seriously liked Chris, and at the moment it was his heart in danger of being crushed.
“Why don’t you have a boyfriend?” Graham asked, curious how someone so young and beautiful remained single.
“I’m a control freak and have a temper. Or haven’t you noticed?”
“I’ve noticed. But you’re also smart, beautiful, and compassionate.”
A slight flinch, but Chris didn’t deny the compliment. “I’m an introvert. I like being alone. Anyway, work consumes me.”
“Ah, the sure sign of intimacy issues. I should know.”
Chris laid his hands alongside Graham’s face. “Forget about figuring me out. We’re here now. Naked. So shut up.”
The kiss came on swift and deliberate, sweeping away Graham’s thoughts. Chris could kiss better than most, and when they finally made it to bed, and they would, sex would be great. For all of Chris’s particular nature, his kisses were hungry, and his tongue explored Graham thoroughly, leaving no part unexplored.
This was the kind of kiss that Graham would always remember. “My room?”
“Ah, no, I have…” A blush crept across Chris’s face.
How adorably cute seeing Chris blush. “Yeah, okay. Great.” Chris must have a supply of lube and condoms in his room. Did this mean he was okay with fucking? It had been a long time since Graham was this excited. He wanted to get it right. “Whatever you want is okay by me.”
“Let’s go with the flow.” Chris tugged on Graham’s hand. “Isn’t that what you’re always muttering about? You sound more like a California hippy than the ones who live here. Come on.”
Graham followed Chris inside while admiring his naked backside—the towels left on the balcony floor. Chris had a nice firm ass and lean muscular legs—broad shoulders tapered into a slender waist, a sleek defined back, a perfect runner’s physique. If Graham wasn’t careful, he could overpower Chris in bed, but then he remembered the judo throw and chuckled.
Chris turned with his hands on his hips. “What’s so funny?”
