Love is Scary

1

Pink Petal Books Pink Petal Books, an imprint of Jupiter Gardens Press, publishes romance novels where the relationship is primary. It doesn’t matter if you want to read super erotic or sweet inspirational books. Pink Petal Books believes that love is a beautiful thing, no matter what form it takes. For more information about Pink Petal Books visit http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/.

Additional Titles by the Author Best in Bed The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Permission is granted to make ONE backup copy for archival purposes. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

LOVE IS SCARY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright © CHERYL DRAGON, 2009 Cover Art ® 2009 by Valerie Tibbs Edited by Mary K. Wilson Electronic Publication Date: August 2009 This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Jupiter Gardens Press, Jupiter Gardens, LLC., PO Box 191, Grimes, IA 50111 For more information to learn to more about this, or any other author’s work, please visit http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/

2

Love Is Scary Cheryl Dragon

PPB

3

Chapter One Starting a new business was one of the scariest things a person could do in any economy. But for Ryan Elliott, the hot guy helping him gets things off the ground was even scarier. Ryan had been emailing and trading phone calls with Wes Taylor for months in the hope that this venture would materialize. One of Wes’ creations, a haunted house in New Orleans, had blown Ryan away in California, so Ryan had tracked the man down. He’d never seen a picture of Wes and never imagined the creative genius would turn out to be so unassumingly sexy. In the building Ryan had recently bought on the cheap, thanks to the crippling real estate bust, he tried not to stare at Wes’ hard body encased in worn dark blue jeans and a T-shirt about Cajuns. Wes was from New Orleans and had traveled here for this job. He’d leave Vegas once the haunted house was up and running. Ryan had to remember this visit was temporary. But the hard muscles on Wes’s six-foot–four-inch frame made Ryan forget everything. Wes’s green eyes caught Ryan’s and the sizzle hit him. Clutching his travel mug, Ryan sipped his coffee despite the heat of a Vegas summer and the sparks with Wes. Caffeine and work were his addictions. Men he could avoid—most of the time. “Look okay?” Ryan gestured to the big empty club area. Wes turned to him and smiled. “Looks great. You’ve got room for the bar in back and plenty to work with in the front club section. The place looks laid out already.” “It was a bar before with a huge dance club in front. The former owner couldn’t handle the mortgage anymore so it was a steal. Needs a little work.” Ryan looked around the unfinished space and tried not to stare at Wes. Wearing black dress pants and gray striped shirt for a meeting that afternoon, Ryan felt overdressed. Juggling his day job in advertising and a new small business venture sounded crazy, even to him. His family back home thought he was nuts. Keep your day job and stay safe. They all wanted security but then again, so did everyone else. Ryan needed to try. His idea was solid, if he could make it happen. Wes had the experience. “We’ll add on a little in front, make it more of a maze feel. Go through several rooms and themes and the end will dump them into the bar area.” Wes nodded. “You have people who can do this?” Ryan asked. “I brought the key members of my team. Don’t worry.” Wes patted Ryan’s shoulder. “Your idea is great. An adults only haunted house with a bar and club at the end.” “Horror movies are huge hits year round now. Why not have a year round attraction in Vegas?” Ryan smiled. Wes’ approval meant a lot. He’d been in the haunted house business for years. His designs were elaborate and innovative. “The adults only part might help or hurt. I haven’t decided yet.” Wes measured the front door, leaning over to read the tape. Ryan tried not to look at Wes’s tight jean-covered ass. “Well, its Vegas. T&A sells. Plus, if you look at all the DVD sales of horror movies, it’s the unrated versions that do the best. Producers film stuff they know will get cut for the theaters just to put it in the unrated DVDs. 4

If this takes off, we can always do a PG version for kids. No bar, but food and stuff. That’d be phase two. One step at a time.” “Sounds good to me. I appreciate the work and the confidence.” “I’ve seen your work. It’s excellent. New Orleans still slow?” Ryan asked. Wes nodded. “Not everyone moved back. A lot of crime and poverty still. Nothing like the tourism we used to have. I travel around to do haunted houses so this is nothing new. But I used to do my own unique one in New Orleans every year. However, the last few years, it hasn’t paid off.” “That’s too bad. It’s pretty down there.” Ryan took another drink of coffee. “I definitely want to update the theme here every year. So I’ll be calling you back in if that works.” “First let’s get you opened. I’m not qualified to set up the bar but I’ll get the building permits, a small construction crew together and start work soon.” The control freak in Ryan took over. “You’ll show me the plans before you start anything major. I want to be involved even if my schedule doesn’t really let me.” Wes moved in closer and, to Ryan, made the huge club feel like a tiny closet. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you advised. I’ll have sketches done tonight. I’m a night owl and do my best creative work after dark. We could meet in the morning to go over them if that works.” Wes looked him in the eye. “I can’t tomorrow. I have a meeting in the morning and conference calls in the afternoon. I can swing the club but I’d like to keep the steady cash flow of my day job. I might be leaning on you more than your other clients.” Ryan hoped that he didn’t sound as sexual as his mind played it. “No worries, Ryan. I don’t blame you. A constant income to fall back on makes it easier to go after your dreams. I’m behind you.” Wes stood only inches away. The sexy smell of wood and leather came from Wes. It had to be a tool belt. Ryan wanted to lean in and get more, but he’d always kept his private life out of business. It made things so much easier in the Vegas advertising world that revolved around sex. He spent so much time working that it left him with no social life. “Thanks. My family thinks this is all crazy. They think I should just keep my job and forget about the club.” “You want a tip?” Wes leaned in. Ryan nodded and locked his eyes on Wes’s mysterious green ones. “Don’t listen to them. Play it safe your whole life and you’ll end up wondering what if. I did some construction, got roped into doing play sets and then haunted houses. I finally found something I loved. Scaring people, the designs and mechanisms. It’s a thrill for me. I could have had a safe boring construction job and now I’d be totally out of work with building so slow. In New Orleans, it’s not moving as fast as people thought it would to recover. But I can do this, turn a club into a haunted house. So you’re sticking with the theme we discussed?” Ryan cleared his throat. “For the opening, yes. Gaming hell. Haunted Vegas casino. Roulette wheels, slot machines, naughty show girls, etc.” 5

Wes made notes on a pad and shoved it into his belt and the short pencil behind his ear. “Got it. Sounds good. I’ve got some of the concepts and sketches done. I’ll flesh it out now that I’ve seen the space. It’ll give me something to do this afternoon.” “You’re settled in the hotel room?” Ryan had called in a favor and got Wes and his core team some comped rooms at a hotel on the strip. “Yes, it’s great. I never had a room like that in Vegas before. Why don’t you come by after your afternoon meeting? We could go over the concept and grab dinner.” Ryan swallowed hard. He wanted to be alone in a hotel room with Wes, badly. They’d hit it off over the phone, email, and texts. But in person, the chemistry was hard to fight. “I may have to take the clients to dinner. Could be late.” “I understand. Gotta keep your bosses happy. Call my cell when you’re done. I’ll be up, if you’re up for it. Got my number?” He had it memorized, but Ryan tried to play it cool. “Yeah, it’s programmed into my contacts. Sounds good. I’ll call.” Definitely want to keep the focus on the business. He checked his watch. No way could he be late. “One last question and I’ll let you go.” Wes took a step back. “I assume since you said T&A, it’s a straight adult concept?” Ryan felt his skin go hot. Wes made him. “Yes, straight. We need to play to the odds in Vegas. Is that a problem?” His instinct told Ryan that Wes was gay. “No problem here. Naked ladies make money and it’s better. They don’t distract me from my work.” He kicked a broken floor tile with his alligator skin boot. “See you tonight.” Ryan smiled and lifted his mug. He didn’t trust his voice just then. He watched Wes walk out to his rented truck. Ryan knew he was in trouble.

~* * *~ Setting his sketches out on the coffee table, Wes checked the logic in his flow and it worked. His creativity took over and went all out. The vision and scope came together well. Wes sat back on the sofa and took a deep breath. It felt great to be on a design project instead of demolishing an abandoned, or condemned, home. The creative work had dried up in the Big Easy and even building was slow. Ryan’s image crept back into his mind. Wes tried to ignore the stab of arousal. Long distance, their business plans matched up perfectly. They were on the same page and it all clicked. He should’ve known that’d spell trouble. No way would Wes screw up this job by hitting on Ryan, no matter how hard Ryan stared. The chemistry was hard to ignore. Besides, Wes had sworn off relationships. Ryan didn’t seem like the random, or casual, sex type. Wes’s cell phone rang a Vegas tune and he grabbed it. At some point, he’d given Ryan his own ring tone and Wes felt like an idiot with a crush. “Wes Taylor,” he answered like any other business call. 6

“It’s Ryan. Too late to look at your samples?” he asked. Wes almost said no just to keep his self-control. But business had to come first. “Never too late for me. Come over whenever you want.” “Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes. Can I get you a coffee?” he offered. “Nope, I’m good. See you soon.” Wes ended the call. Vegas prices were crazy. Wes had made a run to a discount store and stocked up on water, soda, beer, and snacks. Wes straightened up the hotel room a little and grabbed himself a bottle of water. Ryan knocked on the door and Wes’ stomach knotted. This high-strung ad exec with a dream somehow had gotten to Wes. He opened the door and Ryan smiled, sexy as ever. Those hazel eyes fit Ryan perfectly, a mix of things in which someone could get lost. “Come in,” Wes said. Ryan entered, still toting his travel mug of coffee. Wes noted that Ryan’s light brown hair was a bit more mussed than earlier and his sleeves were rolled to the elbow. Just what Wes needed to see, lean muscled arms. “I’ve got water, beer, and soda.” Ryan had to be overdosing on the coffee now, since it was now after eleven. “I’m good.” Ryan sat on the sofa and looked at the sketches. “Did you go to some fancy steakhouse for dinner with the clients?” Wes asked. “Yeah, at the hotel the clients are staying. I didn’t really eat much. These sketches are perfect.” Wes sat down next to Ryan. “Glad you like them. I’ve got some leftover chicken strips in the little fridge if you want. They’re spicy.” Ryan scooted back a few inches. “No thanks. I don’t eat much in general. Coffee and work.” “You’d never make it in New Orleans. Food and fun is our business.” “I like New Orleans, just not a big eater. Vegas has a ton of food but I live here. I don’t even notice it anymore.” He grabbed one of the sketches. “She’s topless?” Wes chuckled. “Yeah, a topless zombie blackjack dealer. I don’t draw breasts a lot. The players are transfixed on her assets and when people get closer to look, the players turn on them and they’re disfigured. They try to pull the people in to take their places.” “Perfect.” Ryan leaned closer. “And there are more people who jump out from behind and guide them to the roulette wheel.” Wes inhaled Ryan’s subtle aftershave and the scent of coffee. Fighting this attraction would really be impossible. “What happens at the roulette wheel?” Ryan looked up at him. Wes’ brain stopped over-thinking things. “People keep their hands on their bet and all the losers get their hands chopped off. You’ll like the craps table. A hot naked guy lying on his stomach is the table. His back’s painted and they throw dice on it.” 7

Ryan stiffened. “Why would I like that? It’s good to have something for the women to enjoy as well. It needs to be balanced, but why would I care?” Grabbing Ryan by the shoulders, Wes suppressed a chuckle. A closet case. At least there was no pressure. “Don’t worry. I’m not after a relationship. I’ve been screwed too many times. But you’re driving me crazy.” Wes yanked Ryan’s dress shirt open and pushed him back on the couch. Ryan held onto Wes’ shoulders. “What are you doing?” he asked. If that was his idea of fighting off a man, Wes knew he’d win in seconds. Stretching out on Ryan’s lean form, Wes cupped the back of Ryan’s head and pulled him closer. Wes kissed him, no finesse or subtly. He possessed Ryan’s mouth. Ryan’s hands pulled on Wes’ t-shirt as his mouth opened eagerly. Just sex! Wes reminded himself as the warmth of Ryan’s hard body melted what resolve he had left. This was no club hook up. Kissing down Ryan’s lean chest, Wes could feel every muscle with his tongue as he teased Ryan’s nipples and let the crisp chest hair graze his cheek. He unbuckled Ryan’s belt and opened his fly over the hard cock. His boxers tented and Wes teased him through the slippery fabric. “Don’t.” Ryan’s hips lifted in direct opposition to his words. Not interested in high school games, Wes let go of Ryan and sat up. “Okay.” Ryan’s eyes opened wide and his ragged breath slowed. “What the hell?” “I’m tired of games. I’ve been through enough crap. I don’t want a relationship. I’ve tried it and always get the wrong guy. But I’m not going to play sex games either. You want me or you don’t. Don’t be a tease.” “You’re serious. Just sex?” Ryan asked. “Yeah, nothing more. Business and sex. I can’t deny the attraction but I’m done getting the short end in a relationship. I’m tired of trying. But I’m not into games like hard to get either.” Wes sat back on the sofa and took a deep breath. “Let’s get back to work. Just forget the sex.” He meant it, but when Wes felt a tug on his denim fly, he knew Ryan had reconsidered the situation. Pulling off his shirt, Wes watched as his erection sprang free into Ryan’s large hands. Ryan sucked Wes’ balls not saying a word. Wes groaned, lifting his hips. He grabbed the back of Ryan’s neck and guided him up to the shaft. Ryan’s tongue snaked around and up, leaving Wes off balance and in need. “Suck it!” Wes couldn’t decide if Ryan was a tease or less experienced than he thought. But Ryan made his way up the long member to the tip and finally sucked. Thrusting up, Wes kept a hand on Ryan’s neck, pressing him down to suck further. Ryan’s tongue teased the tip of Wes’ cock but his strong lips pressed to the flesh about halfway down his cock. His hand gripped the bottom half of his erection and squeezed until Wes’ hips fucked up in time.

8

Cursing, Wes thrust harder when Ryan pulled his mouth away. His tongue flicked over the tip and Wes moaned. “Ryan, you’re a damn tease.” Ryan’s probing tongue worked the tip until Wes thought he’d come. Then Ryan sucked down to the base. Finally, Ryan hit a pattern of sucking and release that made Wes grab the back of the sofa and fight his release to keep the contact going. Ryan’s persistent tongue rubbed the head of Wes’ cock until he gave in and came on Ryan’s broad tongue. With a whole day of thinking about Ryan, Wes had no chance to last long. Wes watched Ryan suck and swallow every drop and then lick the shaft from base to tip. Just when Wes thought it was his turn, Ryan shifted focus to Wes’ sac and rolled it around in his mouth and tugged. Playtime had to wait. Wes needed to suck Ryan off. He grabbed the sexy man by his expensive collar and pulled him up until they were face-to-face. “Sorry, I grew up in the bible belt. I tried to not…I don’t have a lot of experience. I can’t stop.” Ryan exhaled hard. Wes smiled. “Stop fighting it.” He kissed Ryan slowly and slid them both off the couch and onto the floor. Pushing the coffee table out of the way, he pressed Ryan flat on his back and kept kissing him. Reaching into those fancy boxers, Wes freed Ryan’s cock and rolled his balls firmly in his hands. “Wes, please.” Ryan changed the angle of the kiss and wrapped his arms around Wes’ neck. They both needed this. Wes could feel Ryan’s cock pulsing. Moving lower, he kissed Ryan’s neck and slipped his grip to kiss Ryan’s hard chest. This time he moved swiftly down to Ryan’s stomach and hips. “Yes!” Ryan gripped Wes’ hair and pushed him down to his cock. Wes tongued Ryan’s sac, teasing as good as he’d gotten. Sucking Ryan’s balls and rubbing a finger beneath them, Wes watched Ryan’s body bow. “I can’t take it,” Ryan insisted. “But you can dish it out?” Wes took pity on him and sucked Ryan’s cock into his mouth fully. The head bumped the back of his throat and Wes groaned with the intense satisfaction of pushing his own limits. Ryan was the perfect size. He could deep throat him and get enough pressure to turn Wes on as well. Thrusting up carefully, Ryan paused. “I don’t want to hurt you.” Wes groaned and released Ryan’s cock. “Not possible. I have plenty of experience.” He licked his fingers and slid them between Ryan’s firm ass cheeks to rub the sensitive spot between Ryan’s sac and asshole. “Oh, God!” Ryan’s eyes rolled back in his head.

9

“Exactly. Fuck my mouth and don’t play games.” Wes nipped at Ryan’s balls before sucking his erection to the base again. He rubbed and pinched Ryan’s rear until Ryan pumped up, fucking Wes’ mouth like a desperate man. Pressing his fingers firmly against the length of Ryan’s shaft with each cock thrust, Wes knew Ryan wouldn’t last long. Ryan gripped Wes’ hair and fucked faster. Wes increased the suction, trying to keep Ryan’s cock. Suddenly Ryan pressed and held, coming deep. Wes’ mouth was full and he let the taste of Ryan roll over his tongue as Ryan thrust a few final times. “That was incredible.” Ryan tried to sit up. Holding the sexy man down, Wes licked and sucked Ryan’s tired cock before rubbing his tongue over the tip for the final drops. “Yeah.” Wes knew amazing sex when he had it, but he had to stick to the plan. He couldn’t let himself get romantic about Ryan. “We better get back to work. The crew will be there at eight am sharp.” He wanted to kiss Ryan and get things going again so Wes could fuck that tight ass, but not now. He needed to remain in control or he’d really be screwed.

10

Chapter Two During his morning meeting, Ryan struggled to keep his focus amidst constant thoughts of Wes. Running on no sleep, Ryan grabbed coffee and a doughnut, making it to the meeting on time. He participated and hoped the clients were impressed with his campaign, though his boss had taken them to the lunch, and in doing so had cut out the underling, namely him, who did the actual work. Working on his dream motivated him in a way working for others never did. But his family didn’t understand. They thought financial security was the dream. As he drove to his new business location, Ryan felt better. He’d be near Wes again. That’d take his mind off his clients. His family also thought Ryan was crazy for liking men. For the last ten years he’d tried to pursue the right goals—a good job and no men. The occasional hook up when he couldn’t resist a gay bar or got hit on happened, but neither of those sceneries were as good as Wes. Of course, Wes turned on the heat and flipped the switch back to work just as fast. No relationship; the man had been hurt. It took the pressure off, but Ryan wished he’d been with one guy long enough to fall for him, even if it meant pain. This afternoon wasn’t about the sex, he reminded himself as he pulled into the parking lot. Wes’ truck was there along with others. Activity buzzed and it felt real. His dream coming to life. Parking his car near Wes’s truck, Ryan went in search of the sexy man he wanted. Ryan passed by several construction crew members who worked on the windows and basic structure and repairs. Going through the place, Ryan ended up behind the bar and then in the storage area. Still no Wes. Only one place left. He entered the office in back, the one he’d occupy when this was all over and a success. Wes had the plans posted on the wall with a timeline underneath. “Command central?” Ryan asked. “Have to set up somewhere. Hope you don’t mind. This area needs almost no rework. Any changes are cosmetic.” Wes shrugged. Ryan nodded. “Makes sense. The crew is hard at work.” “Yeah, I run a tight ship and everyone is glad to pull a check right now. My team of designers is on a plane. It got delayed. Hope you’ll be around about three this afternoon.” Wes turned to make a note on the board and Ryan looked. The fitted carpenter jeans had loops for tools, but all Ryan wanted was to open Wes’ fly. “Sure, I took the afternoon off. Need any help?” Ryan moved to stand behind Wes and admired Wes’s broad shoulders in a generic gray T-shirt. “Great, there are a few things to go over.” Wes headed for the door and flipped the lock casually. Ryan watched Wes return, standing next to him. “You’re on board? No relationship?” Wes’ gaze pierced Ryan.

11

“Sounds like a perfect arrangement.” Ryan leaned in, capturing Wes’ mouth and pulling him close. The bigger man’s hard frame was built from manual labor, but inside, he was a creative type. Those contrasts turned Ryan on as much as Wes’ hard cock. Wes broke the kiss and Ryan groaned. “No relationship means no kissing?” Chuckling, Wes yanked Ryan’s belt and fly open, pushed the pants and boxers down. “We’ve only got so much time. I’m out but this is local crew. I don’t know them all. I’ve got a job to do so they don’t need to know I’m screwing around at work.” Ryan let Wes steer him to the desk and lean him forward with his palms planted. He knew what came next. Had Wes really come equipped for that? His cock hard, Ryan’s ass clenched and relaxed in anticipation. The rasp of Wes’ zipper sent a jolt of pleasure up Ryan’s cock. Relaxing, he felt Wes move in closer behind him. He looked back and watched Wes put on a condom and then opened another small foil packet. The lube felt great as Wes rubbed it on Ryan. The man came more than prepared! Staring back at the empty desk, Ryan waited for the slick pressure. Wes spread Ryan’s cheeks and Ryan bit his lip. Strong fingers teased him and Ryan pressed back. “Ready?” Wes wrapped his large palm around Ryan’s erection and teased him with gentle squeezes. “God yes! Fuck me.” Ryan tried to keep his voice low. “Not too loud. If those machines go quiet, the men will hear you coming.” Wes kissed the back of Ryan’s neck as he pressed entry. Ryan gripped the desk and stood his ground as Wes filled him slowly. Every other time for Ryan had been fast and hard, afraid of the reality or discovery. Now he was the owner. Worst case he fired someone. It turned him on, the power and the pleasure. Wes knew how to do him. Ryan rocked back for more. The hand on his cock stroked and squeezed, throwing Ryan off balance. Given the opening, Wes thrust forward to fill Ryan. So big! Ryan’s mind and ass tried to get a handle on Wes’ size. Swallowing Wes’ cock fully had been impossible orally, but it seemed Wes knew exactly where he fit. Growing more comfortable with the intensely full feeling, Ryan squeezed Wes’ cock and pushed back to test. “Good?” Wes asked in Ryan’s ear. Ryan nodded, not sure he could take any more. “Inexperienced. What a lie. Your ass knows what it’s doing.” Wes twisted and dropped Ryan’s sac, turning Ryan’s attention away from his full rear. “You’ve got more experience than I. Shit, Wes! You’ll make me come two ways in a few seconds.” Ryan flexed his hips for more manual attention. Wes groaned and squeezed Ryan’s balls until his hips froze. The strength in Wes’ muscles impressed Ryan. He was strong but Wes was stronger and had the upper hand now. Changing his grip, Wes held Ryan’s cock like he was going to jerk him off. Ryan moaned, the pleasure so close and yet so on the brink it made him anxious. 12

Easing out of Ryan’s tight ass, Wes left only the tip inside. “Fuck yourself,” he said. “What?” Ryan tried to turn but Wes’ grip on his cock and his widespread stance made it hard. “You want it, work for it.” Wes nudged Ryan gently. No games? This man was nothing but sex and power games. He’d been hurt and now wanted the power and play without sentiment. That suited Ryan. He didn’t need a clingy guy who wanted to meet his parents. Rocking back, Ryan felt himself press the big cock, then he thrust forward into Wes’ tight fist. Two could play this game, Ryan decided. He fucked Wes’s hand, quickly pushing back and forth. Cursing and swearing, Ryan came in the clenched hand but his ass still strained for relief. “Bastard,” Wes said. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” Ryan baited him. Somehow he knew a macho man like Wes wouldn’t back down or blue ball him. Wes stood his ground. “You’ll pay for this.” “Promises, promises. You promised me sex and all I’ve gotten is a hand job.” Ryan had been through rough and quick. He wanted to enjoy it, drag it out with Wes. It wasn’t necessarily romantic to have long and hot sex. Grabbing Ryan’s hips, Wes thrust forward with all his weight. Ryan moaned at the sense of completeness as he lay pinned to his desk. Wes pulled out fully and fast, leaving Ryan pounding the desk with his fist. Wes’ cock tapped his firm ass and Ryan bucked for more. Wes could tease but he was hard. He’d have to get off somehow. “You want a hand job too?” Ryan teased. “Why get me all lubed up for nothing?” “I’m just pacing myself. Don’t want to hurt you.” “Hurt?” Ryan smiled. “Fuck me harder.” Without warning, Wes fucked Ryan to the hilt and ground down until Ryan felt Wes’ sac touching his own. “Yes!” Ryan squeezed and pressed for more. Wes thrust hard, never letting the contact break. Resting his forehead to the old wooden desk, Ryan gave into the heat building, letting Wes ride however he needed. The angle shifted and Wes hit just right sending Ryan into internal convulsions, a deep anal orgasm he couldn’t control. Bucking, Ryan pressed his lips together to keep silent as Wes continued to stroke faster and harder. Finally Wes uttered Ryan’s name and jerked hard into him. Ryan took a deep breath as Wes nuzzled the back of his neck, his strength gone. “Did I pass the test?” Ryan asked. “My hotel room. Dinner tonight. You’re not leaving,” Wes replied. “Dinner?” Ryan almost asked if this was a date. 13

“You’ll need the energy and we can talk about business before the sexual distraction.” Wes nipped the back of Ryan’s neck and quickly got up, pulling free and dropping the used condom in the trash. Digging through the drawer, Ryan found the stash of wipes he’d put there and took some. He’d never imagined using them for this as he offered Wes the container. Ryan pulled up his pants and smiled at Wes over his shoulder. “Then you and your crew better get to work. I’m not paying you to screw around.”

~* * *~ A few hours later, Wes sat in the same office with Ryan and his key players. They chatted about the concept, the timeline and the resources. Wes did his best not to keep looking at Ryan. The man surprised him at every turn. And they were all good surprises. When the meeting broke, Ryan dashed out, claiming a conference call. The two others went straight to work but Kelly, the one female manager on his team, had known Wes for years. She hung back. “What’s up, Kelly?” he asked. “You like him.” She grinned. “Who? Ryan?” Lying was useless. She moved closer and looked him in the eye. “You’ve clearly moved on him already.” “I know it’s stupid. I know he’s the boss of this project and I swore no more men at work. But it’s not a relationship, just sex to blow off the steam. He’s wound really tight. Nothing romantic.” Kelly rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because that works so well for you.” “I know, but I’m tired of being rational guy or a crutch or I get involved and the other guy gets back with his ex. Ryan agreed. Just sex. He’s practically still in the closet.” Not that Wes had given Ryan much of a choice. “I just don’t want to see you hurt and out of a job. It’s a good gig here. We can get our business back on track. Don’t screw it up for us.” She wagged a finger at him. “He’s so hot.” Wes shook his head, thinking of getting Ryan fully naked later. “And he couldn’t take his eyes off you. Don’t break his heart either. He seems like a nice guy.” Wes nodded. “They all do at first. It’ll be okay, Kelly. This haunted house is priority number one.” “Good for you. I have sets to start working on.” She headed for the main area. “Work.” Wes repeated to himself. But all he could think about was dinner. ~* * *~ Four hours later, Wes opened the door to his hotel room and admitted Ryan. “Hi! Dinner will be here in a few minutes.”

14

“Great!” Ryan set his briefcase down and sat on the sofa. “Your team is on top of things. The sets looked amazing after only a few hours of work.” “They just started. But they’re good.” Wes smiled. A knock on the door spared Wes more small talk. He let the room service guy in long enough to leave dinner on a table. Tipping generously, Wes closed the door and latched it. Turning, Wes found himself pinned to the door by Ryan’s smothering kiss. Wes responded, pulling Ryan closer. He’d been thinking about this all day, how he’d screwed Ryan, but ignored his other needs. Kissing felt too much like relationship stuff even though they both craved it. Holding Ryan tight, Wes kissed him hard, letting his teeth nip and then his tongue explore. As fast as it started, it ended. Ryan pulled away and headed for the food. “What was that?” Wes asked. Ryan moved the tray of burgers and fries to the coffee table. “An appetizer. Get over here.” They settled in to eat when Wes realized something. “No overnight stuff?” he asked Ryan. “Not a relationship, so no. No overnight stuff.” Ryan shook his head. “Sex can last all night.” Wes reached for Ryan’s thigh. Ryan scooted out of range. “Not with all the work we have to do. I could wear you out. You’ll need your rest for tomorrow.” They ate roast beef sandwiches and fries. “Who messed you up on relationships?” Ryan asked. Was shook his head. “No one guy. I’ve had a string of bad break-ups. I was the rebound guy or random-sex-that-tried-a-relationship-and-failed guy. Nothing worked. I thought I wanted a nice monogamous relationship, a business, and a quiet life in the Big Easy. Didn’t happen.” “What are you, thirty? It’s not over.” Ryan shrugged. Wes questioned Ryan’s motives. The friendly conversation could be fishing for a real date, too. “Thirty-two and I’m just burned out with the wrong guys. Nothing like a hurricane to put it all in perspective. Sex is good. Relationships are hard. What about you? Not one real relationship?” “With a guy? No. I tried the girl thing in college. My family thought I was just confused.” “How’d that work?” Wes grinned. “After college I moved to Vegas and told them I had a job and a girlfriend. They prefer the lie.” “But you never came out for a guy?” Wes found Ryan a puzzling contradiction. Vegas living and advertising weren’t exactly uptight areas. It had to be his upbringing. In the Bible belt, T&A was fine. Men could be men so long as they didn’t lust after other men. Ryan hadn’t broken free of the stigma yet. 15

“Never appealed to me. The bar scene was random enough. I went there when I needed a release. It was fast, hot, and over. But in advertising, it’s all about sex and non-stop meetings, dinners, and parties. People at work tried to set me up with their nieces, daughters, and sisters. If I didn’t tell them then, it’s too late now.” “The truth-outs.” Wes wiped his mouth with a napkin and eased away from the table. “But I guess it’s good for me you don’t want anything serious.” Ryan nodded. “Never get involved with people from work anyway. That spells trouble.” “Definitely.” Wes exhaled slowly. “I didn’t mean to talk about personal stuff. I figured we’d talk about work. The team is really excited. They love haunted houses. Kelly already has naughty plans for the half dressed actors.” Ryan moved closer. “So I’m not attractive if you know who I am and where I come from?” Just the opposite, though Wes couldn’t admit it. “I already feel like I know you. All the emails and phone calls. That little Tennessee twang comes out when you really relax.” Wes’ body started to warm as he focused on Ryan. “You really don’t like the random meaningless sex. Damn. That I’m good at.” Ryan pulled Wes’ shirt up and over his head. Wes’ cock responded to Ryan’s proximity. “No one really likes it. I’m trying it. I know you’re not an axe murderer or married. You don’t really like the random sex either, do you?” Tugging Wes’ fly open, Ryan looked him in the eye. “I never found my way into the gay world. I never wanted flamers or queens and definitely didn’t want to get beat up by hitting on a jock.” He shoved down Wes’ denim and briefs. Wes grabbed Ryan’s arm and pulled him in. The kiss went molten hot, a fusion of what they both needed. But Ryan eased back and knelt down before he got lost. Instead of Ryan’s hot mouth sucking Wes’ cock, he felt a tug at his ankle. Ryan wanted all the clothes gone. “Nice ink.” Ryan traced the gator tat on Wes’ calf as he removed the remains of the clothes. “Thanks.” Wes stepped out of the boots and let the clothes fall to the floor. Ignoring his need, Wes decided to play Ryan’s game. “Your turn.” Wes grabbed Ryan by the collar and yanked until the professional man stood. This time Wes went slowly. Unbuttoning Ryan’s shirt seemed to take forever, but every new inch of chest made Wes more hungry. Removing his shirt fully, Wes studied Ryan’s strong upper arms and defined abs while freeing his pants and pushing them down with the boxers. Sliding out of the dress shoes, Ryan let Wes pull the clothes free. Kneeling, Wes took in the full view of Ryan’s toned legs and tight ass, his gorgeous chest and shoulders. His hands roamed Ryan’s body and Wes dropped a kiss on Ryan’s upper thigh and then his stomach. Ryan’s warm cock called to him but Wes resisted. Wes stood and closed in on Ryan, kissing him and letting their naked bodies press together. Ryan’s hands worked down Wes’ back to his ass and held tight. “Enough teasing,” Ryan said.

16

Wes nodded and led Ryan to the bed for a change. Stretching out flat on his back, Wes waited for Ryan to join him. Ryan settled on top of Wes’ hard form and kissed him so deeply and slowly that Wes felt drugged. Their cocks rubbed together but that wasn’t enough. “Spin around,” Wes said. “What?” Ryan kissed Wes’ neck. “Sixty nine or we’ll both come like this. I can’t take it.” Wes groaned. “I won’t last no matter what.” Ryan planted a final kissed on Wes’ mouth and turned. Wes meant this to feel less personal but Ryan’s cock tasted familiar as Wes tongued along the shaft. On the other end, Ryan’s mouth went to work fast, first licking along the tattoo on Wes’ calf. Wes retaliated by sucking Ryan’s balls and squeezing them roughly. “God yes!” Ryan ground down for more as he gripped the base of Wes’ erection. Ryan might not be overly expressive, but he was no wimp. Wes stroked Ryan’s cock as he batted Ryan’s sac with his tongue. Rubbing Wes’ cock to his lips, Ryan licked the tip before sucking the head. Finally he slid as much as he could handle into his mouth. Wes thrust up but not far, the feel of Ryan orally fucking him had Wes fighting for control and teasing Ryan’s package. Gripping Ryan’s tight ass cheeks, Wes rubbed his lips along Ryan’s sac and cock to the tip. Ryan pressed for entry and Wes couldn’t refuse. Opening, Wes sucked the flesh as Ran thrust fully. The garbled groans and moans vibrating in their throats added to the stimulation. Wes twisted Ryan’s balls with his hands as he worked his erection. The pace of Ryan’s thrusting increased and Wes pulled Ryan’s hips back. Licking at the head, Wes took the full blast of cum and enjoyed the taste as Ryan’s body jerked. As he calmed down, Ryan sucked at Wes’ cock harder and harder, trying to take more. Wes refused to thrust deeper. He wouldn’t gag the novice, not now. Ryan’s probing tongue worked the small opening of Wes’ cock and set him off instantly. Forcing his hips to stay pressed to the bed, Wes came screaming Ryan’s name and holding onto the lower half of his body like a life preserver. Ryan cleaned up his mess and kissed along Wes’ inner thighs and calves down to his ankles. Wes could only moan. Before Wes could think about what to do next, Ryan climbed off the bed. “I better go.” “That’s it? What happened to wearing me out?” Wes sat up. “I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow. Besides, you don’t want to get too domestic or it’ll feel like a relationship.” Wes nodded. Payback for last night’s abrupt ending? He wanted more but stayed silent as Ryan dressed and left. Wes had asked for it.

17

Chapter Three After a week of diligent work on his accounts, Ryan felt the itch. Partly because he and Wes had been flyby screwing daily and somehow it wasn’t enough. Partly because they were interviewing actors today. Lots of time together. Ryan couldn’t remember the last time he’d called in sick to work but he had plenty of days coming to him. An entire day off with Wes and the project of his dreams, Ryan couldn’t wait. Pulling up to the club, Ryan saw the long line of people applying for jobs to play various parts. The reality began to sink in; it wouldn’t just be his situation. People and jobs would depend on him. All the more reason for him to stay very involved at every turn. Proximity to Wes was just a plus. “Hey there, Ryan!” Kelly greeted him. “Wes is back in the office getting ready to do interviews since you wanted us there. The others will still be working on the features but we’re making excellent progress.” “Great!” Ryan made his way back with his travel mug of coffee. Opening the door, Ryan caught a glimpse of Wes bending over to hook up a laptop and felt a stab of desire. Since the last time they’d been in this office, they’d shared only late night and rushed encounters. Ryan needed more. “Room for one more?” Ryan asked. Wes didn’t turn and kept working. “Sure, you’re the boss. I figured you’d make it here today. Kelly needs to be here for the makeup side of things.” “Sure.” Ryan grabbed the center seat so Wes couldn’t avoid sitting next to him by sticking Kelly in the middle. “Everything going okay?” “On schedule. I’ll give you the tour once we’re done casting. Unless you have to get back to work.” It’d been his fate to split his time. “No, took the whole day off. You’re stuck with me.” Ryan smiled. “We’ll keep you busy.” Wes nodded and sat on Ryan’s right side. Kelly brought in the first candidate and Ryan’s time alone with Wes was over. Turning his head back to business, Ryan wanted the hottest and sexiest actors to fulfill his vision. ~* * *~ Hours later, the cast was chosen and Kelly rushed them off for costume measurement and preliminary makeup concepts. Wes had ordered in sandwiches. Kelly had grabbed hers and ran, leaving the men alone. Ryan couldn’t tell if Kelly knew something was happening between him and Wes or not, but he appreciated the time alone. “Kelly seems very enthused.” Ryan watched Wes inhale his sandwich. The man worked as hard as he played and ate. “She likes creative freedom. Trust me, she’ll dazzle you.” 18

“I trust you. And I’m not as much of a control freak as I let on. It’s a big investment but I’m feeling good about it.” Ryan leaned in a bit closer to Wes. “Any problems so far?” Wes shook his head. “If there were, I’d have called you or mentioned it.” Wes grabbed for another chip and Ryan caught his hand. “I know this is messed up. Neither of us wanted this to get complicated.” Ryan didn’t know where to go from there. “It’s not complicated. It’s sex. It’s business. I’m done getting attached to guys who can’t deal with reality. My family did construction for generations. I had to get creative with it. My brothers and cousins went to titty bars. I turned out gay. So I get what you have to deal with in your family. I don’t blame you.” “You walked out on your family?” “Cajuns don’t walk out on their family. They don’t turn you out. For a while I got crap, but when my business went good and they knew I wasn’t going to change, like start wearing drag or something, things improved.” Wes pushed away the remains of his lunch. “And the gay thing?” Wes shrugged. “My brothers never let it go, but they don’t mind. I brought home one guy one time. They were okay but when the relationship didn’t work, they dished out more shit.” “My family just tries to fix me up with local girls.” Ryan chuckled. “So you lie and say you’ve got a girl here?” Wes tossed the trash. “Is that better?” “Better than listening to them nag long distance. I’m not sure what my family would do if I brought a guy home.” Wes smiled at Ryan for the first time all day. “Shock can give you the upper hand at times. Just make sure you take home the right guy. If they make an effort to accept one person and then it falls apart, it’s hard to get them to do it again.” “Easier said than done. But I’m not good at relationships anyway. Work is insane and a new business venture like this—” “Takes over your life.” Wes closed his laptop and leaned over, kissing Ryan hard. Ryan loved the ambush affection. Wes was moody but Ryan had been accused of that as well. They became obsessed with their work but in these brief moments of quiet, the passion exploded. Were they obsessed with each other? Kissing Wes in return, Ryan stood to feel Wes’ full form against his own. Ryan felt Wes’ erection and ground to encourage it. Opening the fly on Wes’ jeans, Ryan freed his cock and worked it manually. Wes groaned and tried to back away. The desk blocked him. “I’m going to screw you,” Wes said. “Not now.” Ryan knelt and grazed Wes’ balls with his teeth. “No,” Wes protested. “I’ve been thinking about bending you over this desk all morning.”

19

Ryan released Wes’ sac, but didn’t get off his knees. He knew if he did Wes would use the leverage and pin him. “Not now. If you want this too, you’ll come to my house for dinner to screw me.” He ran his tongue up Wes’ hard shaft and flicked the tip. Grunting, Wes rubbed it against Ran’s lips. “What the fuck do you want from me? You ran out last time I wanted dinner.” “Because I’m over thinking everything. I want a night. All night sex. Right now, that’s all I want. Dinner, my place, and we’ll get it.” Ryan squeezed Wes’ balls and tongued the head of his cock, daring him to say no. Wes’ fingers dug into Ryan’s hair. “Fine. Whatever. If you can handle it, I can.” A challenge. Ryan grinned and then returned to the temptation before him. Flatting his tongue against the underside of Wes’ cock, Ryan slowly dragged his tongue up and around the head. Wes thrust for entry but Ryan waited to slip it between his lips, teasing the head until Wes thrust even harder. “Don’t be a tease.” Wes pulled at Ryan’s hair. Ryan had no intention of teasing, but the harder Wes worked the more convinced Ryan became that tonight would happen. Grabbing Wes’ wrists, Ryan pinned them to the desk and then he swallowed Wes’ long cock to the base. “No experience my ass.” Wes fucked Ryan’s mouth. Keeping Wes off balance added to Ryan’s arousal. The feel of Wes’ cock hitting the back of his throat sent sparks through his body. Ryan knew what he liked, regardless of how often he did or didn’t get it. Ryan pressed his tongue to Wes’ balls and felt the release take over. Easing back, Ryan sucked the tip of Wes’ erection. Wes bit his lip, coming. Licking and swallowing Wes clean, Ryan wanted more as Wes slumped back on the desk. Sliding up Wes’ muscled body, Ryan kissed his neck and then that sexy mouth. “Tonight, whatever you want.” “Now!” Wes grabbed for Ryan. “No.” Ryan stepped back. “I can wait and you’re in no condition to fuck me.” Wes pulled his jeans and briefs up, fumbling with frustration despite his release. “You want it.” “Always. But we’ve got work to do and I’m not paying you for sex.” Ryan looked at his watch. Where was the day going? “You’ll get what you pay for. You’ve got your day job too. This is a smart risk. Ryan, you worry too much. If you can’t handle the risk of running your own business, don’t. Can you really juggle both?” Wes seemed to have shifted back to normal. Ryan smiled. “I planned to hire a manager for the club. We’ll see if the funds are there. I’ve canceled dinner meetings to be here. Used a vacation day or two. Now a sick day. It’s got to work.” “They’re your days.” Wes shrugged.

20

“Not in this market. Not in this field. They work you twenty-four hours and seven days a week. At least six.” “I understand. In this market, we take any job. That’s why people are so excited about the creativity on this one.” Wes slid up behind Ryan and kissed the back of his neck. “Quit stressing about what you can’t control. I’ve got it covered here, if you need to do the suit and tie thing. Trust me?” Ryan fought his arousal. “I do trust you. I want to be here. I can’t do both but I can’t not juggle it all right now.” Wes’ hand slid over Ryan’s stomach and up his chest. “So you’re staying this afternoon?” “Yeah, you promised me a tour of the attractions. No actors in them yet but they’re working.” Ryan tipped his head back to look at Wes. “You got it.” Wes kissed Ryan’s mouth, holding him so tight Ryan never wanted to be released. Right then he wanted Wes to bend him over anything, jerk him off, and just put him out of this miserable uncertainty. Wes could keep him safe. All his life Ryan had doubted himself. His tastes, his sexuality, and his dreams all failed to match up with his family’s expectations. Why did Wes seem to make all that disappear? He understood, yet he barreled on. Ryan tried to deepen the kiss. Wes eased back. “Better get to the tour or Kelly will find us defiling your office. Don’t push me too far or I’ll jerk you off and on the bar.” And with that, Wes released Ryan and stepped back. Finding his balance, Ryan collected himself before following Wes out the door. ~* * *~ The excitement over the attractions nearly matched Wes’ excitement over tonight, but he only allowed the work enthusiasm to show. “We’re halfway done with construction. It’s on track. All of them are fitted in and fleshed out. The main entrance will be the last to go up since people might take a look here.” Wes led the way to the front which was fitted with an arch. “Casino of Horrors?” Ryan asked. “Exactly what it’ll say. We’ll have two showgirls, half gorgeous and half gross zombie mutations with full make up luring in the guests.” “The twins we hired.” Ryan nodded already seeing it in his mind. “Right.” Wes continued the tour into the depths of the main area. “Black jack table, with your topless dealer. Attractive players from the back and when their piles of chips get too big, they’re sucked underneath, chainsaws ripping and reaching out at the guests.” “Excellent.” Ryan inspected the table. It looked exactly like a real casino table. “Then the craps table. A grim reaper is running the game. Women are playing, betting jewelry and rolling the dice on the bare back and ass of the hot model guy. He lunges out, grabbing for our guests, his front a mass of bloody wounds.” “Hot and scary.” 21

“That’s the idea.” Wes steered Ryan forward. “Poker tournament room. Two choices, strip or high stakes.” Ryan grinned. “Strip?” “College kids playing for clothes. The losers get dumped into glass cases, nearly nude and they’re experimented on.” “High stakes?” Wes shrugged. “Who’ll go in there? We’ll make that a pitch black howling abyss.” “Perfect. Next?” “The never-ending slots. It’ll be mirrored to look like a maze. Slot machines with little old ladies, tourists, and hot zombies filling the seats and pretty showgirls keeping them there to play and go on and on. Win big. Of course they never do. Needing money, the players turn on the guests and chase them into the biggest attraction.” “Gaming area, sports betting.” “Betting on any event. There’ll be crazy things they bet on. A pit of vicious zombies, our guests standing on the planks above them. Our actors betting on which guests will be the next victims. Topless girls teasing them, trying to push them over into the pit. Then we get one actor to act like an escaping guest and lead them to safety.” “Lead them out to the bar?” “Right, the topless girls are at the entrance and funnel them right toward the bar.” Wes clapped Ryan on the back as he showed off the carved bar. “All ready to serve the finest drinks down to domestic beers. Once you have a liquor license, that is. But the bar area is up to code.” Ryan nodded. “Looks great. I have a couple ideas to add.” “There’ll always be new things. That’s the best part. Just make sure they’re in the budget.” Wes leaned on the bar. “Scantily clad waiters and waitresses?” “Hell yeah, it’s Vegas. I think it’s law for bar staff. Really think it’ll work?” Ryan asked. Wes understood the fear of striking out alone. “No one can be totally sure but it’s perfect. Scaring people is just another form of arousal. It gets the adrenaline going and all the senses are heightened. As long as you’ve got eye candy for the women and the men, I think it’ll be popular.” “Then we need one more attraction.” “What’s that?” Wes asked. “I’ll tell you later.” Ryan glanced at his watch. “Time for dinner.” ~* * *~ Wes found himself hostage in Ryan’s house. Not that he’d complain at all. The quaint little duplex showed promise. Ryan’s cooking was good and Wes actually felt at home.

22

He resisted the urge to say he’d grown too comfortable with Ryan. This wasn’t like any relationship he’d ever had. Yet here he was, ready to spend the night, or maybe lots of nights with this man. “So what’s the idea for the added attraction?” Ryan sat down next to Wes on the couch. “An adult massage room. The guests go in, a hot chick is massaging some hot guy and a young hot guy is massaging a cute coed. Then the tables flip and they’re being subjected to awful experiments.” “I love it. Maybe want to save it for Whorehouse of Horrors though. Not quite casino set.” “True. One at a time.” Ryan rubbed his neck. “I had twenty messages on my cell phone when I checked.” “Even when you called in sick?” Wes liked working for himself more and more but he’d never harass an employee out sick. People needed their down time. “Doesn’t matter. I didn’t answer any of them. Didn’t even listen. They’re not going to ruin my day.” Ryan exhaled slowly and leaned over. Putting all thoughts of work deadlines and even the haunted house out of his mind, Wes pulled Ryan closer. He plucked open those pesky buttons on Ryan’s dress shirt with a new, practiced hand. Wes had always gone blue collar before, but a sexy business man in a suit could be hot too. Suddenly Ryan stood and tugged free. “Bedroom.” He let the shirt fall and headed for the back of the house. Wes followed, catching up quickly as he pulled his T-shirt over his head and dropped it. The bedroom was simple with the bed dominating the medium size room. Ryan had already kicked off his shoes. Wes needed him so much he’d follow him anywhere. Both men stripped, watching each other intently as bare skin appeared. Naked and ready, Wes pushed Ryan onto the bed. Ryan braced himself on his hands looking up at Wes with curiosity. Wes caged Ryan, an arm on either side of the sexy entrepreneur. “You don’t have to plan everything.” Wes kissed him hard and relentlessly until Ryan finally relaxed and flopped fully back onto the bed.

23

Chapter Four Landing willingly on his back, Ryan held Wes on top of him. Their hot muscled bodies tangled as they kissed. Wes cupped Ryan’s face and Ryan wrapped an arm tight around Wes’s waist. Wes kissed up Ryan’s chest to his neck. “Where’s the lube?” he asked. Reaching for the nightstand, Ryan couldn’t sit up with Wes on him. “Bottom drawer.” With one hand, Wes pressed down on Ryan’s chest to keep him there. Ryan heard rummaging and froze with a flash of embarrassment. His collection of toys wasn’t something he shared with others. But surely Wes had seen worse. “Now I know why you’re so practiced.” Wes dropped a soft dildo on Ryan’s chest along with a small bottle of lube. “And this makes tonight even better.” “Yeah, I go solo a lot. Hookups are quick and over. That doesn’t always work.” Ryan tossed the toy cock aside. Tonight he had the real thing, all night. Wes grinned and retrieved the sex toy. “Tonight will be anything but quick or solo.” He shifted off Ryan. “What are you doing?” Ryan tried to sit up. “Stop controlling everything. You’re wound way too tight. Lie back and don’t close your eyes.” Wes kissed down Ryan’s chest and the tension melted away from Ryan’s body. A quick tongue tormented him further, teasing Ryan’s hard cock as if to test him. Lifting, Ryan felt a pillow stuffed under the small of his back. “Like this?” Ryan opened his eyes. Wes rubbed Ryan’s sac with lube coated fingers and Ryan’s eyes closed again in pleasure. “Afraid of a position? Afraid to look me in the eye?” Wes challenged. Groaning, Ryan twisted to get comfortable in the new position. He wanted to try it all with Wes but not come off like a novice. “Never tried it before.” “You’ll like it.” Wes slick finger slid back to Ryan’s asshole and put a thin coating on the pucker before rubbing forward again. Involuntary, Ryan’s hips snapped. “You’re ready.” Wes licked over the base of Ryan’s cock. “God yes. I’ve been waiting all day. The first time doesn’t have to be a marathon.” Ryan had been fantasizing all day, despite his mind on work, his lust was all over Wes. “You didn’t want your turn earlier.” Wes sounded casual about it. Ryan braced with his eyes still closed. “Don’t tease.” “Never.” Wes pressed his lips along the right side of Ryan’s cock until he trembled. “Don’t rush it either. I’ve wanted to get you off all day.”

24

Nodding, Ryan let go of plans and expectations. Wes’ mouth took forever, sucking Ryan’s cock deeper. His bold tongue sweeping and swirling slowly as though he could surround Ryan’s shaft if he tried hard enough. Thrusting up, Ryan wanted more friction, more contact…more. Wes gave him what he needed when he needed it. The teasing made it even better when Ryan trusted Wes. Ryan heard the flip of the lube cap and hoped Wes wanted to fuck more than suck right now. He wanted both, but even the best Vegas contortionists couldn’t do both at once. Just then, Ryan felt the press of his dildo, not Wes’ hot flesh, against his ass. Wes’ mouth still toyed with the tip of Ryan’ cock. “No. I want you.” Ryan gripped Wes’ hair with both hands and looked down at him. Wes tilted his head, the tip of Ryan’s cock held gently between his teeth. His tongue flicked as his hand pressed the toy without retreat. In those dark eyes, Ryan read the answer. He’d get fucked by Wes when he was damn good and ready and not a second before. Being sucked and fucked, Ryan relaxed his grip on Wes’ hair. That fantasy was probably as common as any, but no man ever made it happen until now. Ryan let the slippery toy invade him at Wes’ chosen pace. And it was a slow pace. Wes kissed up and down Ryan’s cock, licking and sucking only to retreat. The toy cock crawled then Wes would work it harder, twisting until Ryan grabbed for Wes’ strong shoulders. Wes’ tongue pressed up Ryan’s chest and they were kissing again. Ryan held him, Wes still maintaining control, by keeping the toy cock half in and half out of Ryan’s tight ass. “You can take it all, can’t you?” Wes whispered in his ear. “It’s a good size.” “Yes, all!” The eight inches had been the perfect primer for Wes’ thick and equally long equipment. “Maybe I’ll have to get you a bigger one.” Wes nipped his way back down to Ryan’s sac. “No, I want the real thing. You. I’m tired of toys!” While Ryan meant it, the last thing he wanted was for Wes to stop. “Okay.” Wes backed up the toy. “No.” Ryan braced himself on his hands to see better. “Finish what you started.” No more eyes closed. No more dark rooms or quick rides. Ryan stared at Wes, silently demanding relief. Wes advanced the dildo slowly while twisting it. His mouth swallowed Ryan’s cock to the base. No playing anymore. As Wes pulled back on the toy, Ryan took over. Thrusting hard to fill his pulsing ass in need of serious attention, and then rocking forward to fuck Wes’ tight mouth. Part of Ryan wanted to give in and let Wes run the show. Somehow that little battle of wills turned Ryan on more. Getting what he needed from the sexiest man he’d ever known. “Harder,” Ryan said through clenched teeth. 25

Wes pumped with added pressure on the toy and worked Ryan’s shaft harder. The skilled man also increased the pace and Ryan’s body gave. The internal spasms triggered by the toy pushed his restraint down to nothing and Ryan came in Wes’ mouth. A dual release like nothing he’d felt before. Shaking, Ryan watched Wes lick and suck his cock until Ryan’s hips lunged one final time as if they weren’t already spent. Wes pulled the pillow away and Ryan landed on the bed, his rear still spread. Wes pressed chest-to-chest, pinning Ryan still. “Good?” he asked. Ryan took a deep breath. “Yeah. I think you forgot something.” He kissed Wes, slowly exploring his mouth as Ryan reached for the toy. Wes’ hand caught him first. “No, leave it.” “Why?” Ryan liked the fullness but Wes needed a release now. Grabbing the lube, Wes lifted and squeezed a liberal dose over Ryan’s spent cock. Flipping the cap closed, he tossed the bottle up near the pillows. “What now?” Ryan looked into Wes’ eyes. Did Wes think he needed down time? “I can handle you. Fuck me!” Lining up their bodies, Wes pressed his cock against Ryan’s, sliding between the balls and up. Ryan gasped at the new sensation and held onto Wes’ back as Wes wrapped his arms around his shoulders to keep their connection tight. “I can’t wait now.” Wes eased backed with his face next to Ryan’s. “I’m going to do it right. I need this first.” Ryan held tight as Wes’s cock rubbed his like a horny teenager. The new sensation sent chills through Ryan, his ass still full and yet with his body satisfied for the moment, he could focus on Wes’ need. Ryan felt Wes’ body vibrate with sexual frustration. More than anything, Ryan wanted to see Wes get off. “Harder.” Ryan reached down and cupped Wes’ hard ass. Ryan had used and been used for sex before. This wasn’t using. It was a connection, and he pushed any fear away. Wes groaned. “You like it? Fucked and sucked and ground on?” “Hell yeah. And the dirty talk works too.” Ryan pulled Wes into another deep kiss as their cocks dueled for Wes’ relief. The shallow grunts from Wes’ chest tipped Ryan off and he held onto the sexy man on top of him just in time. Wes froze and his control gave. Ryan absorbed all the weight as Wes’ cum slid between their bodies. Ryan’s muscles twinged around the toy as he held onto Wes. The stunning reality that he’d brought a man like Wes to such release, drove him to this instead of just fucking hard and fast at random. Ryan pushed away the deeper thoughts. The tug of more was right in front of him. No relationship and he had to remember that.

26

But this was the first time he’d had a man where sex wasn’t the first thing that had brought them together. Rolling them over so Wes could rest on his back for a while, Ryan tried not to think. Tonight there were more physical needs to consider. ~* * *~ Still wrapped around Ryan’s hot body, Wes woke. The clock on Ryan’s nightstand read only nine at night, yet they’d gone rounds and dozed. For a moment, Wes took it in. Ryan sprawled sexy in bed, not a care on his normally tense expression. Reaching into the bottom drawer, Wes grabbed the silver egg. Ryan kept his toys so nice and neat. There were more, and Wes had plans for them all. Pressing his chest to Ryan’s back, Wes felt Ryan give readily in his sleep as he stretched out on his stomach. Wes placed the egg between Ryan’s legs snuggly so there was no way to avoid waking. Wes loved the element of surprise. He turned the dial on the controller to its lowest setting and the soft hum made Wes start to get hard. Ryan moaned in his sleep but didn’t wake. Increasing the dial a bit, Wes watched Ryan’s thighs tighten and his ass clenched to keep the buzzing toy in place. But the egg wasn’t where Wes really wanted it. The dildo remained deep in Ryan. In one swift motion, Wes pulled it free and dropped the toy into the plastic bin Ryan had in his bottom nightstand drawer. Wes pressed the buzzing toy to Ryan’s still ready hole. “What?” Ryan startled awake. “Oh hell. You bastard!” “It’s your toy box. I’m just playing. Don’t like to share your toys?” Wes dialed up the vibrations until Ryan arched, his face pressed to the pillow in pleasure. Easing back the dial, Wes reached around, feeling Ryan’s full erection. “More?” Ryan shook his head. “Not yet.” To Wes’ shock, Ryan rose up and flipped Wes onto his back. Not accustomed to relinquishing the upper hand, Wes tried to sit. He grabbed for the controller that’d fallen from his grip. Ryan let him get the controller but pushed him back flat as Ryan faced away and curled into a perfect 69. Gasping, Wes fought for self-control as Ryan deep throated him with a hum. Faced with Ryan’s hard cock, Wes made no effort to argue or change the position, though Ryan changed his plan. Wes still had what he wanted, that buzzing sex toy in Ryan. “Think I won’t play dirty?” Wes dialed up the action. Ryan moaned and pulled his mouth free, his hand clamping onto Wes’ sac and tugging. “I’m counting on it. You want to use my toys instead of fuck me? I’ll enjoy it either way.” Pulling Ryan’s hips closer, Wes sucked over Ryan’s erection feeling the faint vibration through his sexy skin. He ignored Ryan’s manhandling and lapped until Ryan groaned and returned to orally pleasing him. Wes thrust up and got a moan in response. Dialing up the egg, Ryan’s hips flexed, fucking Wes’ mouth with the motion. Too good! Wes let Ryan thrust as he played with the dial to reduce the toy’s vibration so Ryan worked harder. 27

The feel of Ryan’s strong grip on his calf alone had Wes on the edge but that eager mouth never paused. Curious to find out how long Ryan could hold out, Wes dialed the vibrator to off and let Ryan’s hips fuck for more. Then Ryan settled and focused on sucking Wes’ cock. Lifting for more, Wes dialed up the toy as a reward. Ryan didn’t ease off and drove Wes closer and closer to the edge until Wes didn’t care if Ryan came at all. The moaning at the back of Ryan’s throat set Wes into an orgasm so hard he just held onto Ryan and grunted his name. The dial spun to the maximum in Wes’ hand and Ryan’s cum hit Wes’ neck and chest in a thick stream. Wes dropped the controller and went limp on the bed. He’d lost this round with no complaints. “You’ll pay for that.” A nipping at his inner thigh made Wes lift his hips. He still wanted more and pulled the egg free of Ryan, who took the toy and returned it to the box. “Promises, promises.” Ryan turned and kneeled over Wes’ spent body. “You will get yours.” Wes had no intention of moving yet. He wanted to savor the peace and physical satisfaction. Ryan smeared his cum into Wes’ chest hair until it disappeared. “You’ll need to recover. I could go again now.” “Part of you could.” Wes stroked Ryan’s sac softly. “Your own fault anyway.” Ryan grinned in a mischievous way that made Wes nervous. “What?” “I could fix it.” Ryan reached into the toy box and pulled out a hard plastic vibrator. Reaching out, Wes grabbed Ryan and pulled him on top of his chest. “Trying to kill me?” He kissed the man without waiting for an answer. Wes held him tight, why couldn’t he get enough of kissing Ryan? Touching him? Hell just smelling Ryan made Wes hard. Working together was a battle of wills and either way Wes was happy. He blocked out how happy and the fact that it scared him. Kelly had brought it up already; so obviously, she could tell he had feelings. Wes stayed firmly in the sexual haze of denial but it went deeper. A faint buzzing jarred Wes from his internal struggle as his mouth kept on exploring Ryan’s. Then plastic touched his chest and Wes knew Ryan’s patience was gone. Wes’ recovery time was over. The tip of that plastic shaft shook over Wes’ nipple and down his chest, teasing his stomach and bypassing his cock to graze his inner thighs. Wes’ entire body responded with arousal. “Easy! I don’t play like this much.” Wes rarely was on the receiving end of toy games. “We’ll have to change that. But for now, it’s just to get you hard. Unless you need more.” Ryan’s eyes taunted him.

28

Wes’ cock already responded, grew as the vibrations neared. Rubbing the toy around Wes’ sac, Ryan matched what Wes had done, rubbing the vibrator over Wes’ sac and up against his erection. “More?” he asked. Lifting, Wes had no idea how to answer. Then Ryan moved the plastic toy to the topside of Wes’ cock and let it tease the tip until Wes pulled away. He nearly came like a teenager jerking off. “Stop!” Ryan removed the toy, turned it off and put it away. On a mission, Wes found the lube and pinned Ryan on a pile of pillows. Ryan went willingly onto his back and asked for more as Wes applied lube. Looking down at Ryan, Wes knew he was in emotional trouble but couldn’t help himself. Hard and done with teasing and holding off on what they needed, Wes rubbed his cock to Ryan’s tight ass and pushed slowly to the hilt. Checking his control, Wes opened his eyes and looked down at the sexy man. Leaning down, Wes nipped at Ryan’s chin. Ryan arched, looking up and kissing Wes in return. Ryan’s strong hand grabbed the back of Wes’ neck and held him. The room to maneuver limited, Wes liked the heat and closeness. His hips snapped in short thrusts, grinding to Ryan’s firm body. Ryan lifted to meet Wes and squeezed his cock to meet Wes’ who returned the squeeze. Not wanting it to be over too fast, Wes gripped Ryan’s shoulders and took a deep breath. “Don’t stop,” Ryan urged. “I don’t think I can last,” Wes admitted. “I don’t want it to be over.” Ryan pressed and held. “Don’t, don’t drag it out. I can’t take it. I need it.” His free hand reached down and gripped Wes’ ass cheeks and squeezed, slipping his fingers behind Wes’ sac. Those small triggers were all Wes needed to let go and fuck Ryan full force. Rough and hard, he thrust and heard Ryan’s moans of encouragement as Wes got closer and closer. Ryan’s grip on Wes’ rear tightened. He felt Ryan’s lips on his neck, soft and insistent. Wes nudged Ryan until their foreheads were pressed together. Looking into his eyes did Wes in. He came in a hard shudder trying desperately not to lose eye contact as he watched Ryan’s face. Ryan screamed Wes’ name and the pulsing around Wes’ cock told Ryan the truth about how close he was. Grabbing Ryan’s face, Wes kissed him deeply. “I love you,” he gasped.

29

Chapter Five Ryan clung tighter to Wes as he woke. The new sensation of waking with a man felt right. At least with this man. Despite all the toys and teasing, Ryan found himself tangled in arms with muscled sex appeal. Better than any random guy or battery-powered feature. Dropping kisses along Wes’ chest, Ryan toyed with the idea of waking him. The project needed work and Ryan had appointments this morning, but he couldn’t move. The faint ring of Ryan’s cell phone made him turn the other way and see the time on the clock. He’d forgotten to set the alarm? Had he set the alarm and slept through it? Worse, he’d already missed a meeting. “Shit!” Ryan jumped out of bed and scrambled for his cell and his pants. “What?” Wes sat up still half asleep. “I missed my appointment. It’s already eleven in the morning. I can’t believe Kelly or someone didn’t call looking for you.” Ryan played his many messages, all from his frantic assistant. The final one turned out to be his boss. “I’m so screwed.” “Relax, tell them you got sick. Stomach flu. Whatever. I told Kelly where I was going for dinner. She doesn’t want to interrupt and can run the crew herself.” Wes stretched. “Flu? And I didn’t call in when my biggest client and I have a meeting? They’ll never buy that. They pay for my cell phone. If I’m going into surgery, I need to call.” “Sounds like a shitty place to me.” Ryan dressed in a hurry. “If I need to take time, I can. If this place works out, I can quit at some point. But I keep my job by keeping my clients happy.” “So break the phone? Say you were in a small fender bender and when you got out, the guy threw your phone on the ground when you went to call the cops. Then he drove off before you got his license plate number. Road rage is unpredictable.” Pausing before putting on his right shoe, Ryan stared at Wes. “You’re really good at making up stories.” “I’m trying to help you. I’m not lying to you. One missed meeting isn’t the end of the world.” “Yeah, but if it’s a fender bender, why am I so late? No police report? No, I’ll use family stuff. My family is all back in Tennessee. Someone got rushed to the hospital and I was on the phone all morning. Simple and they’ll never try to track down a patient half a country away.” “You’re a pretty good liar too.” Wes slipped out of bed and stood there naked. Guilt hit Ryan. He didn’t want to go. “I’m sorry. I should’ve moved the meeting, thought I could juggle this a lot better. I have to go sort this out. No relationships is the only way to make it all work, you’re right.” Ryan tightened his tie and pulled Wes to him in a quick kiss. “I’ll make it up to you later. Breakfast in bed over the weekend. I’ve got to go.”

30

“It’s okay. I need to get to work.” Wes grabbed his jeans and headed for the bathroom. “See you later.” Ryan trusted Wes to lock up the house. As he jumped in his car, Ryan dialed his assistant to gauge the fallout. “Where have you been?” she questioned. “Family emergency.” He kept his answer simple. “And you don’t call? They’re pissed.” Ryan counted to three. “I was on the phone with family back home in Tennessee. I lost track of time. I wasn’t really thinking. I’m on my way now.” “Did they make it?” she asked. “Yeah.” Ryan exhaled slowly. “Tell them I’m there in ten minutes, okay?” Five minutes later, Ryan walked into the agency and ran to the men’s room. Splashing cold water on his face, he studied himself in the mirror. He looked sufficiently sleep deprived for his lie. Right now he wanted to crawl back in bed with Wes and just sleep. Eat a few bagels and read the paper at most. But sleeping in those arms was all he really wanted. He shook off the fantasy. Real life had to happen and Ryan had done a piss poor job of juggling his day job, dream club, and sex life. Normally he’d drop the sex life but not this time. The door swung open and his assistant entered with a mug of coffee. “Carol? This is the men’s room.” “Yeah, whatever. Here.” She pushed the mug into his hand. “You can’t hide. They’re not happy.” “You told them what happened?” Ryan took a long drink. “Yeah. They seemed untouched. There’s something else going on. You’ve never done anything like this before and they know it. I asked the executive secretaries about the rumors and they googled you.” “What?” The fact that he slept with men wouldn’t be on the Internet and in this liberal agency no one would really care. “What’s the problem?” “Not sure. But they’re not normal. Better go make nice.” She brushed off the back of his jacket. “Thanks.” Ryan wondered if she knew more than she let on. He headed for the bosses’ office. The militant secretary guarding the entryway just nodded at him, no eye contact. Ryan poked his head in and cleared his throat. “Come in.” Ryan closed the door behind him. The less people who overheard the better. “Sorry about this morning. Unavoidable family emergency had me on the phone. I totally lost track.” “That’s okay, Ryan. Things come up. Everyone in your family is all right?”

31

“Fine now, stable at least. I’ll reschedule the meeting and smooth things over.” Ryan hoped to slip out then. If they were annoyed with him, he’d live. Be a good soldier for a week or two and it’d blow over. “Not so fast. We need to talk about your situation in general.” The bald man inclined his head to the guest chairs. In the years he’d been at this agency, he’d never been asked to sit in the boss’s office unless there were clients there. The vibe disturbed him. Ryan sat stiffly. “What’s the situation?” “It seems you have other interests. Outside interests. You purchased some property recently.” He flipped through some papers. “Is that a problem?” “No, your free time is yours to do with as you please. However your attendance and attention to your work over the last few weeks have suffered. Today especially.” Ryan kept quiet. If he pushed his lie too much, the company might just try to verify the relative in the hospital story. “I’m sorry if I’m having a bad spell. I believe my years of service and long hours speak for themselves. The other project isn’t the problem. I have hired people to handle it.” “I see. And these pictures I have of your car at this property location on a day you called in sick are a lie?” He grinned. “You’re having me followed?” Ryan swallowed back the shock. “If it’s a matter of how to classify the day, I have plenty of vacation days.” “No, it’s not that. It’s a question of loyalty. Your priorities are elsewhere and the business is suffering. We can’t afford you part time. We need more not less. I’m sorry, Ryan.” He shook his head. “Sorry?” Ryan knew what was coming but couldn’t believe it. “We have to let you go. A falsified sick day, missing meetings, no calls, slipping performance. I’m afraid we’ve got sufficient grounds. Not that we need any.” Ryan’s skin tingled as though frozen. He’d never been fired. Never even been reprimanded. His days as a stellar employee seemed long gone. “I’ll clean out my desk.” “No need. Your assistant has already done that with our security officer. You’ll have a box waiting for you at reception.” The older man stood and made no attempt to shake hands. “Good luck with your new venture.” In a daze, Ryan walked out of the office with his box. He’d turned over his cell phone and his identification badge. Sliding into his car, Ryan started it and drove off into the desert.

~* * *~ Wes walked into the main bar area of the club and found Kelly fitting costumes. He’d gone back to his hotel room to shower and change. There was no rush. Everything was on schedule and Kelly could handle it all. Still he had to set a good example. 32

“Have an early meeting?” Kelly asked. “Yeah. Met with Ryan.” Wes’ grin spread. “Things look good here.” “Nothing new. Just about to break for lunch actually.” Kelly stepped back and gave the actor a nod. “Swing by the office. We’ll eat and catch up.” Wes headed through the attractions to check and doubled back to the office behind the bar. He’d stopped off for a pizza. Kelly entered a smile. “I figured you two would be at it all day too.” Wes took a slice and sighed. “I wish. He forgot a meeting. Bolted out of there.” She sat down and took a piece. “You think he made it up to leave?” “No, it was real. He’s going to burn out at this rate. He’s pushing too hard at everything.” Wes chewed, not sure what he could do to help. “Pushing at you, too. I thought you were off relationships. None, no more, nada. Those were your words, I believe.” “Yeah. I meant it. I told him that.” Wes gnawed on the crust. “Liar.” She kicked his leg. “No, I meant it. I never expected him to be—him. With the phone and the emails, it was just friendly and easy. Why couldn’t he be some old ugly guy chasing strippers?” “So that’s the difference. You liked him first. Sex came second.” “I didn’t know he was hot, or gay, or any of this. It was all business at first.” Wes pulled out his cell phone. “Waiting for his call? You’ve got it worse than I’ve ever seen you.” She took another piece. “I want to make sure he didn’t get in too much trouble. He was freaked about missing the meeting.” Wes put the phone on the desk. “Guess it went okay.” “You like Vegas?” She changed the subject. “I like it here.” Wes grabbed a second slice and glanced at her smile. “Shut up.” “Hey, there are worse things than relocating for a guy. Here the attractions are always changing. More work for you. Good gay scene. It’d be nice to see you settled down.” “What?” Wes coughed. “Settle down?” She handed him a napkin. “This one is different. You can’t fool me.” “It’s too soon. He’d busy with the job and this place.” Wes sat back and pondered Kelly’s relocation idea. The door swung open and Ryan stood there looking more rumpled and lost than when he’d bolted from the house. “You okay?” Wes asked. Ryan just shook his head and stepped inside. “I’ll let you two talk.” Kelly left, closing the door behind her. 33

“What happened?” Shifting forward, Ryan grabbed a piece of pizza and sat hard in the wooden guest chair. “Not good.” “What? They didn’t believe the lie?” Ryan shrugged. “Didn’t care. They knew about the club. My sick time. They found out. They fired me.” Wes got up and knelt next to Ryan’s chair. “Sorry man. It’ll be okay.” “Okay?” Ryan shouted. “Okay? No income. No health insurance. No cell phone. No office. No nothing but debt and risk.” “It had to happen sooner or later. You can’t do two jobs.” “Later. Much later. When I’d opened and had a manager and an idea of the income stream. Maybe turned a profit. Later.” Ryan put the pizza in his mouth and chewed the edge slowly. “Well, it was meant to be now. You really want to work for those jerks? Working for yourself is freedom. It’s being true to your vision and goals,” Wes said with an upbeat smile. “It’s risky!” Ryan dropped the half eaten piece of pizza into the box with apathy. Wes patted his shoulder. “You just need to redo the plan so you know where you stand. It’s only another week until the opening. You’ll have income then. Don’t panic until you’ve run the numbers.” “I’m beyond panic.” Ryan rubbed eyes already marked with dark circles. “Go home. Crunch the numbers after you’ve gotten some sleep.” “I can’t sleep,” Ryan protested. “You need to. Shower, shave and you’ll feel better. I can come by tonight and we can go over whatever you need. I’ll bring dinner.” Wes let his hand graze Ryan’s stubbly face. Slowly Ryan stood. “No. I screwed this up, I’ll handle it. I don’t fail.” “You didn’t fail.” Wes stood and tried to move closer but Ryan moved back. “You’re going to be your own boss.” “I wanted to say when. A few more weeks would’ve killed them?” Ryan paced. Wes wondered if what he said last night scared Ryan or if this was just his panic state? He felt the distance growing. “It’s done. You have to deal.” “I know. I will. I lost my focus. I let my emotions get the better of me. I didn’t want to face reality but here it is. I should go.” Ryan headed for the door. “I won’t make that mistake again.” Wes watched Ryan leave. He wanted to go after him. Wanted to help. But Ryan needed space to find that balance. All Wes could do was hope he wasn’t the mistake Ryan talked about.

34

Chapter Six The next morning, Ryan woke with a fresh attitude. The previous day had thrown him in so many directions that he’d ended up coming home alone. After a shower and quick bite, he’d crunched the numbers. He’d make it, but the club had to turn a profit sooner. And his ad budget needed to do more with less. Ryan knew he could fill in the gaps with favors and contacts he’d made through his job. If they’d still help him. Every time he thought about the day before, he cringed. A great morning with Wes turned ugly, and while Ryan now had time to focus on the club, the pressure to succeed had just doubled. Or more. No more panic or doubt. He focused himself to treat this like a regular job. Ryan showered, dressed, though today in a polo shirt and jeans instead of a suit. He grabbed an apple for breakfast and headed for the club. Seeing Wes’ car triggered emotions Ryan pushed down. Wes had tried to be nice, to help, but he’d also made the rule. Nothing but sex. Ryan didn’t want pity. He’d heard his share of promises and lies in the dark. It sounded good and felt good but in the light of day it disappeared. Kelly waved at Ryan from the entryway and Ryan nodded in return. He liked Wes’ crew. Once they were gone he had no idea how he’d maintain what they’d created, but one crisis at a time. The relief of not seeing Wes so far threw Ryan. He wanted to see Wes, wanted to go back and share conversations over the phone or dinner. To have wild sex and feel free. But emotions had now intruded, at least on Ryan’s side, and for now it felt better to keep some distance between them. “Feeling better?” Kelly asked. “Yeah. I needed to get organized. Is he around?” “Working on some of the effects with the engineers. Probably take all morning, but if you need him…” Kelly pointed to the black jack table area. Ryan held up a hand. “No, no. I don’t want to interrupt. I’ve got advertising to work on. This afternoon I’ve got bar and wait staff to interview. I’m swamped.” “Yes, you seem less stressed than before. Maybe it’s the jeans.” She smiled. “It’s one job instead of two. I’m blocking out the big pressure of the opening. I’ll be in the office if anyone needs me.” Ryan headed in, keeping an eye out to avoid Wes just in case their paths crossed. ~* * *~ Three hours later, a knock on the door startled Ryan. He’d redesigned the ads and negotiated billboards, taxis, and other ads that weren’t cheap. He’d called in every favor and hunted up a celebrity or two for opening night. 35

“Come in.” Ryan kept his eyes on his laptop. He knew it was Wes. “Everything okay in here?” Wes asked. “Usually you’re roaming and inspecting.” Ryan glanced up briefly. Wes looked hot and sweaty and so sexy man in a T-shirt and jeans. “I’m busy. Advertising is what I’m good at, getting that under control.” “Kelly told me. And this afternoon the bar staff. We’ll be ready for a test run tomorrow. Work out any bugs. You’ll be available?” Wes came as close as the guest chairs and stopped. “Absolutely. Can’t wait.” The chemistry clawed at Ryan but he kept his eyes on the goal. For Wes to leave him alone with a business to run. Giving in would only cause trouble. He needed to stay on good terms with Wes for future projects. “Great.” Wes took a half step forward and seemed to rethink it. “Everything okay?” “Sure. Just needed to regroup after yesterday. I revamped the plan and the numbers, so it’ll be fine.” “Good.” Wes nodded curtly. Ryan waited, hoping Wes would run around the desk and screw his brains out. Kiss him. Something. Even a dinner invitation so they could talk. But Wes had done just that last night and Ryan had turned him down. At the very least, he’d ignored the invitation to dinner, blew it off as a guilt comment. Probably all for the best, he reasoned. Ryan checked his email. “Anything else?” “No, that’s it. Good luck with the staff.” Wes turned and left the office. Exhaling slowly, Ryan missed the buff man already. Telling himself it was for his own good only went so far. He needed to persuade the guy he’d lined up as manager that he really wanted to take the job. A good club manager was hard to find. A good bookkeeper equally challenging, but Ryan had people in mind and had decided that was just the distraction he needed. He’d take them to lunch and get them on board. He’d meant to do it weeks ago but they put him off. Now he had a club to show them. Ryan grabbed his laptop and headed out. “Got a lunch meeting,” he called to whoever was in earshot.

~* * *~ Wes arrived extra early the next day so he could make sure everything worked perfectly. He’d seen Ryan return with two men yesterday. From Kelly, Wes learned they were the new club manager and bookkeeper. Checking the entrance area, Wes ignored the pain of Ryan in the distance. They’d gone from intense sex and a connection Wes had never felt before to neutral corners. “Hello!” A familiar voice called from outside. “I’m here Kel.” It wasn’t the voice Wes wanted to hear but no one except Kelly knew he’d planned to do an early walk through.

36

“Brought doughnuts.” She rustled a bag. “How’s it look?” He grabbed a doughnut. “Thanks. Just got here myself. Let’s walk it.” Wes led the way and ate the sugar coated pacifier. “Whoa, you got it bad. Stress eating.” Kelly tripped the features and nodded approvingly. “I’ve got nothing.” Wes tested the strength of the security barriers. So far everything worked as planned. “Exactly. The chill around here is way too cold for the desert. What the hell happened?” Wes shrugged. “I said no relationships. You think I’ve got no willpower? I meant it. I told Ryan upfront, no games. He understands.” At least his conscience was clear even if it wasn’t his decision. He’d screwed it up. “Oh yeah, you told him. Now you’re miserable.” “He decided to back off. The sex was great and I miss that but it had to end sometime. We’ll pack up and move on. Makes it easier, really.” The ache in his chest protested his lie. Not having Ryan in bed was bad. Not seeing him every day sounded like torture. “Please. He’s just as messed up and hung up as you are. You both have so much armor up so you can blame the other person. Or you can use the no relationship disclaimer. No one is at fault. No one is happy. That’s my point. Everyone loses.” “Hey, I tried. I really tried yesterday. I offered to bring dinner, to be there, to help him and his plan. I put it out there.” Wes stopped before he said how much it hurt him to get rejected. It was just dinner and a friendly ear but he’d been shut out. “I know but it’s the same reason you’re here now without him.” “What?” He tested another attraction to keep his hands busy. “You want to impress him. Show him how smooth and perfect things run.” “That’s my job. We’re being paid to do this. What I offered was totally different. That’s personal.” “Not really. You offered to help him work on his plan for this place. He wanted to deal with it himself because it’s his side of the responsibilities. He probably wanted you there but also wanted to show you he’s a good businessman who can handle it. To impress you.” “I could’ve just hung out, and then provided dinner and sex to distract him.” She grinned in disbelief. “No, not when you love him. You wanted to make it better. Seriously. Men and their egos. I don’t know how you gay guys negotiate it all.” “It’s lust. I fall into it all the time.” Wes blocked out the idea of love. It happened too fast and intense, too lustful and crazy. “You mix lust and love and you get hurt. But this is way worse.” “What do you mean?” Wes snapped. “I know how you are.” She shook her head. “You didn’t just fall in love or lust with Ryan. You fell hard in like.” “Like? Is this high school?” Wes chuckled. 37

“You and Ryan are acting like it.” Kelly stopped and leaned on the wall. “Face it, Wes, with most of the guys you’ve fallen for it was about sex first and then you got attached. But you never got to know them before the clothes came off, so it all eventually crashed and burned no matter how hard you tried to hold onto it. Not your fault, not their fault. Ryan is different. You liked him before you loved him.” Wes kicked a cable out of the way and taped it down for safety. “So? I thought he’d be a friend. I have male friends.” “Straight ones. Not gay ones.” She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not criticizing. I think Ryan is good for you. What you two have is deeper and special. If you can manage not to screw it up.” “He pushed me away. I’m not going to chase after him like I’m desperate. You’re the one who said I try too hard when things are over.” “And now you swing to the other extreme and walk away at the first sign of trouble?” She folded her arms over her chest. “Trouble,” he laughed. “He walked. I backed off to give him space. I’ve got a job to do. I’m not going to ruin it for all of us by stalking the guy.” “You do realize there is something between backing off and stalking? Maybe try something in the middle range?” she suggested. Wes tensed. “I’m always the one chasing, trying, and making a fool of myself. I can’t. I won’t do it again. Not this time.” He simply couldn’t take further rejection, not from Ryan. “I hope he comes after you.” “He’s the one who changed things.” Wes had told Ryan how he felt. Sex talk wasn’t the most direct communication but he’d said it. “Ryan’s life is up in the air. He’s taking a big risk and has lost his steady income. Being a little hyper and clueless should be forgiven, I think. No one is perfect.” “I don’t want perfect. I want him,” Wes admitted. “I’d forgive him anything if he’d let the wall down and talk to me again. Make a move like he cared.” “Maybe if you tell him you want more than sex without strings, maybe he’d admit it too. Nobody wants to play the fool, Wes. Stick close to him and try to send out a more open vibe. You’ve got everyone on edge.” “This has to succeed.” He gestured to the club. Kelly hopped onto a barstool. “It will. But that won’t tell Ryan how you feel.” Wes nodded, but he had no idea how to tell Ryan anything. The rift hurt. He wanted to run, go home to New Orleans and let Kelly handle it all. Today he just had to survive the walk through, and then he’d decide what to do next.

38

Chapter Seven Four days of business only with Wes had pushed Ryan to the edge. The night of the grand opening left Ryan with nothing to distract himself. Everything was done and in place. His new manager had whipped the staff into shape and handled everything. Ryan stood in all black from boots to shirt. He felt very Johnny Cash, his mother’s favorite singer. And felt a little bit guilty for not inviting his family. Maybe later. A haunted house was one thing, but the nudity wouldn’t go over well. He’d just planned to wear a nice suit but his new manager had convinced him to go with the theme. A long black trench coat hung on the back of the office door. It was too hot to wear it now as he paced. Nothing would be complete without Wes. Ryan had all his staff on the lookout. Once Ryan had dialed back the contact, reconnecting felt impossible. Wes was all business and a big brick wall of focus. A knock on the door gave Ryan a split second of hope. Kelly entered, dressed very goth with black lipstick and fishnets. Clearly Wes’ group loved their work. “Touch ups are done. Do you want any makeup?” She waggled her case. “No, I’m fine. The customers won’t be dressed up.” He shook his head at the idea of makeup. Ryan never wanted to act. He wanted to see the customers enjoy the adventure. “Oh get into it. The crowd is a mix. Some are decked out like its Halloween already. Timing the opening with that new horror flick release and putting kids in costume out there with flyers and coupons was brilliant!” Kelly beamed. “Thanks.” Ryan realized his success didn’t just belong to him. Everyone had an interest. It helped relieve some of the pressure of opening night. “You okay?” she asked. “Just nervous. Where’s Wes?” Kelly frowned and looked at the door. Not sure really.” For all her talents, Kelly couldn’t lie to save her life. “I know he doesn’t want to talk to me. I’d just feel better if he were here. It’s his project too.” She fidgeted with her makeup case. “Look. I don’t know exactly what happened between you and Wes. I’m not trying to keep you two apart but I’ve seen him get hurt a lot in the past. I don’t want him to go through that again.” “Don’t worry. He made the sex only, no relationship rule very clear. I won’t hurt him. I just need to talk to him.” Ryan had no clue what he’d say. “What people say and what they think and feel can be very different. I’ve worked with Wes for a long time and been his friend even longer. Don’t let him run the show. He’s bad at knowing when to walk and when to stay.” Ryan nodded, getting her message. “Where is he?”

39

“He left for the airport half an hour ago. But he’s got his cell.” She grabbed the doorknob. “Twenty minutes to kick off.” “The airport?” Ryan processed that fact as Kelly left. Ryan grabbed the phone and dialed. After three tries went straight to voicemail, Ryan barged out of the office and headed for the parking lot. There he saw Wes getting out of his truck with four men piling out behind him. “Hey,” Wes said. “You didn’t leave? Kelly said…” “Said what? I went to get my cousins from the airport. They cut it close. Time zones aren’t their strong suit. They’ve spent most of their lives in the bayou. Isn’t there a coat to go with that? Needs it.” Wes pointed his cousins toward the pretty ladies who escorted them to the VIP section. The relief swept through Ryan and he grabbed Wes and kissed him in front of the entire crowd. Applause and cheers drowned out the spooky music. Wes held Ryan by the front of the shirt and steered him inside via the back door employee entrance. Cheers met them there as well but Wes’ scowl silenced them fast. Alone in the office, Wes closed the door. “What’s with you? It’s a club not a circus.” Ryan acted on instinct not intellect. “I didn’t expect to see you. I thought you’d left.” “You were coming after me?” Wes smiled. “Seriously?” “Kelly said you went to the airport. I thought you were pissed off and leaving for good. Look. I’m sick of this. Screw your rules. There is no sex only. It never was just about the sex.” “You backed off.” Wes’ jaw clenched and he face went blank. Ryan finally saw that Wes cared and had been so hurt he’d retreated. Sex only was Wes’ way of self-preservation. “I did because I got scared. Not of you. Not of my feelings but of screwing us up. I’d screwed up my day job. No guarantees about this place. A day job was the only thing I’d done right in my life and it fell apart. I was a good student and a good worker. I’ve never owned my own business or had a real relationship that lasted.” “I wanted to help.” Wes shifted his weight back and forth. “I know and I appreciate it. Maybe I needed to do that part myself, to know I can pull my own weight for my business. You had a big job to do already. As much as I wanted to keep sleeping with you, I didn’t want to get codependent. Plus, if you meant the sex only part, I needed to protect myself.” “Self preservation, I get it.” Wes nodded. “We both did it. We’re both stupid.” Ryan moved in. “I love you. I’d have gone to the airport and chased down the plane. Hell, I’d have flown to New Orleans tonight to find you. Stay. Please?” Wes’ gaze connected with Ryan’s. “You’d have missed your grand opening.” “You’re more important. That’s what I’d fucked up this past week. I let losing my job and working on the club take over and be my excuse. It might do great or it could be sunk in six 40

months. There’s no way to know for sure. You, I know. You, I want forever, and I’ll never give up.” Ryan chuckled. “If I get stalker scary, tell me. I’ve never said this stuff to anyone before.” He waited for Wes’ reaction, heart in hand and terrified. Too much, too little…whatever the result, he’d been honest with Wes and himself finally.

~* * *~ The only scary point was Wes fearing he might wake up. But biting the inside of his lip hurt enough to convince him. Ryan meant it. “Not stalker. I’m always the one going after someone. I couldn’t do that with you. I don’t know why.” “Because I was a closet case with random hook ups instead of relationships. Why do you think I retreated into my work? But hopefully the parking lot proves I’m over myself and done hiding.” “I think that proved it.” Wes had experienced more joy in that brief kiss than in most of his life. All the pressure and fear evaporated. “Of course, my cousins will be all over you this weekend.” “Bring it on. I’ll tell them how cute they are and ask to see their tattoos.” “They’ll show you.” Wes took a couple steps closer. “I wanted to tell you how I felt outside of bed, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to ruin the job for the crew. I really couldn’t stand the idea of not seeing you.” Ryan moved into Wes’ personal space. “I need to see you naked. Daily. I know I’m asking a lot but I made a big commitment here. I can’t up and move to New Orleans. Move in with me? You travel part of the time for work anyway, so you can travel from here. Easy to do that from Vegas as New Orleans. Better weather, only the occasional sandstorm. Really hot but drier. Snakes here rattle to warn you they’re around.” Wes grinned. “You mean it?” No one had ever offered him everything he wanted. No one had ever loved him like this. “Holidays back in New Orleans every year? I’ve got tons of flyer miles saved up.” Ryan kissed Wes’ chin. The rest of Ryan’s body pulled him in. “I was ready to say yes when you said you’d move to New Orleans if you could.” Screams and shouts came from the other side of the door. Wes looked at the clock. “You should be out there.” “No.” Ryan held Wes to him. “There is some unfinished business here.” Wes spotted the long black leather coat. How sexy Ryan would look wearing only that! “I said yes, I’ll move in. I’ve been crazy about you since before I even saw you. I had no idea, I thought we’d be friends and then I fell hard.” “Me too.” Ryan’s arms wrapped around Wes’ thick chest. “I’ve never been friends with someone first. I didn’t know how to deal with it.” Wes hated to admit Kelly was right. 41

“Hell, I’ve never slept with anyone I worked with so I overreacted once this was my only job. We both screwed up. We can make it up to each other all day tomorrow since we’ll be here all night.” Ryan kissed Wes slowly. Wes gave in without a fight, folding Ryan tight and deepening the kiss with a possessive streak he couldn’t help. He’d found the right guy and it worked. “I love you,” he said against Ryan’s mouth. “Me too,” Ryan replied. A sharp knock and the office door swung open. “Okay time’s up. We need you out there.” Kelly stood in the doorway. “Hey, we could’ve been naked in here.” Wes shot her a scolding look. “That’s not a big deal. The first group is nearly through the haunted house and we need you there to host.” “The manger’s there.” Ryan held onto Wes like someone would take him away. “He sent me to get you. He’s all business and you’re the host with the atmosphere.” She grabbed the coat and handed it to Ryan. “Put it on, come to the bar area and act all sullen and spooky. Get a drink, glad hand the celebrities in the VIP section. You two can screw around later. Wipe that grin off your face.” Wes sighed. “She’s’ right.” He stepped back. Ryan groaned. “It’s all your fault. You told me Wes was leaving.” Kelly smiled widely. “Actually, I said he left for the airport. I never said he wasn’t coming back. You two both overreacted. It’s cute. Now get out there.” Ryan left first. Wes followed, mouthing a silent thank you to Kelly. She winked at him.

~* * *~ Six hours later, Ryan and Wes entered Ryan’s home exhausted. Wes never realized how tiring small talk and networking was. The local television covered it. The celebs approved. And Ryan seemed right at home with the patrons. Ryan shrugged off the leather coat and sat on the couch. “They called me godfather.” He tugged off the boots. “Vegas was founded by mobsters. It’s a compliment. You looked good. Sexy and in charge.” Wes sat on the couch next to Ryan. “I just wanted those people to go away so I could screw you in the bar.” Ryan leaned over and kissed him. Wes pulled Ryan’s hard body on top of his. “Soon, we’ll do that. But it was great. The turnout, the cash intake, and the reviews. You’re a hit!” Wes’ hand massaged Ryan’s cock through the black denim. “Good but you’re more important. I got you and the rest will work itself out. Now let’s make up right.” Ryan rolled off Wes and stood, walking to the bedroom.

42

Wes followed, pulling off his shirt and kicking off his shoes as he went. The time apart had been hard, the sex and the emotional separation. Finally they were where they belonged.

~* * *~ At eight am on Halloween morning, Ryan had yet to go to bed. The crowds had remained steady since they’d opened a month ago and he’d had to learn a new schedule as a night owl. Groups now started in the late afternoon and ended at dawn. Changing out of the all black outfit, he put on jeans and T-shirt he’d worn to work the day before. Life had stabilized and he had a new cell phone on Wes’ plan, new busy life with his club, and a new live-in boyfriend. Shoving his feet into the worn gym shoes, Ryan went in search of Wes. They needed to get home and some sleep before the big night. Food couldn’t hurt either. Ryan walked among the attractions that had become old friends. Finally he spotted Wes’ hot body lying under the black jack table. “What are you doing?” Ryan loved the view and had all types of dirty ideas but they could do them at home in bed and not worry about getting caught. “Fixing something. I want it to work full force tonight. I think a spring wore out.” He shifted and his shirt rode up baring part of his hard abs. “Get down here and look at it.” “I don’t have a clue. Call in the mechanic.” Ryan knelt down anyway. Lying next to Wes, he slid into the tight area. “What am I looking at?” Wes grinned and pulled Ryan close. “Let the mechanic handle it.” He kissed Ryan slowly and turned. Now flat on his back, Ryan kissed Wes and tugged him closer. Screwing around in the club secretly had become one of their inside jokes and Ryan loved it. “It’s Halloween. We need to get some sleep.” Wes reached down and stroked Ryan’s cock through his jeans. “Not like that. You’ll never get any sleep. Besides, once your family gets here I won’t get any all weekend.” He unzipped Ryan’s jeans and freed his growing shaft. Lifting for more, Ryan couldn’t argue. His family’s arrival was on his mind but he’d never felt so safe and confident. No matter what his family thought, he knew he and Wes would be okay. “You’re not nervous, are you?” Wes kissed Ryan’s neck. Ryan grabbed Wes’ face and looked him in the eye. “Not with you around. Before it was always one against them. Now I’m not alone. I own a club and I’m doing good. They can’t ruin it.” Smiling, Wes kissed him hard. “And you’re ready for a Cajun Thanksgiving next month?” His hand carefully stroked Ryan’s sac. Ryan ground. “Hell yeah. Your cousins treated me like one of the family. But my family isn’t due until tonight. We can go home and screw around.”

43

“Here. Now. I don’t want bad luck on Halloween.” Wes crawled down Ryan’s body and licked over his exposed cock. “Bad luck? Sex in the club will bring good luck?” Ryan made no move to change Wes’ direction but he had to hear the logic. Wes kissed Ryan’s balls and tugged on his jeans to give him more room. “I fell in love with you here. I think we need to mark the occasion since it is your theme.” He swallowed Ryan to the base and fucked him fast. “Slow down!” Ryan moaned as Wes shot from teasing to overdrive. Hips flexing to meet Wes’ wet mouth, Ryan tried to hold off. Then Wes worked the head of his cock roughly, tonguing and biting until Ryan let go and the pleasure hit him full force. In a state of ecstasy, Ryan held Wes’ head as Wes cleaned up the evidence. “Let’s go home,” Ryan said. “Not yet.” Wes stood and tugged Ryan to his feet. Ryan tried to close his fly but Wes turned him and yanked the denim and boxers down. Bent over the black jack table, Ryan’s body primed for what came next. “You want to get caught,” Ryan said. Wes rubbed lube between Ryan’s tight cheeks. “You love it. And you’re the boss, so who cares?” Pressing to Ryan’s back, Wes kissed his neck and nudged his erection between Ryan’s ass cheeks. “We should set a good example.” Ryan let his head fall back on Wes’ shoulder and kissed the man he’d fallen in love with. One blissful month and no end in sight. They were a match, something Ryan never believed he’d find. “We’re monogamous. That’s as good as an example as I’ll ever set.” Wes eased the tip of his cock into Ryan’s ass. Ryan relaxed and let Wes consume him. Every time got better. Wes thrust in slow but full strokes as his hands slid under Ryan’s shirt and rubbed his chest, teasing his nipples and dipping down to torment his spent cock. The adrenaline hit Ryan hard each time they were together. Better than any success in business or scare from a haunted house. “I love you,” Ryan said. “Me too.” Wes kissed Ryan’s cheek as he fought for control. “I want this every Halloween.” “Every day,” Ryan replied. “Here, every Halloween.” He fucked his lover faster and harder. Ryan could feel Wes’ control slipping. “Finish it so we can go home and start a marathon. I’ll never sleep now.” His fist landed on the table. He needed another release and Wes was crazed. “I bought a new toy to play with,” Wes whispered in Ryan’s ear as he thrust home finally and came deep in Ryan. Like a chain reaction, Ryan came on Wes’ big cock, the internal release made his hips snap and shudder back for more. If Wes bought the toy Ryan had been eyeing, neither of them would sleep. Wes had opened so many doors Ryan had feared to enter and made

44

everything they did feel as natural as kissing him and falling in love with him. “Let’s go home and try out the new toy.” “Maybe we should wait until your family has left. You won’t want to stop when they arrive.” Wes teased his boyfriend. “Afraid I’ll like the toy better than you?” Ryan returned the play. “Never. I just like to do a job right.” Wes eased out of Ryan and zipped up his fly. “I’ll call the mechanic in. Let’s go home.” Ryan knew whatever job they did would be done together and done right and with Wes in his life, the only scary attractions were the ones in the haunted house! Now, he didn’t have to play it straight and act like the topless zombie girls turned him on. Ryan followed his hot guy and headed home.

45

About the Author A lover of unusual things, Cheryl Dragon enjoys writing unique stories with sinfully hot erotic romance. Never at a loss for ideas, there are plenty of contemporary and paranormal stories waiting to be written. Her two favorite settings are Las Vegas and New Orleans...where anything can happen! Cheryl lives in the Chicagoland area with her deaf albino cat. By day she analyzes numbers as an Assistant Controller for a division of a large international conglomerate, which leaves the creative juices free for her erotic romance novels. Website – http://www.cheryldragon.com/

We Want To Hear From You! Pink Petal Books wants to hear from its readers. Now that you’ve finished this book, please take a few moments and visit http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/index.php?/General/booksurvey.html to answer three questions and give us your thoughts. The survey is anonymous and will help Pink Petal Books improve its products and service. Thank you!

PPB Pink Petal Books, an imprint of Jupiter Gardens Press, would like to invite you to explore the entire Jupiter Gardens, LLC family. Don’t forget to sign up for our reader’s loop where we have monthly giveaways, chats, and more! Information can be found on the Pink Petal Books’ website. Jupiter Gardens, LLC – http://www.jupitergardens.com/ Pink Petal Books – http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/ Jupiter Gardens Press – http://www.jupitergardenspress.com/ Thank you for buying and reading our books! Our authors appreciate your patronage.

46

Enjoy the first chapter from…

Fire Season by Lex Valentine Blurb: Black dragon Holden Antaeus isn't looking for a mate. His life is filled with family, work, and dating. Women adore him and he's never short of offers for sex, but a relationship isn't something he's interested in. When Holden's brother Sean hires a new executive for Antaeus International, Holden's whole world, and everything he's ever believed about himself, is blown to bits. Garret Renquist is a green dragon, intelligent, witty, bi-sexual, and hot for Holden. Despite the fact that Holden is positive he's heterosexual, the moment he meets Garret, something happens inside him. What follows is a journey through stereotypes and ingrained beliefs as Holden struggles with the fact that his destined mate is a man. Buy: http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/index.php?/Lex-Valentine/Fire-Season-by-LexValentine.html

Prologue

Alfred Stone leaned back in the sauna, casually adjusting a white towel over his naked lap. His voice sounded as casual as his demeanor, but to his one man audience, the tone rang more warning bells than a three alarm fire. “I am Magia. My job is to ensure that nature’s intended matings actually occur.” Sean Antaeus stared at his best friend in shock. “You have got to be joking.” Nothing in his life had prepared him for the words Alfred had spoken. It wasn’t so much what Alfred had said about Sean’s younger brother, it was what Alfred had revealed about himself. The Darkworld held people with power and powerful people. Sean had been living in a dream world thinking that Alfred, as the head of the Funeral Directors Guild, was merely a powerful person. Now, he knew the truth. “Sean, I wouldn’t have told you if I didn’t think you could handle the information. My job isn’t always easy. Your family has been especially hard. In fact, I need Marius’ help too. His family is going be just as tough.” Alfred’s brow crinkled with worry as he spoke. Sean arched a sardonic brow at him. “So you’re letting Marius in on the secret too?” A sigh escaped Alfred. Sean thought it sounded rather dramatic and long suffering, which made him feel like he’d walked into some kind of set up. “If you knew what I was up against, you wouldn’t ask me that,” Alfred replied in a morose voice. Now, Sean knew he’d been played. Maybe not a lot, because at the core of it all, he knew instinctively that Alfred had spoken the truth, but Sean also could tell when he’d been manipulated. After all, he was a master of manipulation himself. Took one to know one. “So you’re telling me that both Diandra and I were the victims of your…gift?” Sean put his friend on the spot. 47

Alfred shifted uncomfortably on the sauna’s seat. “Not victims, Sean. Recipients of a power that managed to keep you from fucking up your life. If it weren’t for me, do you think either you or your sister would have ended up mated? Both of you were so stubborn and arrogant, refusing to see the truth, not wanting to be seen as weak.” Alfred made a rude sound and his gaze locked with Sean’s. “If I hadn’t butted in and used my gift to help you, both you and Diandra would be single today and unhappier than you could ever imagine,” he said solemnly. Sean bit back his own sigh. He couldn’t imagine. His life would be awful if he didn’t have his mate and wife, Careen. Yet, getting to the place where he’d accepted that he had a mate, a woman he loved beyond everything else in his life, had been a particularly rough road. The same had held true for his sister Diandra. Her path to love and marriage had been every bit as rocky. Now, Alfred made it seem like neither he nor Diandra would have managed to mate without a nudge from Alfred’s power. “Please tell me that you didn’t pick our mates,” he growled, feeling unnerved by everything Alfred had told him. “Of course not. Those are nature chosen. But it’s my job to ensure that those who are resistant become…more amenable to having a mate.” Alfred smiled, something Sean knew he rarely did. “I smooth the path in any way I can without disrupting the natural flow of a mating.” Sean’s brain raced as he absorbed Alfred’s words. “And now you’re telling me that Holden is in trouble?” Alfred nodded solemnly. “A lot more trouble than you and Diandra put together. I need your help, Sean, or your brother will be unhappy until the day he passes to the Afterlife.” “Fuck.” Alfred had him. Sean loved his younger siblings fiercely. He would fight anything that threatened their lives and happiness. “So you’re in.” Alfred looked at him expectantly, triumph already shining in his eyes. This time Sean did sigh. “Yeah. I’m in.” He shook hands with Alfred and realized that he’d sealed a pact of duplicity and manipulation as he did so. Luckily, being Machiavellian was second nature to Sean, and he bet Alfred knew that fact quite well.

48

Chapter One

The first to arrive, Holden slipped into his seat and opened his leather covered notepad with irritation. He disliked rah rah meetings. Despite all the team building pep talks, things always went back to the way they had always been…with his oldest brother Sean wielding his iron fist and micro-managing while he and his other brother Declan struggled not to let Sean overwhelm them. In Holden’s opinion, corporate life had been worse while Declan had been gone. During Declan’s tenure at a European conglomerate, Sean had refused to replace him. Instead, Holden’s oldest brother had taken on acquisitions himself in his brother’s absence. Sean had gone crazy buying up whatever he could. Declan had a lot more finesse and savvy when it came to choosing the funeral homes and cemeteries that offered the best value. The company needed Declan’s firm hand and cool head when it came to acquiring new businesses and Holden had been relieved when his brother returned to Antaeus International. Declan’s return to the company heralded the end of their sister Eden’s term of employment in the corporate world. Her contributions to the company were myriad, but all of them had been tainted by her unhappiness in that environment and Sean’s determination to keep her there. It had all come to a head not long after Declan’s return. Eden had ditched her marketing job at Antaeus International, packed up her cameras, and headed to New York City. Within a few months, she’d become the fashion industry’s new hot photographer, making her name shooting nearly naked men in designer underwear. Sean’s fury knew no bounds over her defection and both Holden and Declan had borne the brunt of it. The door opened and a muscular man with unruly black curls entered the room. Holden cocked one brow up at Vahid Delrey, his brother Sean’s right hand man and the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Vahid had also been Eden’s live-in boyfriend for two years prior to her departure from all things Antaeus. Holden had always been amazed that Vahid had retained his cool demeanor, his deepest emotions, if he had any, masked from everyone when Eden had dumped him. Not for the first time, Holden wondered how Vahid had ever gotten together with his free-spirited sister. They seemed like such polar opposites. “This is another attempt at a team building meeting, isn’t it?” Holden asked as Vahid took the chair opposite him. A dry chuckle escaped Vahid. “You know Sean. He may suck at something, but his determination won’t let him stop trying to master it anyway.” Holden felt his lips curl in a derisive smile. “My brother is a force unto himself that’s for sure.” Now, Vahid’s brows rose. “Nice way of saying he’s an arrogant ass.” The door whooshed open and the subject of their conversation strode in with Declan and another man behind him. Holden’s nose twitched. The scent of spearmint assailed him. “Thanks for the compliment, Vahid,” Sean said smoothly, a sardonic expression on his hawkish features. Declan took the chair at the foot of the table, seating himself on Holden’s left. Sean took the chair at the head of the table. The spearmint scent intensified as a man Holden didn’t 49

know took the seat beside Vahid. More staff rushed in to join the meeting, but Holden found his gaze caught by the newcomer. Intense green eyes gazed back him, an indefinable emotion churning within them. Holden had no clue as to the man’s identity, but an odd sense of familiarity pricked his awareness as he stared into those enigmatic eyes. It was as if knew the man, but couldn’t place where or how. The green gaze shifted as a tall, blonde woman strode into the room. Dressed in an unrelenting black suit and matching silk shirt, her pale hair twisted into a neat chignon, Emily Carrington looked like a fashion model until one noticed her stern visage. As one of the most powerful people at Antaeus International, she held the company’s purse strings in her longfingered, capable hands. The new man smiled at her as she took a seat beside him. Her expression turned smug and the new guy’s identity dawned on Holden. The wunderkind of the death care industry’s financial sector, Garret Renquist. Sean and Emily had somehow managed to lure Garret from his position as the head of finance for Stone Mortuary Services, a job he hadn’t even held very long. Alfred Stone had hired him away from the biggest British mortuary conglomerate in the hope of turning him loose on the Funeral Director’s Guild’s financials, a big project that Alfred had spearheaded as the head of the FDG. Instead, Sean and Emily had whisked the whiz kid to Antaeus International. With an internal smirk, Holden briefly imagined the acquisition of the stock market genius taking place over a round of golf. His brother Sean golfed regularly with Alfred and Marius Granville of Granville Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in their part of the Darkworld. Holden figured the three powerful men brokered all kinds of industry related deals during those golf games. Something told him that Garret Renquist might just have been one of those deals. “Let’s get started,” Sean said from the head of the table. “This will be a short meeting anyway since we’re all leaving.” “Leaving?” Holden asked, startled. What the hell was his brother up to now? Sean’s intense golden stare turned on Holden. “Yes. Leaving. I’ll get to that in a minute.” Holden watched as his older brother’s hawk-like gaze settled on the new guy. “Has everyone met Garret? Garret Renquist is our new Chief Investment Officer. He’ll also be working in the capacity of Budget Director under Emily, which means he’ll be working with all of you on your budgets. He comes highly recommended and has a great reputation for increasing a company’s investment returns. If you haven’t had an opportunity to introduce yourself to him, I suggest you do so over the next four days…” Sean’s voice trailed away and Holden mentally braced himself. He knew that tone. Sean was up to something that would probably irritate the hell out of him. His brother’s suggestion that everyone introduce themselves to Garret was a thinly veiled order. Since Eden’s departure, Sean regularly did things that he knew would force his younger brother out of his comfort zone and push the limits of his patience. In the past, Holden had always bounced back from Sean’s Machiavellian power trips. Lately, he found himself beyond angry when his brother’s machinations involved him. Turning his gaze to his notepad so his brothers wouldn’t see the anger beginning to simmer inside him, his nostrils flared as the scent of spearmint wafted toward him again. Who the hell smelled like mouthwash?

50

“I’ll be closing this meeting in a few minutes, but we will reconvene tonight at six over dinner at the Gargoyle Resort. You are all to go home and pack. We’re headed out to the mountains for a retreat.” Holden’s head shot up and his eyes met his older brother’s. A gleam of triumph lit Sean’s amber eyes. Holden’s jaw tightened. Sean had made his feelings clear a few weeks before regarding the woman Holden had been dating. Since Sean had never interfered in his sex life before, Holden had been surprised that he’d even mentioned her. He’d brushed off his older brother at the time. Holden really didn’t give a shit whether Sean liked who he was fucking. It was none of Sean’s business and it wasn’t serious anyway. Now, however, Sean’s machinations had pissed him off and cost him money. Holden had cleared his calendar for two days so he could have a long four day weekend. His intent had been to spend those days in a sexual stupor at an exclusive spa in Santa Barbara. The steep deposit he’d put down with his reservations for two would now be lost, and the woman he was seeing would require placating. Fury rose within him. The loss of the money didn’t irritate him so much, but the thought of having to soothe Gina’s ruffled feathers made Holden furious with his oldest brother. Even though Gina had a tongue that could lick all day, she also had a rather bitchy attitude that showed up when she didn’t get her way. Thanks to Sean, Holden would now be the recipient of the bitching rather than the licking. “This will be an opportunity for us to work on some team building and strategizing. It will also give you all a chance to spend some time with Garret to see how he can help each of your departments maximize your budgets.” Sean’s smile widened as Vahid got up and handed out brochures and packets to everyone. Holden opened his folder and stiffened. Sean had paired everyone up, forcing them to share rooms. Sean and Declan were together. Vahid shared with Todd Ryan, the Chief Technology Officer and Holden’s draw was…the new guy. His head shot up and his gaze collided with Garret’s intense stare. A little smile quirked up one corner of the man’s mouth. That little smile kicked Holden’s irritation up a notch. He frowned, wondering what it would take to get Vahid to trade with him. Holden’s eyes tracked Vahid around the table. When the head of Operations returned to his seat, he cocked a brow up at Holden. His smirky expression dashed Holden’s hopes for a trade. Vahid obviously knew that Sean had put the new executive with his youngest brother for a reason. Fuck! Anger tore through Holden at his brother’s little games. Grinding his teeth together, he eyed the itinerary included in the packet. All the rah rah stuff was there and, even worse, there were scheduled strategizing sessions between each set of partners. Great, now he had to talk business with the finance geek all weekend instead of spending his time getting blown and fucked by the hottest woman he’d dated in a year. The law degree and MBA hanging on his office wall had made Holden the company’s General Consul and Chief Legal Officer. He dealt mostly with contracts and the mergers that Declan arranged. Anything related to litigation got shuffled off to a firm on retainer. Holden answered directly to Sean, but spent most of his time working with Declan. Looking at the itinerary for the next four days he couldn’t believe Sean hadn’t paired him with Declan. It made better sense to him because he and Declan were in the middle of some delicate takeover negotiations with an Australian company. He didn’t have any strategizing to do with the bean 51

counter, Holden thought with annoyance. Pairing him with the whiz kid had to be yet another Sean Antaeus production. Holden watched Sean close the meeting. An odd glow of triumph lurked in the golden depths of Sean’s eyes. Holden’s dragon senses pinged. A triumphant Sean wasn’t necessarily a good thing for the members of his family. He jerked his attention from his brother and gathered up his things, fury propelling him out of the board room. Fuck Sean. Maybe he’d just not show up at the retreat. That would teach his brother. The scent of spearmint caused his nostrils to flare. He turned his head to find that Garret Renquist had followed him out of the board room. His frown deepened. “I gather you’re unhappy about being paired with me.” Visions of a cool woodland waterfall flitted through Holden’s mind at the sound of the British accented baritone. Holden didn’t know why it hadn’t dawned on him that Garret was British. The man had come from a British based company. Holden stepped into his office and Garret followed. Holden shut the door and waved the financial whiz kid toward a chair. As he sat down behind his desk he noticed that Garret’s green eyes flickered over the wall of certificates, awards, and degrees. For a moment, Holden again had the sense that he knew the man. The spearmint scent apparently came from Garret. Holden’s office smelled like a bottle of mouthwash. “You’re the General Consul.” Garret’s clipped British accent made the words sound almost accusatory, though Holden knew that wasn’t his intent. With a nod, he gestured toward the wall of plaques. “I went to Harvard Law School. I wasn’t top of my class, but close.” He smiled a little and joked, “All the Boston beauties kept me from studying too hard so I missed out on the top three spots.” Garret’s eyes glowed a little and his mouth quirked up in the same smile he’d displayed in the board room. “I’ve been to Boston. There are a lot of good looking women there. It’s a very academic town, isn’t it?” Holden nodded absently. Something about the spearmint scent bothered him, but like the sense of familiarity he had when he looked in Garret’s eyes, he couldn’t quite place it. He studied the man before him more closely. They had similar builds and were about the same height. Garret stood perhaps an inch taller and he appeared to be a little leaner than Holden. His chestnut brown hair was cropped close around the back of his neck but fell over his forehead with a wave in front. He had a boyishly handsome face, but his reserved demeanor made him look rather stern. Holden wondered if the golden boy of the stock market ever had any fun. He certainly looked all business. With a mental shrug, Holden studied the man’s very green eyes. They held an open expression, but Holden felt sure that behind that expression, Garret Renquist was quite guarded. Had he been the new guy, he’d be totally on his guard. “I’m not unhappy about being paired with you. I’m unhappy about the whole weekend,” he explained, reaching out to grasp his pen, twirling it absently in his fingers. “For one, my brother Sean likes to play at being the puppet master, making us all dance on strings. For another, I had plans.”

52

Two beats of silence followed his words. Then Garret’s eyes clouded, the emerald green irises darkening. Holden figured the man didn’t like the idea of Sean being a manipulator. It sure as heck wasn’t something he’d want to know about his boss’s boss on the first day of a new job. He felt a little sorry for Garret now. He’d obviously had no idea what Sean Antaeus was like when he accepted the position at Antaeus International. “Look, we’ll just have to make the best of it, as we do with any of these team building things Sean springs on us. I’m sure we’ll find something to work on during the strategy sessions,” he said easily, hoping he hadn’t scared off the new guy. Sean would kill him if he did. One of Garret’s brown brows arched up. “You don’t think we’re a good match?” Holden blinked at the man’s odd choice of words. “There’s not a lot of interaction between my department and yours. I work more closely with my brother Declan. Declan works with Emily. I’m not sure why Sean put us together.” Garret’s mouth quirked knowingly as if he had knowledge Holden didn’t. Resisting the urge to shift uncomfortably in his chair, Holden snuck a glance at the guy. He sat there cool as a cucumber, his expression enigmatic, while Holden could barely keep from fidgeting. Holden looked down at his hands then and dropped the pen he’d been twirling. When he raised his head, his gaze collided with Garret’s. The scent of spearmint intensified and a nervous sweat broke out on the skin between Holden’s shoulder blades, making his clan mark itch. He sucked in a breath as realization hit him. “You’re a dragon.” Garret nodded, the enigmatic expression giving way to amusement. “Your natural enemy. I’m a green.” Holden made a rude sound. “The dragon clans haven’t fought in a millennia. And even then, there was nothing natural about it. All the wars were about power. Not color or clan. Legend says we were all one color in the beginning. Our natural enemies were humans, not each other.” A huge smile broke out on Garret’s face. “You’re a purist.” Holden’s stomach lurched. Geez, the man had the most brilliant smile he’d ever seen. He shook his head. “I’m a realist. Dragons were not born to kill each other. We were never each other’s natural enemies. Humans on the other hand instinctively want to be rid of any being stronger than themselves. Their fear drives them.” Both of Garret’s brows rose, but his smile stayed intact. “A psychology major.” “Biological Anthropology.” Holden grinned, beginning to relax. Maybe the weekend wouldn’t be so bad after all. In fact, it would be perfect if he had a victim. “Hey! Do you play…?” “Tennis,” Garret finished for him with a nod toward Holden’s college trophies. “Although not in your league.” “That was years ago. My reflexes aren’t so fast anymore. I sit at a desk all day after all.” Garret’s brow cocked up again. “You don’t look so out of shape.” 53

Holden shrugged. “I’m not, but I don’t play much anymore and to stay at the top of your form you have to play every day. I had the skill to go pro, but not the drive. I like working for my family.” He grimaced. “My brother is a pain in the ass, but I wouldn’t work for any other company.” “Your brothers, this company…Antaeus is a powerful name in this industry,” Garret said quietly. “I was flattered that Alfred wanted me for the FDG and Stone. I was floored when Sean said he’d pay me more to come here.” Holden laughed. “I’ll bet Alfred was tweaked. He’s one of Sean’s closest friends so I’m sure he gave my brother an earful, but the rest of us would never know it.” “Strangely, Alfred took it all very calmly, as if he had expected it to happen.” Holden prepared himself for the sense of familiarity when he met Garrett’s gaze. “I’m sorry if I gave you the impression I was pissed at having to share a room with you.” Something indefinable flickered in Garret’s eyes. He rose from his chair. “It’s all right. I’ve been feeling a bit out of my element today so I overreacted.” He turned toward the door. “I’ll see you up at the resort. Maybe we can get in a couple of rounds of tennis while we’re there.” Holden smiled. “I’d like that. Welcome to Antaeus International, Garret.” The other man looked back over his shoulder. “Thank you.” A brief smile flashed across his face and then he was gone. Holden sat staring at the closed door for long minutes, the scent of spearmint lingering faintly in the office. The anger he’d felt at Sean’s manipulations had fizzled during his conversation with Garret. He should know better than to get pissed anyway. It never changed anything. Holden had never known anyone to get his way more than Sean. On his way to the elevator, he ran into Declan. “Nothing from Australia?” he asked. His brother shook his head. “Not yet.” They both stepped into the elevator. As the door closed, Holden said, “Why did Sean stick me with the new guy?” Declan shrugged. “Why does Sean do anything? Everything is about control with him.” “Has he messed with your private life too?” Holden’s gaze sharpened as he looked at his older brother. “What private life?” The words were cool and sardonic with a bitter edge. Sympathy washed over Holden. His older brother had a huge thing for Elysia Granville, one of the most powerful women in their industry. However, she was engaged to the industry’s biggest asshole, Austin Stone. Holden didn’t understand how such a smart woman had ended up with such a monumental jackass. A woman like her belonged with a man like his brother, not a weasel like Austin. “I gather Sean’s little jaunt to the mountains is interfering with your plans,” Declan said, his voice rumbling out of his broad chest. Holden looked up to find his brother’s expression filled with understanding. “Yeah. It’s gonna cost me a bundle too between the deposit on the suite at the spa and keeping Gina from being disappointed.”

54

Declan’s eyes twinkled. “Buy her an expensive bracelet. She’s mercenary enough to be placated by rocks.” The elevator stopped at the underground garage and they headed toward their assigned parking spots. “Why do you and Sean think that’s all Gina wants from me?” Holden grumbled as he watched his brother’s tall form move toward his Mercedes. Declan shot him an amused glance over the roof of the car. “Because it’s obvious?” Holden grimaced. “Money isn’t the only thing she wants. She likes my cock too.” His brother grinned, white teeth flashing in his tanned face. “Well, she should. Especially when the man attached to the cock buys expensive presents. Just watch it with her, little brother. She wants the gold ring with rocks and you just want to get your rocks off.” Holden walked over to his SUV. “Yeah, well, she can want the ring, but that doesn’t mean she’ll get it. I’m not the marrying type.” “Neither was Sean.” Declan laughed and unlocked his car, the headlights flashing as the alarm disarmed. “I’ll see you at the resort. Good luck appeasing Gina.” As Holden drove to his condo, he pondered his brother’s words. He knew Gina wanted to marry him. He knew she was dazzled by his job, his money, and his good looks. He also knew that a woman like her would never fit in his family. For all their money, the Antaeus siblings were all about home and hearth and true mates. Holden wouldn’t dream of marrying a social climber like Gina. A woman like her could never be his mate. Maybe Sean’s interference wasn’t such an inconvenience after all. Although left with only his hand to see to his sexual satisfaction, being rid of Gina and her demands was more of a relief than he’d wanted to admit. Holden’s condo was in a high rise condominium complex only two blocks from the beach. He drove into the underground garage and parked in the space reserved for the penthouse. His footsteps echoed in the cement structure as he walked to the elevator. Thoughts echoed in his head too. Everything from Declan’s bitterness to Sean’s manipulations to the prospect of kicking Garret’s ass at tennis. The weekend was starting to look up. In the elevator, he punched in the security code that took him to the penthouse level. The elevator opened onto a foyer that had but one door, his. Unlocking the penthouse door and automatically disarming the alarm, Holden stepped into his home. From his living room, he had an unparalleled view of the coast in both directions. His expensive, but comfortable furniture softened the starkly modern architecture. It was a bachelor’s home, not meant for entertaining in spite of its size. Holden jerked off his tie and jacket, tossing them on the brown leather couch. In the kitchen, he pulled open one side of the huge brushed aluminum refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. As he drank, he eyed the crayon drawings stuck to the refrigerator with magnets. His sister Diandra’s twins were the only Antaeus offspring. He, Declan, and Eden were unmated. Sean and Careen hadn’t had any children yet. Holden figured his brother wouldn’t have kids until all his siblings were mated. It was a very Sean way to go about things. For himself, he didn’t even wonder if he had a mate. He didn’t particularly care. Kids and a white picket fence and the kind of woman who would want that life were so not his style. On the other hand, society type women and career women weren’t really his type either. People with that kind of driven personality irritated him which is why he was no longer pissed 55

at missing his weekend with Gina. He really only had one use for her and now that he realized it, he was too nice a guy to continue fucking her when he didn’t even like her. As he headed for his bedroom, Holden wondered if Garret Renquist was the driven type. He didn’t seem that way, but it was tough to tell with wonder boys. Things seemed to come so easily to them that if they were driven, those around them never noticed. Holden opened his packed suitcase and changed some of the items so that now his clothing was more suited to a mountain business retreat rather than a beachside spa. Once the suitcase was ready to go, Holden picked up the phone and called the exclusive jeweler his family always used. He ordered an elegant ruby bracelet to be delivered to Gina that evening and headed down to his car. He figured he’d call Gina while he drove so she’d know he wasn’t lying to her about having to go to the mountains. It was going to be an uncomfortable call, so doing it while driving also gave him the excuse of the call dropping if he got tired of listening to her rage or whine. The more he thought about how unpleasant the call would probably be, the more he just wanted to be rid of her. And so, when he was halfway up the mountain pass on the way to Gargoyle Resort, Holden found himself breaking up with Gina over the phone. She whined. She raged. She cursed him in Italian. And then he hit a dead spot and the call dropped. Sighing with relief, he shut off his cell phone. The remainder of the drive to the resort relaxed him and by the time he arrived, Holden looked forward to playing tennis with Garret. He loved tennis and rarely got the opportunity to play anymore. He hoped Garret played well enough to challenge him. Holden’s shared suite turned out to have two bedrooms and a well stocked wet bar in the sitting room between the two rooms. Since he was the first one there, he picked one of the rooms and unpacked. As he stowed away his suitcase, he heard the door open. He walked into the sitting room to find Garret standing in front of the door, taking in his surroundings. “It’s a two bedroom suite,” Holden said with a grin. He gestured toward the door across from him. “That one’s yours.” Garret returned his smile and picked up his suitcase. “Thanks.” “Can I get you a drink while you unpack? It’s an hour until dinner and there’s a fully stocked bar here. No mini bottles.” Holden’s nose twitched as the spearmint scent reached him. He’d never smelled cologne like that before. “That would be great. Just a glass of red wine if they have it, please,” Garret replied as he walked toward his room. Holden heard the sound of Garret opening his suitcase and then the closet door. He searched through the wet bar’s stock of alcohol looking for wine and found a full size bottle of Merlot and one of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot was a decent vintage and he decided he’d have a glass. He pulled out a corkscrew, expertly removed the cork, and poured two glasses before ambling over to Garret’s bedroom door. The British man had his back to Holden, putting folded shirts in the dresser. Holden noticed absently that they were dressed similarly in khaki slacks and polo shirts. Without the suit jacket covering his torso, it was obvious that Garret was taller, yet leaner, with a narrow waist and broad shoulders.

56

“Here’s your wine. They had a decent vintage of Merlot. Surprised me,” Holden said as he watched Garret finish unpacking. The whiz kid had an elegance of movement that was graceful in its economy. Certainly not what he expected of a bean counter. Garret stowed his suitcase, turned, and took the glass of wine from Holden, their fingers brushing briefly. A frisson of awareness trickled down Holden’s spine at the touch of Garret’s warm hand. Something about him affected Holden physically. First, there was that odd prickling of his clan mark that he’d felt earlier and now the touch of their hands made him feel flushed. Not to mention that damned spearmint scent that assailed his nose. Magia. The thought flashed through Holden’s mind and he wondered if Garret was more than just a green dragon. Sometimes dragons had magical abilities, but usually those that did belonged to the community of Magia rather than the dragons. He wished he understood what unsettled him so much about the other man. Abruptly, he turned and walked back into the sitting room, opening the slider to the balcony. He stepped outside into the crisp mountain air and sat down on a comfortable patio chair. Garret followed him and took the chair on the other side of the small table. “This is a very tolerable Merlot.” The smooth British accent caused Holden’s clan mark to prickle yet again and even though they were outside, the spearmint scent was just as strong as it had been inside. Holden didn’t understand why the man had such an odd impact on him. Again, he wondered whether Garret was Magia. It would certainly explain his reactions to the guy. His annoyance at being unable to figure out Garret rose. “So how are you settling in?” he asked abruptly. “Are you looking for a place to live?” Garret nodded, his eyes twinkling a little as if he had a secret. “Yes. Something with a view of the coastline, rather more modern than not. Nothing I need to spend time keeping up…that sort of place,” he replied. “You should look around my neighborhood. There are lots of very nice condo complexes like that. In fact, I can ask my association manager for a list of availabilities if you’d like.” Holden couldn’t believe what had just come out of his mouth. He didn’t need the new guy living in the same building! Not that he could take the words back now… “Thank you. I would appreciate that very much.” Garret’s cool, even tones set Holden’s back teeth to grinding silently, although for the life of him, he didn’t know why. “I’ll call her this weekend and have her fax a list to you at the office,” he muttered, lifting his wine glass to his mouth and gulping down half the contents. The emerald eyes of his companion glittered knowingly. Frustrated by how the man unsettled him, Holden knocked back the rest of his wine and rose to his feet. “It’s almost time for dinner. I’m going down to the restaurant.” Garret’s expression turned sympathetic as if he knew how Holden felt. He didn’t speak, but those uncanny eyes watched him like a hawk. A muffled sound of exasperation escaped Holden. “I don’t get you,” he ground out in a low tone that expressed his frustration. “Are you Magia or what? Cause I’m all edgy and weird around you and I don’t know why. My clan mark is prickling. You smell like a pack of spearmint gum. Every time I look at you, I think I know you from somewhere, but I can’t place where! What the hell is going on?” 57

The glow in Garret’s eyes intensified as he rose to his feet, facing Holden. “Think about what you just said to me, Holden,” he said quietly. “Think about what those things might signify. I’m not Magia, but as far as you’re concerned, I’m something far more rare and important.” He walked over to the sliding door and then stopped, looking back at Holden. “Open your mind, Holden Antaeus. Life doesn’t always fit in neat little boxes or compartments. Things happen for a reason.” Garret stepped into the sitting room, disappearing behind the blinds. Holden stared at the empty doorway for long moments. Emotions tugged inside him. Even though Garret had gone inside, Holden could still smell his spearmint scent. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. That scent…his dragon lore came rushing back to him and his jaw went slack with shock. Holy shit! No fucking way! He shook with reaction, his fingers clutching the empty wine glass convulsively. It couldn’t be true. It wasn’t possible. Somehow Sean had set him up. His brothers were punking him, playing him off against the British man somehow. The guy was probably some tennis stud who would kick his ass six ways from Sunday the moment they took their rackets out. Yet, how could they have manufactured his scent and Holden’s reaction to that scent? Holden stormed into the suite, fumbling a little with the door and the blinds. As he stumbled into the sitting room, Garret turned, his hand dropping from the handle of the suite’s door. Their eyes met, Garret’s sympathetic. Holden knew his expression was wild with disbelief. This couldn’t be happening! Garret sighed loudly and turned his back on the door, facing Holden fully. “It’s not as complicated as you think, Holden,” he said quietly. “I don’t know why either. I just know it is and I recognized you right away. What you do with the knowledge, how you deal with it, is up to you, but you cannot change it unless one of us dies.” A growl began deep in Holden’s chest as fear took hold of him. “Something’s wrong!” he burst out, his emotions wildly overwrought. Garret shook his head. “No. Something’s very right.” He moved, crossing the room swiftly to stop a few inches from Holden who wanted to recoil but somehow managed not to. His voice when he spoke was soft, but firm. “Holden, you’re my mate.”

58