Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Blissfully torn from the nightmare, Gabriel had blinked and found himself on his back in the hall with Justin on top of him. The look of worry in Justin’s true-blue eyes had instantly warmed to something wicked and seductive when their cocks brushed for the first time. He’d heard it in Justin’s groan, felt it in his own body’s betraying shudder; they were both so lost.
A flush curled through him now as he remembered it. The desperate need and fierce hunger were an aphrodisiac. He couldn’t recall a time when anyone had desired him so much, or when he’d last craved someone as deeply.
After that first thrust, there had been no clear thought. Only a desperate race to the finish line. Gabriel couldn’t get enough of Justin’s mouth, the feel of his skin, the pressure of his cock, the soft grunts as he thrust against him, chasing his own orgasm. Justin’s warm golden skin had glowed in the hall light, his eyes bright with an internal fire. Sweat slicked his temple and his parted lips had been plump from their kisses. No one should ever look so sexy.
It would have been one thing if they’d just gotten off and walked away, but they’d kissed. And kissed again and again. There had been no stopping it. His brain had screamed at the folly, but Gabriel had been beyond thought. He’d been acting purely on need, and he’d needed to kiss Justin more than he’d needed to breathe. Justin’s mouth was so damn perfect.
But this morning, there were no teasing, mocking words. Or what Gabriel dreaded more…questions. He didn’t want this man asking questions. He didn’t want to talk about his past, why he lingered in the closet, and why he was so incapable of being emotionally connected to another human being. All those answers tied back to things he couldn’t change, couldn’t fix, and pathetically left him feeling helpless.
There was disturbing astuteness in Justin’s gaze. Gabriel knew Justin would be able to tell if he was lying, and he didn’t want to lie to Justin. The man had opened his home to him, spoken honestly about his own failed relationship. Gabriel refused to return that honesty with lies.
So far, no questions.
Over coffee, Justin had laid out what he knew about the garden party and its attendees as well as the expected dress code and time. After coffee and toast, Gabriel retreated to his laptop while Justin went to the basement to work for a few hours. While the man never said a word about the night before, he could see the amusement in his eyes. It was as if he could feel Justin silently chuckling at him.
“We should get our story straight,” Gabriel said suddenly, breaking the extended silence. He nearly winced at how hard his tone sounded, but Justin simply grinned at him.
“What story?” Justin asked. His words sounded teasing and light.
“Our dating,” Gabriel snapped.
“Oh! That!” Justin laughed. “I thought you might be talking about something else.”
“Don’t.”
Justin shook his head, relaxing in his seat. “Well, the people who will know me from this shindig think that I’m a software developer. I had a company, but sold it a few years ago, making me independently wealthy. Now I dabble in a variety of projects.”
“And to them you’re still Justin Mallory?”
“Yes. I would say that we’ve been dating only a few months, so we don’t have to remember a lot of details about each other. You travel a lot for work as…” Justin paused and looked over at Gabriel, his eyes sweeping up and down his light gray suit. “As an accountant.”
“I don’t look like an accountant,” Gabriel replied sharply.
“Fine. Lawyer.”
“That’s the best you can do?”
“Sure…okay…what’s your cover?”
His earlier tension rolled away in the face of Justin’s playful mood. Gabriel reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out a black business card with sharp silver writing. He held it up so Justin could still see it while he was driving. “Gabriel Prescott, dealer of fine art and antiquities.” The card even had a London address and phone number.
Justin rolled his eyes. “So original,” he groaned, then continued before Gabriel could reply. “But that will work. It will explain why we don’t see each other often. But you’re currently in town for an extended visit.”
Gabriel slipped the business card back into his pocket. “How did we meet?”
“In Paris. Our eyes met across a crowded room. It was love at first sight,” he said breathlessly.
“You’re a pain in the ass.”
“No, but I can be,” he said. He glanced over at Gabriel and waggled his eyebrows. It was all he could do not to laugh. Justin slowed the car and pulled into a long driveway. There were several other cars lined up in front of them, waiting for their turn with the valet. “Are you going to be able to do this? You do have to pretend to like me in front of a lot of other people.”