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)
“She was interesting,” Gabriel murmured. “Is she a normal representation of your friends here?”
“Some are like her. Others are more reserved,” Justin said and grinned at Gabriel. “You seem to be fitting into this boyfriend role with little problem.”
Gabriel grabbed Justin’s free hand, threading their fingers together again. “I said that I could do this.”
“And so you are.” It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Gabriel that he was proud of how he’d recovered when it was clear that the man carried deep scars from his past. He swallowed back the words, sure Gabriel didn’t want or need his reassurances.
Justin led the way deeper into the party, mingling through one knot of people after another. There were drinks and light hors d’oeuvres. A few people made some brief speeches about the upcoming seasons with a glimpse of the new ballets, operas, and art displays that would fill the next couple of years. Justin introduced Gabriel to every person he knew at the party, and the man handled it all with relative ease, clearly over whatever had rattled him when they arrived. At the very least, he didn’t flinch or stiffen when Justin referred to him as his boyfriend. Gabriel had even offered to get him a fresh drink or shared some food off his plate a few times.
His actions reminded Justin of what it might be like to have a boyfriend, to have someone care about him. Not that he thought Gabriel would fill that role in his life, but someone who happened to be tall and sexy with a wicked grin when he was stretched out on the hallway floor covered in…yeah, that line of thinking needed to stop immediately. The slacks he was wearing would hide nothing if he suddenly found himself with a hard-on.
After a few hours, they finally found themselves standing alone in the garden. Gabriel’s arm was wrapped around his waist, holding him close. It felt as if his hand were burning through his clothes straight to his hip, and Justin was doing everything within his power to ignore his touch so that the blood would stop flowing to his goddamn cock. He’d really thought he had more self-control than this, but Gabriel was quickly proving him wrong.
“While I’ve enjoyed this little outing, we have yet to meet our target,” Gabriel said in a low voice. The words were at complete odds with the easygoing smile teasing his lips.
“That’s because I’m not closely acquainted with her. She arrived around thirty minutes ago and is talking to that group of people over by the rose arbor. Light-blue dress with the pillbox hat.”
A low chuckle left Gabriel, drawing Justin’s gaze to his face. “I find myself surprised that you know what a pillbox hat is.”
“Fuck you. I loved Jackie O,” Justin grumbled while still smiling.
“Shhh…everyone does,” Gabriel consoled. His hand squeezed Justin’s hip and Justin found himself relaxing against the other man. What the fuck was happening to him? He was getting far too wrapped up in this little role play. They needed to get the information they came for and get the fuck out.
As they watched Gretchen, she reached for her phone and looked at the screen. Frowning, she made motions to excuse herself and then disappeared into the house, likely to take the call. That looked like a perfect opportunity if he ever saw one.
“Shall we wander into the house? Get out of the sun for a little while?” Gabriel asked before Justin could.
“I think that’s a perfect idea.”
Sliding his hand from Justin’s back, Gabriel motioned for him to lead the way across the lawn and toward the house. They moved at a steady but leisurely pace. Justin was careful to nod at a few acquaintances but steered clear of anyone who looked like they might want to engage in longer conversation.
Once inside, he blinked several times to adjust his eyes to the relative darkness. The house was richly decorated with dark woods and dark colors. Art hung on all the walls and the floor shone as if freshly polished that day. The interior was cooler, thanks to the air conditioning, and Justin sighed with relief. Sweat trickled down his spine, and he had been fantasizing for the past hour about stripping to his briefs and standing in front of a fan.
He might have also fantasized about stripping Gabriel to his birthday suit, but he forced his thoughts away from that bit of loveliness as quickly as possible. That was later…maybe…if he was lucky.
Servants in white attire rushed from place to place, carrying either full or empty trays. More alcohol was summoned from where it was being chilled. They skirted the servants and anyone else, trying to appear as if they were simply admiring the house and the art within, while cautiously listening at closed doors to try to track down where Ms. Lornamen had disappeared to. They were about to circle to the main staircase to the second floor when they heard a woman’s voice behind a closed door. She sounded troubled but not in a panic. Justin looked over at Gabriel, who motioned for them to hold. They needed for her to end her call before they walked inside.