His Just Desserts (11 page)

“He’s my friend,” Nico replied. “He is important to Kell and I. We want him happy. And right now that means his having you. To make sure it happens, I’m not above using trickery. He’s miserable without you.”

The blood heated his cheeks. “I…it’s not that easy, Nico.”

“So the fact Sean is in love with you means so little that you’re not willing to meet him halfway?” Nico growled. “Somehow I didn’t think you were that narrow minded or judgmental.”

“I’m not!”

Bracing himself on his elbows, Nico stared at him thoughtfully. “Then prove it. Tell me what’s stopping you? Why you won’t give him a chance? Has he beaten you? Refused to bottom for you? Or is it your pride that’s keeping you apart?”

He stiffened, anger hitting him hard. “It’s none of your goddamned business, Mr. Gromberg.” He headed for the door. “Tell Kell I hope he enjoys the food.” He wasn’t normally so pissy when it came to dealing with customers, but he wasn’t about to let some nosy matchmaking lawyer stick his freakin’ nose into his private life. It would be like pouring salt into an open wound, considering he still woke in the middle of the night, reaching for Sean.
Get hold of yourself, Waterston. It was one damned weekend, forty-eight hours of bliss, but you shouldn’t be hooked again
.

“So the fact you’ve hurt him has no bearing on the situation, Isaiah? I’m just supposed to sit back and watch while he mopes around and throws his career in the toilet?”

At the door, he spun around. “Then you’re not as close as you think you are. The Sean Whitcomb I know doesn’t let anything, even hurt feelings, get in the way of his career goals.”

“How many times do I have to tell you, baby, that I’m not the man I used to be?” Sean’s presence and warmth filled the space behind him. Isaiah squeezed his eyes shut as the scent of Stetson mingled with Sean’s unique smell.
This isn’t happening! It just couldn’t be
. He had to get out of there.

“I’m not doing this. I’m not going to let him come in and take over my life.” Isaiah said it loudly, staring at Nico, hoping if he could convince the other man it was true, he’d believe it himself.
I made a clean break, dammit!
He wasn’t going back down this path no matter how damned good Sean smelled.

Nico sighed in an understanding way. “No one is asking you to let Sean have total control. I believe all he’s asked you for is a second chance, correct?”

He gritted his teeth. “Yeah.”

Nico stood. “Then why not listen to what he has to say? Then whether it happens or not, he’s had a chance to plead his case, and you can walk away knowing you at least heard him out.”

He clenched his fists. “It’s the same old song and dance, just a new verse.” He tried to keep his tone strong, but he could hear the quiver in it. “And I have a job to get back to.”

“Now who’s putting their job first, Isaiah?” Sean whispered. “Give me ’til three. That’s only ten minutes of your undivided attention. Listen to what I have to say with an open mind, and if you still want to leave, you can.” The familiar length of his lover’s body brushed up against him, as he slipped around him, sending every nerve ending rioting with the need to touch. “What do you have to lose?”

“Money. Unlike you, I don’t make fistfuls of it. I need my job.” He fought to stay impartial. It was pointless. His knees weakened, his fingers tingled with the need to touch, to soothe the man. He took in the dark circles under his lover’s eyes, the unshaven jaw and rumpled suit. His counselor looked like shit.

“And so do I.” Sean brushed his thumb over Isaiah’s lower lip. “I love what I do for a living, but I’m willing to compromise if it keeps us together.”

He looked up at him suspiciously, vaguely aware of Nico slipping out of the office behind them. “Since when?”

“Hmmm, perhaps it was when I saw you six months ago and you decked me?” Sean shrugged his shoulders. “Then again it could be when you showed me how complete you made me feel when you took control. Or maybe it was how empty I felt when I woke up to find you gone? Who knows? It might have been when I put my job in jeopardy by leaving an important meeting with a prospective client because I heard you’d been hurt?” Sean stepped closer until Isaiah could feel the heat radiating off his body. “Take your pick, because they are all valid.”

Afraid to believe Sean’s words, Isaiah trembled. Uncertain, he hid behind sarcasm. “You’re so full of shit, Counselor, I’m surprised your eyes aren’t brown.”

Sean chuckled wearily. “Sorry, blue as the day is long, although I’ve been accused of being an arrogant fuck.” He cupped Isaiah’s cheek with his palm. “Whether or not I am, I’m not stupid. Before you came back into my life, I’d only been going through the motions.” Then Sean’s eyes narrowed. Again, he invaded Isaiah’s personal space. “Don’t think for a moment I’m planning on letting you run. I don’t want to go back.”

He growled. His Counselor grew cocky. There was the man he’d fallen in love with as a teenager. The “devil may care” man who was out to save the world because he knew he was right. “Excuse me? I’ve never run from a man in my life. You’re the one who always leaves.”

Sean nodded. “That’s right. I was the one who left. And guess what, baby? My feet are firmly planted here, and I have no intention of going anywhere…unless it’s with you. I’m not running anymore. No, this time it’s you who is scrambling away like a little jackrabbit.”

Isaiah shook his head in denial, stepping back, trying to focus on anything but the need to wrap himself around the man and never let go.

“Bullshit. You ran a week ago. Then you scampered away two days ago at Nonlia’s.” Sean pinned him against the door. “And it’s stopping right now. Be a better man than I was—a stronger one—and stay. Fight for what you want.” Sean nuzzled the side of his neck. “I love you, baby, and if I’m not mistaken, you love me.” He lifted his head. “So deal with it.”

“Deal with it?” Isaiah stared at the other man until his tongue finally caught up with his brain “You cocky son of bitch, what makes you think for a second I’m in love with you?” He shoved away.

Sean crowded closer, ignoring his protest. “Let’s see. You not only made a meal to die for, when by all rights you should’ve told me to go to hell, but you also made me your personal dish for dessert.” Sean’s eyes twinkled. “Which blew my mind, by the way. Then you proceeded to fuck me, all over my condo, fulfilling a fantasy I never dreamed would come true.”

His heart sped up at the husky words. “That’s just lust. I never denied I wanted you. You’re sexy as hell, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to jump into a relationship just because you have a tight ass.”

Sean jerked back and stared at him. If he wasn’t mistaken, he’d seen a flicker of something disappear behind Sean’s shield. Had he actually hurt him? Guilt swamped him. This was why he didn’t do Sean Whitcomb. The man could wrap him around his finger without trying.

Sean gave him a crocked smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Okay, it was lust that had you doing that, but your cleaning me up afterward, making sure I still got off even after you were done…those weren’t acts of lust.” He sighed. “Those were acts of kindness, consideration and, some would say, love.”

The antique grandfather clock across the room struck three. Sean’s time was up.

“Kindness at the time, perhaps, but I’m all out. It’s time to let me go, Counselor.” He pushed Sean away. He had to get out of there; if the clock hadn’t struck just then, he’d have given in.

“Not yet,” Sean pled. “Please, baby?”

He fought to remain steady. “You promised, Sean. Ten minutes.”

Sean’s chest expanded and fell. He nodded. “So I did. But if you’re gonna walk out that door, I want one last kiss.”

Isaiah backed away. “No, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“I don’t fucking care, what you think, Isaiah.” Sean yanked him into his arms and covered his mouth, sealing off every sound of protest. As Sean’s tongue rubbed over his, Isaiah fought the need to give in, but just like always, his body responded like dry brush to a match. He went up in flames, and his brain forgot why this wasn’t a good idea.

He found himself being half carried, half dragged over to the plush couch in the corner of Nico’s office, while they ground against each other in every feasible way. The need to bend Sean over the arm of thickly padded furniture was overwhelming.
Or he could bend me over it
. He groaned at the pesky voice in his head. Ripping his mouth free, he stumbled. “Stop! I’m not going to let you seduce me into changing my mind, Whitcomb.”

Sean sank down to the couch, his elbows braced on his knees, his lips swollen from their kiss, his hands trembling “Then what would convince you?”

“Give up your promotion.” When the words left his mouth, he wished them back. Especially when his counselor nodded his agreement.

“Fine. I’ll tell Nico I don’t want it. We’re meeting in fifteen minutes to learn who gets it.” Sean stood up slowly, his arms falling to his side, his face expressionless. “But once I do, I expect you to move in with me. You charge a pretty high price, and I expect to get what I paid for.” Sean moved toward the door, his normally fluid gait jerky, his shoulders stiff.

“No, stop!” Isaiah grabbed him by the elbow. “I didn’t mean it. I’d be no better….”

“Than I was ten years ago.” Sean shook off his hand. “But unlike you, I don’t mind paying the price. Perhaps that tells you something.”

“You think I’m worth it.” Now, he felt even shittier than he had when he’d snuck out of Sean’s condo. Slamming the door shut with one palm, he went toe to toe with his lover. “No. I’m not letting you do it. You will take that damned promotion.”

Sean shook his head. “Not if it means losing you, baby. I want to make partner, but I need you.” The sincerity in his voice, the truth in his eyes, was what did it. Sean believed in what he said. He’d turn down the position if it meant Isaiah would stay. The fear, the ice surrounding his heart melted. Sean was right; they weren’t the same men they’d been ten years ago. They were older, more mature, and hopefully wiser.

“Take the promotion if it’s offered, Counselor.” He tugged Sean’s head down, nipping his lower lip. “So I can take you home tonight to celebrate. We never did try out that dildo I bought for you.”

Sean’s breath caught. His eyes searched Isaiah’s face. “Do you mean it? I can have both?”

Curling his fist around Sean’s tie, he tugged him closer. “As long as you don’t mind fucking me once in a while, you can have almost anything you set your heart on, Counselor.”

Sean licked his lips. “You mean I can use
you
as the dessert bowl?”

He smiled, hoping Sean could see the love in his eyes. “I’ll even supply the bananas.”

Six Months Later

“Since Dhanajit hired him nearly ten years ago, Sean has been an asset to this firm. There have been none in our history who can come close to accomplishing what he has in such a short time. So it’s with great honor that I’d like to present to you our newest partner, Sean Whitcomb.” Nico’s voice carried throughout the banquet hall. All around him, the other employees, clients and their families nodded their approval and clapped. Sitting to Nico’s left, Sean shifted. While he found himself looking forward to each new day at work, it was all because of his boyfriend. Without Isaiah, all of it would’ve meant nothing. He didn’t need the pomp and fuss Nico was giving his promotion.

“Speech, speech, speech;” echoed through the room.

He’d opened his mouth to refuse, when Isaiah’s hand settled on his shoulder. “You’re not chickening out on me now. Not after the hoops these men put you through to prove your worth. You earned it, Counselor, now take your fifteen minutes of fame. I’ll be waiting right here for you.” Isaiah, looking utterly delicious in the dove gray tuxedo he’d worn for the party, gave him a sexy grin.

“It was just a cooking thing, which my baby knows how to handle,” he whispered back.

“And a misleading message or two.” Isaiah rolled his eyes, referring to the stunt the partners had pulled. Both he and Donnie had gotten messages of false emergencies because the board wanted to judge how they would handle it. With the help of Donnie’s wife and a covert mission to Nonlia’s, where Nico had met Berta, the board had tested both men. What would their choice be? Would they’d put business first or take care of their family. While some would say Donnie’s “stay at it” work ethic was commendable, Sache, Gromber, and Filbeck put family first. Always. Donnie’s failure to at least call his wife had disqualified him, before the partners had overheard his performance in the club.
That
had been the nail in his coffin. Tlotzin had busted him all the way back down to tax law, a position the Donnie hated. He hadn’t a choice after Donnie’s behavior in the locker room had revealed he’d cheated. The man was lucky to still have his job. If it had been Sean’s choice, he’d have fired the little ass.

“Speech, speech, speech.” The increasing sound of the crowd jerked him back to the present.

“Come on up here, Sean. You’re not getting out of the speech that easily.” Nico dragged him up by his collar.

He could hear Isaiah’s whistle in the background as he took the podium. He gripped the edge tightly with one hand and shoved the other into his pants pockets. Feeling the familiar contours of the ring box under his palm, he relaxed. It would be all right. The butterflies would come later tonight when he proposed to his baby. But first he had to get through the party the other partners insisted he have.

“I’m not sure what you are expecting, but I can say I love Sache, Gromberg, and Filbeck almost as much as I love my boyfriend.” He glanced over at Isaiah, loving the look the man shot him. “Who looks like he’s thinking of delightful ways to punish me.” The crowd laughed. “Speaking of delightful, Isaiah and his staff are providing dessert for us tonight. It’s one of my personal favorites, and a few of the other board members have enjoyed it as well. Therefore, in lieu of a boring speech, instead I present to you, his award winning Bananas Fosters.”