Like a Lover (4 page)

It’s only one day. Maybe it’s worth it for a
quiet life
.

He picked
up his phone again, pulled up Georgina’s number, and hit Call.

She
answered after a few rings. “Hi, Rupert.”

Her
clipped, public school voice always sounded so much more precise on the phone
than in person.

“Hi, how’s
things?”

“Same old,
same old. Too much work and not enough hours in the day.” Georgina worked in
the media team at the university. They had met when Rupert had been called in
to fix a network problem in her department, and they’d hit it off immediately.
They’d been lunch and coffee-date friends ever since. “How’s life with you?”

“Pretty
good, thanks.”

“So… what
can I do for you?”

“Well, um,
I was actually phoning to ask you a favour.”

“Sounds
ominous.”

“I know
this is rather short notice… but my mother’s getting married on the last
weekend in May. I need a plus-one for the wedding, and was wondering whether
you were free to come with me?”

“Really,
Rupert? I thought you were dating again. Don’t you have a potential boyfriend
you can take?”

“My mother
wants me to bring a
nice girl
”—he
emphasised the words to show they were his mother’s rather than his
own—“and I think you fit the bill.”

“Why the
hell did your mother specify a girl? She’s never had a problem with you dating
guys, has she?”

“Not that I
knew of, no.” Rupert sighed. “I think Charles, her fiancé, is the one with the
stick up his arse. But I get the impression it’ll make the big day go more
smoothly if I don’t rock the boat by turning up with a man, and I don’t have a
guy to ask anyway. So, can you come?”

There was
the sound of movement on the other end. “I’m just checking my calendar… but
honestly. I think your mother’s attitude is awful…. Okay, yes, I’m free. But
are you sure you want to do this?”

Rupert
sighed. “Yes. It’s just less hassle this way.”

“You owe me
big time for this.”

“I know.
It’s bound to be massively tedious. All pomp and ceremony and speeches, and
people asking me about my job, then asking for advice about their own computers
when I tell them what I do. There won’t even be a disco to sweeten the pill.
Let’s hope there’s plenty of booze is all I can say.”

“You don’t
have to put yourself through this, you know. Can’t you fake an illness that
weekend? A vomiting bug is always a great excuse.”

“She’d
never forgive me. She probably wouldn’t believe me either. No. I’ll have to get
through it.”

“I can’t
believe you’re letting her push you into this. What happened to that boy you
told me about who marched in all the pride parades when he was a student? He
wouldn’t take a woman as his plus-one just to keep his mother happy.”

She had a
point.

“It would
be different if there was a guy I wanted to take. But there isn’t,” Rupert
said.

“Are you
still not even dating?”

“Not
really.” Rupert thought about his failed attempt at a date the night before,
and that led his thoughts back to Josh again. The urge to talk about him was
too strong to resist. “But I did meet someone last night.”

“Ooh, tell
me more! Did you meet him in the exchanging-phone-numbers sense, or the
getting-naked sense? I want details. What’s his name? What’s he like? Are you
seeing him again?”

Rupert
laughed. “If I can get a word in, I’ll tell you. I met him in a bar, and we
hooked up. He’s called Josh, and I’m seeing him again next weekend.” Rupert was
all too aware of the salient information missing from his summary, but no way
was he going to tell Georgina the part where Josh was an escort.

“What does
he look like?”

“He’s hot.
Lean and sexy, with dark hair and amazing green eyes. He’s got tattoos and a
lip ring.”

“Not your
usual type, then.”

“I suppose
not.” In the past Rupert had always gone for conventional, wholesome-looking
guys. Guys who looked more like himself. Josh was definitely a step out of his
comfort zone with his slightly edgy look.

“And you like
him?”

Rupert
hesitated, and then admitted it. “Yeah. It was only one evening, but I like
him.”

“You should
ask
him
to the wedding instead of
me.”

“I don’t
think so.”

“Too soon?
You don’t want to scare him off?”

“Something
like that. My mother’s enough to scare anyone off,” Rupert joked to cover the
slight awkwardness. He regretted mentioning Josh now. It was stupid. Josh was
never going to be boyfriend material, and Rupert needed to get that very clear
in his head before he saw him again.

Georgina
chuckled. “Your mother does sound as if she needs careful handling. Oh hell,
look at the time. I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

“Hot date?”

“Nothing
very exciting. I’m meeting a girlfriend to go to the cinema, but I’ll be late
to meet her for drinks first if I don’t get a move on. I’ve put the wedding on
my calendar, but I still think you should ask your Josh. He can always say no.”

“He’s not
my
Josh.” Rupert’s stomach clenched as
he remembered Josh was probably with another man right now.

“Whatever.
Okay. Bye, Rupe. Let’s meet for coffee soon. I’ll text you.”

“Yes. Bye.”

As the week
passed, Rupert got increasingly twitchy as he waited to hear from Josh.

He kept
telling himself it was ridiculous to be stressing over it when Josh wasn’t his
date. This was a business transaction, for fuck’s sake. It should be like
waiting for a call from a plumber or an electrician. Josh wanted his money.
He’d get in touch. But somehow that didn’t help matters.

He found
himself looking out for Josh around the university, hoping he might catch sight
of him around campus. But he didn’t.

Josh
finally texted him on Friday afternoon.

U still up for tomorrow evening? What time
suits?

Rupert’s
heart thumped as he replied.

Yes. Anytime from 8pm.

Can we make it 9?

Sure. Where shall I meet you?

Same hotel. I’ll text you the room number once
I’ve booked.

Damn.
Rupert should have suggested a drink first, but it was too late now. He didn’t
want to appear too pushy.

Okay, c u then
, he typed. Then added as an afterthought.
Make sure you get an early night tonight ;)

You’re never going to let me live that down are
you?
Josh replied.

Nope.

CHAPTER FOUR

Josh had
mixed feelings about his forthcoming appointment with Rupert.

On the one
hand, he was looking forward to the sex. He was undeniably attracted to
Rupert—he’d been a great fuck last weekend. But on the other hand, Rupert
had been on his mind too much this week, and Josh wasn’t comfortable with that.

The
anticipation fizzed through him as he got ready to go and meet Rupert. He had
to jerk off in the shower because just thinking about Rupert got him hard. Then
after, when he fingered himself with a little lube in his room, one foot up on
the desk, he got a semi again even though he’d only come ten minutes before.

Josh
arrived at the hotel ten minutes early and tried to combat his jitters by
taking control of the situation. He pulled the curtains and turned the lamps
on, adjusting the dimmer switches until he was satisfied. He took off his shoes
and socks and lay on the bed, trying to slow his breathing and relax, but it
didn’t work. So he got up and paced instead.

He hadn’t
been this nervous about meeting a client since the first appointment he’d
booked through his website. What the hell was wrong with him?

The soft
knock on the door made him jump like a startled cat. His heart sped up and
didn’t slow as he went to let Rupert in.

“Hi.” Josh
smiled seductively, putting on his best veneer of cocky confidence. He’d
trained himself to never show his nerves in front of clients.

“Hi.”
Rupert’s genuine smile disarmed Josh, sending his excitement fluttering and
swirling in his belly like confetti in a breeze.

Josh stood
aside to let him in, and when Rupert stepped close and kissed him on the lips,
it felt like a greeting from a date, or even a lover. The kiss was slow and
lingering, the promise of something more.

“Haven’t
you forgotten something?” Josh said teasingly when Rupert released him. “Money
up front, remember.”

Rupert’s
face remained carefully neutral as he pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket. “Here.
For two hours this time.”

“Cool,
thanks.” Josh made a show of counting the cash, even though his instincts told
him he could trust Rupert.

When he was
done, he shoved the money into his pocket and looked Rupert up and down. Rupert
was dressed very differently to last weekend. The smart clothes were gone,
replaced by soft blue jeans that hugged his muscular thighs, and a dark grey
T-shirt. The messy red curls were the same, though; as was the stubble that
Josh’s fingers itched to touch.

“Do you
approve?” Rupert’s lips quirked into a grin.

Josh
shrugged. “Not bad, I suppose.” But he couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at
his lips too. “You look more like an IT guy tonight with the casual look. I’m
not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I kind of liked the suit.”

“Oh yeah?”
Rupert advanced on him, putting his hands on Josh’s hips and tugging him close.

Josh’s hum
of agreement was muffled by Rupert’s lips as he kissed him, a slow, deep kiss
that sent a rush of heat through Josh, making his cock stiffen fast. He slid
his hands up Rupert’s broad back, feeling the muscles under his palms, and
tugged him closer, licking deeper into his mouth. He smiled into the kiss when
he felt the hardness of Rupert’s cock against his own.

Josh moved
his hips in a slow, dirty grind, murmuring against Rupert’s skin. “You gonna
fuck me again?” He kissed over his stubbled jaw and down to the smooth skin
below his ear. “Stick your fat cock in me and make me come?”

“If you
want me to.” Rupert tilted his head back and let Josh nip and suck lightly at
his neck. He moved his hips against Josh’s in perfect counterpoint, sending
jolts of sensation up Josh’s spine as their cocks bumped and caught through the
fabric of their jeans.

“This isn’t
about what
I
want, remember?” Josh
said. “You get to choose.”

Rupert took
Josh’s head between his hands and gently tugged him away from where he was
kissing Rupert’s neck, so that their gazes locked. His blue eyes were intense
and serious, and Josh couldn’t help but stare back.

“I choose
what makes you feel good,” Rupert said. “Just because I’m paying doesn’t mean I
don’t want you to enjoy this too. I get off on you getting off. So I want you
to tell me what you want… what feels good for you. I want you to be honest.”

Josh
swallowed and then nodded. “Okay.” His voice came out as a hoarse whisper, so
he cleared his throat. “Okay,” he said more clearly. “Then I want you to fuck
me again. That was great last time.”

Rupert
flushed, not hiding his pleasure at the words. “It was for me too.”

They kissed
again, slow and unhurried. Rupert peeled Josh’s T-shirt off and kissed the ink
on his chest, then dipped his head lower to lick Josh’s nipples until they
hardened under his tongue. Josh slid his hands under Rupert’s shirt to find
solid muscle and the soft tickle of body hair against his palms.

“Take yours
off too,” he said, pushing the fabric up.

Rupert
smiled and obliged. Losing the shirt released the heady scent of his body, and
Josh kissed his chest, nuzzling at the scratchy hair over his powerful pecs
where his scent was strongest, before lifting his face to kiss Rupert’s mouth
again.

Rupert
started on Josh’s fly, so Josh got his hands down too and they unfastened each
other’s trousers with clumsy fingers. Josh pulled out Rupert’s cock and stroked
the silky hardness, and Rupert did the same for him, hands working in unison.
Josh moaned into the kiss, all his nerves swept away by fast-building arousal.
He bit back a sound of protest when Rupert stopped stroking his cock and reached
around to grip his arse instead, but then Rupert slid his fingers into the
crack and found where Josh was slick for him. He pushed the tips of two fingers
inside easily and fucked them in and out making Josh push back, wanting them
deeper.

“That good?”
Rupert murmured, sliding his mouth along Josh’s jaw, all hot breath and the
delicious scratch of stubble where Josh was clean-shaven.

“Yeah,”
Josh managed. The relentless stab of Rupert’s fingers took his breath away.

“You want
more?”

Josh
nodded, gasping as Rupert tugged on his rim then pushed a little deeper. Then
Rupert’s fingers were gone and he gripped Josh’s hips with strong hands,
turning him and pushing him towards the full-length mirror on the wall beside
the bed. He manhandled Josh till he was standing, hips tilted, hands braced on
the wall on either side of the mirror. “There.” Rupert met Josh’s eyes in the
glass. “Where are the condoms?”

“In my
pocket.”

Rupert
crouched down to where Josh’s jeans had fallen below his knees. But he didn’t
straighten up immediately. “You have the most beautiful arse.”

Warm breath
brushed the arse in question, tickling and making Josh tense with expectation.
Then Rupert kissed each cheek in turn, deliberately running his stubbled chin
over the sensitive skin. Josh’s legs wobbled, and he widened his stance as much
as the trousers around his ankles would allow. A warm hand cupped his balls and
squeezed.

Still on
his knees, Rupert started fingering Josh again. He curled them in deep, sending
a flicker of electric sensation through Josh as Rupert found his prostate and
stroked it with each careful press of his fingers.

Josh stared
at his own reflection. His pupils were huge, almost eclipsing the green, and
his mouth was slack, lips livid pink from Rupert’s stubble and rough kisses.
Seeing himself like that, so undone by the movement of Rupert’s fingers inside
him, was too much. He dropped his gaze instead to where his cock bobbed, hard
and aching, with precome beading at the slit. As he watched, the glistening
drop overflowed and stretched into a strand before breaking and dropping onto
the carpet beneath.

Just when
Josh thought he might come from this, without Rupert even touching his dick,
Rupert withdrew his fingers and stood. He pressed a kiss to the back of Josh’s
neck, his erection sliding up the crack of Josh’s arse. Josh pushed back
against it, desperate, needing it inside him. “Come
on
.”

Rupert
chuckled. “Give me a sec.”

There was
the tear of a condom wrapper and a few agonising seconds of no contact, and
then Rupert was back, lining up and pushing inside in one long, perfect stroke,
filling Josh until he gasped. Eyes wide, he caught Rupert’s gaze over his
shoulder again.

“Fuck,
that’s hot.” Rupert gripped Josh’s hips tightly as he drew back and thrust in
again, hard, knocking the breath out of Josh in a moan. Josh braced himself,
rocking back to meet it.

“Harder,”
he said, holding Rupert’s gaze.

“Yeah?”
Rupert slammed into him again.

Josh let
his head drop, giving in to the sensation of Rupert fucking him, taking him
apart with each deep thrust. His awareness narrowed down to the burn in his
pelvis, the inevitable build of sensation like a wave gathering strength before
it crashed on the shore. He made sounds he couldn’t control, crying out with
each drag of Rupert inside him. He felt the scrape and sting of teeth on his
shoulder.

“Look at
me,” Rupert said.

Josh raised
his head and sought out that blue gaze. Rupert looked how Josh felt, glassy and
unfocused. As their gazes locked, Rupert reached around to grip Josh’s cock.
The force of his thrusts pushed Josh into his fist, the perfect grip and
pressure almost too much to bear.

“
Fuck
,” Josh moaned. His legs were
shaking now.

“Yeah, come
on.”

Rupert
stroked him faster, fucked him harder, and Josh came in a blinding rush,
hitting the mirror with the first shot of come as he pulsed around Rupert. He
forced his eyes to stay open, fixed on Rupert’s as his orgasm overwhelmed him.
He was dimly aware of Rupert pulling out, and he managed to keep himself
upright as Rupert jerked himself off, the sound of his hand audible over their
ragged breathing. Rupert must have stripped off the condom because when he
came, it splashed hot over the small of Josh’s back and trickled into the crack
of his arse.

Afterwards
Rupert guided Josh to the bed. Josh still had his trousers around his ankles,
and his legs felt like overcooked spaghetti. He collapsed onto his back, not
caring how sticky he was.

“I’ll get a
cloth,” Rupert said.

“Thanks.”
Josh was way too fucked to move for a few minutes.

Feeling
oddly vulnerable after the heat of the moment had passed, Josh kicked out of
his jeans, rolled to his side, and got under the covers, facing away from the
bathroom door. He heard Rupert come back and move around for a few minutes
before the bed dipped and Rupert moved in behind Josh. Rupert slid his arm
around Josh and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

“Thought
you were getting a cloth?”

“I did. For
the carpet and the mirror.” Rupert’s voice was warm with amusement. “Thought
you might get charged extra for the cleaning otherwise.”

Josh
chuckled. “Yeah, probably. Thought you’d get a cloth for me too, though.”

“Nah. I
like you covered in my come.”

“Kinky.”

Rupert
hummed his agreement with another kiss, to the back of Josh’s neck this time.
Then he asked, “Do you always prep yourself first?”

“Usually.
Why?”

“I want to
do it next time.”

“Is there
going to be a next time?”

“I hope
so.”

Josh tried
to tamp down the thrill of excitement that surged in his chest. “Okay.” He
turned in Rupert’s arms, rearranging himself with a hand tucked under his head.
Rupert’s hand rested lightly on Josh’s waist, a point of warm contact, his
fingers circling idly.

“Next
Saturday?” Rupert asked.

“I think
I’m already booked.” Rupert’s face clouded, so Josh quickly added, “But I could
do Friday.”

“Okay.” The
displeasure didn’t entirely lift from Rupert’s expression, but he was making an
effort to hide it.

“I’m surprised
you can afford me three weeks in a row,” Josh said lightly. “They must be
paying you way too much in the IT department. I wouldn’t have thought your
salary would stretch to expensive rent boys.” He said it to remind Rupert about
the boundaries—or maybe to remind himself. Rupert only owned Josh for the
hours he paid him. The rest of the time they were nothing to each other.

“It
doesn’t,” Rupert replied.

“So what,
did you rob a bank or something?”

Rupert
laughed, but he didn’t offer any more explanation, and Josh was left wondering
how he could afford the prices Josh charged on a regular basis. He wasn’t
complaining, though. Most of his regulars were high-earning businessmen, but
that meant they were often considerably older than Josh. It was a novelty to
have more than one appointment with someone under thirty.