With Nathaniel gone, Jude’s father looked at Sebastian. “Our table is this way. But first, may I speak with you privately?”
Jude stepped closer to Sebastian.
“Jude, you need to prepare for your speech.” His father’s voice had been pleasant at first, but it hardened along with his features as he studied his son. “Now.”
“I-well, okay.” Jude looked at Sebastian. “I-I guess I will see you shortly, then,” he whispered.
“Absolutely. Good luck, okay?” Sebastian smiled.
“Thanks.”
***
Chapter 10
Sebastian
Sebastian stepped outside behind Jude's father, Mr. Johnson. The balmy summer heat had broken, and the night air was cool and crisp against his skin. The venue’s parking lot was filled to the brim with cars, and a valet was still busy accepting vehicles and finding parking spaces for them. Sebastian laced his fingers together behind his back and turned towards Jude's father, opening his mouth to speak.
“I don't know what's going on between you and my son,” Jude's father started, cutting Sebastian off before he could speak. The man’s tone was sharp, accusatory, “but whatever it is, I want it to go away. How much do I have to pay you to get you out of my son's life?”
Sebastian blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. I can write a check for whatever amount you need right now. My son would never be with a man who couldn’t provide for him. What do you make, sixty-thousand a year? What do you expect from this relationship?”
“I don't have any expectations for the relationship,” Sebastian replied. “I care about your son, and he cares about me, and we've only just met, so there is no point in putting more expectations on something so new.”
“New? I see how my son looks at you and how you talk to him. This has been going on for some time. There’s no point in lying to me. So, how much?” Mr. Johnson asked again.
“There's no amount of money you can give me to stay away from your son. If he wants me to go away, all he has to do is ask, but you won't scare me away with your bank account.”
“Is that so?” the older man replied.
“It is.”
“How does a hundred-thousand dollars sound, then?”
“Sound for what?” Sebastian asked. “It’s a good amount for charity if you want to donate to one. I'm sure your son can point you in the direction of a charity in need of such a generous donation. As I said, there's no amount of money you can offer me to get rid of me. I can’t be bought.”
“Everyone can be bought,” the older gentleman laughed. “I just haven't found your price. But I will.”
Sebastian clenched his jaws, but he didn’t argue with the older man. Instead, the two of them stood in silence for a few long minutes. Finally, Jude's father spoke again.
“How about I let you think on it. Here’s my offer. I'll give you a hundred thousand dollars for you to leave my son, and this deal will expire in a week. I’m sure seven days is plenty of time for you to consider how a hundred thousand dollars could change your life.” Then the older gentleman turned around, moving back inside, and Sebastian's anger brewed as he watched the older man join his wife at the table.
Jude was still presenting.
There was a spot for him, a spot reserved for Jude’s plus one, right next to his father, but Sebastian wasn’t ready to take a seat next to the other man. He stepped back inside the building, stopping just inside the door as Jude’s speech was announced.
Jude took the podium and greeted the crowd, breaking the tension with a little joke and a dazzling smile. He set everyone at ease and drew everyone’s undivided attention at the same time.
Sebastian kept his eyes on Jude through the entire speech, and he listened to the rise and fall of Jude's voice along with his words. The presentation was short and concise, but moving and passionate at the same time. When Jude’s speech ended, Sebastian’s heart swelled in his chest.
Pride. He was both proud and honored to be Jude’s date to the event, and after the guests settled in their seats again, Sebastian crossed the room, taking the empty seat next to Jude’s father.
As they waited for Jude to return, Jude's mother made small talk while his father seethed with anger, and once Jude arrived, Sebastian abandoned the light conversation and regarded his date.
“Hey.” Jude claimed the seat between his mother and Sebastian, the only other empty seat.
“Your speech was wonderful,” Sebastian said.
“Thank you.” Jude smiled. There was no time for conversation because another speech tailed Jude’s, and after the second speech, they announced scholarship recipients, calling out the names of several high school students who awkwardly joined the presenter on the stage. The recipients lined up in order, and as their exact scholarship was announced, the microphone was handed to them.
Most muttered a few embarrassed words of gratitude, while some didn’t say anything at all.
Once all the presentations were done, Jude turned to Sebastian. “We can go if you're ready.”
“It's up to you,” Sebastian replied.
“Up to me?” Jude grinned. “In that case, I'm definitely ready to leave. There’s going to be a whole ‘nother round of prying into other people's lives if we stay around much longer. I will have the car pulled around for us,” Jude explained, making one quick phone call before tucking his phone in his breast pocket.
In no time, they had fled the watchful eye of Jude's father, and Sebastian relaxed in the back seat of Jude's vehicle, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his blazer.
Jude gave a tense smile as he did the same. “Okay, so how bad was it?”
“It wasn't too bad,” Sebastian shrugged. “Could've been worse.”
“What did you and my father talk about?”
“Nothing serious,” Sebastian deflected. “You can take me straight home if you want.”
“I could,” Jude drawled, “but I'm getting extremely hungry. So would you like to join me for a late-night meal? There is an excellent restaurant downtown I've been meaning to try.”
“Restaurant downtown?” Sebastian quirked an eyebrow. “Nah, how about we go get something a little different?”
“Like what?” Jude tipped his head to the side, dreadlocks slipping over his shoulders like ribbons.
“Have you ever been to Pancake Palace?”
“Pancake Palace?” Jude repeated. “No, I don't believe so.”
“All right then. It’s where we’re going.” Sebastian gave the driver instructions, and the driver peeled out of the parking lot, merging into oncoming traffic.
Pancake Palace was around the corner from the venue, leaving them enough time to loosen the top buttons of their shirts and remove their ties before they arrived.
At the current hour, the diner was stocked with regulars, and despite being a Saturday, the place was short-staffed. After a few minutes of waiting, a bored server led Sebastian and Jude to a booth and handed them sticky, laminated menus. The server recited the specials of the day, took their drink orders, and then sauntered away, retreating to the back of the establishment with their cell phone in hand.
Jude turned over the menu. “I see they specialize in pancakes, don’t they?”
“Yeah, it's kind of in the name,” Sebastian chuckled. “Pancake Palace, they probably serve pancakes. But here's the thing, they're really good pancakes.”
“Are they?” Jude turned over the menu again. “I'm not entirely confident a Tutti-Frutti Goodness pancake is the epitome of fine dining.”
“Tutti-Frutti Goodness is for kids,” Sebastian laughed. “You should try the bourbon-infused Sunday brunch pancake.”
“Should I, now? I will have you know if this is a ploy to get me drunk, then it won't work. I have a high tolerance for alcohol as I've been drinking since before I graduated high school.”
Sebastian laughed again. “It’s no ploy to get you drunk. I like you sober, anyway. If you don’t want to be dar
ing, you could pick the chocolate chip pancake and call it a day.”
“No,” Jude lifted his eyebrows. “The bourbon one is what I want. Order it for me when the server returns.” He slid his menu across the table and sat back in his seat. “This place is very, how you say, quaint.”
“I know what quaint means,” Sebastian smiled. He could’ve been annoyed by Jude’s antics, but they charmed him. They reminded him of their differences, but Jude was smiling all the same. “What’s the deal with the Nathaniel guy?”
“Him? Oh, nothing. I turned him down when he asked me out forever ago, and I don’t believe he’s gotten over it yet. He enjoys assuming my father assists me, but I am not the one who had a completely paid-for trip to college. Medical school isn’t cheap, and it is a luxury for someone to go without accruing massive amounts of debt at the same time.”
“Pretty much.”
“And he’s not nearly as rich as I am anyway. I suppose it doesn’t matter, but he is too showy. Did you see the watch on his arm? It’s from a limited collection priced at fifty-thousand dollars each.”
“My ex would probably try to buy it.”
“So would several of mine,” Jude admitted with a sigh. “Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy nice things, but I don’t enjoy them for the sake of having them. I already have a full collection of watches. I don’t need new ones.”
“Good.”
“I was offered an opportunity to purchase the watch, of course, but I declined it, which, to be fair, is probably the only reason why it’s on his wrist at all.”
“Huh,” Sebastian grunted, listening more to Jude’s tone of voice than the words. He didn’t care about designer watches or who owned them, but he cared about how Jude spoke about his world.
Jude was factual, but his words were void of judgment. He scrubbed his opinions out, and Sebastian appreciated it.
When the server returned, he ordered a large stack of the bourbon pancakes and two separate plates, noting the meal would be altogether as well.
The server nodded, grabbing the menus and strolling away, and they went back to their conversation. Jude noted small details about every person they had met at the event, most of which Sebastian had missed, but every notation was more than a simple fact, it was a note about the type of person they had been speaking with.
Jude was observant, and he understood people in a way most didn’t, but at the same time, he wasn’t throwing stones at anyone he described.
When they received their pancakes, the conversation died, and they focused on their meal. They alternated until the stack was gone, and Jude rubbed his stomach, washing the pancakes down with a sweaty glass of water.
“How were they?” Sebastian blotted his lips with a napkin.
“Much better than expected.”
“Good. So you’ll come here again?”
Jude lifted his eyebrows again. “I will consider coming here again. Is it really cooking if you mask most of the flavors with alcohol and sugar?”
“You said they were good.”
“Ah, no. I said they were better than expected.”
When the server presented them with a check, Jude held a finger up, dug into his back pocket, and pulled out his wallet. He gave the server his bank card.
“Thank you.” Jude smiled.
“Better than expected means good.” Sebastian grinned.
“You see, no, it doesn’t. Better than expected means I wasn’t sure what to expect from a place called Pancake Palace, but I have been pleasantly surprised.”
“All right, then.” Sebastian laughed. “I’m glad you were pleasantly surprised. I’m also glad you like trying new things.”
“I do,” Jude agreed. “Perhaps our next date can be something more daring than questionable restaurants?”
“Sure. Did you have anything in mind?”
“No. The next date is your choice.” Jude signed the receipt when the server returned, closed the receipt booklet, and stood. “Now, we should get you home to your mother before she sends a search party after me.”
“I can stay out for as long as I want.”
“I am confident this is true, but I like your mother, and I would like to also stay on her good side.”
Sebastian couldn’t help another smile, and he took Jude’s hand as they left the establishment.
Full of pancakes and the fuzziness of alcohol, the ride from the restaurant back to Sebastian’s place was quiet. Jude laced his fingers with Sebastian’s and leaned against him, closing his eyes. Sebastian rested his head back and closed his eyes as well, soaking up the easiness of the whole night.
Date nights with Benjamin usually left Sebastian anxious, stressed, and beyond tired, but when Jude’s vehicle pulled into his driveway, he found himself savoring every last second left next to the other man. He let the vehicle idle, squeezing Jude into him and raking his fingers up and down his spine.
Jude broke the silence first.
“We’re here,” he whispered, sitting upright and turning sleep-heavy eyes up to Sebastian. “I enjoyed spending time with you tonight.”
“Me, too,” Sebastian rumbled, gathering his tie and his blazer.
“I will walk you to the door,” Jude announced, wiggling out of the vehicle after Sebastian. He stretched on his toes before making good on his word and following Sebastian up the sidewalk to his front door.
Once there, they paused. Jude rocked on his heels, designer shoes crunching on cracked pavement.
Jude was a natural submissive.
Sebastian hated the phrase, but it popped into his brain as he watched Jude’s polite movements. He was waiting for direction. Begging for it. Benjamin had demanded Sebastian dominate him, but there was a difference with Jude. Jude had himself together. He was kind and generous, and he commanded many employees, but standing in front of Sebastian right now, he wasn’t Jude Johnson the third, one of the thirty richest men under thirty in the city.
He was those things, yes, but right now, he was also Jude. Just Jude.
Raw and innocent and hungry for exactly what he asked for. What he’d paid for, but even with the monetary exchange, he wasn’t demanding, and it made Sebastian want to pleasure him even more.
He wanted to make Jude sing, but in due time.
For now, he touched Jude’s cheek, guiding his attention from all around the area to him, and he peered into the other man’s dark, almond-shaped eyes as he closed the distance between them, connecting his hips with Jude’s.
“Hi,” Jude breathed, holding Sebastian’s gaze as his lips parted.
Hungry.
Sebastian kissed him. He tasted the sweetness from the pancakes, the tang from the bourbon infusion, and Jude. The latter was the best, and after just one kiss, his cock hardened in his slacks.
Their night didn’t end with just one kiss, though. One kiss turned into two, and two kisses multiplied until they were breathless.
Jude’s eyes sparkled when they broke away, and his lips were pink and swollen with his excitement. “C-can I ask for more?”
“More what?” Sebastian growled.
“Kisses.”
“Always.” He leaned forward, lips pursed to oblige Jude before the other man’s cell phone buzzed and startled them both.
“I can ignore it,” Jude whispered.
“No. Check it. Your sister’s recently had a baby, and your parents-”
Jude made a soft noise. “Okay.” He fished his cell phone out of his pocket and glanced at it, swiping through a series of text messages. His blissed expression evaporated as his eyes scanned the words. “I have to go, I think. I-I’m sorry.”
“Mm. Don’t be.” Sebastian swept his lips along Jude’s jawline. “I had fun tonight, and we’ll have other dates.”
“Do you promise?” Jude’s gaze darted around his features before landing on his eyes again. “I sound silly.”
“I promise, and no, you don’t. Go take care of your family. I will call you tomorrow.”
“Yes.” J
ude sighed and nodded. “Thank you.” He sent a quick reply on his cell phone before hugging Sebastian and jogging back to his vehicle.
***
HOW WAS IT?
Did you enjoy reading this story?
If so, leave me a review! I’d love to know your thoughts. You can leave a review on the website where you purchased the book or email me at [email protected].
Hope to hear from you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reese Winters is a person who likes writing the stories.
Can you tell I’m exhausted? Listen, it’s 2020, we’re all trying to make it here.
Reese Winters (me, that’s me) likes writing stories about whatever they want and they hope you enjoy them because, for them, it’s an opportunity to escape from the real world and dip into a pseudo-reality where gay-life isn’t complicated, where things work out in the end, where people can find their perfect partner and have the perfect relationship.
The Billionaire's Agreement (The Billionaire's Proposal Book 2) Page 8