The sun started to slip past the top of the sky as they headed back toward the photography collection.
“We should head back. I have to get to work soon and we don’t want to get stuck in any traffic. I’ll have to go grab my car first and get through Beverly Hills.” Joel looked down at his fingers twined through Gabriel's.
“I can take you to work, to save some time. I don’t mind.”
“But then you’d have to come back and get me when I’m done. I don't want to put you out any more than I already have.” Joel scrunched his nose doubtfully. He wanted the ride very much, but he was also concerned that if he asked too much, expected too much, he would wear out his welcome with Gabriel and never see him again. The idea of Gabriel tiring of him like that made Joel feel a little sick to his stomach.
“It’s fine. I’ll go into the office. I should, anyway. When are you off work?” Gabriel squeezed Joel's hand as they climbed the stairs to the main level.
“Nine.”
“Okay then, I’ll drop you off, and pick you up at nine.” Gabriel nodded, apparently deciding the matter was settled. The tight knot of worry in Joel's gut loosened.
Joel looked down at their joined hands and smiled. He was more okay with this than he’d thought he would be, maybe more okay with this than he should be. Yes, he didn’t know Gabriel at all, but Joel knew the way he felt around Gabriel–safe, comfortable, and desired–and that had to count for something, if not everything. And as long as Gabriel wanted to be around him, too, why shouldn't Joel let himself enjoy it?
“Gabriel?” Joel spoke softly. Gabriel stopped walking and turned his head downward. Joel looked up, searching Gabriel's face for any hint of hesitation or doubt. He brought his hand up to Gabriel's face and traced his finger over the tiny crow’s feet at the edge of Gabriel's eye. Those were one of Joel’s favorite parts of Gabriel's face. He loved the way they shifted with his moods, crinkling when he smiled, and softening when his face went slack with satisfaction.
Gabriel smiled, and his pleasure showed, crisp and deep, in the brown of his eyes and the small lines around them. Gabriel was happy, and Joel was at least partially responsible for it. That thought filled Joel with wonder. He couldn't think of anyone he'd made that happy merely by existing. Not his mother, or grandmother, and certainly not his stepfather. Not even Athena.
“Thank you.” Joel scrunched his eyebrows together, thinking ‘thank you’ was a woefully inadequate thing to say.
“For?” Gabriel leaned his face into Joel's hand. He seemed to revel in Joel’s touch, just as Joel was beginning to crave Gabriel’s.
Joel searched his head and heart for the answer. He thought it was an easy answer, but it seemed complicated when he tried to put it into words. Joel wasn’t sure he could explain the changes inside himself over the last few days. He felt better, stronger. Joel wanted to be a better version of himself, because Gabriel deserved it. But had Gabriel even done anything besides offer some kind words and not turn down his advances? Or was Joel doing this for himself finally, and hoping and praying Gabriel would want to stay around for the end result? The answer seemed too convoluted to explain in the moment, and Gabriel's face crinkled into a smile at the concentration that had overtaken Joel's features. Joel watched Gabriel’s crow’s feet deepen with the movement, and Joel’s mind cleared and narrowed down to the truth of the answer.
“You.”
It was that easy, after all.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Gabriel Gets His Way
The sound of sheets rustling woke Gabriel and he reached his arm out to pull a tossing and turning Joel closer to his body. Joel almost immediately settled, sighing and relaxing into Gabriel's hold.
Gabriel had collected Joel from work at nine on the dot the previous evening, then ushered him home and back into bed where he had licked and teased his poor red-haired lover until he was reduced to a quivering mess of want and need. Gabriel had happily taken a mouthful of Joel's cum, groaning in delight as Joel had wiped the mess from his cheeks and chin and pushed his fingers onto Gabriel's tongue in a display of dominance Gabriel hadn’t anticipated, but thoroughly enjoyed.
Gabriel pressed a kiss to Joel's temple and smiled into his warm skin.
“Don’t kiss me,” Joel mumbled, light and teasing, pulling his face away from Gabriel's kisses, before immediately returning it.
“You didn’t mind this tongue when it was up your asshole last night.” Gabriel licked Joel's cheek.
“That’s exactly why I don’t want it on my face.” Joel chuckled, starting to rouse from sleep. “Feel free to put it back there anytime.” He turned his body to face Gabriel, quirking his lips into a smile.
“You're such a demanding little thing, aren't you?” Gabriel’s hand brushed against Joel’s cock. “Maybe not so little.”
“I changed my mind,” Joel said, grinding himself against Gabriel. “Please kiss me with your filthy mouth,” Joel teased, with a hint of honest begging in his tone. “Please, Gabriel, fucking kiss me.”
Gabriel obliged, licking Joel's mouth open with his tongue and offering him everything he had to give. Before the kiss turned from passionate to feverish, Gabriel pulled back, giving Joel a peck on the nose. “Do you work today?” Joel shook his head. “I want to do something for you. Will you let me?”
“You did something for me yesterday,” Joel tried to protest, but Gabriel cut him off.
“I took you to the Getty and we had lunch. That’s hardly doing anything for you at all.” Gabriel reluctantly pushed back from Joel's body. He immediately missed the warmth, but forced himself out of bed.
“What did you want to do for me? Why do you want to do something for me, rather?” Joel sat up, letting the sheet fall to his waist.
Gabriel tried to act casually when what he wanted to do was take Joel up on his silent, yet wanton, invitation. Joel was starting to shed his shy, skittish ways around Gabriel, and it filled him with a kind of possessive joy. My boy. My own, precious boy.
“It’s Tuesday,” Gabriel said, making his voice crisp and brisk. “I have a standing invitation to an estate auction house in town. I’ve never gone, because I haven’t had a reason to, but I’d like to go now, with you. There’s something there I think you might need.” Gabriel was already in the bathroom, turning on the shower. It was either flee the room or he'd succumb to temptation and crawl back into bed with Joel.
“I can’t afford the estate auctions, Gabriel. That’s why I always go to the sales.” Joel's tone sounded petulant. Gabriel turned and watched him fist the sheets in his hands, ramping up for a fight.
“I know you can’t, but I can. Hence the whole, ‘I want to do something for you’ speech. I got an email about an early auction opening up today, and there is something I think you would appreciate, so I’m going to buy it for you. You can come with me or not, Joel, but it will be yours before lunch.” Gabriel stepped inside the shower, closing the door and ending the conversation.
Gabriel closed his eyes, letting the water rush over him as he tried to get a mental grasp on the last two days. Even though he had planned it, it still seemed surreal to him that Joel was in his fucking home, in his bed. It may have been one part planning, but it was easily three parts luck that Joel had been so receptive to what Gabriel wanted to give him. Gabriel knew, though, he was on borrowed time. Athena was due back from New York tomorrow, as Gabriel couldn’t find a way to weasel in with the photographer she was shooting with to extend her trip any longer. It meant Gabriel had the entirety of today and half of tomorrow to ensure Joel didn’t leave.
The idea of Joel leaving him sent a shudder through Gabriel’s body, even though he was warm under the spray of the shower. He let the water rinse the soap from his body, trying to shake free the mental image of coming home to a condo that didn’t have Joel inside it.
They were more alike than he’d initially thought, both closing themselves off from outside interaction as a result of the rejection of their families. Or family, a
s the case may be. The real difference was that Gabriel had lived like this for twenty years, Joel only one.
He was distracted by a burst of cold water from the shower and a clattering sound on the countertop in the bathroom. He cracked the door open, looking out, to see Joel standing at his sink, smiling with a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth. Gabriel returned the smile, tucking himself back in the shower to warm up before turning the water off.
***
“May I see a copy of your invitation, sir?”
Gabriel and Joel had managed to make it out of the condo and to the auction house. At the front door, a very prim and tightly strung woman held her hand out. Gabriel produced his phone, pulling open the email invitation he’d received.
“Oh, Mr. Hunter. Welcome.” Her face morphed into what Gabriel assumed was meant to be a gracious smile before she pushed a door open, letting the two of them, plus Gabriel's wallet, inside. “As the email indicated, this is a pre-showing for the auction, only open to our most esteemed clientele. The auction rules are void today, as you will have first pick of the items for the reserve price. Let me know if you have any questions.” She dipped her head, letting them pass.
Gabriel nodded for Joel to go ahead, and then his chest expanded with pride as Joel instinctively reached down to grab Gabriel's hand.
“This looks unbelievable!” Joel stage whispered to him, taking in the room they entered. Gabriel, for the most part, was unaffected. Displays of wealth like this never did anything for him. Gabriel had money, but he preferred to spend it on people, not things, even if spending money on Joel meant spending money on things.
“No Bibles, sorry to say.” Gabriel offered a conciliatory shrug before tugging Joel over to the jewelry section of the auction. There were five glass-topped cases filled with neatly organized jewelry and accessories, with numbered cards beside each piece. Most of the jewelry was ostentatious, bright and shiny baubles with gemstones meant to catch the eye and loudly proclaim the wealth of their owner.
Joel stopped Gabriel, pressing his finger down at the case, “Holy shit, Athena would love this.” Gabriel looked down at where Joel was pointing. It was a beautiful art deco style necklace with a black onyx that had to be at least two inches tall, flanked by a frame of geometric diamond chips set in silver. Joel was right. Athena no doubt would love it, and it would look nice on her. Gabriel took note of the card number, debating on whether he wanted to make that purchase. With their cohabitation potentially drawing to a close, Gabriel thought he might need to put in some effort to woo Joel's best friend.
“Would she? It’s beautiful.” Gabriel nuzzled his face into Joel's hair as they both looked at it.
“Athena is beautiful,” Joel said. “She's tall and has hair like mine, but she keeps up on the coloring, and she’s so loud and wonderful. She looks out for me too, as much as she looks out for a dessert shop, at least.” Joel laughed, moving his attention to other items in the case.
“You're lucky to have her,” Gabriel mused. “Let me show you what I want to get you, okay?” Gabriel tugged Joel down to the end case, display card number seven. “This one.” Gabriel tucked Joel in front of him, gesturing down toward the watch under the glass.
It was a 1946 Rolex Mechanical Bubbleback with a brown leather strap, faded and creased from over seventy years of loving wear. The face was a subtle beige with gold numbers and hands, resting inside a stainless steel case.
“Absolutely not, Gabriel.” Joel tried to turn away, but Gabriel used his chest to press Joel’s front up against the case.
“Absolutely yes, Joel,” Gabriel countered. “Just look at it. When you were talking about the Bibles, this was the first thing I thought of. Whoever owned this loved it, and took such good care of it. See how worn the leather is, but how there are no scratches on the face? Someone appreciated this and treasured it.” Gabriel leaned down, pressing a kiss to the shell of Joel's ear. “Let me appreciate you.”
Joel shook as Gabriel pressed another delicate kiss to his ear, and Gabriel dragged his tongue down to Joel's earlobe, nipping at the skin. Joel was white-knuckling the edge of the display case, and Gabriel covered Joel's hands with his larger ones.
“Let me treasure you.”
Joel nodded in a silent acceptance of Gabriel's gesture, and hopefully Gabriel's affection as well.
“Good, that was easy.” Gabriel straightened up, and when Joel turned to face him, his cheeks were bright red.
“It’s still too much, Gabriel. I feel a bit… I feel a bit like a rent boy, to be honest.” Joel looked down at his feet, and Gabriel reached forward to grasp his chin, pulling his face up.
“Never. Never, Joel. I've been alone for a very long time and I have more money than I will ever need.” Gabriel searched Joel's eyes and begged him to understand. “You like having things, Joel, and I understand why. Let me give you something...tangible. I know you can understand that, and appreciate it. Let me do this for you.”
Joel nodded again and Gabriel smiled.
“Kiss me,” Gabriel whispered, and Joel stepped into him, reaching up to press a kiss to his lips. Gabriel let loose an audible moan when Joel's hands came up and tangled in his hair. Gabriel reached down, grasping Joel's ass in his hands, squeezing hard and pressing their dicks together as Joel deepened the kiss, but the sound of someone clearing their throat caused them both to pull back.
“Did you gentlemen find what you were looking for?” The woman from earlier gave them each an appraising look, her assumptions about their relationship clear on her face.
Before she could say something disparaging, Gabriel spoke up. “Yes, we’ll take number seven.”
“Very well, Mr. Hunter. I’ll go find the reserve price for you and be right back.” She turned on her heel.
“It doesn’t matter. Whatever the cost, I want it.”
Joel kicked Gabriel, who squinted down at him and shook his head.
To do it, not to do it. To do it, not to do it.
Gabriel watched Joel look down at their feet, Joel's torn Converse against Gabriel's sleek leather boots. A frown flitted across Joel's face, then he sucked in a breath, his cheeks turning pink.
“And twenty-six,” Gabriel called after the woman.
“Gabriel!” Joel shouted and looked up. The woman turned, eyebrows raised nearly to her hair line.
“And twenty-six,” Gabriel repeated. The woman offered a curt nod and left them alone again. “It can be Athena’s Christmas present.”
“Gabriel.” Gabriel started to walk away, and Joel reached out to tug his hand. “It’s too much. The watch is too much and the necklace is far too much.”
“Little Red, listen to me. I’m going to tell you this one time, and only one time. I'm an attorney in Los Angeles. I'm a single attorney in Los Angeles. I have no one and nothing to spend money on. This, whatever the watch and the necklace end up costing me, is nothing. I won’t even notice the money missing from the bank. For you, and for Athena, the items are more valuable. So you will take the things, and I’ll enjoy gifting them, and it’ll be a fair trade.”
For the third time, Joel offered him a silent yet somewhat reluctant nod.
“Besides, with how reliable your phone is, it’s a wonder you ever get anywhere on time.” Gabriel smiled, pushing his shoulder into Joel's side.
The woman returned with two keys and a smart phone. She extended her hand for Gabriel's credit card, about to open her mouth and read him off the total.
“Don’t even say it, you’ll give my sweet boy here a heart attack and I’m not ready to part with him yet.” Gabriel chuckled, but was completely serious as he removed his wallet, handing over the card.
She cracked the barest hint of a smile, swiping his card through the attachment on the phone and then opening both display cases. She removed the necklace, placing it securely in a velvet-lined box, and then went to place the watch in a similar package.
“I’ll wear it now,” Joel blurted out. “I mean, can I?” He looked up at
Gabriel. “Can I wear it now?”
Gabriel smiled and nodded. The woman handed the watch over to Gabriel, who secured it around Joel's wrist.
Joel smiled down at it, and then looked up at Gabriel with a smile so blazing, Gabriel was certain it could melt the sun.
“Thank you,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around Gabriel's midsection and squeezing him tight.
Gabriel placed his arms around Joel's shoulders, pulling him in close. “Thank you, Little Red. Thank you.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Joel Gets a Push from Athena, Again
It was slow at work and Joel had tucked himself into one of the chairs in the back of the shop. He could see the door if he stood up, but it had been pretty dead in the store all day, so he could get comfortable and listen to music. He listened to Calvin Harris on the record player. After Gabriel had dropped him off, Joel had wanted to listen to something that matched his mood.
Gabriel had insisted on driving him again, saying that being out of the house encouraged him to go to the office himself, and Joel didn’t mind obliging him. Thinking of the dark-haired man who’d swept into his life so unexpectedly, Joel reached down and rubbed his fingers over the worn leather of his new Rolex.
He barked out a laugh that echoed through the empty store.
He had a fucking Rolex.
There were few customers, and with his cell phone currently not working and in the bottom of his duffel bag at Gabriel's condo, he was running out of ways to entertain himself. He’d never had that problem before, but ever since he’d met Gabriel, Joel was experiencing an overwhelming urge to just be with him. Time spent away from Gabriel seemed to pass with infinite slowness. It was as if his work day would never end.
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