by Jeff Adams
“You’re jerking it right now,” I said.
“Am not.”
“Are too. And I hear you struggling not to let on.”
We ended up giggling. I was so carefree with Miles, unlike any of my other boyfriends. Something about him made it so I could just be however I wanted to be in the moment. It was refreshing.
“Should I be embarrassed that I can’t hide things from you even when you’re hundreds of miles away?”
“Of course not. It’s not like I’m not lying here ever so slowly working mine.”
“Saying things like that doesn’t help me stop.”
“Oh, I know.” I hit a sensitive spot just under my cockhead that had me extending out the end of the word by several syllables.
“Fuck, Jordan. What did you just do?” God, his voice got so low and sexy sometimes. “There’s no way I’m going to be—” He lost himself in a moan, and then there was the clatter of the phone falling.
“You okay?”
“Damn it.” The voice came from a distance. “Oh fuck.” There were several intense grunts too.
My cock was all too aware of the sounds he made.
“Jordan?” He sounded out of breath.
“Yeah. What just happened?”
“I dropped the phone and it slid off the bed.” He held back a laugh. “I rolled over and as I got to the side of the bed, I came while sliding my dick across the sheets. It’s a helluva mess here.”
That’s all my cock needed to know. Even though I wasn’t stroking intensely, the magic line was crossed, and there was no stopping me. I tightened my grip, and it took just a few strokes to shoot ropes of jizz across my chest as I moaned into the phone.
“Yes!” Miles sounded as if he’d just won a game. “Love that sound.”
“Talk about a mess.” I angled the phone and snapped a pic of the aftermath. “Even though you didn’t save it. I’m still going to ride you until you beg to come.”
“What if I pound the cum out of you instead.” His sound got muffled again. “You weren’t kidding about that mess.”
“We’ll see exactly who controls the situation. Gonna be freakin’ hot either way.”
“Indeed.”
“Show me your cum.”
In just a few seconds, I had the picture. It was hard to make out what was on the white sheets, but there were some wet spots. Most impressive was the cum that was matted into the hair on his abs.
“If I was there, I’d be cleaning you up.”
“Mmmmm. I could save that for you?”
“Um, no. Fresh cum only please.”
More soft laughter. “It’s good to know where your limits are. So I should get up and get a move on.”
“Yeah, same here. Talk to you later today?”
“For sure. Later, Jordan.”
“Bye.”
I clicked off and dropped the phone on the bed next to me. What an amazing way to wake up. It would’ve been better if he’d actually been in my bed, but it was still scorching hot. The week was destined to go at a snail’s pace while I waited for him to arrive.
Chapter Seventeen
“HE’S FUN,” Alberto said after Miles excused himself and went to the restroom. We’d just finished dinner and were contemplating dessert. “I’ve never seen you so happy and comfortable. I’ve known every boyfriend you’ve ever had, and this one…. Well….” I raised an eyebrow at Alberto. Did he see something I didn’t? Why was he hesitating? “It kinda makes me believe in the idea of a soul mate.”
I couldn’t stop my biggest grin ever.
“I want someone to look at me like you two look at each other,” he continued. “I’m really happy for you. So what are you guys going to get up to while he’s here?”
The abrupt shift in conversation made sense as Miles returned and sat down next to me. He looked awesome tonight. Casual but dressy as we came to Spiaggia for the best Italian in the city. It was one of my favorites, and Alberto nailed it by snagging the reservation for the three of us.
“Okay, so I’m sure you two were talking about me while I was gone. Did I pass the best friend test?” I opened my mouth, and he raised his hand before I could say anything. “Just remember, Luke thinks you’re great.”
“You pass every test,” Alberto said. “You’re the best guy he’s ever introduced me to.”
“Hear that?” Miles puffed his chest out. “Best ever.”
“I don’t need to be convinced.” I leaned over to kiss his cheek, trying not to get caught up in the scratchy feel of his beard.
“Now, now, no need to make out at the table,” Alberto said. “Plenty of time for that later.”
“Jordan, Alberto, what a nice surprise.” I turned to find Roy Bell coming toward the table. Roy was one of our regular investors for the projects we managed.
“Roy, great to see you.” I stood to shake his hand. “I was glad to see we’ve got a meeting next week.”
“Roy.” Alberto stood to greet him as well. “A pleasure as always.”
“Yes,” he said, “my team’s got some new strategies we want to discuss. You’ll get details Monday so we can have a productive meeting.”
“Excellent,” I said. “Roy, this is my boyfriend, Miles Colter.”
Miles stood. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Good to meet you as well,” Roy said, as he shook Miles’s hand.
Alberto gave me a quick worried look before he turned back to Roy to discuss next week. I saw what concerned him right after. Drake had walked in and was coming toward us. His face clouded over as he looked past Roy and saw me. Hopefully his need to present the best front would hold true since Roy was a joint client.
“Roy, great to see you’re already here,” Drake said, interrupting Alberto as he clapped Roy on the shoulder. “Alberto, Jordan, good to see you both. Miles, I trust things are easier now that everything’s settled with the family stables since this one”—he gestured with his head to me—“swooped in like an angel to invest such a hefty sum.”
No one knew about that except Alberto and our firm’s financial officer. How’d Drake get that information? It took all my self-control not to climb over the table and throttle Drake. But, I had to keep up a facade for Roy, and Drake knew that.
“It’s good to be back on solid ground,” Miles said, without missing a beat. I was probably the only one who noticed the coldness that seeped into his eyes.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Drake loved to stir things up.
“We should sit.” Drake moved past Roy, indicating for the hostess to move on.
“Good to see you both, and nice to meet you, Miles.” Roy either didn’t realize what had happened or had the good grace not to acknowledge it.
“What’d Drake mean by that?” Miles’s stare was awful. I wanted to crawl under the table and curl into a ball. “You said it was spread among investors, but he made it sound like it’s all you.”
My mind raced, but it was scrambled by the fear of losing Miles and seething anger for what Drake had done.
“The way our deals are structured,” Alberto started, but I held up my hand so he’d stop. This was my mess and mine to clean up.
“There are two investors in the stables. One is our company and the other is me.”
“What?” Despite the fact he kept his voice low, his fury was crystal clear.
“Remember I’d told you I wasn’t sure if our regular investors would sign on for something so far outside our normal offerings? It was true. So we structured the deal this way.”
“You didn’t think you should tell me that? Jesus, Jordan, that’s a lot of money.”
“It’s fine. I invest all the time.”
“It’s not fine, and the fact you can’t see that makes it all the worse.” He stood up before I could grab for his arm. “I need to go.”
The guy lived on an island with few people, but he knew how to behave in crowds. No doubt that was honed by years of not wanting to make a scene that would spread around town. He calmly w
alked out. Drake managed to orchestrate the quietest public outburst I’d ever seen. Fucking bastard.
“How’d he find out?” Alberto looked like he’d been punched in the gut.
“I have no idea,” I said. “It doesn’t seem—”
“Oh no.” Alberto’s face fell. “Drake was in the office for a meeting on Friday. I caught him in your office afterward. He said he was dropping something off. He must’ve seen something. Dammit. I shouldn’t have taken him on his word.”
“I don’t remember seeing anything from him. But the folder with the investment paperwork was on the desk.” I stood up hastily, bumping the table and knocking over what was left of a glass of wine. “I gotta go.”
Alberto nodded. “I’ll take care of the check. Go get him.”
“Thanks.”
Following Miles’s example, I walked out as if nothing was wrong. Miles had come with me, so he was either on foot or in a cab. “Did you see where the blond guy went when he left?” I asked the valet.
“He’s just down the block.” He gestured with a jerk of his head.
I turned and found Miles standing at a storefront—one hand on the glass while the other held his phone. He was slightly hunched over like he might be sick.
“Hey,” I said when I got to him, “you okay?”
He stood straight, wiped at his eyes, and spun around.
“Not even close.” His voice was tightly controlled. “You lied to me. Why would you do that?”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want this.”
“We wouldn’t have had this fight, because I wouldn’t have let you do it in the first place.” He closed the space between us, and I fought the urge to flinch because he looked like he might throw a punch. “You knew I wasn’t asking people for help. Random investors was one thing, but you? The man I’m falling so hard for, putting up all that cash.”
“Miles, it was the only way. You were on your way to losing everything. I was going to put up some money no matter what because I’m your friend.”
“And you thought going behind my back was a good idea? What does that mean for us down the road? What else would you keep to yourself?”
“Miles—”
“I can’t.” He stole a glance at this phone and stepped to the curb as a car drove up—Uber sticker in the corner. “I can’t do this.”
“Wait.”
He slammed the door, nearly taking my hand with him. The car pulled away before I could do anything.
He had to go back to my place. His luggage was there, and since he had a key, I had to hurry before he could get away. The wait for my car was excruciating. A party of five, who, of course, all drove separate cars, was ahead of me. The five minutes it took to get my car seemed like forever. More than enough time for Miles to get his stuff and disappear.
I’d really fucked this up. He said he was falling hard for me. We were on the precipice of something huge, and this was going to wreck it all.
Driving, I seemed to hit every red light in the city. I texted Miles and pleaded with him to stay until I got home. There was no response.
And Drake, I knew he had an angry streak, but I had no idea he’d do something so vengeful.
I pulled up in the circle of my building and tossed the keys to the valet. In the elevator, too many people stopping on lower floors impeded my progress to twenty-five. Thankfully, I didn’t fumble my keys at the lock. I felt like I was going to fly apart at the seams by the time I got inside. I was terrified at what I’d done, and I couldn’t stop shaking as a result.
Nothing looked different as I entered. In the bedroom, his discarded clothes were still on the floor where I’d stripped him so he could dress for dinner. His small bag was on the floor next to the dresser.
Somehow I’d beaten him here. Hopefully I’d be able make him understand that I’d just wanted to help. I didn’t want to blow what was turning into the best thing that’d ever happened to me. Alberto had said it at dinner—Miles made me crazy happy. He wasn’t the only one who was falling hard.
I dropped onto the couch to wait. He had to be here soon, unless he was just having the driver take him around the city. I’d wait, we’d talk, and it’d be fine.
It had to be.
Chapter Eighteen
MILES DIDN’T come back. He went home, leaving the few things he’d brought at my apartment. He finally answered a text Saturday night, saying he’d gone home. Before I could ask, he said he didn’t care what I did with his luggage.
What was supposed to be an awesome weekend had gone to hell. I knew exactly how Richard Collier felt when he was yanked back to 1980 because of the stray penny in his pocket. I’d been living in a fantasy world that was pulled out from under me. It’d been hard enough to come back to Chicago when all I wanted to do with stay with Miles on the island. Now everything was in shambles.
I gently packed up his clothes and toiletries. I couldn’t throw them out, so I figured I’d ship it back at some point.
After two days spent mostly staring at the ceiling, I had to get back to work. There were meetings I couldn’t blow off. Luckily I knew how to flip a switch inside my brain to be on for business so I don’t think anyone knew how out of sorts I was.
“Damn, man, I’ve seen you do presentations with the flu, but I’ve never seen a performance like you just gave,” Alberto said, coming back to the conference room after showing our prospective client out. “You did a great job. I think that deal’s going to close.”
I slumped in the chair I’d been in for the past three hours.
“What can I do?” he asked.
“I don’t think there’s anything. He’s cut me off.” I looked at Alberto as he sat in a chair across the table from me. “Thank you for not saying I told you so or something like that.”
“You know I’d never do that to you.”
“True. In the future, though, be more emphatic about not letting me do stupid shit like this.”
He simply nodded, and I laid my head on the cool wood of the conference table. Sleep had come in fits and starts since Friday, and I was exhausted. Rest eluded me as I kept thinking about what I’d done.
“If you start to turn gray, I’m calling the paramedics.” He was trying to lighten the mood, but there was no laughter in me.
“It hurts so much.” My voice was muffled since my face was against the table.
Saying that broke the dam of my emotions. Outbursts aren’t usually my thing, but I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Whoa, Jordan.” Alberto was quickly by my side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as I sat up. “You’ll get through this, and not alone.”
“Through it sure,” I managed to say between gasps and sobs. “But not with him.”
“You don’t know that. It’s only been three days. He’ll think it through and see that he overreacted.”
“He looked so hurt and angry.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Hang on.” Alberto squeezed my shoulder before he went to the door.
I dropped my head back to the table, hoping not to be seen.
“Yes?” he said, opening the door.
“There’s a Luke on the phone for Jordan,” Madison, our receptionist, said. “Says he’s a friend and it’s urgent that he talks to him.”
“Take a message, please—”
“No.” I willed myself to stop being a mess. “I’ll take it.”
Alberto still blocked the door, but Madison said, “He’s on line three. Alberto, can you return Drake’s call? He’s been calling practically every five minutes because you haven’t been returning calls or e-mails. I’ve told him—”
“Let’s take this outside.” Alberto turned back to me. “We’ll give you some privacy.” He slipped out the door.
I steeled myself. This wasn’t going to be a good phone call. How did Luke even track me down? Was Miles making him deliver a message? I had to pick up the phone to find out, but was scared this was the final nail in our
relationship coffin. One last deep breath and I answered.
“Hello?”
“Jordan?”
At least he didn’t seem angry.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t sound like yourself. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Miles isn’t right either. What the heck happened? He was gaga when he left Friday morning. Turns out he got back Saturday morning, went straight to his place, and didn’t surface until I rousted him this morning. All he’d say is that you guys were done. He went to work like a zombie.”
I sighed. I’d destroyed both of us.
“Jordan?” he finally asked after I’d let too much silence slip by.
“I’m here.”
“I know it may not be any of my business, but my best friend’s hurting and won’t talk. I know we don’t know each other well, but you were good for Miles—”
“I kept a secret I shouldn’t have,” I blurted out. Luke got the abbreviated story of how I managed to save Colter Stables but wrecked the relationship with its owner.
“That explains a lot. He’s one of the proudest, most protective people I know. Always has been. Especially where family stuff’s concerned. He gets it from his dad, who was always quick to offer help to anyone but never wanted it to look like he might need some.”
I itched to get up and move around. It was rare for me to take a call without pacing, and I couldn’t do that with this phone.
“When we were ten,” Luke continued, “Miles’s parents and Nate all came down with some nasty flu. When he hadn’t shown up for school for a couple of days, I went around to see what was up. He tried to swear me to secrecy that he was taking care of them and it’d be fine in a few days. I couldn’t keep that secret, and boy was he pissed at me when I turned up later with my mom. It took him weeks to speak to me again.”
“I’ve really fucked up, haven’t I?”