Designs of Desire

by O'Riley, Tempeste

  James couldn’t continue to speak as his mother screeched about how he was going to hell and that she would not allow his depravities to destroy her family. Hearing her shunted James back to being that scared teen who wanted nothing more than for his parents to love him enough to protect him.

  “That’s enough!” Dal Sayer boomed. “Your son is the victim of a hate crime, stalking, and arson. Unless you want charges leveled at you as well, I would suggest you tone it down and treat Mr. Bryant with some respect. Making threats in front of a lawyer and the police?” He shook his head but stopped speaking.

  “Hates me,” James mumbled. He wasn’t sure when he had started to speak, but it only came out as a whisper. “Why can’t she love me too…?”

  “James?” He felt Chase’s hand on his cheek. “Don’t go there, hun. You have a family, a real one. Seth, Danni, me. She doesn’t matter.” Chase shifted and wrapped his arms around James from behind.

  “There is no point in continuing this meeting,” Mel stated. “Mr. Bryant will not be dropping the charges against Joseph Bryant. He has nothing to do with the arson charge or the charges against Michael Delanco, that’s all internal. If you continue to harass or threaten James or his family, I will file a restraining and gag order against you.”

  “Family? You mean that sodomite he lives with? They live with a small child! Did you know that? How can you sit there and allow what goes on in that house, to that little child!”

  “Enough! Chase, take James home,” Rhys growled as he cut her ranting off.

  “No,” James whispered. He cleared his throat and tried again. “No. I have something I need to say first.” James’s eyes swept over his friends before he squared his shoulders and faced his mother. “I’ve spent the last twelve or so years trying to figure out how to make you love me like a mother is supposed to, but I can see that you would rather praise the boys that abused me, violated my home, and nearly destroyed me, than open your eyes or heart to your own flesh and blood, so fine! Go cry for Joey. Go pine for Mike.” His fingers ached from how hard he clutched the grips of his forearm crutches, but he managed to stand his ground, though he wasn’t sure how. “But stay the hell out of my life and away from my real family. If you ever so much as look at Seth or Danni you will regret it! You are dead to me, as is Father! Never again, you hear me?” James knew he was shaking. He stared down at the woman who had been his mother as she gaped at him.

  Chase moved to get James walking but stopped at the door, looking back at the monster that inhabited the body of the woman James remembered making him soup and kissing his boo-boos when he was little. James paused when he heard Chase speak. “James’s home is warm, loving, protective, and caring. All the things a home should be. Instead of tearing him down, you should be proud of the man he has become. Successful artist, doting stepfather, loyal friend and brother. I don’t know how he turned out as well as he did with people like you in his life, but do us all a favor and stay away from him!”

  He was crying when Chase looked at him again. Hearing how Chase felt about him made him realize he truly did have a family. One he would fight to keep.

  Chapter 20

  JAMES and Chase returned to the house that evening to find Seth home. Seth had called earlier and told him he had a couple more appointments and for him not to rush home. He said he would provide dinner. Danni was at dance for another hour—they had put her in dance class and she loved it.

  Chase followed him when he entered the house and they both froze. Sitting on his couch was a young woman speaking animatedly with Seth. After the day he just finished, a stranger in his home was not high on his list of happy thoughts.

  The woman barely looked legal. She perked up when she saw him and Chase standing there staring. “Oh, this must be your partner, James.” She popped up to her feet and, graceful as a dancer, came over and extended her hand to James. “Hello, sir.”

  James took her offered hand on autopilot but looked to Seth for an explanation.

  “James, this is Sydney Green. If you like her too, I plan to hire her as our housekeeper and nanny.” His words took James aback for a moment, but they had discussed hiring someone to help around the house after Terra brought it up, and with Danni, instead of having the cleaning service he had always used.

  James turned back to the hopeful looking woman. “Hello, Sydney.”

  “Hi. I will be serving dinner soon. Is your friend staying?”

  Her perky attitude and youth worried James, but he trusted Seth to do what was right. “Chase? Are you staying?”

  “Thanks but no. I have a date but Seth, man…. A housekeeper?”

  Seth’s face split in a huge smile, relaxing James immediately. “She was a friend of Quinn’s who used to babysit Danni once in a while. She will help keep the place clean, cook only when James is too tired or does not wish to, and even help with homework. It will help James out and me by extension. Now I don’t have to worry about James trying to do too much.” Seth’s eyes bored into James’s. “And she just finished a couple of culinary classes along with her early childhood care and education courses. You two should have a ball in the kitchen.”

  The satisfied look on Seth’s face had James willing to agree to almost anything. “Okay, sir. But,” he continued, looking back at Sydney, “I like cooking for my family and my studio is off limits. Not even Seth goes in without me.” That was the one place he ruled, and housekeeper or not, no one was allowed near his paints and work.

  “Yes, sir. Seth explained. I will only cook if you need me to and I don’t blame you about your studio. I’m the same way about my jewelry making.”

  James smiled, pleased with her easy acceptance of his one real rule. “Thank you. Um, I don’t mean to be rude, but does that mean you’re moving in?”

  Sydney shook her head. “I already have a home with my husband.”

  After a few more pleasantries, she headed for the kitchen and Chase left to get ready for his date. Seth pulled him into his arms, a gentle, soothing caress up and down his back. “You know why I want this for you, baby?”

  “Yes, sir. You worry that I do too much.”

  “Yes, baby. Plus, she will help in the evenings with Danni. Now, come here. What did you find out?”

  James groaned. He so didn’t want to discuss what had happened at the police station. “You know my mother requested I come down there after not having spoken to me in nearly a decade?”

  “Yes, baby. Now, what happened? You look strange but in much better spirits than I expected given where you were.”

  “She demanded I drop the charges against Joey, which I did not do,” he added. “She also tried to blame me for his arrest, and for Mike’s. They are charging him with… I don’t remember what, but something for his helping Joey do this to us.”

  “You dealt with your mother? You seem good, considering….”

  “I am. Chase reminded me of something while we were there. I have a family, and my parents and Joey are not part of it. Family doesn’t turn its back on you. You are part of my family and my future, not her.”

  “What about your father?”

  “It was only her. With how she was, I assume it was a good thing that he stayed away, though I was surprised. Maybe he was in with Joey?”

  James shrugged and tried to change the direction of their evening. He leaned in to Seth, breathing in his unique scent as he nuzzled his jaw. “Thank you for—for everything, sir.”

  Seth turned his face to meet James’s, taking his lips in a soft, exploring kiss.

  JAMES took every opportunity that evening to touch, tease, and entice Seth. He felt disconnected and adrift in his relationship with Seth lately and needed his lover, even with his revelation earlier. By the time they entered their bedroom, James trembled in anticipation of what Seth might do to him.

  “Do you know what you need, baby?” Seth asked, pinning him in place with those piercing hazel eyes.

  “You,” he panted. “To please you.” His cock was so
hard. He could barely breathe waiting to hear what Seth would say. James needed him on such a deep level that he could barely think.

  “You do that, baby, just by existing.” Seth leaned in, guiding James down and onto the bed.

  James whimpered when Seth took his mouth roughly, delving inside, nibbling on his lips, and simply overwhelming James into dazed bliss.

  “You want me to fuck your face, pet?” Seth asked when he finally tore his mouth away, watching James gasp for air. “Control your body, your pleasure, your very breath? You’d like that, wouldn’t you, baby?”

  Oh, God! James stopped breathing as the idea worked its way through his mind and into his cock. He whimpered with need, knowing with Seth it was mutual passion and his needs and wants were cared about. That he was cared about.

  “Move for me, pet,” Seth murmured, gently guiding James so that he was on his back and his head was hanging partway off the bed.

  “I’m going to fill that pretty mouth of yours, baby. I’m going to take you until I decide to stop and you are going to stay right there, knowing it’s my pleasure you serve, our pleasure. You will not come unless I give you permission. Do you understand?” Seth asked as he stroked James’s cock a few times.

  Seth’s voice and touch were the same, gentle but firm, and it made James want to submit, to give over everything and simply feel. His body trembled as his mind registered the truth of his thoughts. He wanted Seth to take control, needed it. James licked his plump, kiss-swollen lips and nodded.

  “I need to hear it, baby. Are you ready?”

  He nodded as he moaned, “Please, sir. Please let me please you.”

  Seth stroked his hair and bent to kiss him possessively. “Such a good boy.”

  Seth stood, reached over to the side table, and removed two lengths of smooth indigo ribbon. “Sit up for a moment.” As he began to wrap and bind James’s arms to his sides, Seth explained calmly, “I don’t want to hurt you, so you have to tell me immediately if the ribbon becomes too much. I will be very displeased if you allow yourself to be injured, pet.”

  When he couldn’t move his hands or arms, Seth seemed pleased. He gently stroked James a few times, chuckling when his plaintive cries slipped out as he stretched his head toward Seth’s delicious cock.

  Having mercy on him, Seth lowered himself and pressed against his lips. Instinctively James opened his mouth, inhaling Seth’s slightly spicy, musky scent. The strength of his reaction shocked him when his body shuddered, and damn near orgasmed just from the scent and feel of Seth’s silky crown sliding between his lips.

  Using his tongue and lips, he stroked and sucked Seth, using a subtle twist of his head to enhance the movements as he whimpered and hollowed out his cheeks. He wanted to touch, but the silky ribbon stopped him, though he knew he could stop everything if he needed to. It was really more the illusion of control, but James loved that Seth cared enough to make sure they both felt safe and loved while together.

  After a time Seth thrust carefully, sliding between his lips. The thrusts became deeper and finally he felt Seth’s cock cut off his air. Seth held still for a moment and then backed off, returning to his thrusting. Cutting off his air and how long he held like that slowly increased until James writhed as he desperately sucked his lover closer to orgasm.

  With one more thrust, Seth slid to the back of his throat as he came. James did his best to swallow again and again, taking everything Seth gave him. Just as the lack of air was making his head swim, James felt Seth’s lips wrap around his member and suck hard. Seth softened, though very slowly.

  His body started to thrust up of its own accord. He worried that he wouldn’t be able to hold off much longer when Seth popped off long enough to command, “Now, pet. I want every drop!”

  His mouth clamped around James again and he felt his orgasm slam into him. It started, he was certain, in his soul and spread throughout his body. Shockwave after wave of pleasure rocked his body and mind until all that existed was Seth.

  His mind floated as Seth withdrew, cleaned him, and released the ribbons, perfectly content and satisfied. No one had ever loved him like Seth. No one had ever given him such pleasure, either. He didn’t know what he’d done to gain Seth’s love and attention, but he vowed to himself to do everything in his power to keep Seth for the rest of their lives.

  SETH entered their bedroom and looked around. He had laid out James’s clothes; now he simply had to corral his wayward lover into them in time to make the opening of the Touch show at the gallery. He also fought to keep his nerves hidden. He had things to do tonight, and sending James into a panic attack early would not help either of them.

  Lost in thought, he missed the bathroom door opening and James’s entrance. He was wearing only a towel around his waist as he maneuvered on his crutches over to the bed.

  Seth took in the long line of his lover, his partner in life, love, and home, suppressing a groan when James unceremoniously dropped the towel.

  James looked back over his shoulder and smirked. “You even laid out my best sticks, I see.”

  Seth shrugged. “And?”

  “Thank you, love.” The smirk shifted into a beatific smile. Seth’s main goal in life was to continue to put that smile on his James’s face. Well, and put a similar one on his little princess’s face.

  Sydney, the new housekeeper, had taken Danni out with her, so there would be no delays in their departure to the gallery. She would be tucked in and asleep long before they were to return that evening.

  “Now, get dressed. The car will be here soon and you cannot go to the show like that,” he added, gesturing to the lack of clothing on James’s body.

  “Give me ten minutes and I will be out front.” James continued to smile, but Seth could see how he struggled not to fidget. He knew James was nervous but was impressed with how well he hid it. Most people would never notice.

  “Get ready, then,” Seth said before turning and heading to the main room.

  While he waited, he fidgeted. The small box hidden in his tux was burning a hole in his pocket, and he thought over the possible responses James might give.

  The tick-step of James entering the room drew his attention. When he turned to look, a groan slipped out. God, his man in a tux was amazing. The charcoal gray Armani tuxedo with indigo vest and Euro tie looked delicious. He couldn’t wait to get James home again later and out of it.

  James accompanied Seth to the door as the doorbell rang. Chase and Scott, Seth’s dad, greeted them in their own tuxes. Scott was cool confidence, while Chase looked like he might come apart any second with excitement. “Ready?” Chase asked.

  Together the four men headed toward the long black limousine parked in front of James’s stone cottage. Seth helped James inside before joining the others. Soft music played, and Seth’s mother, Terra, perched primly on one plush seat.

  Conversation was light as Seth and James were nervous, although for very different reasons. Seth was wholly confident in the success of James’s work in the show, unlike James. Seth was more worried about afterward. The ride wasn’t long, and before they knew it they pulled up in front of Britt’s gallery.

  James froze as he stared at the building. Seth noticed before the others. He slid his hand down James’s back and leaned in. “You deserve this, baby. Now smile and go with Chase while I get my parents settled inside. I will meet you right inside the doors.”

  James audibly swallowed and nodded before leaning into Seth.

  “Chase?” Seth whispered.

  “On it. You stay with James and I’ll get your parents settled inside.”

  Seth smiled and held his nervous partner, rubbing circles on his back until he pulled himself together.

  Inside they all met up again, and after the formal opening, the group was met by Rhys and Dal Sayer.

  “Thank you for inviting us,” Dal said. He and Rhys were decked out in well-cut suits.

  “Well, Rhys is one of my subjects so it only seemed fair.” James became
friends with both men while the stalking and threats had been happening. He was glad to see that both men seemed to think the same about James. The tension between Chase and Rhys was still a problem, though thankfully James did not seem to care, being friends with both.

  Rhys leaned in and whispered, “Everything is all set, Seth. You sure you want to do it here?”

  “Here is the perfect place and I already talked to Danni so relax.”

  Rhys nodded as he backed away.

  “This is amazing,” Scott commented as they began to wander through the art collections.

  “James’s work is wonderful. The first print I sent you was the finished work of the sketch he was working on the first time he came to my office. I only wish he could see his work the way others do.” Seth sighed as he thought about the scene when Brittany had stopped by to collect the pieces for the show. She had picked more than James expected, including two he had shelved, having been unhappy with how they turned out. She won, of course.

  “Your mother told me the story around that painting and your dinner afterward.” They both chuckled as Seth turned to take in his lover as he stood to the side and answered questions from various patrons and critics.

  “Seth?” Terra tapped him on his arm.

  “Yes, Mother?”

  “Why do some of the works have little colored tags beside the nameplates?”

  “Those are reserved or sold already. All the works displayed are for sale but Britt’s not going to take down work while the show is still on. This lets buyers know which are still available. As you may notice, almost all of James’s already have dots even though we have only been here a short time.”

  “Yes,” Terra replied, her voice drawn. It seemed to match the wistful look in her eyes. “Someone already purchased the one I wanted the most.”