by KC Burn
“And Dallas is okay with this? Secrets can be… pretty big things.”
Will bit his lip. Raven had good reason to be gun-shy of secrets, because Caleb had tried to keep him a secret from his family when they first got together. But this situation was different.
“Just want to keep him secret from work. I want him to be a part of my life. Which is why I had to talk to you. I was hoping I could bring him to dinner with me tonight. I’ve even told my parents I’m seeing someone.” Although he and Dallas would probably be done by the time his parents came down for Thanksgiving. Undoubtedly Will would be going home alone for Christmas. Will wasn’t sure he could or should get his hopes up that this would last. After all, last time he thought his life was going well, he’d been blindsided.
Raven didn’t look as mollified as he’d hoped. “Okay, Will.” Raven sighed. “And you’re happy?”
God. He was. He really was. “Yes. I am.”
“Then I’m happy for you, and of course we want to get to know Dallas better.”
“And Jaime will be there, right?”
Raven rolled his eyes. “I promise, Jaime is not pining after your man.”
Good. “But he’ll still be there, right?”
“Yes, he’ll be there. You can flaunt to your heart’s content.”
Suddenly ravenous, Will let Raven carry the rest of the conversation as he worked his way through his lunch. And he had an even better idea about the doughnuts.
“HEY, KYLE,” Will said as he walked back into the server room. “Want to take a break?”
Kyle stared at him suspiciously. Will pulled a couple of bills out of his wallet. “Why don’t you go pick up a couple dozen doughnuts. There aren’t any models here today, but Stefan and a few others are here.”
Dallas smothered a laugh in his fist at Kyle’s incredulous expression. Will had never, not once, sprung for doughnuts. At least not while Kyle had been working. He’d done it a few times when he first started, but as he got busier, those sorts of considerations got left behind. Yet another reason to be grateful for Dallas showing up and shouldering some of the load, which he’d done admirably.
After three weeks of working and playing together, Will was far more grateful for the fun Dallas had brought to his life.
The second Kyle left, Dallas stood and approached in a manner Will could only describe as slinky.
“Were you just screwing with him, or was there a reason you wanted to get rid of him?” Dallas wiggled his eyebrows and grabbed Will’s head for a kiss. This was exactly the sort of behavior that had almost gotten them caught the previous week, but Will didn’t have the fortitude to deny Dallas’s kisses.
It wasn’t until Dallas started unbuckling his cargo shorts that Will came to his senses. He grabbed Dallas’s hands and took a step back.
Dallas, already hard in his dress pants, frowned.
“I did have a reason to get rid of Kyle. I wanted to talk to you about something.” It would have been smarter to have brought it up on the weekend or any night that week, where they didn’t have to worry about Kyle overhearing, but Will had put off his conversation with Raven too long.
“Um. Oh.” Dallas straightened his tie nervously. It was yet another paisley one, but Will had come to find those damned ties endearing, like most everything else about Dallas.
Will rolled Dallas’s chair over beside his desk. “Sit down.”
Dallas did so, clasping his hands together in his lap.
“It’s nothing bad. At least I don’t think so.”
“Then just tell me. Because you’re making me nervous.”
That was fair. Will had been nervous about it all day.
“You know I was planning to go out with Raven and Caleb tonight, right?”
A hint of pout graced Dallas’s lips. “Yes. Jaime too.”
“Jaime too,” Will conceded. “Do you want to come along?”
Will couldn’t interpret the look Dallas gave him. “Like, as your friend?”
God. How the fuck had Caleb done this? Pretended Raven was nothing more than a friend. It was damned hard, because he was so fucking proud to have Dallas.
“No. As my boyfriend.” Will held his breath, half expecting Dallas to reject him, even though Dallas had been dropping major hints that he’d like to hang out with Will’s friends.
Although neither of them had regained the weight they’d lost since they’d both lived in Connecticut, the chair wasn’t really big enough for both of them, but that didn’t stop Dallas from launching himself onto Will’s lap. “Really?”
“Yes. Really.” Maybe Dallas didn’t have plans to leave anytime soon. After all, Will didn’t think Dallas had been faking the whole time. No one spent ten hours straight on someone’s couch playing Dragon’s Ruin or traipsed miles about a city with someone if they didn’t like the company, right?
Dallas sucked at his lips, plunging his fingers deep into Will’s hair, and just like that, Will’s cock pressed up against the solid weight of Dallas’s backside.
“Kyle will be back soon,” Dallas whispered in his ear, although the way Dallas shifted told Will he didn’t really want to stop.
“Nah. We’ll have time for a quickie. Boyfriend.” Each time they fooled around at work, they cut it closer and closer. If Will didn’t know better, he’d think he wanted to get caught.
“Right then. If he catches us, it’s on you. Boyfriend.” Dallas kissed him briefly before getting out of Will’s lap and sitting on the desk. Will rolled his chair closer, inserting himself between Dallas’s thighs. Blowing Dallas always got him off big-time, and it was one of the best ways to guarantee they’d be done before Kyle returned. Thank God he’d invested in a can of air freshener to keep in his bottom drawer, because they were going to need it.
DALLAS GOT out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist before rubbing at his wet hair with another towel. Last night had been so great. All of yesterday had been. Will was his boyfriend. Will had taken him out to meet his friends. Sure, Dallas had met all three of them before, but it hadn’t been as Will’s boyfriend.
He danced a bit around the bathroom before using his damp towel to wipe at the condensation on the mirror, then grabbed his contact lenses.
When Jaime had hugged him, Will had even gotten possessive, tucking him close. Dallas had wanted to strut around, leading Will by the hand. It would have been better if they hadn’t stayed out so late Will fell asleep before they could have sex, but at least they’d managed another blow job at work to celebrate. While Kyle was out for more fucking doughnuts. Hilarious. He’d have to see if Will would make that a weekly tradition.
The only true damper on the evening had been the pointed looks Raven had given him. Will didn’t know it, but they’d put Raven in an awful position, keeping two secrets, because he knew Will had asked Raven not to tell Stefan about them.
In comparison, though, Dallas’s secret was worse. Sure, he hadn’t actually lied about Stefan being his brother, but his evasion bordered on the truly deceitful, and lying to Will now that they were in a relationship wasn’t wise. He didn’t think.
Imagining any one of Will’s possible reactions slowed the shimmy in his hips. He really did have to get it over with as soon as possible, so he could make up for it.
Instead of styling his hair properly, he just ran some product through it, then stepped into his boxer briefs. He took a deep breath and headed back to the bedroom. Good thing he was stubborn enough and bullheaded enough to plow through whatever new barriers Will would erect over this. Now that he knew Will cared for him, he wouldn’t let anything destroy their relationship. One day soon, Will would return the love Dallas had for him, he was certain of it.
“Will? Will, are you awake?”
The mound of blankets grunted an affirmative.
“I have to tell you something.” He chickened out a bit and turned his back to the bed to pull on his work clothes. “It’s no big deal, in the grand scheme of things, but I don’t want you t
o think I lied to you. Because… we’re in a relationship now.”
Another unintelligible grunt came from the direction of the bed.
“It’s just that…. Stefan is my brother. Half brother, to be precise. So, I know you want to keep our relationship from him, and I don’t blame you, exactly, but I’d like us to think about how and when we’re going to tell him. Because I want him to be happy for me. Not worry about me.”
Dallas made a final adjustment to his tie. Huh. That had been a lot more painless than he’d expected. A lot less shouting too. He turned back to the bed, and he couldn’t tell if Will had moved at all.
Then it registered that he was showered, dressed, and ready for work, while Will was still in bed. Getting ready in the morning took him vastly longer than it did Will, but this was unusual.
“Will?” Dallas yanked the covers down, and Will whimpered, curling himself into a ball. “Oh my God. What’s wrong?”
They’d eaten a lot of the same things last night, so he didn’t think it could be food poisoning. And in deference to Raven’s and Dallas’s reluctance to drink, the entire group had stuck with nonalcoholic beverages, so a hangover was out of the question.
Will just groaned and grabbed for the covers, refusing to even open his eyes.
“Is it a migraine or something?” Will had never mentioned suffering from them, but maybe he only got them rarely. Then Will started shivering, his teeth almost chattering. Dallas touched Will’s forehead and frowned. Definitely a fever, and a high one at that. He covered Will up again, tucking the comforter in at his side.
At least he knew Will had acetaminophen on hand. Dallas grabbed a couple of bottles of water and some crackers from the kitchen before swinging by the bathroom for the meds. He set everything down on the nightstand and gently shook Will’s shoulder.
Will winced and shifted away from the touch, still without opening his eyes.
“C’mon Will. Sit up. Take some meds, and then you can go back to sleep.” Dallas managed to get Will upright, but it had been a struggle because every movement clearly pained Will. This had to be the flu. Will didn’t sound stuffy, and his nose wasn’t running or anything, but the exhaustion, the aches, and the way he winced against the sunlight told Dallas it wasn’t a simple cold.
As soon as Will had swallowed a couple of caplets, Dallas spoke again. “You can go back to sleep now. I’ll let Stefan know you’re too sick to work, okay?”
Instead of flopping over and pulling the comforter over his head, Will blinked owlishly at him. “I have to go to work.” He pushed against the mattress like he was trying to get out of bed, but nothing happened.
“No, you most certainly do not have to go to work.”
“Can’t afford to be sick.”
Dallas glared at him, although he wasn’t entirely sure Will could even see him clearly. “Of course you can. Stefan offers sick days. And you are undeniably sick.”
Will set his jaw and stood.
“For fuck’s sake, Will, get back into bed. My brother isn’t going to fire you for being sick. I am perfectly capable of taking over until you’re better. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Your brother?”
“Stefan. Remember? I told you just a few minutes ago. He’s my half brother.” Oh, this didn’t bode well. No wonder Will hadn’t done any yelling before. If he’d even been awake earlier, he certainly wasn’t comprehending anything. Odds were good he was going to have to tell Will a third time, dammit.
“I have to get dressed.”
“Will Dawson, you get the fuck back into bed right now. I am living fucking proof of what can happen if you don’t let your body heal, so get some damned rest.”
Amazingly, Will finally responded to Dallas’s commands but kept mumbling about his computer and saying he’d get dressed in a few minutes.
In desperation, Dallas grabbed his messenger bag and pulled out the mini project he’d been working on. He’d taken the plan Will and Stefan had worked out and compiled job descriptions for the team members they’d need to hire to implement it. All it needed was Will’s approval and Stefan’s willingness to fund, and they could start posting for applications. “Here. It’s not quite ready to show to Stefan, but look this over, make notes, let me know what you think.”
He debated briefly taking Will’s laptop and car keys, but Will gripped the folder next to him and settled into the heavy breathing that came before he fell into a deep sleep. More than likely, Will wasn’t going to have enough energy to do much more than get to the bathroom, much less make an attempt to work.
“I’ll come back at lunch, make you some soup.” Dallas leaned over and kissed Will’s overheated forehead.
“Thanks. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
Dallas made it all the way to the car before he realized they’d just said the L word to each other for the first time, and Dallas wasn’t sure if Will was coherent enough to know he’d said it. For all Dallas knew, he hadn’t even meant it. Dallas did, though, and it had rolled off his tongue as naturally as telling someone his own name. He smiled. Then again, why else would Will have said that particular phrase in his delirium? Deep down under all that intractability, Dallas had wormed his way into Will’s heart, and he was going to make sure Will said it again when he was of sound mind.
THE INTERNET saved Dallas’s sanity. He wasn’t sure he’d had any sort of flu but the kind that fucked up your stomach, but he’d been scared for Will. There had been a few times the previous night Will had been so out of it, Dallas thought he’d have to take him to the hospital, but the Internet suggested taking his temperature, so Will now owned a fancy new digital thermometer. Each time, Dallas had been able to get his fever down and get more liquids into him.
Running home yesterday at lunch, then helping Will in the evening had been tiring, but satisfying. He hadn’t expected to be doing such intense boyfriend activities so soon, but Will had taken care of him before they’d defined their relationship status, so this was the least he could do. And he was happy to do it.
Raven had chipped in and helped too, but Dallas was fucking glad it was Friday. Will had improved slightly, but if he managed to be well enough to make it into work on Monday, it would be a miracle.
Right about now, Dallas wouldn’t mind one of Paul’s full breakfasts, but he had spent hardly any time at Stefan and Paul’s in the last month. They obviously knew he was seeing someone, but he hoped for Will’s peace of mind that they hadn’t figured out who. Fortunately, they’d done a lot of “on location” filming recently, for stories that required outdoor sets and swimming pools. Stefan had threatened to build a swimming pool in the studio, but he didn’t know if zoning would allow for it. Dallas suspected not, but those issues had kept Stefan and Paul busy enough that they hadn’t pried into his love life.
Dallas sat at the kitchen table with some instant oatmeal, having already taken some into the bedroom for Will, because they hadn’t even gotten past the point where Will was awake for more than bathroom breaks and a few mouthfuls of soup.
His phone buzzed with a message from Raven.
How’s he doing?
Better. No more scary temperature, but also still exhausted and out of it.
Hmmm. Guess he’s not up to doing the car show this weekend.
Oh, shit. Dallas had completely forgotten Will was supposed to work the car show with Raven as part of Tartan Candy.
Jeez. No, I don’t think so.
There was a lengthy pause, where Dallas was tempted to apologize, but it was hardly something Will could help, was it?
Think you’d be up to helping out?
Me?
That was probably a dumb question, but he couldn’t believe Raven was asking.
Yes, you. You’ve got a great look, and I’d rather keep it in the family, if I can.
What about Caleb?
Pfft. He’s too damn shy to do it, and Jaime might, but he’s got shifts all weekend. And Stefan’s got all my backup m
odels in fucking Miami this weekend.
Ah. Last resort. Now it all made sense.
I don’t have a kilt.
I’m sure you’d fit one of mine. You’ll do it?
Okay. Might be fun.
Raven responded with a handful of cheery emoticons, making Dallas shake his head. He hadn’t been lying, though. It might just be a lot of fun, and he’d get a different perspective on something Will enjoyed doing.
When he headed back into the bedroom, he found Will slapping the alarm clock, trying to silence an annoying beep. But the alarm clock wasn’t responsible for the noise.
Dallas quickly found the culprit—Will’s phone, sitting exactly where Dallas had plugged it in. He silenced it, and Will rolled over with a huff, pulling the covers up around his neck.
Then his own phone started buzzing. And Will’s went off again. What the fuck?
A quick perusal had his heart rate speeding up. The fucking Idyll Fling site was down, and Will still hadn’t given him full access.
Dallas tapped his foot, assessing his options as quickly as possible, because every minute the site was down, Stefan was losing money and possibly customers. Friday morning wasn’t a busy time—he hoped; Will still hadn’t had time to implement anything besides basic analytics—but this needed to get fixed as soon as fucking possible.
“Will, Will?” Dallas shook his shoulder. “I need your work log-in.”
Ten minutes later Dallas was in his car, speeding toward the studio, after successfully wrangling Will’s log-in information from him. If anyone thought Will was faking, just the fact that he went back to sleep after being told the site was down would surely convince them otherwise.
This was what being a true partner meant, and Dallas loved being able to be there for Will.
Chapter TWELVE
WILL OPENED his eyes carefully, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the light didn’t send daggers of pain into his brain. He was also warm, but not overly so. Turning over, he noted quickly that there was no sign of anyone having slept next to him, although the scent of coconut and lime clung to the pillow. Extricating himself from the sheets tangled about his legs winded him. He was still fucking sick. The headache and fever might be gone, but his muscles and joints still ached, and he was as weak as a newborn kitten.