by Mia Monroe
Tempt Me
A Tattoos and Temptation Novel
Mia Monroe
Copyright © 2020 by Mia Monroe
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Cover by: Wicked by Design
Editing by: Abbie Nicole
Contents
1. Can’t Fight this Feeling
Apollo
Felix
Apollo
Felix
2. You Belong with Me
Apollo
Felix
Apollo
Felix
Apollo
3. The Boy is Mine
Felix
Apollo
Felix
Apollo
Felix
Apollo
Epilogue
Apollo
Felix
About the Author
Also by Mia Monroe
One
Can’t Fight this Feeling
Also known as he’s all grown up now
Apollo
My ringing phone is exactly the distraction I need from the stack of paperwork I’ve been working my way through. Note to self: Talk to Jude about his filing system. A smile crosses my lips when I see the name on the screen.
“Tell me you’re moving home, and I’ll forgive you for leaving me.”
Lucien chuckles. “Hello to you too, mon ami. I see you’re still holding a grudge two years in.”
“Yep. Are you coming home?”
“No, sorry, but I have news almost as good.”
I lean back in my leather office chair. “Unlikely, but let’s hear it.”
“You remember Felix?”
“Of course. Who could forget him?”
A smile pulls at my lips, recalling Lucien’s vibrant, always happy little brother. He was always making craft projects and giving them to me. I might still have the painting of Lucien, Felix, and me sitting on his parents’ front porch. He had the cutest little voice, with a French accent so thick, I could hardly understand him. I remember finding him sitting in front of the TV watching Friends and repeating all the lines to practice his pronunciation, so the kids at school would stop calling him Frenchie. Lucien and I put an end to that with one visit to his school during the lunch break. He called us his heroes after that. Moving to the States had to be hard on such a young kid, but he dug in his heels, determined to make friends. Felix was the most unique kid I ever met.
“True. He’s coming home from France. Right back to Miami.”
“No shit? Ten years is a long time. Why is he coming back?”
“I’m almost certain it’s a cover up story, but he tells us he is homesick and ready to settle close to our parents again. He’s not the same though. I can hear it in his voice.”
“He’s okay though?”
“The thing about Felix, if you remember, he puts his whole self into everything he does. Work, friendships, romance. I’ve warned him he could get hurt, but he says there is no other way to live. I’m afraid his heart has been bruised and he needs the comfort of home.”
“Aw, that sucks if that’s it. He’s a sweet kid.”
“He’s twenty-nine now, Apollo. Hardly a kid.”
“Fuck, man. Now I feel old. I remember when he was a sixteen-year-old, following us everywhere we went.”
“Yes, I remember too. I have a huge favor to ask, mon ami.”
“Anything. You know that.”
“Can you help him resettle? Maybe take him out? Your friends are amazing, and he has no connections in Miami anymore.”
“Goes without asking, man. I’m totally here for him. Give him my number. Everything. Where’s he staying?”
“He’s looking for a roommate situation while he job hunts.”
“No job either?”
“No.”
“Wait.” I sit up. “Maybe I could get him an interview with Saint. He owns the bakery across the street, and they can barely keep up with business.”
“I am sure Felix would be appreciative. He’s been specializing in chocolate all this time, but he can bake anything. He’s a master.”
“Awesome. Let me give Saint a call. Text me Felix’s number when he gets back to the states. My door is open if he needs it.”
“I knew I could count on you. Felix means the world to me. I know he’s a grown man, and he’s been caring for himself all this time, but my big brother instinct is still alive.”
“It always will be. Is Felix still as vivacious as he always was?”
“Times one thousand. Be prepared.”
I chuckle. “Looking forward to it.”
“Thank you again, mon ami. We will talk again soon.”
“Maybe with Felix moving back, you’ll visit more.”
“I will make more of an effort. You matter to me.”
“Same. See ya, man.”
“Bye.”
After hanging up with Lucien, I finish organizing the stack I was in the middle of, then pop up to run across to Dulce. I could use a break anyway. I swing by Jude’s office, and find him looking as miserable as I was while he tries to figure out the new merchandise inventory system. When he sees me, he gives me his lopsided, but let’s face it, sexy-ass grin.
“I think I need to call Nix back,” he says. “I don’t get it.”
“I tried reading the manual. It meant nothing.”
He sets his tablet on the desk. “I give. I’ll schedule a meeting. Everything cool?”
“Yeah. I was just making my way through four or five years of documents you’ve never filed.”
Jude shrugs. “I mean, why bother now? We’re obviously doing fine.”
“Barely. We need organization, but that’s why I’m here. Speaking of, I was about to pop over to see Saint. Want to tag along?”
“Let’s see,” he taps his chin. “Do I want to see my sexy husband, plus grab a cookie? Yes, yes I do.”
I laugh. “Let’s go then.”
Jude grabs his phone, sliding it in his back pocket as we hustle past the customers and artists to get outside.
“What do you want to talk to Saint about? I didn’t think you two talked much.”
“We don’t. Do you remember Lucien?”
“Yeah, your friend who lives in Cali?”
“Right. His little brother, Felix, is looking for baking work. He’s been abroad working for a decade, and he’s coming home. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to see if Saint has something.”
Jude’s face lights up. “Does he do fancy baking shit?”
“The fanciest.” I push the crosswalk button. "Sugar work and chocolate, but he can bake anything.”
“Dude. You don’t need Saint, you need Briar. He needs an addition to the special occasions shop.”
“Oh. Seriously?”
“Yeah. Briar’s gonna freak. It’s been so hard finding someone with the skill set he needs. Even the guys on the other side don’t fit what he’s looking for.”
“Sweet. Can you help navigate it?”
“I got some pull with Briar.”
I chuckle as the light changes and we start to cross. “I imagine you do.”
It’s hot and muggy today, the ta
il end of summer not leaving without a fight. All I can think about is getting to the weekend and hitting the beach. Well, Sunday. I’ll be at the shop tomorrow. Saturday is our busiest day.
“Do you think the new guys are working out?” I ask Jude.
He nods. “Yeah. I like being able to take walk-in customers again.”
“That’s good. Thanks for trusting me on those hires.”
“Had to, man. I’m finally learning I can’t do it all myself.”
“It’s a good lesson.”
We step inside the shop, waving at Genesis as Jude leads me past the front to Briar, who's working on frosting a cake in the back. Briar looks up and smiles.
“Hi, lover,” he says, offering his cheek for a kiss.
Jude laughs, grips his chin, and steals a kiss from his lips instead. “Hey, sugar boo. Got something you need to hear.”
“Okay, I’m listening, but I have to keep going. I can’t let the buttercream warm up too much.”
“Apollo,” Jude says. “The floor is yours.”
“Hey, Briar.”
“Hi.” He smiles, glancing up briefly, but returning to some intricate pattern he’s swirling onto the top of the cake.
“Do you remember my friend, Lucien, he came out with us?”
“Yep. Super sexy French accent.”
I laugh. “That guy, yes. His brother is returning to Miami after being abroad for the last decade. He’s looking for work, and he’s a baker.”
“Cool.” Briar doesn’t look interested at all. Jude gives me a look.
“Right, um, he specializes in chocolate and sugar work.”
Briar stops what he’s doing and looks up. “Are you serious?”
Jude grins behind his husband.
“Very. He’s been working at some high-end restaurants, and he mentored with a few big names over there.”
“In France?” Briar clarifies.
“Yes. He was in London for a bit, and I think maybe Italy, but the majority of the time was in France, where he’s from.”
“I can't afford him,” Briar says, shaking his head. “There’s no way.”
“Why are you saying that?” Jude asks. “You don’t know what his salary requirements are.”
“It’s the same issue I always have. People with highly specialized skills want way more than we can pay. They want prestige too, and while we’re very popular, we’re not winning Michelin stars.”
“I don’t know what those are,” I begin, “but I think you should talk to him. He’s more interested in the working environment than money. Felix is…” I pause. How do I explain him? “I haven’t seen the guy in ten years, but he’s got a very big personality, and it’s really important to him that he can be himself.”
Briar pauses his swirling again, twisting his lips. “Is he LGBT plus?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “But that’s not what I mean. He’s just…” I shrug. “You should meet him. He’s great. He’s one of those people that you want to be around as soon as you meet them. He’s quirky and funny and really sweet.”
Briar nods. “I would love to talk to him. I’m just trying not to get my hopes up. I get turned down a lot. Even the benefits that Saint offers, that are unheard of in this industry, aren’t enough for some of them.”
“I think you’ll find that he’s more open on the salary than you might think.” I don’t want to tell them that Felix, Lucien, and their sister, Claudia, will never have to worry about money, thanks to their generous trust funds gifted from a rich grandfather. They would never have to work, but all of them choose to. Lucien is a gifted attorney, Felix is a talented baker, and Claudia travels the world with Doctors without Borders. The Marchand siblings are doing good things, but it’s their story to tell.
“Make it happen,” Briar says. “As soon as possible. Genesis and I are treading water.”
“I’ll let him know. Thanks, man.”
“No, thank you.”
After a goodbye kiss, Jude and I head to the other side to grab some treats for the shop. As if they weren’t busy enough, Saint is now talking to Nix about expanding, again, and offering coffee and simple sandwiches. Almost any time you come, you have to stand in line, but hey, a busy shop is a good problem to have.
Cairo waves at us. “What can I get you, boys?”
“Throw a bunch of stuff in the box,” Jude says. “Whatever looks good. We’ll hook the guys up today.”
“Awesome.” He grabs a box and starts filling it with pastries. “Never see you over here, Apollo.”
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to Briar. Sorry we didn’t drag your man with us. He’s in the middle of a piece.”
“Better that you didn’t. I don’t need the distraction. Bad enough I can see the other one through the glass all day.”
Jude chuckles. “I couldn’t work with Bri. I’d be all over him all day long.
“Aye, Jude,” Saint says from behind us. “I would never get work done if Casper were here.”
“I chalk it up to extreme willpower,” Cairo says, grinning. “Did you guys meet our new gal?”
“We haven’t,” Jude says.
“Follow me.”
Cairo walks down near the register where Xander and Elliot usually work, but there’s a new face. She’s ringing someone up, chatting with them as she does. Her black hair is done pin-up style, as is her makeup. She looks like she stepped out of the fifties, except she’s covered in tattoos and piercings. When the customer is gone, Cairo smiles.
“Guys, this is Egypt.” He grins. “Cairo. Egypt. How cool, right?”
I laugh. “That is cool. Nice to meet you, Egypt. I’m Apollo.”
“Hey.” She extends her hand over the cash register.
“And I’m Jude, Briar’s husband.”
Egypt smiles. “Ah, you’re the one who makes his cheeks blush when your name comes up.”
Jude nods. “That’s me.”
“Nice to meet you both.” She scoots to the side as Elliot rings up a customer. “I’m interning for the summer before I go back to school.”
“Oh, how cool,” Jude says.
“It’s nice.”
“And she loves being the only girl here,” Cairo says in a teasing tone.
“Yeah, actually, I do. I can focus only on work and not romance. I get very distracted around pretty girls.”
“So do I,” I add, laughing. “Not lately though. It’s complicated. I don’t even know why I’m talking right now.”
“You need to talk it out, boo?” Cairo asks, with a raised eyebrow.
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m good.”
After paying, Jude and I head back to Black Heart.
“Um, you having a dry spell or something, man?” Jude asks.
“Kind of. I’ve been exploring things, you know? I figured out I’m attracted to men, but I don’t really know about dating, and so far, it seems very focused on the hookup.”
“Yeah, Briar told me dating can be like that.”
“What, you didn’t date before Briar?”
“I dated women.” He grins. “I thought I was straight until I fell in love with my best friend.”
“Oh. So you learned this later in life too, then?”
“Just a couple of years now. I never dated men. Only Bri.”
“Ah. And now you’re married?”
“I married him a few months after I figured out I was in love with him. Besides opening Black Heart, best thing I’ve ever done.”
I stop walking for a second. “Can I ask a personal question?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you have a hard time with the physical stuff?”
Jude nods. “Not the doing part, but it fucked with me a little that I was so into it when, up to that point, I had never even thought about it.” He grins. “I kind of took to it though. Are you having trouble with that?”
“Don’t know. Can’t get past really basic shit.”
“Oh. I can see that being hard. I was friends with Bri first, so I trust
ed him when it came to the other stuff.”
“That would be ideal. I don’t have any gay friends other than the guys at the shop, which, no, for obvious reasons.”
“Right. I could ask Briar for dating tips. He was really selective before me. Definitely not into hookups.”
I nod in the direction of the shop, indicating for us to continue walking. “Yeah, that might be cool. It’s like, now that I know this about myself, I want to explore it, you know?”
“That’s how I was. Just jumped in the deep end.”
“The weird thing is, I can’t get myself to go out with a woman. I won’t lie and say that I didn't have my share of hookups in the past. I could always get a woman. That sounds arrogant. Not what I meant.”
“No, I get it. You’re a good-looking guy. You didn’t have trouble.”
“Right. Even though I’m in one hell of a dry spell, I can’t seem to go back to my old habits. Maybe I’m getting old.”
Jude laughs. “I don’t think that’s it. You just need to find a nice guy you’re attracted to and can trust. Then watch the floodgates open. You might never go back. I never thought I’d be all about the D, but…” He shrugs. “Here we are.”
I laugh, patting his back. “I appreciate the honesty. I don’t have a lot of people I can talk to. Lucien will always listen, and he’s super supportive, but he’s straight. He doesn’t get it.”
“I get it. You can talk to me anytime.”
“Thanks.”
We enter Black Heart and set the pastries down. I grab a couple before I go back to tackle more paperwork. After settling at my desk, I fire off a text to Lucien, telling him what Briar said and letting him know Felix can call me anytime.
From what I know so far, the guys at the bakery are super close, inclusive, and accepting, which is exactly the environment Felix needs. If he’s anything like he was ten years ago, he’s going to love working there. And I’m more than happy to help him get settled. Maybe we can even be friends. He could teach me about gay dating. I laugh to myself.