Fuck. When his gaze focuses on me again, another full-body shiver races through me. I feelconnectedto him.
Yes, it’s stupid and reckless. Igetit.
“We’ll need to make sure we work that into our schedule, then,” I tell him. “The sooner, the better. I’d be honored to help you cook some of her recipes.” I take the bottle of wine from him and open it. I came out of a cooler, because it’s chilled. I pour us both generous amounts and hand one of the wineglasses to him. “To interesting prospects.”
He smiles and clinks glasses with me. “To interesting prospects.”
Our gazes are locked as we both sip, and dammit, I want to drag him to bed. I’ve got lube and condoms and permission.
Except…
I take a deep breath and wait for the urge to pass.
“Anything I can do to help?” he asks.
Yeah, drop to your knees and suck my cock.
No, I don’t say that. Jesus, I do havesomeself-control, even if it sounds like I don’t.
“Nope.” I motion to the other side of the breakfast counter. “Just sit over there and chat with me.”
“Yes, sir.” He rounds the corner and, after slipping his jacket off, he perches that perfect ass on one of the barstools while I continue chopping the salad fixings. The meatloaf will be finished cooking in about fifteen minutes.
“See, you saythat, but how do you know that’s not close to the truth?”
I can tell he knows exactly what I mean from the way he arches an eyebrow as he sips his wine. “Maybe it’s closer thanyouknow.”
I hold up a finger. “Before we go any farther, this conversationneverleaves this room.”
“Not even to talk to the person you have permission from?”
I suck in a breath and want to spank him for his slightly snarky tone. “They are part of this trust by default, yes.”
“Can’t even tell me if they’re a guy or a woman?”
“Agree first.”
He nods. “This is only between us.”
“I don’t want to be a dick but if you betray me—or them—and ever go public with any of this, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”
“Is your plan to scare me away? Because that won’t work. I don’t betray trusts.”
“Not trying to scare you away.” Which is absolutely a lie, because if he was to run screaming into the night right now, it’d break my heart but also solve my immediate conundrum. “I’m emphasizing how much I mean it when I say discretion is mandatory. No vaguebooking on social media, none of that bullshit. You isolateusfrom everything else, unless or until I say otherwise.”
He nods. “Agreed. But no treating me like a kid just because of our age difference. No keeping me in the dark.”
“Agreed.” I finish chopping the broccoli and start on the carrots. “My situation is complicated because my…partner is a high-profile individual. For their reasons, they need to keep my relationship with them a secret. We’ve been together for over six years.” I glance his way to gauge his reaction.
“That sucks.”
It does. “What do you mean?” I want to understandwhyhe thinks that.
“Staying in the closet like that, for so long. You must love them very much.”
“I do. And they love me.”
“Then how can they be okay with you dating other people?”
