“You can do whatever you want, and trust me, you don't owe them anything. Cut them off until you're in a headspace to deal with them. They have enough money to support themselves." He dropped a kiss to the side of Myles' head, and Myles squeezed his thigh where he'd been holding on.
The sensations that coursed through him at Myles' touch were pleasure unmatched. The way he reached out physically and emotionally was satisfying in a way that burned and humbled.
“Let’s go to my place and have dinner. I’m parked over there.” He gestured to the street.
“At the Hadden Center?” Myles sounded incredulous.
“Yeah, the Hadden Center. It's a nice place, you'll like it." He gave a half smile, not really understanding Myles' hesitation.
“I’ve never been inside.” He said his voice was going soft and low. “It’s an intimidating building and a little scary.” Flint turned to look at him squarely.
"Scary?" He stated he was very interested in hearing the cause.
“There’s a powerful vibe in that building. Maybe it’s built on a ley line or something.” He chuckled nervously.
“It’s a good place.” He stood and extended his hand to Myles. “Come and have dinner with me.” Myles relented quickly and took his hand.
“Being with you is very easy," Myles commented as they walked out of the park and to Flint’s car. “You have a solid and comfortable vibe.” He smiled.
“You have a sweet, adorable vibe." Flint shot back, and the air between them was friendly, accommodating, and expectant, all he could ask for. “There are several fine restaurants on the ground floor we can eat in, or we can go to my quarters and have something delivered. Which would you prefer?" Flint had his fingers crossed. He desperately wanted Myles to choose his place, but he had let it be his decision.
“I’d like to see your place if that’s alright with you?” Myles responded with a lovely light in his eyes. They were definitely on the same page.
Myles couldn’t believe that he’d just agreed to go home with this guy that he basically just met, but it didn’t seem like a bad idea. He gave him the option of dinner at a restaurant if he wasn’t comfortable with going home with him, so he wasn’t being pushy.
Myles, on the other hand, was eager to see his apartment and get a feel for the man he was falling for. Flint Marsh was everything you could want in a man: handsome, capable, kind, and attentive. He was shaping up to be the full package. Myles wanted to get a little closer and see where this might go.
Flint helped him into his car, holding the door and adjusting his belt. The guy was thorough. "Thank you," Myles told him, and Flint nodded with an expression that looked hungry, or maybe it was just wishful thinking. Maybe it was Myles' own hungry look being reflected back, or maybe he was overthinking everything.
The drive to the Hadden Center went fast, and they were soon entering the underground garage, cavernous but pristine. The place oozed power, and the minute he entered, he felt it pressing in, but it wasn’t alarming him like it had the last time he'd tried to enter. Out of curiosity, he'd planned on hitting up the coffee shop on the first floor just to see the place, but he couldn't even make it past the foyer.
The energy coursing around him had literally taken his breath away, so he had quickly changed plans and left. He never second-guessed his intuition, and that day, he had the feeling he wasn’t meant to be there, so he left. Today it was heavy but not oppressive.
Perhaps it was just fear and discomfort that had driven him off before. Flint made everything comfortable, and with him by his side, he knew that he needed to fear nothing. The presence of Flint must be the difference. With Flint by his side, he felt like he belonged. They exited the vehicle, and Flint took his hand.
The touch was warm and supportive, infusing him with a confidence he did not yet own but eagerly accepted. Flint was so much that some of what he was bled over to Myles, that was the only way he could explain what he was feeling. Being with him energized and invigorated Myles, and he was so excited.
The elevator ride made his anticipation expand with each passing floor. They stopped on the twenty-second floor, and the door slid open. Never did he expect to ever gain access to theupper floors of this building. It was elite and exclusive, and the people who lived and worked here were a breed far above his social level.
"Relax, sweetheart, it's dinner and getting to know one another, no requirements or expectations. We'll take it as it comes." Flint was sweetly comforting him, and Myles loved him just a bit more for it. He smiled nervously because he still couldn't act normally.
Flint’s apartment was phenomenal; it was huge and airy and rich, very rich. Myles instantly felt out of place and wished he hadn't agreed to come. He should have expected this, but somewhere in his stupid head, he thought they were compatible, maybe even similar in wants and desires. But coming to this place, his apartment, seeing how Flint fit his environment, had Myles suddenly feeling out of his depth. This was a bad idea.
CHAPTER FIVE
Flint felt his beloved’s disconnection kicking in, and Myles was beginning to pull away. “Easy, baby." He whispered, took hold of both his hands, and looked him in the eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“I shouldn’t be here.” His voice was suddenly small and uneasy, and he glanced around the room as he spoke. "I don’t belong here.”
“Why would you say that?” Flint stated more sharply than he intended. "We're having dinner, and you're going to tell me all about yourself, and I'll answer any questions you have about me. This is a date, my love, it's just a date." Flint ran his fingers through Myles’ beautiful auburn hair, pushing it back from his face. Flint looked down at him tenderly.
“There’s nothing to fear here. If anyone tries to bother you, let me know, and I'll kill them." That broke the sudden tension that had taken hold, and Myles laughed. "I'm not joking. Anyone in your way, just tell me, and they will never be in your way again."
“Thank you, I appreciate your support.” He took a step toward Flint, and Flint instantly gathered him into his arms.It was a beautiful full-body hug, and they fit together so wonderfully. Flint held him for several minutes before dropping a tentative kiss on his lips.
"Are you ready for dinner?" He asked, and Myles nodded, still wearing that lovely smile. He wasn't sure what had caused his sudden sense of inadequacy, but there was no reason for it. Their bond would help soothe his fears and ease his confusion. The more time they spent together, the stronger their bond would become.
Flint ordered dinner, steak and potatoes with a salad and dessert from the Sienna Restaurant on the main floor. While they waited, he poured two glasses of a sparkling water he kept on hand for his friend Lazlo, who could not abide the taste of alcohol in any form.
