Finn swallowed."I can't take this for free.And the fact that you're trusting me with millions of dollars because of our friendship is intimidating.I really don't know if I can accept this."
"You can.Think of it as an early Christmas, birthday, and wedding present from me," Bevin said with a grin.
"Let's not think about weddings yet."Finn chuckled, shaking his head.Then his expression turned more serious."But can I think about it, seriously?"
Bevin nodded without hesitation."Take all the time you need."
"I'm not sure," he told Prince, pulling himself out of the memory."What Bevin is offering me isn't something I can accept lightly."
"Then change the structure of the contract," Prince suggested, as if it were the simplest solution in the world."Bevin might not seem like he has his head on his shoulders at times, but he knows exactly what he's doing."
Finn studied him."How should I change the contract?"
"Rework it so it benefits you both.Right now, as it stands, you hold eighty percent of the shares and he has twenty.I know why he did that, but don't dismiss those twenty percent.Once your firm goes public, and it will, he stands to make millions.But right now, you two aren't on equal footing."He held Finn's gaze."Would it feel better if it were fifty-fifty?"
Finn considered that."Maybe," he admitted.
"Then there you go," Prince said."But I can assure you, you'll be doing most of the work once the contract is finalized.I know Bevin won't cheat you, but if you need lawyers, I can help you with that."
"No need," Finn said quickly.
The response came faster than he intended.He didn’t feel right accepting any more help from the two Sullivan men.Between being in a relationship with one and having the other practically throw a company at him, it was already overwhelming.He needed at least one piece of this to stand firmly on his own.
"I know it's a lot, but don't worry, we won't take over your life," Prince said gently, as if he could read every thought crossing Finn's face.
"Are you sure?Because it feels like so much is happening all at once."
Prince leaned in and kissed him on the forehead, lingering there for a second."We'll go as slow as you want," he promised softly."And I'll tell Bevin to back off."
"Thanks."Finn felt some of the pressure ease from his chest.He hadn’t realized how tightly he had been holding everything in until Prince responded with such steady understanding.
"Anything you need, babe.This isn't a fling, at least not for me."
Finn’s smile softened.“Me too.”
Their lips met in a lingering kiss, slow and certain.For now, that was enough.Finn didn’t know what the future had in store, but as Prince’s hand rested warm and steady against him, he felt something close to peace.He wasn’t sure where it would all lead.
But he was ready to find out.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Prince sat in the coffee shop across from the main building of Hamilton Conglomerate, waiting for Finn to get off work.They had been back for a little over a week, and although Finn was staying in the dorms, he was praying to all the gods his little lover would change his mind and move into the apartment he had rented to stay close to Finn.Prince was sticking to his promise of giving Finn time to adjust to them being in a relationship, but the minor distance was killing him when he was used to living with Finn, even if it was for those short weeks.
Prince's schedule had not changed much since leaving the resort.He still conducted business remotely and spent a little more time in the gym before picking Finn up from work, where they spent the evening together going out to dinner or taking a walk near the shore, even though it was still cold.He would drop Finn off at his apartment, where they would have heated kissing sessions in the car for what seemed like hours without taking things too far.Prince admitted to himself that he was having fun slowly courting Finn, which was something he hadn’t done with any of his lovers before.
A smile graced his face as he realized he was falling into Finn's daily schedule.But he was going to shake things up a bit, breaking Finn's cycle.He would keep one thing, which was taking him out for a romantic dinner, but it would be somewhere unexpected.Grabbing his cellphone, he brought up a number he had not called in months.
"Old Sull, what have you been up to these days?Word on the street is you quit teaching."
Prince rolled his eyes at the nickname Lucas had been calling him since they were kids.
"I didn't quit, just took some time off.I needed time for myself.I’m still looking after the company until Bevin takes over."
"About damn time.Maybe now you can settle down and fall in love."
"I'm working on that.It's why I called you."
"Ohh, are you looking for love advice?"Lucas chuckled.
