“He’s not gay,” Jem said.“I know a sausage connoisseur when I see one.”
“Oh my gosh,” Tean whispered.
“I do!And Stephen hasn’t been doing any stuffingorbeing stuffed.I bet he hasn’t even done hand stuff.”
Tean shrank down like he was trying to melt under the table.
“Come on,” Jem said.“You can tell too.”
“Ican’ttell, as a matter of fact.”Color was rising under the soft brown of Tean’s skin.“And I’d rather wait for someone to trust me enough to share that part of their life with me than jump to conclusions—”
“What about that delivery guy last week who practically pulled your zipper down with his teeth?”
“That didn’t happen!”
“I saw him make a pass at you,” Jem said.“You thought I didn’t, but I did.”
Shock made Tean’s mouth an O.Finally he recovered enough to say, “But I didn’tdoanything.”
“I know, babe.That’s one of the reasons I love you.”And then he said, “What about these two guys who are missing?”
Tean was still blushing, and he had his jaw set like he wasn’t going to answer.
“It was cute,” Jem said.“It’s not your fault.You put off this insane energy that’s like stern but also sweet, like you’d take care of someone, but you wouldn’t let them get away with any bullshit, and maybe there’d be spankings.”
“No, I don’t— And there wouldn’t be—”
“That’s why so many younger guys are into you.”
With what sounded like horror, Tean said, “No, they’re not!”
“Oh, totally.I mean, I’m a younger man myself, and look at me.I couldn’tkeepyour dick out of my mouth.”
At that point, Tean picked up his napkin and covered his face.After what felt like a long time, he said through the fabric, “Why are you doing this to me?”
“Because this morning was awful.And I miss Scipio.And it’s all true.And I like making you blush.Plus, I think a part of you secretly likes it when I tease you.”
Tean yanked the napkin down.“I don’t.”
“Okay.”
“I’m serious.”
Jem held his hands up.“Message received.”
Tean glared at him, like he was waiting for more.
“I’m thinking,” Jem said, “we need to find those guys.The ones who were mysteriously missing last night.The ones nobody can find this morning.Because call me old-fashioned, but that’s sketchy as hell.”
It looked for a moment like Tean might continue to glare, but his expression softened—a little—and he said, “Quinn and Beckett.But how are we supposed to find them?The whole problem is that they disappeared.”
“You know,” Jem said, leaning back in his chair.“I’ve got an idea about that.”
15
The woman at the front desk had a nametag that said Francisca.She had dark hair that fell to her waist, a knockout smile, and the brains to notice—after about five seconds of talking to Jem—that this was the kind of man she didn’t need to use the smile on.
“It’s her car,” Jem said.“Blond?Some pink in it?”A beat.“I just want to call and make sure she’s okay.”
