After Ben (24 page)

“Maybe I’m enjoying being pissed,
tesoro
. It’s nothing personal.”

Ben didn’t get that his moods colored Theo’s days, painting them dull gray when his face was lined with rare, stern disapproval. It was a family trait that he’d watched play out over and over whenever they went home. All of the de Luca brothers were loud and obvious when they were annoyed. Theo used to ask what their deal was, wanting to make things right, hating the sullen tension, followed by firework bursts of noisy temper.

“Nothing. Something, maybe? Who knows? It’s not for you to worry about, baby. Some people shout, some people withdraw from conflict, others run right up to it. Maybe shouting is healthier?”

So, Theo didn’t ask what was up with his taller intern. He made notes instead, while Joel crashed about, dropping boxes and slamming them back onto shelves. Eventually he settled on the stool next to Theo, sighing.

“What were you talking to Evan about?”

“I thought we already had the ‘private conversations stay private’ talk, Joel. You know how I feel about respecting confidentiality.”

The kid looked so miserable.

“Look, it was nothing. Apparently I still can’t dress myself.” Theo gestured at his tie.

“What’s wrong with what you’re wearing?”

“Exactly!” Theo laughed. Eventually Joel smiled too before apologizing while scrubbing at his face.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Taking pity on him, Theo shared that he was going to get some expert fashion advice over the weekend. Joel shuddered in sympathy.

“Maybe we’ll see you too, Joel. Evan might prefer helping someone his own age to shop.” They made tentative plans to meet around lunchtime, Joel making it clear that he would come if he didn’t have anything better to do. He didn’t fool Theo for a moment. Changing the subject, he spoke to Joel about work for a while. When he eventually finished his own notes, he headed back to his office, only to find Evan standing at the door, looking worried.

“What’s up, Evan? Why aren’t you….” He stepped past the smaller man who hovered in his way, only to see Maggie slam his phone back down on his desk.

“
Maggie
!”

“Don’t worry, Theo. I won’t bother you about your love life anymore.” She skirted around his desk. “And don’t blame Evan. He just let me know that your phone was chiming non-stop. I was going to bring it to you.” She did her very best not to giggle, backing out of his office.

As she shut the door behind her, Theo glanced at Morgan’s latest message before groaning and resting his head on his desk.

MORGAN: Come back to bed. I miss your dirty, dirty mouth.

Maggie’s final comment rang in his ears.

“No wonder you’ve been so happy lately.”

T
HEO
thought about happiness the next day as Evan draped ties that all looked pretty similar around his neck. His brother, Aiden, leaned against the dressing room door, practically filling the whole doorway, sucking the oxygen out of the small mirrored room. He exuded happiness every time he looked at his brother.

Theo felt a little dizzy as he watched Aiden’s glossy, dark curls catch the light when he bent to retrieve a fallen tie, then fold it carefully, his huge—seriously, everything about the man was supersized—hands strangely graceful. Add in the way his catlike eyes tilted up at the corners when he smiled, and Theo almost found himself wishing he was a decade or so younger.

Damn.

He’d recognized Theo right away, striding across from his place behind the counter, extending his hand. Aiden had matured into a wide-shouldered, fine-looking man, his expression only marred by the ingrained furrows in his brow.

“Mr. Anderson? How are you?” His grip was strong. Theo resisted the urge to rub the circulation back into his hand once it was released.

“Please, it’s Theo, and I’m good, thanks.” He looked around the store. “Is—” Aiden interrupted him.

“I’m sorry about my brother, Theo. He’s set aside a dressing room for you, and I’m guessing by your expression that isn’t a great thing.” Evan’s brother shrugged, then smiled, his whole face lighting up. “He’s been so excited all morning. I know you’ve done so much for him already.” He held up his palms. “Don’t try to deny it. I figured you didn’t have to give him the intern spot, but it’s been such a great experience for him after….” The big man swallowed, his face momentarily twisting.

“Your dad would be very proud of him, Aiden. And proud of you too—look at this place!” Aiden gave him the grand tour, explaining how he’d started the business, on paper, as part of a college-course requirement. He sourced the clothing he sold from Europe and had moved on from a small online store he’d run from his dorm room to the store he owned today.

“It’s taken every spare minute. Sometimes I’ve felt like I haven’t had enough time for Evan.”

“He seems to be doing just fine, Aiden. You both do.” Theo couldn’t help thinking that their father would be pleased with how his boys had turned out.

“Well, I’ve never seen Evan the way he’s been lately. He’s made some nice friends, and it’s great to see him going out sometimes instead of always keeping Mom company.” Theo wondered just how much Evan shared with his brother, then had his unasked question answered. “So, do you think this Joel dude will ever man up and ask him out? If he’s waiting for Evan to get his ass in gear, he’ll be waiting for fucking ever.”

“Aiden!” Evan’s face flamed as he crossed the shop floor. He guided Theo toward the back of the store, where they spent a not-too-horrible hour together amassing a pile of shirts and ties.

“All of these combinations coordinate, boss. You won’t even have to think about it when you get dressed.” Evan looked pleased with himself, then shook his head as his stomach rumbled loudly. “It’s time for my break. Do you want to come eat with me?”

Theo said goodbye to Aiden, noticing his professionalism as pretty girls crowded around him. When the tall man looked at Theo and winked, Theo walked right into a rack of shirts.

Evan’s laugh brought him back to the moment.

“Oh my God, not you too? Everyone loves my brother.” He grabbed Theo’s sleeve, pulling him into the stream of shoppers heading toward the food court. “I just wish he had someone for himself.” Theo thought Evan’s expression was speculative.

“He seems like a good man, Evan. Good looking too. But don’t even go there. He’s far too young for me, even if he was interested….” He stopped himself, deciding that no one needed to hear their boss lust after their probably straight big brother.

“That’s bullshit. He’s twenty-six. What are you? Thirty-five? There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I’m forty-one, and there’s a lot wrong with that, but thanks. Most days I feel around a hundred. Come on, let’s eat.”

They crossed the busy mall, heading for the food court. Theo looked ahead, wondering if Joel would be waiting. He’d turned out to be very patient—so much more so than Theo had been at the same age. But his patience was paying off, Theo figured. Evan seemed as interested in him now as Joel had been in the blond right from the start of their internship.

Sometimes, Theo guessed, it was worth taking things slowly.

He was scanning the faces of diners when his phone chimed. He’d ignored some messages while trying out clothes. He scrolled through them quickly.

MORGAN: What the hell?

MORGAN: It’s the weekend, Theo.

MORGAN: You’re mine on the weekends.

MORGAN: Don’t make me come and find you.

Smiling, he looked up just in time to see Joel saying good-bye to another man. He focused on his taller intern’s face as the other guy headed over, brushing past Theo on his way toward the parking lot, exchanging a quick “Hey” with Evan. Theo stepped back, letting him through, vaguely aware of dark eyes and a deep crease between the man’s eyebrows as he concentrated on something he carried.

Evan nudged Theo, saying, “Look! It’s Joel!” His surprise made Theo snort as he watched him hurry over to Joel’s table. Theo took his time, taking in the way that Joel pulled out a seat for Evan. The two men talked animatedly, leaning in toward each other.

Theo messaged Morgan:

THEO: Hmmm… decisions, decisions.

THEO: I can spend some time with two hot boys who have love on their minds.

THEO: Or I can spend time with you.

MORGAN: Get your ass home.

Theo drove quickly.

D
AYS
passed in a haze of late-night online conversation and heated debate on the forum. Theo was sure that he accomplished his objectives at work; he just couldn’t recall any of them. He could recall pretty much every word Morgan shared. The man had led an interesting life.

MORGAN: We traveled a lot.

MORGAN: I guess I’ve never stopped.

MORGAN: This is the longest I’ve ever lived in one city.

Theo lay back in bed, imagining sun-weathered skin and luggage covered in flight stickers. Later, while watching CNN, he squinted at an international correspondent—one he’d admired for years, who won prizes for his footage from some of the world’s most dangerous destinations—and imagined he was Morgan.

THEO: Who do you picture when you think of me?

MORGAN: Papa Smurf.

THEO: Do you have a camera in here somewhere?

MORGAN: Yes, Theo. I watch you jerk off to smurf porn every night.

Their conversations always seemed to end up with Theo in the same place—in his bed, rocking with laughter, trying to ignore the semi he perpetually had going on. Morgan wasn’t shy. He broached the subject with increasing frequency.

MORGAN: Dude, while your description of Full Spectrum Leadership is fascinating, I am jerking off right now.

He often gave Theo a play-by-play. The rights or wrongs of getting off to an Internet stranger’s commentary stopped seeming weird after the first few almost-guilty orgasms.

MORGAN: You know I would get done a lot faster if you talked dirty to me again.

MORGAN: Friends help friends get off.

Stroking himself off became a pretty usual end to their evenings together. The other man could jump from debating oil-price manipulation to how much he liked having his balls sucked in a way that left Theo breathless, his head filled with images. Sometimes Morgan got done fast, then helped Theo out.

MORGAN: I know what you’re doing right now.

MORGAN: Listen, I’ll tell you how to do it right.

MORGAN: Go grab one of those ties your pretty boy E made you buy.

Theo read Morgan’s instructions, half smiling, half groaning. Stroking himself to full hardness didn’t take too long when he had the world’s filthiest mouth at his disposal. He read as Morgan told him to kneel by the side of his bed. Why that instantly made Theo get a little harder, he couldn’t have explained. When Morgan told Theo to wrap the tie around the base of his dick, he shook his head.

MORGAN: Loosely, Theo. I’m not into kinky shit.

MORGAN: Unless it involves smurfs.

Following Morgan’s instructions, he licked the stretch of skin between his thumb and finger.

MORGAN: Get it good and wet.

When he jacked himself, concentrating on the head of his cock, the tight, slick strip of skin he’d wetted caught repeatedly on the underside, making him shudder with pleasure so pure it almost hurt. It was, Theo thought afterward, intensely erotic.

He read Morgan’s words, hearing them as an internal whisper.

Keep going. Faster, Theo, faster. Now slow it down, babe. That’s right. Just like that. Yeah, just like that. Spit in your palm. Do it now, Theo. Right now. Spit in your palm and wrap yourself up good and tight. Keep your fist still, Theo. Are you close? Yeah? Fuck your fist. I want to think about your ass clenching and thrusting, fucking me. Are you there? Can you feel it in your balls? Rub them with the tie. Do it. Silk against your skin down there is magic, right? Coming? Pull the tie off, Theo. Pull it off your cock real slow.

Theo braced against the side of the bed, grunting, spunk spattering onto a gray silk tie and the strip of cherry flooring between the rug and his bed. Collapsing, face turned sideways, Theo read Morgan’s last message.

MORGAN: You’re welcome.

He slept, smiling.

T
HEO
looked at the instructions spread across Maggie’s kitchen table.

“You do realize that a tree house is meant to be, like, up in a tree, right?”

Maggie’s husband, Mike, rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it, friend. What can I say? She’s all about the safety.” He tilted his head to one side, squinting before saying, “We could build a platform for it to stand on, and maybe make a rope ladder.”

Maggie threw a dishcloth at him. “No platforms. No heights. No emergency room visits.” Her balled fist waving under his nose made Theo smile. The toddler hanging onto his leg started to climb, so he bent, scooping her up, tickling her until she almost twisted out of his grip.

“Okay,” he agreed as he popped the child back onto the floor. “No platform, no tree, no rope ladder.” Gathering up the boxes of screws and bolts, he and Mike headed out to the back yard. They worked together companionably, laying out the wooden partitions and planks in the order that they’d be needed. Theo never minded working on projects with Mike. He was easy company.

They carried the last of the wood out from the garage.

“Mind your back, Theo. My life won’t be worth living if you hurt yourself on my watch.” His tone was light, but the concern in Mike’s eyes was clear. Theo explained his new exercise regime, and the physio classes he attended, to Mike.

“It’s changed my life.” And it had.

“Dude, something has, for sure.” Mike bit his lip, then added, “It’s good, Theo, really good, to see you doing well. Maggie can’t shut up about your mystery man. When are you going to put her out of her misery and introduce them?”

Theo passed him a handful of bolts, taking a moment to look at the instructions again before answering.

“I’m working on it.”

“Well, get on that. Bring him over.” They started piecing the playhouse together, working quickly, fumbling their gloves off when they needed to tighten screws, their warm breath clouding in the cold air.