Born to Please [Pleasure Vessels 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (6 page)

“Shut up about that,” Alec said sternly. “I’m not going to mess with your personality. I want you to talk to me when you’re having an issue. Then we can talk through it instead of you bottling up how you’re feeling and then exploding at me over something small. Look, I know that I’m not supposed to look at you like you’re a boyfriend, but I’ll be honest with you, over the last few days I’ve seen very little that resembles an inferior being. I want you to be my boyfriend. No one but me and you have to know you’re a Vessel at all. Let’s get to know one another. I’m not promising anything, and our chemical compatibility doesn’t guarantee happily ever after, but I think we could really make this work.”

Payne looked downright astonished at his suggestion. Every bit of literature that Alec had read cautioned against letting Vessels assume independence or a separate existence from their owners. However, his father had just as adamantly claimed that anyone who wrote those books were full of shit. He claimed that only books written by him on the subject were anywhere close to being unbiased. Alec wasn’t sure about that, but he figured that dad knew best considering he’d invented Vessels to begin with. Alec never was one for tradition or for the warnings of people who were motivated by greed. If Vessels suddenly had independent thought, they wouldn’t make very good servants to the wealthy, spoiled masses. He supposed he shouldn’t complain too much given that the Facility paid his paycheck and he was one of the top earners in the company, but his heart wasn’t in it. It never had been. He had taken the job at his father’s company after graduation because he hadn’t been passionate about anything else.

“Really?” Payne asked, obviously still incredulous.

Alec smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. “Really.”

Payne’s answering smile was his undoing. He leaned over and captured the Vessel’s lips with his own.

Their first kiss was magic. The spark that erupted between them every time they touched was unnerving. Had Payne been the smallest bit openly aggressive, it would’ve been too much, but the razor’s edge they’d been dancing on the past few days was perfect. Alec coaxed Payne’s mouth opened, and a lusty ache formed in the pit of his stomach. He’d never wanted anyone like he wanted Payne. Maybe it was because the man was literally made for him, but whatever the reason, he could see himself doing a lot more than enjoying the company of the Vessel who wanted to be his equal.

Payne’s arms crept around Alec’s shoulders to hold him close. “I really like you,” Payne whispered against his lips. “I always thought that I could resist you when I finally met you, but now that I’ve felt you, known you, I am yours.” The knowledge that Alec affected him that way was better than any aphrodisiac known to man. He was intoxicated by Payne’s genuine desire for him.

Alec pulled back reluctantly. They couldn’t spend the whole day lounging about in bed ravishing each other. They needed to eat at some point. He didn’t want to let Payne go. He compromised with himself by taking Payne’s hand in his own to maintain that connection.

“You hungry?” Alec asked. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the Vessel eat. He frowned at the thought. He recalled that when they’d stopped for food on the way to his home Payne had only gotten a bottle of water each time. “When was the last time you ate?”

Payne looked puzzled by his frown. “The day before we left the Facility. Vessels aren’t allowed to eat in the last twelve hours before being displayed. It emphasizes the muscular system when they restrict our diets.” He paused. “And yes, I am hungry if you’re willing to share your meal.”

Alec’s anger ricocheted in his chest, shooting up again. “You haven’t eaten in almost three days? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Vessels are taught not to complain. I’m sorry if that made you angry, but I wasn’t sure you’d welcome the reminder.”

Alec slowly counted backward from ten. “For future reference, whatever the Facility taught you is out.” He couldn’t believe his father would approve of those sorts of training methods. That seemed insane. “I always want you to tell me what you need. You’re my responsibility now. I take that seriously.”

“All right. I’ll let you know. Alec?”

“What is it, Payne?”

“I’m really hungry now.” His stomach growled as if to emphasize the point.

Alec couldn’t help but laugh. His Vessel was going to be the death of him. He just knew it.

* * * *

Payne had taken over the cooking halfway through Alec’s preparation of shrimp scampi with linguini. His father had been right when he’d said that the Vessel had extensive food preparation training. He was a dervish whirling around the kitchen, tossing spices and bits of food in pans and mixing sauces. Alec had always been a sucker for a man who knew how to cook.

“Can you hand me the lemon and the parsley leaves?” Payne asked in a chipper voice. He seemed very happy in the kitchen. The pasta smelled phenomenal, and the last bit of ingredients was the final touch to a beautiful meal.

Alec handed them over and placed a kiss on Payne’s cheek. “Just so you know, I’m never cooking again. That smells fantastic,” he complimented.

Payne smiled. “Thanks. I actually really like to cook. It was my favorite set of lessons. So I’m okay with doing the cooking.”

“Okay with doing it? I like the independent side of you,” Alec teased. “You practically shoved me out of the way when I wasn’t doing it right.”

“I was hungry,” Payne protested with a blush. He seemed to be getting used to Alec’s new insistence that he speak his mind and pursue his own happiness. It made Alec feel good, like he wasn’t taking care of a child so much as taking care of his boyfriend.

Payne took a pair of tongs out of one of the drawers and scooped out a helping into two plates. “What would you like to drink?” he asked.

“I’ve got wine in the cellar. I’ll get it. Red or white?” Alec asked, heading to the far side of the kitchen to the set of doors that led down to a small cellar that he’d had designed for his extensive wine collection.

“White. It’s shrimp,” Payne called after him.

Alec nearly laughed at his tone. He sounded as if he was sniffing at the very idea that Alec would prefer red wine to white while eating shrimp. His attitude amused the hell out of him. It was like he was discovering the world, and Alec supposed that he was. He was enjoying watching it happen. It was rare to walk a lover through a new experience, a rarer one to enjoy the experience with someone so unguarded.

He jogged down the eight steps into the cellar and was immediately surrounded by the thick white stone he’d had flown in from Greece for the construction of this room. The cherry-oak wine racks were ideal for easiest access to the bottles. He ran his hand over the clear bottles until he came to a vintage that he was sure that Payne would like.

After making his selection from the chardonnay cabinet, he made his way back into the kitchen. He was surprised to find Payne arranging silverware at the table that he never used. He was more of an eating-supper-on-the-couch-so-he-could-watch-TV kind of guy. However, the arrangement did look rather lovely, and he preferred to see his dates when he dined with them.

“Is this all right that we eat in here?” Payne asked as he watched Alec’s perusal of his movements. “I thought it’d be easier to talk in the dining room. I mean, it’s a nice table and doesn’t look used at all.”

“You don’t need to justify it, sweetheart,” Alec reassured. “When it was just me, I ate on the couch. But since it’s the two of us, I see no reason not to use the table.”

Payne smiled at him, and he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he’d made the correct decision. He planned on spoiling his Vessel rotten to the pleasure of the both of them if given his way. He sat at the head of the table where Payne had indicated he sit and waited for Payne to join them. He poured them both a glass of wine before sitting in his own chair opposite Alec.

“I hope you enjoy,” Payne said, smiling and ducking his head as he spoke. The unexpected humility was a nice touch.

“If it tastes as good as it smells, that will be no problem, sweet.” He picked up his utensils and wrestled a bit of pasta onto his fork. “Eat up, Payne. From now on, it’s three meals a day for you.”

They ate in companionable silence for a while, neither one willing to break the truce set between them. Payne’s earlier freak-out was forgotten. The man obviously just wanted to be treated like a man, and Alec was more than ready to provide that.

* * * *

“So what do you do, Alec?” Payne asked after a sip of his wine. “I mean, I know that your file says you’re one of the higher-ups at the Facility, but I don’t really know what that is.”

“So they gave you a file on me as well?” Alec asked. When Payne nodded, he continued. “I do a lot of the public-image sections of the company, advertisement, that sort of thing. I travel a lot.”

“Is that why you don’t have a husband?” Payne wondered if he was crossing the line by asking such a personal question. It went against protocol, but he was learning that Alec really didn’t like standard protocol at all anyway.

Alec leaned back in his seat and toyed with his wineglass. “I’ve dated a few men here and there, but none of them really fit me. It’s hard on a relationship when one partner is married to the job and travels and the other is stuck at home at another job. I was single almost a year before my birthday, and I was actually thinking of buying a Vessel myself. That way I could have a companion to come with me on business trips and I wouldn’t have to worry about my partner’s family and all that. I have a few colleagues that are very happy with their Vessels, and it was highly recommended by them. But my dad surprised me at my birthday party with you. Were you aware that you were commissioned to be mine from birth?”

Payne nodded. “Yes. That’s why all my preferences are keyed to yours. They’ve been telling me since I was six or seven that I belonged to you.”

Alec finished off his wine. “Does that bother you?”

Payne shrugged. “Better to be personally commissioned than to be wondering what kind of person was going to buy me when I got old enough. I feel bad for my sister. She is still waiting for placement. If she doesn’t place within the next five years, she will be considered defective and lowered in status to a Service Vessel. That’s the kindest punishment she would incur for her failure.” He swallowed as the possibility played itself out in his mind. He shook his head to clear away the wisps of fear that the words invoked. She would get a good placement. Her nature would allow for nothing less. He dragged his mind back to better thoughts. “Now that I’ve met you, I can’t imagine being with anyone else. I’m sorry about my freak-out earlier.”

“It’s okay. You’ll learn that I have my moods as well. What do you say to a movie and then an early night?” Alec purred the sentence, causing goose bumps to break out over Payne’s arms. Alec’s following chuckle went straight to his cock.

“That sounds great,” Payne said, lust choking him. He didn’t have this much trouble keeping his arousal in check before he’d come to his house. Everything inside him was screaming that Alec was his and he needed to get naked with him and consummate this passion building between them. It was the oddest sensation, like a foreign being had taken up residence in his mind.

“You like horror movies, right?” Alec asked, pushing back from the table and picking up his now-empty plate.

Payne nodded. “Yes. The weirder the better.” Payne watched Alec walk back into the kitchen and put his dishes in the sink. He turned, and his sexy blue eyes met his from across the room.

“Of course you do,” Alec said, smiling. His movie preferences reflected Alec’s perfectly. It was a wonder they found anything to argue about. “I have a collection in the den. Go pick one out if you’re done.”

Payne nodded and pushed back his own seat. He stood and walked into the connecting living room.

“Hey, Payne,” Alec called at Payne’s back before he rounded the corner and got deeper into the living room. Payne half turned. “Why don’t you change into something comfortable? Preferably shirtless.”

Payne blushed and nodded. He was nervous and more than a little aroused at the prospect of lying beside Alec half-naked. He couldn’t wait to ratchet up the tension. Maybe he would be ready to actually have sex with Alec. The idea made his stomach flutter in nervousness. He was trained to the last detail on sex, but actually doing it was another thing entirely. He thought of Alec and how patient he’d been thus far. He would be a great lover. He would be as gentle and wonderful as he had been since they’d met.

Payne picked an old 2000 movie from Alec’s collection by pressing the big LCD screen that was built into the wall. With a few touches he brought up Alec’s available titles and made his selection. He knew it was one of Alec’s favorites, and it was also one of his own. The clinking sounds coming from the kitchen said that Alec was still cleaning up, so he brought up the main menu of the movie before turning to the hallway and the direction of the stairs. The dresser in his bedroom held several options for comfortable lounge wear that was at least a little bit sexy.

He made his way back to his room without a problem and took in the messy state they’d left the space. He took a minute to fold up the clothes they’d left on the floor and make the bed. It was mostly for his own mental health that he did so. He needed a second to collect his thoughts, and keeping his hands occupied was the way for him to do it.