Rough Attraction (10 page)

Simeon’s mouth gapped open in silent retort to Maxum’s language. Though, at Maxum’s scowling glance he snapped his mouth closed, biting back his snooty remark and slid into the bucket seat of the high end German sports car. Maxum took a deep breath closing him in. Already it was starting. He had more money than anyone his partner knew. Yet because he chose to indulge himself with a love for exotic hotrods for his own enjoyment instead of fancy parties and common luxuries to show off with, he was constantly finding himself at odds with Simeon.
Rather than being seen as a knight in shiny armor.
He let the slight grin break his mood, as he recalled his afternoon with his cock deep inside the stallion male. His sigh turned to a groan.
It was just a fling, nothing more. Best to shake it before he got hurt.

A tap on the window kicked him back into the present; he darted around the car and jumped in. Before Maxum even had the car back on the road, Simeon was rolling out further nagging about the car selection. “I still can’t believe you took the Mercedes back. You know how much I wanted us to have that car. Why on earth did you take it back?”

“Because
us
didn’t want it. You did and I got it to make you happy yet four hours after I picked it up, it got a flat. After that, I couldn’t find the god damn jack in it.
And
their road side service sucked. It was a good thing someone else stopped to help or I would never have made my conference call.” The tall, dark, tanned-body of his rescuer flashed in his mind again, and he almost wished Simeon would ask who. He didn’t, but the nagging did continue.

“I still don’t see why you had to take it back just because of that.”

“What’s done is done Simeon. Let it rest.” With that, his foot got heavy on the accelerator.

“Well couldn’t you have at least for tonight brought the Rolls Royce instead?”

Maxum’s foot pressed down even more. The more Simeon barked at him the faster he wanted to go. Some part of him trying to run away and leave his partner behind.”

“You know there’s still some time. We could go by the garage and switch them out.”

“We’re not swapping the cars, Simeon.” Maxum stewed in his mind. He even felt his eyes roll over once or twice. He was going to blow his top or get a speeding ticket if he didn’t calm himself. Forcing himself to once again be the initiator to change the direction of their night, he reached over taking Simeon’s hand in his.

“Now what are you doing?” Simeon pulled his hand from Maxum’s with an alarmed look.

“I’m trying to hold my lover’s hand. I figured it’s the least you could do while you’re scolding me just moments before I shell out several thousand dollars for the benefit you’re dragging me to.” he scoffed. Now pissed at himself. He was trying—
trying
—and now he’d just yelled at Simeon. Which undoubtedly put them right back where they were heading to in the first place. When they came up to a red light and he took the moment to rub at his forehead with the back of his hand.
He just couldn’t win
.

Simeon shifted in his place and some other mental shifting going about in his head. Maxum waiting, hoping the guilt trip would work. It usually did. It was a small relief but Maxum would take it when Simeon settled down, stopping the argument and returned his hand in an offer for Maxum’s, yet he remained silent the remainder of the way. Nor did it miss Maxum’s attention that he might as well have been holding hands with a corpse for all the affection and warmth he felt from it. No more present than Simeon was the other night when he asked Sim to cuddle with him. The cold detachment crept inside Maxum, hardening in his bones. Was this what a long-term relationship was supposed to be? Was this why so many sought company and affection elsewhere? Why was it so much to ask for, to want to feel life and a moment of passion with the one who was supposed to be in his life forever?

When they arrived at the hotel, the only ones standing outside to even act impressed by what they drove up in was the valet. Maxum came around to join Simeon and offered his arm. He was mentally working up a compliment for him on how nice he looked but that’s when Maxum started taking actual notice of his partner’s attire. His eyes trailing down the heather grey and pastel ensemble meant for spring under the white leather trench coat until he noted Simeon’s shoes.

“Sim. You’re wearing gardening shoes.” And he was none too pleased about it.

“They’re clogs.” Simeon defended.

“Like I said—
gardening shoes
.” Maxum gruffed back.

Simeon’s tone turned snippety as they walked into the hotel and headed for the banquet hall. “They’re in fashion.”

Maxum face went stark mad, “Sim, its November in New York City. I’m certain your slip-ons are not in fashion right now. Especially for a dinner that cost a grand a plate.”

“Well we had to come in that—” Simeon’s hand waved back toward the glass front entrance of the hotel and the car that was parked to the side still under the valet belvedere. He made a disgruntled face, “Whatever you called it.”

“Perhaps you’d like to brush up on your wealthy etiquette 101 before we continue with this argument.” Maxum gave him a flicker of his warning eyes. It wasn’t beyond him to just turn right around get back in the car and go home at this point.

They paused just outside the doors of the banquet hall of the hotel, “Are you saying I’m stupid.” Simeon was bordering on anger and hurt.

Maxum took a deep breath and let it flare out his nostrils willing himself to calm down
. Just one more time.
Though Simeon was out of line as far as he was concerned, he knew he wouldn’t win arguing it. Going home would trump the challenge, but it would not be a productive outcome. He took another deep breath and let it out. “No. I’m sorry Sim. I didn’t mean to get harsh with you.” He pulled his lover in and planted a kiss on his lips. Simeon’s hand came up patted his chest then pulled away without ever having opened up to him and Maxum felt the ever present wall between them. They were more strangers now than ever. Just playing the part of husband and husband for his clients and Simeon’s savvy socialites. “Let’s just go in and enjoy ourselves.” He smiled for him and his arm tightened around Simeon’s waist to find some semblance of closeness, but it just wasn’t there. And already his partner’s eyes were shifting away, looking to acknowledge others as they made their way inside the banquet hall.

As the evening burned on, without ever requiring Maxum’s full thought of participation, Simeon was his social butterfly. As always, never slowing down on the never-ending refills on his drink. When they kissed, Maxum could taste the staleness of the gin and tonic and he despised it even more than ever. Darko had never tasted as such. He was the flavor of his last meal. The fancy lager in the evening, a mix of toothpaste and fresh brewed coffee in the morning— in a word, Darko was life and he tasted like a well lived man. And it was there with every blistering kiss he gave. Maxum sat with an elbow parked on the dinner table, his fingers stroked over his lips with a slow dreamy caress as his mind drifted off to a far away bedroom where a man equal to his size and strength had fucked him to oblivion.

“Two pence for your thoughts.” Simeon’s offer broke through his drifting mind. Leave it to Simeon to say something so cliché. That was Simeon, gay as a two-dollar bill. Maxum used to like it in him, thought it was cute, but now it was as dull as everything else they shared.

Maxum blinked a moment then his eyes drifted to his lover, “Ready to go home?” The question showed all his lack of interest.

“But we’ve only been here a few hours.” Simeon was prepared to put up a fuss, “I thought for sure we’d stay for a few drinks and then perhaps join the others at the Limelight.”

Maxum ran two fingers down his temple, the pressure slicing through the headache he felt coming on. Always the same, Simeon dragged him out to these functions because he liked showing off that his beau could afford healthy contributions. Then it was club hopping all night. Usually, by the time they made it home Simeon was too
tankered
to be a decent fuck. Maxum was tired of it. “I’m tired, Sim. What do you say we call it an early night? I can pop open a nice bottle of sherry. We’ll stretch out in front of the fire—”

Simeon shrugged the suggestion off, “Well, we can do that any time.”

Maxum’s hand dropped like a gavel. “Funny, cause I don’t recall us doing that
anytime
.” He fired off. Only, he could see by the way Simeon sniffled then rubbed at his nose, someone had already given him a bump of
something,
and there’d be no convincing him to come home now. He felt the irate tweak in the back of his skull, just wondering if Simeon had given anything in exchange for it. Just considering it might have happened killed any desire to kiss him now. Unintentionally he glanced through the crowd and then he spotted the likely suspect across the room, who just happened to be glancing their way with a rather smug and satisfied look on his face. So many times Maxum had chosen to ignore it, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so tonight. He stood from his chair, his hands absently checking his pockets for his keys and wallet then grabbed his jacket off the back of his seat. “Good night, Simeon.” The departing farewell was cold.

“What? You’re leaving me?”

“I’m sure Emilio will give you a ride in exchange for a ride.” Maxum could see right away Simeon was going to go into a tantrum of denials, “Don’t bother Simeon, I already know you give him head in exchange for party favors. Just once, I wish I’d get blown for all the money I donate for your bragging rights at these fundraisers.”

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CHAPTER SIX

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Darko heard the pounding on his door; it stirred him from a deep sleep. He was dreaming of someone. His hand dropped to the hard-on he’d developed in his dreams and stroked over it through the fabric of his briefs.
Yeah, that feels good
. Perhaps the sound had only been in his dream. Already, he was drifting back toward his fantasy with intentions of making it a wet one.

The return of an insistent rap repeating on his front door told him otherwise.

With a loud rebellious groan to sound off his reluctance, he crawled out of bed and headed for the door. Not attempting to make himself decent. Whomever it was, daring to knock on his door at this hour deserved to see him in his boxer-briefs that did little to hide the thick cock straining to get out. He glanced out the window blinds, spotting the Bugatti down on the curb with the unique custom blue-n-white swirling paint job.
Only one person he knew who might ride something like that.
He cracked the door, not releasing the chain just in case, but as suspected it was his new man, Maxum, minus the heat in his silent emotionless face. Darko edged the door closed, released the chain and opened it back up, leaning an arm up on the doorjamb above his head. “You look like someone who doesn’t need any demands put on him.” Not that he wouldn’t mind if the guy made a few demands of his own on him—
namely his fully awake cock
. After all, it’d been two weeks since he’d seen or heard from the man. He could use a good refill. But, he could see right away, it wasn’t why the man was here. His cock could wait.

“Am I that transparent?” Maxum looked up at him from a bowed expression that nearly pleaded that he would not be turned away.

“No, but I’ve worn that face a few times myself.” Darko opened the door wider, inviting him in. “Come in and sleep with me. I’ll keep you warm.” He closed the door as the troubled man stepped in, then locked it back and headed for the room with a slightly sleepy saunter, “But don’t get any ideas of copping a feel. I’m not that kind of guy.”

Darko held the covers open as he waited for his guest to join him. Maxum didn’t look at him, or speak, his hands seemingly on autopilot as he undressed. Yet there was definite gear-movement up in that head of his. Firing off with as much sputtering as shitty fuel burning.
Yep
, Darko thought, he’d been there once or twice and he knew first hand it was pointless to ask. The mind and emotions were going, but there wasn’t an answer to be given just yet. Even the kinder expression of
are you alright
, would come across more as an irritation than anything else. It was best to let Maxum talk when he was ready. Darko’s job for tonight was to do nothing but be a warm body so Maxum wouldn’t feel so alone. To be the guardian of his body while the mind was emotionally vulnerable. He knew this and wasn’t offended by it. Because sometimes being the warm body at the right time was the best thing to be. Strangely, that’s what he wanted—
to be the best thing for this man.

Maxum finally lay down next to him and Darko pulled him against his chest, curling up with him. Letting the warmth of his slow deep breathing kiss the man’s ear and neck, and nothing more. He grinned to himself when Maxum took a deep breath and let himself go in his arms. It was exactly what the man needed and Darko had given it to him.
Sometimes it pays to have a psychologist for a brother who specializes in sex and relationships
.

“I think I just broke up with my boyfriend.” The man in his arms confessed aloud in the darkness of the room.

Darko fought the flinch the confession caused him. He’d suspected there was another in the scheme of things. Why else had the man just up and cut everything off. “Good.” Darko muttered as he snuggled in closer taking in a deep inhale of the man next to him. Still capturing the cologne he had on, a deep dark manly scent of lemon, champagne, basil, and rum. A man’s cologne made to attract other men.

“Good?”

“Yes, good. I don’t like having to share.”

Maxum let out a slight huff, his head sinking even deeper into the pillow. “I shelled out ten grand tonight and didn’t even get a blow job.”

“Is that the going rate these days? Damn, and to think I fucked you for nothing more than cheap Chinese take-out.” Darko followed his quip with a chaste kiss to the man’s jaw. He knew the man was bordering on a need to vent and that was counterproductive in his bed when it happened to be about another man. He pressed against Maxum’s body, grinding his already hard cock against his hip, just long enough to distract the man’s thoughts well enough away from what had chased him here. He wanted Maxum to feel the
present
along with his presence. Him— not the other’s. That, what was here was right, rather than guilt he was starting to feel for the man he’d just escaped. Another warm kiss against the back of his neck and Darko settled against Maxum’s back relaxing towards sleepiness. Maxum took a deep breath and let it out in a long slow breath that seemed to take an age to be completed. The tension refused to let go of the man’s body even as the room filled with silence, all but the still-ticking of thoughts running through his head.