Waiting for Rain (11 page)

“I was not a bloody rent boy,” I said out loud. It had been something I’d been trying to convince myself of since I was fifteen. The idea that Rain might think the same hurt badly. I turned and walked to the back door, drew out my key, and slipped it into the lock. I passed into the darkened kitchen, out into the hallway, and finally into the lobby. I ascended the stairs to my room still deep in thought. Showering quickly, I washed the night’s activities off my body, then crawled into bed under the cool, soft feather duvet.

I lay awake awhile trying to figure the evening out. It had been incredible, the sort of night I’d dreamed about having since I’d booted Trevor out of my life three months ago. The memories of Rain sucking me off and then fucking me so intimately were foremost in my mind. I stroked myself slowly as I thought about that. He might have gone cold, although the kiss in the parking lot when we got back indicated he still had some interest. I was very drawn to Rain Engel, definitely beyond just sex. I was determined he was going to let me in. He could play hard to get all he liked.

The following morning I was in the office looking over some projections for the next month when someone came in. Looking up, I saw Simon watching me carefully. Simon had been quieter and more reserved since seeing us in the bar together. Obviously what Tammy had told him about Rain and I had had an impact. I had to confess that, with Rain in my life, I’d barely given a second thought to my original attraction to Simon. I’d chalked it up to a temporary spell of insanity that I had thought I could get it on with my mentor and friend.

“Simon, good morning. You’ve been out and about a bit lately. We haven’t seen each other much.” I closed the file and leaned back to look at him. He looked tired.

He moved forward, pulling out the chair opposite the desk, and sat down. “I’ve been busy with the investors. That’s what I’ve come to talk to you about.”

“Sounds interesting. What’s up, then?”

His next words shocked me to the core. “I’m moving to Spain.” His words were quiet, his face watchful as he held my gaze.

My mouth dropped open. “Spain? You mean, moving for a holiday?”

He shook his head. “No, I’m going to live there for a while. I’ve been asked to oversee the building of another hotel in Cadiz. The investors want me to get involved. It just makes sense to move there temporarily. But it means that that leaves you 100 percent in charge of the day-to-day management of this hotel while I’m gone.”

I stared at him, the sense of loss at this declaration getting deeper. “But I need you here. What will I do without you being around? I can’t run this on my own.”

He laughed. “Toby, you run this hotel anyway. Don’t make any mistake about that. You have for the last few years. You’re an incredibly talented manager, and I’m lucky to have you.” His voice faltered slightly. “And you don’t need
me
. You seem to have everything under control all on your own.” The double meaning of his words and his emphasis on the word “me” didn’t escape me, and with a flash of clarity, I knew everything Rain had told me about Simon having feelings for me was right.

“I’m going to be flying out to Cadiz the day after tomorrow to find what I need to get settled, and then I’ll come back and wind up here. I need to be out there in about two weeks’ time, if possible. The timelines for this new project are pretty tight.”

I didn’t know what to say. Although I’d never really considered Simon in “that” way other than the night he’d come to my hotel room, I realized I didn’t want to lose him. Simon had been my rock these past four years, and to have him abandon me like this was tantamount to losing a good friend. If the feelings in my heart were anything to go by, perhaps it had even been a little more.
That
realization rocked my world. I drew a deep breath, hurt rising from my stomach to my throat.

“So you’re just leaving me.” My voice was flat, and he looked at me in surprise.

“Toby, you’re more than capable of running this place. God, man, you’re better than me at it.”

“No. I mean you’re leaving
me
.” My voice choked up. I was so bloody confused at what I was feeling. How could I have the feelings for Rain that I did and yet feel so lost at the thought of this man no longer being part of my life?

His eyes widened, and he leaned forward. “Toby, what are you saying?” The slight gleam of hope in his eyes was enough to make me think about what I was going to say next. I took a deep breath.

I need to take the sensible option here until I understand what I’m feeling. I need time.
What I was about to say was probably the truth, anyway.

“Simon, you’re my friend. You’ve been my mentor all these years. Of course I’m upset you’re going. I just meant I’m really sad to see you leave. But I understand this is a great opportunity, and you need to do what makes you happy.”

He leaned back, the light in his eyes fading. “Oh. Well, yes, there’s that, of course. But I’ll be back here often to check on my investment and manage the finances and permits and so on. When the new hotel is built, I want you to come out and see it. Perhaps you can take a holiday, you know, one of those things you’ve never had?” His voice was dry, and I knew he was trying to get things back on an even keel between us.

I nodded, forcing a smile. “That’s sounds good. I’d like that.” There was a tense silence between us; then he stood up.

“Rightio. I have some things to get sorted, so we’ll talk more later, perhaps.” He cocked his head inquiringly. “Did you have a good time last night—you and Rain?” His voice was light, but I heard the underlying note of tension. I swallowed.

Trust him to know all about that. The man missed nothing.

“Yes, we had a good time. It was good to go dancing again. It’s been a while.”

Simon smiled. “Good. I’m glad. He seems like a nice chap.” He smiled faintly. “And don’t worry; the ‘Simon Rule’ doesn’t apply to him. He doesn’t work here as such, so you’re safe on that score from my wrath.”

I smiled as I stood up, still feeling out of sorts. “Thanks. He’s good company. I appreciate the fact you’re putting your hotel in my hands, Simon. I won’t let you down. I promise. I’ll take good care of it for you.”

He smiled affectionately. “Of course you will, dear boy. I have complete faith in you. Don’t tell anyone about this yet. I want to tell the staff myself.”

He moved toward the door, and as he reached it, he turned around. “I might be going to do this, Toby. But I never said it would make me happy.”

And with those quiet words he disappeared out the door. I felt hot tears pricking in my eyes and blinked them back fiercely. “What the hell?” I muttered to myself. “Are you schizophrenic, Prentiss, or what? He tells you he’s going, and you get all bloody needy? Where did that come from?”

Too many questions and absolutely no bloody answers.

Hearing a commotion outside, I went to the door to see what was happening. Tammy stood there, a look of relief on her face as she saw me.

“Toby? There’s a young boy stuck in the bathroom. He’s locked the bathroom door and won’t let anyone in. Do you think you could talk to him, convince him to come out? His mother’s going frantic.”

I sighed. “Sure. I’ll see what I can do.”

It would at least take my mind off what had just happened.

T
WO
HOURS
later, I was with Rain again, in the garden shed, all thoughts of Simon forgotten, still gasping after the particularly great blowjob Rain had just given me. Once again my pants were around my thighs, and the warm mouth that had recently been attached to my very needy cock was traversing its way up my belly, nipping at my nipples, and finally finding my desperate mouth. Hands that only a minute ago had cupped my balls with fingers that had just wiggled around in my arse were now wrapped in my hair as Rain tried to climb into my mouth using his. He’d been especially needy today, and already his cock was beginning to press against my belly, even after having been attended to once. I wasn’t complaining, mind you. This was sheer bloody heaven. But we really had to find somewhere else to continue this relationship. The garden shed was just not doing it for me anymore.

I thought now, after feeling Rain in my arms and my mouth, that whatever I’d felt for Simon earlier was just a sense of losing someone I really cared about. He’d been my rock for so long, cared for me and nurtured me, that it was only natural to feel a little bereavement. Certainly I didn’t feel the same passion for him as I felt about the man who now had his hands all over me and his mouth probing mine with expert attention.

Finally, his tongue stopped trying to mine my esophagus, and we clung together, totally spent, his semirigid erection still ramming into my stomach as he placed his hands flat on the wooden wall behind me and nuzzled my ear.

“God, Toby, I kept thinking about last night, being inside you, and I got so horny I just couldn’t wait.”

“I noticed,” I said drily, as my trousers slid down my legs slowly to pool at my feet and my silk boxers followed them, gliding down gracefully to embrace my pants. It was pretty unsophisticated. “But, Rain, we can’t keep doing this. If we’re going to see each other like this, we need to make another plan.”

Rain stepped away from me, his eyes suddenly wary. “I thought you liked the shed.”

I sighed. “I like
you
, not the bloody shed. The shed just happens to be the only place we can seem to get any time together to do this.” I waved my hand casually. “One of these days someone is going to open that door and find one of us sucking the other’s cock or hands on cocks rubbing each other up, and that, babe, would be something I dearly wouldn’t want. If we’re going to continue this relationship, we need to find somewhere a little more adult to do it in.”

I noticed his slight frown at the use of the word “relationship.” I twisted the knife a little deeper. “Besides, after the way you switched off last night, I thought you might be reconsidering your options.” My tone became a little sarcastic. “I realize now I was wrong, hence me being sandwiched in here with you, nothing between us but semen, but last night you went from hot to cold in two seconds flat.”

Rain stepped away as far as he could, given the space limits we found ourselves in, pulling up his briefs and jeans, zipping himself up. I shuffled down, trying to pick up my underwear and pants. I finally had them by my fingertips and drew them up, dressing myself quickly.

“I’m sorry about that.” he said quietly. “It all got a bit much all of a sudden, and I needed some space.”

“It wasn’t my story, was it, that I’d been in foster care or lived with that guy at the pub?” I heard the vulnerability in my voice and hated myself for it. “Did it put you off a little?”

He looked gobsmacked. “Christ, Toby, no. That wasn’t it at all. For you to have gone through all that and still turn out the way you did—that’s bloody inspiring. I’m shocked you could even think that.” He leaned forward, kissing me tenderly, his lips warm. I closed my eyes, loving the feel of his lips on mine and the soft whisper of his breath. Finally, he drew away.

“Then what changed?” I asked.

He took a deep breath. “Last night was incredible. But I don’t want to move too fast. I’m just not ready.”

I considered that, then nodded. I reached up, caressing his cheek, and he closed his eyes at my touch. “That’s okay. We’ve only just met. There’s plenty of time to get to know each other better.” I gave a wry grin. “Even if it is just in this bloody shed.”

He looked relieved. He’d never given me much more about his past other than he’d had a boyfriend who left him. I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his cheek, my mouth trailing over his jawline, tongue softly licking his skin. He exhaled and pulled me closer, gripping my backside and pressing himself against me.

“I’m not impatient. Let’s just see where this takes us, shall we?” I whispered as my tongue dipped in his ear and his body shuddered. God, I loved this man in my arms. Rain just felt right. He groaned, grinding his mouth into mine, and for the second time, we lost time in the confines of the garden shed.

A
N
HOUR
later I was back in the hotel to a knowing glance from Tammy. Eddie had winked at me on my way in, an action that left me a little apprehensive. I wondered with a slight panic whether our little “fuck hut,” as Rain called it laughingly, had become common knowledge. I didn’t have to worry too long.

“Everything all right, Toby? Nice and relaxed now?” Her eyes shone, the smile on her face cheeky.

I tried to keep my face as impassive as possible. “Yes, fine. Why do you ask—why wouldn’t I be?”

She grinned. “Well, some patrons heard some rather strange noises coming from the garden hut at the back, and they say they heard your voice. Apparently it sounded like you were in pain. They were worried you might have hurt yourself with the implements in there. They asked me to find out when I saw you.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “Err, no. I was in there earlier checking on something, and they might have heard me swear when I stubbed my toe.” I winced dramatically. “I knocked it against the mower.”

Even to me it didn’t sound very convincing. But sharing the alternative story, the truth, with her, was simply too horrible to contemplate.

She nodded, her face alight with amusement. “How’s the toe now, then? All better?”

I nodded. “Yes. It’s better.”

“And is there anything else that feels better as well?” Her voice was gleeful.

I felt ill.
She knew
. Her shoulders starting shaking, and within seconds she was laughing, tears running down her cheeks. I stood and glared at her.

“Oh, God, Toby, your precious face. What a scream. You idiot, I’ve known about the bloody garden hut for ages. So does Lucas. It’s a little difficult to not see when you and Rain have disappeared for one of your little trysts and you come back with a goofy smile. Lucas says Rain comes back all bouncy and happy, and he just knew something was going on. So we watched you both one day, and lo and behold… into the garden shed you both went.”