Chapter Three #3
“Diesel.”
God. Instant goosebumps. Maybe he didn’t need more alcohol.
The sound of his name on Kuba’s tongue was like an aphrodisiac.
He had to fucking stop. Diesel headed for the kitchen without looking back.
He made it to the kitchen counter and froze.
Diesel stared at nothing, doing his best to think nothing.
Kuba was his client. Not only that, he was the client bringing him home to Seattle.
A chair at the kitchen table squeaked. Diesel’s gaze shot in that direction.
Kuba sat watching him. Fuck, he had an intense stare.
How was this twenty-year-old guy so goddamn adult?
He looked leagues above Diesel in every way.
Even if he wasn’t an MMA champion, he came from a family with more money than God.
Diesel was nobody. He couldn’t let these thoughts keep growing.
He had to meander his ass back to the employee zone.
“I have a question.”
Diesel wanted to beg Kuba to stop talking. He wanted to tell Kuba he was going to bed and to forget the way Diesel couldn’t fucking look away.
Kuba didn’t wait for Diesel to find his voice. “Open that bottle and take a few shots so you can forget I said anything if I’m a million miles off base.”
Until Kuba told him to drink, Diesel didn’t even realize he was holding an open bottle of spiced rum. Diesel turned it up, foregoing the glass. He didn’t know why he was so anxious. There was no way Kuba’s question could be anything too serious.
“Are you gay?”
Diesel had been half a second away from putting the bottle away.
Instead, he kept drinking. The alcohol did its job and stiffened his spine.
Diesel had nothing to be ashamed of, and he would be damned if he jumped into the closet for anyone.
He set the bottle aside. “Is that going to be a problem for you? If so, I’m sure Steel can find you someone else.
I know you’ll be seen with me a lot, but there’s no reason for you to worry.
If I’m nothing else, I’m always professional.
It probably doesn’t look that way right now, but I am.
I’d really like to keep working with you.
I’ve been waiting a long time to get back—”
“Stop, Diesel. This has nothing to do with work. Your job isn’t even part of this discussion. I’m asking for a legit reason, so I’d appreciate a straightforward answer.”
A snort burst from Diesel in an unfortunate burst of nerves and bad humor.
“Unfortunately, there’s nothing straight about me.
” He covered his eyes for a moment after such a dumbass response.
Diesel dropped his hands. Kuba wore a huge grin.
A weight lifted from Diesel’s chest. He held Kuba’s stare. “Yes. I’m gay.”
Kuba’s smile softened. “Good. I won’t judge you if you don’t judge me.”
Diesel’s eyebrows tried crawling into his hairline.
Kuba laughed. “Don’t look at me like that.
We needed to have this discussion because I am who I am.
I don’t want to be uncomfortable in my own home.
I don’t want you to feel like you’re hiding either.
” His expression turned serious. “With that said, I’ve always fiercely guarded my private life.
There’re some pieces of me the public can’t have.
I feel a hell of a lot better with you knowing, though.
From the moment we met, I knew we had some connection.
My guard went down. You must be amazing at your job because I immediately felt safe.
Obviously, I can take care of myself. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that—”
“No, I get it,” Diesel said, cutting him off. “And me too.”
They were back to holding each other’s stare. The weird thing that happened in the living room built again. Silence swelled, but neither of them looked away. The longing that suddenly swept over Diesel nearly buckled his knees. He leaned his hip against the edge of the counter to stay upright.
“You should bring that bottle over here. I want to hear all the celebrity gossip you’ve learned over the years.”
A bark of laughter burst from him. The mood lifted and happiness soared through Diesel.
Diesel grabbed the bottle and a second one from the cabinet just in case.
“We’ll need two, then. I’ve seen a lot of shit.
” He carried the bottles to the table. Diesel set one in front of Kuba. “Now don’t get me sued.”
Kuba’s eyes never stopped following Diesel, making him feel seen in a way he never had. “We’ll pinky swear. That’s unbreakable.”
Diesel laughed as he claimed the chair next to Kuba.
He was so relieved they’d had the big discussion.
Truthfully, with them living together, Diesel had imagined there would be no hiding anything.
Best they got everything out in the open now.
Unfortunately, the knowledge opened a whole different can of worms. One day, he would have to watch Kuba entertaining someone else. He wasn’t sure he could handle it.