Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
DMITRI
By the time they finished their main course, any misgivings Dmitri had had when he arrived at the restaurant were gone. Morgan was funny and charming, could hold his own in a situation in which he was clearly out of his element, and he was easy on the eyes. His suit didn’t quite fit right—though it was a decent quality Zegna—and Dmitri wondered if it might be borrowed for this dinner. It was possible. Analisse, who had arranged their date, probably suggested it or even lent it to Morgan if he didn’t have something suitable to wear.
Morgan might not be Dmitri’s usual type, but that was working in his favor. Dmitri usually chose slender, model-like twinks who were plucked, tweezed, and made up like they were about to walk a runway. Morgan wasn’t like that at all despite having killer cheekbones and deliciously plump lips. Dmitri would have categorized him as ruggedly handsome with what appeared to be a broad chest hidden under his suit jacket, but there was also something intriguingly pretty about the man. It was probably his intense blue eyes and the long, dark lashes that surrounded them. They were so dark, it almost looked as if he were wearing eyeliner, but Dmitri would have bet his last dollar that Morgan did not wear makeup.
Beyond Morgan’s looks, though, they seemed to have good chemistry between them, something Dmitri required of his dates. With the holidays coming up, he had a full calendar of social engagements and needed to have the right person on his arm. So far, Morgan was exceeding all of his expectations and was a vast improvement on Dmitri’s date the previous year. As a companion, Morgan seemed to be ticking all the boxes and had even made Dmitri laugh a few times, which was not easy to accomplish.
They were still working their way through the getting to know you questions as they finished their main course.
Jobs? Dmitri was a jewelry designer with his own studio, but he didn’t elaborate on the fact that his designs for D Atelier often ended up adorning celebrities as they walked the red carpet at award shows, premiers, and galas. He smiled when Morgan stated he was in real estate and asked a few questions about the types of properties Morgan represented, nodding as Morgan talked about some of the properties he represented
Hobbies? Morgan enjoyed travel, which was definitely a plus as far as Dmitri was concerned, and had a bit of a daredevil streak he fed with bungee jumping, parasailing, and rock climbing. At the mention of the latter, Dmitri had reached over and taken Morgan’s hand. It had been part romantic gesture—breaking the touch barrier to see how Morgan responded—and part to see how rough Morgan’s skin was. He’d been suitably impressed when he found his assumption about the hopeless condition of his dinner partner’s hands had been in error. Morgan obviously took time to get regular manicures.
Morgan’s hand rested easily in his own, and Dmitri found he quite liked the warmth of it. He was also taken with the blush that had crept onto Morgan’s cheeks.
“Your hands are very soft,” Dmitri said.
“It helps when you’re climbing.” Morgan shrugged. “Calluses reduce the sensitivity of your fingertips and make it more difficult to find good handholds.” Another shrug as Morgan stared at their linked hands. “Plus, I have to shake hands with lots of people when I show a house, so…” A third shrug, but then Morgan sat up a little straighter. “So, what do you do for fun?”
Dmitri withdrew his hand, noting with satisfaction the bereft expression on Morgan’s face as he did so. “I don’t really have a lot of free time,” he said. “My work takes up most of my energy and focus, so when I find myself with an unexpectedly free evening, I usually spend it reading or watching television. Or,” Dmitri leaned forward and was gratified when Morgan mirrored him. “I arrange to meet an attractive man for dinner.”
Ah. There was that blush again. Dmitri found himself captivated by the way Morgan’s cheeks turned rosy.
“Well, I’m glad you had an unexpectedly free evening so we could meet.”
This time, it was Morgan who broke the touch barrier when he nudged Dmitri’s knee with his own. That was a surprise, but a welcome one, and Dmitri felt a buzz of arousal he didn’t usually feel on meeting a man for the first time. It was curious, but was surely a good indication of compatibility.
They ordered dessert. Or, rather, Dmitri ordered the Guanaja chocolate cake and café affogato for them to share, and they took their time with it. He let Morgan talk him into an after-dinner whisky as well—a Highland Park 15—that spread a nice warmth throughout his body and left a delicious taste of caramel in his mouth. He also found himself laughing easier than he had in quite some time. A genuine laugh that Dmitri thought had become extinct given that his days were spent placating the wealthy and privileged. He had long ago mastered the art of the polite laugh intended to convey that he thought his clients were incredibly witty and charming. Even when they weren’t.
“I should take you rock climbing some time,” Morgan said as he chased after the last bit of cake.
Dmitri was in mid-sip and swallowed too quickly, ending up coughing into his napkin until he could breathe again. “I don’t?—”
“It would be fun. We don’t have to do anything ridiculous like El Capitaine. Most days, I go to a climbing gym.”
“We’ll see,” Dmitri hedged, but he knew he’d disappointed Morgan by the way he looked down at the plate, his mouth a flat line. Morgan’s reaction gave Dmitri’s heart a squeeze. “I’m not sure I can risk an injury to my fingers or hands,” he said, and Morgan brightened up.
“I didn’t think about that. Parasailing, then.”
Dmitri laughed. Once more, it was a genuine laugh because Morgan had caught him off-guard once again, and wasn’t that delightful?
After Dmitri paid the bill, they walked toward the front of the restaurant, passing by the bar. Morgan nudged his shoulder and nodded toward a guy sitting at the bar in a San Francisco 49ers jacket. “How do you feel about football?” he asked.
“I can’t say that I’m particularly fond of the sport,” Dmitri said, but he took hold of Morgan’s hand and entwined their fingers. “However, one of my clients has a private box and is always after me to join him for a game. Perhaps you’d like to join me?” He nodded at the doorman as they exited onto the Embarcadero.
“I’d love that,” Morgan said and leaned in close, shoulder bumping against Dmitri’s reminding him that they were almost the same height. Dmitri liked that. They would look splendid in society photos wearing matching tuxes or bespoke suits. He glanced down at their entwined hands and thought about which of his pieces would look best on Morgan’s slender fingers.
“Does this mean you want to see me again?” Morgan asked as they continued walking along the waterfront.
“I do. Yes.”
When Morgan smiled this time, Dmitri caught a glimpse of dimples, and wasn’t that completely charming?
“Good. I do too.” He bumped shoulders with Dmitri again.
“Do you have a car?” Dmitri asked.
“No, I took Lyft.” Morgan stopped walking and pulled Dmitri toward the walkway railing. Leaning a hip against it, Morgan trailed his fingers up the sleeve of Dmitri’s coat. Even through the thick layer of wool, Dmitri felt as if Morgan were touching his bare skin and shivered. “Are you cold?” Morgan asked.
Dmitri shook his head, then closed the distance between them, pushing Morgan harder against the railing and aligning their bodies. Morgan groaned as Dmitri nudged a knee between his thighs. They were both hard, and Dmitri barely had time to register that before he found Morgan’s lips on his own. Instinct made Dmitri take hold of Morgan’s arms intending to push him away, but Morgan’s lips were soft and warm, and the lingering scent of whisky on his breath made Dmitri pull him closer. The kiss was heady, intoxicating, the earth shifting beneath Dmitri’s feet as Morgan opened to him and allowed Dmitri to tangle their tongues together.
Lost in the kiss, Dmitri became aware of his surroundings when a wolf whistle cut through the haze of desire clouding his brain. He pulled away from Morgan, taking in the way his parted lips were slightly puffy and red, the rise and fall of his chest as he drew in deep breaths, the dazed look on his face. Dmitri straightened, righting his clothes and pulling the creases out of his sleeves. He took out his phone and nodded at Morgan.
“I know how to find you,” he said and walked away as quickly as he could without it seeming as if he were running away.
He wasn’t. Not at all. But this had only been intended as an initial meeting. A chance to get to meet the new escort Analisse had sent him to see if they were compatible.
Dmitri raised his fingers to his lips, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth as he replayed that incredible kiss in his mind. Compatible? He would definitely put that in the yes column even though all he ever required of the men he hired was to be good-looking and attentive when asked to attend parties and events as Dmitri’s plus one. Given Morgan’s looks, his intelligence, and his humor, he more than fulfilled those requirements. Dmitri hadn’t expected to feel attracted to him, and that was what had caused him to leave so abruptly.
Taking his phone from his pocket, he called for his car to pick him up at the corner of Howard and Spear, and then immediately dialed Analisse to compliment her on her impeccable taste in young men. He left a message as she never answered her phone directly, but wasn’t surprised to receive a call from her just as his car arrived.
“Darling,” he said as he settled into the back seat. “I had a thoroughly lovely evening. Thank you. He’s exceptional.”
“Who was?” she asked. “I left you a message that your date had to cancel at the last minute.”
Dmitri was stunned. “I never got it. But if that’s the case, with whom did I just have the most delightful dinner?”
Analisse laughed. “That, my dear Dimi, is a very good question. If he was able to capture your interest this quickly, I’d love to have him join my team.”
For some reason, that comment brushed Dmitri the wrong way. Even though he had been under the impression that Morgan was a hired escort, one he had been meeting to assess for future engagements now that the holiday season was bearing down on him, knowing that wasn’t the case had Dmitri feeling protective of the man and jealous of Analisse’s casual claim to him no matter how improbable that the two of them would ever meet. For that matter, Dmitri realized with stunning clarity, the chance of his finding Morgan again was just as likely.
“Fuck,” he said.
Analisse was still laughing when he hung up on her.