Chapter 17 Talk
Talk
Davidson
Leo slept late, probably due to the combination of the bonding, upcoming heat, and late-night conversations.
His serenity brought me peace too. I took my computer to the bedroom and worked sitting on the bed next to his sleeping form so I could listen to his breaths and look at him from time to time.
We ate lunch outside on the patio. Leo’s blond waves fluttered in the gentle breeze, and he gestured with both hands, telling me with a flourish how he hated the rainy summers in Dalton City.
We had coffee, then I told Leo to go swimming while I worked from my office for a few more hours.
“I love swimming naked,” he said with a wink.
“You’re lucky the cleaning staff came and left while you were still asleep. Otherwise, I’d force you to wear swim trunks.”
He frowned. “That sounds terrible. They cleaned the house while I lazed in bed?”
“You need the rest. You’re about to go into heat.”
His eyes got a faraway look, and I regretted saying that. As if he needed more reminders about the decision he had to make. But he seemed to shake himself, then he grinned.
“Can I come by your office later?”
“You can. But no sooner than in two hours.”
“Can I come naked?”
“I want you there at 3 p.m., naked, wet, and hard.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“Don’t be late.”
He bit his lip, his gaze calculating. I was overjoyed to see the mischief in his eyes. I was almost sure he’d be intentionally late, which would earn him a spanking over my office desk.
“Go, omega,” I said sternly. “I need to work.”
“Yes, Master.”
Leo leaned in to kiss my cheek and brushed his hand over my jean-covered cock. Then he strutted away with an extra swish to his hips. Last night’s conversation was rattling around in my head, ruining my mood, but Leo seemed relieved, and for that, I was grateful.
Devon Hassel called shortly after one in the afternoon. Seeing his name on the screen, I picked up instantly.
“Yes?”
“Hello, Davidson. Are you at home?”
“We are. Is something the matter?”
“There’s no immediate danger. It seems that Altera has pulled his men. There’s no one left in Ardaine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Unless they suddenly became invisible, which I doubt. They’re not that good. Two of his main guys are back in Dalton City already, and the street in front of Leonard’s apartment is clear.”
I frowned. That didn’t make sense. “Has he simply given up?”
“He must have found out Leo is with you and either withdrew or is regrouping. He’s busy at the conference and not returning to the country for several more days.”
“What does it mean for us?”
“It’s like I said. We have time, which is good. Don’t lessen the security at your place, but I think it might be good if you and Leo are seen together. Make your relationship public. You must have contacts to places where, if you’re spotted, you’ll attract attention, right?”
I raked my mind for the bars and restaurants where local celebs hung out and the paparazzi with them. Then I remembered. “I’m invited to an event tomorrow. I didn’t mean to go, considering the circumstances.”
“What is it?”
“An exhibition opening at the Museum of Architecture. The governor and the mayor will be there and a few local businesspeople.”
“Perfect. Go and take Leo with you. Leo still does have a solid following on social media even if he hasn’t been active in months. If he’s photographed with you, it’s bound to explode.”
“Is it really wise to draw attention to us?”
“I’ve been talking to my colleagues about it.
If Leo is back in the public eye, it would get significantly more difficult to extract him.
Your house is safe, and we’ll enhance the security when you’re out and about.
Altera might already know Leo is with you, but he has no idea about the seriousness of your relationship and to which lengths you’ll go to protect Leo.
There’s a chance he’s reconsidering if it’s worth the effort to try to get him. He might even give up.”
That sounded too easy. “Or he’ll redouble his efforts.”
“Means we lure him out. He’ll start taking risks and making mistakes.”
“You’re saying it’s a win-win?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“I’ll talk to Leo about it.”
“Good. Let me know. I’ll follow you to the premises and back just to check if someone’s still after you.”
I was about to go find Leo and talk to him immediately. But then I remembered his light mood today and how content he seemed. Making him worry again was the last thing I wanted. I would prepare for going but leave the final decision to Leo. We could always excuse ourselves at the last minute.
Lawrence picked up immediately when I video-called his laptop.
“You mean you’re going to the exhibition opening?” he asked, sounding confused.
“Yes. With Leonard.”
“Oh wow. Okay, I’ll call the RSVP contact and confirm again, adding Leo as your plus one.”
“Is it too last minute?”
“I did confirm your attendance weeks ago, and you never told me to cancel. It’s just the plus-one name that needs to be changed.”
“Changed? Who did you put as my plus one?”
“I filled in a James Doe.”
“What?”
“I always do that. Just in case.”
He really was a terrible busybody, wasn’t he? “That’s absurd. I always went alone to these things.”
“I know. But I never gave up hope, and look how handy it is now.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m thoughtful and practical. Now, I confirmed with all members of the board that your meetings will be online for the next three weeks, and that from Monday to Thursday next week, you won’t be available at all, except for emails. They have to call me if something happens.”
“To Thursday?”
“Yes. You messaged me Leo goes into heat on Friday. I didn’t think you’d be excited about scheduled business calls during that time. That’s six days—”
“I get it. Thank you.”
“Ernest has uploaded the latest testing results on Longwang 2.0 into the Cloud folder, including the video. And Gilbert is nagging me about your feedback notes on the report he sent last week.”
My CFO. Shit. That was the report I’d tried to read with Leo’s head in my lap. That had been a glorious orgasm…
“Are we done?” my assistant asked.
“Sorry. I keep getting distracted.”
“Understandable. But don’t worry. Everything is under control.”
“Great. Good job. As always.”
Lawrence blinked. “What’s the matter?”
“Huh?”
“You never say ‘great, good job.’ What’s wrong?”
I dragged my hand down my face. Lawrence squinted into the camera, his head changing shape in a disturbing way with the blurry background filter he used for videocalls. Fuck it. Not like I had anyone else to talk to.
“Can we have a word?”
My assistant straightened in his chair. “Of course.”
“Um. When you met Ernest, uh, you went through the same thing.”
“It’s different for everyone, but sure.”
“Well. Leo is… I don’t know what’s going on in his head.”
“Is he still afraid of you? Sad?”
“No. I don’t know. He’s been taking everything well since Sunday. But he…doesn’t react in the way I’d expect.” I wasn’t going to tell him about Leo’s hesitation with the contraceptive. That was private. “I want to be supportive, but I don’t know what he wants.”
“Have you talked to him about it?”
“What?”
“You know. Talk.” Lawrence leaned closer to the screen. “Sometimes, when you open your mouth, sounds come out that other people can hear and understand. We call them words. Talking. Have you talked to Leonard about how he feels?”
I glared at him. Fucking smartass. “I don’t want to sound pushy.”
“Then don’t sound pushy.”
“Lawrence,” I warned, but it was obvious I no longer had any deterring effect on him.
He threw his hands in the air and smiled sweetly. “Talk to him, Davidson.”
“That’s all you have?”
“That’s all there’s to it.”
“Your performance at this task was below average,” I muttered.
“Complain to the management. Can I go? I’m tired.”
“It’s not even five.”
“Yes, sir. And I was here until seven yesterday so you could have undisturbed time with your new mate.”
“Get out of my sight.”
“Have a lovely evening, sir.”
He tapped the mouse, and the call window went black.
I leaned back, making my chair squeak. It was Wednesday.
Leo’s appointment was Thursday afternoon.
He needed to decide ideally by lunchtime tomorrow.
I would happily put my head into the sand, work until three like I’d told him, and then have my way with him over my desk.
But my annoying smartass of an assistant was correct. Leo and I needed to talk.
Leo stood in the kitchen with a box of pasta in his hands, squinting at the inscriptions on the back.
“Hungry?” I asked.
He jumped, almost dropping the box.
“Hey, I didn’t want to startle you.”
After putting the box on the counter, he ambled closer and slid his arms around my neck. “For such a big man, you’re awfully quiet.”
I hugged him to me and kissed his lips.
“What have you been doing?”
His expression fell. “I swam, and then I thought I’d make something for lunch, but apparently, I don’t even know how to cook pasta. It says cook in boiling water with salt for seven minutes, but it doesn’t say if I’m supposed to put the pasta in cold or hot water or how much salt.”
The lack of basic skills spoke of parental neglect more than anything else Leo had told me so far.
Kissing his nose, I forced a smile. “Luckily, I don’t need a houseboy.”
He shook his head, leaning his forehead on my chest. My dad had begun teaching me to cook when I was still in primary school, and I loved the evenings spent in the kitchen together. How lonely had Leo’s childhood been compared to mine?
“Boiling,” I said. “Pasta always goes directly into boiling water, rice into cold.”
He took a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have a child, Davidson.”
There’s your opening. Talk. Put words together.
“Why do you feel like that, darling?”
“Because I’m spoiled, selfish, and can’t even cook pasta.” He sounded frustrated, almost angry, but toward the end, his voice lost its force. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, barely audible.