Chapter Three
I f Portland had said he intended to take Tarek to breakfast at his country club, he likely would have panicked and stressed over what to wear. Since Portland wore a long sleeve t-shirt and jeans, Tarek matched his style. Thankfully, other than the staff, everyone was dressed in various states of casual. Tarek noticed the way eyes subtly moved Portland’s way, checking him out on the sly. He was an extremely attractive man who looked expensive even when dressed down. It was the way he carried himself and the combination of light blue eyes and salt and pepper hair. He looked untouchable—like a man out of everyone’s league. Tarek was ridiculously proud to be seen with him. He still couldn’t believe Portland wanted something serious. Tarek had fully expected to pull out all the stops to win him. It turned out that wasn’t the issue. The problem was how badly Tarek wanted this to be real. He didn’t think he was supposed to lose his heart in this exchange. Salem had never specified.
Tarek stared at the menu with barely ten items while Portland watched. He felt Portland’s eyes upon him like a physical touch. Tarek didn’t want to set the menu aside and hold a staring contest. He liked the idea of Portland studying him… letting his hunger grow. Tarek’s need grew right alongside him.
“I get the feeling you either don’t like breakfast foods or you’re avoiding me.”
With a chuckle, Tarek set the menu aside. “I’m definitely not avoiding you.”
Portland’s eyebrows rose. “It’s not too late to go somewhere else. We can get lunch instead.”
Tarek shook his head. “It’s fine. I don’t usually eat breakfast, but I’m good with something light, like the fruit and yogurt.”
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
A smile snapped to Tarek’s lips. “You sounded like such a dad right then. I never thought to ask if you have any children.”
The look of disgust that immediately followed his question had Tarek biting back laughter.
“No kids, then?”
Portland laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t do a very good job of hiding my face.” He pulled another face—this time one of child-like guilt—that had Tarek laughing. It was the most playful Tarek had ever seen him. He liked it.
“Happiness looks good on you.”
At Tarek’s observation, Portland’s expression shifted for a moment, becoming something Tarek didn’t understand before Portland immediately hid behind his usual smile. “I—”
“Portland. Hey.”
Portland turned his head at the interruption.
Tarek did too.
The most beautiful man Tarek had ever set eyes on headed their way. That said a lot, considering he lived with Salem. A face Tarek had seen several times at his tables trailed behind the beauty.
Portland stood. “Court. Hey. How have you been?” They hugged.
Tarek’s heart dropped. While he had heard the rumors about Portland recently losing his longtime escort to marriage, and he had heard the name, he had never actually seen Court. Tarek couldn’t compete. That was a point driven home by the way Portland looked at Court. It was as if the world had disappeared. Tarek went back to staring at the menu.
“I’m Heath. You work at the Luna, correct?”
Without the mention of his job, Tarek wouldn’t have realized the quietly spoken words were for him. He set the menu aside again and accepted Heath’s outstretched hand. “Yeah. That’s me. You’ve been to my table several times. I’m Tarek.”
Heath briefly shook his hand and nodded. “I actually actively always pick your table. You’re uniquely entertaining for such a serious job.”
A laugh burst from Tarek. He had never heard anyone call his job serious. In a way, it was. He never forgot he worked for the mob. “I’m glad you choose me. You never seem to take the game too seriously. I do a lot of talking people down from the ledge all night.”
“Meh. It’s not serious. Hey. Meet my husband.” He grabbed Court’s hand and pulled him mid-word from his conversation with Portland. “My husband, Court.”
Despite whom he was introducing, Tarek couldn’t stop smiling. Heath was obviously a giant child. Court looked used to this behavior.
“Tarek,” Tarek said, dipping his chin.
Court shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Portland was just telling me the story of how you two met.”
Tarek’s gaze slid Portland’s way for a moment. He refused to let his smile slip. “Was he now?” Tarek’s blood boiled. He shouldn’t care that Portland obviously tried to make Court jealous by using him. That was how he felt, though. Used.
“It’s very sweet. I’m glad to see him so happy.”
“Me too.”
They exchanged a smile.
“It looks like our table is ready.” Heath nodded toward a spot across the room. He focused on Tarek again. “It was good seeing you. Enjoy your breakfast.”
Tarek nodded and kept smiling through the parting pleasantries. All he could think about was the way Portland looked at Court. He wasn’t supposed to be jealous. Why in the fuck did he feel this way?
“It’s always awkward to run into your ex.”
Portland froze. “How did you…”
“It’s the way you looked at him. It was pretty obvious.”
Portland winced. “Sorry about that. Truthfully, he isn’t technically my ex. We were never much more than me fruitlessly chasing him.”
Tarek glanced toward the table where Court sat. “I can see why. He’s incredibly beautiful.”
“That’s not why I chased him.”
That brought Tarek’s gaze back to Portland. Portland looked so dark and serious; Tarek had to know. “Why?” As soon as he asked, Tarek felt dumb. The guy was obviously amazing in other ways than looks. Of course, Portland would chase him.
But Portland shocked him. “Because I knew I could own him. I knew the difference in our financial situations left him vulnerable to me, and he would be loyal if I forced his hand.”
Tarek wasn’t dumb. He saw Portland and heard all the warning bells. Tarek didn’t know if it was the thrill of danger or his need to win, but he was completely on board. “Do you feel the same about us?” He had already told Portland he didn’t like games. Tarek preferred they be upfront.
“I’m already much deeper with you than I ever was with him. That should probably scare you.”
Tarek wanted to ask why Portland hadn’t pushed Court beyond Court being a well-known escort who made his living dating other people. Portland could have kept Court in any lifestyle of his choosing. Tarek was afraid the answer might hurt his feelings—like Court had a world of other options Tarek didn’t have.
Portland’s gaze moved over Tarek’s face, as if he read his mind. Then, he proved he did. “You look at me in a way he never did. I knew if I won him with money, that was all it would ever be, and that might never be enough to hold him. If you want my money, it’s not all you want.”
God. His pride wanted to sting a hair over getting called out for his thirst, but fuck. Portland wasn’t wrong. Tarek hadn’t expected this deep of an attraction, but he wasn’t disappointed because he felt pretty damn sure it went both ways.
“Accepting that dinner date is starting to feel like one of the best decisions I’ve made.”
A sexy smile slowly spread across Portland’s lips. “You’re really not the least bit worried about what dating me might look like, are you?”
Tarek shook his head. “There’s a lot you’re holding back. I see flashes of the real you here and there. I’m just waiting for that guy to appear on full display because I’m pretty sure I’ll love every second of it.”
Portland sat back in his chair, looking thoughtful. His gaze never wavered from Tarek. Tarek refused to look away. He wanted this. Being owned sounded a hell of a lot better than being loved. Love had driven him all the way to Atlantic City when the people who were supposed to love him the most proved it came with terms and conditions.
“Where is our fucking server? I’m ready to take you to bed.”
Tarek bit his bottom lip, fighting a sassy smile. Portland would be absolute fire in bed. Tarek couldn’t wait to see firsthand.
The hurt that had crossed Tarek’s features when he obviously realized who Court was still hurt Portland’s chest. He shouldn’t care. Portland had no idea why he did, but that pain meant jealousy. Goddamn. It felt amazing to be wanted. Not just sought after for his money and status, but fucking desired. Portland had thought he didn’t care about that bullshit, but goddamn. He wanted this. Tarek either wasn’t good at hiding his thoughts or he didn’t care who saw them. Portland didn’t have to guess at his intentions. Their attraction went both ways.
Breakfast had gone painfully slow. From the moment Court walked away and forced their discussion, Portland had forgotten anyone else existed. He had never been so close to screaming in frustration in his life. The drive to his place wasn’t much better. Traffic was lighter than usual and still nothing moved quickly enough. Tarek held his hand. He played with Portland’s fingers—like Portland wouldn’t destroy him if he betrayed him.
The gate to his property slid open as Portland approached. He didn’t imagine Tarek would be impressed, considering where he lived. Still, Portland couldn’t resist turning his head to check Tarek’s reaction to his home. He found Tarek staring at him. The breath froze in his lungs. His dark eyes were sexy. He bled sensuality. Portland didn’t know if he would make it. He was hard already from just thinking about Tarek’s lithe body beneath him.
He pulled into the garage. His patience stretched thinner by the second. Tarek stepped out without waiting for him, as if he too couldn’t take much more of this. Portland motioned toward the door that led to the mudroom. When Tarek reached it, Portland molded against his back. He kissed Tarek’s nape, lingering when Tarek dropped his chin to his chest, giving him better access. Chill bumps rose beneath his lips, mesmerizing him and making him want more. His hands found Tarek’s hips before moving up and beneath his shirt. He kept going, pushing Tarek’s shirt higher until he peeled it from Tarek’s body. More goosebumps rose beneath his fingertips as he dropped the shirt and skimmed his fingers down Tarek’s torso. Portland’s lips wouldn’t budge from Tarek’s skin. He smelled too perfect.
Portland popped the button on Tarek’s jeans. “I’ve never wanted to fuck someone so badly against a door in my life.”
Tarek took a ragged breath, somehow making Portland even harder. His every reaction to Portland was one hundred percent genuine. There was no way he could fake the way his body responded. Portland’s head was all over the place. He craved a million things he never expected. Portland had feared himself more times than he wanted to admit. He had never been as scared as he was in that moment of how far he would go.
Portland reached past Tarek and set his finger on the fingerprint scanner, unlocking the door. “But I want you bent over my bed, biting my sheets even more.”
“Oh, God.”
A wicked smile pulled at Portland’s lips at the words. He could show a little patience. Tarek would be worth it in the end. He urged Tarek inside and shuffled him down the hall. His gaze slid past all the rich furnishings and art he had amassed over the years, trying desperately to buy happiness. Portland’s mind was in one place: inside Tarek. The bright early afternoon sun poured through his bedroom window, brightening the place more than having the lights on. Portland was good with that. He wanted to inspect every inch of the body he intended to buy, and Portland fully planned to buy Tarek. Portland would shower the guy with so many gifts, he’d never leave. That was all Portland had going for him.
He worked on divesting Tarek of his clothes as he shuffled him toward the bed. Portland kissed and bit Tarek’s shoulders and neck, keeping him ready to go. Before he could bend Tarek over the bed, as promised, Tarek spun and captured his mouth. He came at Portland hot and wild while tearing at Portland’s clothes. Portland lifted his arms and twisted, doing whatever move was needed for Tarek to get him nude. When Tarek’s fingers encircled Portland’s overly sensitive cock, Portland nearly blew.
“Please. I want it.”
The neediness in Tarek’s plea broke something in Portland’s brain. He had missed this in his life. Every day, he felt the lack. The problem was not just anyone would do. Portland wasn’t interested in subpar sex with someone as bored by life as him. He needed someone like Tarek. Someone who hadn’t tried everything twice and some things a million times. He needed to taste the freshness of the moment on Tarek’s innocent skin.
Portland lifted Tarek from his feet and tackled him on the bed. He wasted no time finding the lube and a condom. Portland kissed Tarek’s stomach as he lubed his asshole. His self-restraint had reached its limit. Portland wanted to do all the things that would have Tarek coming back for more. His back teeth were already on the verge of cracking from him clenching his jaw.
Tarek grabbed his chin and forced Portland to meet his stare. He spoke through clenched teeth. “Stop teasing. Inside me. Now.”
Portland might have laughed if he hadn’t been so aroused. Teasing? Portland felt like he had barely touched Tarek. He definitely hadn’t given the guy an ounce of foreplay. What kind of men had Tarek slept with that he didn’t even realize that? Still, Portland couldn’t disobey. He might not last if he tried anything else. Next time, he would take his time and show Tarek exactly how much pleasure his body could bring. For now, he surged upward, captured Tarek’s mouth, and shoved his way inside.
Tarek cried out.
Portland froze. He saw stars. Tarek was tight. He nearly broke Portland. He was so focused on not immediately blowing, it took him a second to realize the reason Tarek’s body gripped him so tightly was because he came.
Damn. Portland stared down at him in wonder. He was the most responsive person Portland had ever seen. Tarek writhed beneath him like he couldn’t get enough. The sounds he made kept Portland frozen. He had to memorize every second. Then his own needs took control, except something inside him calmed. He savored Tarek. Portland kissed him slowly and sweetly while rocking inside him. Their fingers linked as Portland made love to Tarek. He wanted Tarek to remember every second. The way Portland would relive this day a million times.
An itch began at the base of Portland’s spine. His motions quickened. Tarek felt amazing on his cock. Portland didn’t want to blow. Not yet. His body didn’t care about his mind’s desires. The spring inside him wound tighter. His breathing quickened. He pressed his forehead against Tarek’s shoulder and squeezed his eyes closed.
“Fuck. You feel too good. I want to stay here all day, but you’re killing me.”
Tarek tensed for half a second and then came again. It was so unexpected, it pulled an orgasm from Portland.
Portland sucked air and rode the waves. He tried breathing through the powerful orgasm. Portland never would have suspected Tarek for one of those guys who only needed a light touch. He could probably use some orgasm denial, but Portland loved how easily he gave Tarek two orgasms. Now he wanted to see how many he could give the guy in one night.
“Sorry. I told you it’s been a while.” Tarek’s teeth chattered on the apology.
Portland went from flying high to scrambling to calm Tarek.
His body shook. “Sorry,” he said again. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
Portland hugged him tightly, trying to keep him warm through the shock. He had never seen sub drop from such vanilla sex, but he would recognize it anywhere.
Portland kissed Tarek’s cheek and gently shushed him. “It’s okay. Give it a second. It’ll pass. It’s just your body adjusting to the sudden surge of powerful emotions. I’ve got you.”
After a moment, the shaking subsided, and Tarek took a ragged breath. “That’s never happened to me before. I’m sorry. I didn’t see that coming.”
Portland kissed his neck and smiled against his skin. “Stop apologizing. I obviously did my job.” And he planned to do it again. Now that he knew exactly how to handle Tarek’s body, Portland had no intentions of ever giving up his new toy.