Chapter Seven
T arek: I’m not coming home again tonight.
Salem: LOL! Why do you keep telling me? At this point, I’ll just assume you’re not coming home and be pleasantly surprised to see you whenever you do.
Tarek: Fair. Love you.
Salem: I love you too. The boys say they miss you.
Tarek: I miss them too.
Portland: I’m in the car. Meetings ran late today. I’ll be home as soon as I can.
Tarek: It’s fine. I ran home and grabbed some more clothes, so I’m just getting back. I can’t wait to see you, though.
Portland: Same. It was a long day . What else did you do?
Tarek: I worked on my book. It’s gotten almost long enough to publish. I’m going to be brave and follow your advice to do the indie thing.
Portland: Good. You can do anything you set your mind to. I’m proud of you.
Tarek: I’m not sure how these cooking lessons are going. You get to be my guinea pig.
Portland: I’m sure it’ll be great. If not, you’ve only been at it a month. I believe in you.
Tarek: Thanks. I don’t. LOL! I just want to make you happy.
Portland: By cooking? Baby, I can hire a chef and you can relax all day. That’s what I want anyhow.
Tarek: Hmm. We’ll see if you say the same once you’re eating my delicious food.
Tarek: That chef you hired won’t let me in the kitchen.
Portland: Angel, you almost burned down the house.
Tarek: * pouting *
Portland: Don’t worry. If you’re bored, I’ll be home soon. I have something I want to talk to you about. Also, I paid for that kitchen. Go in if you want.
Tarek: Holy anxiety. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to tell people you have something to talk to them about later with no context?
Portland: I promise it’s nothing bad. Did you get to see Salem today?
Tarek: Unfortunately, no. He wasn’t there when I went home to grab more stuff.
Portland: Do you have anything left over there?
Tarek: A little. I can take some stuff home, if you’d rather I didn’t keep so much here.
Tarek chewed the side of his thumbnail, waiting for Portland to get home. While Portland claimed what they needed to talk about wasn’t bad, he also hadn’t responded to Tarek asking if he should take his things home. He kind of wanted to pack his stuff just to be safe. The last thing Tarek wanted was to be forced to gather his belongings while Portland watched. He had known four months together wasn’t enough for them to be living together yet. Technically, he didn’t live here. Tarek just spent every night and needed his things. It was easier to keep them here. His shoulders fell. He shouldn’t have brought so much. It would take him forever to gather everything and likely more than one trip to get it all home.
Warm lips touched the back of his neck.
Tarek’s eyes closed as he savored Portland’s touch.
“Why are you sitting in the kitchen chewing your nails?”
He released a slow breath as chill bumps formed on his skin. Tarek loved having his neck kissed. “You didn’t answer my last text.” His voice came out sounding breathless. Tarek never got enough of Portland’s touch.
Portland licked a path to Tarek’s ear and sucked his earlobe before lightly kissing the shell of his ear. His breath brushed across Tarek’s ear while his hand slid down Tarek’s stomach. “You’re too beautiful to be worrying.”
Tarek gripped the edge of the bar where he sat, watching the chef Portland hired to cook for them four nights a week bustle around the kitchen. The poor guy visibly tried to keep his eyes averted and head down.
“We’re not alone.”
A sexy chuckle rumbled against his ear. “I take it you don’t like to be watched?”
Tarek swallowed. He was so turned on. “Not like this.”
Portland pulled away. “I didn’t answer your text because that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Some things should be done in person.”
Tarek’s stomach dropped. “I’ll take some stuff home.” He heard the hurt in his voice and hated himself for it.
Portland spun the stool, forcing Tarek to face him. He moved to stand between Tarek’s thighs. “That’s not what I want. In fact, I’d prefer the opposite. Let’s pick up the rest of your things and make it permanent. This is your home. I’d love for you to admit it.”
Tarek was shocked to his core. In a good way. “Really?” There was no missing the hope in his question.
Portland shuffled even closer and hauled Tarek against him. “I love you. This is where you belong. I don’t want to worry about the possibility of you sleeping somewhere else again. Your home is with me.”
Tarek wanted to cry and shout at the same time. Happiness choked the air from his lungs. It was the first time Portland had said he loved him. Tarek had started worrying he never would, and Tarek couldn’t be the first to say it. There was too much of a power imbalance already. He sniffed, holding back happy tears. “I love you too. When I grabbed my things today, I purposely only left one t-shirt so I could say I still have stuff there. It’s one I don’t even wear.”
Portland visibly held back laughter. He looked every bit as happy as Tarek felt. “I have a confession too.” He massaged Tarek’s thighs. “I maybe did something that’ll possibly make you angry.”
The immediate sickness in Tarek’s gut would have brought him to his knees if he had been standing. “What did you do?” Tarek had no clue how he managed to speak without his voice shaking. A million horrible scenarios ran through his head. If Portland touched someone else, Tarek would die. No exaggeration. That would push him over the edge.
Portland opened his mouth and closed it again. He took Tarek’s hand. “Maybe I should just show you.”
Tarek had to step over a leather duffle bag next to the stool to follow Portland.
Portland led him to the garage. The lights flared to life as the door opened.
Tarek took a cursory glance before he planned to ask Portland what in the hell was going on, but something was missing. It took him a second to realize why he had experienced such an immediate feeling of loss. His car was gone.
“Where in the hell is my car?”
“Sorry, angel. That thing was on its last leg. I sold it and put the money in your account.”
All Tarek could do was stare at Portland in disbelief. He had too many questions and angry words to say. It was like too many people trying to fit through a door. Not a single word would break loose.
Portland chuckled and kissed him. “If you could see your face. It’s obvious you intend to kill me, but maybe wait.” He took Tarek’s hand and led him to where his car should be. A bright blue Audi R56 Avant sat parked in his bay. “I got you something else.”
Tarek blinked. The car was fucking beautiful, but he still didn’t know how to feel. Portland always dropped things on him. This wasn’t like a bag full of cash. Tarek could leave that behind if he needed to leave. This car truly belonged to Portland. He wasn’t oblivious. Portland was slowly making him more and more dependent on him. Truthfully, since he lived there now, the car represented the final piece of his life before Portland. With the one thing he truly owned gone, everything belonged to Portland now, including Tarek.
“I worried about this.”
Tarek tore his gaze away from the car and focused on Portland. He looked hurt.
Portland shoved his hands in his pockets. “I swear, I only want to keep you safe. It’s fully in your name alone. You don’t have to worry that I’m trying to steal your independence or anything. It’s completely yours—free and clear.”
He was so adorably worried. There wasn’t a chance Tarek could be upset with him. Despite his initial fear, he knew Portland had a gorgeous heart and always had the best of intentions. He was a good man. Tarek wrapped his arms around his waist and squeezed, hugging him as tightly as possible.
“Thank you. I know your heart was in the right place, and I’m not worried. Nothing is ever going to come between us, so it doesn’t matter anyhow.” Parts of that were true. There was enough truth in Tarek’s words to let the rest go. It wasn’t worth fighting over and it was a gorgeous car. He didn’t have any sort of attachment to the old one. It had always gotten him from point A to point B. Otherwise, it was just a car. Portland’s feelings mattered more.
Portland hugged him back. He kissed the top of Tarek’s head. “Do you want to take her for a spin?”
Tarek shook his head. “Not right now. Right now, I want to make love to the sweetest man alive.”
Tarek listened as Portland’s chuckle rumbled against his ear. “Tell me his name. I’ll have him killed.”
A smile exploded across Tarek’s face. “Is it crazy that I’m happier about you saying you love me than I am about the car?”
Portland pushed him against the SUV parked next to his new car. It happened so quickly, Tarek lost his breath. Portland’s eyes flashed with something deadly. The dark Portland was back. A thrill of excitement ran down Tarek’s spine as Portland’s mouth covered his. A moan immediately rose in his throat. Portland swallowed it. Their kiss turned more heated by the second. Tarek tore at the buttons on Portland’s expensive dress shirt.
Portland pulled away and yanked open the back door of the SUV. Tarek didn’t hesitate to climb inside. Portland followed, lowering the bench back seat into a functional bed as he went. He closed them inside. Tarek was beneath him in a matter of seconds. God, he was amazing. The way he used his tongue always rocked Tarek. He had talent and years of practice. Portland never failed to use those against him.
They tore at each other until their bare chests met, and then everything slowed. Their kiss turned loving. Tarek didn’t rush as he set Portland’s erection free. The moment Tarek’s fingertips skimmed Portland’s cock, Portland sat back on his heels and dug out his wallet. Tarek didn’t hesitate to scramble out the rest of his clothes. His patience was gone. Portland found the small packet of lube and condom Tarek had made him start carrying. They had missed an opportunity outside Portland’s office one day thanks to Portland not having anything with him, and Tarek had forgotten his wallet. Portland lubed Tarek first. He teased Tarek as he did, stretching and massaging all the right places. Tarek snapped. He went on the attack. He pushed Portland on to his back and straddled him. Tarek wasn’t thinking. He wanted Portland too badly. In an instant, he sat on Portland’s dick.
Portland made a sound like a dying man.
Tarek froze as he realized what he had done.
There was no condom between them.
They held each other’s stare. Then Portland slowly lured Tarek down into a kiss. His gaze never wavered until their lips met. Tarek rocked, testing the waters. Their tongues brushed. A silent agreement was made. It didn’t matter. They were forever. This was permanent. Nothing could break them.
Just like their rush to make love, the tension built quickly. The sounds Portland made were too hot. He made Tarek feel sexy as hell and aroused him beyond what he could bear. Tarek worked harder to reach the edge.
“Shit, Tarek. You’re killing me. I love you so much.” He sucked Tarek’s neck. “Jesus. I was so scared you would leave me over the car. It would kill me if I lost you.”
Even as Tarek wound tighter, his eyes filled with tears. He hadn’t known he could love a person so much. “I could never leave you. It’d be like ripping out my own heart.” Tarek sucked in a breath and held it. His muscles tensed. The pressure became too much. Ecstasy washed over him. A cry tore from his throat. “I love you. Goddamn, Portland. I love you so much.” He honestly didn’t even know what he said anymore. Tarek was in heaven. His body shook. Cum coated Portland’s sexy torso. Portland cried out beneath him. The sound of their pleasure echoed inside the car. Steam covered the windows. Portland pulled him in for another kiss. It tasted desperate, as if they still hadn’t managed to get close enough to each other. Tarek no longer knew what their intentions had been toward each other when they met. But he knew it no longer mattered, because what they had found overshadowed every plan. This was real love. It was everything.
Portland carried a very content Tarek inside and put him to bed. Wearing only his pants, he headed for the kitchen and found the chef packing up to leave. The guy barely glanced his way. His gaze landed briefly on Portland’s newly acquired hickey before he looked away again. Portland got the feeling he wouldn’t be keeping the guy. While he came highly recommended and his meals were passable, Portland got the impression he was either homophobic or simply didn’t like Portland. Either way, Portland would be damned if he felt uncomfortable in his own home.
Portland grabbed their dinner plates, nodded at the guy, and headed back down the hall. He had already gently cleaned his baby. Now, he would feed him. Life with Tarek was more than he dreamed. Looking back, he couldn’t believe he thought he would simply buy Tarek. Tarek truly didn’t care about his money. He always accepted Portland’s decisions and gifts, but it was beyond obvious he only did so to make Portland happy. He didn’t give two shits about a new car. This was real love. It was almost laughable the way he had gone from thinking love didn’t exist to being swept away by innocence. But here they were, and Portland couldn’t be more content.
He had never had sex without a condom. Until it happened with Tarek, Portland hadn’t realized it had been more about waiting to be totally settled than it was about protecting himself. The moment Tarek had sat on his cock with nothing between them, Portland saw his entire future unfold. Tarek was there for every second of it. This was it for him. They were the last relationship he would ever have. Tarek was his final partner. This was forever.
He found Tarek right where he left him. Tarek sat up at the sight of food. “Mmm. I’m starving. Ezra said the pasta would melt in our mouths.”
“Who’s Ezra?”
Tarek laughed at his confusion. “The chef.”
“Oh.” Portland climbed onto the bed with their plates. “I’m probably going to fire the guy.”
Tarek nodded, looking unsurprised. “He doesn’t seem to care for you for whatever reason. It’s uncomfortable.”
Portland was more than a little relieved to hear Tarek wouldn’t fight him on the matter. He handed Tarek a plate.
Tarek took a bite of whatever the dish was. He immediately set the plate on the bedside table. “Would you like to order pizza?”
A laugh burst from Portland. “Dislike aside, the guy is supposed to be a five-star chef.” He took a bite. A bitter flavor filled his mouth. He spit it back out. “Yeah. That’s nasty. What the hell? Maybe we don’t have five-star taste.” They looked at each other and burst into laughter. It hit Portland. He was more than in love with Tarek. Tarek was his best friend.
Marry me . The thought was so loud, it nearly left Portland’s lips. He stopped at the last second. Tarek deserved more than an impromptu marriage proposal in bed. “I have a meeting in the morning, but we should spend the day together afterward. We could have a street fair day, eat truck food, and ride the carousel.”
Tarek’s smile never dimmed. “That sounds amazing. I can’t picture you eating truck food, though.”
Portland laughed. “I don’t know why. We’re about to order the world’s greasiest pizza.”
Tarek’s gaze moved over Portland’s face. He leaned his head back against the headboard—like settling in to simply stare at Portland. “I love you.” He sounded so serious, a lump immediately formed in Portland’s throat.
“I love you too.” Portland moved to his knees and made a show of crawling Tarek’s way.
A worried look settled on Tarek’s face. “Oh no.”
Portland nodded. “You look like a man who needs a tickle.”
Tarek pulled up his knees. “No.” Laughter tinted his voice.
Portland snagged his legs and yanked, pulling him down the bed. He pretended to tickle his ribs while straddling Tarek’s body. Portland didn’t put any real effort into it. He hated being tickled and meant the moment to be playful. Tarek squirmed beneath him, playing along. Portland used the opportunity to steal the kiss he wanted. While their tongues played, Portland plotted. He would borrow one of Tarek’s rings he had left on the bathroom counter, so he could get a size. Tarek would get a proper proposal. They would have a happy life. Portland would make damn sure of that. First, he had a terrible chef to fire.