Chapter Six
Court hated when he couldn’t remember where he left his phone. He had shaken down his clothes and searched all the usual places. Court didn’t think he had left it in Heath’s car, but he had jumped out pretty quickly at the sight of his dad melting down. It was possible. He had been distracted by Heath hiring a spa crew to come to them. Then Heath had fed him and found them something to watch. It hit Court. He remembered checking the time on his phone before setting it on the coffee table. Court searched around the table, going as far as to move it and check beneath. He had no idea how much jostling had gone on in the night for them to end up so entangled. Plus, Court had shoved Heath off the couch. It was likely Heath had hit the table. Court winced. He hadn’t considered that before now. Court dropped to his knees and peered under the couch.
“Ha. There you are.” Court dug his phone from beneath the edge of the couch. He had missed hundreds of texts. “Damn. I should’ve left you under there.” With a sigh, Court plopped down on the couch and started scrolling. It was the usual spiral from both his parents. This time, though, Court wouldn’t give in. He was really done this go around. Seventy-five thousand was the breaking point. That eye-popping number proved exactly how far his dad would go with no regard for Court, or anyone, for that matter. He couldn’t do this anymore. Court barely skimmed the texts, feeling nothing any longer. They had beaten him down years ago. His scrolling slowed as he came closer to the end. The tone changed. Suddenly, he was being praised as the amazing son they knew him to be. Court paused to actually read. His dad’s debt had been paid. The phone dropped to Court’s lap. He stared at nothing. It didn’t take much mental math to figure out how that debt had disappeared. Court didn’t know how he felt. On one hand, this would only embolden his father to continue spiraling. On the other, why? Why would Heath do this? He had a hard time reconciling the image he had carried for years of Heath with the man he had spent the last couple of days with. Court didn’t even know if he should broach the topic. For better or worse, Court was blown away.
Another thought creeped in, undermining him. What did Heath expect in exchange? Did he want Court in his debt? He didn’t know how to handle this. The doorbell rang, cutting through his spinning thoughts. Court tossed his phone aside. He hoped it wasn’t his dad again. Court didn’t bother checking his camera. By the time he got it pulled up on his phone, he could have the door open. The immediate rush of joy he felt at the sight of Heath on the other side shocked him speechless.
Heath smiled. He had a cat tucked under one arm and the other hand behind his back. He looked like a butler, presenting him with his daily pet.
Court chuckled. “You know, most men just bring flowers.”
A bright smile lit Heath’s face. “I believe this is what they call the cat distribution system. He was crying in your yard.”
Court plucked Tom from Heath’s hold. “Yeah. That’s because he’s mine. He’s just an asshole who likes to escape and try to knock up all the neighborhood cats. Of course, he fails, but that doesn’t stop him.” He stepped back, letting Heath pass. “I’m surprised he let you pick him up. I wasn’t joking. He really is an asshole.” He shut the door and set Tom on the floor. When he turned, Heath held a coffee mug with a peace symbol on it and a tiny cactus planted inside.
“This is what I brought. See? It’s a peace offering.” He pointed at the peace sign. “And it’s prickly. Just like me,” he said, pointing at the cactus.
Court couldn’t stop smiling. His face hurt. “Idiot.” He accepted the gift. Court couldn’t stop looking at it as he carried it to a nearby shelf. “I’ll leave it here where I can be reminded of the day I made amends with a prick.”
The sound of Heath’s laughter did something to Court’s chest. The sensation doubled when he turned and saw the genuine Heath was still with him, smiling and obviously here to stay.
Heath’s smile slipped a hair. “Do you mean it?”
“Mean what?”
“Am I forgiven?” He looked like a naughty child, begging for forgiveness. The puppy dog eyes were too much.
“I’m getting there.” The sweetest and most heart-stopping smile passed over Heath’s lips. Court had to move on. He motioned toward the couch. “You don’t have to stand in the middle of the living room. Sit.”
Heath moved Court's phone to the coffee table and sat. Court chose the opposite end. For a moment, they sat in uncomfortable silence.
Court couldn’t take it. “Why did you do it?”
Heath looked confused as hell. “You’ll really have to be more specific. I’ve done a lot.”
An embarrassed chuckle escaped Court. He realized how quick and accusatory his question sounded. He tried to start over with less bursting at the seams. “Why did you pay Dad’s debt?”
“Who says I did?”
Court held his stare and chose to wait him out. He didn’t want to play games. Unfortunately, the silent staring contest turned hotter than Court expected. Heath’s gray eyes were amazing. Everything about him appealed to Court. Always had. It seemed the longing had never stopped.
“I’ve come to take you away.”
Court shook his head. “You’re really taking this sixty-day thing seriously.”
Heath’s expression stayed serious. “No. I paid your dad’s debt with Saul, but his credit has been closed across all casinos. When he realizes he’s cut off, this’ll be the first place he comes, restraining order or not.”
“I’m not afraid of my dad. Just tired of him.”
“Your dad only owed Saul twenty grand.”
Court looked away. “I was afraid of that.” Even he heard the dead note in his voice.
“So you know about the drugs?”
Court’s arms rose and fell. “It’s kind of hard to miss.” He stood. “Where are we headed? What do I need to bring?” Court tried to keep his tone light, but he couldn’t meet Heath’s gaze as he headed for the hall.
Heath stood and intercepted Court before he got away. He stepped into Court’s path and hugged him. It seemed it was Heath’s go-to move when Court fell apart. God, Court needed it. It was so fucking warm in Heath’s arms. Court wanted to rage about losing his parents while they still lived. It didn’t matter they breathed, walked, and talked. They were as lost to him as if they had died. They were like dumbass teenagers wanting to fit in with the cool kids. Now he was alone and used up and tired. So fucking tired.
Court didn’t know who made the first move. He very much feared it was him. His head turned and their lips bumped. Time froze as they shared each other’s air. Old desires raced to the surface. He wanted Heath so fucking badly.
Heath took a step back. “I’m sorry.” He looked defeated. “It’s like I can’t stop proving to you that I’m a terrible person.”
Lust made Court’s brain slow. “What?”
Heath made a helpless gesture. “You’re having a bad time and I’m just—” His hands rose and fell again.
“You’re so dumb.” Court closed the distance between them and took the kiss he wanted. His soul cried out for all the dreams he had lost. Then Heath hauled him closer, and Court let it go. He wanted this. Heath’s kiss scorched him. But the way Heath lovingly held him made Court’s eyes burn. He didn’t grope Court or try to go further.
“Whoa.” Heath’s breathless-sounding whisper sounded every bit as blown away as Court felt. “That was… wow.”
Court chuckled.
They didn’t let go. He couldn’t give up the way Heath’s arms felt around him.
Heath kissed his cheek. “I fucking hate it, but we still should go. Pack a bag for a few days.”
Court didn’t know why he didn’t argue or even question where they were going. He simply nodded and headed for his bedroom with his brain trapped in a fog of lust. Court had no idea where this thing with Heath was headed. All he knew was he didn’t know how to stop.
Heath couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. He wanted to do it again. First, he needed to get Court someplace where he could rest. He wished Court hadn’t found his phone, but there wasn’t much he could do about that. However, Heath knew exactly where to take Court to forget all his troubles. After calling a friend and snagging a private flight, they were in New Orleans just in time to have gumbo for dinner.
For the hundredth time, Court shook his head at Heath as they sat across from each other at one of Heath’s favorite restaurants. “You really just do what you want, don’t you?”
The claim made Heath a little uncomfortable. “I thought you’d already concluded I’m spoiled.”
Court cocked his head to one side and eyed Heath, as if seeing too much. “I don’t know. Obviously, you have access to anything you want, but there’s still something about you. Something that keeps you grounded.”
Heath stared for half a second before responding. “Not really, no.” Court snorted, making Heath smile. Heath chose to be as open with his life as Court had been with his. “There used to be. My grandfather.” A smile touched Heath’s lips and fell away. “I remember when I was like fourteen, he got a brand-new golf cart. It was his baby. I was messing around and drove that sucker straight into the pond at the golf course.”
Court covered his mouth.
Heath couldn’t help but chuckle. “Fuck. He was so mad at me. There had honestly been a part of me that thought, meh. He’ll just buy a new one. Because like you said, spoiled. He was not amused. When we got home, he stripped my bedroom of everything but my bed. Took away everything. He said I had to earn each and every one of my possessions back one by one with acts of service. One act of service equaled one possession. I whined to my dad about how it would take me forever. I thought he would stick up for me and get my things back. Instead, Dad told me to work smarter and not harder. So, I had a brilliant idea. I would volunteer at a homeless shelter, and I’d have my stuff back by the end of the day.” Heath flashed a wry smile. “It was brutal. It was eye opening. But I kept going until I got all my things back and then I kept going because I made friends. So, you know, I’m still spoiled, but my grandpa tried. Of course, he’s dead now, so…”
“Nobody really sees you, do they? Not even you.”
Heath didn’t know how to respond. He found himself turning subconscious. “Don’t worry. I’m still a bad person. You’re still allowed to hate me.”
Court finished his drink. “Nah. I don’t think I will. Are you ready to get out of here? You still have to make it up to me, so I tell everyone you have a little dick and cried afterward.”
He was serious. Holy hell. Heath had never wanted anything more. He paid the bill without meeting Court’s gaze. Heath knew the neediness was in his eyes. The last couple of days had been killing him. It was stupid how badly he wanted the same man he’d loathed a week ago. He stood and finally met Heath’s stare.
“May I walk you back to our room?”
The sweet way Court smiled at his overly gentlemanly tone melted Heath’s heart. “I’d like that.” Court stood and held Heath’s elbow as they headed out and down the street. The air was sticky. Thankfully, the room wasn’t far. It was up a set of ridiculously narrow staircases that forced Heath to move behind Court. It was a good view. Once he let Court inside their room, he wasn’t sure what to do. Despite Court’s words, Heath didn’t want to fall on him like a horny bastard. Court deserved better. Heath’s body lit like a rocket when Court ended being the one who attacked.
Court’s hands were everywhere. He wasn’t gentle. Court pushed and tugged at Heath’s clothes while their mouths clashed. After a moment of absolute insanity, they were half clothed, and Heath realized he didn’t want things to go this way. He didn’t want to race to have Court and cheapen the moment. Heath took control, slowing things down. He held Court’s face between his hands and savored the way their tongues played as he backed Court toward the bed. When the backs of Court’s knees hit the edge of the mattress, he slowly eased Court down before joining him. He worked on divesting them of the remainder of their clothes, but he didn’t rush. Heath wanted to have time to memorize every inch of Court. He kissed a path down Court’s gorgeous chest and stomach before dragging Court’s pants and underwear down his hips. Fuck. Everything about him was perfect for Heath. He fully intended to lick Court’s cock. Instead, he found himself on his back, staring at the ceiling, and wondering how he got there. Court had flipped him so fast. Then his clothes were gone, and his dick was in Court’s mouth. He wanted to argue, but his throat wouldn’t work. Court was fucking masterful. Heath’s hips lifted and his muscles clenched. Again, he was ready to blow in Court’s mouth so fast, it had to be a world record. Court squeezed Heath’s cock at the base, cutting off his orgasm.
A startled cry ripped from Heath.
“Shhh.” Court kept Heath’s cock squeezed while the building pressure ebbed. Heath wondered if he would go blind. “Trust me,” Court whispered as he released him. “I’ve got you.”
Heath couldn’t respond. He couldn’t fucking breathe. The sensation of nearly blowing like lightning combined with the immediate denial had him spinning. All he could do was pant and stare as he watched Court suit up and lube his cock. Then Court’s dick pressed against the tight ring of muscles surrounding his asshole. Heath couldn’t even tense. His shock still ran too deep.
“Are you still with me?”
Heath nodded, even though he had no idea.
“Good boy. Open up for me. Don’t tense.”
Tense? Heath was like a rag doll, waiting to be played with.
Then Court went root deep and Heath lost control. He became the biggest power bottom to ever power. Heath clawed at Court’s skin, tugging and pulling. He used Court. Heath fucked himself on Court’s body. Court might have pumped inside Heath, but Heath took what he wanted. He likely looked like a madman, tearing at Court to get a single orgasm. Heath already knew he would look back at this night in humiliation because he was a wreck. A needy whore. He whined and whimpered, fighting toward the edge. Court stared down at him, intently watching his every desperate move.
“That’s it, beautiful. You’re almost there.” Court sounded so goddamn calm. Heath was ready to tear off his skin. “Fuck. You look sexy right now. Let me see you blow. I want it.” Goddamn. Heath couldn’t disobey. He cried out as cum shot from him. It was the hardest orgasm he had ever experienced. It felt exactly like he had the one Court denied him plus this one together. His body convulsed. Heath babbled words without recollection. Likely, he begged Court to marry him. His soul was rocked. But he still saw Court with a crystal clarity as his face hardened and his teeth bared. He pumped hard inside Heath, riding the same waves as Heath. In the middle of the biggest emotional storm of his life, Heath swore his thoughts were clearer than ever before. He knew exactly why he had hated Court so much. Court belonged to him, and he never wanted to see Court on the arm of another man again, or so help Heath. He would kill him.
There was a reason Court had steered clear of Heath over the past few years, besides the obvious hating him. Court had been so deeply infatuated with Heath at one time, it had definitely turned to love. He was scared shitless of the way Heath made him feel. Court had tried locking down his emotions and simply fucking Heath. But Heath hadn’t shut down and Court couldn’t unsee every emotion Heath had shown him. Now Heath held Court in a way he had needed for years. Heath had done so through every second of the night and Court had barely slept for fear of losing the arms around him. Why did Heath have to turn out to be so goddamn perfect? Court didn’t know if the cracks in his heart were healing or getting wider. Heath threatened every aspect of Court’s life, from his job to his sanity.
Soft lips brushed his forehead. “Why are you having such a hard time sleeping? Are you worried about your dad?”
Unexpectedly, Court found himself fighting back tears. There was the perfection again. He didn’t know how to shield himself. Court swallowed. “I suppose.”
“Hmm.” Heath’s fingertips trailed up and down Court’s spine. “I see. You’re drawing a picture in your head of all the ways I’ll fuck up your life.”
Despite himself, Court smiled. “Maybe.”
Heath gently rolled, tucking Court beneath him. He stared down at Court. “You’re not wrong.”
Court’s throat immediately swelled.
Heath didn’t stop. “I like you.” He chuckled. “Those are words I never thought I’d say, but I do. You’re smart, sexy, and amazing. I like you.”
“This sounds an awful lot like the ‘I like you but’ speech.”
Heath shook his head. “But yeah, in a way.” Court wanted to shove him away and break his nose, but he couldn’t move, and Heath didn’t stop talking. “I like you, but I can’t watch you go out with other guys. Yeah, I know. It’s your job and you don’t have sex for money, but I want you to be with me.” Heath swallowed. He looked truly vulnerable in a way Court had always wanted to see. “I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
Widening. The cracks in his heart were widening. “That’s incredibly sweet and I understand, but—like you said—it’s my job. My dad has sucked me dry for years.” He desperately wanted Heath to know it wasn’t him. Heath wasn’t the problem. His fucked-up life was. “I’m barely hanging on and I could never afford to simply quit.” Defeat washed over him. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized exactly how badly he wanted to stop pretending to enjoy being on the arm of old rich men. He wanted to sit home and be in love. Court craved a quiet life.
“Okay. Then let me take care of you.”
Court’s chest hurt. “I could never ask that of you. You’d always wonder if I only wanted your money.”
Heath looked scarily intense. “You’re not asking me. I’m asking you. If you need more security than my word, we’ll do an indefinite contract. I’m asking you to choose me.”
Frustration welled in Court. “It’s been one night.”
“It’s more than that and you know it.”
The conviction in Heath’s eyes couldn’t be missed. He honestly wanted this. “A trial period.”
A smile exploded across Heath’s face and Court already knew he had lost. “You won’t regret me.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about.” Court really needed Heath to understand. “It’s one thing for people to see me on your arm at the golf course. It’s a whole other for people to see us as a real couple. People won’t envy you. I’m still the whore you painted me to be in school in the eyes of everyone in the community. I’m not one of you. Not really. I’m just a high-priced toy. How long until you’re embarrassed by that?”
Heath kissed him. It was sweet. “Have some faith in me.” Their kiss deepened and Court’s walls fell. God help him. He believed, and he had never been more terrified in his life.