Nathaniel
NATHANIEL
Not for the first time in the past ten minutes, found himself absentmindedly checking his phone. When he saw there were no new messages, he gave a disappointed grunt, tucked his phone away and continued staring at the book in his lap that he was attempting to read.
It had been a few days since he’d run into Tyler at Pulse, and had been checking his phone with a frequency that irritated him whenever he realized what he was doing. The first annoyance was that he was no schoolboy with a crush, hoping the boy of his dreams would text him back. Secondly, this was Tyler he was thinking about, a man who had every right to want nothing to do with after being abandoned so swiftly.
That last thought came from the part of him that hoped Tyler didn’t message him. Inviting Tyler back into his life when was already on probation in his father’s eyes was inviting disaster. While he knew his father didn’t pay much attention to people he thought were below his standard, had no doubt he would remember Tyler, considering he had been the source of the original problem between them.
And now he was inviting trouble right back into his life, and eagerly at that.
“Damn it all,” he grunted, closing the book and tossing it away.
To his annoyance, the book hit the top of the coffee table, slid, and struck a decorative bowl, the glass container slamming to the ground with a shattering crash.
“Of course,” he said, standing up.
And on cue, the doors to his room swung open, and in walked what could only describe as a living stereotype. Black suit, short, dark hair, and an earpiece in his ear. was more than sure there was a gun hidden somewhere. The only thing the man was missing was a pair of dark shades and he would have fit the stereotype of the shadowy bodyguard exactly.
“Sir, is everything alright?” the man asked.
did his best to contain his annoyance, waving him out. “It’s fine, thank you. I only broke a bowl.”
“Just had to be sure, sir.”
gritted his teeth. “That’s fine, and I asked that you not sit outside my door.”
“We’re only following orders.”
His father’s orders, corrected internally. “And you can keep an eye on me from out in the hall instead of just outside my doors. I would appreciate a measure of privacy and promise to make quite a racket if anything should happen.”
The man watched him momentarily before retreating, closing the doors behind him. could hear him quietly talking to his partner, a man of almost identical appearance, save that his hair was a slightly lighter shade. Their conversation was interrupted by a soft female voice immediately recognized as Sonia. He couldn’t make out the words, but he could hear two sets of quiet footsteps making their way down the carpeted hallway. A moment later, Sonia entered, shaking her head as she closed the door.
“Please tell me you found a way to make them stop lurking,” pleaded.
The older woman smiled. “I informed them that the door outside your personal quarters is a perfectly reasonable vantage point for keeping watch. And that your father’s orders were to keep you safe, not invade every private space you have left.”
Which meant the bedroom, bathroom, and small library that made up his quarters wouldn’t have the black-suited guards lurking. It was a reasonable measure of privacy to weigh against the safety his father was purporting to want. was of the mind that his father was using the excuse to keep him under closer watch.
“Thank you,” he told her gratefully.
Her eyes drifted to the shattered remains of the bowl. “If you didn’t like the bowl, we could have always found you another one.”
sighed. “It was an accident. I was a little too vigorous in tossing my book on the table.”
She opened a small panel beside the door, pulling out a broom and dustpan. “Apparently, the book wasn’t very good if you had to throw it that hard.”
wrinkled his nose. “It isn’t the book. It’s me.”
She began sweeping. “Something on your mind?”
As if on cue, his phone buzzed. He hastily pulled it from his pocket and looked at the message. It was Tyler, alright, asking if would be willing to meet sometime later for coffee.
“My, my, that was quick,” Sonia noted as she swept up the glass. “Have a hot date?”
His cheeks warmed as he stuffed his phone out of sight. “No, nothing like that.”
Never mind the fact that it was amazing Tyler wanted anything to do with him, wasn’t going to push it by entertaining any ideas about more. Well, and as he’d had to remind himself several times, getting involved with Tyler in even a friendly sense would be inviting trouble. Trying to go any further than that might as well send a written invitation to disaster and then welcome it with open arms when it appeared on his doorstep.
“You seem troubled,” she told him.
He hesitated, not wanting to talk about what was on his mind and knowing that whatever he did say would be kept between him and Sonia. This woman had been more present in his life than his father. She had practically raised him and kept his secrets. Hell, she had been the one to cover up his disappearance the other night, knowing full well where he was going.
“Do you remember…” began, touching the phone in his pocket, “Tyler?”
Sonia paused, cocking her head. “That nice boy you brought over a few times?”
nodded. There had only been a few times when had felt comfortable enough to bring Tyler to his house. To his credit, Tyler had tried his best not to seem overly impressed by the sheer opulence. Privately, had thought it was cute, watching Tyler try so hard not to gape at the marble staircases, the crystal chandeliers, or the gold trim that permeated every room.
cleared his throat. “Right, him.”
Sonia beamed. “I remember him quite clearly. The only friend you ever made that was really yours.”
Tyler hadn’t been part of the circle of ’s ‘peers,’ those of rich or highborn blood. He’d been dirt poor, but unlike his peers, Tyler hadn’t been intimidated or irritated by ’s upper-class presence. He’d seemed happy to have a friend, someone he could enjoy being around, without pretense or expectation.
“That’s the one,” repeated.
“What about him?”
“Well, I...may have run into him recently.”
“Oh? Well, that seems like it should be good news.”
winced. “I suppose that depends upon your definition of good news. Considering where I met him and that he wants to meet me again.”
Sonia hesitated. “Meet?”
His eyes widened. “Ah, um, meet, in the literal sense, not?—”
Sonia nodded, turning her attention to the floor to spot any remaining slivers of glass. “I take it to mean that you ran into him the other night on your little excursion.”
“Yes,” he said, not knowing what else he could say.
“And let me guess, you were somewhere you weren’t supposed to be.”
winced. “I...yes.”
“By your father’s standards, not mine.”
That warmed him and gave him the courage to answer truthfully. “Yes. Pulse, though I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the place.”
“Not personally,” she chuckled. “But it’s not the sort of place that’s meant for me.”
“I suppose not,” he admitted.
“So, you ran into an old friend. An old friend who could have been more had you not been found by an outside party who promptly told your father. Who then swept you off to a different part of the country to ensure no one learned about it. That one?”
“Uh,” he hesitated. “Yes?”
“The same cute, earnest, true friend who probably could have been a wonderful partner?”
He blanched, barely managing to squeak out, “Yes?”
Though he wouldn’t call Tyler cute anymore. Sure, when had been a couple of inches taller than him, and Tyler had big doe eyes and an innocent smile. But Tyler had grown, having shot up to the point that he was noticeably taller than and broad enough that couldn’t help but wonder if growth hormones had been involved.
Tyler wasn’t little anymore and wasn’t cute, but he sure as hell caught the eye. almost hadn’t recognized him and might not have at first glance. But once he realized who he’d been looking at, he’d been hard-pressed not to gawk at the man in wonder. Tyler had gotten big, Tyler had gotten strong.
Tyler had gotten hot.
He cleared his throat. “That’s the one, yes.”
Sonia peered up at him as though reading his thoughts and amused by them. “Then, what’s the problem?”
“I think we know what the problem is,” he told her, looking away.
His father.
Sonia sighed. “It doesn’t have to be.”
snorted. “Meeting him would be a bad idea. It would invite?—”
He stopped, realizing he was going down a path he didn’t want to tread. Yes, his old friend had always had a special place in his heart, and seeing Tyler at over six feet tall and strong had certainly had quite a physical effect on him, but that wasn’t the point. Or rather, it wasn’t the point he wanted to bring up to Sonia because there were some things even she didn’t need to know.
“You know what he would say if he found out,” he said instead.
“Yes, if he found out.”
“Which he would.”
“And why is that?”
motioned to the hallway, in the general direction of where his new personal security stood guard. “We both know anything I do or say around them would be reported back.”
Sonia sighed heavily. “This is true. If only there were a way no one would need to know you’ve gone anywhere. Giving you the time and freedom to do what you want without anyone reporting on your doings.”
She’d done it before, but wasn’t eager to ask for her services again. If she were caught covering for him, she would be gone in an instant. didn’t want to risk losing her, and hell, he knew the money she’d earned working for his family, helping to raise him, had gone to her family. Sonia had given up her own family to help him, but it had enabled her to give money to her ailing parents and to help her nieces and nephews over the years.
“Sonia,” he began.
She cut him off. “Which, let’s be honest, you do have that option. The only thing keeping you from taking it is whether you’re willing to risk it.”
“The risk is the problem,” he pointed out.
“Not the risk to the one who might help you,” she said, winking. “Because we both know I can handle myself. It’s whether you really want to see him.”
“I—”
Of course he did, but arguing against it seemed the most logical and practical approach.
“What?” she asked, watching him.
He knew it was trouble, and she surely had to know that. If anyone else but Sonia told him to go out and risk his father’s wrath, he would have been suspicious of their intentions. But this was Sonia, and there was no way she would ever willingly put him in harm’s way.
And he really did want to see Tyler.
Sonia smiled knowingly. “Give me about an hour. And then we’ll get you out of here. You text Tyler back and let him know. Let me handle the rest.”
smiled fondly at her as she slipped out of the room, dustpan in hand. He still wasn’t sure it was a good idea to risk more than he already had. But when he thought about Tyler, the urge to slip out and see him shouted over any wariness he felt.
He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
* * *
By the time he arrived at the café Tyler suggested, the sun was descending toward the horizon. It wasn't crowded despite being right next to a busy intersection. A small seating area sat behind a wrought-iron fence, with scattered tables big enough for two. The smell of coffee was rich every time the door opened, overpowering the smell of the traffic.
He had just reached into his pocket to check the time when a shout caught his attention. Looking up, ’s fingers fumbled over his phone, nearly dropping it, as he saw Tyler jogging toward him.
Tyler was dressed in a pair of loose shorts, and as he jogged forward, could clearly see that he wasn’t wearing underwear. A tight tank top hugged his chest as he hurried up to , the top showing off the expanse of muscle in his chest and arms, and found himself staring at the patch of dark blond hair spread over Tyler’s chest.
“Hey! Sorry if I’m late,” Tyler said as he got closer. “Got caught up at a couple of intersections on the way here.”
“Been running?” asked, feeling a little stupid.
Tyler grinned widely. “Yeah. I try to get in a run every day, sometimes two. When I do my late one, I come here as a treat. Dunno if that’s a good thing or not, though.”
And to his growing horror and arousal, that was the point where Tyler decided to use his shirt to wipe his face free of sweat. was helpless, unable not to stare as Tyler’s stomach came into view. The same dark blond hair from Tyler’s chest formed a straight line over the flat expanse of his stomach, accentuated by the slightest dips where his muscles flexed. The shorts rode low enough to show off the definition of his hips and to display just the top of a dark blond patch of hair.
Well, that confirmed he wasn’t wearing underwear.
“How,” began, swallowing hard, “productive of you.”
“Yeah, well, gotta keep active, you know? Clay and Elliot have been a great help in figuring out my exercise regimen. Don’t know if I could have done it without them...including the parts where they dragged me out to do it.” Tyler dropped his shirt, eyeing carefully. “You okay?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” asked hastily.
“Because you’re a little red in the face. I’d have thought you were the one who’d run here.”
“No, no, I’m fine. Uh, so they’re still in your life, huh?”
Tyler laughed. “Are you still freaked out over Elliot?”
grimaced at the reminder. “He startled me.”
“You about shit yourself.”
“I did not.”
Admittedly, walking into the house to find a colossal man waiting in the living room was unnerving enough. The fact that the man had been cleaning what had to be the largest shotgun had ever seen hadn’t helped.
“It was like one of those jokes about the dad waiting for his daughter’s date,” huffed.
Tyler winked. “He didn’t even know you were coming over. So you don’t have to be worried about him, just like I told you back then.”
In truth, it hadn’t been Elliot who had bothered the most. He was the most obvious potential threat, and his size alone could intimidate. Yet, he was good-natured, fonder of smiling and laughing than scowling or threatening. He couldn’t recall seeing or hearing anything about Elliot that made him seem dangerous, even if he was a former Marine with plenty of combat training.
No, the award for the one who had unnerved the most went to Clay. He was a perfectly average-looking man, save for the unnatural brightness of his eyes. had never been able to define exactly what it was about Clay, but something unnerved him. It wasn’t just the quietness where Clay could move around a space without making the slightest sound. And it wasn’t the quick movements he caught either, sharp and precise. It was something else, and he might even dare to call it intuition.
Eager to change the topic, cleared his throat. “Well, it is nice to know they’re doing well. How about your mother?”
Tyler’s face pinched. “She, uh, passed a couple of years ago. Few months after I graduated.”
“Oh.” Guilt twisted in his gut. “Oh, Tyler, I’m so sorry to hear that.”
Tyler shook his head, looking down at his running shoes. “It’s...well, it’s not okay. But it’s a lot better than it was. A lot happened that year, and it just...I was in a bad place after she died. I’m glad Clay and Elliot were there.”
And so was . He knew how much the two men meant to Tyler. had originally found it strange that two grown men would all but take co-guardianship of a scrawny teenager. He didn’t know how they met, though Tyler always got this awestruck look in his eyes when it was brought up. But considering how clearly they loved him and wanted to help, quickly realized that his initial suspicious reaction was uncalled for.
“Still, I am sorry to hear it. She was a lovely woman,” said truthfully.
He’d liked Tyler’s mother a great deal, even when he first met her. Serena had inner strength and warmth that reminded of Sonia. He’d always wondered what would happen if the two women were to meet, but they’d never had the chance. Before Clay and Elliot, Serena had been Tyler’s whole world, and now she was gone.
Tyler shrugged. “Anyway, let’s go get some coffee and catch up on each other’s lives. They have this one mocha with, like, sea salt, chocolate and raspberries. It’s freaking delicious.”
“I see your tendency to think with your stomach hasn’t diminished over the years,” noted wryly.
Tyler laughed, patting his stomach. “And that’s why all the workouts are necessary.”
“I don’t think you have much to worry about in that department,” told him.
Tyler glanced at him, the corner of his mouth twitching. “That right?”
“I will have to remind my personal trainer to change my workout schedule,” added hastily.
“Maybe I could help with that,” Tyler offered. “C’mon, let’s get some full-fat, sugary drinks.”
Yes, just what he needed, to be in a room where Tyler was grunting, sweating, and every muscle in his body was on display. winced as he followed Tyler, hoping he didn’t give away anything with his expression. The last thing he needed was for Tyler to think was drooling over him.