Chapter 21
THEO
ICOULDN’T SEE Shep, but I knew he was watching. I could feel his eyes on me from wherever he hid in the shadows, though every time I’d casually scanned around us, I couldn’t find him.
It was amazing how someone as well known as Shep could so easily disappear when he wanted to.
I guessed the same could be said for me, but considering I wasn’t usually the one being babysat, this was new territory.
If it was anyone else, I’d be fucking livid.
But having Shep watch me, now that was something I could get behind.
Or rather, someone.
Because make no mistake—I’d let him take control during our encounters so far, but giving Shep a taste of his own medicine was in my plans.
There was nothing I wanted more than to have him on his knees for me, bent over for me, any way I could have him, and that was why I was singularly focused on driving him crazy in the meantime.
I leaned toward Yuki holding his fork out to me, speared with a delicious black tiger shrimp. I held his eyes as I wrapped my mouth around the tines and slid it off with my teeth.
Wherever Shep was watching, he wasn’t enjoying this scene half as much as I was.
“Mmm.” I closed my eyes, savoring the flavor, and when I opened them again, Yuki’s attention was on my mouth.
The man was attractive, I couldn’t deny that.
If my cock wasn’t so focused on getting inside Shep, I would definitely be taking Yuki back to my presidential suite.
From the way he was looking at me, I could tell he assumed that was to be the eventual outcome tonight.
It almost made me feel guilty about using him as a prop… almost.
My phone vibrated in my pocket for the first time since we’d arrived.
“My apologies, I need to take this,” I said, and pulled it out. When I saw the message and who it was from, it was all I could do not to grin.
SHEP:
Tell him to back off.
A few seconds later, another one came through.
SHEP:
He looks two seconds away from climbing into your lap.
Jealous?
I typed back.
SHEP:
King said no unnecessary press. Fucking in a restaurant is a surefire way to disregard his orders.
Who said anything about fucking? Maybe I’ll just let him suck me off under the table.
As I sent that off and imagined the explosive reaction I was about to get, I looked up and gave Yuki an apologetic smile. “Sorry, work is never ending.”
“I understand,” he said, but then I felt his foot rub up against mine. “I’m a busy man too, but perhaps we can set work aside for a few hours.”
“You’re absolutely right.” Shep hadn’t sent a response yet, but maybe it was better to make him wait. See how frustrated my silence could make him. I pocketed my phone and gave Yuki my undivided attention. “Now, where were we?”
“You were telling me how long you’ll be in town.”
“Not long enough, I’m afraid.” I let out an exaggerated exhale, like I was really torn up about the fact we wouldn’t be spending a week rolling around on the mattress.
Not that he wasn’t tempting, because he was.
A young, handsome billionaire with a great ass shooting his shot definitely had my dick interested… just not enough.
My phone vibrated against my thigh, and I hid my smile of satisfaction while choosing to ignore it.
“Give me a few hours and I’ll make it worth your while,” he said.
Damn. I had to respect the way he was putting what he wanted on the table.
I lifted my glass of white wine and teased the edge of it along my lower lip. “Now, that I have no doubt about.”
Another vibration in my pocket. Another. And another. I was dying to see what Shep was saying.
Of course he had to get all hot and possessive when I couldn’t flirt back.
“So what are we waiting for? Let me get the check,” Yuki said.
I reached over the table and put a hand on the arm he was raising. “As much as it pains me, I think I’m going to have to decline that very tempting offer.”
“Oh.” Yuki slumped back in his seat. “My mistake. I misread things.”
“No, you didn’t. It’s just the time zones are catching up with me, and I wouldn’t be able to give you my…full attention.”
My phone went off again, and Yuki glanced down at my lap. “Are you sure that’s it?”
I knew what he was asking. Was I involved with someone else?
“I think I’ll go and take care of that check.” Yuki pushed away from the table. “You should take your call. It’s clear you have…business to deal with.”
I felt a twinge of guilt as he walked away from our table, but not enough to stop me from pulling out my phone and reading the rapid-fire texts from the frustrated man watching over me.
SHEP:
Time to make your excuses, Theo. I’m calling your car.
Now you’re not responding? You’re such a shit.
Say goodbye, Theo. NOW.
It’s raining. I’m wet. You’re going to pay for it if you DON’T GET THE FUCK UP AND LEAVE NOW.
While I knew he meant that last text as a threat, that was the farthest thing from my mind as I read it. Shep was in a mood, one that was pushing every single button I had, and if it wasn’t for the fact I was here with someone else, I would’ve already left.
But since that wasn’t an option, and I wanted to hear his pissed-off growl in my ear, I hit his number and wasn’t surprised when he answered before the first ring.
“Get downstairs, now.”
I chuckled and glanced out from the terrace to the park below, where I knew he was positioned. There were lamps sprinkled throughout the public area, but enough trees to provide coverage and shadows for him to hide in.
“But I’m not finished eating my…dinner.”
“Keep pushing, Theo.”
“And you’ll do what? Oh, wait, you mentioned something about making me pay. Would you care to elaborate?”
That sexy growl hit my ears and vibrated down my spine, making my balls tighten.
“Is that a no?”
“That’s a you’re on a date with another man.”
“Oh, so you are jealous.”
“What I am is sick of sitting out here watching you fawn all over your latest boy toy.”
Bullshit. That wasn’t the issue at all, and we both knew it. The difference was that I was happy to admit it, whereas Shep was still in the throes of denial.
“Then admit you’re jealous.”
“Excuse me?”
I glanced up to see Yuki on his way back to the table. “Tell me you’re jealous and I’ll get up and leave now—with you. If you don’t, we both know I have other options.”
Shep didn’t need to know I’d already made my excuses to Yuki. Especially if this finally pushed him to admit what we both already knew.
“If you think for one second I’m going to sit outside this playboy’s penthouse and wait for you to fuck his brains out, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“Then admit you’re jealous.”
“Theo—”
“Admit it,” I pushed. “Then I’ll come home and fuck your brains out instead.”
Oui, I said it. What we were both thinking. What we both wanted. The real question was: would Shep take me up on the offer?
“Would you look at that? Yuki’s on his way back.” When Shep stayed stubbornly silent, I whispered, “Admit it and I’m out the door and yours. Five… Four… Three… Two—”
“I’m jealous.”
I wasn’t sure who was more surprised by his admission. But the second it was out of his mouth and swimming around my head, I was on my feet.
“Five minutes,” I said, looking over the edge of the roof, searching him out, but he remained elusive as ever. Well, not for long, Mr. Winchester. “Be ready for me.”