Chapter Ten
Vegas was a lot more fun than Kirkland had expected.
He had been before and found it a tad boring, to be honest. When he had gone years ago, he hadn’t eaten a single meal he enjoyed.
If he wasn’t gambling, there was nothing much to do.
Kirkland didn’t enjoy slots enough to make a whole week of it.
Two weeks would have sounded like hell if it wasn’t for the fact that he had Fabrice to himself.
With Fabrice at his side, they had uncovered a ton of various experiences throughout Vegas.
Fabrice knew all the best restaurants. The alcohol flowed.
They should have steered clear more than once.
Since they had been more shameless than ever in the bedroom when they went back to their room drunk each night, they kept drinking.
For once in his life, Kirkland felt young.
At least until the alcohol wore off, anyway.
Once that inebriated feeling passed, he felt every minute of his age.
“Do you need anything?”
Fabrice answered for them. “Could we get two more of these vodka lemonade things?”
The server smiled, already anticipating another large tip from them. She never went too far. “Of course, I’ll be right back.”
They went back to playing slots. They were nearly alone in the high-roller room.
The atmosphere was gloriously smoke free and as quiet as a casino could be with thousands of machines set to full blast. They had sat at the same two machines, side by side for hours.
As long as the winnings stayed at a certain level, they didn’t move.
In fact, once they had found two machines that didn’t bore them with nothing more than siphoning money in under two minutes, they had stayed glued to the same two machines each time they gambled.
While they had jumped from casino to casino, where they stayed was the most entertaining.
The Luna was the nicest and had the most to do.
They hadn’t bothered leaving the hotel casino again.
“Here you go.”
They had their shoulders together, leaning against one another. With the server’s reappearance, they parted long enough to retrieve their drinks and tip.
“Thank you.”
“Gracias.”
At the sound of Fabrice’s French accent speaking Spanish, Kirkland couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Do you speak Spanish?”
Fabrice nodded even as he took a drink. The moment he was free to do so, Fabrice answered, “I speak seven languages. Beau provided us with the best education money could buy. What about you? Any hidden skills?”
Kirkland shook his head. “My life hasn’t been like yours. After I ran away, I didn’t go back to school. I got my GED, though.” Even three sheets to the wind, Kirkland felt out of his league with Fabrice.
“Don’t parents get arrested if their kids aren’t in school for too many days, or something like that?”
Kirkland shrugged. He was plastered enough to talk about his life. “I don’t know. When I left, I never looked back.”
“What made you run away in the first place?”
Kirkland couldn’t stop his smile if he wanted to.
“I was an edgy teenager. School called my parents about something new every day. Skipping school, drinking, and being a general hooligan. I got tired of being yelled at all the time. Home life was shitty. My dad sold drugs while my mom worked. All her money went on his books every time he went to jail. Despite being a wild child, I knew if I stayed, I’d end up just like my dad, so I left.
I didn’t figure they’d miss me anyhow, and I was right.
Once I was out of there, it was like a veil lifted.
My anger at life vanished. I think I just chafed against being a child when I knew I was more of an adult than anyone around me. ”
“I can see that about you. There isn’t a childish atom in your body,” Fabrice said the words so matter-of-factly, Kirkland couldn’t laugh.
Kirkland thought about it and then shrugged.
“True. Anyhow, being a bottom dweller with a lowlife dad had made me a lot of sketchy friends. I got a fake ID so I could get a decent-paying job. No one was more surprised than I was when I got hired at such a fancy restaurant.” A thought hit.
“You know, back then, it crossed my mind to work my way toward becoming a chef. Of course, I wasn’t there six months before Rush flipped my life on its head.
” Kirkland realized the past didn’t hurt when he talked to Fabrice.
Nothing could touch him when they were together. Their love overshadowed everything.
“With the fake ID thing, does that mean Rush thought you were over eighteen?”
Kirkland snorted so hard, his nose burned. “No. When your life is that deeply embedded in the world of crime, you have to stay three steps ahead of everyone. No doubt Beau is the same.”
It was Fabrice’s turn to snort. “Try a million steps ahead of everyone. From what I understand, he has always been scary. He started his empire as a teen.”
Despite his curiosity, Kirkland knew from Rush, it didn’t pay to know too much. He didn’t dig. “Are you bored with this yet?”
Fabrice glanced toward the machine where Kirkland gestured. “Yeah. Let’s find something else to get into.”
They cashed out. Kirkland swayed on his feet as he stood. “Damn. We should probably find something to eat before we die of alcohol poisoning.”
“Yeah, that’s probably for the best.”
Hand in hand, they headed for the elevator.
While the casino had several food options, there was a restaurant on the fifth floor they enjoyed the best. As they stepped into the elevator, two giants joined them.
They wore business suits that strained against their massive bodies.
The elevator felt crowded with them there.
The biggest one looked their way. His entire demeanor turned into what could only be described as golden retriever energy. “Fabrice!”
Fabrice focused on the man through obvious beer goggles. “Oh my God, Pytor.” They exchanged hugs before the other man pushed his way in. “Yaro. I wondered if you guys would be in town, but I hadn’t spotted Zander or Maverick, so I assumed not.”
Jealousy stirred in Kirkland. The men were older than Kirkland, but age hadn’t mattered to Fabrice when it came to him.
This pair had everything going for them too.
They were impossible to miss. Kirkland felt lacking in a million ways.
One day, he might get past his insecurities but that day wasn’t today.
Fabrice grabbed his hand and pulled him forward with an excitement that wiped away any doubts. “This is Kirkland, the love of my life. Kirkland, meet Pytor and Yaro. They’re married.”
Kirkland shook hands with them. His drunk mouth got the best of him. “To each other? Does one bed hold you?” Kirkland shocked himself. “I fucking heard myself.” Damn, he’d had way too much to drink.
Thankfully, the couple burst into laughter. Pytor openly had to get himself under control before responding. “Yes, to each other. We are actually in a throuple marriage.” He winked. “And yes, the bed holds us.”
Fabrice smiled like the happiest man in the world. “Wait until you meet Legend. You’ll really get curious about their bed. Don’t get too curious, though. You’re mine.”
“Damn right.” What was wrong with him? Kirkland never behaved like this. He felt crass, but oddly free. Maybe this was the closest he had been to his real self in a long damn while.
“Do you two have plans? We’re securing the back corner of Fifth Floor Steakhouse for Zander and Maverick. You should join us.”
Kirkland looked at Fabrice. These were his friends. He should be the one to choose.
“Of course. That’s where we were headed. We’d love to spend time with you guys. Is Legend escorting Zander?”
Yaro nodded. “Maverick and he are enough protection for the elevator ride. Did you bring your gun?”
Kirkland looked Fabrice’s way again. He wanted badly to ask who these people were. “Nah. I’ve got Kirkland, and I knew we’d be here. In Vegas or not, I knew Zander wouldn’t let anything happen to me in his hotel.”
Pytor focused on Kirkland. “You armed?”
“No.” He didn’t know if that was the answer he sought, but he wasn’t.
Pytor unceremoniously patted him down. “No offense. I had to know if you’re strong enough to keep Fabrice safe.” He turned the attention to Fabrice and spoke in what sounded like Russian.
Fabrice blushed, but he also chuckled before responding in perfect Russian.
Kirkland had a feeling he didn’t know as much about Fabrice as he should.
Beau, he knew. These men seemed just as dangerous.
He needed to sober up. Kirkland might actually have to protect Fabrice. God knew he didn’t feel safe.
Hanging out with Russians meant copious amounts of alcohol.
Everyone was three sheets to the wind, except Pytor and Yaro, who were obviously too damn big to get drunk.
Plus, they had to protect Zander. Zander Kapra ran the Russian mafia.
He was great. Fabrice had always adored him.
The things he did for the community and for children across the world were incredible. He was a good man, no matter his title.
“This is one of the most amazing chefs on the planet.” Fabrice blushed at Zander’s compliment, even though everyone there had eaten his food at some point. “Beau let me steal him once to cater a charity event. I’ve spent years trying to talk Beau into letting me hire him permanently.”
Kirkland stayed focused on Zander.
Fabrice couldn’t look at anyone except him. That was his man. He was so sexy.
Zander and Kirkland seemed oblivious to Fabrice’s dreamy thoughts.
“Since he’s adamant Fabrice can’t be replaced, it’s a good thing for us Phoenix came home to work for us.”
That caught Fabrice’s attention. “He’s graduated already? Fuck, I feel old.”
A loud laugh burst from Zander, turning heads. Zander was a blond beauty no one could resist. He was powerful and sexy. That was an irresistible combo. Zander also worshipped the ground his husband walked on, which Fabrice also found appealing.
“You feel old?” Zander exclaimed. “Now I feel old. I’m ancient compared to you.”
Fabrice waved off the statement. “Spare me.” Fabrice lifted his glass. “I know you can still drink me under the table. Santé.” Fabrice tossed back another shot. Everyone followed.
Pytor and Yaro’s other husband, Legend, leaned forward and focused on Kirkland. “How did you two meet?”
Fabrice chuckled. “I relentlessly flirted and stalked him until he gave up and kept me.”
A bark of laughter escaped Kirkland. “It wasn’t as if I didn’t want you. It’s you being ridiculously too young for me.”
Every single person at the table snorted at the same time.
Zander’s husband jumped in. “Age doesn’t mean shit when it’s real. Genuine love doesn’t follow any set of rules. You don’t get to choose. All you can do is hang on for the ride. I know. Zander is older than me.”
“My baby.” Zander kissed him.
Legend focused on Kirkland. “Yaro and Pytor are older than me. Age is a number. If everyone involved are consenting adults with no power imbalance, who the fuck cares?”
Pytor chuckled. “No power dynamics.” He kissed Legend in a way that definitely should have made everyone uncomfortable. Then Pytor pushed Legend toward Yaro, who sat on Legend’s other side.
Yaro kissed him every bit as violently. When he pulled away, he didn’t release the front of Legend’s shirt, refusing to let him look away. “Who owns you?”
“My sexy husbands.”
“Damn right.” He released Legend, and the three acted as if nothing had happened.
Fabrice fought a sigh. “I love the possessiveness. That’s the Frenchman in me. Passion in all things worthwhile.”
Pytor gave him a sharp nod. He motioned between Kirkland and him. “When will you two marry? Don’t let him waste your time if he doesn’t intend to give you his last name.”
Even drunk off his ass, the comment embarrassed Fabrice.
He didn’t want Kirkland pushed into anything.
It might feel as if they had been together for much longer than they had been, since they had spent so much time gravitating toward each other.
In reality, they hadn’t been together long enough to discuss marriage.
Love was one thing. Marriage sounded like insanity.
Only because he had barely gotten Kirkland to agree to date him.
Marriage was likely an idea he shouldn’t bother to get in his head.
“Maybe I want his last name.”
Fabrice’s head whipped around so fast, he pulled a muscle. He would feel that one in the morning. Fabrice couldn’t look away from Kirkland. Had he really just said that?
Kirkland held his stare. “You know my last name means less than nothing to me. It’s not even my real surname. Your name means something to me. It feels like home.”
“Holy fucking shit. Mon Dieu. Did you really just say that? You? The one who made me chase him like a psycho.”
A sweet smile touched Kirkland’s lips. He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable.
In fact, his expression said he had never meant anything so much in his life.
“I love you. You know the chasing was because I couldn’t believe someone like you would want me.
I thought it was all a game to you. Waiting so long to be together had nothing to do with how I feel about you.
You stole my heart the first time I met you. ”
“When I hit you with a spoon for trying to tell my staff what to do?”
A huge smile exploded across Kirkland’s face. “Yes. Right then.”
Fabrice’s shoulders fell. “Well, fuck. If I had known that sooner, I would’ve tied you to the bed until you accepted you’re my man.”
The way Kirkland laughed was everything. He was the one. Fabrice didn’t have a single doubt.
“You know, we have a wedding chapel here.”
Kirkland looked Zander’s way at the comment. “Don’t we have to have some type of paperwork?”
Zander looked insulted. “You don’t need paperwork. You have me. I can have your marriage license in five minutes.”
Kirkland’s expression made him look as if he still couldn’t wrap his mind around how easily Zander could get this done for them. “We don’t have rings.”
“There’s a jewelry store on-site as well.”
Kirkland’s gaze swung Fabrice’s way. “You know what? There’s nothing I’d love more than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
To Fabrice’s shock, he didn’t back down. He loved Kirkland. There was nothing he wanted more either. In fact, the longer he thought about it, the more he wanted to marry Kirkland.
“You know what? Yes.”
Equally huge grins spread across their faces. It didn’t matter if they were insane or not. They were in love. Love eclipsed everything.