Chapter Nineteen
Keston
Before Bailey got the wrong idea, I wanted to explain what I meant, but when I opened my mouth to speak, his tongue pushed inside and I forgot what I was about to say.
“Come to the bedroom with me.” He rocked the bulge of his thick cock against mine, and I held his face, continuing to press kisses on his throat. As it happened every time, my brain switched off, and all I could do was feel.
We shed our clothes, leaving them scattered on the shining floor, and jumped on the bed.
Bailey took my dick fully while sliding his fingers over my balls.
I trembled from head to toe, caught between wanting to melt into his now-familiar scent and being afraid to give in because in doing so, I’d be moving on from my safe life to something I never thought to have again.
Having no idea how my mind spun in multiple directions, Bailey continued his assault on my body. “I need you tonight,” he whispered and sucked my cock. Broken, desperate sounds fell from my lips, and I lost myself in his hot, wet mouth.
“Bailey, Bailey,” I moaned, consumed by the fire bursting through me, and I came, shouting his name. His throat convulsed and he swallowed my release, his fingers digging into my thighs.
“I’m so caught up in you.” He rested his head on my shoulder, and I rolled him to his back. Our eyes met, and his expression was hesitant. “You’re still staying with me tonight, aren’t you?”
I didn’t like seeing him so uncertain. Bailey was a bright light…my personal sun who chased away the darkness.
“Yeah. And you’re making me coffee in the morning, Barista Boy.”
His laugh turned into a sigh of pleasure as I worked his stiff length with my hand from root to sticky tip while licking the sensitive head. His hips rolled, and our gazes held as he panted. I wanted to see him fall apart. From me. For me.
“Don’t stop. Oh God,” he cried out. His eyes turned hazy and his body shuddered, but I held on while he bucked and came. A lazy smile warmed his face, and my heart thumped in double time as the realization struck me that I didn’t want anyone else to ever see him so open and free. He was mine.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, concern twisting his brows. “You have a funny look on your face. Is something wrong?”
I bent and kissed him. “Nothing. Let’s shower.”
On the way to the bathroom, he took my hand and tugged. “Hey. You know I’ll never repeat what you told me. But I’m glad you shared that part of yourself. I know it’s not easy.”
I nodded, and we cleaned up and returned to bed.
Bailey fell asleep with ease, but I remained awake, staring into…
nothing. I might not be that forgotten kid from years ago, but the past had a way of handcuffing itself to you and throwing away the key.
I still wasn’t sure I belonged here. Or deserved to be happy.
Bailey shifted closer, and I scooped him to me. “What’s wrong?” he murmured sleepily.
“Nothing. Go back to sleep.”
He sighed, and his lashes fluttered closed against my chest. I played with the curling edges of his silky hair, my mind unable to settle.
Shouldn’t it only be once that your stars aligned?
I’d never believed in destiny, but it had brought me Carlos, so I’d accepted it.
Now here came Bailey, smashing through every damn brick in the wall, and on the other side, fate awaited again with an outstretched hand.
All I had to do was take it, and I’d be free.
I finally closed my eyes…and awoke to a kiss. I blinked to awareness to see Bailey standing by my side with a steaming mug in his hand.
“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. It’s eight. Time to wake up.”
“Fuck.” I groaned and flung my arms out to stretch. “What time did we get to sleep last night? Feels like I just closed my eyes.”
The bed dipped, and I scooted over to make room for him.
“Well, I conked out right away, but I know you were up because each time I opened my eyes, I saw you were awake. It wasn’t until around four a.m. that I saw you asleep.
” He handed me the cup. “Your barista is here with your coffee order. As sinful as you. Black with a kick of cinnamon.”
I drank. “Damn, that’s good. Thanks.” I yawned. “Yeah, I guess it was sleeping in an unfamiliar bed.”
Bailey smirked. “Nice try, but come up with a better lie. You slept fine the first time you were here and up in the cabin.” Concern filled his eyes. “Is everything okay? Is something bothering you from last night?”
My stomach cramped but not from the coffee. I couldn’t let Bailey think it was him. “No.” I held his gaze. “Nothing’s wrong. That’s just it. Everything is good. Really, really good.”
Those big blue eyes lit up. “Yeah, I think so.” He got to his feet. “I showered already, so it’s all yours. And I have bagels if you want me to toast one for you.”
I made a face. “I don’t toast. What kind?”
“Oh, you’re one of those. I have plain, everything, and sesame.”
“I’ll take an everything with cream cheese, please.”
“Got it. And I brought your bag in.” He shifted on his feet, suddenly nervous. “Uh…if you want, you can leave your toothbrush and stuff here for tonight. You know, if you come back.”
Damn, he was cute. I rose and could see Bailey eyeing my morning wood, but I had no time to take care of it, or him. I grinned. “I’d like that. I’ll be out in a few.”
Giving one final, lingering look at my dick, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll get on that.”
I couldn’t resist giving him a kiss. “You’d like to get on this, wouldn’t you?” I rubbed up on him, and he groaned.
“Don’t tease me unless you mean business.” Bailey took me in his hand. “And this is to keep you thinking about me all day.”
He sank to his knees, and using his tongue on my shaft and his fingers playing with my ass, had me coming hot and heavy down his throat in a minute flat. When he stood and kissed me, I could taste myself on his gleaming lips, and I held him close.
“You think I could forget you?” I cupped his ass and played with his rim, teasing and pushing inside him until I felt a warm, sticky wetness spread over my stomach. “And that’s so you understand. No one gets to touch you like I do.”
He kissed me. “No one ever has.”
I went to shower, and when I came out, dressed in my jeans and a sweater, Bailey had put on his slacks and a shirt and had a tie slung around his neck. I sat across from him but didn’t start eating.
“Do you ever dress casually for the office?”
Bailey glanced at his shirt and frowned. “No, I always wear a suit. Why?”
I picked up my bagel and took a bite to stall. “I don’t know. I guess to be more comfortable?”
“I’m fine wearing this. I can’t exactly go before a judge in jeans and sneakers.”
“Why not? Do they have a dress code?”
In the middle of eating his bagel, Bailey set it on the plate and directed a hard stare at me. “Why all the questions? Does it bother you that I wear a suit and tie?”
“No, I don’t care. Just curious.” I took another big bite out of my bagel.
It was true. Bailey in a suit was fucking hot. Guess I was as guilty of judging Bailey as Ambrose, and I’d better change that mindset in a hurry if Bailey and I were going to have a chance. Time for me to stop worrying about what Ambrose might think about my life.
While we cleaned up together, I couldn’t help comparing Bailey’s apartment to mine.
I liked my apartment, but I hadn’t changed a thing since Carlos died.
It was his books on the shelves, his art on the walls.
The furniture wasn’t my style, but I couldn’t muster the nerve to redecorate.
Why should the kind of chair I sit on matter?
Hell, I hadn’t even gotten rid of his razor and cologne on the bathroom shelf.
Even now, I still found myself referring to it as “Carlos’s place. ”
Bailey’s co-op was the opposite of him—low key and neutral.
I’d expected it to reflect his personality, with loud colors and cheerful, bright art and a touch of chaos.
Instead, it was furnished with a beige couch and a club chair.
White cabinets and pale-green and white tile in the kitchen.
Light oak furniture and several pieces of pottery and sculptures.
“What is it?” Bailey stood in front of me. “You’ve been looking around like you’ve forgotten something.”
“No, I’m just thinking. Who decorated your place? It’s nice.”
Bailey’s lips twitched. “Me.”
“Really?”
He snickered. “My taste in decorating is only surpassed by my taste in men.” He ran his tongue across his lips, and my face heated.
“Idiot,” I murmured. “I just figured you’d have more ultra-modern stuff. Single guy and all that.”
“Well, I must confess my secretary’s boyfriend works for an interior designer, and he helped me get some good deals and gave me advice. I was already living here when it went co-op, so I got it as an insider for a great price.” He scanned the rooms. “I love it.”
“So why keep your old house? Sell it, and use the money for something else.” As soon as I spoke, Bailey’s eyes dimmed.
“I don’t want to talk about this right now. I have to get to the office. Ready to go?”
I swung my bag to my shoulder. “Yeah, sure.”
On our way to the subway, I got a text from Ambrose.
Gonna be in a little late.
Everything ok?
Yeah, just gotta stop by the bank. Lucas needs money for the commissary.
I grunted and shoved my phone into my jacket pocket.
“Problems?” Bailey side-eyed me.
About to shrug it off, I thought, What the hell. “Listen, I have a favor to ask. My coworker, Ambrose, has a brother in jail. Got arrested for drugs. Ambrose is convinced Lucas is innocent.”
“And you’re not? Why?”
“ ’Cause the guy’s a piece of shit. From what I was told, he also slaps around his girlfriend.”
Bailey frowned. “So why do you want to help him?”
“Not Lucas. Ambrose. He’s the little brother and always looked up to Lucas. I’ve met the guy, and he’s slick, you know? Doesn’t have a job, yet always has money.”
“That’s a red flag for sure. So what can I do?” We stopped at a red light.
“Most likely nothing, because I’m positive the guy is guilty. He was arrested for possession—cops found coke and fentanyl in his apartment.”
Bailey winced. “Ouch. Yeah, that’s a pretty major felony.” He shrugged. “If you want me to take a look at his case, I’m happy to.”
“I’m sure you’re busy.”
“Yeah, I am, but this is your friend. Send me the info, and I’ll see if there’s anything there. Did he have his own lawyer, or was it Legal Aid?”
“Legal Aid, and that’s also part of the problem. Ambrose thinks the guy just skimmed the file because they have so many cases.”
“It is a problem.”
We approached the 86th Street train station and went through the turnstiles. Waiting for the 1 train, Bailey took out his phone. “Give me the guy’s full name, and if you know it, the date of his arrest. I’ll start when I get to the office.”
I recited what I knew, and we got on the local and transferred to the express at 72nd Street, but not before Bailey gave me a kiss on the platform. We crowded into the subway car. I now appreciated I could walk to work.
“Damn, I haven’t taken a train during rush hour in years. This sucks.”
“Spoiled,” Bailey murmured. “Guess you won’t like it if I get squashed up against you, hmmm?” I had no chance to answer, and he put his hand on my ass, and my eyes widened.
“What’re you doing?” I hissed.
With a face as innocent as a baby’s, Bailey replied, “Giving you something to think about during the day. You know, so you don’t forget me.”
From 72nd Street to 42nd, Bailey teased me with his hands, and it was an effort to control myself. When the train slowed into Times Square, I faced him, attempting a glare but failing because I was too damn worked up from having Bailey’s hands on me. “I’ll see you later. You’re gonna pay for this.”
“I’ll be waiting. See you tonight.” He winked, and I couldn’t help myself.
I grabbed him and planted a kiss on his laughing mouth, then escaped with the crowd onto the platform.
The walk through the tunnel to take the shuttle to the East Side gave me a chance to cool off, yet I continued to think about Bailey.
Why him and not any other guy I’d been with throughout the years?
Yeah, the sex was incredible, but from that first night I spotted him at the club, with those laughing eyes and smart-aleck mouth, he’d planted himself in my head and I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
My phone buzzed again, and it was Grady.
Call me later. You still haven’t told me the whole story of what happened between you and Bailey.
I hesitated, still cringing at the thought of revealing my innermost emotions, but I’d learned to trust Grady and he’d yet to let me down.
K
Seeing the shuttle pull in, I hustled to the platform. Maybe it would be a good thing to talk to Grady about what I had going on with Bailey. He’d understand. Hopefully.
Because I sure as hell didn’t.