Chapter 18
True to his word, on Monday, Nolan prioritized handling all of Kai’s tax information and when he found out that “paperwork” also included opening a bank account, that was also taken care of.
Nolan didn’t make him feel stupid about not having his own account.
He just took care of it and set up an e-mail address so he could also receive electronic deposits.
This meant that on Tuesday, Matteo had everything he needed to give him his first official part-time job.
Matteo looked hella impressed, and, when Nolan picked him up that day, Matteo made sure to come over and talk to him.
Kai could tell that Nolan had managed to earn his respect, and there was already an easy energy between them that made him want to introduce Nolan to his brothers.
Until, of course, he remembered the Liam of it all.
Kai had turned over most of the money he’d earned from this job to Jason for his share of the rent and for groceries under Liam’s watchful eye.
He’d been salty as fuck when Kai returned home on Wednesday, but he didn’t say much for the two days that Kai was there.
The delays on the weekend meant two extra days of work with Matteo, which meant he had a little extra cash in his pocket, so they all took the twins to the discount grocery store in their neighbourhood, giving them a chance to choose one thing each.
Callum chose a bag of Sour Patch Kids, careful not to choose the biggest bag, and Casey, tortellini, which Jason dumped into a can of tomato sauce that they had for dinner.
Kai caught Liam staring at him, an assessing look on his face that Kai didn’t trust. He was sure that it had something to do with the cash in his pocket and the phone that Kai had texted from, just so that they wouldn’t worry when he didn’t come home for a few days.
Liam probably thought the extra cash had come from Nolan.
There was no lying about the phone. He deliberately kept it out of sight in front of everyone, not wanting to have to talk about it, pulling it out to text Nolan only when he had some privacy.
Having it definitely made their time apart a little more bearable, not just for the text messages but also for the hundred or so photos he’d managed to take in the short time he’d had it.
He’d become obsessed with capturing everything: sunrises, sunsets, Nolan cooking, Nolan in bed, Nolan in his cars, Nolan’s side profile, Nolan and him, Nolan doing pretty much anything and his Lego, which he obsessively tinkered with when he could.
The city that he and Katie had started had outgrown her chest, and Nolan had told them they’d figure out a different storage solution.
Before he’d gone home, Nolan had whisked him off to a tailor to choose something to wear for the gala.
Myles had come as well, which had worked out great for Kai.
He’d quickly taken over the appointment after vetoing Nolan’s first two suggestions, ushering Kai into a fitting room and Nolan away from the door.
The awkwardness Kai felt around the other man dissipated.
Myles was actually so cool. He was confident and kind and didn’t treat Kai like he was a piece of trash that had been rude to him the first time they’d met.
“With your looks, it would be a waste to go with something that isn’t killer,” Myles enthused as he brought over a rack of bold tuxes.
Kai had modelled some for Nolan, the heat in his eyes ratcheting Kai’s confidence higher with each reveal.
Kai had learned all kinds of stuff about fashion from Myles, and he’d quickly forgotten to be awkward about Nolan spending outrageous amounts of money on him.
In the end, they’d decided to keep their final choice a surprise, which Nolan had heartily disapproved of, only letting it go when Kai promised that it would be worth the wait.
Standing in front of the mirror now, Kai had no regrets.
He eyed his reflection. Nerves and anticipation whipped through him in equal measure, making him fiddle with the Lego pieces he’d snuck into his trouser pocket when Myles wasn’t looking.
Kai was getting ready for the gala at Nolan’s in the room that he’d slept in on his first night there.
The tux was black with glittering, 3D tropical flowers on the shoulder and a tight, structured corset vest in black and deep teal.
The tie around his throat was the same dark teal.
The corset cinched his waist and made his ass pop just that little extra.
The look was dramatic, but Myles had told him that his dark hair and sharp angles totally suited it, and the salesclerk, Omar, heartily agreed.
Myles had delivered the suit to Nolan’s, fully dressed in a violet and gold tux, with a makeup bag and a separate black box wrapped in a black satin bow.
He’d artfully smeared makeup across Kai’s cheeks and tousled his hair so his skin glowed copper and made him look dark and mysterious.
The contents of the black box, well, that was how he was going to make it up to Nolan later.
Myles had brought him two pairs of suitable underwear options, both black satin, but one had been more of a short boxer style while the other was a thong with ribbon detailing that sat along his hip bones and in the little triangle over his ass.
It was sexy in a way that would have been feminine if it didn’t have an obvious pouch for his cock, but the contrast between the underwear and his distinctly masculine body had been hot as fuck when he stood in the mirror in just that.
It was unlike anything Kai had ever worn before, and Kai had never felt as sexy as he’d felt right then.
It cupped him perfectly, his square shoulders, narrow hips and the slight v of his Adonis belt making a perfect arrow pointing right at his dick.
The soft slide of the satin when he moved was a constant reminder that he’d get to show them off for Nolan later, keeping him in a state of arousal that Kai wasn’t sure he’d survive.
Myles didn’t ask him which one he’d chosen to wear, and Kai felt that was a secret he only wanted Nolan to know.
A light knock on the door jerked Kai out of his reverie.
“Nolan’s ready,” Myles reported, entering the room. “You good?” He brushed down Kai’s jacket and gave his tie one last straightening up.
“Yeah. Just nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous. You look phenomenal. Here. Put a little of this on.” Myles handed Kai a tube of lip gloss just a shade brighter than his natural colour.
The butterflies in his stomach took flight again as they left the room, Kai trailing behind Myles.
Whatever self-consciousness he felt evaporated at the shock on Nolan’s face, but when that look turned equal parts lust and possessiveness, he knew he’d made the right choice.
Kai took a moment to look Nolan over too.
He was fine as hell in black brocade, looking every bit as rich as he was.
Kai felt a flare of smug pride knowing Nolan was going with him, and it was him he’d be taking home at the end of the night.
Nolan let out a long, low whistle.
“Damn, baby. You just reset my fucking brain.” Kai grinned as Nolan closed the distance between them, taking him by the hand and spinning him around before biting down hard on a knuckle.
“Baby, you look like a whole-ass meal,” he said, voice pained.
“How am I supposed to keep my hands off of you all night? Shit, is that a corset?” Nolan groaned. “You’re killing me!”
Kai laughed, blushing fiercely, but he was delighted as hell.
“You’re looking pretty good too, old man.” Kai grinned, draping his arms over Nolan’s shoulder. Nolan slid his hands down to cup his ass, pulling his hips into him so that Kai could feel Nolan’s erection pressing against him.
“I’d feel some way about that old man comment, but I need my brain to get back online first.”
Kai laughed.
“Alright, you two, the limo’s waiting and your cuteness is starting to make me sick,” Myles interjected.
“Yeah, well, you deserve it. You’re the reason he’s looking so fine.” Nolan told him but took Kai’s hand to lead him out.
Kai had never been in the back of a limo, and it was kind of surreal driving through the city, passing by places he’d lingered when there’d been no place else to go, draped in couture that cost more money than Kai had ever seen in his lifetime.
Nolan held his hand lightly between them while he chatted with Myles, but Kai rested his forehead against the window, watching the city go by.
The butterflies had calmed some, but as they pulled into a long queue of limos outside the Chateau de Verre, they came back in full force.
In the distance, he could see cameras going off and people littering a red carpet in long, glittering gowns and sharp tuxes.
Shit, there was press here. Why hadn’t Kai thought about that?
He was suddenly very aware of the rigid dress shoes on his feet as his nervous gaze fixed on the length of red carpet extending over a wide staircase.
He whipped out his phone, pulling up his conversation with Katie, who had been ecstatic to find out he’d gotten a new phone. She texted him all day, every day, even when he couldn’t respond for hours, always super excited when he finally texted back.
Kai:
Are you here?
Katie:
We’re on the way!
Kai:
Hurry up!! I’m freaking out!
Katie:
Why?! You look amazing!!
Kai had sent her a mirror selfie for her approval, and the voice note squeal she’d sent back had been piercing even through the phone.
Kai:
I’m going to fall down these fucking stairs in front of these cameras. I didn’t know there would be cameras!
Kai watched impatiently as the three little dots bounced, stopped and bounced again as Katie typed back her reply.
Katie: