Page 19 of Xtasy

“I’m fine,” Atlas lied. “One of the jets hit a sore spot. That’s all.”

Hawk laughed. “I’m sorry for all the sore spots. That’s on me I believe.”

“I believe you are correct…and I love every ache. They remind me of what we’ve shared.”

Ambrose leaned against the hot tub. “You two are so cute together,” he cooed. “Now, what’s for dinner?”

“Whatever you brought, I guess,” Hawk answered. “Atlas and I have been working today—no time for cooking.”

“Working? Is that what you kids call it these days?” Ambrose joked. “Thankfully, I ordered Chinese, and it should be getting here any minute now. Dry off and let’s gorge ourselves to celebrate the huge success of opening night.”

As they climbed out of the hot tub, Atlas, careful to make sure Hawk’s muscular body kept his hidden as he hustled to get his lower half covered up, Hawk asked Ambrose, “What did you do to pass your day? Just sit around and bask in your glory?”

Ambrose turned back to face them. “No, I did a bit of shopping—something to help celebrate the success.” Then he winked at Atlas.

Atlas felt like he might pass out. There was going to be another gift. Ambrose had winked…right in front of Hawk. And, because of the friendship between the two men, Hawk didn’t mind at all, wasn’t at all suspicious. Yep, Atlas was going to be sick. He couldn’t be around both men and pretend nothing was wrong. “If it’s alright with you, Hawk, I think I’m going to call it a night. I have some work to catch up on. I’m getting behind with my job.”

“Sure, babe. Whatever you think is best. Don’t let me keep you from things you need to be doing. If I have my way, you’ll be with me twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You have to learn to tell me when there are things you need to do.” Then Hawk kissed him slowly and thoroughly. “Let me call a car to pick you up. I know you have to be exhausted, I am.”

A bell chimed, letting them know the Chinese had arrived.

“No, I’m fine, Hawk. Let me grab my clothes and I’ll be on my way.” He stood on his tip toes and tried to answer Hawk’s kiss with fire of his own. “Call me. Please.”

“No doubt about it, babe. When do you think you’ll be finished with your work? I’ll call tonight if you have time.”

“Midnight. I’ll be waiting for your call.” Atlas answered with a huge grin.

****

As soon as Atlas walked out the door and Hawk made sure to see that he was safely driving down the street, he went upstairs to where Ambrose was busy placing the Chinese onto serving platters. The table was already set for three. Ambrose looked up and frowned. “Where did your boyfriend go? Doesn’t he like Chinese food?”

Hawk stood there, thoughts tumbling around in his brain. Something had been wrong with Atlas and his quick departure and he suspected it had nothing to do with Chinese food, but he had no clue as to what could have bothered him enough to make him run scared—not after everything they’d shared.Fuck, what if he had changed his mind after he'd had time to think about what he’d heard today?

“Shit, Ambrose. I may have really fucked it up with Atlas today. I took him to meet the team, wanted to introduce him to some more of my friends. He, well, he heard some things that weren’t good. What if I’ve scared him away?”

Ambrose laughed softly. “First of all, I’ve never heard you be a whiney-ass before. It’s simply delightful—lets me know you are falling madly in love with this kid. Second, did you ask him if he was upset about what he heard? Did you try to clear things up?”

Hawk went over the conversations he and Atlas had while they’d been with Wallace and the rest of the team. If Atlas had been lying not blaming Hawk for a fucked-up mission, the boy was a damn good liar.

And Hawk didn’t believe for one minute that Atlas had a dishonest bone in his body. No, it had to be something else.

“Don’t look so devastated over there, my friend. Maybe he just doesn’t like me?” Ambrose suggested. “It was my arrival that seemed to send him running.” Ambrose worked to open a bottle of wine. “Did he maybe see me doing something at the opening that scared him? I am a sadist, Hawk—something I think your boy would have zero taste for.”

“Nah, it’s not that. We left before anything started. I needed to be inside him more than I needed to take my next breath.” He shrugged an unfelt apology toward Ambrose. “Sorry, but we ditched you in exchange for the best sex I’ve ever had in my life.”

“Was I obnoxious on the plane?” Ambrose asked.

“No. Was I?” Hawk countered.

“Obnoxiously smitten with Atlas, but that was all.”

“Maybe he just doesn’t like me?” Ambrose suggested. “Which would be weird because everybody likes me.”

Hawk rolled his eyes. “Nobody likes you, Ambrose. Just me.”

“That’s true,” Ambrose conceded, not caring at all. A sadist simply didn’t worry about such things as other people’s feelings…except for Hawk’s feelings, of course. He did love Hawk. Always had and always would and because Hawk was falling in love with Atlas, he would love the boy as well.

“Talk to him about it tonight. It’s best to keep everything out in the open…at least that’s what I’ve heard other people say about relationships.”

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