Page 32 of Forbidden Lust

Speaking of dessert, they were served a chocolate fondue cake with chilli. Josh had never had the combination before, but he’d heard it was divine. It was served with a passionfruit coulis and coconut sorbet, which gave it a tropical edge– not that Josh knew what tropical was. His only time abroad had been with some friends to Gran Canaria, which comprised a week of drinking and fucking. It was fun, but hardly an opportunity to experience other cultures. A cheese platter followed, served with homemade chutneys and artisan crackers. It was all delicious, but Josh couldn’t eat another bite. That was, until they brought out the petit fours– assorted macaroons and dark chocolate truffles. There was room for that. He thought he was going to fall asleep with how full he was.

“Are you ready to go home?” asked Daniel.

He perked up at that, but also wondered if he’d have any energy for sexy times. All he wanted to do was cuddle up next to Daniel and go to sleep. Daniel settled the bill, not letting Josh see the cost. He didn’t even want to imagine, but Daniel had achieved his goal– Josh was suitably wooed.

Walking outside, the cold air was a welcome relief, but Josh wasn’t looking where he was going and collided with a couple.

“Sorry, I didn’t –”

Standing opposite him, looking shocked, was the sperm donor and his wife. Josh knew what she looked like from the photo at Daniel’s place. Oh fuck, Daniel was with him. How were they going to explain this?

“Daniel, fancy seeing you here,” said the wife, pulling him into a big squeezy hug. It reminded Josh of his mum’s hugs.

“And who is this handsome young man?” she asked.

Without missing a beat, Daniel slung his arm around Josh’s shoulder and pulled him close. “This is my boyfriend, Josh.”

What the fuck!

Gavin’s jaw dropped.

“Oh, how wonderful. You kept that quiet,” she said, oblivious to the awkwardness coming from everyone else. “Did you know about this, Gavin?”

“No,” he grumbled, before clearing his throat. “No, it’s news to me.”

“You must both come round for dinner,” she said.

Yeah, that won’t be at all awkward,thought Josh. Gavin was looking at him with absolute fury in his eyes, as Daniel and Mrs Sperm Donor were chatting away about something. Josh wasn’t listening. He was too busy being grateful Gavin didn’t have heat vision, or he would have been killed a hundred times over. They said their goodbyes and left.

“Are you okay?” asked Daniel.

“Why did you say I was your boyfriend?”

“Because you are.”

“I thought we agreed that we’d decide together when he was told, and how.”

“I know, but I wasn’t going to deny who you were, or call you a friend or something. You mean too much to me.”

Ugh, did he have to be so sweet and logical? Josh’s phone beeped.

Sperm donor:Deal’s off.

Josh looked at the phone, stunned. Just like that? It was clear his wife had no idea who Josh was, and he’d just done that. He was fuming. Josh turned to storm back towards the restaurant, clouded by a red mist of anger. It was only because Daniel was gripping him by the arm that he couldn’t move forward.

“Where are you going, Josh?”

“Look at this,” he snapped, holding the phone up to Daniel.

“I’ll talk to him.”

“I can do it myself, thanks.”

“Are you really going to walk into the restaurant we’ve just had a lovely evening in and make a scene? That’s not you, Josh.”

“She has no idea who I am, does she?”

“No, I don’t think she does, which is why this isn’t the way to do it. All you’ll do is end up hurting a very kind woman who is completely innocent in all this. There’s a better way to do this.”

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