Page 75 of Collin: Episodes 1-3
Collin flushed, not that it showed. His face was already hot from the spicy food. “Would you help me relieve myself, sir?”
Mr. Reevesworth’s lips eased into a small smile. “Of course, Collin.”
He folded his napkin and made to stand. Collin stepped back to let him out.
All the way back to the table after relieving himself in the bathroom, he kept repeating to himself in his head, “Damian’s been through this too. Damian’s been through this too.”
He still had his eyes fixed on the floor when he scooted back into his seat. A bit of grilled meat dipped into one of the sauces hit his rice bowl. He flinched and looked up. Damian met his eyes, not smiling and not mocking. There was a moment with nothing said, and then Damian grunted, his mouth evidently full. He waved his chopsticks at the meat.
Collin gave him a wavering smile and put the meat into his mouth.
Perfection. He had to take Alice to a place like this someday.
Toward the end of the feast, Mr. Moreau sat up straight and raised the second shot glass of the night. “Before we conclude, we have one more thing to celebrate. Collin, Richard.” He nodded toward both and drank.
Damian repeated the gesture. Awkward pleasure crawled up Collin’s neck. He dropped his eyes, but Damian pushed a glass toward him. He picked it up and drank with Mr. Reevesworth, nodding toward Mr. Moreau and Damian.
As they left, Damian put an arm around Collin, leading him out first. They chatted about nothing until they were in the street with the sounds of cars filling the air. Then Damian leaned into Collin’s ear. “Normally, we drink more. I don’t think Mr. Reevesworth wanted anyone incapacitated tonight.” He glanced back. Collin looked with him. Mr. Reevesworth and Mr. Moreau were walking together, hands interlaced, heads bowed together in conversation.
“They look…perfect.”
“Soulmates.” Damian nodded. “Someday, I hope to find someone like that for me.”
Inside The Residence, there was a small wait at the door for everyone to remove their shoes and either go barefoot in Damian’s case or put on house slippers as in Mr. Moreau’s case. Collin padded inside in his socks as did Mr. Reevesworth, who disappeared toward his bedroom at once.
Damian pulled off his coat and jacket and tossed them over the back of his chair. He moved toward Collin as he loosened his tie. “Can I kiss you?”
Collin blinked. “I-I don’t know.”
Damian tilted his head to the side, sizing Collin up. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know if I’m allowed.”
“And if we were allowed?”
Collin bit his lip. “I wouldn’t…mind trying?”
Damian shook his head. “You’re not giving me a big wallop of confidence, kid.”
“Well, you’re a big, intimidating businessman. Forgive me if you make me fucking nervous.”
Damian smirked. He grabbed Collin’s arm and dragged him into the hall toward Mr. Reevesworth and Mr. Moreau’s bedroom. The door was open, and Mr. Reevesworth was bare chested in the process of changing out of his suit.
“Sir? Permission to kiss Collin?”
Mr. Reevesworth turned around. He looked between Collin and Damian and stepped toward the walk-in closet. “Dear, you might want to come out. Damian wants to kiss the kitten.”
Mr. Moreau stepped into the bedroom, his shirt unbuttoned and hanging from his shoulders. He’d already changed his pants into something shiny and slippery that looked like silk. “Is that so?”
Damian dragged Collin deeper into the room. He swung him around and pushed him up against the wall, one muscular thigh sliding between Collin’s legs. He pressed Collin’s wrists together and pushed them up above his head in one hand. His free hand slapped against the wall.
Collin shuddered. His eyes sought Damian’s face. But there was too much intensity there.
“What’s your safe word, Collin?”
“Red.” Collin’s chest rose and fell.
“Classic.” Damian’s eyes examined Collin’s lips. “Still intimidated?”
