Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Clive was an interesting little puzzle.
One Bain wanted to solve badly.
They were making pasta Alfredo with chicken, and Bain’s stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten since the bagel, so he was more than ready for the creamy dish. And that was the only creamy dish he was going to be tasting tonight, he reminded himself as he eyed Clive’s ass again. Xavier trusted him with his clients, and the last thing Bain wanted was to disappoint his friend. But he’d never wanted to break the rules so badly in his life.
As they were setting the table, Bain’s skin pricked as his senses went on alert—right before the doorbell rang.
“Stay in here,” Bain said as he left the kitchen to answer the door. The man on the doorstep was so surprised by Bain, his mouth dropped open.
“Who are you?” he demanded, narrowing his eyes. “Is Clive here?”
“Hi, Andrew,” Clive said from behind Bain. “He’s a friend. You can let him in.”
Bain stepped aside, eyeing the tall man in the gray suit. Objectively, he was kind of good-looking with his thick blond hair and square chin, but his pinched mouth and narrow eyes made him look like he’d swallowed something bad. Bain didn’t like him immediately. Mostly because he knew his was Clive’s lover. He had a proprietary air when he looked at Clive that set Bain’s teeth on edge.
Andrew swept inside like he owned the place, marching up to Clive and bending for a kiss. Clive turned at the last moment so the kiss landed on his cheek. Andrew pouted. “So I’m just a friend now? I thought we were more than that.” He turned, aiming a smug look at Bain. “Who are you?”
Bain narrowed his eyes. “Another…friend.”
Andrew looked him up and down, then turned to Clive. “This guy, Clive? Really?” He sneered as he glanced back to rake his gaze over Bain’s clothes. “A gold belt? He’s so obviously gay.”
A bark of laughter shot out of Clive. “And you aren’t?” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re telling me that you’re judging someone’s sexuality because of a shiny belt? You’re more of an asshole than I thought.” He sighed. “Why are you here, Andrew? I thought you said you didn’t want to date.”
“I changed my mind. Came over here to tell you that. I didn’t expect you to have moved on already.”
“Moved on from what? I was nothing more than a booty call, and I’m sure that’s why you’re here now. Is that what you expected? To just come here for sex before you go back to your closeted life?”
Andrew was silent a moment before he grinned. “Always worked before.”
Despite the grin, the disdain dripping from his words raised the hair on Bain’s entire body. When Andrew turned back to him, Bain had to work not to bash the man’s face in. This guy was a complete tool; Bain couldn’t see what had attracted Clive to him at all. Even his somewhat good looks paled compared to the haughty disdain he brandished like a sword.
Andrew was not hiding his feelings at all while facing Bain’s stare, but he smoothed out his features before turning to Clive. “I’ve missed you. Thought you’d be happy to see me.”
“I’m not, Andrew. You’ve made your feelings more than plain. And, well…” Clive paused and squared his slim shoulders. “The sex really isn’t that good. I’m tired of being a piece you keep on the side, and I’m tired of your lies.”
“I’ve never lied to you. I told you from the beginning exactly what this was about, and you agreed.”
“To what? You coming here whenever you need to scratch an itch? We’ve never even been on a date.”
Sheesh, this loser obviously had no idea how special Clive was. Bain’s hands curled into fists as he resisted the urge to use them. Barely.
A bark of laughter shot out of Andrew. “You don’t leave this house. How were we supposed to do that?”
“That’s not true.” Clive stepped closer and poked his finger into Andrew’s chest. “I do go out. Went out today, in fact. And I would have loved to actually have a real date. I made that plain. You just ignored me because sex is all you’re interested in.”
“So? Like I said, you knew exactly what was going on. And don’t tell me the sex wasn’t good. I happen to know better.”
Bain doubted that.
“Then maybe it was good for you, but it certainly wasn’t for me.”
“I know that’s not true.” Andrew dropped his voice as he gripped Clive’s finger that was still pointed at his chest. When Clive winced, Bain narrowed his eyes and grabbed Andrew’s biceps to yank him back.
“What the fuck? Don’t you touch me!” Andrew snarled at him as he jerked away. He shot a highly derisive glance at Clive before he looked back and had the gall to wink at Bain. “You like knowing that we have sex? That all I’ve had to do is show up here and this agoraphobic freak immediately went ass up for me?”