Fascination Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3 Read online

  The day had been sunny for the first time in months when I left the office, but tonight it had rained, and then rained some more, and now my mood was in tune with the weather. I found myself in no disposition to be dicking around with some bald-headed billionaire who couldn’t get a date, and had to pay someone to shoot the shit with.

  I rushed into the ballroom of the Gold Country Club, not expecting much and mercifully late, but not late enough where I could inform Phillip that someone else had claimed that wonderful human being Glisson had to be to donate a lot of money to a worthy cause—his.

  Breathless and rain soaked, my suit had shrunk a few sizes too small as I glanced down at my ankles, and up at the program when I heard the name Glisson. I realized that the bidding had begun, and it was up to seventy-five thousand. I upped the bid to eighty thousand.

  In the back of the large room, out of breath, I could barely see, and I’d left my glasses at home in my rush to be here.

  I heard the MC ask if anyone else wanted to raise the bid on that jerk standing there in a suit, with his shirt unbuttoned, where he looked like just a haze from where I was standing. I raised my hand, hoping the people bidding wouldn’t go higher.

  “Why would anyone want a loser like that?” I muttered, blinking my eyes and narrowing my gaze to see what I’d just bid for.

  I continued my bidding up to one hundred thousand, and that was when the bidding stopped, and that was when I put my hand in my pocket reaching for my phone to text Phillip that the deed was done, and felt my glasses. I hadn’t forgotten them after all. I straightened them over my nose, and looked in the direction of the stage.

  Where the fuck did he come from?

  At one point I believed I’d bid on the wrong man, and there went my business, but when the MC said, “Sold to the young man in the back of the room. Come up and claim your date, because Mr. Glisson can’t wait to meet you.”

  As I strode down the aisle, passing between large round tables covered with white tablecloths, fine crystal stemware, and the country club’s finest china and silverware, to the front of the stage, my vision cleared, and I got a better look.

  This is the wrong man. When I get to the stage, I’ll wake up and realize that I didn’t buy this gorgeous, tall, piece of eye candy. They’ve made a mistake, and now I get the consolation prize, and someone else gets to go home with the man of my dreams.

  Phillip will literally have my ass for this one. He would have me pay for Glisson, because this couldn’t be him. I’d bought the wrong man. Fuck me.

  I thought I heard the MC call him Glisson. As I walked closer, I could see that beautiful tall drink of water waiting for me with a strange closed smile. I stood in front of the stage as if mesmerized, staring at this outrageously handsome man with blue eyes as clear as the ocean.

  All manner of thoughts passed through my mind. I couldn’t look away. My pounding heart slid into my throat, my face flushed, but when I took a better look at him, I came to realize that he might be straight, because the way he scowled at me, he hated gay men, and he knew that I was gay. Just how he knew, I didn’t know yet.

  What the fuck would I have in common with a man who was straight? Not even a good blowjob. Then I heard the auctioneer say, “Mr. Glisson, you’re sold to the young man facing you, for one hundred thousand dollars.”

  It was Glisson alright. Now to claim my prize. A prize that wasn’t worth the time I would have to put into this pretense. I couldn’t make-believe that I wasn’t gay, and he couldn’t pretend that he would want to be in my company, not for a day, not for an hour. I could tell by his strained smile and the sweat beading on his forehead, he didn’t want to be here and he didn’t want this, and he couldn’t fake it any longer. He hadn’t expected a man like me to bid on him and win.

  Well, tough shit, you fucking beautiful straight cunt. You’re stuck with me.

  Chapter 6

  Jeremy

  My eyes couldn’t leave that sexy figure as he sauntered up the aisle. It was his stride and that slim lithe body that captured my attention as his rain-soaked clothing clung to every muscle.

  I narrowed my gaze thinking that would give me a better view, but I couldn’t see anything with those fucking bright lights blinding me, so I stumbled closer to the stage, and still he hadn’t come fully into view. I placed my hand on my brow which did nothing, but make me look eager and lame.

  However, I could see his stride through those garish lights. His head held high, confident and with those long legs closing the distance. I knew it wouldn’t be long before I could get a better look at him, and I hoped that he was as beautiful as his body appeared at a distance.

  I didn’t want to spend time with a man that made my cock twitch every time he came near me, but he was more than I expected, or hoped for, and I needed to embrace the idea not run from it. However, I was having a hard enough time trying to keep from letting everyone see the hard on threatening to embarrass me.

  When Jami and Max stood and clapped, I watched a wide smile cross the man’s face as he came into view and stood near their table. I watched his trim lean body move underneath the wet suit and shirt clinging to each magnificent taut muscle. I watched his nipples extend when he took off his jacket, revealing his arousal at seeing me. His green eyes lit up and he raked his fingers back and forth through his hair in a nervous gesture.

  Impatient, I stepped closer to the front of the stage, my feet reaching the edge. I teetered forward, but caught myself. Fortunately, my mind had said not to go any further, and thank God I listened for once, because unknowingly I’d stepped right to the edge of the stage, and one more movement of my foot, and I would find myself in the emergency room. Or worse, falling on top of him. And besides, how would that look, doing a tumble to the floor at his feet?

  I prided myself on being confident and having it all together, from my suit to my careful attention on my hair. How would that look indeed if I fell into that young man’s arms? Or not. Maybe he wouldn’t catch me and I’d be walking around on crutches for months. Or we both would. The date would be over before it started.

  That would have fucked up the “I don’t give a fuck” attitude I had on my face to cover up the truth—I had just found the one man I would come out for—but life wasn’t that simple.

  I couldn’t believe that I’d accepted I would be on a date with a man who had a face far more appealing than most women I’d dated. When the handsome young man neared me and I could see his face, my cock twitched and I grimaced. Fuck. I hope no one saw that, including him.

  When I glanced down and saw where I was standing, I wobbled at the edge of the stage. I frowned and caught myself, then that beautiful young man in the wrinkled suit, drenched from head to toe, narrowed his eyes. I couldn’t say, “No it’s not you I’m frowning at, but my own stupidity.” From his expression, he probably thought it was him I had contempt for.

  It was apparent that at first he’d been pleased at his selection, but when I inadvertently furrowed my brow, he narrowed his eyes, and that smile disappeared along with any hope I had of us having a cordial relationship.

  I meant, a date.

  I couldn’t believe what I was thinking. A relationship? What relationship? I wasn’t an openly gay man, and I wasn’t so sure he was. There was nothing about him that would make me believe that he was, except when he saw me, he smiled. That was only my mind playing games with me, wishing and hoping I’d find someone that would make me shout to the world that I was gay and proud of it.

  I vaguely heard the MC saying that Mr. Glisson Broadbent was the last man to be auctioned, and whoever followed me was a no show. I should have been a no show. What kind of fucking name was Glisson Broadbent? I could imagine what he looked like. I felt like yelling out that my name was Jeremy Westbrook, you fucking morons, and I was a stand in, but I didn’t think Max or Jami would appreciate this behavior at their club.

  As the lights lowered, I was able to get a better look into the audience. Everyone stood and clap
ped after they announced that the event was over, and dinner was being served, then whoever wanted to dance after dinner, was welcome to do so in the ballroom, where the orchestra would be playing soft music while we were eating, and then rock music for dancing.

  The soft music had been piped into the dining hall where we could hear it, and digest the wonderful food prepared by the best chefs from around the world. After this, I was hungry and I warned Max that I needed a rare steak and none of that fucking smoked salmon and caviar, or I would raise bloody hell in front of his snooty guests.

  Leaving the stage, I felt a hand on my elbow lead me to the stairs to my left. As I navigated down the stairway, my eyes trying to adjust to the glare of the stage lights and the dim-lit room, I stopped, because, holy shit, there was Annalisa.

  Who the fuck had told her about this? I knew. Carter must have mentioned it to her. I informed him that I didn’t want anyone there tonight to see me make a fool of myself, and especially not my older brothers Jarrett and Thomas. They wouldn’t have come anyway. They were always busy going from city to city, and small towns, campaigning. What fucking kind of life is that anyway?

  And Carter, he’d probably be busy rubbing his wife’s swollen ankles, because she had to be nine-months pregnant, and due any moment, so there was no way he could take her out, because of her difficult pregnancy.

  As far as Jack, I’d never tell him where I was going, or what I had planned. I didn’t want him showing up and drinking too much, then having everyone think that I was the ass who cursed anyone who looked at him the wrong way. He’d been a soldier and the F-bombs had become a part of his speech. A part of him.

  Finally, my eyes adjusted and I was able to make my way down the stairs.

  I turned my eyes to the young man standing patiently, waiting to speak to me and claim his prize for the night, if you counted me as a prize. He strode over to me, his head held high, but I couldn’t read his expression this time. I didn’t know if he was happy or pissed.

  As I stepped to the bottom of the stairs, my eyes locked with his. Oh, fuck me, but he had stunning green eyes, auburn hair, and when I lowered my gaze to his lips, when he tightened his jaw, his deep dimples made my knees weak, my cock hard, and my balls tingle. A flush of red washed across my face, and my tongue automatically swiped my bottom lip. There wasn’t anything to hide that telling sign that crept across my face.

  At least the pants I wore hid my dick thumping ridiculously crazy behind the expensive fabric of my suit.

  Green Eyes held out his hand, he aimed a forced smile my way, but Annalisa braved through a crowded floor, crossed in front of that handsome man, brushed his hand aside and reached me before the cutie with the dimples. I wanted to be licking that face sometime in the future, have him on his knees before me as I stroked my wet cock, and pounding inside that hard lean body.

  Annalisa grabbed me by the lapels of my open shirt, pulled me into her, giving me a hard kiss, while offering her back to the man who had captured my attention, and the attention of my cock. Annalisa moving back, looked me up and down, then wrapped her arms around my neck, and whispered, “It looks like you’re happy to see me, Jeremy.” I narrowed my gaze at her words. She glanced down at my crouch.

  “Oh yeah. I am.” I gazed across at Green Eyes. That hard on wasn’t for her, but him and by the smirk on his face, he knew it.

  Then her soft lips touched mine hard as she offered me her tongue through parted red lips. I accepted her gift and kissed her even harder, but never closed my eyes. My eyes were focused on that good-looking man standing facing me. My eyes were wide open and then half-lidded, not from the hard kiss I gave Annalisa, but from what I wanted to do to Green Eyes.

  He twisted his mouth in a sly grin.

  Annalisa pulled away, “That was a brave thing you did, Jeremy. I couldn’t have put myself out there the way you did. You could have gotten one of those desperate women, or heaven forbid, a gay man bidding on my man.” She moved in for another kiss, then pulled away. “But instead you have this innocent young man who probably needs a mentor, and a new suit.” She turned slightly and whispered in my ear, “Looking at him, I don’t think he has the money, and I think he’s gay.” She underscored gay, then turned to face Green Eyes and dimples before extending her hand and a fabulous smile.

  Green Eyes heard Annalisa over the music and nearby conversations at tables and that’s why he glowered at hearing her words.

  “Hi, I’m Annalisa, and that gorgeous man you just bought for a week is my fiancé. So, take good care of him and don’t get any funny ideas about utilizing all his time.” She turned to me. “He doesn’t spend enough with me, and we’re engaged.”

  “Why would you say that? It’s not official yet,” I objected. The object of my affection hadn’t said a word. He just looked at me as Annalisa and I aired our disagreements in public.

  Before Annalisa could respond, Green Eyes interrupted, “My name is Dorian. I apologize for being late and wearing these damp clothes. We were supposed to have our first date tonight, but I think I will have to take a raincheck.”

  A chuckle slipped from Annalisa’s mouth. “Yes, of course, a raincheck.”

  “The date I have is with a man named Glisson, and I just found out that your name is Jeremy. Perhaps you’re not my date after all, and no apologies are needed.” Mr. Green Eyes gestured, ready to turn and leave us when I interrupted his departure. I reached for his arm, stopping him. He turned and our eyes connected.

  “It’s a long story. I took Glisson’s place. My name is Jeremy Westbrook.” I held out my hand and he placed his inside mine as our eyes locked, blue with green. We stood with Annalisa looking on with my hand tightening over his, and he allowing me to dominate the handshake. Hell yes he’s gay, I thought. And a bottom. Just my kind of man.

  We might have stood too long staring at each other when Annalisa noticed, grabbed my hand away from Dorian, and squeezed it. I didn’t know what she was trying to prove, but I suspected that she felt threatened. I’d never before given her the impression that I preferred a man over her. But she sensed something that wasn’t right. Maybe it was Dorian’s use of the word date.

  Dorian, seeing that he had made Annalisa uneasy, tried to lessen the uncomfortable position we’d both found ourselves in by talking about the weather. When the weather came into play, that was when the conversation was over and someone needed to leave.

  “It’s been raining all day. I almost didn’t come because of the horrendous weather. We’ll have to postpone until another time,” Green Eyes stated, and then offered me a sweeping smile, where I couldn’t tear my eyes from his plump wet lips. I knew what I wanted to do with those lips. They were perfect. I didn’t want a delay. I wanted to get to know him before he disappeared.

  However, Dorian crossed his arms, and then turned and left. Annalisa looked at me waiting, but I didn’t entertain her with a comment.

  Watching as he walked away and headed in the direction of the bathrooms, I wanted to go after him, but Annalisa placed her fingers under my chin and as she brought my attention to her, she said, “Come on, Jeremy, let’s talk to your friends they’re interesting. I know they’re gay, but then I have a few gay friends too, but your friends are rich. I’d like to know what they do for fun.”

  I wanted to scream that your boyfriend was gay too, but I couldn’t say it, or scream it to the highest hills, because of my straight-laced older brothers who were married to women and into politics. I’d been hiding that part of myself for years, ever since I moved to Seattle to be near my sick parents, and because Max offered me the job of a lifetime where I could be independent, and live the life I always wanted.

  I didn’t do all of what I wanted, but then who did? Maybe my brother, Jack?

  I’d rationalized that one day I would be able to come out of the closet and be who I should have been all along. As the years passed, that became more difficult to do. Then my elderly parents died, and I thought then was the time, but my brothers, Ja
rrett and Thomas got into politics and asked me if there was anything in my past that would come up. I said no, but that wasn’t exactly the truth.

  They’d all but disowned Jack, and he’d conveniently disappeared out of our lives—until now.

  I wanted to say to Jarrett and Thomas, why did it matter what I did with my life? I wasn’t running for office of any kind, that was their lives, their choices, and their wives. Why did I have to be included in this madness?

  I’d gotten lost in my thoughts when Annalisa’s hand pulled me in the direction of the table where Max and his husband Jami sat. It was then I focused my attention. I knew what I had to do.

  “Wait, Annalisa. I need to go to the restroom. At the idea of standing on that stage under those bright lights, I drank too much water in the dressing room. Go introduce yourself to Max and his husband. I’ll be back soon.” I gave Annalisa a small kiss, just a brush of my lips on hers. I gave her another kiss as she was about to open her mouth in protest. I pulled away and hurried in the direction that my cock was leading me.

  When I opened the door to the restroom, Dorian was washing his hands, and he had his wet jacket lying on the counter to the left of him. His shirt clung to his body and I saw the most outstanding chest with very little hair. My pulse beat faster. My breathing quickened out of control. Green eyes glanced up in the mirror to see me standing behind him looking down at his magnificent body—the curve of his back, and his hair in drops of curls caused by the rain.

  I stared, imagining what he would look like with me behind him, my cock in his ass, my fist grabbing his curly hair with him bent forward as he stroked his dick, and I emptied my cum in his tight hole. Unconsciously, my teeth bit down on my bottom lip, and I salivated with the thought of him beneath me.