Fascination Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3 Read online

  I climbed into my car and drove around. Every club or bar I passed had closed for some reason. It had been that long since I’d been out looking for someone to share the night with. When Phillip and I broke up, he’d kept me busy building the firm while he was fucking around, and when we separated, I didn’t want to date until I’d found that special person.

  I had found that special person now, and with my luck, he was engaged to a woman and in the closet.

  I still needed another drink when I found myself circling Max’s club. The one I’d just come from and was glad to get out of. I wasn’t dressed in the correct attire to go back into the ballroom, so I found the nearest bar inside. I strolled in, annoyed and disappointed, but before I got to the bar, the manager stopped me.

  “Sir, you can’t go in there without a coat. We have one if you would like to stay and drink.”

  “I just came from Maxwell Gold’s party and spent one hundred thousand on a charity, and now you tell me I can’t go sit in the bar without a jacket?”

  The manager, a pleasant-looking man in his forties crossed his arms.

  “These aren’t my rules, sir. I’m just the messenger and I work here.”

  “All right.” I needed a drink badly to get over spending money on a man that, looking back in hindsight, wasn’t worth it. The manager brought back a black jacket, and although it matched my shirt and jeans the sleeves were too long. I looked like Charlie Chaplin when he’d starred in the movie The Little Tramp.

  “What do you want to drink?”

  “Something strong.”

  “Anything in particular? Scotch or vodka?”

  “Make it Russian Vodka. The strongest you have.” I sat at the end and stared down at the drink after the bartender poured it and stood in front of me. “I don’t have anything to do now. The crowd is still in the Gold’s party. You look like you need a friend.”

  “He has a friend.”

  “Oh hello, Mr. Gold. I thought you and your husband had left.”

  “No. I can’t leave this early, although I would like to.” Max turned to me, and said, “I see you’ve changed. You’ll have to excuse the dress code. You don’t have to wear a jacket if you don’t want to. A man who donates money to one of my charities can wear whatever he wants. I’ll tell the manager... And the drinks are on me,” Max stated to the bartender, then Max turned back to me, “There’s someone in the back booth who said that you two have unfinished business.”

  I turned on my bar stool and spotted the man with the expensive suit, and blue eyes that would light up the darkest night. “Jeremy asked me if I would talk to you, and convince you that he would like to apologize for being an ass.”

  I stood with my drink in hand, and sauntered over to where Jeremy sat with his fingers curled around his glass, his head down, but before I reached the ornate booth, his eyes met mine. Our eyes locked as his gaze followed me navigating through the tables to get to him. My heart was beating wildly. I could feel the thumping in my throat, and the quiver of my cock in my tight black jeans.

  When I stood in front of him, he said, “I see you’re happy to see me.” He glanced at my groin.

  I offered him a closed smile, and before I could even think, I said, “The way you were when you first laid eyes on me? I’m not here to discuss who wants who more. I think that discussion is debatable and can’t be resolved in one night.”

  “Then, why are you here?”

  “This was the only place I could get a drink,” I admitted.

  “You would have to pass a whole lot of bars before you got here.”

  “Look, if I make you uncomfortable, then I can go home.”

  “You must be single then. Why would you come out in this weather just for a drink, or was it to see me again?”

  “Trust me. It wasn’t to see you,” I protested.

  “Why should I trust you? I don’t even know you,” Jeremy countered.

  “But I know you.”

  I raised an eyebrow and had just turned to walk away, when I heard, “Wait.” Jeremy rose from his seat in the booth. “Don’t go. Sit and have a drink with me.”

  I turned and looked at him. I didn’t see the arrogance I’d seen in the men’s room. There was a warmth in his voice and a flush on his face. It was as if he was waving the white flag of surrender, although I thought it was something convenient at the moment.

  I decided to sit and discuss the things that needed to be discussed. After all, we hadn’t finalized the plans for our dinner, and I wasn’t going to let Jeremy Westbrook get away with not meeting his obligations, especially since I had to put up fifty thousand dollars for his handsome ass.

  When I reached for the chair in front of him and sat, he followed.

  “I’ll have a shot of vodka with lime.” I raised my glass and the bartender came over with my drink in a second. “You’re not drinking?”

  “I think I’ve had enough for the night. You know, you certainly know how to fuck up a man’s night,” Jeremy joked, raising his empty glass. His breath smelled of Scotch. In the restroom earlier, his skin had smelled of shower gel, and aftershave that smelled of cherry.

  Gazing at him, I smiled. What is that scent I smelled on your skin in the restroom?”

  “Lost Cherry.” He smiled wide and winked, and I offered him a closed smile.

  “It smelled wonderful.”

  “I didn’t know that I had such a profound effect on you,” Jeremy said.

  “You don’t,” I lied.

  Jeremy raised his eyes from his glass which had only ice-cubes melting inside. He brought the glass to his lips, and fuck me, he had the most luscious pair of lips I’d ever seen on a man. I didn’t know why I hadn’t noticed them before. Maybe it was because I was fantasizing about his cock, and had forgotten that he had a pair of lips that would have my balls quivering for days.

  With those lips I knew if he kissed me, I would melt in his arms. All kinds of thoughts danced around in my headspace. I saw my life unfold before me with this outrageously handsome man.

  But wait—before I planned my wedding—he was fucking straight, or so he said. But he was with a woman, so now what? I questioned, as I took a drink and locked eyes with him for the umpteenth time.

  “I never met a man who knew nothing about me, question my sexual preference before, especially since I have a fiancée.”

  “You said yourself that you aren’t engaged to her. I think you called her Annalisa, but where is she now?”

  He answered without asking why I’d become focused on Annalisa. “She’s dancing about now. She loves to dance to ballroom music. Me, I don’t dance.”

  “That’s because you’re not dancing with the right person at the right venue.”

  “Oh, do tell,” Jeremy probed, then chuckled.

  “Maybe now is the time to discuss how I’m going to get my money’s worth from this auction. You, Jeremy Westbrook, will be my date for dinner, then I’ll take you to a club, and teach you how to dance. There you don’t need any formal lessons, you just follow my lead, and I’ll have you shaking that hard ass to the beat in a minute.”

  “I have to warn you, I have two left feet.” He smiled at me as if that would turn me off.

  “I have to warn you, I don’t give a damn if you have three, you’re coming with me even if I have to carry you into that club.”

  “I think I have a little more height and weight on me, so you could be in for a surprise. On a serious note, I don’t know if I can be seen in the place you choose. It’s probably a gay bar, isn’t it?”

  “Right first time... but please understand that you do not have a choice. I bought you and you have to do as I ask, or you will forfeit the money I’ve paid for you.”

  “You wouldn’t do that.”

  “Try me.” I took another swallow, locked eyes with Jeremy, and raised my hand for another shot.

  “I could pay the money myself and call everything off.”

  That would save me from having to spend a dime, bu
t when I glanced at Jeremy Westbrook, he was so worth it, with that stunning square jaw and prominent Adam’s apple, those fucking sexy blue eyes that no man should have, but thank God he did, because I could never get enough of gazing into them.

  “I don’t think that’s in the contract. Max was explicit. Once you accepted and signed it, and I wired the money to the bank, which I did a few hours ago, the deal was done. Your handsome ass couldn’t buy your way out of this if you wanted, and I don’t think you want to.”

  We gazed at each other in silence. He didn’t refute what I’d said, so I took that as a yes. I sucked on the lime as he watched my lips, and I saw his tongue swipe his bottom lip. I broke the sexual tension between us then, and created a new one.

  “You’re mine for a week. After that... well, you decide.”

  “And what do you think you will accomplish in a week. When the week is up, I’ll still be straight.”

  “You aren’t straight now, so how does that hold true. You will be gay and you will say it.”

  “In a week? You have lots of confidence in yourself. I can’t say that I do, but I’ll play along with you for now.”

  “That’s because, as you said, you don’t know me. You don’t know my powers of persuasion. Now, I need your phone number—” Jeremy raised an eyebrow. “—where I can text you and tell you what time I’ll pick you up.”

  “Give me your phone,” Jeremy instructed, cupping his palm over his mouth, then grinned, and shook his head. I reached inside my pants pocket, then handed it to him. He quickly tapped in his number, then pushed my phone back across the table, and gushed, “Don’t use that number to send dick pictures.”

  “Why would I do that? That seems to be more your style, because as you know, I’m a bottom, and if I was a betting man, you’re a top in every way. I bet you don’t even let Annalisa climb on you.”

  “I heard my name.” We both looked up in shock. Just when I was thawing Jeremy, Annalisa slid in next to him giving him a quick kiss, then she looked over to see who he was talking to, and said, “Oh, you look different. Doesn’t he look different, Jeremy?”

  I wondered what she meant, but I wouldn’t ask her because she never seemed to be lost for words, and I didn’t want to screw up before I had a chance to work on Jeremy.

  “Yes, he does.”

  “I think I’ve had enough of your friends for today,” she said as she tossed her long blonde hair around. “It’s time to take me home.” Annalisa’s eyes narrowed when she looked over at me. “We have some making up to do. I love when we fight, and then he...”

  She didn’t finish, she just left that in the air as she stared at me. Then, something in her eyes gave her away. She finally saw me as a threat.

  Now why would she feel threatened by me, especially since she “knew” Jeremy was straight? Maybe she knew what I knew and she chose to overlook it. He was a beautiful-looking man and more attractive than Annalisa. Maybe she knew how appealing Jeremy was to women and men alike, and she was willing to overlook it for now until she’d gotten what she wanted—a ring, or a marriage proposal.

  “Come on, Jeremy,” she whispered, and grabbed his leg. I watched Jeremy jump. She probably palmed his cock and he didn’t expect it. That cock had been primed by me and she would get it tonight, and me? I would go home and make love to my fist, again.

  It just wasn’t fair. Life wasn’t fair as my mother had said when my parents discovered that I was gay.

  Jeremy stood, holding on to Annalisa’s hand, or maybe it was her holding his hand, and then he nodded at me. “The drinks are on me,” Jeremy assured, stepping away from the table.

  Annalisa never met my eyes. Jeremy followed her out of the bar as I watched her holding his hand. I couldn’t read his mind, but his body language said that he didn’t want to leave—at least, not with her.

  With me.

  Chapter 8

  Jeremy

  As much as I wanted to be with Dorian, there was no way in hell I could upend my life for a man I’d just met. I didn’t know who the fuck he was. Hell, I didn’t know who the fuck I was. I’d sat with him and thought of nothing but those soft lips, green eyes, that cute smile and, fuck me, those dimples. I’d give a year’s wages just to lick them.

  He should have been the one being auctioned with his statuesque body. The way he held his head high and shoulders back. I wished I’d been that self-assured, then I wouldn’t be afraid to tell my brothers or the business community that I was gay.

  The business community could go fuck themselves, but my brothers? That was another story. They were my only family connection since our parents had died.

  I glanced over at Annalisa and saw she was looking at me the way I wished Dorian had. But why would he gaze at me with anything but sarcasm and criticism? I’d looked up at him and he was staring at me with those fucking stunningly beautiful green eyes.

  Those green eyes were one of a kind. Green is rare, I thought. I’d read in one of those magazine’s in the doctor’s office that only two percent of people on earth had green eyes, and one of them had sat with me as I’d thought of how I would love to look in his eyes when I took him hard.

  That reminded me I had to get a checkup.

  Where the fuck was I going to find the time now? I had Annalisa complaining that I didn’t have time for her, and then I’d just met Dorian who wanted to show me the other side of the life I’d missed by insisting on being straight. Yeah, I’d perpetrated a fraud for nearly fourteen years. I thought I could manage for another couple until I could find the courage to break the news to my loving brothers Thomas, Carter, and Jarrett. Jarrett would never forgive me if I messed up his chances to become governor. Maybe I could send Jack dressed as me and let him tell them. Like that, I didn’t have to face them and the backlash that was sure to follow.

  Jack was a bad idea, because he’d refuse right off.

  “What are you thinking about, Jeremy? I bet I can guess,” Annalisa whispered, and grabbed and palmed my cock as I drove into my garage. She couldn’t have guessed in a million years, and thank God she couldn’t read my mind. I aimed a closed smile at her and shot her a wink. Annalisa appeared to be satisfied—for now.

  “I have to warn you, Jack is sleeping over just in case you run into him. However, I think he took one of the guestrooms in the far end of the apartment.”

  “Jack, the twin brother you told me about. The one that’s gay?” She closed her eyes as if she didn’t want to hear my answer.

  “Yes. Jack is gay. He showed up earlier.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me before, I would have asked you to drop me home.” I knew her opinions about Jack and gay men.

  “I forgot.”

  “I guess I just have to get used to the idea that you have a gay twin brother. What a waste.”

  “It’s Jack’s life, not yours. You live your life the way you want and he does too. He doesn’t hurt anyone, but I can’t say the same about some people.” I glanced over at her. After we left the car, we didn’t talk. Not about Jack or about how I couldn’t function with her.

  Annalisa had stayed over because it was too late for me to drive across town, and because we hadn’t been together in a month, or had sex for longer than that.

  I made an excuse that it was the liquor that had me soft, and it would get better next time. After she found out that Jack was sleeping in the house, she didn’t want to have sex anymore either, which suited me, because now I could sleep and dream about Green Eyes sleeping in my arms.

  I wouldn’t even let her give me a blowjob, because her heart wasn’t in it, which she said was odd for me. The time Annalisa and I’d been together, I’d discovered different ways to satisfy myself with her, but that involved a lot of closing my eyes, visualizing handsome men I’d seen in restaurants, on business trips, and heaven forbid, watching porn. I didn’t know how long I could keep this up, or keep my dick hard with her. It was getting difficult with every day that passed, and now with Mr. Green Eyes, I’d have him
distracting me, and I wouldn’t have anything left for Annalisa.

  Nevertheless, how long could that charade go on before Annalisa found out about me? For the rest of my life? There was no fucking way I could live like that, but then lots of men did.

  “I have an obligation to my family,” I told myself. “How would my brothers accept me being gay?”

  That reminded me, I had a dinner invitation with Carter and his wife, Lindsey. Carter was nervous all the time, and especially since Lindsey became pregnant and was due to give birth. I’d always been there for him and if anyone would understand that I was gay and had been hiding it, he would be the one, and he would be the one I’d tell. Hopefully he’d help me break it to those straighter-than-straight-ass brothers of mine.

  Carter owed me.

  When Carter discovered that he and his wife couldn’t have children, I did my duty and pitched in, giving up my sperm because his was too weak. It must have been that childhood accident he had on a bicycle. The doctors didn’t know what had caused his low sperm count, but we always thought it was the accident, because after being hit by a car, he remained in the hospital for months. I was the one who had been supposed to watch over him and protect him, and I didn’t do my job.

  I’d been trying to make it up to Carter ever since that day.

  I STOPPED AT THE FLORIST and bought roses for Lindsey, and one for my dinner date with Dorian. I had to ask myself why was I doing something as stupid as giving a man a rose?

  After parking in front of Carter’s lovely Shaker home, I tossed the single rose on the seat, glanced at it, then picked up the bouquet of red roses, walked up the stairs, and rang the bell. I’d left home early and had enough time to pretend to eat, then leave the happy couple alone. I couldn’t think about anything but my date with Dorian.

  After a few texts back and forth with Dorian, we settled on me picking him up at seven.

  The door to Carter’s home opened and Lindsey stood there holding her stomach. I stepped inside as she leaned forward to give me a hug and a kiss. I patted her stomach, and felt what I thought was a tiny foot. Lindsey waddled to the side, and I closed the door and stood in the foyer.