(THEO) On Saturday morning, I sat at my computer, sipping coffee and sharing breakfast with my overnight guest.
I’d taken Henry’s offer to hit his club last night and had called up a friend who was always game for that sort of thing.
Chris was blond, twenty-five, and enjoyed being bossed around, exactly what I needed to unload my frustrations.
As Chris chatted away, I half-listened while scrolling through emails.
He was attractive but too talkative, never quite grasping when it was time to leave.
My phone vibrated.
Expecting a message from Aria or something work-related, I glanced at it.
My eyebrows shot up in surprise.
TORREN MATTHEW are you still in town?
Well, fuck me.
And here I was, trying to be good.
This was the first time Torren had ever reached out to me first.
I smiled to myself, looking it over.
I really shouldn’t.
ME have you been missing me darling?
Shaking my head at myself, I placed the phone face down.
It was like I couldn’t control myself around him.
“Who are you texting?” Chris asked in a singsong voice.
I looked up and found him grinning.
“You’ve got your game face on.” I narrowed my eyes.
“Fuck off.” His laughter echoed through the space.
The phone vibrated again.
I resisted the urge to check it.
Chris smirked.
“Is he from the city?
That explains why you were so rough yesterday.” Absentmindedly, he rubbed his wrist, which looked a bit red.
“Sorry.
Did I hurt you?” I asked, frowning.
I knew I’d been too forceful.
I couldn’t get Torren out of my head the whole time.
Chris smiled.
“No, babe.
You know I like that.
It’s a good kind of sore.
Thanks for breakfast.” He shot my phone a quick glance.
“I’ll leave you to it.” “See you, babe,” I teased.
Chris chuckled, sticking his tongue out.
He leaned in to kiss my cheek before leaving.
Once I heard the door close, I turned my phone over.
TORREN MATTHEW you said you were leaving next week but you haven’t been around I guess you’re busy with work I smiled.
He missed me or at least was curious about my absence.
This only made things harder.
If Torren started seeking me out, I’d find it impossible to resist him.
ME you did miss me I’ve been swamped with work have to head in soon TORREN MATTHEW on a saturday?
ME hate to break it to you but owning a business means working around the clock TORREN MATTHEW or maybe you just add work to your list of addictions I chuckled.
ME perhaps why did you want to know if I was still in town?
I considered asking if he planned to invite me out, but held back.
No need to add fuel to the fire.
I watched as the typing indicator appeared and disappeared several times before his message came through.
TORREN MATTHEW I don’t know I don’t even know why I’m texting you right now I sat up in my chair, attentive.
Fuck.
TORREN MATTHEW I know you probably don’t care but I thought you were mad at me or something ME I’m not mad at you I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
His sudden honesty caught me off guard.
After a moment, his reply came.
TORREN MATTHEW sorry for bothering you I’ll let you get back to work I shook my head and decided to call him.
It rang a couple of times before he answered.
“You’re not bothering me,” I said.
His breathing came through on the other end.
I wished I could see his face and read his expressions.
Lowering my voice, I asked, “Do you want to see me, darling?” “No,” he finally replied, his voice a bit strained.
I chuckled softly.
“It’s okay if you do.
I won’t tell,” I said, keeping my voice in that deep, rumbly register.
He exhaled loudly, clicking his tongue.
“I don’t get it.” “What don’t you get?” “You.” A soft huff of laughter escaped past my lips.
“I think I’ve been pretty straightforward,” I replied.
“So why did you stop?” I closed my eyes.
He was too fucking perfect.
Torren was sharp; he’d noticed something was off, even if it took him days to confront me about it.
It only made him all the more appealing.
“Did I stop?” “I don’t want to keep talking to you.
Can we hang up?” “Don’t hang up.
Why don’t you want to talk anymore?” I pressed.
“Because talking to you is really fucking confusing,” he admitted.
I could almost picture him clenching his jaw, struggling to get the words out.
That word—confusing—was music to my ears.
It was exactly what I’d aimed for.
“Then let’s meet.” “No, that’s worse,” he protested.
“Let’s just hang up, Theo.
Let me hang up.” “You don’t have to be embarrassed.
I promise, I won’t tell anyone,” I assured him.
“I’m not embarrassed,” he snapped defensively.
“Torren, come on,” I coaxed.
He huffed—a sound so endearing it made me grin.
“Fine.
Yes, I want to see you,” he confessed.
I laughed softly.
“Could you stop laughing at me?” “I’m not laughing at you, my darling.
I’m just happy you said it.
I want to see you too.” He exhaled loudly again.
“I can come pick you up,” I offered.
“I thought you had to work,” he said petulantly.
“Fuck work.” This time, he chuckled, and it warmed me.
“I have a match later.
I could meet you after two.” “Perfect.
Let me know where, and I’ll come get you.” “Okay,” he said softly.
“But Theo, I’m not…” He trailed off, taking a deep breath.
“I’m not sure what…” “Torren,” I interjected gently.
He fell silent.
“I’m just going to pick you up, and we’ll talk.
Nothing more.” “Yeah, okay,” he agreed.
“Talk to you later.” “I’ll be looking forward to it,” I said before ending the call.
As I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair, my resolve crumbled.
And to think, I might be getting my hands on him in a few hours.
I laughed out loud.
Now I just needed to figure out how the hell to make this work without anybody finding out.
The next logical step was to call Henry.
I had a plan.
Henry would send a car to pick up Torren and bring him to a restaurant where I’d wait in a private room.
I’d arrive ahead of time, and no one would suspect a thing.
Torren didn’t need to know Henry was involved.
He’d feel comfortable in a public setting, even if we were alone.
I had one last meeting to attend, so I gave myself an hour before heading out.
I couldn’t wait.
I kept checking my phone, hoping he’d finish early.
Fifteen minutes before our scheduled time, my phone buzzed.
Eagerly, I looked at the message.
TORREN MATTHEW for Remy’s sake I’d like to pretend we’ve never met next time you see me don’t act like we’re closer than we are don’t ask me to be alone with you and don’t call me darling I won’t be rude just leave me alone I stared at the screen, reading the message three times to make sure I wasn’t misunderstanding.
What the hell just happened?
TORREN MATTHEW I know this is probably meaningless to you but I’d appreciate it if you’d respect my space and not call me I won’t answer anyway so don’t waste your time ME Torren what’s going on?
He re-sent the last text.
TORREN MATTHEW I won’t answer anyway, so don’t waste your time I blinked at my phone, baffled.
Looking around my office, I hoped for some sudden insight.
ME did something happen?
No response.
He didn’t even resend the message this time.
I excused myself from the meeting and tried calling him twice.
True to his word, he didn’t pick up.
“Theo,” Aria approached, a distressed look on her face.
“What?” She sighed.
“You know, right?
Are you mad at me?
I swear I bought all the tabloids.
It was a private video that went viral.
I’ve already tried to have it taken down and reported it for inappropriate content,” she rambled.
I stared at her, confused.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” “The video,” she said, exasperated.
Seeing my blank expression, she pulled out her phone and showed me.
The clip started with a couple of girls smiling in a nightclub, then zoomed in on the background, me, kissing Chris against a wall.
One hand gripping his neck, keeping him close.
The camera zoomed back out to the girls squealing, then replayed.
A solid thirty seconds of us making out.
Not good.
I looked at Aria.
She shrugged.
“I wasn’t upset about this, but it certainly makes matters worse.” My phone vibrated.
Hoping it was Torren, I answered—it was Henry instead.
“Did he get back to you?
Where should I send the car for your boy toy?” “He cancelled.
He’s furious with me, told me not to call him again.
I have no idea why.” “That sucks, Theo.
So close too.
Oh, hey, do you think it’s because of that video of you choking Chris?” “I wasn’t fucking choking him,” I argued.
“Sure looks like you were,” Aria chimed in.
I shot her a glare.
“He seemed super into it, though,” she added with a thumbs-up.
“That can’t be the reason,” I told Henry.
He chuckled.
“You think it’s a coincidence that a video of you making out with some guy goes viral, and now Torren doesn’t want to see you?” “We barely know each other.
He said he wants to pretend we haven’t met.
Why would he care about me kissing someone else?” I argued, stepping away from Aria.
“This is fucking priceless, Theo.
Did you expect a mature reaction from your nineteen-year-old boy toy?” “Fuck off,” I snapped, though I knew he might be right.
“He wouldn’t react like that over a kiss.” “In Torren’s defence, it looked like you were devouring Chris.
No one’s doubting what happened after.” “This is ridiculous,” I muttered.
“What’s ridiculous is you’re surprised by his reaction.
If you wanted someone sensible, maybe this wasn’t the best choice,” he pointed out.
I sighed, refusing to believe this was it.
“I’ll call you later,” I said, hanging up.
Opening my chat with Torren, I typed: ME are you upset about the video?
please answer so we can talk No response.
ME Torren, answer your fucking phone.
I tried calling again.
Straight to voicemail.
“For fuck’s sake,” I growled.
A few people nearby glanced over, startled.
I needed a fucking cigarette.