“BONJOUR, PRINCESSE,” JULIEN said when Robbie emerged from their bedroom dressed in a grey robe, squinting against the sunlight that was filtering through the balcony doors. It was still early, and judging by the yawn and the adorable way Robbie was rubbing at his eyes, it was way too early for him to be up and about.

“Morning,” Robbie said, as he walked across the living room and took a seat on the opposite side of the kitchen counter. “Coffee. Please tell me you have coffee and not just that green stuff.”

Julien smirked as he took a mug from one of the cabinets, and then walked over to their coffee machine. “Oui, I have coffee. How do you take it?”

“In an IV?”

Julien glanced over his shoulder to see Robbie grin at him.

“Black this morning, please. I need the hit.” Robbie ran a hand over his mussed-up hair. “How are you so awake? You were up as late as we were last night.”

Julien came around the counter, kissed Robbie’s cheek, and put the steaming mug down in front of him. “That green stuff.” Robbie screwed his nose up, and Julien shook his head. “Ahh, I see Priest now has an ally in his boycotting of my juice?”

Robbie brought the cup up to his lips and blew on the hot brew. “The jury’s still out on that. But after what I saw you put in it? Yeah… I think I’ll stick to caffeine this morning, especially if you want me functioning.”

“Well, I definitely want that,” Julien said, as he ran his eyes down over Robbie. “By the way, you look good in Priest’s robe.”

A shocked expression crossed Robbie’s face as he looked down his body, and then he returned those wide eyes to Julien. “I thought this was yours.”

“Non. I prefer as little clothing as possible,” Julien said, unable to stop the laugh that left his throat when Robbie looked guiltily over his shoulder. “Stop fretting, princesse. He won’t care. In fact, I have a feeling it will please him very much to see you dressed in his clothes.”

Robbie twisted his lips at that and then sighed. “I don’t know why I worry so much about him.”

“Yes, you do,” Julien said. “You want to please him.”

“Ugh, that’s just…just…” Robbie sputtered a little, but instead of making something up, he changed course. “Well, I want to please you too.”

“Et tu le fais mon cher petit,” Julien said. “Vraiment beaucoup.”

“What does that mean?”

“Which part?” Julien said, as he opened the fridge and got out his green juice.

“All of it. But mainly that last part. Sometimes you call me princess and sometimes that…mon cher petit? What does that mean?”

Julien put a glass on the counter and filled it to the rim. “It means: my dear boy.”

Robbie’s cheeks flushed, and the smile that lit his face told Julien he liked that very much. “What about the rest?”

“Hmm? Oh, you said you wanted to please me. I responded: And you do, my dear boy. Very much.”

“Oh shit,” Robbie said, and squirmed on his seat. “That’s really hot. Damn it, I need to learn French.”

Julien picked up his glass and took a long swallow of his juice.

“Especially if you two are going to be speaking it around the house. Do you think I could learn? Would you teach me?”

“Oui,” Julien said, enjoying the eager expression on Robbie’s face. “I would love to.”

“Really?”

“Vraiment. Really.”

“Vraiment,” Robbie repeated perfectly, and then he clapped his hands together, the caffeine having revitalized him. “This is going to be so much fun.”

“What is?” Priest’s voice carried across the room before he even set foot in it, and when it reached the two of them, Robbie turned on his stool as Julien raised his eyes to meet his husband’s.

“My French lessons,” Robbie said, as Priest walked over to stop in front of him. “Jules said he’d teach me.”

“Did he?” Priest said, as he ran a finger down one side of the robe Robbie was wearing. “That’s nice of him.”

“Oui, it is. Isn’t it?” Robbie gave a cheeky laugh when Priest arched an eyebrow. “Did I say that right?”

Priest inclined his head. “You did.”

“Good,” Robbie said, and aimed a pleased grin over his shoulder at Julien. “Ah, I’m so excited.”

“I can tell,” Julien said, laughing at Robbie’s exuberance.

“You won’t find a better teacher than Julien,” Priest said as he curled his fingers around the lapel he was touching, and then leaned down to say against Robbie’s mouth, “Tu as l’air délicieux dans mon peignoir, mon cœur. Presque autant que lorsque tu ne le portes pas.”

Robbie’s lips parted and he quickly turned to Julien for a clue as to what had just been said to him, but when Julien remained silent, Priest brushed a kiss across Robbie’s cheek and added, “I look forward to the day you can tell me what I just said to you.”

Robbie swallowed, and Julien loved the blush that now extended from his cheeks down his neck. Their princesse looked beautiful in whatever shade of pink he wore, and right now was no different.

As Priest headed around the counter, Julien frowned as he noted the impeccable suit and black and silver paisley tie.

“I didn’t think you’d be going in today,” Julien said, and considering what had happened last night, Julien had thought that Priest would take the day off so they could all discuss things. Apparently, he’d thought wrong.

“It’s Logan’s first day back,” Priest said, as though that should explain everything. But when he noticed Julien’s less-than-pleased expression, he added, “I need to hand off his cases.”

Julien crossed his arms but otherwise remained silent as he stared Priest down. He wasn’t stupid. That wasn’t the only reason Priest was heading into the office today, and he wanted to make it crystal clear that what had happened last night was not a shelved topic between them.

“Uh-oh,” Robbie said, and grimaced as he looked between the two of them. “I think that look means you’re in trouble, Joel.”

Priest nodded. “I think you might be right.” He then reached for Julien and smoothed his hands down his arms. “I’m not avoiding what happened. You have my word. I just need to find out more before we all talk about it.”

Julien eyed Priest, knowing that was all he really needed to do to get his message through, and then he uncrossed his arms and took Priest’s hands. “Okay,” he said. “But soon, Joel. I don’t want you dealing with it on your own. Tu comprends?”

“Yes. You have my word.”

Julien gave a clipped nod, and then they both turned to Robbie, who was silently watching the two of them.

“Sorry,” Robbie said, when he realized he’d been caught staring, then he gave a little laugh. “I was just reminding myself that I’m included in the ‘we all’ because I live here now.”

“You’re included because you agreed to be in a relationship with us. Whether you live here or not is beside the point,” Priest said, and then he kissed Julien quickly on the lips and walked around the counter to do the same to Robbie. “Now, I’m going to grab something to eat at the office. I’m already running late. Do you work tonight, Robert?”

Robbie shook his head, seeming at a loss for words as he stared up at Priest.

“Good. Then I’ll see you both at dinner.” Priest gave Julien a final look.

“That you will, mon amour. Have a good day.”

“It’ll be better once I’m home,” Priest said, and then picked up his keys and briefcase and headed off to work.

AS THE DOOR shut behind Priest, Robbie finished the rest of his coffee and watched Julien move around the kitchen. Wow, that had been some kind of showdown he’d just witnessed. With no more than two sentences, Julien had demanded what he wanted from Priest, and, true to the relationship Robbie was coming to recognize between them, Priest had given it to him. They were open and honest—in a word, incredible.

There was so much more to Julien than the way he looked. With his short, dark hair, olive skin, and those green eyes of his, it was often difficult to see beyond his gorgeous face. But Robbie was discovering that Julien was quite the enigma.

Unlike Priest, who hid his secrets behind a vaultlike door, Julien hid his behind a sensual smile and that easygoing nature. That was until there was cause to shed that skin and let his other side slip free—the side that had just silently stared Priest down and demanded answers before he walked out the door this morning, and you couldn’t help but respect that.

Oh yeah, Julien Thornton was quite the mystery. One that Robbie was enjoying getting to know much, much better.

“Do you have any plans today, princesse?” Julien asked, as he came back to the center island and took another sip of his juice.

“Um, I was going to go and get a few last things from my nonna’s, and then see where you want me to put all my stuff. But other than that,” Robbie said, as he got to his feet and took his mug to the sink to rinse it off, “I’m all yours.”

When he was done, and back to facing Julien, Robbie drank in the sight of him leaning up against the counter with his legs crossed at the ankles. Dressed in a white tank and a pair of those sexy black yoga pants that sat low on his waist and flared wide at the ankle, Julien’s body made Robbie’s fingers itch to touch.

“How would you like to come and spend the day at the restaurant with me?” Julien asked, and Robbie’s eyes flew up to find Julien’s twinkling at him.

“Are you kidding right now?”

“Non. With the opening coming up, I’m going to be there all day, and I thought you might like to see the kitchen this time around—and maybe learn a little cooking from a professional.” Julien added a wink, and Robbie close to swooned at his feet.

“That would literally be one of my biggest fantasies come to life.”

Julien put his glass down on the counter, and then walked Robbie back until he hit the sink. “Do you know what one of my biggest fantasies is?”

Robbie swallowed as Julien slipped a finger into the knot at the waist of his robe and tugged on it, loosening the tie. “No, but I really hope you’re going to tell me.”

Julien’s full lips curved into a smile that made the dimple on his right cheek appear, and it was so damn sexy that Robbie’s cock stiffened in an instant.

“I’m going to do better than that,” Julien said as he parted the robe so it was now hanging off Robbie’s shoulders, revealing his very naked and aroused body. “I’m going to show you.”

Robbie’s breath came out in a shaky rush as Julien maneuvered one of his legs between Robbie’s thighs, and Robbie reached for his arms to steady himself. “Fuck.”

Julien shifted his leg slightly and pressed it up against Robbie’s aching balls. “Putain.”

“Huh?” was all Robbie managed, as he told his body to slow the hell down and enjoy this—enjoy Julien.

“One of my biggest fantasies is to hear the language I love roll off your sweet tongue,” Julien said, and then he leaned in to brush his lips over Robbie’s jaw. “And one of my favorite things to do and say in any language is…fuck—putain.”

“Putain,” Robbie said, as Julien nipped at his ear. “I’m not going to survive this, am I?”

Julien chuckled and took a step back, then he ran his eyes down to Robbie’s erection. “I’m sure you will. But if not, Priest and I will make sure you enjoy your final moments. After all, the French don’t call an orgasm la petite mort—the little death—for nothing. Do they?”

Robbie sighed, thinking about all the things he wanted Julien and Priest to do to him, and that had him reaching for his cock. As he stroked himself right there in the kitchen, Julien groaned.

“Dieu, tu es beau.”

Robbie scraped his teeth over his bottom lip as he continued to work himself, unashamed of his nudity or his actions. “What did you just say?”

“Hmm?” Julien said, but his attention was now focused on what Robbie was doing, not saying.

“What did you just say?” Robbie repeated. “You’re supposed to be teaching me.”

Julien raised those green eyes back to his then, and when they collided with Robbie’s, his breath caught.

Julien’s eyes were dark now, like glittering gems, as he said, “God, you’re beautiful.”

The awe in Julien’s voice was as evident in English as it had been in French, and when he moved back up to Robbie and took his face between his hands, he whispered, “So beautiful. I’m not sure that I deserve you.”

As Julien leaned in to take Robbie’s mouth, Robbie halted him with a palm on his chest, confused by that last sentence.

What does he mean by that? Those words were so sad, so unexpected given what they were doing, and as Robbie ran his eyes over Julien’s face, he said, “Why would you think that?”

This close, it was easy to spot the torment that flashed into Julien’s eyes before he plastered a smile on his mouth and shook his head. “It was just a comment, that’s all. I should’ve phrased it differently, perhaps.”

Robbie studied Julien closely, not believing that for a second. But when Julien moved away and held a hand out to him, Robbie knew the subject was over for now, and he needed to let it go.

“Why don’t we go and get ready, d’accord?”

Robbie retied his—well, Priest’s—robe, and then slipped his hand into Julien’s. “All right. But Jules?” Robbie said, the nickname he’d started to use now rolling off his tongue easily. “When you’re ready, I’d like to know what just happened here. I know there’s more to it than the wrong choice of words. You speak English as well as I do.”

Julien brought Robbie’s hand up to his lips, and as he kissed the back of it, he nodded.

“Okay, then,” Robbie said. “I don’t know about you, but I need to go and shower. Because hello, I am not setting foot in your restaurant—open or not—looking like a hot mess.”

PRIEST HELD HIS hand out as the doors to one of the elevators up to Mitchell & Madison began to slide shut, and as it stopped midway and reopened, the dozen or so people inside glared out at him, no doubt pissed that he’d held their morning up by less than a minute.

Unaffected by their obvious annoyance, Priest walked inside and up the middle of the crowd to the back, where he spotted Logan Mitchell, standing with a briefcase in his hand and a coffee in the other.

Great. Logan was the last person Priest wanted to deal with this morning, even though he’d used him as an excuse to leave the house today.

The main reason he’d decided to come into work was because he wanted to get upstairs and see if he could find out any more information on Jimmy’s rumored release. He also wanted to call Henri back, and he’d wanted to do that in private to not alarm Julien with whatever he found out. Julien was already dealing with enough with Jacquelyn’s anniversary approaching, and Priest’s screwed-up family was the last thing he needed to be thinking about.

Really, this was all such horrid fucking timing.

“Mitchell,” Priest said, as he took the spot beside Logan and the doors began to shut.

“Priest.” Logan inclined his head, and then took a sip of his coffee.

As the elevator began its ascent, the tension between the two of them was palpable and frustrating. Even after Robbie had tried to smooth things over the day before, things still felt awkward, and Priest told himself yet again, This is why I keep my private life private.

“Look,” Logan finally said, as the elevator stopped at one of the floors and someone got off. “About yesterday.”

Kill me now, Priest thought, but turned to look at Logan. “Forget it. You apologized. It’s done. I’ve forgotten about it.”

Logan’s brilliant blue eyes studied him from behind his dark hipster frames. “That’s not what I was going to say.”

“Okay,” Priest said, deciding that if Logan wanted to elaborate, then he would.

“I know we agreed to put everything behind us and be civil,” Logan said, as the elevator started up again.

“We did,” Priest agreed as he silently willed the ride up to their office to be over already.

“And I plan to hold true to that,” Logan said at the next stop, as everyone except them and a lady up ahead got out.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Priest then stood there offering no more conversation until the elevator finally reached their destination. He stepped out on the management floor of Mitchell & Madison and said, “Well, if that’s all?” and was close to running to his office when he felt a hand on his arm and turned to see a frown now on Logan’s handsome face.

“I wasn’t finished.”

When Priest merely stared at him, Logan let go of his arm and continued. “I’ll hold true to my apology. I was out of line and handled things with much less decorum than I should have. But one thing I won’t apologize for is looking out for Robbie.”

Priest cocked his head to the side, studying Logan’s features as they faced off. His stare was direct, his resolve set, and Priest couldn’t fault him for feeling protective over Robbie, but it was time something was cleared up—Robbie was now his to protect. Not Logan’s.

“I’m going to say this once, and only because I respect you as both a colleague and a friend,” Priest said, and took the step he needed so that he was close enough to Logan to be able to lower his voice and still be heard. “Julien and I are dating Robert, and he is more than aware of what it is we want from him. Just as we are aware of what he wants from us. I don’t plan to explain our relationship to you beyond that. But just so there’s no mistake in how I feel, I will tell you this. That bright, beautiful boy you once knew? He’s grown into a man that I find utterly captivating, and he is ours to protect now. Mine and Julien’s. You need to stand down, Logan. Be his friend—be our friend. But stop making assumptions about something you know nothing about.”

Logan sized him up, but then his lips twitched and he said, “You know, I think that’s the most you’ve ever said at one time. Robbie is clearly rubbing off on you.” Logan paused for a second, and when he realized what he’d said, he added, “I meant talking-wise, not—”

“I know,” Priest said, and shook his head. He gestured to the hallway that led to their offices at the back of the floor. “I’m going to go and get to work. Let me know when you have some free time today and I’ll bring you up to speed.”

“Okay. Will do,” Logan said as Priest started to walk off. “And Priest?”

Priest stopped and looked over his shoulder to where Logan remained in the center of the lobby staring at him.

“Message received. Friends?”

Friends? Priest didn’t do friends, but he knew Robbie would want this, so he inclined his head and then turned and walked off to his office. He’d deal with Logan later. Right now, he had a phone call to make.