THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Priest was up and ready for work by seven thirty, and was surprised to find Julien dressed and heading out the door for a run. He assured Priest that he was fine, but Julien wasn’t fooling anyone. Something or someone was chasing him this morning, and if Priest had to guess, it was a ghost with long, dark hair.

With time now getting away from him, Priest headed into the bedroom to check on Robbie before he left for the day. Last night had been a lot to take in, and if Robbie was uncomfortable in any way, then Priest wanted to know about it.

As he pushed open the door, he found Robbie naked and sprawled across the middle of their mattress with the sheet kicked off and his face nestled into the pillows.

He was quite the sight, their princess. One that Priest took a moment to admire as he walked closer and said, “Robert?” before gently shaking Robbie’s shoulder.

The sound of his voice must’ve slipped into Robbie’s subconscious, because those longs legs shifted and made Priest want to crawl between them and kiss his way up Robbie’s spine.

As Robbie’s eyes opened and focused on him, the picture he made had Priest’s cock throbbing. His hair was mussed, his eyes still sleepy, and when Robbie ran them down Priest’s suit, a beautiful morning blush bloomed on his cheeks.

“Good morning,” Priest said. “You seem to have slept well once you got back into bed last night.”

Robbie rolled to his back, no longer self-conscious about his nudity as he stretched under Priest’s admiring gaze. “I did. I think it was the nightcap. I feel ah-mazing.”

Priest let his eyes sweep over Robbie to where his morning erection was proclaiming his words to be true. “You look amazing, too. You’re making it difficult to want to leave this morning.”

“Then don’t,” Robbie said, his shyness from the night before having faded as he wrapped a hand around his stiffening length. “Take off that suit and get back in bed with me. Surely a few more minutes couldn’t hurt? You know you want to…”

Priest’s nostrils flared at the arousal he could smell coming from the flirt doing everything in his power to seduce him. “I do want to. But if I get back in that bed with you I’m going to be hours late, not minutes, and I have court today. I actually woke you for a reason. To make sure you’re okay this morning.”

“Don’t I look okay?” Robbie asked, batting his lashes.

“Robert, you look—”

“Too hard to resist?” Robbie suggested, as he widened his legs and offered up an adorable pout. “I sure hope so.”

Priest rubbed his fingers over his chin and tried to squash the lust now clawing at him like a beast—not an easy feat when Robbie seemed determined to drive him out of his mind.

“Julien went for a run this morning and wasn’t sure if you were heading out anywhere before work. He wanted me to let you know that for opening night he has two tables set aside for you.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” Robbie said. “I get to invite some people to show off for. I can do that. I’m really very good at it. In fact, I’m showing off right now. Come back to bed, Joel.”

Priest shook his head. “No. And you better not ever show off like this for anyone other than the two people who share this bed with you. Now, I have to go. So you can stop looking at me like that. I don’t have time for what you want.”

“What about what you want?” Robbie then lowered his eyes to the erection Priest had no hope of hiding. “You didn’t sleep much last night. Let me relax you before you go to work. You’ll concentrate better.”

“What you have in mind is hardly relaxing.”

“It will be, if I do all the work. All you have to do is stand there and watch,” Robbie said. “Actually, that’s a lie. First, you have to take off that jacket and give it to me, then unzip your pants, and then you just have to stand there and watch. It’ll only take a few minutes after that. Promise.”

Intrigued, and intensely aroused at this stage, Priest lowered his gaze to the hand Robbie was using to leisurely stroke his erection, and then started to unbutton his suit jacket.

“Yesss,” Robbie said as soon as he realized he’d won. “Shit. You’re so hot in that suit.”

Priest smirked, and once his jacket was undone, he shrugged out of it and tossed it over to Robbie, whose hips arched up off the bed as he brought it up to his nose, inhaled, and began to pump his dick harder.

“Oh God. It smells just like you.”

Priest’s cock throbbed as Robbie’s hand moved faster and he rolled to his side. He buried his nose in the stiff collar and shifted onto his stomach, and his ass cheeks clenched as he rubbed himself against the sheets. Robbie then dragged the jacket down his body, and his hips began to move as he started to fuck the expensive material and the mattress underneath him.

“Jesus Christ, you’re a naughty fucking thing.” Priest growled and reached down to unbuckle his belt and unzip his pants, their conversation from yesterday rushing back to him in full force.

Shoving his clothing off his hips, Priest wrapped his fingers around his aching dick as Robbie’s tight little ass thrust up and down on the bed and he continued to get himself off.

A moan left Robbie as he writhed around in their bed, and when Priest put a knee on the mattress and it dipped, making Robbie’s body shift in his direction, that only seemed to spur him on.

Robbie nuzzled his face into the pillow, biting down on it as he brought his knees up slightly and angled his ass toward Priest, and it was one of the sexiest things Priest had ever seen.

Robbie’s body was flawless, his skin creamy and smooth. And it made Priest want to bend down and lick him all over, but fuck, he didn’t have time. And as Robbie’s soft whimpers turned to groans of ecstasy, Priest spat in his palm and stroked himself harder, wishing he could get inside that hot body and give Robbie exactly what he was asking for.

“Fucking hell, princess,” Priest said, and Robbie turned his head on the pillow to face him, moved up on his hands and knees, and then did a slow, sensual body roll, dragging his dick across Priest’s jacket.

“Wishing you were in the bed with me now, aren’t you?” the cocky little minx teased as he began to hump the surface beneath him, and Priest clenched his teeth.

“No,” Priest said, and then he shifted to plant a hand by Robbie’s head and whisper in his ear, “But I sure as fuck wish I was in that pretty pink hole you keep flashing my way.”

“Oh shit,” Robbie said when Priest then bit his ear, and a sound of total fucking satisfaction ripped from his throat.

It was one of the most erotic sounds Priest had ever heard, and when Robbie’s body tensed and jerked up close to where Priest was feverishly stroking his cock, that was it—Priest came all over Robbie’s smooth skin with a thunderous roar, and he’d be damned if he didn’t like seeing his cum all over that tight ass.

A few seconds later, Priest muttered, “Troublemaker,” and as Robbie rolled to his back with his eyes closed and a relaxed expression on his face, it was more than obvious that he’d just come all over Priest’s jacket.

“Happy now?” Priest asked the rascal who had a blissful expression on his face.

Robbie’s eyes opened and he nodded. “Mhmm. I feel like I’m floating on a big, fluffy cloud. What about you?”

“I feel…relaxed,” Priest deadpanned.

Robbie chuckled, sounding one hundred percent pleased. “Told you so.”

Priest leaned down to kiss Robbie’s smiling lips, and then he picked up his jacket, which lay crumpled across Robbie’s lap.

Robbie turned his head on the pillow and winked. “Sorry about your jacket,” he said, looking anything but. “You did say I could roll around naked on one if I asked. And I did ask.”

“So you did, and I’m not sorry at all. You just made this jacket the only thing I’ll be able to think about today,” Priest said, as he raised it to his nose and inhaled. “Even if I can’t wear it.”

Priest then walked into the closet, hung it on a hanger, and placed it beside all of Robbie’s other coats.

When he turned and found Robbie’s eyes focused on him, Priest said, “This now belongs to you. After you wash it, let me know and I’ll be sure to wear it again so it smells like me. Then you can fuck it at your leisure.”

Robbie’s lips parted in shock, and Priest wondered if he was more scandalized or turned on by the thought as he squirmed around in their bed.

“And what about you?” Robbie asked, his voice breathless and sexy. “Do you want something of mine?”

Priest took a clean jacket from the closet and then walked out and stopped at the foot of the bed. He ran his eyes up Robbie’s naked legs to his spent cock and balls and gave him an arrogant look.

“No. I already have you to fuck at my leisure. Seems like a good trade-off to me.” Robbie licked his swollen lips, and Priest made himself walk to the bedroom door. It was either that or end up in that bed, inside that man, and now he really didn’t have time. “One last thing: I don’t know how long Julien’s going to be out, but tread carefully there. He’s dealing this morning. He’s all up in his head.”

Robbie nodded, and Priest couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt at leaving him and Julien today, but with a final look over his shoulder, he said, “Have a good day, Robert,” and walked out the door.

AFTER PRIEST LEFT, Robbie spent a little extra time in the shower replaying what had just happened, and when he feared the hot water might run out, he decided it would probably be a good idea to get out and get dressed.

He quickly made the bed and wondered whether Julien was home yet, and when he stepped out of their room in search of breakfast and coffee, he was greeted by the sun now spilling in through the open curtains and a sight that brought him to a dead stop with his mouth hanging open.

There, in the center of the room where the coffee table usually sat, was Julien. He was standing, Robbie supposed, but he was bent completely in half so that his nose was touching his shins, his arms were wrapped around his ankles, and his eyes were closed.

Shit. I can barely touch my toes, Robbie thought. At least, he thought he’d thought it, until Julien’s head turned his way and their eyes collided.

“Oh, sorry,” Robbie muttered, as Julien moved back up to a proper standing position. “I didn’t mean for you to stop. I didn’t mean for you to hear me at all.”

“It’s okay, princesse. I was done anyway.”

Robbie walked over to him, his eyes moving up and down Julien’s fit form, and then he blurted out the first thing that came to mind: “Just how flexible are you? You were practically kissing the floor just then.”

Julien grabbed the gym towel that was hanging over the back of one of the barstools and ran it over his face. “Well, it’s probably easier to show you than to tell you.”

Robbie’s eyes widened and he nodded eagerly, remembering what Priest had said about Julien and yoga: “It’s very…erotic to watch. I recommend it.” Then he took a seat on the couch, crossing his legs under himself as Julien moved back to the center of the mat.

Without a word, Julien bent back in half to the position he’d been in a minute ago, but then he slowly raised his left leg to a 180-degree angle, his toes pointing up to the ceiling.

“Holy fucking shit,” Robbie said, his eyes widening as Julien’s pants stretched over his perfect ass. He then uncrossed his legs and got to his feet, walking closer to Julien, unbelieving of what he was seeing. “That pose is…”

Julien turned his head and aimed his eyes up at Robbie, who opened his mouth to speak, but instead angled his head to get a better look, his words escaping him.

Julien then brought his leg back down and straightened. “It’s a standing split,” he explained.

“It’s fucking fantasy inspiring, is what it is. I feel as though I’m suddenly going to become a morning person if I get to watch that.”

Julien nodded but said nothing as he crouched down to roll up the yoga mat and then took it over to a basket that sat in the far corner of the room. He was quieter than usual this morning, just as Priest had warned, and for the first time since he’d met Julien, Robbie could feel the tension rolling off him.

“So…” Robbie said, thinking that if he talked, maybe he could help clear Julien’s mind a little. “Priest told me about the opening and maybe inviting some friends along. Are you sure about that? I don’t need two tables. One would be fine.”

“Non. I allocated two,” Julien said, and then headed to the kitchen. “Unless you think you can only fill the one?”

“Are you kidding?” Robbie said, and took a spot on one of the barstools. “Everyone I know is going to be fighting for these spots.”

“Bien. Then two it is.” Julien went about filling a glass of water and gulping it down, and then he got himself a second.

“And they each seat four, yes?”

“Oui.”

“Okay,” Robbie said, and tapped his fingers on the counter. He wanted to keep Julien talking for a bit to see if he was in the mood to share about the dream he’d had last night. But at the same time, Robbie didn’t want to push too hard and too fast and seem nosey.

Luckily, Julien decided to speak up first. “I also want to talk to you about next weekend. If that’s okay?”

“Of course,” Robbie said.

“Would you like a coffee first?” Julien asked. “Priest left some in the pot.”

“Oh, sure, let me grab one.” Robbie jumped down off his stool and came around to the cabinet he’d seen Priest get his mugs out of. Once he’d filled one, he went to walk back to his seat, but Julien stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“You take cream and sugar in yours, right?”

“Oui, merci,” Robbie said automatically, and Julien’s eyes crinkled at the sides, a smile tipping the corners of his lips for the first time that morning.

“You’re good at picking up languages. Not everyone has an ear for it.”

“Well, you say certain things all the time, so they’re easy enough to remember. The phrases? They’re a little harder.”

“Still, some people never feel comfortable with a new language rolling off their tongue.”

Robbie pressed a kiss to Julien’s cheek and said, “I told you, I like French things in my mouth.”

Julien chuckled softly and nodded. “So you did.”

“Yep. So, okay,” Robbie said, and got serious as he walked back to take his seat. “What do we need to talk about?”

“Right. You work tonight, don’t you?” Julien took an apple from the fruit basket by the coffee machine, washed it, and then came back over to the island.

“Oui, I do,” Robbie said with a grin.

“Okay, I just wanted to let you know the dates and times for next week so you could talk to your boss and make sure it’s not going to be a problem.”

Robbie reached across the counter for Julien’s hand and squeezed it. “It’ll be fine. Tate’s an awesome boss, and as long as I can get someone to cover for me, or move things around, he won’t care.”

“Tate is…Logan’s husband?”

“Yeah,” Robbie said, and laughed a little. “That sounds so strange. But yes, he is. And I haven’t seen him since they got back from their honeymoon.”

Julien frowned, and Robbie cocked his head to the side. “Jules? Is something wrong?”

“Non. Non. I was just thinking it would be better if I wasn’t the reason you had to change your schedule on his first day back.”

“Trust me, Tate won’t care. He’s…how do I say this? He’s a good guy.” Robbie shook his head. “That sounds really simple and kind of lame. But I mean it in a much broader sense than it sounds. He cares. He’s all about family and looking after those he loves. It’s what makes him impossible to hate. Ugh, trust me, I tried.”

“You talk highly of him,” Julien said. “You respect him.”

“I do,” Robbie said, a little stunned by the admission. “I gave him a lot of shit when we first met, and he had every reason to be an asshole when I ran into them years later. But he wasn’t. He was really nice. I mean, he gave me a job, for God’s sake, trusted me to run The Popped Cherry, and he’s just a really cool guy.”

Julien nodded. “As long as you’re sure you won’t get in trouble. I don’t want that.”

“I won’t. I promise. As soon as I tell him it’s important, he’ll let me go.”

“No questions asked?” Julien said, clearly not thrilled at the idea of his personal life being discussed with someone he didn’t know. But he had nothing to worry about. Robbie would never do that.

“No questions asked.”

Julien stared down at their hands and then widened his fingers so Robbie’s slipped between his, then he sighed. “Okay. The flight to L.A. is booked for Friday night. We should arrive around nine thirty, then we’ll head to my parents’ house.”

“Wait,” Robbie said. “Your parents’ house? Will they be there?”

“Unfortunately,” Julien said as he rubbed a hand over his brow as though his head were aching, which it probably was.

“But…how are you going to explain— I mean, you’re married. I assume they know Priest?”

“Oui, they know Priest,” Julien said, and his lips twisted into a grimace.

“Then aren’t they going to wonder who I am?”

Julien took a deep breath and let go of Robbie’s hand. He started pacing back and forth, his anxiety starting to fester to a point where he could no longer hide it. Then, finally, he stopped and looked back at Robbie, who was watching him closely.

“Non,” Julien said, his voice colder than Robbie had ever heard it before. “My parents stopped caring about my life the day that Jacquelyn died. They don’t care that I’m married. They don’t care that I’m one of the top chefs in the world. And they wouldn’t care if I brought home ten men and had sex with them out in the cabana by the pool, because to them, I don’t exist. And that’s the way they like it.”

Julien’s chest rose and fell with his agitation, and Robbie felt bad for having asked his question.

“I’m sorry,” Robbie whispered.

“Don’t be.” Julien locked eyes with Robbie’s then, and they were flat—devoid of any emotion. And that look? It both frightened and saddened Robbie. “I deserve it.”

Robbie shook his head, wanting to say more, but had no idea what. Not that it mattered anyway, since Julien seemed done with the conversation.

As he walked off to the bedroom, his apple now forgotten on the counter, Robbie resisted the urge to call out to him. He wanted Julien to stop, to explain what had happened all those years ago so he could help him through it now. But his frustration, it was a selfish one, and Robbie remembered Priest’s words from the night before and repeated them on a loop in his head: Let him go. Let him do it his way and be there when he stops, when he finally looks for someone to lean on.

So that was what Robbie did. He let Julien go. He sat there at that counter and ate his breakfast in silence, and it was one of the most difficult things he’d ever done in his life.