November brought bitterly cold rain and even a bit of sleet. It also heralded another blistering article about Gray. His connection to five famous international rugby stars made him and his past newsworthy to tabloids.

They seemed to sense the story surrounding them. A week into November, Scottie had already reached the limit of his patience. He knew how persistent reporters could get.

“Mr. Monk. Mr. Monk?”

Scottie breathed in deeply before locking his Jaguar and turning around to find one of the tabloid journalists rushing up to him. “What?”

“Sources claim you’ve been spotted at several of the local gay clubs. Any comments?” The reporter stepped into his personal space, holding up the phone to record his response. “Or, what about your restaurant hiring a chef with a history of perversion?”

No amount of deep breathing cooled the sudden fiery rage in Scottie. He wanted nothing more than to land his fist on the nose of the reporter. His fingernails dug into his palms as he tried to maintain control.

“Do you frequently hire perverts?”

“He’s not a pervert,” Scottie snapped furiously. “Being gay or being into safe, consensual BDSM isn’t a perversion. You closed-minded fuckwitted arsehole.”

“Is that Ruck’s official statement?” The journalist wisely took a step back from Scottie. “Are all the owners in agreement with your stance on the subject? Is it wise to encourage the perverse?”

Official statement?

“You want an official statement?” Scottie lost all control over his temper. “Here’s a scoop for you. I’m gay, and I’m in a committed relationship with the chef at Ruck. Now get the fuck out of my face. If I see one more printed article with ridiculous claims, we’ll be suing for defamation.”

Stalking down the path toward the club, Scottie wanted to get inside before his temper completely exploded. He didn’t mind the nonsense about himself so much. Their attempts to ride Gray into the mud didn’t sit well with him.

“Are you into bondage?”

Scottie paused at the entrance to the Sin Bin. He’d been so focused on getting inside that he hadn’t realised the reporter was following him. “My preferences are none of your fucking business.”

Shutting the door in the man’s face, Scottie trudged all the way to his office. He ignored the staff trying to catch his attention. Collapsing into his desk chair, he dropped his head into his hands with a belaboured sigh.

Well, fuck.

In his years of playing rugby, Scottie had struggled with his sexuality. His privacy had also mattered to him. Unlike some of his other friends, he’d taken a little longer to find himself.

Well, I know what’s going to be online tomorrow, better text the others to be aware.

Scottie: Had a bit of a row with a journalist. If anyone didn’t know I was gay, they certainly do now. We’ll be all over the tabloids.

BC: Welcome to the proudly out of the closet club.

Remi: Want us to head to Cardiff to offer support?

Taine: Are you okay? Freddie and I can help run interference at the club if necessary.

Caddock: Calling my solicitor. Tired of these bastards talking shit about all of us. We’ll get them to back off.

Gray: I’ll bring lunch by once the rush at Ruck is over.

Shutting his mobile off, Scottie decided to avoid the papers completely for a few days. He didn’t really understand why their sex life was news in the first place. Unless someone was in the bed with him, what did it matter?

Why is it newsworthy at all?

Who honestly gives a fuck who I’m with?

Jealous bastards. That’s who.

“Want to talk about it?” Gray brought Scottie a late lunch to share at three in the afternoon. “Your bouncer said you’ve been hiding in your office all day.”

“Think I outed myself.” Scottie helped to take the wrappings off the plates to reveal sandwiches.

“Were you in the closet?” Gray sounded slightly perplexed. “Neither of us have gone out of our way to hide our relationship.”

Scottie shrugged after considering it. “I suppose it’s irrelevant now.”

Gray sat on the edge of the desk. “What are you upset about?”

Scottie considered the question while taking a bit of his sandwich. “I’m frustrated that they keep hounding you with articles over shit that happened in another country years ago. I don’t give a fuck who knows I’m gay. Not really any of their business, is it?”

Gray dragged a chair over to eat lunch at the desk as well. “What’s got you fidgeting like I’ve warmed your ass with my hand, kitten?”

“I outed us.” Scottie crammed the rest of his sandwich into his mouth to avoid having to say anything else.

“Us?” Gray paused with a chip in his hand. He slowly set it back down on his plate, easing back into the chair to refocus his full attention on Scottie, who couldn’t meet his gaze. “You told the reporter about our relationship.”

It was a statement—not a question. Scottie found himself nodding yes anyway. He hadn’t thought about what Gray’s reaction might be to his unguarded moment with the journalist.

“Not sure giving in to them will stop the reporters from bugging us.” Gray brushed crumbs from his shirt. “What exactly did you say to them?”

Scottie shoved a handful of chips into his mouth to avoid answering. He’d strongly defended Gray to the journalist. It embarrassed him a little how ferociously he’d wanted to tell the world about their relationship; something he’d never done before.

“Kitten?”

“Hmm?” Scottie mumbled while trying to choke down his food.

“What did you say?” Gray added a bit more intensity to the question this time.

“You can read it online tomorrow.” Scottie had no doubts it would be all over the place.

“Kitten.”

“You’ll have to wait. Make you want to punish me?” Scottie prodded his Dominant a little. He’d slowly grown more comfortable with the dynamics of their sexual play. “Go on then.”

With lunch abandoned on the desk, Gray spent an hour punishing Scottie. They eventually collapsed side by side on the carpet, sweaty and out of breath. Scottie’s trousers and briefs dangled from the edge of his desk, out of reach, when the door swung open.

“Oh for God’s sake.” Taine stood in the doorway, using his body to shield Freddie who tried to peer around him. “Put your damn trousers on so we can talk.”

Scottie dropped his head back to the floor with a groan. “Should’ve locked the door.”

“Yes, you bloody should’ve. At least cover yourself.” Taine raised a hand to cover his eyes. “Caddock’s got his solicitor to recommend someone in Cardiff who will be here shortly to discuss not only a cease and desist letter but also the odds of winning if we file against the papers for defamation and libel. Now put your trousers on before I lose my lunch.”

“You barged into my office.” Scottie got to his feet and smirked at Taine, who backed out of the room, shutting the door behind him. “His face was a fucking picture.”

“Get dressed, kitten.” Gray tossed him his boxers and trousers before pulling his own clothes back on. “And Scottie?”

“Yes?”

“I’m proud to claim you as my own.”