Tristan was a giant bundle of nerves by the time they pulled up in front of Bear and Richard’s house on Monday night. Gabe had decided to keep living there while his mother was in rehab, and Tristan was all for it. He’d been to the other house once, and the place was depressing. Plus he loved seeing Gabe’s dads.

Shane had picked him up from Benfield for Gabe’s birthday outing at Big Dick’s. Shane was on the schedule to dance tonight, so he was dropping him off and heading over. Tristan would ride to the club with Gabe. The only person he wished was with them was Noel, but he had to work. He’d yet to manage seeing Shane dance at the club.

Tristan clutched his carefully wrapped package to his chest as he walked toward the house. He wasn’t nervous about going to the club. That excited him to no end. He couldn’t wait to dance with Gabe.

He was scared about the gift he was giving to Gabe. He needed Gabe to love it, and he really hoped he hadn’t fucked up by enlisting Bear’s help. No matter how many times Bear had said Gabe would love it, Tristan wouldn’t believe it until it happened.

Gabe met him at the door, and Tristan resisted the very real urge to drool. His facial scruff had grown out a little bit, and he wore a black sleeveless tee over black jeans. The entire package made Tristan feel a little basic in his blue jeans and shimmery purple tee.

“Hey, sunshine,” Gabe said, all smiles. He planted a hearty kiss on Tristan that made him want to drag Gabe upstairs.

“Happy birthday,” Tristan said.

“Thanks.” He let him inside the warmth of the house so he could shut the door.

Tristan clutched the gift tighter, his nerves jumping all over the place. “Are your dads here?”

“They both left for the club already. I’m sure they’re scheming the best way to embarrass me tonight.”

He hooked his thumb in one of Gabe’s belt loops. “So we’re alone?”

“Don’t tempt me if you want to go out to dinner. We have to be at the club by ten, Bear’s orders.”

“Damn.”

Gabe traced a finger down the front of Tristan’s shirt. “Think of the anticipation for when we get home tonight.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait with that outfit you’re wearing. I may have to drag you into the bathroom with favors.”

Gabe licked his lower lip. “I’ve never been with anyone in there.”

“Never found anyone to take?”

“Not exactly.” For a moment, he seemed uncomfortable and Tristan regretted bringing it up. “I’m the owners’ son, so I didn’t…I don’t know, I didn’t want to look like a cliché.”

“Oh.” Tristan didn’t remember it, but he’d read his notebooks enough recently to know that he’d gone into that bathroom once, very intent on a hookup, only for it all to end badly. On the plus side, that night was how he met Gabe.

Does that make me a cliché?

“Hey, I’m not judging you or anyone else who goes in there,” Gabe said. “It’s just how I think of me, as an owner’s son. Everyone else is free to do what makes them happy.”

The explanation didn’t stop Tristan from feeling like an idiot for suggesting the bathroom hookup in the first place. “Okay.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.” No. Whatever. It’s my insecurity. “I brought you a birthday present.”

Gabe’s sly smile went along well with his quick grab of Tristan’s ass. “I know.”

“A different present.” He held out the oblong package. “Happy birthday.”

“I’m intrigued.” Gabe accepted the brown paper-wrapped object with care, because it was a little heavy. The size and shape were reminiscent of a large board game, but that definitely wasn’t what was inside.

He carried the package into the living room and sat on the sofa with it in his lap. Tristan hung off to the side, ready for his boyfriend to either love it or break it in horror. Gabe slowly peeled back the taped corners, as detail-oriented in unwrapping as he was with eating, and the pace was killing Tristan. He rocked on his heels, hands locked behind his back.

Gabe finally had all of the tape undone, and he whipped off the sheet of paper in one smooth motion. The wood frame was upside down, so he had to flip it over to see the final product. He froze, and Tristan couldn’t breathe. Gabe stared.

And stared.

Fuck, he hates it.

Weeks ago, as soon as he learned when Gabe’s birthday was, he’d enlisted Bear to find a dozen different photos of Gabe, ranging in age from infant to present day, plus a few others. Tristan had sketched each of the images into a kind of infinity loop, with the center Gabe as he was today. In the middle of one loop he’d sketched Debbie, and in the other Bear and Richard. His parents. The people who’d made him the man he was.

Tristan had used colored pencils to fill the piece with as much detail as possible, and then used his allowance to have it professionally framed.

Gabe stared at it for so long that Tristan’s cheeks flushed, and his heart slammed into his ribs.

I fucked this up.

And then Gabe finally raised his head. Twin streams of tears ran down both cheeks. His expression was so innocent, so young and enamored, that Tristan didn’t know what to do or say.

“This is…” Gabe’s voice broke. He never floundered for words. Never. “It’s priceless, Tristan, thank you.”

All of Tristan’s panic evaporated, leaving pure joy behind. “Really?”

“Yes. It’s so beautiful I can’t even…” He held it gently by the sides of the frame, as if he expected it to shatter under the slightest pressure. “I love it.”

“Oh good.” Tristan sat next to him. “I was terrified you’d hate it.”

“Never. You are so talented. Shit, you could make this into an actual business. Take commissions to do art like this for other people.”

The idea had never really occurred to Tristan. He loved drawing. He wasn’t very good at much else, and finding a regular job would be difficult with his limitations. Working for himself was a good way to stop relying on his parents for money. To finally be independent.

“I wouldn’t know how to start,” Tristan said.

“A website, definitely, and maybe become a member of some artsy sites online. We can figure it all out together. And my friend Jon is pretty savvy with computers. He might be able to help.”

Tristan’s mind was spinning with the possibilities. “I wouldn’t know what to charge.”

“We’ll figure it all out. You have to factor in your expenses, the cost of framing, the time spent, all of that stuff goes into pricing.” Gabe carefully placed the art on the coffee table, then yanked Tristan into a tight hug. “Thank you so much for this.”

“You’re welcome.” Tristan inhaled the spice of his aftershave and the deeper musk of Gabe himself.

They stood like that for a while, enjoying the simplicity of a hug. He’d done good. Gabe loved his present. And he had an idea for making his own money. Tristan couldn’t remember being so deliriously happy in his life.

Gabe’s stomach rumbled, and they both laughed. “Guess that’s our cue to head out to dinner,” he said.

“I could definitely eat. I’ll need the energy to burn off later on the dance floor.”

“And even later when we get home.”

“Yes, please.”

* * *

Gabe chose Fire House Restaurant on Second Street because he’d heard only great things about it from acquaintances. Multiple floors of dining in a renovated firehouse was something he wanted to experience, and the food he and Tristan ordered was amazing. After sharing a bowl of their crab, spinach, artichoke dip, Gabe had feasted on an eight-ounce filet with a crab cake. Tristan had teased him about his serious case of crabs, and Gabe nearly inhaled his Coke. Tristan ordered the Tuscan lasagna. They tasted off each other’s plates, and it was all fantastic.

He could have eaten those crab cakes all day long, but the club was waiting, and they were pushing it in terms of getting there on time. Gabe could have skipped and been happy, but this was for Tristan and his dads.

They made it to Big Dick’s at five after ten, which wasn’t terribly late. Bear still made a show about tapping his watch when he waved them both inside. Bear wasn’t decked out in a hula shirt or anything, and that gave Gabe a sliver of hope that the night would progress as usual for a Monday.

His hopes were dashed the instant he stepped inside the club. Walsh, one of the other bouncers, immediately shoved him into a blue Hawaiian shirt. Tristan willingly put on a matching yellow one, and they both got red leis. Everyone in the place had leis of some color or other. Gabe laughed out loud at the adorable dorkishness of the entire thing.

“Holy shit, look at the dancers,” Tristan said.

In the back of the room on raised platforms, six dancers gyrated to the music wearing extremely short grass skirts and coconut bras. Shane was easy to pick out, his movements as precise as they were spontaneous. The guy had serious dance moves, that was for damned sure.

“Birthday boy! Birthday boy!” The chorus rose from behind the bar. Dad, Pax and Nicky were all back there, making drinks as quickly as they could be ordered.

Gabe flipped them all off, then steered Tristan toward the thick of the dancers. Frequent calls of “Happy birthday, man!” and “Yo, birthday guy!” made him suspect that Bear had told everyone to keep an eye out for the tall guy in the ugly blue shirt, because Gabe didn’t know any of them.

A few of the regulars he greeted with hugs and kisses. He introduced Tristan to them, all the while holding Tristan’s hand in an iron grip. Tristan was his, and he didn’t want anyone thinking otherwise and trying to poach.

Tristan decided they’d gone far enough. He tugged hard on Gabe’s hand, spinning him around to come hip to hip with his boyfriend. Gabe draped both arms over Tristan’s shoulders. Tristan grabbed his waist, and together they danced. They swayed, groped, frotted and kissed for the world to see, because they loved each other and this was perfect. It was everything Gabe had ever wanted, Tristan moving in his arms, enjoying the life he’d been blessed with.

Gabe acknowledged more birthday shouts as they moved deeper into the night, pausing once in a while for water breaks at the bar. Gabe didn’t feel like drinking tonight. He was already high on Tristan, and that was all he needed.

At midnight—Gabe knew because he’d just glanced at the clock behind the bar during their latest water break—the music faded away. A small uproar came from the crowd. Dad stood on the platform next to Shane and Cory, and he had a microphone.

“Oh shit, can I hide now?” Gabe said.

Tristan followed his gaze, then busted out in delighted laughter. “Oh no, you’re staying right here, birthday boy.”

“Will my son please find his way to the center of the dance floor?” Dad said, his voice booming over the loudspeakers.

A few people hooted.

Gabe wanted to die. He decided to drag Tristan along with him for moral support. A small hole appeared for them to stand in, and all eyes were on them. Despite knowing thousands of people saw him fucking on their computers, being the center of attention like that made Gabe’s stomach churn with nerves.

“I know you hate being fussed over,” Dad said, “but this is a milestone birthday. You’ve hit the quarter century mark, my boy, so I’m going to fuss. I’m also going to embarrass the hell out of you, so enjoy the ride.”

“I’ll get you for this,” Gabe shouted.

Dad gave him a thumbs-up, then signaled to someone.

Music streamed over the speakers, a slow and sensual beat. The crowd to his left parted, and a drag queen decked out like Marilyn Monroe sashayed slowly toward them. She held a microphone up to her red, red lips and sang a slow, breathy rendition of “Happy Birthday” that reminded him of the one the real Marilyn did for JFK. She trailed satin glove-covered hands across Gabe’s shoulders while she sang, and she even spared a wink for Tristan.

The song was short, but Gabe’s hopes for brief torture were dashed when “Marilyn” segued right into “I Wanna Be Loved By You”.

The crowd ate it up. Even Tristan seemed enamored by the performance, and Gabe had to admit, she had a great voice. He didn’t know who she was behind the makeup, but damn.

As the song ended, her audience roared. Cheers and applause exploded. She leaned in without the mike and said, “I’d offer to take you into the bathroom for a quickie, honey, but it looks like you’ve got a sweet something. Congrats and happy birthday.”

Gabe laughed. “Thanks. You’re really good.”

“Don’t I know it?”

“Marilyn” bowed for her audience, and then melted into the crowd. The regular dance music came back up, and everything returned to normal. He and Tristan swung back into the beat.

“That was fucking hot,” Tristan said. The half chub he was rubbing against Gabe’s thigh punctuated that statement.

“Yeah it was.”

A little more dancing and Gabe’s cock was fully erect and pressing tightly against his jeans. Tristan was beauty in motion, his eyes so clear and shining, his mouth open and smiling. So fucking amazing that Gabe was seriously considering breaking his no bathroom sex rule.

Except the bathroom wasn’t the only place they could go to be alone for a little while.

“Come with me,” he said to Tristan. Gabe took his hand and led him off the dance floor.

Dad was back behind the bar when they passed, and he winked at them both. Gabe flipped him off as he led Tristan through the doors marked Employees Only.

“Where are we going?” Tristan asked.

“There are a few perks to being the son of the owners.”

“Such as back room access?”

“Yup.”

They passed the break room and the kitchen, which was closing down for the night. Usually no one paid him any mind. The staff was used to seeing him. But they weren’t used to seeing him with someone else, so he got a few curious looks.

Beyond the kitchen was a narrow winding staircase that led up to Dad’s office. He and Mario did all of the club’s major business up there, and while Gabe had no managerial duties, he’d still been given the code to the lock pad on the door. And he knew that his parents kept a supply of condoms and lube stashed in one of the filing cabinets.

“I feel like I’m walking up the stairs of some kind of castle tower,” Tristan said, his voice a harsh whisper in the echoing stairwell.

“About to be ravished by a handsome prince?”

“Yes, please.”

The stairs ended on a small landing with two doors. One was to a private bathroom—his entire life, Richard Brightman had a phobia of public restrooms, so he’d built one for himself and select others on the second floor. The other was the office door. Gabe punched in the code then turned the handle.

“You’re going to ravish me in your dads’ office?” Tristan asked. “That’s so fucking hot.”

“Best I could do, since the kitchen crew is still here.” He turned on the light, tugged Tristan inside then shut the door. It auto-locked so he didn’t have to do anything else except pull Tristan into his arms. “I’m going to bend you over the desk, put my fingers in your ass and then give you the hottest quickie of your life.”

Tristan licked his lips. “Oh hell yes.”

Gabe silenced him with a hard kiss that Tristan returned with equal force. This wasn’t going to be soft and sensual. This was going to be a full-on fast fuck, and he loved that Tristan was very much on board with it. He kissed Tristan across the spacious room to the walnut desk, tongue delving deeply into Tristan’s mouth, licking and stroking. Filling his senses with Tristan’s taste and smell.

Their cocks rubbed together, heightening Gabe’s awareness of his boyfriend and his very real need to fuck him. To plunge hard and deep into his body. To feel Tristan tight around his cock, shaking with pleasure and pleading to come. Gabe loved coming inside of Tristan. Didn’t matter if Tristan had already shot. He let Gabe go until Gabe found his own release.

One day, when porn is behind me, I’ll shoot inside him for real.

The thought forced a growl from deep inside of Gabe. A possessive, alpha growl that showed he knew what he wanted and what was his.

Tristan moaned, and Gabe swallowed the sound. Gabe spun Tristan around so fast that Tristan planted both palms to keep from falling sideways. Gabe undid his belt and jeans, then shoved everything to his ankles, baring Tristan’s ass and legs. Christ, he loved spreading those pale cheeks and driving Tristan mad with his tongue. Rimming him to the edge and then stopping before he fell over.

Not tonight.

Gabe found the stash of condoms and lube sachets in the storage cabinet on the far wall. Certain supplies were kept under lock and key so the staff didn’t help themselves too much. Tristan held position, already panting with anticipation.

“You are so fucking hot, standing like that,” Gabe said. “Waiting to be fucked.”

Tristan cocked his hip a bit, showing off his straining cock. “Less talking, more fucking.”

“You got it, sunshine.”

Gabe shoved his own jeans and briefs down to midthigh, just far enough to make things easy. It was sexy as hell that they were both still wearing their silly Hawaiian shirts and leis. Tristan wiggled his ass, which was rounding nicely as he continued to put on weight. Gabe gloved and slicked quickly, then spread the last of the lube onto his fingers. He pressed two against Tristan’s hole, earning him a delighted squeak.

“Tell me,” Gabe said.

“I need you in me. Fuck me, baby.”

Tristan rarely used endearments, and that one shot right to Gabe’s heart. He pushed first one, then two fingers inside Tristan’s tight heat. Tristan breathed out hard on a long groan, arching his back to ease what probably stung a little. He went down on his elbows, putting more weight onto his forearms and giving Gabe more room to play. He fucked Tristan with his fingers just long enough to get him good and wet.

He lined up his cock and pushed halfway inside.

Tristan moaned. “All of you.”

Gabe leaned down to press a kiss to Tristan’s trembling shoulder. “You sure?”

“Yes.”

He kissed Tristan again then slid his in cock deeper, finally stopping when his hips were flush with Tristan’s ass. Tristan clawed at the desktop, panting and making soft noises that seemed to be a mix of discomfort and absolute joy. Trusting Tristan to say something if it got bad, Gabe began to fuck him. Long and steady at first, until Tristan threw back his head and cried out with absolute pleasure.

Then Gabe let go. He fucked his boyfriend hard and fast, skin smacking, balls slapping. He kept one hand on Tristan’s hip and planted the other on his right shoulder, giving him all of the control. Allowing him to plunge in deep each time, and each thrust had Tristan keening. Then swearing.

Gabe wasn’t going to last long. It felt too damned amazing, and every noise Tristan made echoed in Gabe’s balls.

“So close,” Tristan said. “Fuck.”

Gabe went harder, and Tristan cried out. He slid his damp palm from Tristan’s hip to his cock, and he’d barely brushed the taut skin before Tristan was coming. He went so tight around Gabe’s cock that he had to stop fucking him, and then Gabe’s senses short-circuited with pleasure. He pumped into the condom, his skin buzzing, everything a little bit gray for the briefest of moments.

“Holy shit,” Gabe said on a wheeze.

Tristan trembled beneath him. Gabe gently eased out. He took care of the trash, then tucked himself back in. Tristan had flattened out against the desk, arms under his head. Gabe’s heart lurched.

“You okay?” he asked as he returned to Tristan’s side. “Did I hurt you? Tristan?”

“Didn’t hurt me,” Tristan said to the desk. “All jelly now. Gonna stay here a while.”

Gabe’s chest puffed a bit with pride. “This was supposed to be a quickie. I don’t really want my dad coming up here and seeing you with your ass hanging out.”

Tristan snorted. “Yeah, not a good idea.”

“Come on. You can clean up in the bathroom next door.”

He helped Tristan peel himself off the desk, then checked that the coast was clear before Tristan limped out to the bathroom. Gabe stayed behind to clean the desk with a few sanitizing wipes and scent the air with lavender spray. He waited for Tristan on the landing, his blood humming with joy and the very real need to roll over and take a nap. His thighs were sore, and he’d probably have bruises on his lower stomach tomorrow.

All worth it to see Tristan so completely blissed out.

“Enjoying your birthday so far?” Tristan asked when he rejoined him. His cheeks were still rosy, his eyes shining, and he looked very, very satisfied.

“Every single second of it,” Gabe replied. “Even the public serenade was kind of fun.”

“What’s been your favorite so far?”

He slipped his arm around Tristan’s waist simply to feel his boyfriend’s warmth. “I want to say fucking you just now, but honestly? That picture you drew. I can’t tell you how much I love it.”

“I’m glad.” Tristan brushed his nose against Gabe’s. “I love you.”

“I love you too. For as long as you’ll let me.”

“Oh, I’m pretty positive I’ll let you for a long, long time.”

Gabe gifted him with a tender kiss. “Good answer.”