“What?” Saint asked, unable to help his smile.

  “He reinforced the closet rod.”

  Saint chuckled. That sounded like Jack.

  “Also, my ex hated dogs, and Jack loves dogs.” Fitz narrowed his eyes. “Never trust a man who hates dogs.”

  Saint chuckled. “Duly noted. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Let me repay you.”

  Fitz waved a hand in dismissal. “Don’t be silly. Besides, you already bought me a coffee and a tasty treat.”

  “How about some tea?” Saint arched an eyebrow, and Fitz gasped. He leaned in.

  “Tell me everything.”

  “So, Leo had this dream….”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “What are you doing here?”

  Great. Just what Val didn’t need, his best friend growling at him. Val shot Frank a look but didn’t answer. Before stating the obvious, he cleared the packaging from the new window he’d installed this morning. “I’m working.”

  Frank was not impressed. “No shit. My question referred to what you’re doing in a place that was a crime scene up until early this morning.”

  “I’m not going to let that son of a bitch control my life,” Val growled. “I have a schedule to stay on top of if I’m going to get the tavern ready for opening night.”

  “There is a killer on the loose. A killer who wants you dead.”

  “And what, Frank?” Val straightened and threw his arms out. “I’m just supposed to hide in my house until the police get this asshole? The guy set off a bomb in a hotel filled with city officials, and they got nothing. You think they’re going to find something now?”

  “You’re pissed.”

  “Yes, I’m pissed! This fucker is hurting people I care about. We came so close to losing Leo, so close.” Val shook his head, still unable to believe what happened. Any one of them could have been hit and killed. The bullet that hit Leo had missed Saint by a hair. He’d already been hurt saving Val. What if this time he’d been killed?

  “What’s going on? You’re pissed about the shooter, but this is different.” Frank leaned against the wall, his eyes narrowed. Something seemed to occur to him, and Val braced himself. “I’m guessing it had something to do with Saint.”

  “Who says this has anything to do with Saint?” Val looked around. All things considered, the place didn’t look like it had been the scene of a drive-by shooting. That bastard was out there somewhere, no doubt waiting and regrouping.

  “He’s not here,” Frank pointed out, snapping him out of his thoughts.

  “And what? We’re attached at the hip now?”

  Frank pushed away from the wall. “Wow. That bad, huh?”

  “Fuck off.” Val grabbed some more packaging and stomped over to the growing trash pile. He chucked it on top and sighed. “Sorry. I’m being a dick.”

  “You are. What happened?” Frank slid into one of the booths and grinned. He bounced and nodded his approval. “This is nice. Comfy. They did a great job.”

  Val snorted. “They have a contract with you. Of course, they did a great job.”

  “Okay, what’s going on.” Frank motioned to the seat across from him. “Come on.”

  With a heavy sigh, Val slid into the booth. “I’m worried Saint is having second thoughts.”

  “About?”

  “Being in a relationship with me.”

  “Wait a minute. You’re in a relationship? Since when? And why didn’t I know this?”

  “Because it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.”

  “Ah, okay.” Frank sat back, and Val could tell that he was barely containing his smile. “So why do you think he’s having second thoughts?”

  “Well, Dr. Frank, we had sex this morning. He freaked out, pretended he was okay, then left.”

  Frank cringed and sat forward again. “Okay, I can see why you’d be worried. You think maybe he wasn’t ready for sex?”

  “I don’t know,” Val sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “He said he was ready, that he was all in, and maybe I wanted to believe it so badly that I didn’t question him. In his defense, I told him to do whatever he had to before he left. That I’d be here, and I will be. I knew the risks.”

  Frank hummed but didn’t respond.

  “That’s it? That’s your sage advice?”

  “Oh, you want my advice? Because normally, when I give you advice, you make a face.”

  Val glowered at him. “I do not.”

  “You’re making it right now,” Frank said with a laugh. “It’s the ‘I know you’re right, but I’m too stubborn to listen to you’ face. I’m very familiar with it.”

  Val would have argued, but Frank wasn’t wrong. “So, do you have advice for me or not?”

  “My advice is to let him set the pace. You care about him, don’t you?”

  “I love him.”

  Frank blinked at him. “Well, holy shit! Stop the presses. Valentino Serrano has fallen in love.”

  “You know, I think our friendship has run its course.”

  “Never. You’re stuck with me for life. We’ll grow old, even grumpier, and we’ll have to take up golf because we’ll drive our husbands so nuts that they’ll kick us out of the house.”

  Val laughed. “Husbands, huh?”

  Frank shrugged. “Why not? We can even get one of those little golf carts, spruce it up, put a cooler with beers in the back.”

  “You’ve been thinking about this way too much.”

  “Maybe.” Frank sat back and threw an arm over the backrest. “Hey, I’m looking forward to those days. Where the only work I have to worry about comes from a honey-do list.”

  “You realize you’re wealthy and can retire any time.”

  “Yes. But I don’t have a project like you do.” He motioned around them. “This is going to be amazing. What the fuck am I going to do? Hang out here all day and bug the shit out of you?”

  “Please don’t.”

  “See?”

  There were countless things Frank could do, but really what it came down to was that he didn’t want to do them without Joshua, and Val got that. What was the point of having all that money if he couldn’t share it with the man he loved?

  “It’s fine,” Frank waved a hand. “I’ll figure it out. Maybe I’ll ask Joshua to marry me.”

  Val almost choked on his spit. “What?”

  The sly look Frank gave him made Val laugh.

  “You’ve been thinking about it for a while, right?”

  “Yep.”

  Val stared at him. “Have you bought a ring?”

  “I might have.”

  “Holy shit! Do you know when you’re going to propose?” Val was so damned happy for Frank. His best friend had one hell of a rough youth, having been kicked out onto the streets when he was a teen by his homophobic parents. He was a good man who’d done so much to help others who’d been in the same situation he’d been in during his youth. Frank deserved to be loved, and Val was so grateful Joshua had found him.

  “I’m still working on that, but soon.”

  “Man, I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks. Don’t worry. Things will work out. I can feel it,” Frank said, smiling wide when the door opened. “Well, that’s my cue.”

  Val turned, his heart leaping to his throat when Saint stepped inside. He quickly slid out of the booth. Frank nodded at Saint in greeting and patted him on the shoulder as he walked by and out of the tavern, closing the door behind him.

  “Hey,” Saint said quietly.

  “Hey.”

  “I dropped by the hospital this morning to see Leo. Fitz called. Leo had been asking for me.”

  Val shoved his hands in his jeans pockets so he had something to do with them. “How is he?”

  “On the mend.” Saint chuckled and shook his head. “He gave King hell for what happened at the hospital. You should have seen it. King apologized. Said I was never fired.”

  “No shit, really?” Val couldn’t help his laugh. “I knew Leo was fearless.”

  “That and King loves him so damned much. Speaking of love….” Saint met Val’s gaze. “I’m so sorry I ran out on you. That was a shitty thing to do.”

  “Nothing to apologize for. I made you a promise. I told you I’d understand there would be moments when you might not be ready and that I’d be patient. I want you to feel like you can always come to me, talk to me.”

  Saint nodded. “The thing is, I ran because I panicked.”

  “Too much too soon?”

  “No, actually, the sex was fucking amazing, and I’m looking forward to doing that again.” Saint’s cheeks went pink, and he licked his bottom lip. “Real soon.”

  “Uh, okay. Not what I expected. Go on.”

  Saint motioned over to the booth, and they both took a seat. “I panicked, and at first, I thought maybe it was the sex, you know, with a guy thing, but it wasn’t. I mean, the sex brought it all home. That I was in love with you, and you loved me, and that’s when it hit me. What if you decided I wasn’t enough for you?”

  “What?” Now that Val had not been expecting.

  “What if you decided I wasn’t worth it and found someone else?”

  “Why would you think—Oh.” Val’s heart squeezed in his chest. He wanted to say so much, but Saint wasn’t finished, so Val listened intently.

  “The only person I was ever in a committed relationship with, who I loved and thought would be my forever, left me. And for the longest time, I believed it was my fault, that I wasn’t enough. Wasn’t worth the wait.”

  “And you thought it might be the same with me.” Val understood. Something that cut as deep as what Saint had gone through wasn’t something someone just walked away from unscathed. He’d been carrying around those feelings of inadequacy for years.

  Saint shook his head. “I didn’t think you were the same, but it didn’t stop the fear from resurfacing and filling me with doubt.”

  “And now?”

  “Now I see that Alicia and I weren’t meant to have forever because the Universe had something different in mind for us, something better.”

  “You believe that?” Val asked softly, reaching out to take Saint’s hand in his.

  “I do.” Saint laced their fingers together on the table. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Saint released Val and sat back in his seat, mischief in his eyes. “See, your tavern is already providing therapeutic services.” He slid out of the booth. “Come on. I want to kiss you.”

  Val didn’t have to be told twice. He slid out and pulled Saint into his arms, kissing him sweetly. Damn, he smelled so good. He tasted even better. Val couldn’t get enough of Saint, of the feel of Saint’s body against his. Which reminded him….

  “You know, there’s a real desk in my office now. It’s very sturdy.”

  Saint pulled back; his pupils dilated and a wicked gleam shone in his eye. “You sure? Maybe we should test it. Wouldn’t want it collapsing under the weight of all that paperwork.”

  “You’re so right.” Val motioned to the bathroom first. “I don’t know what you were doing before you arrived, but you don’t want what’s on my hands right now touching certain sensitive areas.”

  Val had been handling dirty boxes and needed clean hands for what he had planned for Saint. He’d barely let Saint dry his hands before he’d grabbed his arm and hauled him into his office, loving the sound of Saint’s laughter. He closed the door behind them and locked it in case any of their friends decided to drop by. The last thing he needed was their friends walking in on his boyfriend fucking him. Boyfriend. Val really liked the sound of that.

  “There’s a box of condoms and some lube in the bottom drawer on the left.”

  Saint winked at him. “Damn, Chief. I like your preparedness.” He walked to the drawer while Val unbuckled his belt. So he was a little eager. Who could blame him?

  Unlike the last time Saint had been here, Val’s new desk was clear of precariously stacked paperwork. He shoved his pants and underwear down and leaned over the desk. Somewhere behind him, the small metal trashcan went rolling.

  “Shit. Sorry!”

  Val chuckled. “Don’t hurt yourself.”

  “Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be, huh?”

  Val hummed. “My ass is getting cold. You plan on fucking me today, Sailor?”

  Saint leaned over him to whisper in his ear. “Not only am I going to fuck you, Chief, but you’ll be feeling it for days.”

  “Less talking, more pounding.”

  Saint cursed under his breath, and Val chuckled. He heard the click of the lube cap opening, then the tear of the condom packet. When Saint’s finger slipped in between his cheeks, he jumped.

  “Fuck, that’s cold.”

  “Sorry, Chief,” Saint laughed.

  “You’re not fucking sorry at all.”

  “Nope.”

  Val was about to remark when Saint slid his finger inside Val to the first knuckle. His words were gone, replaced by a slew of unintelligible sounds. Saint parted his cheeks, his finger expertly gliding in and out of Val. He crooked a finger, and Val jumped again. He let his forehead fall against the desk’s top and gripped the edges. Saint stretched him out until Val couldn’t take it anymore.

  “You need to fuck me now, Sailor, or I will come without you.”

  “We can’t have that, can we?”

  The tip of Saint’s cock pressed against Val’s hole, and he relaxed, wincing at the initial sharp pain that soon gave way to fullness. Val groaned.

  “You might want to hold on to something, Chief.”

  Val grabbed the edge of the desk in front of him as Saint pulled out almost all the way, then plunged back in.

  “Holy fuck!” Val gripped the desk so tight his knuckles were white. Saint meant what he’d said, and the sound of Saint’s groin smacking against Val’s ass filled the room as Saint fucked him hard and fast. He held on to Val’s shoulder with one hand, the other gripping Val by his waist as he pulled Val back against him.

  “You feel so good, Chief,” Saint said through his panting breath, his fingers digging into Val’s skin. “Fuck.” He angled his hips, and Val cried out. “That’s it, huh? The special spot.” Saint pegged that sweet spot repeatedly, and Val was ready to come without laying a hand on himself.

  “Saint.”

  Saint bent over him, his hips thrusting wildly until Val heard him cry out and felt the heat as Saint filled the condom. He carefully pulled out. Val needed to come badly, he was so damned hard. Turning, he almost swallowed his tongue when Saint dropped to his knees and sucked Val’s cock into his mouth.

  “Holy fffuck!” Val grabbed Saint’s head, and it took everything he had not to thrust into Saint’s mouth. He bit his bottom lip, his orgasm building inside him, ready to explode. Saint lifted his gaze to meet Val’s, then moaned as he sucked harder, his hand wrapped around the base of Val’s dick. “Saint, I’m going to come.” He gave Saint the chance to stop, to let Val take over with his hand, but Saint sucked harder.

  Val slid his fingers into Saint’s hair, grabbing a fistful as his orgasm slammed into him, and he doubled over. A shiver went through him, his muscles tight as Saint swallowed every last drop. Holy hell. Val leaned back, letting go of Saint’s hair and gripping the desk again to keep himself up.

  Saint stood and stepped in between Val’s legs. He wrapped his arms around Val and kissed him. Val moaned, tasting himself on Saint’s tongue. When he pulled back, he cupped Saint’s cheek.

  “Seeing you on your knees with my cock in your mouth is the hottest thing I have ever seen.”

  Saint hummed and kissed him again. “I don’t know. Seeing you come like that was pretty damned hot.”

  They kissed until Val’s ass started hurting from leaning against his desk. “How about we go home, and I make you some dinner?” He brushed his lips over Saint’s. “And then maybe a little dessert after?” He waggled his eyebrows, and Saint laughed.

  “I do love dessert.” Saint opened his mouth to say something else when his phone rang. While he answered, they both pulled up their pants.

  “Hello?” Saint frowned. “Hi, Mrs. Alvarez. Really? Oh, man. I’m so sorry. Yeah. I’m not there, but I can head right over. Okay. Yep, I’ll let you know.” He hung up and sighed. “I gotta go.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “That was my neighbor downstairs. There’s water leaking from my apartment down to hers, and the landlord isn’t answering his phone.”

  “Want me to go with you?”

  “Nah, it’s fine. I needed to grab some more clothes anyway. That’s if you still want me hanging out with you at yours.”

  Val pulled Saint against him and kissed him. He sounded so hopeful it was adorable. “Hm, do I want you in my house where I can feed you, hold you, kiss you, and do very naughty things to you…? What do you think?”

  “You’re terrible, and I approve. I’ll be back soon. I can pick up some dinner on the way to yours.”

  “Hey,” Val cupped Saint’s face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Saint looked confused. “Okay?” Realization dawned, and he nodded, his smile reaching his eyes. “I am so very much okay. Promise.”

  “Okay. See you in a bit.”

  Saint kissed him, just a peck on the lips, and then he was off. This time he wasn’t rushing out in a panic. He was genuinely happy, and that made Val all but melt.

  “I’m such a goner,” Val said as he returned to the boxes that needed to be broken down. He had some time before Saint returned, so he might as well get more work done. Then he’d head home. He was going to miss working with Saint like this. Val expected him to get called back to work any day now. And once the tavern opened, his schedule would be pretty hectic at first, but he was confident they’d work it out. He should make Saint a copy of his house key.