“Any news from your duke?” Kaiden arched a perfectly sculpted brow.
Before I could respond, the dining-room door swung open, and Carter strolled in, looking simultaneously exhausted and exhilarated. His hair was disheveled, and there was a visible mark on his neck that hadn't been there yesterday.
“Well, well, well,” Kaiden drawled, “look what the cat dragged in.”
Carter flipped him off good-naturedly as he made his way to our table, dropping into an empty chair with a theatrical groan. “Coffee,” he muttered. “I need coffee before I can process human speech.”
I pushed my half-full mug toward him. “Here. I was done anyway.”
He shot me a grateful look and took a long sip, closing his eyes as the caffeine worked its magic. When he opened them again, he looked marginally more alive. “So,” he said, his voice still rough from what I assumed was a night of considerable vocal activity, “what'd I miss? The party go completely off the rails after I left?”
Kaiden and I exchanged glances. “You could say that,” Kaiden replied with a grin. “Our boy Theo here had quite the adventure with the Tuxedo Twins.”
Carter's eyebrows shot up as he turned to me. “The matching tuxedo guys? Shit, how was it?”
I shrugged, trying to downplay the experience even as I felt a small surge of pride at having been chosen. “It was fine. They knew what they wanted, didn't waste time, and tipped well.”
Carter looked impressed. “They must have really liked you. But seriously, how are you doing with all this? Two weeks in, first big party, first threesome... that's a lot.”
I appreciated his concern, which seemed genuine despite the casual way he voiced it. Both he and Kaiden had taken me under their wings from my first day, offering advice, support, and the occasional necessary reality check. “I'm okay,” I said, weighing my words. “It's getting easier, like you both said it would. Last night with those guys, it wasn't... I mean, I didn't feel that pull, you know? Not like...”
“Not like with the duke,” Kaiden finished for me, his voice softening. “That's actually a good thing, Theo. It means you're compartmentalizing.”
Carter nodded in agreement. “The first one always gets under your skin a bit. It's like losing your virginity all over again. There's this weird emotional attachment that happens even if you don't want it to. But then you see that most clients are just... clients. They come, they go, they pay well, and life moves on.”
“I know,” I said finally. “And I'm dealing with it. Today's our last meeting before he heads back home.”
My heart had done a small flip as I read the notification earlier that morning. “Today's client has requested an early afternoon visit. Please report to Villa 6 at 1:00 PM instead of the previously scheduled 6:00 PM. Confirm availability.” I'd quickly tapped “Confirm.” Earlier meant more time with Ricard, but it also meant less time to prepare myself mentally for our last goodbye.
“He wants to see me earlier today,” I explained as I stood and poured myself a fresh mug of coffee. “One o'clock instead of six.”
Carter and Kaiden exchanged a look I couldn't quite interpret.
“What?” I asked, suddenly self-conscious.
“Nothing,” Carter said, a bit too quickly. “Just... be careful, okay? Last appointments can get emotional. For both parties.”
“I'll be fine,” I insisted, though the knot forming in my stomach suggested otherwise. “It's just another session.”
Kaiden snorted. “Honey, if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you. But it's okay to care, you know. Just don't forget why you're here.”
Casey. The thought of my brother centered me immediately. “I won't forget,” I promised, as much to myself as to them.
At twelve-forty-five, I left my quarters and walked to Villa 6, my stomach churning with a mix of anticipation and dread. The path to his villa seemed both longer and shorter than usual. Each step broughtme closer to a goodbye I wasn't ready for, yet it all happened too quickly.
The sunny weather and bright blue sky felt almost offensive. How could the world look so perfect when I was about to say goodbye to someone who meant so much in such a short time?
I rehearsed, or tried to, what I might say in my head as I walked. Should I be casual? Professional? Tell him how I really felt? Each option seemed equally terrible. What do you say to someone who's shown you glimpses of a different life, a life you could never actually have, before they disappear forever?
As I approached Villa 6, something felt off. It took me a moment to realize—the entrance had unusual activity, with a staff member loading luggage into a waiting golf cart.
Reality crashed down on me with physical force. This wasn't just a goodbye conversation. He was literally walking out the door.
My steps faltered, and I nearly turned around. What was the point?
Before I could decide, the front door opened, and there he was.
Ricard stepped out onto the small porch, and my breath caught in my throat. He was dressed in a suit, not the casual resort wear he'd favored during his stay, but a proper, tailored charcoal gray suit with a crisp white shirt and a tie in a deep burgundy that complemented his coloring perfectly. His hair was styled more formally than I'd seen it before, and there was something in his bearing, a straightness to his spine and a set to his shoulders, that screamedroyaltyin a way I hadn't fully appreciated until now.
