Glancing at Rourke, he hoped to see some kind of similar longing in his eyes, but when he found him checking his phone, something ached in disappointment low in his gut.
“Problem?” Killough asked Rourke.
Rourke shook his head. “No, boss. Just checking to see if Terrance needs me.”
“Does he?”
“No, sir. He has it under control. The whores and clients are running on time.” He laid his phone on the table and scanned the room. “Will Fionn be joining us?”
“No, I have him and Daire pulling point on Diaz. They’re tasked with finding out what she likes in men, or women.”
Rourke nodded. “Good choice, boss. If anyone can figure it out, it’s Fionn.”
The admiration behind his voice felt like a knife in Forrest’s abdomen, twisting from one side to the other. He didn’t know why he was so desperate for acknowledgment from Rourke, but the more Forrest discovered about his coprovocateur, the more he wanted to know him, to win his heart.
Mrs. Brassard had always told Forrest his own heart would get him into trouble. “You and those romance stories you love so much. That’s not real life, Forrest. Real life is your love for God.” Forrest snorted at the memory. If only she could see him now, spreading his legs for money, and the hour of love and need each man gave him.
The door opened and two maids carrying food entered. Forrest watched them, unable to look away. Was this real? While some cooks worked at the Exotic Virtue, they certainly didn’t have men and women running after their every need. A maid even laid the napkin over his lap, as though he couldn’t do it himself.
Once the maids placed the wide variety of food on the table, the blonde maid winked at him. She smiled and both maids left again. Forrest stared at the spread with wide eyes.
“Like what you see?” Conall teased.
“Have I died and gone to heaven?”
“In your heaven, Forrest, I’d expect more naked men serving the food.” Conall laughed.
Forrest nodded. “True. At the very least, Rourke would be naked and feeding me these figs. Want to try figging, Rourke?”
The flirty comment made Rourke knock the edge of the glass he’d been pouring wine into and it nearly tumbled over. He grabbed it just in time.
Conall and Killough laughed at the startled look Rourke sent Forrest.
Forrest nudged him with his elbow. “I was joking. Or was I?” He attempted to do an eyebrow wiggle but failed drastically. His reflection in the mirror made it look like he was having a stroke.
“You nearly made me stain Sloan’s expensive tablecloth,” Rourke reprimanded with a teasing smile.
“Conall says he’s into a good spanking from the boss, maybe you should give me one too?” Forrest retaliated.
“Really?” Rourke glanced at Conall.
Conall’s cheeks burned, and he glared at Forrest. “What kind of friend are you?”
Killough kissed his cheek and chuckled. “Pet, you get spankings in front of my men. It’s not a well-kept secret.”
“Your men wouldn’t tell anyone, though, because they’reloyal.” Conall’s face relaxed and he snorted.
“Hey, I’m loyal, but when you talk about your adventurous sex life, it makes me jealous,” Forrest said with an unapologetic shrug of his shoulders.
“Jealous of my sex life?” Conall’s eyes widened. “You’re a fucking whore, Forrest.”
“Sex worker is the more appropriate title. And?” Forrest leaned on the table, his chin resting on his hand. “I’ve seen my fair share of kinky sex, but it’s different when you do it with someone who actually cares about you. My clients just want to get off.”
Conall studied him carefully and then flicked his gaze to Rourke. The question on his face clearly read—what’s happening between you and him? Forrest didn’t know how to answer that, or maybe he did.Nothing.Nothing happened between him and Rourke because Rourke was his boss, and he didn’t sleep with his workers apparently, no matter how many times Forrest flirted.
“This food looks delicious,” Rourke said loudly, grabbing a pair of tongs and filling his plate with all kinds of delicacies, from scallops to stuffed figs. “Are you going to eat?”
Forrest held back a sigh and grabbed another pair of tongs. He went for the vegetables mostly, but added some cheat treats, too.
