“So I was thinking,” Javier said once they were seated in the breakfast nook for their repeat of the morning before.
“Oh?” Desmond asked, his brows inching up and his heart racing.
Javier sent him a look as he picked up his mug that would put steam back in his tea. “I had a great time this weekend,” he said before taking a sip.
“So did I,” Desmond said, fighting to sound cool instead of like a teenager with his first crush.
“Wanna do it again?” Javier asked with a leonine smile.
“Yes, please,” Desmond answered quickly.
They both laughed. Javier put his mug down and reached across the table for Desmond’s hand. He’d made the same gesture the night before, and Desmond had loved it.
“Just because the concert is over and you’re feeling better doesn’t mean this has to end,” Javier said.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Desmond confessed. “And I would like to see you again.” He slipped his fingers between Javier’s and stroked his thumb over the side of his hand. “I feel as though we barely dipped our toes in the waters of what might be possible between us.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Javier said.
For a few seconds, they just sat there, breakfast between them, grinning like lovesick fools, until Desmond said, “So is this the beginning of something?”
“Beginning?” Javier blinked deliberately. “Honey, we’ve been boyfriends for months now.”
Desmond laughed. “And so we have.” He let go of Javier’s hand so he could take up his fork and finish his breakfast. “So we have.”
They dragged things out as long as they could. Javier helped Desmond clean up after breakfast, then wiped down all the counters as if trying to make their last moments together go on forever. Desmond wouldn’t have been surprised if he offered to reorganize the kitchen cabinets.
“I really should go,” Javier said for the tenth time after the kitchen was clean.
“You have my number,” Desmond reminded him, feeling anxious and hopeful at the same time as he walked Javier down the hall to the front door. “Feel free to use it whenever you’d like.”
“Oh, I will, babydoll, I will,” Javier said, the tone of his voice dropping as they stood beside the door.
With his jacket draped over one arm, Javier reached for Desmond’s face, then stepped closer and brought his mouth slanting down over Desmond’s. It was a goodbye kiss, but it spoke of promise and passion in the future. It was perfect.
“Don’t work too hard,” Javier murmured as he pulled back. He stole one final, quick kiss, then sighed and took a large step back, reaching for the door handle.
“I could say the same for you,” Desmond said. He needed to clear his throat to dislodge the burr that had settled there. “Best of luck with your agency.”
Javier laughed, though there was a bitter edge to it. “We’re going to need all that luck and more,” he said.
They exchanged a few more goodbyes as Javier opened the door and stepped outside. It was obvious that they were trying to prolong the moment as much as possible, which made Desmond laugh once they finally managed to drag themselves apart. He waved as Javier walked off down the street, then sighed like a lovesick fool once he stepped back into the house and shut the door, leaning against it for a moment to mark the end of the dream.
Five seconds later, he cursed himself for not offering Javier a ride or even asking how he’d gotten to the Royal Albert Hall on Friday. He could have called up Hassan to take him home or he could have driven himself.
It was too late now, but at least he would have an opportunity to apologize the next time he and Javier met up.
And there would definitely be a next time.
Immediately on the heels of those thoughts, Desmond’s phone buzzed in his back pocket. He pulled it out, then smiled from ear to ear when he saw Javier’s text.
“We’re definitely doing this again. Soon.”
Unable to wipe the smile from his face as he headed back to the sunroom to check on his plants, Des replied with, “Absolutely. I’m free next weekend.”
He hit reply, then immediately panicked. Was it too soon to say that? Should he have drawn things out more? Was Javier going to think he was a needy succubus?
“Dammit, man,” he told himself, deliberately putting his phone on the table in the sunroom and reaching for the watering can. “You’re a partner in one of London’s most prestigious financial firms, not a teenager with a crush.”
