Page 44 of See My Words

“CHRIST’S HAIRY BALLS!”

Minh’s awed exclamation drifted out to Scott’s ears, and he cracked up, stumbling a little on the porch steps he was currently climbing. He caught himself before he crashed to his knees.

“I take it you like the place,” he called, laughing as Minh tumbled out through the front door of the cabin like an exuberant puppy.

“It’s fucking amazing! Where did you find it?”

“A friend of mine lets me use it. As long as he’s not here, or lending it to someone else, I can come up anytime I want.”

“Ooooh.” Minh elbowed him. “Got yourself a little love nest in the mountains, eh?” He gave a salacious wink.

“Actually,” Scott said, moving past him to the front door, “I’ve never brought anyone up here before.”

“What about the owner? He’s not that sort of friend?” Minh clearly didn’t believe it.

“No, he’s not.”

Minh’s face held intense curiosity, and Scott knew he wouldn’t let it go until he got some answers. “He hired me for VIP about a year ago,” he said reluctantly. “But all he wanted was for me to go out to dinner with him, have a drink. Just…talk.”

Minh waved his hand around the interior of the cabin, with its travertine tile, vaulted ceilings and stone fireplace. “And now he lets you use his mansion. Must have been quite a talk.”

“It was.” That was all Scott intended to say about it, and luckily Minh subsided, his attention caught by pictures in gleaming silver frames set along the mantle.

“Oh my gawd, is this him?” Minh brandished a photo, which showed a handsome older man, his black hair shot with silver. His arm was around a teenager who looked exactly like him.

Scott’s silence was his reply, and Minh squealed, “Oh, sugar daddy, come to your boy.” He hugged the picture to his chest before setting it down, diverted by Rylan shouting from the patio for him to come see the hot tub.

Scott trailed along behind, grabbing everyone’s duffles and climbing the stairs to the second floor. He tossed Minh’s bag in the guest room and headed into the master with his and Rylan’s. The evening light streamed in through the French doors leading to the balcony, and Scott opened them and went out, leaning his elbows on the railing.

Sighing, he gazed out at a peaceful view that never failed to relax him. Oak Creek was only a few yards away, and the oak trees themselves shushed in the breeze, the coolness wafting over his face. The sun was starting to set, and a pink and purple glow filled the sky with typical Arizona brilliance.

He smiled as Rylan appeared next to him, making a small sound of pleasure at the sight. “The cabin is amazing.”

It seemed natural to move behind Rylan and slip his arms around his waist, letting him settle back against him as they watched the sunset together. “I come up here once in a while. Just to hike, sleep, recharge my batteries.”

“It’s wonderful. Thanks for bringing me here.”

“Hey, where’s the motherfuckin’ bar in this place?” Minh called from the hallway, and Scott gave a disgusted huff.

“Starting to wish I hadn’t invited him,” he said ruefully.

Rylan snickered. “Yeah, he’s not really the relaxation and nature type, is he?” He caressed Scott’s forearms where they wrapped around him. “But he would do anything for you, wouldn’t he? I’m glad you invited him, because I can imagine you don’t get much time together these days.”

Scott felt warmth flood him at Rylan’s perceptiveness. “We don’t,” he admitted. “And there was a time when I barely let him out of my sight. If I don’t touch base with him every now and then, I start to get…anxious.” He took a deep breath, remembering his recent panic attack at the club, but Rylan turned in his arms and shushed him.

“I understand, and you don’t have to explain it to me. He’s important to you, and that’s all I need to know.”

“But ‘touching base’ doesn’t mean sex, Rylan,” Scott said earnestly. “When we—when we were living on the streets, yes, it was a comfort thing between us, a way to feel connected to another human being. A way to keep our humanity, I guess.”

Rylan nodded. “I can see that. He talked about ‘tricks,’ so I know you both did sex work to survive.” His voice was steady, matter-of-fact, and his eyes were devoid of the judgment and pity Scott so hated. “Having someone to make love to instead of conducting a business transaction—”

“All we had to barter with were our bodies. We had nothin’ else.”

“And you had each other.” Rylan smoothed his hands up Scott’s chest, stroking his thumbs over his collarbones. “I would never diminish that, or want to come between you.”

“He feels the same about us, Ry. He’s loud and annoying and pushy, but he’ll back off if we tell him to.”

Rylan shot him a reassuring smile. “I know. And I’m not so insecure that I’d ever resent your friendships, even close ones.”