Chapter Eight

“What kind of car is that?” Raven asked as he eyed a light blue vehicle.

As he was checking out the car, I was struggling to take my eyes off him.

He’d come to the car show in a pair of tight black jeans and a black sweater that almost reached all the way down to his knees. He’d also chosen to wear a pair of black-rimmed glasses, which gave him a more distinguished look, even though I was pretty sure that the frames had no prescription.

There was something so impossible to ignore about Raven’s everything, and the more I tried to convince myself that we were just two guys at a car show, the more it felt like I was lying to myself.

I wanted him. I wanted Raven.

But I had no idea how to bring it up, and I had no idea if he wanted me that way. Ever since our bakery incident, Raven had been slow to respond to my text messages and even slower to return my calls.

“Chevrolet Bel Air,” I answered his question. “It’s the kind of car that got used a lot in drag racing.”

“I love it,” he exclaimed. “There’s something really sexy about this car, right? I don’t know. Maybe just because it reminds me of Bonnie and Clyde.”

There was that word again. Since we’d walked into the car show, Raven had gravitated to a set of model cars on the floor, and he’d been recklessly throwing out that word ever since: sexy.

I didn’t know why, but whenever he said the word, it sent shivers right down my spine. It also sent shockwaves through my cock, which was getting harder and harder to hide as it hardened behind my boxers.

“So, you’ve been pretty busy these past few days?” I asked, desperately trying to change the subject.

“Yeah. Sorry for kind of going M.I.A.” His reply seemed laced with regret. “Clarissa isn’t my only client. I recently had another future bride come in, with a huge budget and literally no idea about what she wanted to do for her wedding.”

“What kind of budget are we talking about?”

“Half a million dollars,” Raven answered, seemingly unbothered by such a high number. “Hey, do you think they’d let me test drive this thing? You know, if I asked super nicely?”

“Are you… used to being around people with money?” I knew the question had come out strange, and I immediately wanted to change the wording. “I mean, is that just something you’re used to? Did you grow up wealthy or something?”

“That depends. Do you count growing up in a one-bedroom apartment in Wisconsin as wealthy?” He laughed. “But no. I didn’t grow up wealthy. I am used to being around rich people, though. Once you’ve partied with a few millionaires, they stop being special.”

“You’ve partied with millionaires?”

“Yep.”

“Do you mind expanding on that?” I pressed, curious about that part of Raven’s life.

“Funny. I thought guys came to car shows so they wouldn’t have to have these kinds of conversations, but all right,” he sighed. “I used to be with a guy who played football.”

“Wait. Professional football?”

“Yeah. NFL and all.” He shrugged. “We met at one of my client’s weddings. He told me he liked what he saw on the dance floor that night. And after that, we were always together. People used to joke that I was pretty much his shadow.”

“So, you were going out with a star athlete,” I muttered before I continued. “What happened?”

“He was offered one of the biggest sponsorship deals he’d ever gotten in his life. Ten million dollars for a two-year contract.”

“Yeah, but why would that break you two up?”

“Because the deal was with a family-friendly company.” Raven’s face dropped. “And if he was going to be the face of a family-friendly company, then he needed to look the part. Which meant no more boyfriend. And apparently it also meant ending up married to some girl he met halfway through his next season.”

“Shit, Raven. I’m so sorry.” I inwardly kicked myself for dragging us down this path of conversation.

“It’s okay. It feels like it was a million years ago, anyway,” he said as he shook his head. “And really, I always knew that he wanted to be straight. Or at least, he wanted people to think he was straight. So, him getting married to that girl? I saw that coming from a mile away.”

Raven paused for a moment. “I think what hurt me the most is that he lied to me about it. He made it seem like he was taking that deal for the both of us, like he was only breaking up with me on paper. Like he was going to bring me with him once he finally bought that big house on the hill he’d always wanted. But as soon as he signed on the dotted line, it was like… it was like I’d never meant anything to him. And maybe I didn’t.” Raven looked over at me, offering me a small smile. “I sound like an idiot, don’t I?”

“What?”

“Expecting a guy like that to come back for me?” His smile faded from his lips. “But whatever. Like I said, that was forever ago.”

“Look, I may not have known you that long, but…” I thought carefully about my words before I went on. “Raven Williams, you are not an idiot for thinking that someone would come back for you, for thinking that someone would choose you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re very… choose-able,” I replied. “And anyone who’d leave you? He’s the real idiot.”

“That’s both very sweet and very unwarranted.” Raven grinned. “But that’s enough about me. Tell me about you.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Rich people. Are you used to being around them?” he asked. “Not to be a copycat or anything, but I figured if you could ask me, then I could ask you back.”

“Not to be a copycat, he says, while being a complete copycat,” I joked. “And yeah. I’m pretty used to being around them. My dad--”

I stopped myself mid-sentence, as I considered whether or not telling Raven everything about my family was a good idea, especially when it came to my future inheritance. Usually, whenever I told someone about how I was set to inherit a profitable company and a few million dollars of my own, they started looking at me differently.

Almost like I’d been lying to them about who I was, and the revelation that I came from wealth was some sort of betrayal.

I didn’t want Raven to look at me like that, as if I was from a different planet. And even though I was worried that my honesty was going to somehow get twisted into resentment, a part of me still wanted to tell him the truth.

“My dad is the owner of the Easton’s Exchange,” I admitted.

“Wait. Easton’s Exchange?” Raven asked. “As in, that Easton’s Exchange? The place that’s like a secret club for Wall Street types?”

“It’s not really a club. It’s more of a service. We’re the people you call when you need a recommendation for a nanny or a new accountant or someone to help you stay on schedule,” I explained. “We offer a lot of different services, and people trust us because we’ve been around for what seems like forever. Anyway, long story short, about a hundred years ago, my granddad’s word of mouth business turned into a full-blown company, which is kind of funny because he only started the whole thing because he wanted to share intel with his farmer friends.”

“And now, your family’s company is sharing intel with millions of people, all over the world.” Raven smiled. “That’s pretty cool, actually.”

“Really?” My response was lined with suspicion. “You don’t think I’m just some spoiled rich kid now?”

“Why would I think you’re a spoiled rich kid?” he asked. “Aren’t you a manager?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you work for your dad’s company?”

“No.”

“So, that means that you’re currently not a spoiled rich kid,” Raven lightly chuckled. “Is that by choice, by the way? Or were you cut off? Taken out of the will?”

“Neither.” I shrugged. “I’m just not interested in working with the company right now. Especially if it’s going to cost me my freedom.”

“Cost you your freedom?” he asked curiously. “What do you mean by that--”

“Sorry for the interruption. I just had to come over here.” There was a man in a stylish gray suit standing beside Raven. “I know this may not be the place, but you are one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen in my life.”

This guy had come out of nowhere, and it was clear that he’d walked over with a mission to complete.

The name of that mission? Raven.

I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what to say. I knew that I was more than annoyed with the way this guy was staring at Raven, like he wasn’t anything more than a piece of meat.

“Thank you,” Raven replied with a smile. “That’s very sweet of you to say.”

“I hope it isn’t too presumptuous to ask you out to dinner?” the man continued. “I’m thinking somewhere where the plates start at $200 or so. Have you ever been to that steak place on Main? The food is amazing. And the drinks? Fucking amazing, too.”

“No, thank you.” Raven gave him another smile, although this one seemed a bit more strained.

“Aw, come on, baby. Why are you playing hard to get?” the man asked. “What do you want me to do? You want me to buy you that car you’ve been staring at for the past half hour?” He then pointed toward the Chevrolet. “I heard they’re asking $80,000 for it total. How about I put up $40,000 if you give me your phone number? And the other $40,000 when you show up for our date?”

“He’s not for sale,” I said, stepping in front of Raven.

“Not for sale, huh?” The guy laughed. “I overheard your little conversation earlier, Easton’s Exchange boy. Tell me, how much did you pay for him? I bet I can double it.”

“Fuck you,” I replied, making sure my words were loud and clear. “And fuck off.”

“Fine. You win this round,” the man sighed before he peeked around me, talking to Raven. “And I’ll be back for you later, sweetheart.”

The man then walked away from us and headed for the other side of the building.

“Hey, are you okay?” Raven asked from behind me.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”

“Your hands,” he said.

I felt his fingers on mine. I looked down to see what he was doing and noticed that he was slowly pulling my fingertips out of the fists they’d apparently been balled into.

I hadn’t even noticed I’d balled my fists up like that. Was I really ready to fight someone just to make sure Raven felt safe?

“Sorry. I’m not usually the kind of guy who gets into fights like that,” I tried to explain. “It’s just… there was something about that guy…”

“He was an asshole,” Raven said as he finished turning my balled fists into open palms. “And I’m happy you said something. I don’t know what it is about guys like that, but they’re so pushy. I would’ve been trying to fend him off all night if it weren’t for you.”

“You’re welcome.” I beamed over at Raven, glad that I’d been able to help.

“You wanna get out of here?”

“What?”

“Go get dinner or something?” he suggested. “Have you ever been to that steak place on Main? One of my good friends told me the food there is pretty good.”

I smirked and brought my hands back toward my side. “Your friend sounds like a real asshole.”

* * *

Raven and I had decided on a local burger bar for dinner. The place was packed, but the booth we managed to snag was pretty intimate, which made it a great place for a private conversation.

Because we’d been so wrapped up in our conversation, neither Raven nor I had ordered much to eat. He’d been working on the same order of fries since we’d sat down, and I’d only taken a bite or two of my burger.

“…And that’s why I always make sure all the windows are unlocked before I sleep over at a guy’s place,” Raven said, finishing up his story. “You just never know when you’re going to need to jump out of one.”

“I still can’t believe you jumped from the second floor of a house.” I shook my head in disbelief. “How were you okay? Did you roll when you landed?”

“Honestly, even if I broke a bone or something, I probably wouldn’t have noticed,” he laughed. “I was way too high on adrenaline. Getting out of his room in time made me feel like I was James Bond, except you know, minus all the stuff about being super interested in sleeping with women.”

“Did you always know you were…” I asked the question without asking, as I took a sip of my drink.

“Gay?”

“Yeah. That.”

Raven nodded to himself before he spoke. “I think so. I can’t remember thinking I was anything else.” He leaned closer over the table as he whispered, “And did you always know that you were… you know…”

“Straight?” I grinned.

“Yeah. That.”

“Yeah… I….” My answer came out shaky as I looked over at Raven.

He was looking back at me with those perfect eyes of his, and that perfect hair, and that perfect everything.

Fuck.

Looking at him felt like looking at a priceless painting. Each time my gaze fell on his face, I’d find something else that was perfect about it, realizing yet again that Raven was a work of art.

And as I felt my cock twitch underneath the table, I knew that I needed to say or do something, or else I was going to lose my mind.

“Do you want to come back to my place?” I asked.

“Sorry?” Raven seemed confused. “Did you just ask me if I wanted to come back to your place?”

“Yeah. Do you want to?” I kept my voice steady.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you want me to come back to your place?” He rested a fist beneath his chin. “Do you want to show me another car you’re working on?”

“No,” I replied. “It’s because… I… want… you.”

“You want me?” He quirked an eyebrow before leaning away from me. “I thought you were straight.”

“I am.”

“So you’re saying that you want to sleep with a guy, but that you’re also still perfectly straight?” he asked.

“I didn’t say that I was straight. I mean, I thought I was, until--”

“Until you met me?”

“Until I saw how beautiful you are,” I corrected. “Until I saw how everything you are. Fuck. Seeing you smile for the first time? It was like looking up at the night sky and finally seeing stars, after a millennium of darkness.”

“That’s…” Raven appeared to be stunned by my response. “After a millennium of darkness… I think that might be the most poetic thing anyone has ever said to me…” He narrowed his eyes over at me, snapping out of his daze. “But I don’t date straight guys. I’m not an experiment, Sky. You can’t just decide that you want me and then figure out halfway through hooking up that you like women instead.”

“It’s not like that,” I quickly replied. “Raven, I don’t think you’re an experiment. I just think… I don’t know… I think that you’re you and I’m me and us together could be… something nice. Don’t you want something nice?” I reached a hand across the table, placing my palm over the top of his hand.

He looked down at my hand on his for a moment before bringing his attention back up to me. “I haven’t had something nice in a really long time.”

“Me neither.”

There was a conflicted look on Raven’s face, but he kept his focus on me. It felt like the seconds were passing by like hours, with the agony of waiting on his decision weighing heavy on my mind.

Please don’t say no.

I didn’t know why I was so nervous about Raven’s answer. It wasn’t like he was my last chance at a hookup in my lifetime. Even so, asking him to come over made me feel like I’d just jumped out of a plane without a parachute.

“What’s your address?” Raven asked, his words coming out quietly.

And it took everything in me to not let out a shout of pure joy.