Remove the Empty Spaces (11 page)

Adrien studied him, then nodded. “All right. I’ll buy you the tuxedo, but you need a shirt, tie, cuff links, and shoes to go with them. Are you okay with me paying for those as well?”

“Not really, but I know when to stop protesting. You buy what you think I need for the party, but that’s it. The other stuff I have for the rest of the weekend will be fine, and if your mother doesn’t like it, that’s okay. I’m not falling in love with her. I’m falling in love with you, and you don’t mind my clothes, do you?”

Blinking, Adrien shook his head. “I don’t care what you wear. Hell, I’d rather you weren’t wearing anything.”

He blushed, but continued, “Then aside from the tux, the rest doesn’t matter. I don’t think you need to change how you dress to meet my parents. Though for God’s sake, don’t wear a suit. Jeans and a nice shirt will be fine. We don’t dress for dinner at my house.”

“Got it. We’ll stop by my place on the way to your parents’, and I’ll change.” Adrien waved Salvatore back over. “Now let Salvatore take your measurements, and we’ll get you set up.”

“Fine, but we’re also going to have a conversation about all the other beautiful men you’ve brought here. Later.” He eyed Adrien, who ducked his head a little.

“Yes, sir.”

He endured getting measured, then pinned into a tux. Standing there like a sewing model, he listened to Salvatore and Adrien discuss fabric, cut and colour. He really didn’t understand why all of it was important, but Adrien believed it was, so he would deal with it.

When they finished and arranged to pick up their order on their way out of town on Friday, they headed to a nearby Thai restaurant. After they’d ordered, Ion looked at Adrien for a moment before he said, “How many of your lovers have you taken there?”

Adrien shrugged. “A few of them.”

“What made you think I’d want to go somewhere you’ve taken other men whose wardrobes you’ve bought?”

“I didn’t think about it. Salvatore is the best tailor in the city. He does all my suits, and I want you to have the best, so why wouldn’t I take you there?” Adrien held up his hand, and Ion bit back what he was about to say. “I don’t think you’re like any of those other men. It’s obvious you’re not interested in me for my money or for whatever help I can give you in your career. I’ve kept our relationship quiet from the others at the office except for Patrick, and you’re not bragging at the water cooler.”

Ion shook his head. “I wouldn’t brag anyway. Sharing my private life at work isn’t something I do. The only reason Patrick would know anything is because we’re best friends. If we weren’t, he wouldn’t know I was gay, much less dating anyone.”

“I get it. The only reason anyone knows who I’m dating is because when I go out to social events, I get written up in the papers.” Adrien looked like he had swallowed something unpleasant. “I hate to say this, but Sidney will be at my mother’s party, and probably some of the other head officers at Bellamy.”

Wincing, Ion fidgeted with his glass while he thought about all of his bosses knowing he was dating the top guy. “I guess we’ll see how they react then. I’m not going to stop seeing you. If you start getting hassled about it, then I’ll quit and get a job somewhere else. It’s not like there aren’t other jobs out there. I just chose your company because it has one of the best reputations in the business.”

“I don’t want you to have to quit. We’ll see what we can do.” Adrien reached out to pat his hand. “Let’s not borrow trouble until we have to.”

Ion wasn’t interested in arguing anymore. They would deal with everything as it came. No point making himself crazy worrying about it.

“You’re right.”

They chatted about various things while they ate, then headed to Ion’s place. Adrien had packed an overnight bag, so he wouldn’t have to leave earlier than necessary. They would figure out how to explain showing up at the office at the same time in the morning. He wasn’t going to pass up a chance to spend the night in his lover’s arms just because he didn’t want anyone to get suspicious.

Ion shut the door behind them, and Adrien shoved him back against the wood. He slid his hands into Adrien’s hair, holding him still as he devoured Adrien’s mouth. Ion wrapped his leg around Adrien’s to bring their groins together.

“Fuck!” Ion let his head drop back to bounce against it. He arched his hips, loving the feel of their erections rubbing on each other.

Then the pressure was gone, and he looked down to see Adrien on his knees in front of him. He sucked in his stomach to allow Adrien room to undo his belt, then his button and zipper. Cool air washed over his cock as Adrien pushed his pants down to his knees. He smiled when his lover swallowed his entire length down.

“God, I love your mouth,” Ion muttered while he began to slide in and out of Adrien, trying not to speed up. He didn’t want to choke him.

Adrien cupped Ion’s balls in one hand while sliding the other one around his hip to rub over his hole. Ion shuddered at the multiple sensations fighting to overwhelm him. Then when Adrien pressed his finger into Ion, his pleasure grew. Need sprang from every spot where Adrien touched him, then pooled along his nerve endings.

Ion thrust forward before pushing back, fucking Adrien’s mouth while impaling himself on his lover’s fingers. His entire body tensed as his climax raced through him, and he flooded Adrien’s throat with his cum. Adrien swallowed as much as he could, but a little bit trailed from the corners of his lips.

Once his orgasm ended, Ion’s knees went weak, allowing him to sink to the floor. He watched Adrien rip open his own pants, then start pumping his cock. Ion summoned the energy to wrap his hand around Adrien’s shaft before joining in on the jerking off.

Adrien’s head dropped back and he moaned loudly as he came, spilling his seed all over their hands and his pants. He kept the motion up until he was sure Adrien was done. Then he collapsed against the wall, and Adrien curled up in his arms.

“We should probably clean up, and toss your pants in the washer,” he murmured.

Adrien caressed Ion’s thigh. “I think these are a lost cause. I’ll just throw them away. It’s not like I don’t have more at home.”

Ion rolled his eyes at the idea of wasting a perfectly good pair of slacks just because Adrien didn’t want to take the time to wash them. “I think we can rinse them in the sink and get the worst out. Then you can drop them off at the dry cleaners tomorrow.”

“Fine. Whatever. Do we have to do it right now?” Adrien didn’t seem inclined to move.

Laughing, Ion pinched Adrien’s ass. “Yes, because I’m not taking a nap on the floor in front of my door. What if my mom shows up unannounced? There are some things a mother doesn’t want to see her adult son doing.”

“And sleeping half-clothed on the floor with his boyfriend is one of them,” Adrien continued.

“Right.” Ion took a deep breath, then pushed himself to his feet. He held out his hand for Adrien to take.

Once they were both up, Ion got their clothes mostly in order, then got them moving to the bathroom. He waited until they were both getting ready for bed before he grabbed Adrien’s pants to wash them in the sink. Then he glanced at the tag on the waistband and shook his head.

“You’re right. I think the best thing to do is just throw these out. I don’t think there’s any way to get cum out of silk, even if I do rinse it off,” he called to Adrien.

“I told you.” Adrien wandered back to lean against the doorframe, arms folded over his bare chest. “I know you think I’m just throwing money out, but like I said, I really do have plenty more in my closet at home. It’s not like I’m going to throw these out, then run to Salvatore’s to buy a new pair right away.”

Ion frowned. “I just can’t imagine not having to think about it before throwing something away. I didn’t grow up with that kind of money.”

He wadded the pants up in a ball before leaving the bathroom to walk to the kitchen area. After tossing them in the trash, he turned the lights out then joined Adrien in bed. He embraced his lover, entangling their arms and legs while laying his head on Adrien’s shoulder.

“I’m not going to apologise for growing up with money, Ion. It’s not something I could control.” Adrien’s voice rumbled against Ion’s ear.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I’m going to work harder at not judging you because you aren’t judging me,” Ion promised, then he laughed. “It’s not like I won’t be making more money soon.”

Adrien chuckled along with him. “You’re right. Once you graduate, and start moving up the corporate ladder, you’ll be making as much money as me.”

He snorted. “I doubt that’ll ever happen, but I’ll be happy making enough to put some away for retirement and having a little left over for fun.”

“Makes sense to me. Let’s do our best to make that dream come true.”

Ion listened as Adrien’s breathing slowed and deepened until he was asleep. Staring up at the ceiling, Ion tried to imagine what Adrien’s parents were like, but he drew a blank. He had never been on the executive floor when either Mr or Mrs Bellamy showed up.

Shit!
He was going to have to talk to Patrick about what to get Mrs Bellamy for her birthday. He couldn’t show up empty handed, though he was pretty sure Adrien would tell him he didn’t have to get her anything.

Ion’s mother would be very embarrassed if he were to show up to the Bellamy home without some kind of hostess gift. They might not have had much money, but his mother always managed to find something to take when they were guests in other people’s houses.

Sighing, he shut his eyes. He needed to get some sleep or else he was going to be worthless at work and school tomorrow.

* * * *

Ion strolled out of Salvatore’s shop with a garment bag over one shoulder and holding another one. Adrien’s driver took them both from him to put into the trunk. He climbed into the backseat where Adrien was still on the phone with Winston Grollon, the head of the London office. Something had come up while they were on their way out of the city, and Adrien had to take the call.

After settling onto the seat beside Adrien, Ion rested his hand on his thigh, then turned to watch the buildings pass by as their driver took them out of New York on the way to the Hamptons. It was the first time he’d be visiting there, and he couldn’t imagine what it would be like.

“I know it’s important, Winston, but there’s nothing I can do about it until Monday. Everything is closed for the weekend here. In fact, why aren’t you in the country?” Adrien shot Ion a glance. “Oh, you are. Well, now that you’ve brought this to my attention, you can go have fun for the next three days. As soon as I get into the office on Monday, I’ll take a look at the numbers and get back to you as soon as I can.”

Winston must have gone on a tirade while Adrien’s eyes widened and Ion could almost make out what the man was saying on the other end of the call. He frowned—from all of what Patrick had said about the man in charge of the European branch of Bellamy International, Winston Grollon was rather an even keel kind of guy, and wasn’t prone to dramatics.

Adrien held the phone away from his ear for a second and stared at it. After he replaced, he cleared his throat before saying, “Win, stop and take a deep breath. I know that it isn’t your fault, and I won’t blame you, no matter what I find. You brought it to my attention as soon as you caught it. We’re good. Now try and relax. All of this stress isn’t good for you.”

Shortly after that, Adrien hung up. He stuck his phone in his pocket while shaking his head. “Poor Winston is freaking out. I’ve never heard him as upset as he was just then.”

“What’s going on?” Ion asked, then said, “Wait. Can you tell me about it or not?”

Adrien shrugged. “I don’t see why I can’t tell you. He found some discrepancies in the finances of one of the new companies we just purchased.”

Ion nodded, but didn’t ask any more.

“So did Salvatore have you try the tux on before you left with it?” Adrien seemed determined to not think about it.

“Of course he did. Everything fits just fine, and I have everything I need.” He glanced down at his jeans. “Will we have enough time to change before dinner tonight?”

“Yes.” Adrien covered his hand with his and squeezed. “I made sure we left early enough to give us time. We won’t be able to take showers or anything, but change…yes.”

“Good. These are my best jeans, but I got the feeling your parents wouldn’t be thrilled to have me show up in them.” He winked at Adrien.

Adrien smiled. “I can’t wait to show you around the compound. Spent a lot of weekends out there, sailing as often as I could.”

He slid his hand up Adrien’s thigh. “What relaxes you now?”

“Doing you.” Adrien grabbed him then pushed him down on the seat.

They proceeded to make sure Adrien was very relaxed by the time they arrived to the Bellamy compound four hours later. Traffic had been a bit heavy as they were leaving the city.

When the driver pulled the car to a stop in front of the biggest house Ion had ever seen, Ion finished buttoning his jeans back up. He made sure he was put together before he stepped from the vehicle. Adrien followed him, then they stood staring up at the house.

“Holy fucking Christ! This is your get-away home?” Ion thought his eyes might pop out of his head as he tried to take in the giant mansion.

“It’s not mine, and actually my parents live here full time now,” Adrien informed him as he took Ion’s elbow in his hand. “Let’s go in. Dylan, can you make sure our bags get to our suite?”

“Certainly, sir. Then I’m taking off until you call me on Sunday,” Dylan said before turning away.

“You gave your driver the weekend off?” Ion knew it really wasn’t important in the grand scheme of things, but he was still trying process the enormity of the building before him.

Adrien shrugged one shoulder. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like we’ll need him. If we go anywhere tomorrow, I can drive.”

Ion nodded, then his gaze went to the front door where a man stood, having just opened the door. “That doesn’t look like your father.”

“No. That’s Mason, my parents’ butler.” Adrien took the front steps quickly before coming to a stop in front of the older man. “Mason, it’s good to see you.”