[ 162 ]
Raphael fit in well with his surroundings. His coat perched over the back of his comfortable seat, as he sat with one leg crossed over the other in one of his top favourite suits. Other than Single Malt Whiskey's that usually came with a hefty price-tag, the other means of his investments came in the form of his tailored suits. Which had only truly become an obsession courtesy of the gorgeous lady who had only just entered the restaurant.
Hazel Westergaard was a vision. She carried an air of opulence that would naturally intimidate most who had the stereotypical expectation of her personality rattling around in their heads. But as was usually the case, and the reason Hazel had one of the lowest staff-turnovers when it came to her small business, was because the assumptions were always shattered when she smiled.
Raphael had always considered it dazzling and he felt the same way he did the first time he set eyes upon her. Putting down his abnormally-small cup containing ridiculously expensive coffee, Raphael stood up to greet his beloved wife.
Eyes naturally followed the classy ladies movements, right from when the restaurant doors were opened for her by another star-struck customer. Raphael was very lucky and his in-laws had once been very sure to remind him of that fact. In fact, they said it every time they saw him and only ceased when they greeted their three grandsons.
"Raphael, you're looking well. It's been too long." Hazel stepped into his embrace and kissed his cheek affectionately.
"I was in our marriage-bed yesterday morning, darling." Raphael defended.
"And yet clearly it is does not tempt you as it once did, as you were conspicuously absent from it last night and this morning." With a flippant shrug, Hazel sidestepped her husband in order to take the seat he quickly pulled out for her.
Raphael sat down across from her and poured her a glass of water from the jug he had ordered the moment he had arrived. "I had an unexpected meeting early this morning so I decided to stay at one of the hotels in the city. But I did text you, my love."
"Oh, did you? I didn't notice. But after all these years it may just be my wishful thinking to hope my husband would phone me."
"My love, I did try to ph—"
Hazel narrowed her eyes at him and Raphael swallowed his words. He dipped his head for a moment to express his sorrow. "I can only hope my beautiful wife will forgive me."
By the time Hazel Westergaard's glass of water touched the table once again, her attitude had completely changed. "You're wearing my favourite suit and tie that I picked out for you, as well as the cuff-links I bought you for your birthday three years ago. That in itself is enough to tell me how sorry you are, darling."
Raphael presented an award-winning smile, an expression he was only able to give his wife. It was one of the many things that initially won her over when he asked time and time again for a date.
"I also can't deny it was nice to have the bed to myself, without someone hogging it."
"Don't get used to it." Raphael barely let her finish.
Hazel scoffed and then after scanning their surroundings, regarded her husband curiously, "Are you going to tell me why you chose this place for brunch?"
"There's nothing wrong with trying something new."
Those hazel eyes pierced him and made the business tycoon sweat. He tried not to budge and was barely keeping his mouth shut when Hazel spoke up. "Says the man who has ordered the same meal for the past ten years every time we go on date-night at a particular restaurant. One which we could have gone to for brunch. Instead you have chosen... what are you even drinking, Raphael?"
"A cup of coffee, my love."
Hazel raised a brow, "Did you order a cup, or a shot-glass worth of coffee?"
Clinging on to the last of his pride, Raphael decided not to respond and tried to hide his flinching expression as he took another sip from his cup. It also allowed him a moment's disguise as his gaze flickered to one side of the ostentatiously-designed room.
On a table of four, three men were seated in their best suits. Situated around them were customers who were feeling increasingly unsettled by the amount of hand-gesturing and the gradually increasing volume of voices. Raphael spent only a second taking in the sight before looking back towards his wife, whose expression had already changed once again.
"Raphael, Fahren better not be at this restaurant."
"Of course not! I don't spy on my sons."
Hazel rolled her eyes and reached across the table to take the cup in Raphael's hands. "No one, not even the newest members of the WATSS team, believes that. Now tell me whose on your radar because it's been a long time since you wanted front-row seats."
Complying, Raphael subtly gestured with his head and by the time Hazel turned, the table by the window across the room had drawn a lot of attention to themselves. Now staff-members were awkwardly shuffling, glancing at one another.
Two men sat perfectly still, other than to spare a look at their surroundings. While the man opposite, in light of what he had just read on some paperwork that had been slid across the table, had flown into a fit of rage. Completely brushing the paperwork onto the ground without a second thought.
No longer wishing to be embarrassed, the two who had been leading the discussing and the bearers of bad news, stood up and put on their coats. They didn't hang around, even when the third man momentarily tried to stop them and demand answers.
Once they were gone, he slumped into his seat and put his head in his hands.
Which is when Raphael gestured to a server who had been allocated to them.
"Sir, Madam, I would like to formally apologise for—"
"That's not necessary," Raphael dismissed. "In fact, I would like to buy him a drink."
"Sir?"
Hazel looked interested and Raphael was always aiming to keep it that way. He spared his beloved a cheeky wink and looked back to the waiter. "A bottle of your cheapest champagne, as commiserations on the loss of his job."
"Of course, sir."
Raphael nodded with a handsome smile and then climbed to his feet, grabbing his coat and aiding his wife in doing so too. "Preferably offered once we have left. I'm sure you can understand."
"I... think so, sir."
"That's great. Now then," he looked at his wife who was trying to hide her smile. "Shall we go to one of our regulars for lunch?"
The couple linked arms as they stepped away from their table, making sure that when they went to pay the extortionate bill for a single cup of coffee and a jug of water, they bypassed the pitiful man who had yet to lift his head. But this was all so Hazel could get a closer look so that when they left the restaurant, she could ask her naughty husband what he had been up to.
"You don't recognise him?"
"I don't make a habit of remembering men's faces who have such short tempers."
"I quite liked the beginning of that sentiment, my darling."
"Raphael tell me or I'll divorce you."
Raphael chuckled and kissed his wife's temple. "That was William Bennett."
Taking a moment to filter through all the names she knew, Hazel finally grasped who the man was and why someone as insignificant as him could make someone as choosy as her husband come to witness his downfall. She smiled, "Luis Bennett's father."
Raphael nodded his head and as they climbed into the car which awaited them, he tilted his head in his wife's direction. "It would appear our youngest has become selectively lenient when it comes to that boy."
"That could be considered maturing, Raph."
"That could be the reason. But while Fahren has chosen to forgive and forget, I admit my fault in not being able to do the same. William Bennett is a foul creature anyway, so on top of his own son's misadventures, I added a few more tasty revelations into the paperwork that magically appeared on his bosses desk. And seeing how WATSS is the sole company who oversees their top-of-the-range security for a friendly reduced rate, I kindly recommended they act promptly."
Hazel was more than satisfied to hear the thoroughness of her husband's actions when it came to safeguarding their family. But she had to ask, "And dare I ask how Fahren is going to react when he finds out his father has been meddling again?"
Harrison, who was driving the car and trying to remain uninvolved with the conversation, snorted in the exact same way as Raphael did. Amusement lacing the rude sound as the only lady in the car had clearly missed out on something pretty obvious in their eyes.
Raphael reached across and took her hand, entwining their fingers and giving them an affectionate squeeze. "Fahren has told me in no subtle terms that he knows I've got eyes on him. So when he had dinner with Luis Bennett, he did so without care of being noticed. Hence by Harrison picked him up right outside."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning our youngest is more than happy to let me do his dirty work."
Hazel nodded and slowly moved her head to look out of the window. "Perhaps don't grin like Fahren in a candy-shop when you're trying to persuade me to take pity on you, darling."
"Why of course not, I don't want pity. It's my duty as his father to keep him out of trouble." Raphael puffed his chest out of pride.
"You're exactly right, darling." Hazel acknowledged with her own squeezing of their joined hands. "Now how's about you tell me how your meeting went this morning? Your most faithful advisor is waiting." She easily charmed him with a smile, and Raphael didn't suspect a thing as he lapsed into conversation about work.
With his attention solely on her, their car breezed by a particular hotel. One in which Raphael hadn't spared a single glance. Meanwhile Hazel relaxed a tad more into her seat, only offering it a moment's peek.
If they had have stopped and asked the reception for a particular name or two, they would have been directed to a room aptly named the 'businessman's suite'. Where on the front of the door and hanging off the door handle was a 'do not disturb' sign. Meaning all members of housekeeping promptly dismissed the need to clean inside of the room until later in the day.
Admittedly, if any member of staff stepped into the room they would be greeted by all sorts of sights. First and foremost they would find a single tie. Followed by bread-crumbs worth of clothing that led straight towards the luxurious bedroom only divided from the rest of the room by a semi-opaque screen.
The large bed was in a state of chaos, with the covers thrown to one side and the sheets crumpled and creased. On the side tables were two half-drunken glasses of wine, but the owners were nowhere to be seen. Only when one ventured deeper into the room was the discernible sound a shower more clear.
Inside the steamy room, where a similar screen had been adopted to surround the shower-area, were two figures barely detectable through the haze of humidity. The older of the two men had entered the shower a short while ago, taking his time to get clean as the young man he had shared his evening with remained fast asleep.
But always the type to keep him on his toes, Fahren soon emerged and cheekily slid his hands around Emilio's sides and slowly down to his hips, where one of his hands ventured down further and to a particular area he had become all too familiar with. He felt the reaction first in Emilio when his fingers brushed deliberately over sensitive spots and then as his hand wrapped around something else.
Pressing his chest up against Emilio's back, Fahren peppered kisses along his shoulder and across to the juncture between said shoulder and his deliciously pale throat that showcased love-bites spectacularly.
Emilio's hand cupped Fahren's own, which now held his reawakening arousal. There were no signs of shyness, no attempts to remove his touch, instead Emilio encouraged him and guided the cheeky young man's hand in a certain direction which gradually picked up in pace.
As his hips rolled in tune with the firm grasp, Fahren allowed his own to follow as his neglected item repeatedly brushed against the soft flesh of Emilio's backside. It made the man receiving the most attention groan and tilt back his head, his slicked back blond hair tickling the skin of Fahren's cheeks.
Stroke after stroke, Fahren closely felt the responses from Emilio's body as he used his hand to bring him closer and closer to the edge. The taller man, whether intentional or not, certainly didn't allow Fahren any moment to relax as he rubbed back up against him. Teasing him with a piece of his body Fahren had practically dug his nails into the night before, in order to encourage the blond who repeatedly surprised him with his unrelenting stamina.
Before Emilio could get too close to finishing courtesy of Fahren's talented hands, he quickly manoeuvred them so he had said person trapped against the wall. They were so close that the prime focus of their hand's attention was poking Fahren's stomach, making him grin mischievously.
"How youthful," Emilio grumbled but used one of his hands to brush the recipient of his affection's brown hair off his face. "You were asleep only moments ago, and yet here you stand already so hard." He leant down and pecked a kiss beneath Fahren's ear. Only lingering to give him a taste of his own medicine as he ran the tip of his tongue over his lobe and chomped.
Fahren laughed, but it was far from one completely clear of arousal. He focused on feathering touches down the erection prodding his stomach. Noting the way Emilio's breath momentarily caught in his throat as his touch lingered on the underside.
"You naked and dripping wet is probably the main culprit." Fahren purred and as Emilio's face dipped down and beside his own, he sent some deliciously deep moans directly into his ear. Fahren tilted his head to the side and pressed a kiss against one of the closed eyelids which quivered as Fahren's fingers moved torturously and deliberately on Emilio's most sensitive part.
The taller of the two had his two hands planted firmly on the wall, as the smaller of the two wrapped around him like a snake. With his free hand, Fahren slithered his fingers over the expanses of Emilio's damp skin and up the back of his neck and to his hair. Where he grabbed a handful.
From an outsiders perspective looking in, the position depicted a very sensual embrace. But it got even hotter as, with his grip on Emilio's hair, Fahren guided his head onto his shoulder and relished the feeling of the genius' heavy breathing against his skin as Fahren suddenly picked up the pace of his stroking.
"Fuck.. ah.." Emilio's lips formed the words repeatedly, in different variations and thrusted his hips to meet Fahren's hand.
The spray from the shower met the pair sideways on and so when Emilio finally climaxed, the mess he created was quickly washed away. But what wasn't so easily hidden was the deep moan that echoed throughout the bathroom, drifting out into the main suite where there were barely any walls to stifle the sounds of clear euphoria.
The couple didn't move for a few moments, Fahren very comfortable with having Emilio's larger body pressed against his own and making him feel safe. And the blond clearly sussed that out, as when he did move, it was to turn off the shower which he did with the slightest of arm stretches.
He didn't return his hand to the wall, though, instead it wrapped around Fahren and encouraged the hug. But he couldn't help but whisper, "Just what were you rubbing against my backside before?"
Fahren laughed and tilted his head back so it rested against the wall. He looked Emilio in his gorgeous blue eyes and smiled knowingly. "It's such a fine ass. Such a shame it's not being utilised to the full extent of its capability." To prove his point he dropped a hand and gave it a squeeze.
Emilio joined him by laughing and shaking his head. "So brazen." He confessed and followed up by smashing his lips against Fahren's, their laughing immediately falling to silence as they thoroughly enjoyed the taste of each other.
Fahren wrapped his arms around Emilio's shoulders, loving the feeling of pressing against his naked warm body, while the genius who proved to be just as good in bed as he was with figuring out complex coding, ran his hands up and down the small of Fahren's back. Occasionally going further and memorising the feeling of the tempting curve of his bottom.
After all those hours spent together, no inch of Fahren's body had gone unexplored. Even now when Emilio's eyes closed, the image of the young man moaning invitingly beneath him as he pounded him into the sheets was at the forefront of his memories. It made his grip tighten and Fahren whimper into their kiss.
"Give me a reason why I shouldn't take you back to bed." Emilio broke away and mumbled, intoxicated.
Fahren hummed and tried to respond, struggling as his partner began to attack his neck with distracting kisses.
"I believe you may have mentioned an important meeting in between us ripping each other's clothes off and you throwing me on the bed... ah!.." One of Emilio's digits explored his back entrance more intimately than the rest which innocently remained still on top. Fahren sank his teeth into his bottom lip momentarily, rolling his hips to meet the other man's.
"Funny, I don't seem to recall any meetings."
A laugh forced its way out between Fahren's lips. "We also haven't eaten.." he confessed.
"Speak for yourself, I've eaten plenty of especially sweet things."
And damn did Fahren remember every moment of it. So much so that he ducked his head and caught Emilio's lips in a bruising kiss. Swallowing all those unexpected flirtatious words Fahren had no notion the engineering mastermind had stored away. He wanted it all, and he wanted Emilio wholeheartedly.
That addiction to his lover's touches was still so vivid. After all those years spent by his side, he never tired of the whispers in his ear and the loving kisses reserved only for him. So he knew, even if and when he and Emilio stopped humping each other like horny newlyweds, Fahren knew his feelings and his craving for Emilio wouldn't cease. He just hoped the man felt the same way.
His sincerity ended up slowing down their kiss. Long, drawn-out smooches creating tantalising sounds in the enclosed space. Both men offered moans as their bodies proved unwilling to separate.
Before their lips could grow numb, their foreheads rested together and they stood there listening to each other breathe.
"We made this shower experience all about me." Emilio said, referring to his own release.
Fahren couldn't help but run his finger's through the man's hair. "That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it immensely. You are a vision, Emilio."
Emilio looked a little surprised, but he very quickly smiled and ran the back of his hand across Fahren's cheek. "You compliment me too much."
Fahren took that hand and touched his knuckles to his lips, taking pleasure in the faint scent of the hotel's shampoo that coated his skin.
"You could say we compliment each other." Fahren suggested and Emilio said nothing for a good few seconds before he started laughing.
"I don't know what it is about you, Fahren. But the way you talk to me makes me feel like we have been friends for so long. Perhaps that's why I have the confidence to tell you that your pick-up lines are atrocious."
Fahren shrugged and pecked a kiss on the tip of Emilio's nose. "And yet here we stand because of them."
"You're not wrong."
"I know, I'm right— for you."
Emilio made a face, "Now I'm just cringing."
"I agree, the last one sounded a touch eager."
"I liked your honesty— in fact I really like your honesty. Sometimes in the business I'm in, people can look me in the eyes and lie. You're truly refreshing." Emilio said and brushed a dried curl on Fahren's head which reflected how long they had been standing in the shower. Even their surroundings had regained clarity.
"So then what's your honest opinion when I make jokes about liking you so much, and they turn out to be completely genuine? Will you run for the hills like I believe most would if they heard someone they had only slept with once confessing to them?" Fahren calmly asked.
Emilio kissed his forehead in response. "You can read people awfully well, but it appears you're still struggling with me. To be honest, I'm a little flattered by that. But your eyes always told me the truth when you came to see me, like bringing me flowers which I couldn't help but find lovely. But there's something else that made me truly see you, Fahren. It was actually whilst we were in the restaurant, can you guess?"
Fahren shook his head.
Emilio caressed his cheek once more. "When they tried to sit us in the window and you were happy to do so until you saw my expression. I wasn't even aware I had made one. But many people have overlooked my pet-peeves and called me strange, but you took one look and thought nothing of it as we relocated. You were more than happy to put yourself in an awkward position for my benefit."
Fahren chuckled. "That was nothing, really."
"Perhaps. But it meant a lot to me, and I was pretty certain then and there that I wanted to take you to bed."
"Oh, is that all?"
Emilio rolled his eyes but a playful smirk mirrored Fahren's own. He leant forward so he was close to his younger lover's ear, so only he would hear what he had to say. "Among many, many other things."
"That's better. Now shall we call down to reception to extend our visit a couple of hours?"
"And what could we possibly do to fill that extension of time?" Emilio asked in mock surprise.
"Well," Fahren purred and brushed his lips against the blond genius' ear, "I heard they do an amazing breakfast and lunch here."
Emilio laughed and the sound of it made Fahren weak in the knees.
By the time they left the shower, after individually taking one and cleaning off any remnants from the night before, it was well and truly lunch time. Fahren was the last one out, and when he walked into the room with a robe around his shoulders he paused when he saw the most beautiful sight.
Emilio stood in a matching white robe, with nothing but his briefs underneath. He had dried his hair and was in the process of running his hands through it while also taking a bite out of a piece of toast. The combination was almost too much for Fahren to handle, as the heat reached his cheeks for the umpteenth time since he had entered that particular hotel room.
He crossed the room and before Emilio could say another word, Fahren captured his mouth in a searing kiss. He only pulled back when he had achieved possession of the slice of bread. He dipped his head and took a bite.
"Tasty."
Emilio shook his head. "So wonderful and strange at the same time."
"Sounds about right. Coffee?"
As it turned out, Emilio had two appointments that morning. He was a stickler for punctuality and often times couldn't hide his dislike when someone else was being tardy. Those who were prepping to be at Radical Innovations half an hour before their meeting-time suddenly received phone calls to say that H. E Griffin was no longer available due to personal reasons.
Even the man who made the call on behalf of his absent boss was sweating nervously as he made the calls. A complete novice when it came to making excuses for the man who had yet to have ever cancelled a meeting.
[ TBC ]
[ A/N: I love how bold Fahren is, testing the boundaries and touching Emilio's butt so comfortably huhuhuh ;) ]
[ If you want to read ahead and support me in the final chapters of PTV, then check out my Patreon page.. where even more incentives will be coming in the near future ;) www.Patreon.com/Beth Worthington ]