Zach woke to a gummy feeling in his mouth and a crusty stomach from where the cum had dried. Despite this, he couldn’t fight the stupid grin that split his face.

He kissed Tynan’s shoulder. Somehow Zach managed to wrap himself around Tynan, giving his best impression of an octopus/big-spoon hybrid. He pulled back slightly, wrinkling his nose in distaste when he realized they were a bit stuck together.

That thought was chased from his mind when he saw the slew of red marks and wails on Tynan’s back. He bit his lip in guilt. Last night was one of the most intense sexual encounters he’d ever experienced.

He’d sort of handed himself over to Tynan’s care, letting the sensations wash through him. What he didn’t realize was that he was savaging chunks of flesh out of Tynan’s back.

“I can hear you thinking,” a gravelly voice said. Tynan rolled over, pulling Zach in for a slow kiss.

When the kiss ended, Zach pulled away and said, “I’m sorry,” brushing a finger over teeth marks on Tynan’s shoulder.

Tynan bullied Zach until they were lying chest to chest. He felt Zach’s strong heartbeat. “The only correct thing to say on a morning like this is, ‘darling, would you like a blow job.’”

Swatting Tynan’s chest, Zach snickered. “I’m serious. I did a number on your back.”

He felt the stings on his back, but he couldn’t say he minded them. Tynan turned a critical eye to Zach. His entire chest and neck were littered in hickeys and bite marks, some of which purpled overnight. He wanted to complete the set by marking up his legs and back. “You probably want to stick to turtle necks.”

A hand flew to his neck. He remembered Tynan being attached to it like a vampire at one point last night. He didn’t know whether to slap or kiss the smug look off Tynan’s face. In the end, he settled for a kiss.

“Don’t you have work?” Zach asked before things could intensify. With Tynan, it was easy for things to get out of hand.

“No,” he said. They both knew he was lying.

Zach pulled away. Jumping off the bed, he padded into the bathroom. It was left to him to be the adult. He made sure to lock the door. They wouldn’t get out of here for now if Tynan chose to join him.

Tynan feasted on the sight of Zach walking butt-naked to the bathroom. His flaccid cock swung enticingly. Tynan hadn’t been joking about the blow job. Giving or receiving it would have been fine either way.

He decided not to tempt fate. Tynan ran to take a shower in one of the guest bathrooms. He didn’t think he could resist the sight of Zach fresh out of the shower, and he really did need to get to work.

Tynan eyed the locked door of his bathroom suspiciously. He’d showered and gotten dressed, and Zach still wasn’t out yet. If he didn’t think it was immature, he would press his ear to the door.

Zach emerged ten minutes later, and Tynan instantly recognized the blissed-out expression on his face. “What did you do?”

“I don’t have work to go to,” Zach supplied in the way of an answer. Thankfully he could get dressed in the bathroom since he left his suitcase in there last night. He would have to go shopping. He didn’t own anything that could hide the marks on his neck. It was a bit too early in the season to be wearing a scarf.

Tynan’s mind eagerly supplied a list of things that Zach could have been doing in the bathroom. He wanted to watch all of them and participate in most of them.

“Do you have any plans for today?” Tynan asked before he could give in to temptation. He led them out of the bedroom.

“Nothing for today. It was a spur-of-the-moment trip. Set up my office, get a few articles of clothing. Nothing major.” Zach didn’t think a suitcase full of clothes would last him for three months.

“I’ll let you know if I am free for lunch.” He didn’t have anything scheduled, but nothing was certain because of the ongoing fight in his family.

Zach’s schedule was flexible. “If you don’t mind, I can swing by later and bring you something to eat.”

“I want to show you around the capital,” Tynan confessed, leaning down to kiss his cheek.

“I will be here for a while. You will have plenty of time.” Zach was already familiar with the capital, but he wanted to see how Tynan would introduce the city to him.

“Em, stop by around one. I usually eat at that time.” They sat down for breakfast. He pushed the toast towards Zach when he remembered that the younger man preferred not to eat a lot in the mornings. He would have to tell the staff to have fruits and snacks around.

Zach nibbled at his toast. “If you need any help, tell me. I’m a lot more useful than I look.” he didn’t want to have the responsibility now, but he was familiar with running his own company.

Pulling out a pen and paper, he jotted down three names. “It would be helpful if you could run down these three names.” Tynan had the situation under control, but he wanted to remove any possibility of failure before he confronted his uncle.

Zach read the name, not recognizing any of them. “I’ll see what I can find.” He was full after a few bites of toast. Getting up, he leaned down to peck Tynan on the lips. He wandered off to set up his office.

Tynan watched Zach’s back as he disappeared down the hall. The domesticity of it all struck him. He’d never brought anyone home, never shared plans for the day over breakfast. There was an ache in his chest that he didn’t understand.

Tynan wrote a memo for Mrs. Brown with all of Zach’s eating habits that he could remember. Finishing his omelets, he went out the door before he succumbed to impulse and hunted Zach down.

His happy mood diminished, seeing Rain waiting for him in his office. He’d forgotten all about the altercation yesterday.

He paged his secretary. “Report to human resources.” Tynan would have to change her. No one had permission to enter his office when he wasn’t here. He didn’t bother to listen to her excuses. He texted Morris to find a replacement.

The silence got to Rain. He gave in and spoke first. “That’s not necessary. She only let me in as a favor since we are friends.”

Tynan didn’t respond. He opened his briefcase and transferred the documents. He was supposed to finish these yesterday, but he got distracted. He was grateful it was nothing urgent.

“Tynan,” Rain whined. “I’m sorry, okay.” He moved to sit on the edge of the desk. I shouldn't have behaved like that yesterday.” He put a folder on the desk. “I brought a gift to make up for it.”

The spoiled pout used to be endearing. It was fun and games when they were in college. Tynan would forgive Rain, sweeping the incident under the rug until the next outburst. He no longer had the patience or inclination to deal with Rain.

Opening the folder, he was surprised to see a dossier on his uncle. It was more in-depth than the one Cain compiled but lacking compared to Zach’s. “Thank you.”

“Am I forgiven?” Rain asked, leaning forward.

No, you are under suspicion. Rain, where are you getting this information? In the past, he could have asked. Now, he said, “It’s not that easy. I’m in a relationship. That won’t change. Zach will be in my life for a while.” Forever, he vowed in his mind. “You have to be able to accept that.”

Rain pushed off the desk and started pacing. “There is something suspicious about him,” he backtracked when he realized what he said, “but it isn’t my place to interfere in your relationship.”

Tynan didn’t believe a word of it.

“How about we all go out for dinner? Zach hasn’t had the chance to meet the rest of the gang.” Rain placed his hand on the desk and leaned forward.

Tynan would be more inclined to believe Rain’s intentions were good if he didn’t try to subtle flirt. “Not right now. A lot is happening here.”

“That might be for the best. It is a bit early to introduce Zach to everyone.” Tynan was suspicious of Rain’s easy acceptance.

It hit him in a flash. He would have to be careful. There were shady people and secrets in the social circles of Lor City. It wouldn’t be hard for Rain to ruin Zach’s reputation. He smiled. “It is a bit too soon. I want to have him to myself for a while.”

Rain dither on for a while before leaving.

Tynan texted Theo. He wanted to set up a small gathering to introduce Zach. He wouldn’t leave it to chance. Zach could take care of himself, but his life didn’t need to be any harder than necessary.

He messaged to temp secretary and front desk to allow Zach entry when he came.

Time flowed as he dived into work. He was disturbed by a knock on the door. Looking at his watch, he realized it was already after one.

He smiled when a messy head peeked in. “Come in, Zach.”

“I brought…,” Zach’s phone started to beep, the smile on his face dimed. He raised a finger to his lips. Putting the food on the table, he pulled out a signal detector. “Thao food, I hope you don’t mind that.”

Tynan didn’t stop Zach. He watched with a growing sense of unease. His office was swept for listening devices often enough that he knew what was going on. “Not at all. I thought you didn’t like spicy food.”

“I know that you do, so I got spicy for you and mild for myself.” Zach swept the whole room. He made his way to the desk, picking up a pen he wrote. ‘Four listening devices, no visual. Do you want to leave them in?”

“You didn’t have to go through the trouble.” Tynan scrubbed a hand down his face. Rain probably put them in this morning. ‘Leave them in for now,’ he wrote back.

Zach nodded. ‘I can try to backtrace the signal, but I didn’t bring my laptop with me. Tomorrow?’ Zach sat on the desk. “Not a problem. Stop working and come eat with me.”

‘We’ll talk about it later.’ Tynan stood from his desk and brought the food to the coffee table. “Did you get the shopping you wanted to do today done?”

“I got most of the things I wanted. You have to recommend a good tailor to me. I don’t have any formal clothing.” Since Tynan didn’t seem worried, he didn’t focus on the listening devices. Still, Zach made sure not to reveal too much information.

“I will call the guy I use and make an appointment.” Tynan pulled out the dishes. Zach had gotten som tam and pad kee mao for him. He laughed at Zach much plainer phad thai. He took a bite and was in heaven. “Where did you get this?”

Zach got it at one of his favorite Thai restaurants. It was in an ally, and the owner served only take away in a street food style. “I asked an old guy on the street.” This was entirely true. Only, he met that man ten years from now.

Zach didn’t stay long after they ate. He knew that Tynan was leaving in the listening devices on purpose, but they were still stressing him out. “I’m going to head home and organize the things I bought.”

Tynan liked Zach’s casual use of the word home. He knew the man said it off-hand, but he would like it if Zach eventually saw living with him as home. “Alright, I have a late meeting. I won’t be back for dinner, so eat without me.”

“Okay.” Zach rounded the desk. Gently stroking Tynan’s cheek, he kissed him. “Later.”

Tynan caught Zach’s hand as he was about to walk away. Bring it to his lips; he pressed a gentle kiss to his palm. “Later.”

Tynan took out his phone and sent a message to Theo. He emphasized that Rain should not know they were meeting up.

He hesitated a moment before sending a text to Zach to collect as much information as he could find on Rain. Theo would have some since he used it to keep Rain in line as one of the actors signed to his company, but Zach would be able to find more.