Ryan stood outside Crimson & Oak at six fifty-five. He'd changed out of his uniform. Black jeans. Dark gray sweater. Simple. But he'd still checked his reflection twice.
A car pulled up. Dark blue. Sleek. Marcus got out and walked around to Ryan's side.
"Hey," Marcus said. His eyes swept over Ryan appreciatively. "Ready?"
"Yeah."
Marcus opened the passenger door. Ryan got in. The car was clean. Smelled faintly of cologne. Something subtle.
Marcus slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. Music played softly in the background.
They pulled into traffic. The sun was setting. Orange light spread across the buildings.
"Long day?" Marcus asked.
"Not too bad. Busy dinner rush." Ryan looked out the window. "You?"
"Meetings. Lots of talking. Not much actually getting done." Marcus glanced at him. "This is better."
"Dinner?"
"Being here. With you."
Ryan felt warmth spread through his chest. "Smooth."
"I try." Marcus smiled. "There's this place I found last week. Quiet, good food, thought we could actually talk without interruptions."
"Sounds nice."
They drove through the city. The conversation flowed easily. Small things. A customer at the restaurant who'd sent back three different dishes. A coworker at Marcus's office who couldn't work the coffee machine.
Ryan found himself relaxing. Laughing at Marcus's stories. The way Marcus told them..dry humor, perfect timing, made even boring work stuff sound interesting.
After about fifteen minutes, Marcus parked on a quieter street. The restaurant was small. Warm light glowed from inside. Only a few other cars parked nearby.
"Here we are," Marcus said.
Inside, the place was intimate, maybe eight tables total. Soft lighting, candles flickering. A hostess led them to a corner booth.
They slid in across from each other. The leather seats were worn and comfortable.
"Wine?" Marcus asked, looking at the menu.
"Sure."
Marcus ordered a bottle of red. The hostess brought it quickly, poured two glasses, and left them alone.
Marcus raised his glass. "To actually getting you away from work."
Ryan clinked his glass against Marcus's. "To not having to serve you for once."
They drank. The wine was good. Smooth.
"So," Marcus said, setting his glass down. "Favorite movie?"
"Random question."
"Humor me."
Ryan thought about it. "I don't watch a lot of movies."
"Come on. Everyone has a favorite."
"I don't know. Action movies, I guess. The ones where things blow up."
Marcus laughed. "Of course. What about books?"
"I don't really read."
"Music?"
"Whatever's on the radio."
Marcus leaned back, studying him. "You're terrible at this."
"At what?"
"Sharing things about yourself."
Ryan felt his defenses rise. "There's not much to share."
"I don't believe that." But Marcus's tone was light. Teasing. "Alright, different approach. What do you do when you're not working?"
"Sleep mostly. Walk around the city sometimes."
"Alone?"
"Yeah."
"That sounds lonely."
Ryan shrugged. "I'm used to it."
Something flickered in Marcus's expression, not pity, something else. Understanding, maybe.
"What about you?" Ryan asked, shifting focus. "What do you do for fun?"
Marcus smiled. "I go to the gym sometimes. Work takes up most of my time though. Not much room for fun."
"That sounds lonely too."
"It is." Marcus picked up his wine glass, swirled it. "Or it was. Until recently."
Their eyes met across the table. Ryan's heart beat faster.
The food arrived. They'd both ordered without really looking at the menu. Marcus got steak. Ryan got chicken.
They ate and talked. The conversation wandered. Comfortable. Easy. Marcus told a story about his first week at his job. How he'd accidentally sent an email to the entire company instead of just his team.
Ryan laughed. "What did it say?"
"Nothing terrible. Just... really boring budget stuff. But I got about fifty replies telling me I'd sent it to the wrong people. Very humbling."
"I can't imagine you making mistakes like that."
"Oh, I make plenty of mistakes." Marcus's eyes stayed on Ryan. "Just usually not with email."
There was weight behind those words, but Ryan couldn't quite understand.
They finished eating. Marcus paid. Waved off Ryan's attempt to split the bill.
"I asked you out," Marcus said. "I'm paying."
"Next time I'm paying then."
"So there's going to be a next time?"
Ryan felt his face warm. "Maybe."
"I'll take maybe."
Outside, the temperature had dropped. Ryan hadn't brought a jacket. He tried not to shiver.
Marcus noticed. "Cold?"
"I'm fine."
"Here." Marcus shrugged off his jacket and held it out.
"You'll freeze."
"I'll survive. Take it."
Ryan took the jacket and put it on. It smelled like Marcus's cologne. He tried not to think about how much he liked that.
"Better?" Marcus asked.
"Yeah. Thanks."
They started walking. No destination. Just moving through the quiet streets. The city felt different at night. Calmer. The harsh edges softened by darkness and streetlights.
"Can I ask you something?" Marcus said after a while.
"Okay."
"Why did you say yes? To tonight?"
Ryan thought about how to answer. "I wanted to."
"That's it?"
"Isn't that enough?"
Marcus was quiet for a moment. "Yeah. I guess it is."
They walked in silence. Comfortable. Their hands swung at their sides. Almost touching but not quite.
Then Marcus's fingers brushed against Ryan's. Deliberate. Testing.
Ryan's breath ceased. But he didn't pull away.
Marcus's hand found his. Fingers intertwining. Warm and solid.
They kept walking. Hand in hand. Neither of them spoke.
After a few blocks, they circled back toward the car.
"I should get you back," Marcus said. He sounded reluctant.
"Yeah. I have an early shift tomorrow."
They got in the car. Marcus drove back toward Crimson & Oak. The streets were quieter now. Darker.
Ryan watched the city pass by. Felt the weight of Marcus's jacket around his shoulders. The evening had been perfect. Too perfect.
Marcus pulled up close to the restaurant. Put the car in park but didn't turn off the engine.
They sat there. The silence stretched between them. Heavy with things unsaid.
"I had a really good time tonight," Marcus said finally. He turned to look at Ryan.
"Me too."
Marcus's eyes dropped to Ryan's mouth. Lingered there. Then slowly traveled back up to meet Ryan's gaze.
The air in the car suddenly felt thick. Charged.
Marcus leaned closer. Slowly. His hand came up to cup Ryan's jaw.
Ryan's heart almost stopped.
Marcus closed the distance between them. Their lips met.
The kiss was soft at first. Testing. Then Marcus's hand slid to the back of Ryan's neck and pulled him closer. Deeper.
Ryan made a low sound in his throat. His hand gripped Marcus's shirt. Held on.
Marcus kissed him like he'd been waiting forever to do it. Like he'd been holding back all night and couldn't anymore.
His other hand moved. Found Ryan's waist. Slipped under the jacket,Marcus's jacket, and pressed against Ryan's chest through his sweater.
Heat flooded through Ryan. His heart hammered against Marcus's palm.
The kiss grew more urgent. More consuming. Marcus's hand on Ryan's chest started sliding lower. Exploring.
Ryan's whole body responded. Arched into the touch.
Then Marcus's fingers found the hem of Ryan's sweater. Started to slip underneath.
Skin on skin.
Ryan gasped against Marcus's mouth. His hand shot down to catch Marcus's wrist. "Wait."
Marcus froze, his hand still touching Ryan's bare skin. Warm. Possessive.
They stayed like that. Both breathing hard. Marcus's forehead dropped to rest against Ryan's.
"Fuck," Marcus breathed. His voice was rough. Strained. "You're going to kill me."
Ryan couldn't speak. Could barely breathe.
Marcus's head fell to Ryan's shoulder. His hand slowly withdrew from under the sweater but stayed at Ryan's waist. Holding him.
"I should let you go," Marcus said against Ryan's neck. His breath was hot on Ryan's skin. "I know I should let you go."
"Yeah..," Ryan managed. His voice came out wrecked.
But neither of them moved.
They sat there. Breathing hard. Hearts pounding. The windows were completely fogged now.
Finally, Marcus lifted his head, looked at Ryan. His eyes were dark. Pupils blown wide.
"I need a minute," Marcus said. "Before you go. Just... give me a minute."
Ryan nodded. He understood. Could feel the tension radiating off Marcus. The barely controlled want.
They sat in silence. The only sound was their breathing slowly returning to normal.
"Okay," Marcus said finally. He released Ryan. Sat back in his seat. Ran both hands through his hair. "Okay."
"Tomorrow," Marcus said. "Let me see you tomorrow."
Ryan's mind was spinning. He needed time, he needed to think.
"I…I'll let you know if I can," Ryan said.
Marcus's jaw tightened slightly. But he nodded. "Okay."
Ryan's hand was on the door handle. But he couldn't make himself move yet.
"I'll return this later." He assured, tugging at the jacket.
"Keep the jacket," Marcus said. His voice was still rough. "I want you to have it."
"But…"
"Please. It looks better on you anyway."
Ryan nodded. Opened the door. The cold air rushed in.
He stepped out, looked back at Marcus.
Marcus was gripping the steering wheel. Knuckles white. Like he was physically holding himself back from pulling Ryan back into the car.
"Goodnight," Ryan said.
"Goodnight." Marcus's eyes stayed on him. Intense. "Text me."
"I will."
Ryan closed the door, walked toward the restaurant entrance. Heard Marcus's car still idling behind him.
He turned back. Their eyes met through the windshield.
Marcus lifted his hand. A small wave.
Ryan waved back.
Then Marcus finally pulled away from the curb. Drove off into the night.
Ryan waited until the taillights disappeared completely. Then he turned and walked around the side of the building.
Through the alley. To the parking lot in the back where his own car sat.
A black sedan. Expensive. Luxury. Nothing a server could ever afford.
Ryan got in. Started the engine, and sat there for a moment.
His hands were shaking. His lips still tingled. He could still feel Marcus's hand on his bare skin, still feel the weight of Marcus's body pressed close.
Ryan touched his chest where Marcus had touched him. His heart was still racing.
Ryan wondered why he can't help but become submissive whenever it comes to Marcus….
This was dangerous. All of it.
He looked down at Marcus's jacket. Pulled it closer around himself. The smell of cologne surrounded him.
He needed an apartment, needed it fast. Tomorrow he'd call Matt and ask him to find something.
Something small. Something that made sense for a server. Somewhere near the restaurant that Marcus could actually drop him off at.
Because eventually Marcus would want to see where he lived. Would want to come inside. And Ryan couldn't let him see the mansion. Couldn't explain the security. The size. The money.
The lies were already stacking up. He didn't need more.
Ryan started driving. Out of the parking lot. Through the quiet streets. Back toward his real home. Back toward the mansion and Kane and Matt and the life Marcus could never know about.
His phone buzzed.
*Marcus: Made it home, I can still taste you.*
Ryan's chest tightened. He pulled over. Stared at the message.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard. He didn't know what to say.
*Ryan: Me too.*
*Marcus: When can I see you again?*
*Ryan: I'll text you tomorrow.*
*Marcus: Okay. But I'm already thinking about the next time I can kiss you.*
Ryan's face felt hot.
*Ryan: Goodnight Marcus.*
*Marcus: Goodnight. Dream about me.*
Ryan put his phone down. Sat there in the dark.
He would dream about Marcus, but that's only if he could sleep at all!
He already can't stop thinking about the kiss, about Marcus's hands on him, about the way Marcus had said "you're going to kill me" like it was the best kind of death.
Ryan pulled back onto the road. Dro
ve toward the mansion.
Tomorrow he'd deal with everything. The apartment. The lies. All of it.
But tonight, he let himself remember. The warmth of Marcus's mouth. The weight of his touch. The way Ryan had felt like maybe, just maybe, this relationship could work.
Even though he knew this couldn't last.
For tonight, he'd hold onto it anyway..