When he arrives at the apartment, he receives a notification from the "Six Months" from the calendar app. - Damn! - He heads to his bedroom and rummages through one of the boxes at the back of his closet for one of the outfits he'd set aside for himself during his trips at the beginning of the year. He doesn't take the time to look closely at what it is and is satisfied just seeing that it has some sparkle. On his way to Alexander's house, he stops at a flower shop to pick up a couple of bouquets of pink tulips. Upon arriving in the room, he scatters several petals on the bed and makes small bouquets with glass vases he finds in the kitchen to arrange them around the room. Tadeus puts his clothes away, takes a shower, and decides to take the garment out of the box, which turns out to be a white corset adorned with diamonds and featuring translucent wings on the back covered in silver glitter, accompanied by a white thong — Of course it was going to be a costume — grumbles. After struggling to get dressed for half an hour, he lies down on the bed to wait. He realizes he must have fallen asleep, because he wakes up two hours later, but Alexander still hasn't arrived. — Maybe I got ahead of myself.
He checks his phone and sees a couple of missed calls from A and several text messages.
<><><< That same day <> 10:00 AM >><><>
Alexander is in the office in a meeting with Dr. Annalisa about the next phase in getting the drug R-50018 to the public — We're just waiting for the federation to approve phase four. The evaluation results are scheduled to be released, and it could be available to the public by the middle of next year — says Bernardo, the project director.
— Thank you very much for the report. Take a break, go on a long vacation, and then continue with the vitamins for seniors — says Alexander, holding an open folder in his hands — It's been a good year, and I hope we keep it up and keep improving.
— Thank you, mister Strauss — says Annalisa — Will you be at the company's Christmas party?
— I haven't decided yet.
Just then, his cell phone starts ringing. — We'll leave you to handle your business — she says. Both get up from the table and leave the office.
— How are you, woman? — Says Alexander.
— I haven't been able to get through those security videos; the information on the computers is too heavily encrypted — answers Claire. She's working with one of the technicians trying to decrypt all the files so they can review the security footage from the company Alexander hired for his home back then.
— I don't care if it takes them years. Whoever broke into my house must be the same people who took Dove, Leonard, and Minos. Just call me when you have the videos.
— You won't hear from me until then — the woman says and hangs up.
Alexander checks his messages and notices that Tadeus hasn't written, so he sends him a message: <
<
<>
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— Absolutely delicious — says Strauss, kissing his lover's lips. He breaks the kiss to take off his shirt while watching Tadeus untie the bow on his corset. — No, don't take it off. Get on your knees — he orders. He frantically unbuttons his pants and pulls out his erect member so Tadeus can take it into his mouth. — Fuck! — he gasps as the head of his cock brushes against that throat, feeling the movements of the tongue beneath his member.
Strauss holds Tadeus' head with both hands, but he remains controlled, leaving his own pleasure in the hands of his lover, who runs his tongue from the testicles to the glans, then takes the entire member into his mouth.
On the verge of coming, Alexander orders Tadeus to kneel on the bed, where he thrusts firmly into his anus while holding onto the wings of his corset. Alexander slowly pulls his hips away from Tadeus' buttocks, but then thrusts his penis hard, making him gasp with every stroke. As the seconds pass, he picks up the pace. Using more force to grip the wings, he ends up tearing them off and quickly places his hands on his lover's shoulders for support. — Oh fuck… Alexander! — Tadeus pants.
Alexander makes Tadeus lift his torso. With his left hand, he braces himself against the wall above the headboard, and with the other, he massages Tadeus' member without stopping the thrusts into his anus. — Ahh… ahh… yes, fuck me Alexander! — Tadeus moans with his back arched and his hands on the headboard.
— You're driving me crazy, Tadeus! Oh, my God! — he moans as he ejaculates inside him, followed by Tadeus' stream of hot fluid sliding down his hand.
Alexander collapses onto the bed next to him, and they hold hands as they wait for his breathing to steady. Alexander turns his face toward Tadeus and looks him in the eyes for several seconds. — I'm sorry I didn't reply to your messages; I saw them right before you arrived — says Tadeus, interrupting the gesture Alexander makes just before saying those three words he's afraid to utter.
— We're still on time for dinner — says Alexander, getting up from the bed to head to the bathroom.
At the restaurant, they're both sitting on the rooftop terrace. The cool breeze blows gently, swaying the flowers and rain-shaped lights decorating the ceiling. — It's a nice place — Tadeus remarks.
— This isn't the real surprise, I signed us up for acting classes on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
— What?
— We could act in plays and have fun — says Alexander.
— That's… — says Tadeus with a smile he's struggling to show. He feels a strong heat in his chest rising up to his throat and face, a wave that suddenly tightens his throat and fills his eyes with tears — I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening with me.
— Hey, I just want to see you happy. I didn't mean to…
— Yeah, I'm happy. I really am, thanks — Tadeus says with an attempt of a smile. For the rest of the way back to Alexander's house, Tadeus tries to recall moments without him when he felt completely happy, but there isn't a single memory of anything like that in his mind. As for the memories he shares with Gustaph, he was already flirting with him then. Visiting his grandmother only makes him feel guilty, and thinking about his sister locked up in that house causes him physical pain.
— You've been quiet — Alexander remarks.
— I have to go home and take care of a few things.
— Okay, I'll drop you off nearby then.
— I can take a taxi.
— No.
Alexander walks Tadeus to the door of his apartment, where they share a soft, gentle kiss, as if they really didn't want to say goodbye. — I don't like waiting for you to text me, we need to move in together already — he says, at which Tadeus bursts out laughing.
— We see each other almost every day, and I stay at your place every weekend without fail.
— Sorry, it's just that I don't like being away from you.
— Drama queen much.
Alexander pouts and bites his lower lip — Call me at six in the morning because I won't be able to sleep tonight.
— I promise.
They kiss once more, and after a tight hug, Alexander leaves.
An hour later, Gustaph knocks on his friend's apartment door, and his friend greets him with a smile. — Here's the plan — Tadeus says once they're sitting on the couch. — You're going to convince Edwin about a business deal that's happening in Scotland. You'll say that Mitchell put me in touch with them and that I have to go before Christmas. By then, I'll have everything ready to send Yenedith ahead and meet up with her.
— Your father will know Yenedith isn't here.
— Yenedith has already been to Greece with me. It won't matter that we're together outside the country.
— Yenedith?
— Yes. I was talking to the Raptis when I saw her at the bar.
— I assume your plan doesn't include Strauss - says Gustaph.
— No.
— So you don't plan on telling him the truth?
— I don't plan on telling him anything. You warned me yourself - says Tadeus - He knows my family; he knows where I work. I can't just tell him I've been lying all this time; I can't risk him taking his rage out on any them, no after what I've… — done with him.
— What is it?
— You'll also be in danger.
— Don't worry about me, okay? If you leave, I'm leaving too — says Pine.
Tadeus smiles at this statement, and they hug each other goodbye.