Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Ford couldn’t believe Nico was here. And looking like he’d stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. But when he stopped thinking with his dick, his heart lurched painfully as he watched Nico. He could read his body language. Nico felt he didn’t belong, especially after the way he was spoken to by the event manager, and Ford vowed to make sure he was where he was supposed to be. At his side.

“Want to get a drink?”

“Sure.”

Ford took Nico’s hand. “Follow me.”

At his touch, Nico met his eyes, and Ford smiled at him, giving his fingers a squeeze. They made their way through the crowd, and though several people caught his eye, signaling they’d like to talk to him, he continued on. Over the past two days, he’d come to realize that while he didn’t know these people, they knew Lenny. And, he discovered, there were two camps: one was comprised of people wanting to get the scoop about their lives and how they could still practice together, and the second group were those who were only too happy to tell him of their sexploits with Lenny and how Ford was better off without him.

He had little to no desire to speak with those people at all, and thought he’d have to suffer through the night and wait until after to meet up with Nico. Now, with Nico’s appearance, the entire tenor of the evening shifted, the weight of the scandal lifted, and he felt light and free.

“This is something else,” Nico mused, craning his neck. “I’ve never been in this kind of hotel. Me ’n my friends would walk by, but I never went inside. I promised to tell everybody all about it.”

“So what happened? How come you don’t have to work tonight?” They reached the bar, and Ford ordered. “One Macallan neat and one extra-dry martini, please.”

“You remembered my drink?” Nico said with surprise, and Ford wondered why. Had he never been treated like the special person he was?

“Yes. I remembered.”

I remember everything about you. The way you kissed me. The heat of your skin. Your breath echoing in my ear. How you felt when I held you. I haven’t forgotten one damn thing.

Ford took a quick gulp of his drink to get a grip while listening to Nico.

“Anyway, my best friend and his boyfriend are gonna take my shift. My mom and my aunt will be there to watch. They’re not supposed to be on their feet too much.”

“Why? Aren’t they well?” Ford hated the thought of Nico struggling to care for a sick parent.

“My mom’s in remission, but the cancer left her weak. And my aunt’s got COPD. They come in to check on the kitchen and sometimes take over the register, but that’s why me ’n Joey took over the restaurant for the most part. We think they should just close it down and retire. Their houses are paid off, and my grandparents had big life-insurance policies that went to them when they passed. Me ’n Joey ’n Teresa—when she’s not workin’ late—are there in the evenings. They don’t need the headache.”

“Has your family always owned it?”

“My nonno—my grandfather—he started the restaurant, and he loved it. He and my nonna were there every day. Now it’s become more of a burden for my mom and aunt. But they feel obligated, even though my grandparents are both gone.” Nico shrugged.

“That must be a difficult choice for them to make. They’re lucky you and your cousin have agreed to help.”

Nico gazed at him. “It’s family. We stick together.”

Nothing he would know about, so he kept quiet and sipped his drink.

Nico scanned the room. “So, all these people are doctors?”

“Dermatologists, to be exact. And yes. Along with their plus ones.” He smiled into Nico’s eyes. “And by the way, since I didn’t have a chance to say it, you look very nice tonight.”

Nico’s face turned red. “Thanks. I didn’t know I was coming, so Anthony went and bought me this stuff. I don’t even have a suit that fits anymore. It’s been years since I’ve worn one.”

“I have to wear one every day.” He grimaced. “And that was a very nice thing your friend did. You have such a great group of people around you.”

Ford wondered, if he ever had a crisis, who would he call? There was no one, as Lenny seemed to have inherited all the people in their lives. Guess juicy sex scandals make for better dinner companions and friendships than quiet evenings at home.

“Dr. St. Claire, good to see you again.”

He turned to see his breakfast companion, Bruce Sandler, smiling at him. “You as well. Have you been enjoying the lectures?”

“Not as much as this Scotch.” He held up his glass, and Nico chuckled.

“Are you here with your wife?” Ford asked.

“No. She gave up on these events years ago. Said the women were all trying to look forty years younger than they were, and she couldn’t be bothered. She’s at home with our two dogs, watching her murder shows on television.”

Nico snickered. “Sounds like my mom. I get nightmares from them, but she says they relax her.”

Sandler directed his attention to Nico. “We haven’t met. I’m Bruce.” He held out his hand.

Ford watched as Nico hesitated a split second. “Nico.”

“I detect a Brooklyn accent. Is your practice in Brooklyn?”

“I’m not a doctor,” Nico stated, his jaw set hard. “I give tours on the hop on, hop off buses in Times Square.”

Ford could see Nico square his shoulders, as if bracing for a negative comment. He hoped Sandler was as kind as he’d appeared to be and held his breath.

“My grandkids always want to take those buses when they come in from California,” Sandler mused. “Must be interesting to meet so many people from all over the world. Plus, you have to love the city and know its history.”

Nico blinked, and for a moment seemed at a loss for words. “Uh, yeah. I mean, I’ve lived here all my life and always loved visiting the landmarks, but also the hidden places that tourists never get to see.”

“The real New York,” Sandler agreed. “Is that how you two met? You were giving a tour that Ford took?”

Nico looked to him, and Ford answered. “Yes. The first time I came to New York was earlier this summer, to give expert testimony on a case. So when I decided to attend this conference, I made sure to find Nico.”

“Always good to have a friend who’s a native take you around.” Sandler finished his drink. “Make sure you show Ford a good time, Nico. He’s going home tomorrow, back to the grind.”

Nico glanced at him, lips quirked in a smile. “I think that could be arranged.”

A punch of lust hit him in the belly, and he struggled to catch his breath. Ford wished they could go to his hotel room now and skip the dinner. But hearing how Nico’s family and friends had banded together to help him prepare for the date, Ford vowed to show him how much he appreciated the trouble they’d all gone through to make this happen.

“Nico’s already taken me to his family’s amazing Italian restaurant, and to Coney Island and Nathan’s.” Ford hummed with pleasure, remembering. “It was so good. I haven’t eaten like that in forever.”

“Lucky you.” Sandler groaned, clearly envious. “My doctor gave me a warning—absolutely no fried foods. Did you have the clams? You had to have had the clams.”

“Clams, hot dogs, and fries. I couldn’t pick which one was better.”

“Because they’re all good. I wish my doctor wasn’t such a stickler. They never let you have any fun once you hit sixty-five. And I’m seventy-two now, so he’s watching me like a hawk.” He made a face. “God, I love Italian food. Cacio e pepe, chicken parmigiana…” Sandler sighed. “All gone, forever.”

“You could eat light,” Nico suggested. “We prepare fish or shrimp in white wine.”

“You might want to leave the city and go to Brooklyn. It’s worth the trip,” Ford heard himself bragging and decided to shut up.

Sandler, however, was canny and peered at him over his glasses, then eyed Nico. “You’re young—what, twenty-five, twenty-six?”

Ford hoped there wouldn’t be any snarky comments about Nico’s age.

Luckily, Nico took it in stride. “Twenty-eight.”

Sandler waved him off. “Still young. A kid. And you look like you take care of yourself.”

“I try,” Nico said, and Ford was proud Nico wasn’t uncomfortable with all the talk about age. “I’m going to get another drink. Anyone want a refill?”

Ford shook his head.

“I’ll take another, thank you.” Sandler set his glass on the tray of a passing waiter. “We’ll need it to make it through the dinner.” He waited for Nico to move out of earshot. “Ford, may I be frank with you?”

“I hope so.” Ford focused on Nico. Damn, he was a lucky man.

“It’s about Nico.”

Ford, busy daydreaming about what would happen later when he and Nico returned to his hotel room, blinked back to awareness. “What? I’m sorry. Did you say Nico? What about him?”

“Of course, you can tell me to shut up and mind my own business, but you seem like a very decent man.”

“Thanks, but you said you wanted to talk about Nico, not me.” Again, he cursed Lenny for putting him in this position where he’d either have to listen to people telling him they felt sorry for him or expect details of his personal life they had no right to.

“Bringing that young man here was brilliant. He turned plenty of heads when you walked in here with him. I’m sure someone will inform your ex you came with a date. You know what they say—living well is the best revenge, and from the way Nico looks at you, he’ll treat you very well.”

There was a crowd by the bar, and for once Ford was glad to have a moment. “We, uh, barely know each other.”

“Look, I’m an old man, and you don’t have to listen to me, but I’ve been around the block a few times. What Nova did to you was lousy. And the fact that you’re still practicing with him tells me you’re a nice guy—probably too nice, but that’s another story for a different day. I think you probably let him run the show in both your personal and professional lives, which is fine, I get it. My wife is the boss, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thing is, we respect each other.”

Ford’s face flamed hot. “And Lenny didn’t respect me, is what you’re saying.”

Sandler’s eyes were kind. “A good person wouldn’t have done what he did. We both know that. Lucky for you, you’re young and have your whole life ahead of you. There’s nothing wrong with letting loose while you’re at a conference—after all, you’re not together anymore. Have that fling with a kid like Nico.”

Drinks in hand, Nico approached them, and Ford allowed himself to appreciate the sight. While model-gorgeous in casual clothes, Nico was simply stunning in a suit that clung to his well-muscled thighs. Ford already knew what lay beneath that worsted wool—he’d felt the bulge of a thick cock.

But while Sandler assumed it was all physical between them, Ford enjoyed being with Nico, listening to him talk about his friends and family and watching them all interact. There was a realness about Nico that was missing from the people he’d spent time with. Nico wasn’t about to hide or change who he was to fit in.

Nico handed Sandler his drink, but his gaze rested on Ford. “Everything okay? You look kinda funny.”

Ford’s lips ticked up for a brief moment. “No. It’s all good.”

They went in to dinner, which was typical for a conference—discussions about the lectures and samples received from the sales reps, plays seen and museums visited. The food was nothing special, but Nico seemed to be having a good time. A woman who had introduced herself as Dr. Dylan from Arkansas took a petit four from the plate of desserts on the round table and fixed her pale eyes on Nico.

“You’re a tour guide? How very interesting,” she drawled, in a tone that left Ford feeling she believed it was anything but. It set Ford’s teeth on edge. Nico remained unbothered and popped a macaron into his mouth.

“It can be. Some people are nice and treat me and the bus driver well—they ask questions and say please and thank you…common courtesy, you know? But you get some who think they’re above it all. Too good to talk to us.” A lazy smile raised the corner of his lips, and he quirked a brow. “You know the type.”

Her face flamed, and Sandler, who sat next to Ford, smothered a laugh. “I knew the kid could take care of himself,” he murmured.

Ford leaned in close to whisper in Nico’s ear. “Do you want to leave or stay?” He sensed Dylan’s eyes on him and could almost feel the disgust rolling off her in waves.

“I want to be alone with you.” Nico’s husky voice went straight to Ford’s dick. His blood burned, and his heart pounded.

“Let’s say good-bye.”

Nico’s grin was full of the devil.

“Good to meet you all.” He rose and shook Sandler’s hand.

“The same,” Sandler said. “Ford, if you ever find yourself in the city, stop by my office. Here’s my personal cell number.” He extricated a card from his wallet and took out a pen. And though Ford understood it was unlikely they’d ever see each other again, he did the same, and tucked Sandler’s card into his wallet.

“Thank you. And come visit in Florida if you make it down there.”

“I will. Nico, good to meet you.”

“You as well.”

Ford took Nico’s hand, and they left. “I’ll get a car back to the hotel. You can stay, right?”

“If you want me to.”

Their car came, and Ford, feeling braver and freer than ever, kissed him on the sidewalk with hundreds of people walking past.

“I want you, Nico.”

**

This time he took the initiative, and when they entered his room, he pressed Nico up against the door and took his mouth. Nico groaned and sucked his tongue while grinding his pelvis into Ford’s.

“You drove me crazy all night.” Ford licked into Nico’s mouth, tasting the combination of Scotch and sugar from the desserts. It was heady, and he deepened the kiss, his hands framing Nico’s face.

“Let me make you feel good.” The scruff of Nico’s face rasped his cheek, sending a jolt of lightning to his balls, and he fought for control.

“You do,” Ford gasped as he pushed Nico’s jacket off. “You make me feel. Period.”

Nico’s hands touched his belt, and their gazes clashed. Ford nodded, and Nico crushed their lips together, his tongue stroking Ford’s as he undid the belt and opened his slacks. Ford moaned as Nico’s fingers played with the bulge of his throbbing cock through his briefs.

“Please, Nico. Please.”

“Shh. I’m gonna take care of you.”

No one had ever taken care of him—not his mother, nor Lenny. He’d been on his own. Until now.

Nico sank to his knees, taking Ford’s pants and briefs with him, and they fell around his ankles. Ford’s cock rose, painfully engorged and leaking from the tip. “I thought you were perfect before,” Nico said, “but this is a work of art.” Nico gripped him, licked the crown of his cock of all the sticky precome, and tickled the slit. “Fuck, you taste good.”

“Nico, oh God.” Ford reached out and buried his fingers in Nico’s silky, dark hair. Nico hummed as his lips sucked down the length of his shaft, flickering and tonguing the pulsing vein. Ford flung his head back as his hips pistoned. “Oh God, oh fuck. Please, please.”

“Mmm…” Nico was humming around his dick, the vibrations of his mouth like spikes of electric shocks to his nerves.

He was flying…soaring…drowning in hot pleasure and greedy desire. All that wet heat surrounding his dick sent his eyes rolling. Lust grabbed him by the throat, and he was gone.

“Nico,” he sighed and came, jerking endlessly in Nico’s mouth. Ford had no idea how he remained standing, and with hazy eyes, watched Nico sit on his heels. “That was…I have no words.” He held out a hand and pulled Nico to his feet, then reached for Nico’s zipper.

“You don’t have—”

He silenced Nico with a hard, claiming kiss. “Aside from the fact that you gave me the most intense orgasm of my life, did you think I’d leave here without knowing what you taste like? Let’s go to the bedroom.” He kicked off his shoes and stripped off his pants and briefs.

“If you’re sure.” Nico licked his swollen lips, and Ford’s dick stirred. He hadn’t had sex twice in a night in years, but Nico made him feel twenty-five again.

“Trust me. I am.” Never taking his eyes from Nico’s, he took his hand, and they entered the bedroom. Twenty years of hiding. Of hurting. Of knowing that no matter how he’d tried to fit in or change, it never made a difference. He’d never been wanted.

Nico had awakened the sleeping giant of desire, and Ford wanted it all.

Like Nico had done for him, Ford unzipped his pants, and along with his briefs, tugged them over Nico’s hips.

“You’re gorgeous. Even more than I imagined.”

Nico’s abs were ridged and muscled, his thighs like tree trunks, and his dick…Ford couldn’t stop staring at its length and girth. He shivered, imagining it filling him, splitting him in two. Nico grasped himself, and the sight of that reddened tip in his fist, the slick sound of his hand, sticky with precome, had Ford panting.

“Jesus, the way you’re looking at me.” Nico’s aqua-blue eyes had turned almost black with undisguised hunger, his silky hair hanging in his eyes, meeting the thick, dark lashes.

“I need…please.” Ford kneeled and kissed along the length of Nico’s dick before sliding it into his mouth.

“Ahhh, God, that’s so good.” Nico hissed, his fingers touching Ford’s face as he bobbed his head, tongue curling around the tip and slit. He plunged down, sucking hard. “Mother of God.” He flexed his hips, sending his dick to the back of Ford’s throat.

He gagged for a second, unused to the size, but quickly found his rhythm. “So good,” he gasped when he licked and sucked the fat, leaking crown. He grasped Nico’s balls and squeezed them as he rose and fell on Nico’s thick shaft. Nico’s hips moved faster, punching in swift, strong jabs, fucking his face, and Ford loved it. Wanted it harder.

Hearing Nico’s harsh cries, feeling his body tense and the sweat pouring off him, Ford grasped the thick root of Nico’s cock and sucked.

“Ahh, fuck me, fuck.” Nico held his head and came, filling his mouth and throat. Ford milked his balls, drinking all the hot, sweet cream Nico gave him. After it was over, he nuzzled into the crease of his thigh.

“That was amazing.” Ford sighed, the headiness of the sex still buzzing through his body.

Nico joined him on the floor, and they kissed, tasting each other on their tongues. It was as if they shared pieces of themselves, and he wanted more of Nico. All of him. Everything.

“You’re staying, right?” He rubbed his cheek to Nico’s, feeling his smile.

“I’d like that. What time is your flight?”

Ford groaned. “Fuck. I picked an eight a.m. flight. There are still a couple of lectures tomorrow morning, but I wanted to make sure I’d get home in time to get ready for Monday morning.” He hung his head. “We could’ve spent the morning together. I’m sorry.”

Nico kissed him softly. Slowly. Their lips learning the shape and taste of each other to hold on to when the miles separated them. “It’s okay. I think we’d better set the alarm because I’m not ready to let you go to sleep just yet.” Ford watched Nico reach over and pull out his phone. “Done. Now get on the bed, Doc.”

Hearing Nico order him to bed was a fucking turn-on, and he stiffened. They lay side by side, and when their shafts aligned, Nico took them in hand and began a rough, hard stroke. Ford gasped, burning from his toes to his head, and hissed at the movement on his still-sensitive flesh.

“You like that, don’t you?” Nico nuzzled into his neck, sucking and biting, and Ford rutted against him, breathless and caught up in a pleasure so bone deep, when he came again, it was like shattering into a thousand shining points of light. Nico’s come spread warm and sticky over his stomach, and they lay together, hearts pounding, kissing and inhaling each other’s breaths.

“I’m going to miss you, Nico.” Loath to move, he held Nico tight.

“I’m gonna miss you too, Doc.”

After that, there was nothing more to say. Ford closed his eyes.