22. Sebastian

CHAPTER 22

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian was a bag of nerves. They hadn't settled since Charlie had left him a week ago. He was back in London, and everywhere he went reminded Sebastian of the man he loved.

"He's here," said Candice, popping her head through the door of his office. "You sure you want to be in this?"

He nodded. He wasn't backing out now. Getting up, he followed her to the boardroom. She opened the door and there he was. Charlie. Looking hot as fuck in a suit. Sebastian wanted to manhandle him over the boardroom table, but he needed to push those inappropriate thoughts away.

They shook hands, which reminded him of the first time they'd met. The charge of electricity between them was still there. Candice grabbed water for everyone as they took their seats.

"I must say I was surprised to hear from you, Charlie," said Candice. "I thought you weren't interested."

"I'd like to make a counter-offer."

Sebastian sat up straighter in his seat, unsure where this was going. He thought this was about Charlie taking the offer and would be a simple discussion. Now he was intrigued.

Candice nodded for him to continue.

"This isn't a money thing. That side, I have no issues with. The role itself, again, is something I know I could do exceptionally well for you."

Fuck, was it getting hot in here? This confident Charlie was something else.

"I'm proposing I take the position, but only for twelve months."

Sebastian and Candice glanced at each other. Charlie smirked, but didn't look at Sebastian.

"Let me explain. This isn't a permanent role and you know that. You need someone to set things up, and with the right strategy, people and processes, it will run itself. I'd effectively be making myself redundant. Can I share my thinking with you?"

Candice nodded. Charlie took out his laptop and was set up quickly. He then spent fifteen minutes talking through how they could use social media to generate business in the UK and Europe. Sebastian couldn't help but beam with pride as he took them through his plan. Candice was salivating and if Charlie had asked for her to double his salary, she would probably have made it work or begged Sebastian for more money. He'd have given it to her.

"Can you start on Monday?" asked Candice, causing them all to laugh.

"Not Monday, but I can start in two weeks. I have another work commitment until then."

"I thought you'd left Sumptua?" said Sebastian, not being able to keep quiet.

"Oh, I have." He took something out of his bag and passed it over. "This is a letter confirming they made me redundant."

Sebastian burst out laughing. He had to know how this had happened. He looked at Charlie.

"I'm sorry, Mr Steele, but you'll have to ask my union rep about that."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Jason."

He laughed again. Oh, there had to be a story there.

"I'm helping one of my friends out for a couple of weeks. It's a short contract. I can start the two weeks on Monday. That'll give you a chance to get the paperwork sorted. I assume the benefits remain the same, even for a fixed-term role, and the bonus will be paid upon successful completion of my contract?"

Candice couldn't agree quickly enough, but was thrown when Charlie made it clear there would be no extension to his contract. It was to be written in the terms that it was only for a year. She asked him why.

"Don't worry, you'll still be able to use my services. You'll just need to go through my company."

Candice laughed. It initially hurt that Sebastian couldn't just give the man he loved everything he wanted, but then he wouldn't be Charlie unless he did it for himself. Charlie was achieving the dream he'd talked about, and Sebastian couldn't be happier for him.

The VIP lounge was quieter than it had been the night he met Charlie. The barman was the same, but nobody else looked familiar. Sebastian sipped his Jack and Coke, thinking about the meeting with Charlie the day before. He couldn't help but smile.

"And what are you smiling at?"

Sebastian looked up and beamed when he saw Charlie.

"You came."

"Well, we had a date, didn't we?"

Charlie leaned down and kissed him. He'd missed those lips. A week was too long to be away from this man. Charlie sat down next to him. He passed Charlie the margarita he'd ordered in anticipation of his arrival. He was right on time, as they'd planned. Not speaking to each other for over a week had been a challenge, but it was something they had both needed to do.

The morning after Sebastian had shared his past with Brandon, Charlie had taken charge of everything. He could be quite bossy when he wanted to be, which was kinda hot. For once, Sebastian let someone look after him. Charlie had bumped his flight by a day and they'd agreed to meet the following Saturday in their spot in this bar, if they wanted to make it work. They both had to sort their shit out first. Charlie was doing his without interference. Charlie had given Sebastian a list of people to speak to. It was strange having someone else take charge, but he loved Charlie enough to go with it.

The first stop for Sebastian was Bex. It had been emotional as he told her the whole truth about Brandon. Her emotions had been all over the place as she threatened to cut off Brandon's balls, then felt bad about herself because Sebastian hadn't been able to tell her the everything. He wondered if she was pregnant again, but knew better than to ask that question.

Sebastian had spoken with Deacon and not revealed too much, but enough that he knew what he could potentially be dealing with regarding Hunter. Deacon seemed to have taken the young man under his wing. He'd got him set up with the shelter, so he was off the streets.

Sebastian had spent another night being cared for by Charlie. He could get used to being the little spoon, but the next day it was time for him to leave. They wouldn't even exchange a text message until tonight, and Sebastian was unceremoniously booted off Charlie's Find My Friends list. One thing Charlie had kept quiet was that he would take the job at Steele Property Holdings, so when Candice had told Sebastian he was coming in, he'd broken the rules so he could see Charlie earlier than planned.

Charlie filled him in on his week. He'd made a report to the police about Jeremy and Lucinda. He'd also spoken to a couple of the other boys who had not been so lucky when it came to Jeremy. They were willing to testify, but the evidence was limited after so long, and Jeremy was a successful investment banker. If needed, Sebastian would have a word with Patrick about finding a way to report something in the press, even if it was just implied. It was all it took nowadays. He hated predators like that. Patrick had been the perfect friend when Sebastian told him everything about Brandon.

"You have to tell me about how you got that redundancy letter from Sumptua."

Charlie laughed and started sipping his drink, being obscene with the straw.

"Or we could just talk about it later and go back to your place?"

"Down, boy. Plenty of time for that. You still okay to go back to mine?"

"Of course. I'm looking forward to brunch tomorrow."

Sebastian had gained a coveted invite to their family Sunday brunch. Boyfriends were not usually permitted, although he had been informed it was a one-off and not to get used to it.

"Geraldine, the HR woman, asked me if I could come in for a meeting regarding the letter Jason wrote. I asked if I could bring a friend, which they declined, of course, so I had to go on my own. Nathaniel Klein was there."

Sebastian growled. He'd love just thirty seconds alone with that guy.

"It wasn't the most pleasant meeting. Geraldine tried to keep things under control, but Nathaniel is not someone who keeps quiet, which is what we were hoping for."

"You recorded him, didn't you?"

"Have I been wearing a bug all week?"

Sebastian laughed, and reassured Charlie that was not the case. But he knew what Paolo had done with Lucinda, so thought it had probably inspired Charlie to do the same.

"What did he say?"

"Called me a queer cunt."

"He said what?" Sebastian shouted, which got them a few looks.

"I said, down, boy." Charlie grinned, patting him on the upper thigh, which was close to his semi-hard cock. It had been that way since Charlie had arrived.

Sebastian couldn't wait any longer. He downed the rest of his drink, stood up, and lifted Charlie up.

"What are you doing?"

"You can tell me the rest of the story in bed."

He lifted Charlie over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. Charlie was almost six feet tall, but he was compact, so easy to lift. He was laughing and complaining about leaving his drink behind.

"I'll buy you a margarita bar," he said, as he carried Charlie out of the bar without looking back.

Sebastian woke up to something warm and wet around his dick. It took him a few seconds to register the telltale bobbing sight under the covers. He wasn't sure if he had any spunk left after the night before, but Charlie was working his magic and he could already feel the familiar tingling in his balls.

He removed the cover from Charlie's head. Seeing the man he loved feasting on him with a blissed-out look on his face was something he'd never tire of waking up to. He felt a wet finger press against his hole and automatically tensed. Charlie moved it away immediately and looked up with an apologetic look in his eyes. No, he would not let that man ruin anything else for him. He took hold of Charlie's hand and sucked his fingers, getting them nice and wet before guiding them back to his hole. Charlie was gentle at first, but then pushed one in as he swallowed Sebastian to the hilt. There wasn't a chance to get a second finger in. A few experimental thrusts later and he was shooting down Charlie's throat.

He had barely a second to come down from his orgasm before Charlie had his mouth on his. Sebastian could taste himself on Charlie's tongue. He could feel Charlie jerking himself off, and a few seconds later Sebastian's chest was covered in gallons of delicious come. Where did it all come from? Sebastian thought he'd wrung enough out of him last night.

"Right, come on. Brunch is in half an hour."

"It can't be ten thirty already."

"It is, because someone wanted to screw until four in the morning."

"What can I say? I missed you."

"It was only just over a week. How are you gonna cope when you have to spend two weeks in New York, or God forbid, a month?"

"It won't be a problem for long. I'm moving here."

"What?" said Charlie, sitting up.

"I'm moving to London."

"Since when?"

"Since I just decided. Look, before you jump in with logic and reasoning – which is both hot and irritating by the way – this is a business decision."

Charlie looked sceptical.

"We can't find a suitable general manager for the UK, and Deacon can run New York. It makes sense for me to run things here. I need a change as well. I'm bored in New York and the European expansion excites me. I'll still be CEO; I'll just be based here."

"Will you still have to travel?"

"Of course, but you can come with me."

"Hmm."

"It's an order. I'm your boss now, remember?"

"I haven't signed the contract yet, and I think you'll find Candice is my boss."

"She'll do as she's told."

"Really?"

Sebastian laughed. He had a point.

"Look, Charlie. I don't want it to be weeks between when we see each other. You need to be here for your mum. It's a no-brainer. Bex agrees."

"Your sister thinks you should move to London?"

"No, she just thinks it makes sense. She'd prefer me to be in New York, but my nieces have always wanted to come to London. Maybe I should get my own plane. It'll be easier with all the back and forth."

"You're not serious?"

Sebastian laughed before pulling him into a kiss.

"Eww, you're covered in cold come. And we now have only twenty minutes to get to brunch."

Sebastian grabbed him tightly, wriggling his come-covered chest against Charlie, as he protested loudly.

They were half an hour late for brunch, as Sebastian, impressed by the size of the walk-in shower, hadn't been able to stop himself from pounding Charlie against the wall.

There were four knowing looks when they finally walked into the quirky cafe. Charlie gave KC a hug. She introduced herself to Sebastian. He took her hand and kissed it.

"Ma'am."

KC looked flustered before she recovered and started laughing. They took their seats as Sebastian grabbed the menu. He knew the boys ordered the same thing every week, so he didn't want to be the holdup.

"I'm surprised you could go again so soon," said Jason. "I heard you going at it three times last night. You gotta be sore, babes."

Charlie banged his head on the table with a groan. Sebastian couldn't help but feel proud. It was good to know his three times in one night wasn't a fluke. Charlie was a young guy with a healthy sexual appetite. Sebastian wanted to keep up with him as long as he could.

"What's good?" he asked, to change the subject.

That had been a mistake. There was a heated debate about the answer. In the end he went for a KC Special breakfast, at her recommendation, which was a full English with American pancakes. It was like his two worlds coming together on one delicious plate.

There was little talking as they ate, apart from idle chitchat about their various weeks. Charlie's had been the most exciting. Jason relished the role he'd played in drafting the email he'd sent to Nathaniel and Geraldine with the recording. Charlie hadn't wanted to be greedy. He'd asked for a year's salary, which he could get tax-free as it was under the legal threshold. Jason had wanted to push for more, but Charlie just wanted to be done with it all. He explained he was going to use the money to set up his own consultancy company.

"And before either of you say anything," Charlie said, pointing his knife at Sebastian and Gregory. "I don't need any financial support, backers, or partners. I'm doing this by myself."

Sebastian grinned at Gregory. They'd both been thinking the same thing.

"Counter-offer," said Gregory with a smirk.

"Let's hear it," said Charlie, leaning back with a sigh.

"We both run companies we started from scratch. And we've both made mistakes."

He turned to Sebastian, who nodded his agreement.

"You don't have to take it, but will you at least let us both give you some advice about starting a company?"

Charlie smiled. "Of course. I'd be stupid not to take advice from my super-successful friend – and my super-successful and hot boyfriend."

The table whooped at the boyfriend comment, which caused Charlie to put his head on the table again. Sebastian massaged the back of his neck, which relaxed him. The conversation moved on to poor Langdon and some guy he was working with called Eric. It appeared that everyone had an opinion on it.

"Can you find some time this week to come and look at some houses with me?" Sebastian asked Charlie.

He looked startled, not sure what to say.

"Relax. I wouldn't take you away from this lot. Not yet, anyway. But one day I hope to, so I think you should have a say in the place I buy, don't you?"

Charlie smiled and nodded his agreement. Sebastian leaned in for a kiss, which got some more whoops around the table, causing them both to laugh. If he had his way, he'd have Charlie move in with him straight away, but knew how important these guys were to him, as was his mother. He was more than happy to wait, because he now knew Charlie was his forever.