6. Sebastian

CHAPTER 6

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian stirred, memories of the night flooding back. His body ached for all the right reasons. He couldn't remember the last time he'd gone three rounds in one night. Charlie had unleashed the beast in him. It had been a long time since he felt such a connection to someone so quickly. Things had been heated with Henry, but not like this.

It was supposed to be one night, but he wasn't done with Charlie. He was going to be back and forth to London for a while as the new office was set up. Even if he found a general manager quickly, he'd have to wait at least three months for them to start; the downside of recruiting outside the US. You only had to wait two weeks there. They could see how things went and worry about how it would work long-term if they got there. Sebastian could solve any problem.

Stretching out, he realised he was alone. The space beside him was cold; Charlie was gone and had been for a while. Undeterred, he jumped up and walked into the lounge just to be sure. Charlie's clothes were gone, and he had no way of contacting him. Why hadn't they exchanged numbers? Because it was only supposed to be one night. They hadn't said it explicitly, but the fact they lived in different cities with an ocean between them, implied it.

Looking at his phone, he realised it was ten o'clock. It wasn't surprising given he'd been fucking Charlie until the early hours. His dick twitched at the thought. Sebastian shook his head. He needed to shower and get dressed. He was meeting Patrick in two hours, and his friend had moved out to the sticks with his husband. Sebastian had suggested they meet somewhere local to Patrick, not realising he'd be waking up late. He'd have to skip breakfast.

In the shower, he scrubbed his aching muscles. His calves were painful, and he had flashes of Charlie bent over the sofa as Sebastian railed him. That would have done it.

And now he was fully hard. Where had this teenage libido come from? He didn't want to be thinking about sex while he had lunch with his best friend, so he made quick work of it by thinking of Charlie's gorgeous mouth around his dick and was shooting his load within two minutes. He switched the water to cold for the last thirty seconds, to help get out of his head.

Charlie had promised nothing else, but Sebastian had felt they'd had a genuine connection. Perhaps it was one-sided. It wouldn't be the first time. As he dried off, he realised he had to take it for what it was, a perfect night with an amazing guy. But there was a part of him which felt like he'd just lost the best thing which had ever happened to him.

He walked into the restaurant and spotted his oldest friend straight away. Patrick was a gigantic bear of a man, but always had a smile for everyone despite everything he'd been through recently. Patrick was Sebastian's only friend from when he'd lived in the UK. They'd gone to school together and kept in touch. They didn't see each other often, but when they did, it felt like it had only been yesterday. Sebastian was the best man at Patrick's wedding, and by his best friend's side six months earlier when his husband had died of a brain aneurysm at thirty. Patrick had no issue with an age gap. He'd always preferred younger guys, or ‘brats' which would be a better way to describe George. Patrick had idolised him and they'd been married within six months of meeting each other.

"You're looking annoyingly hot as always," said Patrick, holding his arms out for a hug.

"Bring it in, Papa Bear."

They hugged. The ‘bear' comment reminded Sebastian of Charlie's friend, which led to another pang of loss.

"What's wrong?" asked Patrick. "You look like someone's just died."

"Now, if I made that joke..."

"Widower's prerogative. Sit and tell me what's got you looking all glum."

They took their seats, and thankfully the waiter came over to take their drinks order, giving Sebastian some thinking time. He couldn't say what was really going on as it would make him look like a teenager with a pathetic crush, and his friend had lost the love of his life.

"How's the house sale coming along?" asked Sebastian.

"You're deflecting, but I'll allow it. Now look at the menu. I want the waiter gone before we circle back."

"Ugh, do you have to say things like circle back? "

"Just trying to make you feel at home, Yank."

Before he could offer a rebuttal, the waiter arrived with their drinks and took their food order. Sebastian hadn't looked at the menu, but it was a French brasserie, so he couldn't go wrong with steak. Twice in as many days, but he needed protein, and Bex didn't need to know. She was on some red meat crusade at the moment, but it didn't stop her from eating other animals. Sebastian had enjoyed taking her husband out to a steakhouse. It was like a dirty secret between them, although Martin would be in far more trouble than Sebastian if Bex found out.

"I think I just lost my soulmate," he blurted out.

A huge grin appeared on Patrick's face.

"What's his name?"

"Charlie, and he's twenty-seven."

"Hot!"

"Really?"

"What do you expect me to say? I was with the same man for ten years. I have to live vicariously through my friends, and you're the only one who's still single."

"Thanks for that. It doesn't matter, anyway. I won't see him again."

"Why not?"

"He left before I woke up."

"Brewer's droop?"

"Excuse me? I fucked him three times."

Of course, that was the exact time the waiter appeared to replenish their water glasses. He gave a slight smirk but didn't comment. The noise of the water pouring into the glass was unbearably loud in the deathly silence. Sebastian looked up at Patrick, who was struggling not to crack up laughing, which he did as soon as the waiter left.

"It's not funny."

"Oh, it is. I've known you thirty-seven years and never seen you this flustered. You really like this guy, don't you?"

"Yeah. I know it's stupid after one night, but I've never had that instant connection with anyone."

"Even ‘he who must not be named'?"

Sebastian smiled at the reference. He thought about his time with Brandon. Not the horrific way it ended, but the start, when things had been amazing.

"Honestly, I don't think I ever felt this way about him."

"Fuck. Have you told Bex?"

"Don't be ridiculous, she'd be out buying a hat. What am I supposed to do?"

"I know better than anyone that you can't ignore it. Tell me about him. You can leave out the ‘three times' part. I can fill in the gaps myself when I'm alone later."

"You're an arsehole," Sebastian said, smiling. Patrick shrugged, unbothered.

Sebastian then told Patrick all about his night with Sebastian. How they'd met, and everything until he'd woken up alone.

They enjoyed their lunch. The steak was perfectly cooked, and with their stomachs satisfied, Patrick had a suggestion.

"What time is your flight tomorrow?"

"Midday, why?"

"Let's go out tonight, to the bar where you met Charlie."

"Why? You hate going into Soho."

"This is too important to leave to chance. Tip the odds in your favour. He might be there again tonight."

"What if he tells me to fuck off?"

"At least you'll know. Come on, I'm offering to go to Soho with you. Take the opportunity to experience this momentous event."

The chance of Charlie going out for a second night in a row was slim, but any chance was better than spending the night in his hotel suite pining.

"Fine, let's do it." He had a feeling this was the best idea Patrick had ever had.

This was the worst idea Patrick had ever had. The crowd was different on a Saturday night. It was more crowded, and he felt like a piece of meat with the number of guys who kept coming on to him. Patrick was still wearing his wedding ring, but that didn't seem to deflect the thirsty gays who wanted to get laid.

Sebastian was getting fed up of being jostled all the time, and wanted to go into the VIP lounge where they could sit down. Patrick made the point that he wouldn't see Charlie in there. Damn his friend for having logic and reason. It was almost ten o'clock, and he knew in his heart Charlie wasn't coming. Sebastian did one last scan of the dance floor before he'd go into the lounge to drown his sorrows. Sebastian had left the ‘Do Not Disturb' sign on his door all day, so they wouldn't change the sheets and he'd still be able to smell Charlie. How pathetic was that? Something he would definitely be keeping to himself.

The dance floor was heaving with sweaty bodies and the stink of sex. He could see people grinding up against each other. Tongues in mouths. Hands down trousers. A strange crowd. He was regretting this decision. What if he saw Charlie with another guy? That would be worse than not seeing him again.

Returning to Patrick, he suggested they call it a night, but his friend wanted to experience the VIP lounge, so he couldn't say no. Someone else was sitting in the booth he'd shared with Charlie the night before. Probably a good thing. They found a sofa and settled down with their drinks.

"If it's meant to be, you'll see him again."

"I need to just put it down to a great night and leave it at that."

"I don't think that's gonna happen."

"Why?"

"I've literally never seen you this hung up on a guy, and you're also very resourceful. If you wanted to find him again, you could do it."

It was true. He was resourceful. His success hadn't come from nothing, but he didn't even know Charlie's last name or where he worked. He'd been guarded about that, although Sebastian hadn't asked, as he didn't want to reveal his own company's name. He knew Charlie worked for a marketing consultancy and his boss was an arsehole, although that didn't narrow the field. Charlie shared a flat with four guys he'd been at university with, but again, it wasn't enough to know where to look, and if he tracked Charlie down he would look like a stalker. He was being ridiculously pathetic, and just needed to get on a plane tomorrow and put Charlie out of his mind.

They enjoyed their drinks and caught up on their work lives. Patrick was the editor for a leading British tabloid, having worked his way up from being the tea boy straight out of college. He'd gotten his journalism degree by working his arse off every evening and weekend whilst still working full time. He'd taken a bit of time off after his husband died, but other than that, the guy worked more than Sebastian. No wonder they were still such great friends, they were kindred spirits.

Sebastian was worried about his friend. It had only been six months since George died, but Patrick needed someone to look after and care for. Sebastian liked the same thing, but not to the same intensity. Patrick was lost without having that person who depended on him.

Sebastian hoped his friend wouldn't spend the rest of his life alone. He had a lot of love to give, and with the right guy, he could be happy again. It was too soon to be thinking like that, but he needed to keep an eye on things and not be focused on his own drama. Sebastian didn't think he was being the best friend at the moment. He scanned the bar with the vague hope that he might see Charlie in a VIP bar he knew nothing about the day before. He had to do a double-take when he recognised someone.

"Oh my God!"

"What?"

"It's him." Sebastian pointed to the familiar face by the bar.

"He's very cute, although he looks different from how you described him. He's shorter for one. More my thing than yours."

"No, that's his friend who was with him last night. I think he was called Jason."

"Jason!"

Jason spun round, looking at them. Patrick signalled for him to join them.

"What are you doing?" Sebastian hissed.

"Making your dreams come true."

Sebastian couldn't help but laugh. Jason sashayed over to them, sipping an extravagant-looking cocktail through a straw.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" Jason asked. "Have we fucked? Cos I don't do repeats, although your hot daddy friend is someone I would make an exception for."

Jason then sat on Patrick's lap and put his arm around his neck. Patrick looked shocked for a second, but it didn't take long for his confidence to come out, although it was hard not to laugh. Patrick looked at Sebastian with a pleading expression. Sebastian knew that although he could handle a brat like Jason, Patrick probably felt like he was cheating on George.

"I was here last night with your friend, Charlie."

"Charlie isn't my friend."

"Oh."

"He's my brother."

Sebastian was confused for a second, as Charlie had said he was an only child, but remembered him saying he regarded the guys he shared a flat with as his family.

"He came back to my hotel last night, but he left this morning before we could exchange numbers."

"And?"

"And I was wondering if I could get his number off you?"

"Let me get this straight. You want me to give you, a stranger, my brother's number? Maybe he didn't give you his number because you were lousy in bed."

"No, definitely not."

"I do like a confident man. Are you confident, Daddy?" he asked, wiggling his hips on Patrick's lap.

"Do you even know what you're saying by using that word?"

"Confident?"

Patrick growled. "Don't be a brat."

Jason took hold of Patrick's hand and went to link their fingers and spotted his wedding ring.

"Are you already married, Daddy? Aren't you naughty!"

"No, my erm . . . my husband died."

The look on Jason's face was one of overwhelming compassion, but after a few seconds, it was gone, and replaced by his beaming smile.

"Well, how about we go back to yours and I can just be a body you can use to pound away your trauma?"

Sebastian nearly choked on his drink as he snorted, laughing. Patrick looked dumbstruck, which was something he'd never seen before. It was pleasing to see his friend out of his comfort zone for once, but the circumstances weren't the best.

"I'm flattered, really, but erm... I'm not there yet."

"Oh honey. Give me your phone."

Surprisingly, Patrick handed it over without question. Jason added his phone number, sent himself a text and handed it back.

"Did you really write your name as body for pounding ?"

"I like to keep it real, Daddy. Now, if neither one of you is gonna defile me tonight, I better get back out with the masses."

He kissed Patrick on the cheek and jumped off his lap with a smile.

"Wait," said Patrick.

"Ooh, changed your mind?"

"No, you brat. But can I ask you a favour?"

He glanced between them both and rolled his eyes dramatically.

"I'm not giving him Charlie's number."

"No, and I get that, but can you give Sebastian's number to Charlie and then it's up to him?"

Jason nodded. Sebastian shared his number quickly before he changed his mind. He now had to trust Jason would pass it on, and that Charlie would use it.