Leo

I t had been almost a year since saw Ross. He had done everything in his power to avoid his so-called cousin, not that they were actually related by blood. No, his father had a crazy sense of loyalty and when they were just kids, his dad insisted that they were all family, even if didn't feel any familiar ties to Ross. In fact, he felt the opposite about him and the kiss that they shared a year ago proved that to him.

had spent his entire life hiding who he was. At twenty-seven, he should have his life figured out—right? had thought that he could hide away from the world, but one kiss with Ross had proven him wrong. He was gay, and telling his friends and family wasn't something that he thought possible. Telling his father is truth might just kill his old man and that wasn't something he could risk because the last thing he wanted was to have to take over the responsibility of the family business like Ross had to. Hoping that his dad would live forever might be childish of him, but that was exactly what he was doing. was fine with working for his father. Hell, he was good with taking orders from his old man but running things—no thank you.

His father stood in front of him, pacing—a telltale sign that he wasn't happy with anything was saying. "I really don't understand what's going on with you and Ross, but I don't care. I need you to extend an olive branch and make things right with your cousin."

couldn't help his scoff. The idea of Ross being his cousin always made him a little green. "He's not my cousin, Dad," reminded. "Just because you made me call his father my uncle, doesn't mean that Ross and I are actually related."

"He's the closest thing you have to family. With no siblings and no blood cousins, you should be happy to include Ross as family." There was no way that he and his father would ever agree on this point.

"I'd like to change the subject please," said. "I really don't want to fight with you, Dad."

"Then don't," his father simply said. "Go see Ross and help him sort out his father's affairs. He just lost his dad and that should make you want to help him. Have some compassion," his father hissed.

"I have compassion," insisted. "I just don't think that Ross and I should work together. The last time I saw him, things didn't end well between us. We had a—" He wasn't sure how to finish that sentence. "We had a disagreement." That was partially true. Ross and he were hanging out, as they usually did every weekend, and things got out of hand. He knew that Ross was gay. He might not have fully come out, but always knew the truth about Ross. The problem was— wasn't out yet. Hell, he never planned on coming out, and when Ross made his move, kissing him the way that he had, only forced 's hand. He told Ross that he wasn't interested in him in that way, but that was a bald-faced lie. had wanted Ross for as long as he could remember and denying it wouldn't change that.

"I don't care what the disagreement was about. You go to him and fix it, . He needs our help and you're going to give it," his father insisted. Arguing with his old man never ended in his favor, and knew better than to waste his time.

"Fine, I'll go over to help Ross, but I'm not extending the olive branch that you want me to. He'll have my help, but that's all he'll get from me," said. He sounded like a petulant child, but he didn't really care. He wasn't going to fall for Ross's charms again. He'd made that mistake before, and promised himself that it wouldn't happen again. He'd forget all about Ross and the kiss that they shared if it was the last thing that he'd do.

parked in front of the Ballerini office building that he'd always found pretentious. It was fifteen stories high, which in their small town, made it one of the tallest buildings for a thirty-mile radius. The windows were reflective, something that always thought trashy, and he knew that at the top of the gawdy building, he'd find Ross. He had probably moved into his father's office before his body was in the ground.

Ross seemed to be the perfect, dutiful son—willing to take over the family business at the drop of a hat. never understood anyone who wanted to go into the kind of business that their families were involved in. dreaded the day that he'd have to take over for his father, but Ross seemed to jump right into his responsibilities and never looked back.

"Shit," he shouted into the air. He cut the engine of his car and took a deep breath before getting out to head into the building. The sooner he got in there, the sooner he'd be able to come up with an excuse and leave. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to be able to decipher Ross's father's handwriting when his own son couldn't. And he really didn't know much about the Ballerini family's holdings. Well, except for two of the businesses that they shared. One was a local gym that most of the town used, and another was a kink club on the outskirts of town. God, telling Ross about that one wasn't something that he wanted to do face to face. With any luck, Ross already knew about that business and wouldn't ask him a million questions about that place.

rode the elevator to the top of the building and got off in the reception area of Ross's new office. "Can I help you?" a woman asked from behind her desk.

"Ross is expecting me," insisted. "I can show myself in."

"May I tell him your name?" the woman asked, effectively ignoring him.

" Capo, but I can tell him my own name, thanks," said, walking past her desk and straight into a hard wall of a very angry-looking man.

"It's fine, Helen," Ross said as he took a step back from . God, he smelled just as good as remembered. "I'll handle Mr. Capo." The thought of Ross's hands on his body made hot and that was the last thing he needed right now.

Ross moved to the side of the doorway and motioned for to go into his office. cleared his throat and walked past Ross, trying not to look him in the eyes. If he did, he'd cave and do all the things that he had promised himself on the ride over that he wouldn't do.

He sat down in the chair in front of Ross's desk, waiting for him to join him. "So, your father sent you over to help me with this mess."

"What makes you think that he sent me?" asked.

"Because I couldn't imagine you volunteering to come over to help me, . You haven't talked to me in over a year now," Ross said.

"I've been busy," lied. He knew how stupid his excuse sounded, but it was all he could come up with on short notice. Sparring verbally with Ross was never his strong suit and from the smirk on his handsome face, he knew it. rolled his eyes, crossing one leg over the other. It was his go-to move when he felt completely out of his league.

"You've been busy for a year?" Ross asked, calling him on his lie.

"I have, now how can I help you?" drawled.

Ross walked around to the front of his desk and sat down. He handed a pile of papers and sighed. "I have no idea what most of that stuff is," he admitted. "My father has so many business holdings, I'm afraid that I might never get caught up." thumbed through the papers and noticed that one of the businesses in question was the kink club that his father was part owner of. Explaining that wasn't going to be fun, but he knew that Ross was going to be just as uncomfortable as he was going to be, and that at least gave him some satisfaction.

"Well, this is a club that both of our fathers own together," he said, handing Ross back the paperwork.

"A club?" Ross asked. He looked over the paper, trying to figure out what kind of club and knew that he was going to have to explain everything to him in detail. "What kind of club?" Ross asked.

couldn't help his smile as he said, "A sex club."

"A what?" he asked.

"Our fathers went in on a sex club. Apparently, they both are more messed up than we could have ever imagined. Your father found the old gentleman's club and turned it into a sex club." Ross still looked clueless. Or maybe he was dumbfounded by the truth.

"Our dads own a sex club?" Ross asked.

"Yes," repeated. "Actually, you and my dad own a sex club together. I'm sure that will be fun for you, but I'm not sure if my father will feel the same way about it."

"You don't think that our fathers actually went to the sex club, do you?" Ross asked.

"God, I don't want to think about that. But I can tell you that my mother would have my father's balls if he stepped foot in a place like that," assured.

"Eww-I really don't want to think about Tony's balls, man," Ross grumbled. couldn't help his laughter as he sat back in the chair he was occupying. He had always liked this side of Ross—the playful, funny side. He missed that person, but things became complicated after just one kiss.

"Sorry, I try not to think about them either," admitted. "You really had no idea that your father owned this club, huh?" kind of felt bad that he had taken so much pleasure in telling Ross about the place.

"No," Ross breathed, "what's the name of the place?"

"Why, are you planning on checking it out?" asked.

"Actually, I was thinking about checking it out," Ross admitted.

"Great, I'll go with you," said. "it's called The Kink Club."

"Appropriate name for a sex club. As for you going along, I'm good with going on my own," Ross insisted. "I'm sure that you have better things to do with your time."

"What—and miss your reaction to walking into an actual sex club? No, I won't want to miss a single second of your first time in a place like that," teased.

"Um, who said that it would be my first time in a place like that?" Ross taunted. Now, it was 's turn to be a bit dumbfounded. Thinking about Ross playing in a kink club turned him inside out with need. That was the last thing he needed if he wanted to avoid falling for Ross again. Still, the idea of checking out the club intrigued him, and his afternoon was clear.

"Regardless of whether this is your first time in a sex club or not, my afternoon is free and I'm up for a little adventure," said. "Plus, I have the keys to the place." He pulled a key from his pocket and held it up for Ross to see.

"The rabbit's foot keychain is a nice touch," Ross teased. "Fine, let me tell my assistant that I'm going out for a while, and I'll meet you downstairs. I'll drive." thought about insisting that he take his own car, but getting some extra time with Ross, one on one, appealed to him. Maybe that made him a masochist, but he didn't care at the moment.

"Sounds good," agreed. "I'll meet you downstairs." walked out of Ross's office knowing that he was headed down a road that might end in heartache for him again, but for some strange reason, he wanted just that. It was going to be nice to feel something other than the darkness that currently consumed him.