Chapter 5

TREVOR

I glanced up from the cutting board where I'd been chopping vegetables and smiled. Being in the rented kitchen space with Doug and his staff always felt like stepping into a whirlwind of activity. But what should have been total chaos looked more like a well-choreographed dance, each member executing their part with graceful precision.

"How's it going? Need any help?" Doug tried to look conspicuous as he sidled up next to me and assessed my work, but there was a tightness around his eyes that wasn't normally there.

"It's chopping vegetables. I think even I can manage to do that much without messing up." I bumped his hip with mine to let him know I was teasing.

A ghost of a smile flitted across his face before disappearing again. "I'm sorry. I'm just nervous. This is a huge opportunity for me. I really need tonight to go well."

I set the knife down and turned to him, placing my hands on his shoulders. "Hey, it will. Tonight, will be perfect. The food looks and smells amazing, and you have an incredible staff. Plus, you have a secret ace up your sleeve."

"Yeah? What's that?"

I grinned widely. "Me, of course!"

Doug barked out a laugh. "Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you."

I tapped my finger against the tip of his nose. "Lucky for you, you'll never have to find out. Seriously though, creating delicious dishes is what you were born to do. These people would be fools not to hire you for all their parties. So, relax. You've got this."

I watched as the tension left his face, replaced with a genuine smile. "Thanks, Trev. I think I needed to hear that."

"Anytime. Although, I should warn you, my playing therapist will cost you extra."

"I can only pay you in food."

"Sounds like the perfect deal." I winked at him.

"Okay, well, if you're done chopping those, we need to get them packed up and start loading the van."

The savory aroma of freshly prepared dishes filled the air as we worked side by side, transferring trays of food from the counters to the catering van parked outside.

"Doug, pass me those platters, would you?" I called out, trying to be heard over the clatter of pots and pans.

He nodded; his focus unwavering as he handed me the trays of appetizers. "Here you go. I think that's everything. The rest of the staff will finish cleaning up and then meet us there."

"Okay. Oh, wait! Did you double-check to make sure we've got the salad dressing?" I asked, hoping I hadn't missed anything.

He gave me a reassuring nod. "Don't worry, I've got it covered."

I smiled, happy to see his usual confidence was back. As we climbed in the van, Doug playfully punched me in the shoulder. "Thanks a lot, man. Couldn't have done it without you."

I laughed, returning the gesture. "Same here. After all, you're the mastermind behind it all. I simply do what I'm told."

Ten minutes later, we pulled up outside a ritzy hotel right in the heart of the city. I whistled. "You weren't kidding when you said this party would be fancy. I bet a night here costs more than our rent."

"No joke. This place only caters to the most wealthy and privileged."

"What kind of party did you say it is?"

He shrugged. "I'm not really sure. The woman that called me to set everything up was kind of vague. All I know is their usual caterer had to quit and they're looking for someone to take over that role. With the type of clientele this place brings in, this could open a lot of doors for me."

"Guess we better get in there and wow them then, huh?"

Doug's cheeks puffed out as he blew out an anxious breath then he nodded. "Let's do this."

The next hour flew by as we unloaded the van and began setting everything up. The party was being held on the top floor which included a large conference space and eight large suites. We were told guests could also access the rooftop terrace with its full-service bar, large pool, and comfortable outdoor seating, all of which overlooked Times Square.

The rest of the staff arrived and jumped in to help. As I was pouring champagne into a tray full of glasses, I noticed a woman speaking with Doug.

She was beautifully dressed in a flowing black dress with a plunging neckline and a slit up the side that showed off her long, tanned legs. She handed him some papers before gracefully walking out of the room.

"Hey, guys," Doug said as he walked over to us. "Um, I need you all to sign these, please."

He handed out the papers and I looked them over. "What is this?" one of the guys asked.

"It's a non-disclosure agreement."

"I get that, but why? We've never had to sign these for any other party we've catered."

"Well, we've never catered a party with so many wealthy, influential guests. Ms. Rathchild said it's common practice to ask people they work with to sign an NDA. It protects her guests and puts them at ease. We also need to hand our phones over to her until we get ready to leave. That way no one can take any pictures of the guests."

"Jesus, rich people are weird."

A rumble of laughter and murmured agreement traveled around our group, but everyone signed the papers and handed Doug their phones to give to Ms. Rathchild. I had no idea why they felt the need for such secrecy, but this was important to Doug, so I'd go along with it.

We finished getting everything ready just as the first guests began to arrive. My gaze swept over the assortment of dishes laid out before me. From savory appetizers to decadent desserts, each creation was a testament to my best friend's culinary talent, and my chest swelled with pride.

As the room began to fill with more guests, we got to work. Clad in a crisp white shirt and a black apron, I grabbed a tray of hors d'oeuvres and pasted a smile on my face as I started making my way around the room.

The guests were stunning with immaculate clothing and diamond encrusted jewelry. Men and women chatted in groups of two or three, thanking me as I offered a small puff pastry or refilled their glasses.

Dinner went off without a hitch, but I began to notice a few differences between this party and others I'd helped cater. They were subtle differences, so subtle I might have missed them if I hadn't been paying such close attention to see what everyone thought of the food.

But once I noticed, they became increasingly hard to ignore. Like the woman who kept whispering to the man next to her, every so often darting the tip of her tongue inside his ear.

Or the man who was discreetly fondling another man under the table, despite the fact I'd seen him arrive with a woman. A woman who wore a wedding band that matched his own.

My eyes nervously darted over to his wife and found her watching the two men intently. To my surprise, she didn't seem upset, but rather…turned on.

"How's it going? Need any help with the desserts?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen area.

Doug looked up from where he was adding the finishing touches to a tray of apricot tarts with a grateful smile, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "Thanks. Would you mind passing me those little sprigs of mint over there?"

I nodded, handing them to him. I watched as he carefully placed them on top of the tarts then sprinkled a little dusting of powdered sugar over each. The final product was both classy and elegant, perfect for this type of event.

"These look amazing. You've really outdone yourself."

He beamed with pride, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he surveyed his handiwork. "It's all about the presentation, you know? And with your help, this party is going to be a hit."

"It already is," I assured him. "Everyone's been talking about the food and wondering who the genius is behind it all."

He rolled his eyes. "You're just saying that because you're my best friend."

"No, it's true. I promise."

"He's right, you know." We both looked up to see Ms. Rathchild floating into the room. She wore a broad smile as she approached my friend. "No one can stop talking about how delicious the food is and I have to agree. You've impressed me, which if you knew me at all, you'd know is extremely difficult to do. At any rate, I'd like you to come out and introduce yourself. Let my guests see who will be catering all our future parties. That is, if you're agreeable."

Doug swallowed hard, his face registering both shock and elation before he covered it up with a professional smile. "It would be my pleasure. Thank you for the opportunity, Ms. Rathchild."

He started to follow her out of the kitchen but glanced at me over his shoulder. "Holy shit!" he mouthed.

I grinned widely, giving him two thumbs up. I was so fucking proud of him. After all his hard work, people were finally starting to notice what an incredible chef he was.

I was still grinning half an hour later when I carried the last empty tray back into the kitchen. The food had been a resounding success and New York's upper class had lavished praise on my friend. Something which was well-deserved but left Doug blushing profusely. A result which had me laughing.

We were all in high spirits as we began packing everything up and cleaning the kitchen. "I think this calls for a celebration," Jordan said.

"I agree. Let's take all this stuff back then go to O'Neil's. I'll buy the first round." Amber's offer was met with a unanimous cheer, and we all worked fast to finish up and load the van.

"Time to party!" Cohen yelled as we shut the doors on the van thirty minutes later.

He and the others started heading for their cars when Amber suddenly stopped, patting her pockets. "Shit! We forgot our phones!"

"Ugh! You're right. We left them with Ms. Rathchild. I'll go back up and get them," Doug said.

I halted him with a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you go on with them and get everything put away. I'll go get the phones then order an Uber and meet you all at O'Neil's."

"Are you sure? I can wait?—"

"Don't be ridiculous. This is a huge night for you. The sooner we all get stuff done, the sooner we can start celebrating."

"But, I don't want you to have to pay for a ride."

I laughed. "Stop worrying. Between my new job and the ongoing contract, you just signed, we can afford to get a ride once in a while."

"Wow! I guess you're right. This is all so crazy."

"I know. It'll take some time to sink in, but tonight, you need to get your ass in gear. I bet there are a bunch of pretty, pretty boys just waiting for you to show up at the bar."

"Damn straight they are! Okay, let's get moving!" he shouted to the others, making me laugh.

I waved them off then hurried back into the hotel. The concierge looked me over as I explained that I'd just left from catering the party upstairs and needed to retrieve our phones. His suspicion turned into relief, however, as soon as I mentioned Ms. Rathchild.

"Ah, yes. She and her husband are both honored guests here. Come this way, you'll need my key to access the elevator."

I followed him to a private elevator—not the staff elevator we'd used before—where he swiped a key card then pressed a button for the top floor.

I rode in silence until the elevator came to a stop. The doors slid open and for a moment, I thought I was on the wrong floor.

It was much darker, the lights turned down low. Music played from somewhere down the hall, a sexy, deep bass that reverberated inside my chest. I followed the sound, wondering where everyone had gone, but as I neared the conference room, I could hear a woman speaking.

"It's time. You all know what to do," Ms. Rathchild purred.

I stood in the shadows just outside the doorway, watching as she handed the man next to her a glass bowl. He pulled something out of it and held it in the air. It was a set of keys.

A woman in the back stood up, slinking over to him. She wrapped her hand around the keys as she bent down and kissed him. Without a word, the man rose and the two of them walked out of the room.

I watched, confused as this continued. One person drawing keys out of the bowl and another claiming them. Then the new couple would wander off together.

Curious, I followed a couple down the hallway where they entered one of the suites. They didn't bother to shut the door and I watched as they began kissing, the man sliding his hands under the woman's skirt. She gasped as his fingers dipped inside her panties, his arm muscles flexing as he rubbed a finger over her clit.

My cock perked up at the sensual sight, but I quickly ducked around the corner when I heard someone approaching. Two voices told me it was another man and woman.

They entered the same suite as the first couple and as I peered around the doorway, I witnessed them engaging in a slow, blistering kiss. The first woman placed her hand on the back of the second woman's neck, and the second woman broke her kiss with the man, tilting her head as she fed her tongue to the other woman.

Holy hell! This is some sort of sex party! I thought those kinds of things only existed in books, but here I was, seeing it unfold in front of me.

Worried they'd see me, I moved on down the hallway, peeking in rooms as I searched for Ms. Rathchild. I had no idea how I was going to pretend I hadn't seen anything once I finally found her, but I knew I'd have to. There was no way I was going to blow this opportunity for Doug.

I was able to move throughout the floor without raising any suspicion, which had more to do with the fact that everyone was more focused on their own activities than me being sly.

With no sign of Ms. Rathchild on that floor, I headed up to the rooftop. Strands of twinkling lights cast a soft glow over the terrace, and I could see several people up there, lounging in and around the pool.

My body heated as I spied two men holding a woman in the pool. One held her shoulders while the other held her feet. In between her legs, another woman lapped greedily at her clitoris, the fingers of one hand moving steadily in and out of her pussy.

Sweat beaded across my forehead as my eyes roamed the entire area, taking in more couples engaged in varying degrees of sex. Men and women, women and women, men and men, even a few threesomes or more, driven by lust and from what I could see, enjoying themselves immensely.

I tried telling myself I was only looking for Ms. Rathchild so I could get our phones and get out of there, but I accepted the lie for what it was. The truth was, this was the most erotically exhilarating thing I'd ever witnessed, and I couldn't seem to make myself turn away. I didn't want to.

A loud groan pulled my attention to a couch near the bar where a man stood with his back to me. He was completely naked, slender with smooth, pale skin. I noted a pair of muscular legs on either side of him, letting me know there was a man sitting on the couch in front of him, although, I couldn't see him from my vantage point.

The man on the couch appeared clothed still, or at least from the waist down because he was wearing black pants. Even his shoes were still on, which seemed strange to me since his partner was nude, and yet a shiver ran up my spine at the obvious power play behind it. What would it be like to be so exposed, so vulnerable? To have others watching while you were at the mercy of someone else?

"Down on your knees." The command sent a wave of desire straight to my groin and I let out a soft whimper. What the fuck?

I stared, transfixed as the slender man sank to his knees immediately. His head was bent as he waited for the next instruction. He didn't have to wait long.

"Take out my cock and lick the tip." The voice was smooth like satin with a deep rumble that caused an ache deep in my belly. What the actual fuck?

My dick wept, soaking my underwear as the slender man obliged. I wanted to keep watching them, to take myself in hand and jack off as I watched the scene unfold. But why this one? Sure, the other things I'd seen had gotten me excited, but nothing compared to this.

The fact that it was two men who had captured and held my attention was shocking enough, but also that I almost felt…jealous of the man on his knees was enough to make me question my sanity.

My eyes traveled up his pale white back as he bent his head between the other man's outstretched legs, and I shivered as I imagined his tongue licking over the slit on the tip of the other man's cock. Would there be precum? What would it taste like?

My hands fisted at my sides. What the hell was the matter with me? I felt like I was having an out of body experience, like I didn't even know myself anymore. Never in my life had I been sexually attracted to another man, but here I was now, watching a guy give head and wondering what it would taste like.

A hand landed on the slender man's head, long fingers wrapping in the silky strands of hair as he urged the guy to take him into his mouth. The slender man went willingly, making happy noises as he swallowed the other man's cock.

"That's it. Relax your throat so you can take all of me," the man on the couch urged.

The guy on his knees gagged once but continued his ministrations. His head bobbed up and down, and I could hear wet slurping noises as he greedily sucked the other man down to the root, his arm moving in a way that told me he was pleasuring himself at the same time.

My cock was harder than it had ever been and begging me to do something. Stroke it, jerk it…join them. It didn't matter as long as I got to come. But I couldn't. I wasn't even supposed to be there. I wasn't an invited guest, and yet there I was, playing voyeur like some creep.

The realization startled me out of the daze I'd been in and I started to turn, but first, I needed to see the man on the couch. I had to see the face of the first man to ever make me want.

I'd been so focused on the guy on his knees, intrigued by the way he gave in to the other man's quiet commands without any hesitation whatsoever that I hadn't even taken the time to actually look at the man behind the alluringly authoritative voice.

My eyes moved past the slender man and landed on the chest of the man on the couch. Even fully clothed, I could tell he was in incredible shape. Broad shoulders, defined pecs, and strong arms.

My gaze roamed over the smooth tanned skin of his throat, his strong jaw line with the slightest hint of stubble, and a pair of the softest, plushest looking lips I'd ever seen on a man.

My breath caught as he bit down on his bottom lip and my mouth began to water. I found myself wishing I could pull on it, licking his lip and kissing away any bruises his teeth had left behind.

His mouth opened then, his head tilting back, exposing his neck as he let out a loud groan, coming down the other man's throat. The sound shot straight to my dick and my eyes darted up, taking in the rest of his handsome face.

I only caught a flash of his eyes before they fluttered shut, but I would have recognized those bright, emerald-colored orbs anywhere.

Shock mixed with pure, unadulterated lust rocked me to my core and I barely had time to slip around the corner, out of sight before I was coming. Hands free. My cock still firmly encased inside my pants.

I clamped a hand over my mouth to cover my scream, my eyes screwing shut tight as the most powerful orgasm I'd ever experienced crashed over me like a fucking tsunami. Wave after wave washed through me until I was left breathless, my legs threatening to give out on me.

As soon as I could move, I took off running down the stairs. I found a restroom, sending up a word of thanks that it was empty, and quickly washed up as best I could.

I splashed cold water on my face then looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes were bright and shiny, and my skin was flushed, but other than that, there were no outward indications that my world had just completely flipped on its axis.

Convinced I appeared presentable, I left the restroom, sighing with relief when I ran into Ms. Rathchild in the hallway. Somehow, I was able to convince her that I'd only just returned to get our phones, and after retrieving them from a safe in her suite, I left.

It wasn't until I was tucked inside an Uber, on the way to the bar, that I realized my whole body was shaking. I rested my head back on the seat and tried to focus on my breathing, but my head was full of questions that begged to be answered.

Why had I reacted so strongly to another man? Did the fact that simply watching the man had made me come harder than ever before mean I wasn't as straight as I thought I was? And how in the world was I supposed to face that man on Monday, given that he was my boss?