“Would that be okay?”
“Of course.” He waved at the waitress, who scampered over. “May we have another very rare burger with lots of cheese?” He looked at Seth. “What about you?”
“Apple pie would be good.”
“Great. Please bring three apple pies as well.”
When she left, Jazz leaned forward. “So what’s good? About being gay, I mean.”
What the hell was good? “True love, for one thing.”
Seth’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Think about it. Men and women get together for various reasons. They’re expected to get married by their families or their church. Society offers married couples a lot of benefits. The woman gets preggers, or her biological clock is ticking and she wants a husband to get her preggers. It’s better to have two parents, because raising kids is hard. Stuff like that. For gay men, none of that stuff applies usually. If we’re going to be together, it’s by choice.” He looked down at his hands. “There are lots of reasons not to do it. Being a couple takes a lot of work, and society makes it even tougher by denying us rights. But some men take the risk and commit because they love each other. It’s really brave.” Really wonderful.
He glanced up. The boy and the man both stared at him. Seth was blinking hard.
The waitress brought the food and placed it on the table. She looked at them and hurried away.
Jazz didn’t even grab his burger. “Wow.” He picked up his milk shake glass and sipped the last of the chocolaty mixture. “I’m pretty sure I’m gay.”
So Seth was right. “Why do you think so?”
He shrugged. “The guys always show me girlie pictures and shit—stuff. I don’t get it.”
Seth took a bite of pie but looked very interested. “Not all guys like those big-boobed females. Maybe you like simpler girls. Girl next door.”
Jazz chewed another bite thoughtfully. Swallowed. “Nah. I like girls as friends, but not much more.”
“How do you feel about guys?”
He grinned. “I like their asses.”
Lindsey smiled. “That might be an indicator.”
“I don’t tell anybody. Since I told the shrink, that is. I think he told everybody from child services. Shit, doctor/patient privilege, my ass.”
Lindsey frowned. “Do you get harassed?”
“No. The other kids think I’m straight. That lady you met kind of tries to pray away the gay on me, but no big organized effort.”
“You’ll tell me if they bother you, right?”
Jazz looked at him steadily; then he smiled like he had just gotten a present. “Yeah. I’ll tell you.”
Lindsey reached in his pocket. “I got this for you so we can organize your lessons.” He handed him a phone.
The kid’s smile got bigger. “You’re kidding?”
“No. Not kidding. Don’t call China.” He smiled.
The gold eyes got wider. “You mean I could?”
“It’s a regular smartphone. You have an e-mail account? We’ll set it up so you can get e-mails if you want.”
“I can text with it?”
Lindsey laughed. “It’s a regular phone, Jazz. Do anything you want.”
“Holy shit.” Suddenly his eyes filled with tears and he looked away.
“What?”
He shook his head.
Seth put a hand on his arm. “Nobody ever give you anything before?”
Jazz shook his head and kept staring at the wall.
“Enjoy. You deserve it.”
He finally seemed to get control of himself. “Thank you.”
Lindsey put his hand on top of Seth’s. “You’re welcome. You’re really welcome.”
Chapter Eight
Lindsey pulled in to the garage. The rumble of the Kawasaki sounded behind him and he shivered. Good shivers. He turned off the car and got out in time to see Seth nestling the beloved motorcycle in the space between the two Teslas. They had dropped off Jazz. He’d ridden with Lindsey on the way back to the foster home where he lived, so no one would freak out about the motorcycle.
Seth dismounted—a highly sexy maneuver all by itself—and walked over to Lindsey. He touched his face. “How you doin’?”
“A little sad. Jazz doesn’t like the home where he lives, but he stays there because he’s been shuffled between so many foster families he’s got whiplash.”
“Boys that age are hard to place. Men often resent them. Teenagers are tough even when you’re related to them.”
“I wish I could take care of him.”
Seth cocked his head. “That’s a huge statement. You’re what, twenty-five?”
“Four.”
“You’re more the age of a brother than a father. And you’re a single, gay man.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “A very rich, single gay man. Sometimes, money talks.”
“There is that.” He touched Lindsey’s cheek. “But don’t do anything rash. Help the kid. Give him lessons. He’s only got five more years in the system. He’s resilient. He’ll make it.”
Lindsey shuddered. “I hate that he has to spend five more days.”
“You’re really attached to Jazz.”
“Yes. I don’t even understand it myself.”
Seth grinned. “Some people would say you were related in a past life.”
“Would you?”
“Hell no. One life is plenty.” He laughed. “So do I get to see those clean sheets you promised?”
Lindsey’s cock gave a huge leap. “Oh yes, kind sir. Follow me.”
As they walked through the hall from the garage and into the reception area, Seth looked around. “You know, I’m not much for the stuff money can buy—”
“Except for the Kawasaki.”
“Yeah, except for that. But I like this house. It’s got a nice mix of old and new. For something seriously grand, it’s still pretty comfortable.”
“Thank you. My grandparents have let me put some of my stamp on it.”
“I would have guessed that.”
Lindsey smiled. He was scared to breathe. How could things possibly be going this well for him? Of course, he had sex to maneuver once again. He’d been okay outdoors, where the event was kind of raw to begin with. In his suite, not so much. He didn’t want his bedroom to end up looking like a scene from Twilight.
He led the way up the stairs. As they approached his suite, Seth put a hand on his back. “Hey, you look nervous. Are you?”
He looked down at his loafers. “A little.”
Seth coaxed his chin up with a finger. “I don’t seem to recall you’re the shrinking violet type.”
“No.” He looked up. “That’s what I’m nervous about.”
“Ah. You figure I may not let you get away with being so bossy in the bedroom.” He opened the door and pushed it in. With a bow, he waved Lindsey into the room. “I guess we’ll have to see, won’t we?”
What would his wolfy side do if it was challenged? What he didn’t want to see was Seth get eaten! He walked into the room and stopped in the middle. Holy God, Seth was here. In his suite. Almost in his bed. It was like having a love life for the first time. Damned if he’d wreck it by worrying. Seth hadn’t seemed to mind his aggressive side last night. Maybe he’d be okay.