Facade

know where you’re going, when you need to leave. I don’t need details, but I don’t want any tension between us about this, and if I know where you are I’ll be fine.”
    “I can do that,” Jonas acknowledged.
    “Safe sex always? I don’t want to second guess you about this, Jonas; it’s too important.”
    “Always,” Jonas nodded decidedly. “Even between us, no matter how hurried or in what weird place we had sex it was always safe, wasn’t it?”
    “Good,” Nicky smiled. “Now, are you still hungry? We could heat the plates up again. Jacques has a microwave but he’d probably throw a hissy fit if he found out we nuked his food.”
    “Maybe we shouldn’t then. It’s nice here, and we might want to come back someday.”
    “Jacques has gone home. He trusts me with dessert, though,” Nicky said, and Jonas was sure he could hear some pride in the words.
    “Dessert sounds good. What are we having?” Nicky got up from the cast iron bench and pulled Jonas to his feet. “Come, I’ll show you.”
    Jonas followed Nicky into kitchen where the designer took two square plates out of the refrigerator and put them on the counter.
    Watching from the entrance he couldn’t quite make out what Nicky was doing, so he moved closer and gently curved his arms around the younger man’s waist.
    “Oooh,” Nicky exclaimed. “Never seduce a man holding a blowtorch!”
    They both laughed.

    Façade
    149
    “I’m surprised Jacques trusts you to play with fire in his kitchen, Nicky.” The smell of caramelized sugar started filling the air. “But crème brûlée is definitely one of my favorites.”
    “You trust me to use sharp pins around your groin area when I measure your suit,” Nicky quipped.
    “True,” Jonas had to admit. “But this could burn the house down.”
    “Unlike when I have my hands all over your most intimate body parts and you just make me burn for you.” Nicky flicked off the torch and set it on the counter before being turned around by Jonas and mercilessly kissed.
    Jonas felt his body react, his heart overjoyed with having the object of his affection melting in his arms again. His hands were in Nicky’s now shorter curls, keeping the young man’s face close to his, but there was no need as Nicky was kissing him back with abandon. They eventually broke for air, moving apart only as much as they needed to catch their breath, leaving their foreheads touching.
    “You want some dessert now?” Nicky asked, trying not to look cross-eyed as he gazed at Jonas from this close position.
    “You’ve never cooked for me before, so I’m not about to say no.”
    Nicky nuzzled him some more before reluctantly breaking apart to pick up the dessert dishes. “Spoons are on the countertop there.”
    As Nicky was making his way through the narrow corridor toward the secret garden, Jonas couldn’t help wrapping his arms around him and pulling him closer, kissing the designer on the neck.
    The feeling of Nicky melting into his touch was intoxicating, and he was anticipating how the rest of the evening would play out, hoping he’d be invited to Nicky’s house later.
    “We’ll never make it outside this way,” Nicky whispered.
    “Do you want me to let you go?” Jonas asked, still holding his soon-to-be-lover-again tightly.

    150
    Zahra
    Owens
    “God, no, but this isn’t very practical!” Jonas loosened his grip and they made their way toward the bench in the corner somewhat clumsily. As Jonas sat down, Nicky ended next to him, his leg hooked over Jonas’s knee possessively.
    “I want you to try this,” Nicky suggested, digging into the pudding and breaking the caramelized layer on top. He fed a spoonful of it to Jonas, who moaned when the sensation hit his taste buds.
    “This is truly exceptional,” Jonas said, licking his lips. “And I’ve had quite a few crème brulée before.” Nicky used the same spoon and the same dish to take a bite for himself and then offered another one to Jonas. “You’ve had quite a few lovers too, yet you came back for me.”
    “I know a good thing when I see it,” Jonas replied, wanting to strengthen this sudden confidence he saw in Nicky, but it didn’t work. The designer looked away, his shoulders sagging again. Jonas gently stroked the side of Nicky’s face and made him look up. “It took a lot of courage to call me back, Nicky. I desperately wanted you to, but I couldn’t make the first move.”
    “Why not? We’re equals now,” Nicky