Facade

asked, fear still in his eyes.
    Jonas sighed and looked straight at the younger man. “You were so angry with me, and I was scared that you would scream and shout at me again if I called too soon.”
    “I wasn’t angry with you; I was jealous. I saw you with him and you so obviously shared this intimacy, this physical closeness that only lovers have with each other, and I wanted it to be me, not him. I know that makes me sound like a child, but I missed you so much, Jonas, and I was miserable. I knew the only person who could make me feel better was you.”
    Nicky stopped and for the first time didn’t look away after revealing his innermost feelings. The look he gave Jonas was still hesitant, but it showed hope, expectancy.

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    Jonas smiled somewhat. “I told Eduardo that I’d met you and then lost you again.”
    “How did he take that news?”
    Jonas shrugged. “I don’t think he believed me.” Nicky’s eyebrows climbed toward his hairline.
    “He knows I don’t fall head over heels in love and certainly not with someone who’s supposed to be paying me.”
    “Did you convince him?”
    Jonas didn’t answer right away. Instead he looked at the half eaten dessert dish and then at the spoon in Nicky’s hand.
    “Oh,” Nicky uttered. “You want more of this?” Jonas nodded. “It’s very good.” He turned a little toward Nicky and put his hand on the designer’s thigh as he was presented with a spoon full of pudding.
    “You’re avoiding the subject here,” Nicky said, looking mischievous but obviously only half joking.
    Jonas swallowed and gestured that Nicky eat some too. “It’s a non-subject. Eduardo has no say over who I date, sleep with, fall in love with or marry for that matter. He likes to think he’s still a part of my life, but he’s not and I think he knows that too. And to the other men, I’m a distraction, even for Scott.” He sighed deeply and then smiled as he saw Nicky looking at him expectantly, while almost unconsciously spooning the rest of the dessert into his mouth.
    Jonas bit his lower lip and, in a lightning fast move, snatched the other spoon from the table and scooped up the last of the dessert left on the plate.
    Nicky did a double take and then started chuckling. “We have another.…”
    “I know,” Jonas answered in a teasing tone, while he grabbed the second dish. As Nicky reached out with his spoon, he pulled it away. “Uh-uh!”

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    Owens
    Nicky mimicked an annoyed look and attempted to scoop some up again, but Jonas pulled away even further, this time taking a bite himself. That’s when Nicky resorted to pouting.
    “You know I can’t resist that face, Nicky.” Lip wobble and puppy dog eyes reproached him.
    “Okay, you win,” Jonas admitted, narrowing his eyes. He offered Nicky a spoonful, but intentionally let the crème dribble down Nicky’s chin, so he could lean forward and kiss the young man, licking off the excess. Unlike the kiss in the kitchen, this time their mouths moved more gently, unhurried. The dish was soon abandoned, and before long, Nicky was almost on Jonas’s lap, their kisses intensifying rapidly until they needed to break for air.
    “I suppose we should tidy up around here before we leave?” Jonas asked.
    Nicky nodded. “A bit. Just get everything back to the kitchen.
    Someone will do the dishes in the morning.”
    “Okay,” Jonas acknowledged. He couldn’t keep from running his fingers through the designer’s shorter curls. “I really like your hair this way.”
    “I was sick and tired of the pirate look.” They both got up and carried plates and glasses to the kitchen, and then Nicky turned off all the lights and closed up the restaurant.
    Jonas waited for him outside in the passageway, which was still lit by the low candles. As Nicky rounded the corner, Jonas saw him hesitate. He was looking straight at him, but it was too dark to read the expression on his face. “Everything okay?” Nicky nodded. “I was just thinking how fortunate I was and how I don’t deserve you.”
    Jonas held out his hand toward Nicky. “Let’s walk. It’s a nice night out, and I think there are things we need to talk about that work better when we’re not looking each other in the eye.” Façade
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    Nicky chuckled. “Good thing the streets are pretty much deserted. We wouldn’t want to create a scene.” He bent down to extinguish each candle and then took Jonas’s hand.
    Jonas peered out of the garden