Chapter 12

July 7, Friday evening

Todd hummed appreciatively as he rinsed the soap from Loren's chest. "So have you actually been to this restaurant yet?"

"No, but knowing Etienne, the place will be out of this world, and full of queers." He grabbed Todd's hand and brought it to lips.

"Sounds good, babe." Todd reached behind Loren and turned off the water.

"Everybody I've talked to raves about the place. Definitely the place to see and be seen." Posing dramatically, he pouted at Todd.

Todd kissed the pouting lips. "Come on." He pulled a towel from the towel bar and draped it over Loren's shoulders. "Let's get dry and dressed. I'm starving." Slapping Loren's wet, bare ass, Todd stepped out of the tub, pulling a towel around himself.

"Oh, babe, more. I want more." Wiggling his ass, he turned quickly and made a grab for Todd's ass. "Never tease a pain slut, they'll bite back."

"Mm, promise?" Todd stopped, causing Loren to run into him.

"I see that as a challenge." Sliding his arms around Todd, he lowered his head to bite at his shoulder. It wasn't a playful nip, but definitely one that left marks and had an edge of pain to it.

"Loren…" Todd gasped, head rolling to the side, giving Loren more room. "Babe…"

He popped Todd's ass with his hand and pushed him into the bedroom. "Get dressed. There's plenty of time for play after we have dinner."

"And you call me a tease." Todd opened the closet and perused the contents before deciding on a dark blue dress jacket. He put it on the bed and pulled out his black slacks, tossing them beside the jacket. A few minutes later, he was dressed, having decided on a white dress shirt to go with the rest. "Tie or no tie?" he asked Loren, studying his reflection in the dresser mirror.

Loren dried off and dropped the towel on the bathroom floor. Emerging from the bathroom, he said, "With a tie."

After grabbing his leather vest from the bed, Loren slid it on. The vest laced up the back and had laces on both sides. The ties were loose showing a good expanse of skin, and Loren left the front open and untied. He wriggled into the leather sailor pants, fastened the waistband, pulled up the flap and hooked the thirteen buttons.

Todd turned and started for the closet again when he caught sight of Loren. He stopped dead in his tracks. "Dear God."

When he paused in the midst of tying a pink silk scarf around his neck, Loren eyed Todd with a wicked gleam. "Something wrong, babe?"

Tie forgotten, Todd crowded Loren back against the wall, voice rough. "Are you just trying to make me insane?"

"Isn't that idea? To make sure your eyes never leave me and all you can think about the whole time we're out is how much you want me?"

"You're doing a damn good job of it." Todd didn't give Loren a chance to respond. The second the words were out, he crushed Loren's mouth with his, tongue forcing its way between Loren's lips in a hard, hungry kiss.

The press of Loren's body arched tight to Todd as he opened to the assailing hunger of his lover's mouth. Loren ran his hands along his shoulders and downward over his arms before his fingers twined with Todd's.

Only the need for air convinced Todd to pull away. "Restaurant. Before I fuck you against the wall."

What Loren saw in Todd’s eyes sent a rush of elation through him as he drew in a deep breath. "I'll take that as a promise, babe."

Untangling from Todd, he moved back towards the dresser. Leaning against it, Loren began applying his makeup. The shade of eye shadow and lipstick perfectly matched his scarf. The whole time Loren felt acutely aware of Todd watching his every movement. It would be one hell of an interesting night.

***

"Oh. Wow." Todd couldn't say much more than that as they walked into La Rose Sauvage.

The restaurant was beyond what he had expected. A black marble stage dominated the open dining room, with the tables arranged in a circle around it. The tables were small--seating two people, though there were a few larger ones. It was designed to be intimate and didn't fail in that regard. The lights were low, but all around the mostly-black room, pink accents were visible under the faint lighting. Servers bustled around from table to table, waiting on the mostly same sex couple crowd.

Turning to Loren, Todd lifted an eyebrow. "Not exactly your typical restaurant, is it?"

"I'd say Etienne out did himself. Very clever atmosphere." Loren looked around in appreciation as he slipped his arm around Todd's waist.

As they moved towards the maitre d' podium, the gentleman regally nodded to them. "The name your reservation is under?"

"Loren Spears." Loren answered him and waited for the man to find his name on the list.

With a nod, he gestured towards one of the waiters and Loren and Todd followed him to their table.

Once they were settled, Todd looked through the wine listing. "Anything in particular strike your fancy, babe?"

"Knowing Etienne's tastes, the house wine and specialty should be fine." Shifting his chair slightly, he moved closer to Todd, resting his hand on his thigh.

The rest of the tables around the room were nearly filled with other couples wanting an intimate evening with their partners of choice. Loren recognized and nodded towards several of them.

"That works." Todd handed their menus to the waiter and draped an arm over Loren's shoulders. "I like this," he said.

"Apparently so do a lot of people I know." Laughing, Loren relaxed against Todd as the waiter asked for their order. "House special and wine."

With a nod, the scantily, yet elegantly, clad man turned on his heel to walk towards the back kitchen. Strains of soft music started as two men took center stage in the middle of the floor to start the floor show.

"If the food is as good as the atmosphere, I think your friend has a 5-star on his hands."

The barely dressed men began a sensual display of dancing, weaving around one another as their hands touched one another. Loren watched for a moment as he murmured to Todd. "It will be a 5-star since Etienne never disappoints. And the second man dancing on the left just happens to be him."

"Oh." Todd glanced back at the stage and watched as the men danced with each other. Their movements were graceful, and although the innuendo was there, they did nothing overtly explicit. It was at once arousing and mesmerizing.

"You can stick your tongue back in, babe." Smirking, he glanced at Todd, knowing Etienne tended to have that effect. Whether it was the long blonde hair that hung well below a trim ass, or the ass itself, people noticed Etienne.

"He's definitely easy on the eyes, but…" He cupped Loren's jaw and turned his head to face him. "I'll take you any time over him or anyone else."

"I was hoping to keep your eyes on me." Loren preened just the slight bit when Todd turned his attention to him. "I did dress with you in mind."

Without bothering to answer, he pulled Loren into a soft, slow kiss. His hand slid from Loren's face, down his chest, to rest just at his upper thigh where it creased with his hip. His fingertips brushed lightly over the bulge in Loren's pants as his tongue explored his lover's mouth.

Loren did his best to remain still in his seat. An ache flared through him with just the simple touch, and after a moment, he had to draw back from the kiss. "Dinner first."

Glancing back at the dancers, Loren focused on them to distract himself. The waiter, bearing a silver tray, brought their food and wine to the table, setting it in front of them.

"Thank you," Todd said to the waiter. "God, that looks excellent."

Their steaks were done to perfection, with steamed vegetables and a savory rice pilaf to pillow the filets. Todd smiled as he took his first bite of the best filet mignon he'd ever had. "Babe, this…is exquisite."

"Sounds like we'll be coming here as often as we can get away with." With the first mouthful, he nodded slowly as he savored the taste. "Damn, he's really done it."

Dinner was excellent--the food, the wine, the show, the company. By the time he was done, Todd leaned back in his chair, one hunger sated. The other was stirring again, all thanks to the way the pale light over their table reflected off the leather of Loren's pants. He'd been good. Now it was time to be bad.

"I wonder what their finest dessert would taste like," he whispered in Loren's ear, "if I licked it off your skin."

"Should we order some to take home and find out?"

Slowly, his fingers massaged against the material of Todd's pants as he watched him intently. The whole meal there had been an undercurrent between them, and it aroused Loren.

When the waiter came to take their dishes, Todd ordered their finest dessert: a decadent chocolate silk pie. A few minutes later, he slid his credit card back into his wallet and a full, boxed pie sat on the table. "Home? Or dancing first?"

"I want to dance with you first, babe." Standing, he held out his hand to Todd. When his lover's fingers curled to his, he pulled him towards the center of the floor. The slow, sultry beat sent its own vibration through Loren as his body rested against Todd's, swaying to the rhythm. Brushing a kiss to Todd's ear, he whispered, "I love the way you feel against me no matter what we're doing."

Todd's arms snaked around Loren's waist, and he leaned in for a kiss. The world seem to constrict to only them. Loren closed his eyes, feeling the moment steal over him. His lips covered Todd's in an intense touch, filled with his hungering need for his lover. Somehow it had started to go beyond the physical for him, and Loren could sense it.

"Loren…" Todd shivered slightly, pushing closer. "Need you."

Loren refused to relinquish Todd's lips. His own brushed slowly over the taste of Todd's as they moved together. His arms tightened their hold around Todd's waist. "Soon, babe, soon."

"Tease," Todd murmured, tongue sliding across Loren's lips. His hands dropped to cup Loren's ass, pressing them tighter together as he rolled his hips in time with the music.

"No, just want the moment to last forever." Resting his forehead to Todd's, the tip of Loren's nose rub lightly to his. "We've got plenty of time, but not every moment will be like this."

"I know." Todd tightened his hold on Loren, not so much for arousal as it was for the sake of being close, together. "I know, babe."

The movement of their bodies in sync with one another held its own form of magic to Loren's senses, both physical and ephemeral. Loren's mood settled into a peaceful balance that completely surprised him as he held Todd in his arms. He knew he would go home with his lover, knew they would make love, and it wouldn't end there. Sighing quietly, he stilled when the music stopped. "I think it is time to head home. I want you all to myself."

As they turned to leave the dance floor, Etienne approached from the direction of the kitchen. "Loren, I've missed seeing you."

Heartily embracing his friend, Etienne hugged Loren tightly.

Todd hung back, smiling. When they were done, he held out his hand. "Todd Jacobs. You have an exquisite place here, sir."

After he released Loren, Etienne took Todd's hand in a firm grasp, holding it for a moment. His voice was huskily toned as he spoke. "Etienne Beaumont, it's a pleasure to meet Loren's newest."

Clapping Etienne on the back, Loren smiled. "You've really done it, old man. First class, and bound to attract the right set."

Winking at Loren, a deep laugh rumbled from the Frenchman. "You know I never do things by half measure, mon ami."

"Teddy and Lorelei have wanting to see you. Both of them have been complaining you're way too busy with this place. So you better drop by Teddy's soon before Lorelei comes after you." Loren relaxed against Todd, dipping his hand into Todd's back pocket.

"I will. If you see them before I do tell them I will stop at Teddy's house next weekend."

"I'll probably see you there too. Lore thinks I'm getting too old and stuffy. Nice to see you again, Etienne, and congratulations on a fabulous restaurant."

Glancing between Todd and Loren, Etienne winked. "Ah, anxious to get home. Then my restaurant has worked its magic on both of you."

Smiling broadly at both of them, Etienne waved them off.