Chapter 14

July 17, Sunday night

Todd put the car in park and stared at the door. He hadn't been back to The Back Room in well over two weeks. A little over a week ago, he'd watched Loren walk out his front door without a glance back. For a moment, Todd wondered what exactly he expected to find here. He knew Loren was right: he needed to tell Elliot to go fuck himself. But it hadn't been that easy to do.

Sighing, he got out and headed into the bar. It took a minute for his eyes to adjust to the dim, smoky room, but when they did, he got the shock of his life. A man was lip locked with Loren. Lorelei stood behind Loren with her arms wrapped to his waist as she whispered in Loren's ear.

Todd felt like he'd be hit by a train. Blinking, he turned and hurried into the bathroom. Within seconds, he was doubled over a toilet, throwing up what little he'd had for lunch. He wiped his mouth off with tissue and flushed, the room spinning as he stood slowly. He staggered over to the sink and twisted the handle, splashing his face with ice-cold water. The image of Loren kissing another man played back for him in vivid detail as he stared in the mirror.

A moment later, the door opened and Lorelei came in. She watched him as she leaned against the sink. "Thought I saw your blur, baby doll. Wanna tell Auntie Lorelei what the hell is going on?"

"I fucked up," Todd said, still staring into the mirror. "Has he said anything to you?"

As she spoke she tapped a red lacquered nail to the back of his hand. "Not a fucking word. He's been holed up at the house for more than a week. This is the first night I've dragged him out. And let me tell you it cost me a pretty piece of blackmail."

Todd sighed and looked down into the sink, watching a drop of water roll into the drain. "I'd just gotten out of a controlling relationship five hours before I first met Loren," he explained. "Elliot is one of those people who just exude control over the people around him, and it's near impossible to say no to the man. Well, he called a little over a week ago, wanting me to take over as his accountant. Normally, that's against my personal, ethical practices; I just don't do that for people I know outside of work."

He looked over at Lorelei. "I finally caved in on the phone while Loren was there. Needless to say, that didn't float well with Loren. I told him to let it go, that he didn't understand. I haven't seen in him over a week, until now."

"Yeah, I know about a thing or two about controlling dicks, and not the good ones. And I'm not even gonna say a damn thing about picking up a dick five hours after you're ditched." She eyed him for a long moment before continuing, "Now you've just had one hell of a shock to your little ole ass, haven't you?"

"Yeah." Todd turned on the water again and splashed it on his face. As he turned it off, he said, "I miss him, Lorelei. But judging from what I saw, I doubt the feeling's mutual."

"Looks can be deceiving, baby doll. Loren rarely hides anything, and when he starts, you know there's something going on in that thick head of his."

"So what are you suggesting? You saying I should go out there and pull him away to talk to him?"

"Yeah, because if you're thinking about slipping away with your tail tucked between your legs, Auntie Lorelei will hurt you." As she smirked at him, her nail dug slightly into his skin.

Todd hissed and jerked his hand back, rubbing at it as he grimaced. "All right, all right." Taking a deep breath, he said, "I don't think I've ever done anything this difficult in my life."

Hand against the front of Todd's pants, she nonchalantly rubbed over his cock. "Oh, I don't know, I think I feel something that might be harder."

Lorelei finally relented with a laugh. "Go talk to him, Todd. It's not doing you any good to stand here talking to me."

Blushing profusely, Todd just nodded before walking out of the bathroom. He looked around and when he spotted Loren, he said a silent prayer and started towards him.

When Loren’s companion gestured toward the back room, Loren shook his head. Instead he picked up his drink, took a hefty swallow, and leaned against the counter.

"Excuse me," Todd said to the man near Loren. Then, looking at Loren, he said, "Can we talk?"

Blinking owlishly at Todd, Loren looked more than a little confused to see him. He moved away from the guy and laid his free hand on Todd's shoulder. The action completely dismissed the other man. "Later, James."

With no more than a shrug, James turned back to the bar.

"What are you doing here, Todd?"

"I need to talk to you, Loren. Can we sit down?"

Loren let go of Todd and snagged another drink before he headed to one of the back booths. At this point, Loren probably felt no pain. He slid into the booth and finished off one of the drinks before starting on the other.

As he sat down on the other side, Todd lifted an eyebrow, watching Loren silently for a moment. "I'd hoped you'd be sober," he said.

"Why?" he asked bluntly. "Do I have a reason to be?"

"Okay. I deserved that. Loren, I'm sorry."

"No, you don't deserve any grief, Todd. So don't start thinking you do."

For a moment, Todd remained silent. He wanted to kiss away the hurt he'd put there. He wanted Loren back more than anything. "I fucked up. I never meant to hurt you, Loren. I never wanted to." He looked down at the table, focusing on Loren's hand as it rested on the dark wooden tabletop. He wanted to reach out and hold it, but he didn't. "I told Elliot that I couldn't do it. I told him to leave me alone and stop calling."

"It's not my business to tell you what to do, Todd. What I said was out of place, and I've regretted it ever since. Just didn't think you'd really want to see me again."

"I think it took just that for me to see what I was doing." He reached out and touched Loren's hand with just the tips of his fingers. "I realized what I was giving up. I can't do that, Loren. I want you back; I want us back."

"What about Elliot?" Loren bit at his lip as he lowered his gaze to their hands. Wincing slightly, he sighed. "Forget I asked. I shouldn't have."

"He's gone. Out of my life and mind. If you still want me, I'm here, Loren. Just me, just you, just us."

"Are you sure you want it to be just me and you?"

"Wouldn't have come looking for you if I wasn't. Need you, babe."

"Haven't been doing too well myself lately. I've been driving Lorelei up the wall." Loren smiled ruefully as he drew Todd's hand to his lips.

"Come here," Todd whispered. He cupped Loren's face for a minute and then leaned over the table to kiss him softly. "I miss you."

A soft groan escaped Loren as his lips touched Todd's. The dart of Loren's tongue traced over them before sliding into Todd's mouth for a deeper taste of him. A sense of hunger crept over both them that neither of them could control.

After he broke the kiss, Todd got up and moved to Loren's side, sliding onto the seat beside him. Threading his fingers through Loren's hair, he dove back into the kiss, holding tight as he answered the desperation and need.

Several long moments later, Loren pulled back for a breath, and whispered, "There hasn't been anybody since I left your house. Didn't want anybody."

"Same here." Todd slid his nose alongside Loren's, eyes closed. "Only you, babe. Only you."

"I didn't even want to come here, but Lorelei pulled out the big guns." Loren sounded a bit disgruntled about it.

"She all but threatened me in the bathroom when I got here." Pulling back, he studied Loren's face, fingers tracing Loren's lips and jaw. "Thank you," he whispered.

"She cornered you in the bathroom? Why were you in the bathroom? And why are you thanking me?"

"I…I saw you when I first came in," Todd said. "You were kissing the guy at the bar. Lunch didn't sit well after that. As for why I'm thanking you…" He smiled softly. "Because you knocked some sense into my head, and because you're willing to give this another chance."

Realization dawned as he listened to Todd. "Oh, him. James caught me by surprise with that. And Lorelei had to get in on it. I'm sorry about it, babe. It didn't mean anything, I'd already turned the guy down on anything else."

Loren's tone softened as he added, "And you're damn right I'm willing to give us another try."

"I'm glad--about all of it. What can I do to make it all up?"

"Candle light dinner. I'm not easy, ya know."

"Good, because I don't want 'easy'--I want you. What are you in the mood for? Italian? Chinese? Name it and you've got it, babe."

"I was thinking something more along the lines of steak. So how good is your cooking? I'm in the mood for a special dinner with an extra special dessert."

"I can do a mean steak. As for dessert…" He slid a hand up between Loren's thighs.

"I believe that was my idea, babe." Loren murmured as he laid his hand on Todd's and nudged them both further up his thigh to press against his cock. "We have a lot of making up to do."

"Yeah." Todd gave Loren's cock a firm squeeze and slid out of the booth. "Come on, gorgeous. Home."

Loren stood, reaching for Todd. "Lets not do that again, all right?"

"Do what?" Todd mumbled, mouth sliding across Loren's jaw. "Fight? No way in hell am I going through that again. Or you mean grabbing your cock? You better believe I will."

"My cock is open territory to you, babe." With a tilt of his head, he encouraged Todd's attention for a moment before he finally pulled away. "Now take me home, feed me and ravish me."