Painted On My Heart

Arik broke the kiss, his breathing heavy as he spoke. “Take me to bed.” Arik started working a finger through the knot of his tie as he leaned around Kellus and shut his laptop lid. “How do you feel about a spring wedding?”

“A spring wedding?” he asked, following Arik to the door.

“Or we can get married in the fall. I only said spring because I wanted to make it official sooner, but fall’s fine too, as long as you marry me.” Arik looked back over his shoulder, winking at him as they walked toward the bedroom.

“Wow, I thought I’d dreamed that,” Kellus said, watching the sexy way Arik’s ass swayed as he walked through his bedroom door, going straight for the bed, discarding clothes as he went.

“No backing out. Promise?” he asked, letting his slacks fall to his feet. Of course, he’d gone commando—no hiding his desire.

“I promise,” Kellus said, and shut the door behind him.

Chapter 31

Arik walked through the festively decorated penthouse. Iris followed closely behind, her high heels clicking on the polished tile floor as they surveyed the space. Gold, silver, and black were the colors he and Kel had chosen. Balloon bouquets, streamers, and carefully designed flower arrangements decorated the penthouse—all designed to help usher in the new year with style.

The furniture had been strategically rearranged to help with conversation and to make room for a portable wet bar, where the bartender hurriedly worked, preparing his station. On the other side of the room, they had positioned a long, L-shaped buffet table with a generous row of finger foods, all warming nicely in their dishes. The waitstaff worked diligently, as focused as the bartender at getting everything together for the eight o’clock start of their party. Arik looked down at his Rolex. Fifteen minutes to go.

“Security stationed downstairs to guide everyone up?” Arik asked, turning in a full circle as he surveyed the large area.

“Of course.” Her nonchalant tone sparked a challenge in him to find out whether she’d truly taken care of everything.

Arik hid the grin he felt forming and glanced down at Iris. Placing both his hands on his hips, he cocked a brow and began playing the look-how-efficient-Iris-is game. She would tally these moments, presenting them at her annual performance review to help justify a bigger raise than he’d intended to give.

“Driver’s ready to get anyone home who drinks too much?”

“Of course,” she replied in that same tone, never looking up from the clipboard in her hands.

“Someone by the front door to take the coats?”

“Of course.”

“Champagne fountain ready?” He looked around but didn’t see any evidence of the fountain, feeling confident that challenge was enough to stump his super-efficient assistant.

“Of course,” she said in that same, absolutely certain tone until her eyes lifted and she looked back toward the kitchen. “Well, maybe. Let me go check. At fifteen minutes before midnight they’re to hand out champagne flutes, correct?”

“Yes,” he said, nodding at her. “And the New Year’s Eve party hats and those blower things—they’re in the kitchen, I believe.”

“Got it. They’ll be handed out with the champagne,” she said over her shoulder, already heading toward the kitchen.

“Perfect!” Arik clapped his hands then rubbed his palms together.

“Oh, Kellus, you look nice,” Iris said, drawing Arik’s attention back her way, and to his handsome lover coming down the hall from their bedroom.

“Thanks, Iris. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the skinny legs. I’m so tall. Do I look like Big Bird?” Kellus asked, coming to a stop in front of Iris.

Arik watched the exchange, grinning at how easily they handled each another. Iris never showed her surly side to Kellus. They had become thick as thieves over the last month and a half.

“Not even a little bit. Own it, boy!” she said, walking around Kellus as he turned full circle. “I love the wall mount, by the way. Arik had shown me a picture on his phone, but it’s stunning to see in person,” she said, and as if he needed the excuse, Arik turned toward his Christmas present, which now hung on the wall right next to his original piece. They were a stunning display, taking up a span of at least seven feet when hung side by side. On that thought, Arik made another full turn, surveying the room, making sure Kellus’s art sat prominently on display. They were such attention-grabbers; they always created conversation, easing some of his responsibilities as host to find topics for small talk.

“Iris, is the kids’ area ready?” Arik called out.

“Of course. Television on, gaming consoles set up and ready to go. They have a refrigerator in that room with a babysitter ready to play,” she said as she started walking again, her voice growing fainter as she rounded the corner of the kitchen. “Man, I wish you’d been my uncle when I was a kid.”