The evening was… tolerable. Even though his pathetic plan of seduction had been an utter failure, he wasn’t going to complain about an evening spent with Dominic.
Beggars can’t be choosers, Sammy thought bitterly, pushing away his disappointment and swearing to himself that this would be the last time he let his hopes up where Dominic was concerned.
Straight men didn’t become gay in real life.
At least not for someone like Sam.
Chapter 27
Dominic returned to his hotel room very late after a long day of negotiations, only to get a call from headquarters. What a perfect way to end an already shitty day.
He did his customary sweep of the room, checking all surfaces and looking under the bed, before he finally answered the call.
“Roman Demidov had a meeting with Luke Whitford last night,” Amanda informed him, without bothering with social niceties. “We were unable to listen to their conversation, because it appears that Demidov had a bug dampener on him. Perhaps he suspects our involvement. Perhaps your cover has been blown.”
“And perhaps it’s a normal precaution for him,” Dominic said, his tone as cool as hers. “People like Demidov are too smart to get caught like that.”
“Perhaps,” she conceded. “Nevertheless, we finally have a contact between Demidov and Luke Whitford, but you are unavailable because you have a business meeting in Japan, of all places. Do you still remember what your main job is, Agent?”
Dominic pressed his lips together. “I’m a department head of the biggest financial company in the country, ma’am. Half-assing my job isn’t an option. Short of being on my deathbed, there’s no way I could have avoided attending this meeting when the potential deal is worth billions. That would have blown my cover.”
“You shouldn’t have accepted the promotion to department head, then,” Amanda said. “It was supposed to be an easy cover for you. It was never supposed to compromise your availability for missions. You’re an MI6 agent first and a businessman second, not the other way around.”
“I’m aware, ma’am,” Dominic said testily. “Is that all?”
Amanda ended the call.
Dominic resisted the urge to throw something.
Bloody hell.
He unbuttoned his shirt and dropped himself on the bed, stretching his stiff muscles.
It wasn’t as though he wasn’t aware that lately juggling between his jobs had become increasingly difficult.
Maybe Sammy was right and he should quit.
Dominic sighed.
Sammy.
He had been in Japan for five days and the boy had constantly been at the back of his mind, causing a vague, dissatisfied feeling that wouldn’t go away no matter what he did, like a persistent itch under his skin.
He wondered what Sammy was doing right now. It was a little after noon in London. He should be home.
Losing the fight with himself, Dominic reached for his phone.
Sammy answered on second ring. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm, bright, and happy. Happy to hear him.
Dominic found himself smiling, his shoulders losing their tension for the first time that day. “Hi.”
“You sound tired.”
“A bit,” Dominic admitted, closing his eyes. If he turned on his imagination, he could almost fool himself into thinking that Sammy was close enough to touch. “How are your studies going?”
“Do you really want me to talk about it? It’s boring.”
“I don’t really care what you talk about,” Dominic admitted. “Just talk to me. You can recite a grocery list if you want.”
Sammy made a sympathetic noise. “The negotiations going that badly?”
“It’s nothing I didn’t expect. But yeah, it’s been a long day.” And all I want right now is you.
Thankfully, Sammy didn’t question him and started talking about everything and nothing: the puppy that had apparently appeared in their neighborhood, the video game that had just come out, his classes, the movie he’d watched with his friends—before suddenly going quiet.
“Nick?” Sammy said, hesitantly.
“Mm?”
“I had a date with Andy last night.”
Dominic’s eyes shot open. “What?”
“I should go out with blokes my age,” Sammy said, almost defiantly. “And Andy’s really into me.”
Dominic’s lips folded into a thin line. “And are you? Into him?”
“He’s good-looking and funny. And he doesn’t have bad breath.”
Dominic stared at the ceiling. “You mean he kissed you.”
“Well,” Sammy said. “Yes. That usually happens when horny teenagers go on a date.”
Normally, Dominic would laugh at his cheeky response, but at the moment, laughing was the last thing on his mind. “Did you like it?”
“Um,” Sammy said. “It was good, I guess.”
“As good as when I kiss you?”
What the fuck are you doing? a voice growled at the back of his mind, but Dominic was beyond being reasonable. He wanted to hear Sammy—his Sammy, dammit—confirm that he was his, Dominic’s, and no one else’s.
He could hear Sammy breathing turn ragged. “Why are you asking this? What is it to you?”
Dominic had to consciously relax his jaw.
Yes, what was it to him?
Sammy was eighteen. Not a child. It was normal for him to kiss and have sex with people his age. At his age, Dominic got laid every other day.