Jose's Surrender by Remmy Duchene (epub e reader .txt) 📗

"What do you mean 'what do you do'?" Savaro wanted to know. "We don't have to have the talk with you, right? I'm very sure you know how this works."

"Damn it, Sav!"

"It's not like you've never been kissed before.

Remember your little foray into Jamaica?" Savaro pushed.

"Weren't you the one who told Jamal that I loved a man with a little meat on his bones? What happened to that José?"

José wanted to hit his head on something. "You're really not going to let me live that down are you?"

Rajan chuckled. "Jamaica? Nope. It's too much fun bugging you about it. But seriously. He's just another man, José."

"Well for your information, the José who's an outgoing man-whore—that José died a slow and painful death. And no, Ronin's not just another man. He's the kind of stud I've searched for since I was fifteen. But I can't let

anything else happen. He's going to see just how big of a flake I am and charge for the door."

Savaro sighed heavily. "José, don't try being something you're not for this man. You just met him. And besides, if he's a good sort, he'd be angry if things work out between the two of you then he finds out you were hiding your true self from him. Work with him. Get to know him.

Then, if it seems like he's ready, tackle his ass in one of your back rooms and lay it on him."

Rajan burst out laughing. "I'm sorry. I think you've been married too long. You're starting to talk like Jamal."

Savaro groaned.

"Would you two focus on me for a second? I knew I should have gone to see Laird for this."

"Laird? He's no better—all right. I'm sorry!" Rajan lifted a hand in surrender. "But Savaro is right. One day at a time."

"And in the meantime? You know I'm liable to do something stupid—or worse."

"What's worse than doing something stupid?"

Savaro scratched his head.

"Saying something stupid," José replied.

Savaro shrugged. "It's a chance you're going to have to take—damn, José, you're never the one to be nervous to go after a man. What's so special about Ronin McCall?"

"You wouldn't understand. He's different."

"Different?" Savaro laughed. "Want to talk different? I'm married to an African American basketball player."

"And I'm married to the leader of a crazy SWAT

team. Don't even mention Laird…" Rajan offered. "What we're trying to say is we can understand different. Explain it to us, José. Try."

José walked from where he was standing to peer out the window into the dining room. He stood there for a moment, trying to form a thought, trying to find the right words to explain what he felt when he was around Ronin.

For a brief moment, he was scared Rajan and Savaro would judge him. Then he remembered—those two had never judged him before. They were always there for him, along with Laird. Most recently their husbands had begun to show the same loyalty as the brothers. Taking a breath, he faced them again. Rajan was pouring himself a drink and Savaro was twisting on the sofa to watch him.

"When I'm around him—even that first day I went over there, I feel dominated. I'm not talking about the painful, hurtful kind of domination. I mean the kind that would leave me breathless and…" He stopped as words failed him and walked to sit beside Savaro.

"You've always been a little bit of a freak, bro,"

Rajan explained. "Don't be afraid. Let your freak flag fly!

Ronin looks like the kind of man to encourage bad behavior."

José grinned. "He does, doesn't he?" Thoughts of the kiss he'd shared with Ronin flashed through his head and he moaned. "Anyways it doesn't matter. He and I have work to do and if I screw this up Laird would die."

Rajan took a breath. "Ask him here for dinner. Tell him it's a guy's night and you want him to come. Then when he gets here we can excuse ourselves so you two can be alone and talk."

"Talk? Is that what you think I'd do to and with Ronin?" José asked, cocking a brow.

The brothers laughed.

After a few more jokes, José excused himself and made his way home. It was as though his mother was watching him. The moment he stepped through the door, his house phone rang. Without thinking, he reached for it.

"José Calderon DeLuz!"

José jerked to attention and was about to hide behind the door. Whenever his mother called his full name in that tone of voice he knew he was in for it. "Ma? What did I do now?"

"You were supposed to call me this morning.

Remember that?"

José dumped his keys onto the counter and ran his hand over his face. He'd forgotten. But who would remember anything after being kissed by Ronin McCall?

"Sorry, Ma. I have a lot on my mind right now. Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, mi hijo. You don't sound so good."

He grabbed a bottle of juice from the fridge and snagged an apple. "I'm fine. Just tired. I picked up a major client and it's going to take a lot of work."

"New client?"

"Yeah, Ma. Laird Anatolis. Remember him?"

"Of course I remember him. I was your date for his wedding, remember? Even though I'm still confused on how you let that sexy, dark-haired sex-god marry someone else…"

"Ma!"

"Don't 'Ma' me. The man's a catch!"

"He's also a best friend. I'd never."

His mother tsked. "That's the trouble with you young people. You let friendship get in the way of love.

Sheesh."

"It wouldn't be love, Ma." José took a drink from the juice. He dropped the apple against the center coffee table and flopped to the couch behind him.

"Really? That's what you're worried about? Laird looked like he grew up to have some junk in his trunk if you know what I mean. José, this man could do things to you that would make your…"

"Ma! Ma, stop! You're scarring me here!"

"Oh posh. If you haven't been scarred yet, it'll never happen. Just think