Trusting Jack (MC Securities Book 1) Read online

  Michael opened one eye. “Get dry,” he murmured.

  Jack grinned. He could totally get on board with a side of Michael that issued orders. He shivered, got out, grabbed a towel and ran it over himself. Michael pried himself off the wall and did the same. They faced each other in the small space and Jack waited, looking at Michael’s chest.

  “Go lay on the bed.”

  Jack’s skin tingled, and he almost ran to the bedroom. He threw himself on the duvet. He was hard and aching when Michael came in, crawled up the bed. and settled himself on his heels right between his thighs, Jack could barely breathe. He looked at him, eyes roaming over every inch, and dwelling on his cock that lay hard and weeping.

  When Michael thrust his hands under his backside and lifted his arse, Jack whimpered. When he took his cock in his mouth and sucked, hard, Jack wailed aloud, clutching at Michael’s head as he devoured him. The feel of his mouth, the heat, the sight of his cock thrusting in and out of Michael’s mouth… Jack tried not to thrust, but he wanted to.

  Michael pulled off, panting. He wiped at his mouth. “There’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

  “Name it.” In that moment Jack would have done anything. Anything at all.

  Michael looked at him for a moment, then lay back on the bed. “Climb up here.”

  He gestured to his shoulders, and Jack’s heart tried to claw its way out of his chest. He scrambled up.

  “Sit on my chest and let me suck you.”

  Jack almost came.

  He settled himself, so he could feed his cock into Michael’s mouth without crushing him.

  Knees aside Michael’s head, and gently fed him his cock.

  Michael moaned and gripped his arse tight.

  Jack braced himself on one hand and thrust. How the fuck he was going to hold onto his control and keep this gentle was beyond him, but he’d do whatever it took to make it good.

  Michael sucked him hard, and ran his fingers down his backside, pushing gently against his hole with more enthusiasm than skill, but it was the most honest, most open act Jack has ever experienced. He thrust a little harder and Michael moaned louder and stared up at him. He pushed, and Jack moved more. Talk about topping from the bottom. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen.

  “Gonna come…” Jack panted, thrusting more. Michael simply clamped hold of his arse and sucked harder.

  Jack’s orgasm ripped through him and Michael held onto him through every moment of it.

  He collapsed beside Michael. Head spinning, heart pounding. It was a while before he could speak.

  Jack rolled his head to look at Michael who was watching him carefully.

  “That. Was. Fucking. Awesome.”

  Michael grinned. It was almost shy. It was gorgeous. “It was awesome. You’re awesome.”

  Jack just laughed. It was simply stunning. Here he was, lying in bed with his boss. His amazing, scarily clever, scarily sexy, bossy boss. He wondered what he would do if he rolled over and lay his head on his chest. This was the bit about sex he liked the best, and the bit that he found men he’d been with wanted to forego. Or simply didn’t like him enough to indulge in cuddling. Sex, yes; intimacy, no.

  He edged closer, and Michael looked over at him and smiled. He held up his arm in an endearingly, awkwardly, hopeful gesture and Jack immediately scooted closer. He lay on Michael’s chest, hooked on leg over his, and wrapped his arm around his middle.

  Michael gave a soft, satisfied sigh and wrapped an arm around him. “We should get under the covers. I’m going to fall asleep.”

  Jack nodded, and with some wrangling, they managed to get into the bed, then, to Jack’s absolute delight, resumed the position that they had been in before. It was heaven. Absolute heaven. Michael reached over and switched off the light and they were cocooned in darkness. Was he going to hold him until he fell asleep? Would they sleep together all night?

  “You okay like this?” Michael’s voice was a sleepy whisper.

  Jack squeezed him. “Very okay. You?”

  “Yeah.” He was quiet a moment then squeezed him. “I’ve never understood what they meant by two’s company. I think I do now.”

  Jack squeezed his eyes closed and kissed his chest. It was a moment before he could speak. “Me too.”

  According to Jack, it was Mad Friday. The last Friday before Christmas where everyone went apparently…mad. The office was buzzing, Michael was trying to tie up the loose ends on the project he’d been working on, so he could spend the weekend with Jack, and his phone seemed to ring endlessly with people also trying to tie up loose ends. In between, he couldn’t stop thinking about the night that they’d spent together. Never in his entire life had he expected it to be so easy to sleep in the same bed as someone. To fall asleep, actually holding someone. Well, not someone. Jack. He kept saying his name over and over in his head. Jack. Jack. He glanced out into the office. They were all laughing and messing about.

  Apparently, it was Secret Santa time. They were all unwrapping gifts. He’d politely declined the offer of joining in. He never had any idea about what to buy people and was always of the opinion that no-one wanted the boss around when they were having fun. He got on with the job, the notion of presents setting off a wave of unease about what he might buy Jack. What would they do about Christmas? Jack had no family. What would he do? He stopped and rubbed his fingers over his lips as he pondered and was dragged from his wondering when Carla tapped on the door and peeped in.

  “Sorry to disturb you, but apparently, someone didn’t get the memo.”

  “What memo?” Michael frowned at her.

  Carla revealed her other hand, and in it, was a small gift-wrapped package. “Apparently Santa came for you too.”

  “But…but I wasn’t taking part.”

  “I know, and don’t worry, everyone has a gift. This one is for you.” She put it on the corner of his desk with a smile. “We are all going out for lunch. Are you sure you won’t come?”

  “I’m fine. You go ahead though. Have a great time.”

  Carla hesitated, then pushed the door to. “Is it my imagination, or are you and Jack ignoring each other?”

  That brought him up short. “What? What are you talking about?” He fiddled with the gift on his desk and avoided eye contact.

  “I thought so.”

  “What?” Michael looked up at her. She was smiling. “Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone else has picked up on it. You’ve been dancing around each other for days now. You’re pretty good at hiding your feelings, but the way that Jack keeps looking at you…”

  “Oh for…” He pushed the gift away and flopped back in his chair.

  “Are you taking him home for Christmas?”

  Michael’s heart nearly stopped. Home for Christmas? His father would lay an egg if he turned up with a boyfriend for Christmas.

  Boyfriend? Where had that come from?

  “Thanks for that.” He rubbed his forehead.

  “Aw, c’mon. It can’t be that bad?”

  “Carla…” He nodded. “Yes, it can.”

  “You mean you’re not actually out?”

  He let his head flop against the back of the chair and he closed his eyes. “Why does everyone keep asking me that. I’m not in or out or anything. I’m just…”

  “Well, seeing as you haven’t had a relationship at all in years, it’s probably a moot point.”

  “I’ve had relationships.”

  “Who with? Relations maybe, but there’s no-one I’ve been aware of.”

  “That’s because you’re my office manager, not my mother.”

  She grinned at him, and he was forced to smile back. She was right. He’d had hook-ups, but there hadn’t been anyone in his life. The only thing in his life had been his drive to set up the business and prove to his father that he could hack it on his own outside of a university. And he’d done it. The company was highly profitable. They were growing, and the big assignments were starting to roll in. He w
as a success in every sense of the word.

  At work.

  His personal life? A bag of crap.

  “Don’t worry, no-one will hear it from me. If you want to tell the office, that’s up to you and Jack.”

  Michael just sighed and rubbed his eyes. She smiled at him and left. He watched through the window and wondered if the gift was from Jack. It had to be, didn’t it? He picked it up and shook it. Something moved inside. He had no idea what it could be. He looked through the window again and waved as the staff started heading out. He’d given Jack an advance on his salary. Well, that’s what he’d called it when he’d given him some cash to see him through the weekend, and so that he could pay his way at the Christmas lunch the team had planned. He wasn’t going to go, and it was only when Michael realised, to his mortification, that it was the money that was holding him back that he offered an advance.

  When the office was quiet, he made himself a coffee and sat at his desk with the gift in front of him. He sighed, then opened it, careful not to tear the wrapping. Inside, there was a paper box with a familiar logo that made Michael smile. He opened it up and found two exquisite chocolates from his favourite chocolatier nestled inside. There was a card, so he opened that too. It simply read, ‘Two’s Company’ written in an unfamiliar copperplate hand.

  His heart squeezed. He looked at it for a long while before closing he box carefully. He checked his phone to see if Christian had got back to him, but he hadn’t. He tapped his lips with the top of the device, then called the bank to make sure that the ten thousand pounds would be ready in cash for Monday. Christmas Eve. Payday. The day Jack needed to hand over the money to Bryce.

  He looked at the chocolates and his mind wandered back to Christmas Day and his parents. Could he?

  Chapter Eleven

  Michael was standing in the kitchen wearing nothing but tight boxers when Christian finally rang. Jack was already in bed, waiting for him, Michael was filling a glass with water when the noise it made, buzzing on the countertop, made him jump.

  “Hey.”

  Christian’s voice came through loudly. “Hey yourself. How’s our latest employee.”

  “He’s fine. What have you managed to find?”

  “Daniel is out of the country at the moment. He’s due back on Monday.”

  “Christmas Eve?”

  “Yup. Is that too late?”

  “Well, we are supposed to deliver the cash on Monday.”

  “You might want to make it later in the day in case I have trouble getting hold of him. I’ve left messages about why I want to talk to him, but there’s no guarantee.”

  Michael wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “It’s fine. We’ll hand the cash over. I just want it done and out of the way.”

  Christian sighed. “I know you do but come on. Just exercise a little caution, okay?”

  “Of course I will, but at the end of the day I just want him safe.”

  “I know. We all do, but…”

  “But nothing. Look, Christian…things…” Michael lowered his voice. “Well, things have moved on from when we last talked.”

  Silence.

  “We’re…we are…involved.”

  “You’re fucking an employee?” Christian’s voice went up an octave.

  “It’s not like that.”

  “You’re not fucking him.”

  “Well…”

  “You okay?” Jack’s voice made Michael jump a mile.

  “Fine, fine…it’s Christian.” He offered by way of explanation.

  “He’s there? In the flat with you?”

  “Chris… just…. “

  “Okay, okay. Look, just don’t do anything until you’ve heard from me. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Say it like you mean it, Mikey.”

  “I’ll speak to you later.”

  Michael hung up on Christian’s response. Jack was watching him warily. He hated that wary look. He put the phone on the counter and slid his arms around Jack’s middle and held him. It never failed. Jack always melted into him. Always. It warmed something in him and filled all the empty places, making him feel solid and whole.

  “It was Christian. He’s looking for Daniel McCafferty.”

  “I don’t know what that will achieve,” Jack mumbled.

  “Well, we will know for certain that once we pay Bryce that will be an end to it. I’m pretty certain that he doesn’t want the debt clearing, he’d much rather let it linger, let the interest mount up, then have you over a barrel.”

  Jack snuggled closer. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  “Welcome. You ready for bed?”

  “Thought you’d never ask.” Jack pushed closer so that Michael could feel the hardness of his erection pressing against him. Michael grinned down at him and Jack laughed.

  “You know, I’ve never seen you smile so much as you have in the last few days.”

  “Wonder why that might be.” Michael slid his hand down over Jack’s backside.

  “You’ll have to be careful. People will notice.”

  Michael withdrew his hand. “What, in the office? Has someone said something?”

  “Of course not. You’re pokerfaced enough for both of us. I worked for you for two months and you never cracked a smile once.”

  “I’m not that bad, am I?”

  Jack grinned at him. “Well, maybe once or twice.”

  Michael laughed.

  “And I never heard you laugh before now.”

  Something stirred in Michael’s heart. He had no idea what it was, but it made him warm right down to his toes. “You’re good for me,” he whispered and then sighed and looked at the ceiling. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”

  “Ask away.”

  Michael bit the bullet. “Christmas Day. Do you want to come home with me?” He couldn’t help but wonder if his tone was a bit on the belligerent side.

  Jack’s eyes widened. “Home?” There was more than a hint of wistfulness in his tone.

  “Parents. I’m expected.”

  “Would…would they mind?”

  Michael sighed, tried to think of something upbeat to say, something reassuring, then closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

  “They don’t know I’m gay. Neither do the rest of my family.”

  He looked back up. Jack’s eyes were on stalks. “Well, are you going to warn them? Do you have a lot of family?”

  “I suppose I should.” Michael sighed. “Aunts, uncles, cousins, the usual. I don’t see them much, and don’t worry, they won’t all be there on Christmas Day.”

  Jack shook his head and laughed. “Michael, you don’t have to come out to them just for me. I’ll be fine. I don’t really do Christmas. I haven’t for years. You go and have your lunch with them and we can celebrate later. Don’t worry about it.”

  Michael frowned and opened his mouth to protest, but Jack kissed him and removed all capacity for thought.

  They spent Saturday morning lounging around the flat while the rest of Manchester went about frenziedly shopping for Christmas.

  “Have you got all your gifts?”

  Michael looked at Jack who was snuggled on the sofa in his PJs, nursing a mug of tea. “All?”

  “Yes, all. Do you have many to buy?” Jack was grinning at him.

  “Just parents really.”

  “Are you an only child?”

  Michael smiled and came to sit beside him. “I am. Can you tell?”

  “What, bossy, high handed, used to getting his own way…”

  Michael gripped Jack’s leg and squeezed playfully.

  “Noooo…”

  He let go with a laugh and pulled Jack back against him. They shifted about, Jack holding his mug high, so it didn’t spill, until he was wedged between Michael’s thighs, his back against his chest, Michael’s arms around him.

  “Do you want to go shopping?” Michael asked.

  Jack twisted so he could look up at him. “There might be
someone I want to get a gift for, but it’ll have to wait until Monday when I get paid.”

  “I can advance you more…”

  “I’m fine. We’re finishing at lunchtime on Christmas Eve, aren’t we?”

  Michael nodded, feeling warm all over. He’d organised gifts for Jack but didn’t want them to seem over the top. He didn’t want Jack spending all his money on him either.

  He kissed the side of Jack’s head. “Was it you who gave me the Secret Santa gift?”

  Jack chuckled. “Moi? I could never tell. The clue’s in the name.”

  “What?”

  “Secret Santa. Secret?”

  Michael laughed. “Well, it was lovely. Thank you.”

  “We could eat them Christmas Eve. If you’re up for sharing.”

  “I could be persuaded. Or we could do it on New Year’s Eve?”

  Jack turned and looked up at him again. “New Year?”

  Michael nodded. He wanted to ask him to stay with him forever, but perhaps a week was less threatening. It was frightening how important Jack had become in such as short space of time.

  “Are…are you asking me to be your boyfriend?”

  The cautious hope he read in Jack’s wide eyes made his heart hurt. He’d not thought about putting a label on it until Carla had raised the issue of his family. He’d never really had a boyfriend, but he discovered he liked the idea. Liked it a lot.

  He swallowed and plunged in head first yet again. “Yes. Yes I am.”

  Jack opened his mouth, then closed it again. For a moment, Michael thought he might say no, but then his eyes glistened. “I’d love to be your boyfriend.” His voice wavered so Michael gathered him up tight into his arms and held him. Christmas was beginning to look brighter. Hell, the whole future was beginning to look brighter.