He pushed back the covers, stood up, and wrapped his robe around him, sure what he was going to find when he opened the door. Sure enough, Craig was asleep outside the door, wrapped in the comforter from the guest bedroom.
Louis took the unexpected time to study Craig. Unlike some men, Craig looked as fierce in sleep as he did during the day, oozing the raw power that had always pushed all of Louis’s buttons. It was only by his actions that Craig became the Daddy, nurturing and caring.
As he watched, Craig rolled over onto his back and groaned.
“Your back hurts like hell, doesn’t it?” Louis said, grinning down at him.
“Yes.” At least he didn’t try to deny it. He was obviously in agony.
“Next time don’t sneak off in the night, or at least sleep in the guest bed.”
Craig grunted, not committing himself to anything.
Louis rolled his eyes and stepped over him. “Coffee? Winch?”
As he went down the stairs, he swore he heard Craig mention something about a spanking. He held back the sigh of pleasure that thought gave him.
Louis dug in his pocket for his phone and called Doug from the security team.
“Masters.”
“Doug, it’s Louis.”
“Mornin’. All quiet here. Where’s Craig?”
“Trying to get up.”
“He slept on the floor, did he? You’ve got to tell him he’s too old to do that.”
“Less of the old jokes,” Louis said although he was grinning. “Do you want coffee?”
“If it’s better than the swill Padraig brought us, hell yes.”
Louis rolled his eyes at the offended yell in the background. “I’ll leave it outside in ten. How many extra cups?”
“Three, thanks, Louis. All with creamer and sugar.”
As Craig entered the kitchen, Louis looked up. “Doug said congratulations for getting off the floor.” He heard Doug cackling before he disconnected the call.
Craig glowered at him. Louis had to tear his gaze away before it became too obvious. Even sleepy-eyed and grumpy, Craig looked just edible.
Louis retrieved five cups from the cabinet. The cup Craig used to prefer was still at the back of the cabinet. Louis hesitated for a moment and then picked another one.
Craig knew from experience Louis would have already thought about the security team outside, and he didn’t query the extra coffee. Some clients never offered refreshments to security. Louis wasn’t like that.
Ten minutes later, he asked Craig to take a tray out to the men. He knew Craig would take the time to check in and it gave him a chance to call Jamie. He settled in his favorite chair, took a long chug of coffee, and called his personal assistant.
“Morning, boss,” Jamie said.
Louis frowned. “You sound harassed. Why are you harassed at this time in the morning?”
“Two words. Joseph Holden.”
Louis groaned. “What’s he playing at now?”
“He’s trying to increase the price for the party by twenty-five per cent.”
Christ, the last thing he needed was Joseph Holden trying to put the screws on him.
“No, I don’t care what he says. We agreed the price months ago.” Louis became aware of Craig’s presence in the doorway. He gave him a brief smile and went back to his conversation. “He’s not going to use my situation to ramp it up.”
“I’ve told him that,” Jamie said. “He’s just trying his luck. Seeing if I’ll fall into line as you’re not here.”
“I am here,” Louis snapped. “You can remind him my brain is just fine, and I have all the contracts.”
“Welcome back, Louis.” Now Jamie sounded much happier.
“You call me if he gives you more trouble,” Louis said. “I’ll be in tomorrow.”
He disconnected the call with a huff and threw the phone on the leather couch. Then he finished his drink, pulling a face at the lukewarm temperature.
“Problems?” Craig queried as he leaned against the doorframe, sipping his coffee.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Louis took a deep breath and knuckled his eyes. “I hate greedy assholes who think they can take advantage of me. Who do they think I am? I’m not some noob just off the bus. We’ve been doing business for years, and they’ve never gotten the better of me yet. I need a shower. He makes me feel dirty.”
“Who’s the asshole?”
When they were together, Louis would never tell Craig about the assholes. He kept his homelife and business life separate, just as Craig did. Now though, he knew Craig needed to know about any potential issues.
“Joseph Holden. He runs a catering supplier, among other businesses.”
Craig nodded and made a note in his phone. “I’ll check out Holden. I know the name vaguely but I’m not sure why. What are your plans for the day?”
Louis sighed and rubbed at his eyes, before the pain reminded him what a bad idea that was. “I’m gonna work from home. I’m wiped after all the traveling yesterday.”
Craig looked pleased. Of course, it would be easier to keep an eye on him from home. “Why don’t you take a shower, and I’ll make breakfast?”
“The shower sounds great, but I’m not hungry. I’ll just have coffee.” Louis needed a lot of caffeine to face the day.
Craig frowned. “You need to eat or, if you’re feeling rough, why don’t you nap?”
“Jesus, Craig, you’re not my mother,” Louis snapped. “I’ll eat when I’m ready.”
Craig said nothing. The silence stretched out endlessly between them. Louis looked anywhere except at Craig.
Finally, Louis hung his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
There had been few hard rules between them, but rudeness was one of the things Craig didn’t tolerate from his boy.
Louis got up and walked over to stand in front of him. “I really am sorry, Craig.” In his heart, he still said, “I’m sorry, Daddy,” but he couldn’t say that out loud, not now, and he could hardly call Craig ‘sir’.
Craig reached out to caress Louis’s hair. “I know this is difficult, baby, but you’re all beat up and exhausted from all the traveling. The last thing you need is to pass out from lack of food and sleep.”
Louis pressed into the touch and Craig didn’t take his hand away. “I’d like eggs Benedict please.”
Craig smiled at him. “I can make that.”
It had been one of their favorite breakfasts when they were together. Sunday morning in bed together, if Craig wasn’t on assignment, while Louis read a book and Craig read the newspaper. He’d refused to allow Louis’s business to interrupt their one morning together. Ironically, it was Craig on constant assignment which help to drive them apart.
But Louis didn’t want to think about that now. Not as Craig smiled at him and caressed Louis’s hair one more time before he dropped his hand.
“I need a shower,” Louis said.
“You clean up. I’ll see you in the kitchen in fifteen minutes.” Craig said.
He turned and went downstairs before Louis could ask for his help in the shower. Louis sighed and left the den. Fifteen minutes. That was going to be fun.