“Come here.” Frank motioned him over, and Joshua went, smiling when Frank pulled him onto his lap. Their slow kisses soon turned as heated as the water they were in. Frank palmed both their hard erections and jerked them off together until Joshua was screaming Frank’s name.
The rest of the day was just as lazy and amazing. At least until a phone call came in during dinner, which they’d made together. Joshua had never had so much fun cooking steaks before. He’d also had no idea Frank loved to cook. They’d put on music, talked, and laughed. It had been wonderful.
“Shit. Okay. I’ll be right there.”
Looked like dinner was over. Joshua was more worried about the grim expression on Frank’s face. He hung up and stood.
“What is it?”
“Fucking pipe burst again. I need to go.”
“I’ll come with you.” Joshua made to stand, but Frank held a hand up to stop him.
“No, it’s fine. You finish your dinner. Stay as long as you like.”
“Frank—”
“It’s fine.” Frank wiped his mouth with a napkin, then kissed Joshua. Something flashed in his eyes, something Joshua couldn’t quite make out, but it was gone just as soon as it had appeared. Joshua didn’t push it. He quickly finished his dinner, even if he didn’t have much of an appetite left. Not because Frank was leaving, but because Frank seemed… off.
“I’ll see you later.” Frank paused by the door, and Joshua hurried over.
“Frank, please. Let me come with you. I’m sure there’s something I can do to help.”
“Thanks. I had a good time last night.” With a kiss to Joshua’s cheek, Frank was gone, leaving Joshua feeling weird. Did Frank want him to stay? Was he hoping Joshua would be here when he got home? What was he supposed to do here on his own until Frank got back? He supposed he could watch TV, but who knew what time Frank would be back?
Deciding to stay, Joshua made himself comfortable on the couch. He watched TV for several hours and sent texts to Frank asking him if he was okay. He’d tried calling but Frank never answered or called back. At some point Joshua fell asleep. Checking his phone, he frowned at the time. Five in the morning. Damn. He must have been more tired than he thought. Checking his phone again, his heart sank. Not one call, no texts, nothing. Knowing Colton would be up, Joshua called him.
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing?” Joshua winced. Colton knew him much better than that.
“What happened? Are you okay? Where are you?”
Joshua couldn’t help his smile. Colton might be an only child, but that didn’t mean he didn’t appoint himself big brother. “I’m at Frank’s house. We, um, slept together.”
“That’s great!”
A sigh escaped Joshua.
“That not the sigh of everything’s great. Talk to me.”
“It was amazing. I mean, it was everything I thought it would be and more. But we were having dinner when a call came in from the club. The pipe in the employee lounge burst again. I offered to come with him, but he told me to finish my dinner and stay as long as I wanted.”
“Okay. Where is Frank now?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard from him, Colton. Ten hours. I called, texted, and nothing. He couldn’t call me or text me in ten hours to tell me he was okay? I know he doesn’t have to answer to me, and maybe he only intended for things between us to be just about sex, but for fuck’s sake, he couldn’t just say something?” Joshua shook his head, hating the heaviness in his heart or the way the back of his eyes stung. “I’m worried about him. He’s working himself to death and doesn’t even realize it. Maybe he doesn’t think I’d be worried? God, what if he thinks it was all a mistake?”
“He cares about you,” Colton promised.
“I know. At least, I think I know.”
“What are you going to do?”
Joshua opened his mouth when he heard the door being unlocked. “I think he’s home.”
“Okay. You deserve more, Joshua. Remember that.”
“Thank you.” Joshua hung up. He stood when the lights came on, and Frank stopped, his expression clearly stating he hadn’t expected Joshua to be here.
“Joshua?”
“Yeah, I fell asleep. Sorry. You said it was okay if I stayed.”
“Of course it’s okay. I, uh, just didn’t think you’d be here.”
“Oh.” Joshua nodded his understanding. He probably figured Joshua would have gone home by now. How many guys hung around that long after sex? Was he being naïve?
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m happy you’re here.”
“Everything okay at the club?” He hated how awkward things were between them. Frank didn’t move from where he stood, and Joshua didn’t go to him, unsure if his advances would be welcome. “You didn’t call. Or text.”
“I know.”
Joshua’s heart plummeted. “Why?”
“I was kind of busy.”
“Right.” So basically, Frank had ignored Joshua on purpose. Perfect. After heading to Frank’s bedroom, he grabbed his clothes off the bed.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You did. It’s fine.” He quickly changed back into his own clothes.
“I knew this would happen.”
Joshua paused halfway through buttoning his shirt and lifted his gaze to Frank. “Knew what would happen?”
“What always happens. I start seeing someone, they act like they’re okay with my owning a club, and then they start resenting me for it.”
What the hell? Where had that come from? “Wow, I didn’t realize you thought so little of me.”
“Come on. You can’t tell me it’s not true. I know you’re upset about today.”
“Yes, I’m upset,” Joshua spat out as he pulled on his shoes. “Not because you had to go deal with an emergency at the club, but because you shut me out, let me worry about you for ten hours because you couldn’t spare the half a minute it took to answer my call or text just to let me know you were okay. To make matters worse, you’re accusing me of having feelings that I don’t even have and dismissing me without giving me a chance.”
This couldn’t be happening. No, it was fine. It had to be fine. He just needed some time away from Frank, and maybe Frank simply needed some time on his own. So much had happened in the last few days alone, Joshua needed to cut the guy a break. Joshua went into the living room and grabbed his jacket up off the couch. “If I’m feeling a certain way, believe me, you’ll know it.” He headed for the door, his heart sinking when Frank didn’t so much as utter a word. Turning, he shook his head. “If all you want is sex, just say so. I’m a big boy; I can handle it.” He slammed the door behind him and shoved his arms into his jacket.
The door opened behind him, and Frank growled, “Where the fuck are you going? I drove you here, remember?”
Joshua narrowed his eyes at Frank. “I can get myself home. Thanks for the concern.” He ignored Frank and hurried down the stairs. Taking out his phone, he called Colton. “Can you send a car to pick me up? I’m coming in to work today.”