Time Out of Mind (Suncoast Society #43)(84)

“Oh no you’re not. I’m your fricking ride, and you have no clue where you are to even get back. Your ass stays here, with me. Nut up.”

“Tilly—”

“I said nut. The f*ck. Up.”

Her grip only relaxed when he did, setting back in his seat.

Mevi kept glancing at him as he worked his way around the table. It broke Doyle’s heart how gracious and kind Mevi was to the kids, friendly, smiling. A natural.

And he knew Mevi meant every word and smile he gave every child.

I’m an idiot. I don’t deserve him.

Mevi gave Tilly a hug and Doyle damn well knew she whispered something in his ear.

When Mevi reached him, Doyle stared into those gorgeous blue eyes and forced himself to reach out to shake hands.

Now, and Mevi made a point of keeping his right wrist turned up, Doyle could clearly see that they weren’t just marks on his wrist. They were tattoos.

The marks he’d given him, immortalized in real ink.

Another painful tug on his heart.

He shook with Mevi, using both hands, giving his a long, gentle squeeze.

“It’s good to meet you, Mal,” Doyle quietly said, softly enough he knew only Mevi and Tilly could hear.

As Mevi stared down at him, Doyle silently begged Mevi to forgive him.

Wanted to admit he knew how badly he’d f*cked up.

“Nice to meet you, too, Sir.”

His heart thumped. Only Tilly would pick up on the distinctive term, Doyle knew.

And she had, because a maniacal giggle burped free from her where she stood next to him.

Doyle finally released Mevi’s hand and retook his seat, Mevi settling on his far side, as the servers started bringing food out.

As they were doing that, Doyle stood again, ignoring Tilly’s fist clamping onto the hem of his blazer.

“Bathroom,” he said to her. “I’ll come back.” He needed to regroup for a moment. Steady himself.

“You’d better,” she growled. “I will hunt you down like a rabid squirrel.”

If he read her steely gaze accurately, she was likely also telling him not to f*ck this up.

He absolutely wouldn’t put it past her to hunt him down and drag him back by his ear or something if he didn’t return.

He retreated to the small hallway bathroom, fortunately the only person in the tiny, two-stall room. He’d splashed water on his face and was silently talking himself through a meditation mantra when the door flew open.

Mevi.

He shoved it closed behind him and locked it before crossing the space in one step, grabbing Doyle, and kissing him, hard.

“I didn’t sleep with her, Master,” he whispered, sounding hoarse, heartsick. “I’m sorry. She didn’t know we were together. I swear, I didn’t cheat on you, Master. I haven’t. I won’t. I love you. I haven’t been with anyone but you since we got together. I’ve been trying to find you and talk to you.”

Doyle reached up and palmed his cheek, speechless.

Then, before Doyle could stop him, Mevi dropped to his knees and had already yanked Doyle’s zipper down. As Doyle slumped against the wall, Mevi sucked his cock down his throat, deep, hard, desperate.

Doyle didn’t want to stop him.

Couldn’t have stopped him.

He grabbed Mevi’s hair and held on and tried not to think, just to stay quiet. It only took Mevi’s talented mouth a moment to suck the climax out of him as he held on to the other man’s head and gently f*cked his mouth in time to Mevi’s movements.

Then Mevi lovingly tucked his cock back in and made him presentable again before wrapping his arms around Doyle’s legs and resting his head against him.

“Good boy,” Doyle whispered. “I love you, too. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left. I should have stayed and talked to you.”

“Bonnie told me what she said. I tried to call you as soon as I woke up and realized you were gone. Come back with me to the hotel later, Master. Please?”

“I can’t. I have a client. I left her alone tonight for this as a trial for her.”

“Then let me come with you.”

He sighed. “We can’t do that, and you know why.”

“Give me your phone num—”

The sound of someone trying the door startled them. Mevi ducked into a stall and locked it as Doyle immediately unlocked the bathroom door. “Sorry. It stuck on me when I tried it, too.”

He quickly returned to the dining room and ignored Tilly’s laser-focused inquisition-worthy gaze.

Mevi returned a moment later, looking completely calm and focused and taking his time to talk to people on his way back to the table.

Doyle made the mistake of making eye contact with Tilly. She arched an eyebrow at him, but he gave her a quick shake of his head.

Not now, especially not around a room full of kids.

She leaned in and he knew it’d make more of a scene if he tried to pull away.

“Find out his hotel and I’ll drop you there before I go back and stay with Pippa tonight.”

He stared at her. “That’s not a good idea.”

“It’s a great idea, and you know it. She’s fine, and the extra time away from you and with another woman will be a great confidence boost for her.”

“You packed an overnight bag, didn’t you?”