Chapter Eighteen - A Bit Of Fun
It was a hassle to get up early and rush to his place so that he could get into clean clothes before heading to work, but he could not complain. Heathcliff had waked him up slowly, with a hand job, and later, had served him with pancakes, some healthy version of them, of which the man had spoken fondly while explaining to Aidan how he had stumbled over the recipe in his never-ending quest for healthy eats.
Aidan had only half-listened, for no other reason that his head was too full with what was happening. The only thing he could be satisfied with was that he could only wish for this status quo to last for as long as possible. He was still bewildered by everything, and he could not fathom why Heathcliff was giving up on his precious freedom to be with him.
Okay, so there were NDAs and other stuff that would put a span in the works if Heathcliff wanted to fool around, but that could not be all. For starters, Heathcliff must have had at least several special friends ready to cater to his need to go under the radar without feeling awkward about having them sign NDAs.
Yet, Heathcliff preferred him. And that was absolutely a surprise because Aidan was pretty sure he could not compete, not by a mile, with the kind of men who usually shared Heathcliff's bed.
Whatever it was, it was to his advantage. Why was he dissatisfied? He could not be that dumb. Anyone he knew would have told him to seize the opportunity and have fun. Nothing was wrong with that, right?
Well, maybe not anyone. His parents would have told him to seek a healthy, beautiful relationship with someone ready to share more than just a bed with him.
But he was sharing more than the bed with Heathcliff already, he argued with himself as he continued his train of thought. The man had made pancakes for him, right that very morning. That had to count for something.
Who was he kidding? The truth was, after some of the blood from his cock had come back to his brain, he could not stop himself from seeing the situation for what it truly was. He, Aidan Spark, had somehow managed to become Heathcliff Stone's sex toy for convenience's sake and only that.
He should have been content with that explanation. But Heathcliff did more than fuck him. They were kissing ... all right, people who fucked often kissed, that wasn't that special, right? Also, they were cuddling. Again, that could not be that uncommon between people who had sex together.
It felt like Heathcliff was trying to seduce him. The realization struck him, fortunately, while he was still waiting for the light to change. Not that he hadn't thought of that before, but he had brushed it off as something that Heathcliff used to tease him.
But why would Heathcliff want to do that? Wasn't it enough that Aidan practically obeyed his every whim - not that he complained, he needed to repeat that to himself - without protesting?
What guys who got seduced by Heathcliff did to defend themselves? For Heathcliff, it was all a game, but for Aidan, it wasn't. Maybe he needed to make it all clear, but how? He could tell Heathcliff to stop making him pancakes, or blow dry his hair, or wake him up with handjobs ... but that didn't sound right.
Maybe it was all more about how Heathcliff liked to compliment him, or tease him, or tell him things he knew were going to make an impression on him, like that thing about how he didn't need a dozen of men while he had Aidan.
But how could he put a stop to all that? Aidan had no idea. Maybe Heathcliff would get upset over being told off when all he did was to compliment him and nothing more.
He sighed deeply. The light changed. He needed to stop thinking of Heathcliff so much. How exactly he could achieve that was a total mystery, seeing how he had to work with him almost daily, then spend the evenings and the nights with him, and also the weekends - as Heathcliff had pointed out that it went without saying that Aidan was not to make any plans for any end of the week for the foreseeable future - and he was also subscribed to all Heathcliff's social media channels. Heathcliff posted so much in a single day that Aidan's feed was flooded like a beach during a tsunami. He could not just turn off the notifications. He had an inkling that he would have hurt Heathcliff's feelings even if the man didn't know about that.
"What am I going to do?" he mumbled to himself.
***
It was a good thing that, at least until tonight, he could put aside any thought of Heathcliff since his boss needed him on the ground, to file and re-file all kinds of documents. Usually, he would have dreaded that kind of tedious assignment, but right now, it was all he needed. The next day, he was supposed to be present at Heathcliff's house again with business from work. The Healthy Shakers seemed pleased with what the fitness guru did for the brand, but more was needed.
For the time being, Aidan could just bury himself in work and ignore how fast and deep he was going with the whole Heathcliff thing. It was one of the rare occasions when he wished he were straight. If he had been straight, Heathcliff could not have seduced him. Right? But what if Heathcliff was also good at turning straight guys gay?
Aidan shook his head. What the hell was he thinking instead of focusing on work? He needed his head in the game.
As soon as he took that decision, things became easier. Boring, predictable, and extremely tedious, but, for Aidan, that was the devil he knew.
Hours later, as he stood in the cafe on the corner, contemplating the choices for lunch, Heathcliff's advice on healthy eating began haunting him. It would have been so simple just to grab a burger. Did he really want to spend that kind of money on some avocado toast or whatever that green thing was? He wasn't that sure. Everything Heathcliff cooked was delicious, but now he had to pick something for himself, and his determination to eat healthy food wavered.
"Aidan? OMG, I haven't seen you since forever!"
He knew that shrilly voice. He turned, and Isabel, one of his besties from high school and later college jumped into his arms.
"Hey, Bella," he said back and could feel his face stretching in a broad smile.
A few customers threw them weird looks and Aidan pushed back his friend just a little so that he could take a better look at her. Isabel was still the bundle of energy as always. He made a small gesture with his chin toward the bright screen filled with healthy and not so healthy choices.
"Wanna order something? And how come you're here? Weren't you on some trip or something?"
Isabel waved. "Let's grab a burger and talk. Do you have a little time to reconnect with an old friend?"
"I can give you my lunch time. And really, old friend?" Aidan laughed.
Isabel grinned at him. "You look good, Aidan. Tell me. Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Yes, actually no," Aidan hurried to speak and got all confused in the process.
Isabel quirked both eyebrows. Aidan wanted to add something, but it was his turn to order, and, after a small silent apology addressed to Heathcliff in his head, he ordered burgers for him and his friend.
"So," Isabel leaned over the table, as soon as they were seated, "how's your boyfriend?"
Isabel was excited, and Aidan had no idea how he would go back on what he had said earlier. "I don't really have a boyfriend," he began in an apologetic tone.
"Hmm, that sounds like you have a boyfriend. Come on, Aidan, spill the beans. Who is it? Is it someone I know?"
If Isabel was into fitness or reading tabloids, maybe yes. What was he thinking? Heathcliff was not his boyfriend.
"It's a complicated situation, and I don't think you know him," Aidan said quickly. "Ugh, I make it sound like my love life is something taken out of some book."
"Did you, at least," Isabel leaned over the table and whispered so that only he could hear her, "lose your V-card?"
Isabel was one of his besties, and that explained how she knew all about him. Her direct question still made him steal nervous looks around them. The other people in the cafe seemed busy with their lunches to pay them any attention.
"Yes," he whispered back in the same conspiratorial tone.
Isabel pulled her fists tight and against her mouth in what probably she hoped to be an attempt to hide her excitement. Aidan was sure her small happy shrill had still been heard on at least a three table radius around them.
