Gregor

After the thirty-day evaluation, Xavior and I were put on permanent assignment together. I had to admit; it felt pretty good. After Gina left the department, I wasn’t sure I was ever going to find a partner I meshed with as well as her.

Keith wanting to size Xavior up was another thing entirely. Xavior was right; he shouldn’t dictate what decisions I make with my career. I don’t do that to him. So I was cautiously optimistic that dinner would put things to rest where Keith’s concerns were, Xavior and I could work together, and life in general would move forward without too much of a hiccup.

Xavior made reservations at a new restaurant downtown. One I’d never heard of before. When we arrived, there was only a valet service, and we found out Xavior had paid for our vehicle already. Keith and I exchanged glances. We were both wearing nice clothing for a date night, but nothing overly fancy. When someone opened the door for us like it was their job, I realized we might be underdressed.

“Gentlemen,” a well-dressed woman said from behind a podium. “Do you have a reservation?” Her manner and tone questioned our credibility. Keith was staring around the place, smiling like a little kid. That made me smile, and I could care less what the woman thought about who we were and what we were doing in a place like this.

“We’re here with Xavior Brantley, party of four,” I replied.

Her eyes went wide, and I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I hoped we wouldn't be kicked out. She leaned toward me. “Normally, we’d require guests to wear a suit jacket to dine with us, but seeing as you’re with Mr. Brantley, we’ll make an exception.” I nodded. Shit, did he own the place? She straightened up. “Can you follow me please?”

I reached for Keith’s elbow, and he smiled as he looked at me, and I subtly nodded toward the woman that was waiting for us. “She wants us to follow her.”

“Did you tell her you’re gay?” He grinned as he let me lead him.

“I don’t think she meant that kind of follow,” I chuckled.

“I bet as expensive as this place is, that kind of follow is on the menu somewhere. These crown moldings alone cost more than our house.” Keith always seemed to know a bit about art, or at least interior design. He claimed that if he gave up being a paramedic, he’d go back to school full-time to learn more. Part of me hoped he would, and then we could have a serious conversation about starting a family. With our schedules right now, that serious conversation was mostly on hold or non-existent.

The woman walked to the back of the seating area and through the double doors into what clearly was the kitchen. Keith got excited and tapped me on the chest. “Gregie, we’re going to the Chef’s table. The fucking Chef’s table, in a place like this, Xavior must be loaded.”

It made sense when I put things together. Xavior had money. “He’s a dragon,” was what I said to Keith as a way of explaining, and Keith nodded as if that was all the explanation that was necessary. I was instantly regretting letting Xavior make the reservations. Keith and I couldn’t afford this with our salaries.

“Gentlemen,” the woman held open another door. It was a private room, with one table, full wine racks on two walls that were floor-to-ceiling, and next to the door we just walked through, a nearly full kitchen with a cook already hard at work along with a member of the waitstaff. They were serving Xavior, and a very gorgeous woman, a bottle of wine. The door closed behind us, and the noises from the main kitchen disappeared.

“Welcome! I’m glad you could both make it.” Xaivor stood up and came to our side of the table. “I might have picked something a little more low key, but Vanessa demanded to be spoiled.” He nodded in her direction and gave her a big smile. I didn’t know if I was happy to see him with someone else for Keith’s sake or if I was ready to puke. It felt a little like whiplash.

Vanessa was every inch the professional by demeanor and dressed to kill. She wore a burgundy cocktail dress that had a flair to one side and cream-colored heels. Her hair was loose and natural. It framed her flawless face, which featured makeup that made her dark brown eyes stand out along with a lip shade that matched her dress. She was stunning by anyone's standards.

Xavior leaned across the table and kissed Vanessa’s hand before he let go of it. Ah, yeah, I was firmly in the slightly nauseous category. Keith looked at me as if expecting something, and I realized I had frozen up. It took Keith nudging me in the ribs to bring me out of my daze.

“Right. Xavior Brantley, this is my partner, Keith Elliot,” I said.

They shook hands. Vanessa stood up, and Xavior returned to her side. “This is my lovely date for this evening, Vanessa Singleton. She’s a partner at a local law firm.” Keith and I both shook her hand across the elegantly set table.

I was across from Vanessa, and Keith was across from Xavior. The waitstaff helped Vanessa into her chair, and the rest of us sat down. It reminded me of table protocol at my mother's house. I felt odd at how easily the habit came back to me.

“This was a bit unexpected. I mean, we didn’t expect this.” I didn’t want to ask if he owned the place or how in the hell I would pay for half of the meal. I held in a sigh of frustration as the server poured more wine for everyone.

“Like I said, blame it on Vanessa. She has certain preferences,” Xavior leaned toward her and kissed her temple.

I felt confused, nauseated, and possibly a little bit foolish. I’d never asked Xavior his preference. I'd assumed, which was wrong of me. Seeing him dote on Vanessa was awkward for me. It was nice to know that he was affectionate, but at the same time, I felt jealous of her. It was ridiculous. If someone asked me how I was feeling, I don’t know that I could have answered. Of course, Keith, being Keith, he pointed it out. Most of the time, I didn’t mind that Keith was a hedge witch. Right now, I'd wished he'd kept his aura reading to himself.

“You, okay, babe? Your aura looks like shit.” He reached under the table and squeezed my hand. I squeezed it back and took a deep breath.

“It’s all a bit overwhelming,” I said. It was a half-truth because both Xavior and Keith might have seen or smelled the lie if I tried to claim I was alright. I knew what places like this cost because of my mother’s family. I had made assumptions about Xavior I shouldn’t have. Would I have been happier seeing him with a man? I felt rattled in a lot of ways.

The server explained what we were having for dinner, the wine pairings with each course, and checked for allergies and preferences. After that, the service started, and the discussion seem to stay with things around the meal. Topics ranged from where ingredients were sourced, the cultural significance of the dish, even portion size and plate design. We headed back into dangerous waters when we reached dessert.

“Xavior, have you and Vanessa dated long?” Keith asked as he took a bite of some elaborately deconstructed chocolate cheesecake.

“Oh, off and on for a while. Vanessa and I enjoy each other’s company. It’s nothing serious like the two of you.” Xavior nodded toward us with a tip of his wine glass as if to celebrate. I took another bite of sorbet and kept quiet. Vanessa filled the silence.

“We met a party, a fundraiser, or something, about ten years ago. I can barely keep up with his social calendar, let alone stay on it some days. Royal ballet one week, Irish Dancers the next, Sumo wrestlers, fae Shakespeare troupe... What haven’t you had sex with Xavior?” She quipped.

“Well, you. Tonight. Yet.” We all laughed, but I fought to keep a smirk off my face. I knew enough about Xavior to know that was a very subtle dig.

Vanessa went on undeterred. “Xavior throws these parties every couple of months. The themes are amazing; the guest list is some of the most A-list people barely seen in public, along with some of the most laid back salt-of-the-earth folks you could imagine. It’s like the United Nations but with food, booze, and sex. Wait..” Vanessa turned toward him. “Maybe it is the UN, honey.”

Xavior only smiled at the implication Vanessa was making.

“Are you serious?” Keith asked.

“Absolutely. Xavior has solved more diplomatic disputes at his estate than most diplomats their whole career,” Vanessa boasted.

“That’s pretty amazing, Brantley,” I said.

“All in a day’s work,” Xavior said.

“I bet,” Keith said with a grin. “Tell me more.”

I tuned them out. Xavior stayed quiet while Keith and Vanessa prattled on about parties and orgies until Vanessa said something about Xavior’s tongue that had me lift my head so fast from my bowl I nearly missed my last bite of sorbet.

“That’s enough, Vanessa. They don’t need the sordid details,” Xavior said.

“You sure about that?” She teased.

“Yeah, Xavior, you sure? Maybe we need a demonstration,” Keith said.

“Oh! I’d be up for that,” Vanessa seconded with a purr in her voice.

“Maybe that’s a line we shouldn’t cross. I have to see him tomorrow at work, thank-you-very-much.” I looked at Keith, and he shrugged with a smile. We’d all had a bit of wine. I’d only had one glass so I could drive us home. “Speaking of, it’s getting late.”

Xavior nodded and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “You’re right. Early day at work tomorrow.” Xavior stood up, and the server swooped in to clear the plates. Xavior walked over to the chef and thanked her personally while another server returned Vanessa’s coat and Xavior’s jacket.

I didn’t want to ask, but I felt like I had to, if only so I wouldn't assume things again. “Brantley,” I whispered to him as he walked over to help Vanessa with her coat. “What about the bill?”

He shook his head. “I own the place, Lyndon. You’re fine.” I tried not to seem ungrateful, inferior, or shocked. I watched as Xavior finished helping Vanessa into her jacket then came around the table to offer a hand to Keith. “Pleasure to meet you, Keith.” If anything, I felt like I was firmly out of Xavior’s league no matter what preference he had. Nevermind that we were trying to convince Keith that we weren’t up to anything. The idea seemed even preposterous to me now.

“Likewise, Xavior. Hope we get to do this again soon,” Keith said. Xavior nodded and then walked toward the door, which a server opened for him. He led us out through the kitchen and the dining room with people staring. I half wondered how he could work as a public servant if people recognized him this much.

The valet brought our vehicle first, and I put Keith in the car then drove away before we could see what Xavior drove. I didn’t want to know. It was probably something vintage and expensive.

When we got home, Keith was gushing about the night and handsy, which I didn’t mind. Once he passed out, I laid in bed and quietly boxed up any scrap of attraction I felt for Xavior. I needed to keep it to business, and I needed to pay attention to my relationship. We were work partners, nothing more period.

Seeing Xavior with Vanessa hurt like he’d rejected me, which made no sense whatsoever since we weren’t dating, and he never specifically told me he was gay. Nevermind that he was clearly in a whole different stratosphere of people. Oh, and the curse, of course. It all added up to me being an emotional wreck. Maybe it wasn’t only Keith I was trying to convince.

I tried to sleep, but I kept having dreams about Xavior’s tongue touching places it has never been.