Savaro's Honey Buns (5 page)

"How was it?"

"Unlike anything I've ever experienced. No other man has ever kissed me like that before but I can't let that cloud my mind."

"Sav," Laird called. His voice sounded tired but filled with compassion. He walked around the desk and sat down beside Savaro who was still sitting there confused.

"You can't go your whole life as a hermit. I get it… trust me I understand your fears but if this man—wait, I can't keep calling him this man. What's his name?"

"Jamal Kendricks."

"Wait… Jamal Kendricks?"

Savaro frowned. "That's what I said. What's with the echo?"

"If he's who I think he is, he's a basketball player.

Every team wants a piece of him right now. He's actually amazing."

Savaro groaned and slumped deeper into his seat.

This time he pulled the collar of his shirt up, trying to hide his face. Just when he thought things couldn't possibly get any worse, he just had to have a date with a celebrity.

"Look, it's only dinner, right? You're going to have dinner with this man and if it goes well it goes well. If it goes wrong, you can tell him to go away. Either way you get to dress up and go out."

"That's not the point! The point is I can't seem to think straight around this man. He told me to push him away, to say no but I couldn't. I couldn't even form one logical thought when he looked at me with those brown eyes seeing through me."

"You're over thinking it. Stop putting so much emphasis on it. It's not like he asked you for marriage. Just go out with the guy—see what happens."

"Have you called Raj?"

"I'm going to pretend," Laird spoke, standing up and grabbing his laptop, "that you didn't just change the subject on me."

Savaro slipped into his thoughts, trying to find any excuse not to go through with the plans he had with Jamal.

He was that way when he heard Rajan calling his name.

Smiling he leant forward and peered into the web-cam.

"Hey there baby brother," he waved. "How's the heat?"

"You know, no matter how many times I come here, I still can't seem to get used to it." Rajan laughed. "But enough about me—look at you! You look like shit!"

"And I love you too, you turd."

Laird frowned. "This is supposed to be a serious conversation. Sav here has a date."

"About time," Rajan cheered.

Savaro made a face. "I'm beginning to realize calling you was a bad idea."

"We're your brothers," Rajan pleaded.

Savaro stood and paced to the window. His heart

hammered fiercely in his chest. He focused on settling it down but that wasn't working out so well.

"Sav. The last time you had a real man in your life, you were twenty-two. You're thirty-five now. Don't you think it's time?"

Savaro moved to the screen and knelt. He stared in Rajan's eyes. "I know that's true… I really do. But there's this fear inside me that just won't let me."

"And we all have that fear," Laird explained. "We all feel like we can't get too close to anyone because the only person to stick around and love us was Dad. I get it."

"But you're not marrying the guy. It's just dinner.

Don't put so much thought into it."

"You two share a brain," Savaro motioned from Rajan to Laird. "Thanks guys. I should head back to the restaurant to sign payroll then head on home."

"And Sav?" Rajan called from the screen.

"Don't wear the red jacket. Dress in black with that blood-red shirt Laird got you at Christmas. It'll be perfect."

Savaro made a face, kissed the side of Laird's head and waved to Rajan. He exited the office, sparing the secretary a friendly wave before disappearing into the elevator.

Jamal glanced at his watch as he stopped before the large gates and made a face. "Why wouldn't he have creepy gates?" Jamal muttered. Winding down the window, he leant out and hit the white button on a panel.

"Yes?"

"Savaro, it's Jamal."

"Come on in," Savaro replied. His voice was followed by a buzz and the gates opened slowly.

Jamal eased back in the car, closed the window and drove slowly through the gates. In his rear view mirrors, he could see them closing once again. He stopped before the house and leant forward in his seat to stare at the place. It was a beautiful house with immaculate landscaping and a cobblestone driveway. He tried remembering the last time he'd seen a cobblestone driveway but gave up and jogged up the front steps. Rubbing his palms against his thighs, he took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. While he waited, he turned and looked out over the large front yard. The place would be perfect to raise children. With that thought floating aimlessly through his mind Jamal pressed his eyes closed.

Behind him there was a slight click.

"Jamal," Savaro called his name.

Turning around, Jamal whistled in appreciation.

Savaro was absolutely delicious. He was in full black except for the dark red dress shirt peeking out from beneath the black jacket. The top three buttons of his shirt were undone and he could see hard flesh staring back at him.

Jamal remembered his promise and though it broke his heart, he had to keep his hands to himself.

"Evenin'. Ready to go?" Jamal asked.

"Not yet. I'm waiting for my brother to come,"

Savaro said. "Come on in. I'm sorta babysitting."

"Babysitting?" Jamal stepped by him then turned to watch him close the door.

"Yeah, come on."

Jamal made a face but followed Savaro through the large, beautiful home and into a back room. It resembled a large ballroom but that couldn't be right. He'd never seen a modern home with one of those. In the far corner was a piano and at the piano was a little dark-skinned boy. He couldn't be more than ten years old. He was tapping at the keys randomly and smiling at the sound it made.

"This is Leroy," Savaro said, massaging the boy's head.

"Leroy there's someone I'd like you to meet…"

"Jamal Kendricks!" The little boy hollered. "Do you know who you are?"

Jamal laughed and extended a hand to Leroy. "I think so. Nice to meet you."

"Can I have your autograph?" Leroy questioned.

"Lee!" Savaro cut in.

Jamal lifted his hand to tell Savaro it was perfectly fine. When it came to children, he would give them the shirt off his back if it meant they would smile. He smiled and went down on his haunches to look Leroy in the eyes.

"I tell you what, Leroy. When Savaro comes home tonight, I'll give him something way better than my autograph."

"That's a deal!" Leroy cheered with a nod.

"Lee, I'm going to steal Jamal for a second, okay?

Why don't you go back to your music."

Leroy nodded and all but ran back to the piano and Jamal allowed Savaro to lead him from the room and into the most perfect kitchen. He was looking around when Savaro's voice broke through his thoughts him. "You didn't have to do that."

He turned and faced the chef. "You don't trust anyone, do you?"

"That's not the point. The point is, you shouldn't raise his hopes like that then let them crash. He's a little boy who doesn't have much and I really don't want you coming here and breaking his heart."

"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Jamal asked.

He had suddenly gotten a horrible feeling inside. It curled his stomach, giving him the urge to slam his fist into something. Jamal bit on his lower lip to keep anything his anger would make him say in. Shaking his head, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Turning from Savaro, he walked into the large room again and hunched down beside Leroy. "Listen, Leroy. I was going to head home and bring you something else, but I have this…" he trailed off and pulled up one of his basketball cards. He was going to give it to someone else, a collector, but Leroy was more worthy. "You hang on to this and I'll try and make it worth something one day, all right?"

"Whoa! A Jamal Kendrick original! Are you sure you want to give me this? I mean, I'm just a kid and these aren't cheap."

Jamal smiled. "I'm sure. Just promise me you'll take care of it."

"I promise!" Leroy said and hugged Jamal tightly.

"Thank you."

"Okay, I have to go. It was nice meeting you."

Leroy was beaming as he held the card tightly in his fingers. He nodded at Jamal who nodded and rose. He then walked by Savaro and yanked the door opened.

"Jamal!"

Jamal didn't stop. He was forced to turn when he

reached his car with one hand on the door. Savaro flipped him around and a growl left Jamal's throat.

"What do you want from me? Hell, I want you so bad, Savaro but it's not worth it. It's not worth the distrust and the accusations. I will not put up with that."

"That's not what I'm doing."

"Really? You think I'd break a little boy's heart like that? Jesus! Just because you are bitter and jaded doesn't mean you're supposed to ruin the world for that little boy in there!"

"Can we just go to dinner and talk? Please?"

* * * *

The truth was he heard the promise Jamal made and remembered all those years of people promising him things. People promised to adopt him but never came back.

His parents promised to love him then dropped him off at the church on his sixth birthday. Promises meant nothing to Savaro. The genuine pain he saw in Jamal's eyes tore at him and all he wanted to do was hold him.

"Please," Savaro repeated.

A car pulled by Jamal's car and parked in the

driveway and Laird stepped out. Savaro spared him a glance then turned back to get Jamal's answer.

"Everything all right?"

"Leroy's inside," Savaro reported without looking away.

"All right." Jamal looked over at the newcomer and remembered seeing him at the restaurant. "Just dinner."

"Jamal this is my brother, Laird."

The two men shook hands and Savaro rushed

inside. He stopped and gave Leroy a hug, grabbed his coat, wallet and cell phone before exiting the house again. He stopped to give Laird some directions about Leroy and what time he should be in bed then walked over to Jamal who had his door open. Smiling, he climbed into the front seat of the luxury rental car. Jamal slammed the door and got in on the driver's side and when they were finally speeding through the streets of Eros, Savaro broke the silence.

"Where are you taking me for dinner?"

"It's a surprise."

"I see."

Quiet washed over them again leaving Savaro

thinking the date was a bad idea; especially after the little blow up they had earlier. But by the time they pulled up before
Santoori,
the town's only Indian restaurant, his heart was hammering inside his chest. It had been years since he'd gone on a real date. He walked beside Jamal and once they were seated and their wines were brought to them, Savaro lifted the menu to hide his face. He could feel Jamal's gaze on him.

"You're staring," Savaro said, without lowering his shield.

"I think you're a very sexy human being," Jamal replied softly. "I can't help but stare. Want me to stop?"

"Yes."

"Okay then."

"No, don't."

"I'm confused. Which is it?"

Savaro placed the menu on the table and took a

deep breath. "You know what I want to do tonight? I don't just want dinner. I want to strip you naked and taste you. I want to hold you face first against the wall and take you from behind. Hell, I want you to restrain me and fuck me."

"Then why don't you? Why don't you let me?"

"Because—because I'm not used to not showing restraint."

Jamal smirked and leant in closer. "My man,

Savaro, cannot be shy. If he wants my ass he's gonna have to take it; and he's going to have to take it like he means it.

He can't be quiet—he has to take charge. Can you do that?

Because if you can't this could be a problem."

"Jamal…"

Jamal reached over and took Savaro's hand. That

sent a shiver of fire through Savaro's body. He smiled and looked to where their hands connected.

"This is just dinner, remember?"

"But I want you," Savaro whispered.

"I'm sitting right here, Savaro. Don't put too much on your shoulders. I'm not here to force you into anything or to do anything."

Savaro nodded. "I get that. But the fights between what my body wants and what my head wants are starting to give me a migraine."

"Okay. Let's do no stress. We're going to have a nice dinner, drink a glass of wine and just talk."

Savaro smiled. But even as they spoke and laughed, he still couldn't get his mind out of the gutter. The things he wanted to do to Jamal's sleek, sexy body blinded him to everything else. He took a breath and reached a hand over to caress Jamal's cheek. Jamal looked up and their eyes met. The basketball player's eyes deepened then flashed fire. Savaro groaned.

"We need to pay the bill," he whispered, trailing a finger over Jamal's lush lips. "And you need to take me home."

Jamal allowed Savaro to lead him into the hotel

suite by wrapping the tie around his neck and pulling him in. He still wasn't sure what they were leading to was a good idea since Savaro was so unsure before. Yet he smiled, closed the door behind him and turned to stare at Savaro. By now Savaro had released him and was walking across the room backward, slowly undoing his shirt.

Licking his lips, Jamal leant against the closed door, bracing his hands behind him. He had to hold on to his control. But that was becoming increasingly difficult as Savaro was now shirtless and kicking off his shoes.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Jamal spoke.

His voice was rough to his ears. He took in Savaro's chest.

He had a tattoo of lion above his left breast and an elaborate sun against his right arm. Jamal growled—he couldn't help himself. Seeing ink on a man did things to him that he could never understand. He found himself taking a step forward but stopped himself and looked away.

When he looked up again, Savaro was completely

naked, aroused and smirking at him. The moonlight streaming through the window on his skin made it a light golden colour. Taking the few steps it took to reach Savaro, Jamal reached down grabbing Savaro's arousal and