Page 14 of At His Wife’s Behest

T he rest of the week was filled with exploration of the villages and sights around Lake Como.

They hiked the gorge. Traveled into Como and played tourist. They ate, they drank, and Connor had the time of his life, watching as Kellan blossomed.

He began a quiet, reticent man who had flourished under the Italian sun, growing more comfortable in his own skin.

Kellan’s smiles spoke for themselves, warming Connor down to his soul.

Their nights were filled with another kind of exploration that Connor enjoyed even more. They’d licked and laved, tasted and touched, but they hadn’t gone further than pleasuring one another with mouths and hands. Every time he’d lead them toward penetration, Kellan had stiffened and moved away.

Which was fine. Intimacy didn’t have to include anal if his partner wasn’t into it.

Yet there was something primal within. He wanted to claim Kellan as his, even though the man would likely never truly be his.

No matter what, Connor would always have a little piece of Kellan Rhodes that was entirely his.

While Kellan continued to shake off the past, he still had moments where he grew timid and jerked away from Connor’s touch—particularly when they were in public. Connor sensed it was subconscious; a knee-jerk reaction after a lifetime of hiding, but it stung, too, to be denied.

Connor buried the emotion and focused on the job at hand—ensuring Kellan enjoyed himself.

Yet, it no longer felt like a job, either.

The week sped by way too quickly. The night before they were to leave for the airport, they dined out.

Again. Ana Maria hadn’t forgiven them for burning her dish earlier in the week, forcing them out for dinner the rest of their stay.

Fortunately, they continued to get fresh pastries and fruit in the mornings, along with her outstanding coffee.

Connor had already bought a copper set to take home, along with beans.

They were stored in his luggage, ready for the return trip.

Hopefully he’d be able to recreate it in Texas.

His luggage might be ready for his return, but he wasn’t.

He and Kellan sat outside near a roaring fireplace on an open veranda overlooking the lake. The moon was full and heavy above the water, its reflection glistening over the surface. Its glow illuminated the night, and along with the fire and candles at the table, it was easy to see Kellan’s face.

And the frown lines filling it.

“What’s wrong?” Connor asked, lowering his fork. Glancing down, he noted Kellan’s bowl was nearly full. “Is your dinner not good?”

“Not much appetite,” Kellan replied, his voice scarcely above a whisper. He stared at his plate, using his fork to spear a piece of cavatappi, toying with it but not eating it.

“Why’s that?”

Kellan lifted his gaze, sorrow in his eyes. “I don’t want to go home.” His face screwed up, and he lowered his fork, reaching for his wine glass. “Yet, I do, too. I miss Abigail. Calling every day isn’t enough… but…” He sighed, lifting his wine glass. “I don’t want to leave this place.”

“I understand.”

Kellan drained his glass and stretched for the bottle. “You do, do you?”

“You’ve gotten a taste of freedom and don’t want to let go.

” Connor smiled. He wanted to remain there, too.

Not just for the beauty of the place, but for Kellan.

He needed more, and one final night just wasn’t enough.

“And it’s lovely here. You could probably spend a lifetime seeking its secrets and treasures. ”

“Yes, yes… it’s beautiful,” Kellan spat before biting his lip, as if he wanted to say more. He poured himself his third glass and the last of the bottle.

Connor waited a few beats, searching Kellan’s face. When he didn’t add any more, Connor leaned forward. “Maudlin, hmm? Why don’t you save that for tomorrow on the plane home?”

Kellan’s gaze whipped to his. He said nothing, only lifted the glass to his lips for another sip.

“We have one last night,” Connor whispered. “Let’s not waste it.”

A hint of a smile played over Kellan’s lips. “What do you suggest we do with our final hours?”

Connor pushed his plate away as Kellan drained his glass again. “I was thinking we could go back to the villa. Have a celebration of our own.”

“Open another bottle of wine…”

“You’ve had one of your own already,” Connor said, grinning.

“I need liquid courage,” Kellan murmured, lifting his hand for their waiter.

“For?”

Kellan met his stare. There was something there that told Connor all he wanted to know.

Their server returned to check on them. “Anything else I can do for you, gentlemen?”

“No, we just need the check,” Kellan said before pouring the last bit of wine into his glass.

The check appeared and Kellan tossed a few Euros from his wallet, already in his lap.

“Grazie. Have a lovely evening,” the server said, grabbing a few empty plates. “Do you need a box, segnore?”

“No,” Kellan said, pushing from the table. “Thank you.” Kellan turned to Connor. “Let’s go.”

The restaurant they’d chosen was easy walking distance to the villa. He strolled along the old, cobbled street, moonlight lighting their path—but Kellan was speed-walking. “What’s the rush?”

Kellan paused, turning to face Connor. “We don’t have long.”

Connor stopped in from the Kellan, watching how the moonlight cast its glow over the man’s handsome face. “We have all night.”

“It’s not enough,” Kellan whispered.

Connor’s stomach knotted. He felt very much the same.

“Even so, let’s not rush it.” He slid his hand into Kellan’s. Connor glanced down at their joined hands and smiled, lifting his gaze.

“I want you to fuck me,” Kellan said, his voice barely a whisper.

Connor quieted the roar inside him, which took much doing on his part. “Are you asking for what I think you’re asking?”

“I want your dick… inside me.”

Connor did his best to remain cool and calm when he was anything but.

“That can be arranged.” He then understood the many glasses of wine that night.

Kellan had been building up his courage to ask for what he wanted.

Stopping in the middle of the quiet street, he tugged the man close, pressing his lips to Kellan’s. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

“I don’t want careful,” Kellan said, a hint of a slur to his voice.

“You’ve said you haven’t been with a man in a long, long time.”

“No, but… I have a drawerful of partners I visit nightly. A couple about equal to your size. I’ll be just fine.”

Connor released a breath, a thrill racing up his spine. A smile impossible to stop spread over his lips. “Noted.”

Kellan rose on his toes and pressed a kiss to Connor’s lips. “Are you going to stand here all night with that sappy smile on your face or are we going to do this? I’d like to get going before the liquid courage wears off.”

Connor’s smile faded. He captured Kellan’s chin. “Why do you need liquid courage?”

Kellan didn’t answer him.

“If this isn’t what you truly want…”

“I want,” Kellan responded, stiffening.

“We don’t have to cross that line if you’d rather not.”

Kellan sighed, pulling away.

Connor stopped him, pulling them together again. “Talk to me, Kellan.”

Kellan bristled. “I’ve… I’ve never.” He chuckled. “I’ve only engaged in oral sex before. No man…” He cleared his throat. “… has fucked me before.”

Connor smiled, caressing Kellan’s cheek. “I’m honored.”

Kellan sneered, clearly embarrassed. When Connor lifted his gaze again, one finger on his chin, Kellan looked away.

“Why the embarrassment?”

“I’m a thirty-six-year-old virgin.”

It was Connor’s turn to scoff. “We’ve had sex all week. And you have a daughter.” Abigail was his, wasn’t she? He suddenly had doubts.

“But not…” Kellan shook his head. “An anal virgin, then.”

Connor chuckled. “I get to pop that cherry, hmm?” The toys had technically done that, but he’d take the credit if it was left to be taken.

“Yeah,” Kellan said, leaning close and nuzzling his neck. “Pop my cherry, baby.”

Connor’s eyes drifted closed, the kisses hungry. It set off the simmering need he seemed to have all the time when around Kellan. “If you don’t let me take you home before kissing me like that more, I might have to deflower you here in the middle of the street.”

Kellan chuckled, pulling away. “Fine.” He grabbed Connor’s hand and tugged him forward. “Hurry up.”

Connor smiled, allowing Kellan to lead a brisk pace back to the villa.

Once behind closed doors, Kellan spun, rising onto his toes to capture Connor’s lips.

The banked fire erupted. Connor dug his fingers through Kellan’s silky strands, sliding his hand to hold the man closer before taking over.

Kellan whimpered, surrendering to Connor’s dominance.

He backed Kellan to the stairs before lifting the man and tossing him over one shoulder.

“Woah,” Kellan cried, grasping above Connor’s hips to steady himself. “What’s this?”

“You said you didn’t want me to be careful. The opposite of careful is rough.”

Kellan’s body shivered against him.

“Sounds to me you like the idea of rough,” Connor said before arriving at the top tread.

He stalked toward the bed they’d shared all week and stood by the side of it, yanking Kellan’s shoes off and tossing them across the room.

Then, he deposited his lover into the middle of the bedding.

Standing back, he gauged Kellan’s response.

Kellan’s cock tented his pants. His lids drooped; lips parted. He panted, sweat beading at his brow with his cheeks pink. He was glorious in his need.

Connor reached out, grabbing the front of Kellan’s shirt. He tugged it up and over, tossing it to the floor before undoing the clasp at his belt. “I should keep you locked away, naked, for the rest of our days. Never let you leave my bed.”