Page 106 of Love By Design

He chewed the inside of his cheek, letting out a breath that sounded almost like a laugh. I hadn’t realized how nervous the conversation made me until I tried to smile back and swallow, but my saliva caught in my throat. I cleared it, hoping to look somewhat dignified.

“I think it takes a real dominant to get on his knees, Marshall,” he said softly, dipping his chin toward his chest and looking up at me before adding, “Sir.”

“Good.”

I looked away from Silas in search of a server to take our order, but what caught my eye on the other end of the restaurant was something else entirely. My brother Finn at a table, an empty chair beside him and a very well-dressed couple across from him. They looked very friendly, talking with animated expressions and raised glasses. I was about to excuse myself from Silas to go say hello when the man stood up from the table, leaving Finn and the woman alone.

My brother watched him walk away, then leaned in close and slanted his mouth against the woman’s in a kiss that was almost too indecent for the public. She reached up to touch his face, a very obvious wedding set sparkling on her finger. Finn pulled away from her and sank back into his seat seconds before the man returned, and they went back to a group conversation like nothing had happened.

“Are you okay?” Silas asked, looking over his shoulder, trying to see what had caught my attention. He’d never met Finn before, only Smith, and there wasn’t enough resemblance between us for anyone who didn’t know we were related to pick us out of a crowd as siblings.

“Yes,” I said, giving one last look to Finn before refocusing my attention on Silas. I didn’t want to tell him I’d seen my brother because then I’d have to explain why I didn’t want to interrupt his meal to introduce them. That thought process brought up an entirely different chain of ideas, ending with the fact that, sooner or later, I was going to have to introduce Silas to the rest of them. Friday night dinner felt like the best option, but those dates also felt off-limits until we sorted out the situation with Andrew.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. Was just thinking about how I’d like you to meet the rest of my brothers soon.”

It wasn’t a lie. I’d explain the rest later.

“Oh. Are you sure?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Silas shrugged. “I just want them to like me.”

“They’ll love you,” I promised, not caring if they did or not. It wouldn’t have any bearing on me. “As soon as we sort out the mess with the new one, I’ll invite you along one Friday.”

Silas scrunched his nose and shook his head. “Friday is your time with them. I don’t want to interrupt that.”

“It’s not an interruption?—”

He grimaced. “It’s also my time with Lincoln.”

I opened my mouth and closed it again, nodding my understanding. “You’re right,” I said. “That was very selfish of me.”

“Not at all,” he whispered, and then the waiter was there to take our orders. Silas smiled—content—as I ordered for us both, and I watched him nurse his wine through the entire meal and the whole of dessert.

After we’d eaten and long after Finn and his mystery couple had left, Silas let out a long breath and folded his hands together on his stomach.

“That was quite a celebration, but I hope you don’t have anything penetrative planned for me later.”

I laughed, unable to keep the noise contained in my mouth. “I’m an adaptable man, if you haven’t figured that out yet.”

“Should I be worried?”

I dropped my napkin onto the table and stood, brushing some stray crumbs off my lap before walking around the table and extending my hand. Silas smiled up at me and let me help him to his feet. With our fingers twined together, I pulled our bodies close, like we were on the verge of a dance.

“Have I ever given you cause for concern?”

“No,” he rasped.

“I’m not going to start now.”

“I know, Sir.”

“Good.” I kissed him quickly on the mouth, then held his hand on the way out to the parking lot.

Public affection was a new thing for me, and I doubted it was new for Silas at all. He and Lincoln were so tactile with each other, I didn’t even want to wager a guess at how many people had mistaken them for lovers or partners at some point and not just friends.