He frowned as he tried to make sense of that. “Your Darling is your brother?”
“No. My restaurant. It absolutely consumes me, and it’s why I’ve never kept a single boyfriend. At first, they all love the idea of getting into one of the most exclusive restaurants on the planet without a reservation, and eating for free. But after a few weeks or months, they get jealous and angry that I can’t take more than a day off every couple of weeks. That it occupies my mind, night and day. That I spend almost all my waking time there. With you, men are jealous of another man. With me, it’s an inanimate object that they don’t comprehend.”
Maris pulled back to smile at him. “I promise I will never get jealous over a building.”
Ture laughed. “That’s what they all say.”
Maris ran his finger along Ture’s jaw. “Burning passions, I get. You’re a successful business owner. You can’t just shut down and walk away. If the restaurant fails, you lose everything you have, and everything you’ve worked for. It should be your primary focus.”
“You’re the only one who’s ever understood that.”
Maris kissed him. “If that’s your worst fear, put it away. I know what it takes to be successful, and I would never give you stress for taking care of business. It’s like me when I was a soldier. You have to stay focused. You take your eyes off the mission and you lose your head. The last thing you need is an asshole giving you unnecessary drama for it.”
“And that’s why I love you, Mari.”
Maris froze as those words hit him like a blow. He wanted to believe it. He did. But he couldn’t. Too many people had hurt him. Love was so easy to profess. If it came too easy, then it died a quick death. He knew that.
Ture cupped his cheek. “I know, Mari. I see the fear in your eyes. Like you with my restaurant, I get it. But I will prove to you that I can share you with Darling and not be jealous. I accept the fact that I will never have the part of you that he does. Rather, I want to create my own place in your heart, and I will always have the one part of you that he doesn’t.”
“And that is?”
Ture smiled as he cupped Maris in his hand. “This luscious body that makes me insane with lust. I swear, even if I were straight, I’d crave you.”
Maris captured his lips and held him close. Don’t break my heart, Ture. But deep inside, he knew Ture would.
Sooner or later, all men did.
Even Darling.
CHAPTER 7
Ture froze as he took a minute to watch Maris interacting with his staff. For the last three weeks, they’d been together night and day, almost without interruption. It still amazed him that Maris had yet to get on his nerves. He’d never been with anyone for this amount of time without having at least one argument over something.
And the staff loved Mari.
Even Bertram, and Bertram hated everyone.
His hands covered by rubber gloves, Maris stood at the sink, helping to rinse dishes since one of the dishwashers had become ill and had to leave early. Dressed in his high neck black riding suit with white reflective stripes, Maris was an odd sight with the white apron covering it. The stitched quilted leather that protected Maris’s body whenever he rode his airbike hugged every inch of his muscled physique and cupped his ass in a way that should be illegal. Damn, he looked so rugged and masculine that it was hard for Ture to breathe.
Best of all, Maris had started growing his hair out for Ture. And since he hadn’t shaved in two days, he had a gorgeous shadow of whiskers that didn’t help Ture’s hard-on in the least.
“You are so in love with him,” Anachelle whispered as she paused by his side.
“That obvious?”
She nodded. “You are absolutely licking him with your eyes.”
Laughing, Ture shook his head at her. “You’re terrible.”
“Hey, I’m not the one mentally molesting the poor man who’s trying to wash dishes for you.”
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s a bad idea to harass your boss?”
“No. I must have missed that email.” Wrinkling her nose playfully, she headed back to her corner to fold napkins and sort silverware.
Ture went over to the oven and pulled out his latest experiment. At least once a week, he tried something new. Luckily, it smelled good. He cut a small piece off and took it to Maris so he could be his guinea pig.
Maris pulled his gloves off before he dutifully opened his mouth and allowed Ture to place it on his tongue.
“Well?”
Maris chewed it then frowned.
Ah, crap. He’d never done that before. Ture deflated. “What’s missing?”
“Something. . . .” Maris bent his head down and kissed him fiercely. Pulling back, he smiled. “Yeah, that was definitely the missing ingredient.” He winked. “It’s perfect. Delicious. You need to try it.”
Ture handed him the fork to wash and had started back for the roast when he saw a waiter who looked like he was about to cry. He diverted course toward him. “What’s wrong?”