Take It Off (Market Garden, #2)

Jared rolled his eyes. “Was a bit of a rocky start there, though.” He stretched out on the bed, looking completely sated. “Somebody pour me into a bottle and get me home. Not sure I have any bones left.”

Rolex laughed again and kissed Jared lightly. “There’s no rush to leave. The two of you can stay as long as you like.” Humour faltering a bit, he turned to Tristan. “Unless you need to go.”

Earlier, Tristan couldn’t have escaped this place soon enough. Now, he rather liked lying on the bed with Rolex and Jared, all three of them satisfied and—most importantly—the air cleared with Jared.

“We’re not in any hurry.” He trailed his fingertips down the middle of Jared’s abs, watching them contract beneath his light touch. “You’re the client, after all.”

“True.” Rolex’s brow creased. “Do I get the impression I won’t be a client again in the future?”

Tristan glanced at Jared, whose gaze was fixed on Tristan, eyebrows up. To Rolex, Tristan said, “I don’t know. I’m not sure I have it in me to keep doing this.”

“It’s a shame.” Rolex smiled. He paused, then quickly added, “But I can understand no one wants to stay in this business forever. Especially if you’re”—he gestured at Jared, then Tristan—“otherwise engaged.”

Jared chuckled. “Well, we didn’t say we were engaged.”

Tristan laughed.

Rolex rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah.” Jared reached up and stroked Tristan’s hair. To Rolex, he said, “When you come to town again, we might not be there. We’ll . . . we’ll play it by ear.”

“Guess I’ll have to find someone else for my London trips.” Rolex sounded amused, but also genuinely disappointed.

Tristan kept teasing Jared’s abs, but looked at Rolex. “You like paying for it, don’t you?”

Rolex’s cheeks coloured. “Probably more than a respectable man should, but . . .” He shrugged with one shoulder. “I do get a bit of a kick out of it.”

Tristan and Jared exchanged glances. Both grinned.

Jared turned to Rolex. “In that case, we’ve got someone who might be right up your alley.”

Rolex perked up. “Is that right?”

“Yep.” Tristan flashed him a grin. “When you come back next time, go to the Garden and ask for Jason.”

“You think he’s my type?”

“Ooh, yeah,” Jared said. “Definitely.”



It was nearly one in the morning when Jared, legs still not completely cooperative, left the suite with Tristan and a thick wad of cash. He was exhausted, but it had been a great night. Never a dull moment with Rolex, and resolving things with Tristan had lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.

“So you really want to quit?” he asked as they waited for the lift.

Tristan exhaled. “I want to be with you.” He turned towards Jared. “I’d be happier if we both quit, but . . .”

Smiling, Jared slipped his hand into Tristan’s. “Well, we made enough tonight to tide us over for the time being.”

Tristan chuckled. “Yeah, we did. Maybe we can use some of it and go away for a while.”

“Go away?” Jared tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“A holiday.” Tristan caressed his cheek. “Just the two of us.”

Grinning, Jared asked, “You thinking of any place in particular?”

“Not really.” Tristan shrugged, a mouthwatering grin slowly spreading across his lips as his arm snaked around Jared’s waist. “Just you, a room, and a decent-sized bed.” His voice was barely a whisper as he added, “That’s all I want.”

Jared lifted his chin and kissed Tristan lightly. “I love the sound of that.”

The lift arrived and the doors opened. They stepped in, and Jared hit the button for the ground floor.

As the doors closed again, Tristan said, “I’m sorry, by the way. For—”

“Don’t.” Jared wrapped his arms around him and kissed him. “It’s sorted. I’m just glad I know what was bothering you.”

Tristan touched Jared’s cheek again. “Still, I’m sorry.”

“It’s all forgiven.” Jared put his hand over Tristan’s. “So, if you’re serious about quitting, and going on holiday together and all of that, does that mean you want, um, for us to . . .”

“For us to be serious?”

Heart beating faster, Jared nodded.

Tristan smiled. He didn’t say a word. He just cupped Jared’s face and drew him into a long, tender kiss.

And Jared had his answer.