everything will be fine.”
“What if Lance Sherman hates my final design and decides his new luxury hotel chain should be designed by someone who knows what they’re doing?”
Silver smacked him even harder that time. “He won’t. And if he does, it’s not an issue.”
Donovan let out a groan. “How can you be so sure about everything?”
“Not everything. Just most things.”
Donovan had to laugh. “All right. I’ll behave.” Donovan slid his hand underneath the soft, white dress shirt Silver had untucked when they’d entered the room.
“It doesn’t feel like it.” Silver stayed Donovan’s hand, but his tone was playful. “But between the new garage and you starting up your own architectural company, it will all work out.” He patted Donovan’s hand. “Now that you have offers on the Lamborghini and Bugatti, that should hold you for a while.”
“Us, Papi. Us.”
Silver let out a sigh. Donovan didn’t take offense to his reaction, he knew it had nothing to do with their relationship. Silver was a proud man who’d always made his own way. Combine that with his need to protect and care for his boy, and Donovan’s offers of financial help were met with severe resistance.
So far, he’d gotten Silver to agree to let him assist with the garage, as long as it meant they were in business together. And now that Silver had completely moved out of Carl Jenkin’s place, the only way Donovan had been able to convince Silver to stay at the condo with him was to accept rent money. Someday, once things had settled more, they’d pick out their own place together.
“Do you like the beach house?”
They’d only been there once, but they’d shared a nice day together. Of course, they always shared a nice day no matter where they were, so Donovan wasn’t sure if that said anything.
“It’s cool. Tough location though, now that you’ve found an office in Glendale you like, and the new garage is in Eagle Rock.”
Donovan stroked the hard ridges of Silver’s abs. “True. The tax bill on that place is ghastly. We should sell it.” He lifted his head. “What do you think?”
Silver rubbed his thumb over Donovan’s beard. “Do you see yourself—” Silver must’ve noted Donovan’s scowl. “Do you see us using it enough to warrant the upkeep and taxes?”
“Actually, I don’t. Plus, it was more of a hook-up location than anything else.” He smirked. “Something to impress all the boys.”
That remark earned him a pinch, which was sort of what he’d been going for.
“Such a brat.” Silver softened the admonishment with a quick peck on Donovan’s lips. “So if you sell the beach house, the most outrageous models in your car collection and your stock in Fonterra and Associates, you’ll still be a millionaire many times over and could live a good life off the interest alone. Does that sound about right?”
While intellectually Donovan was already aware that Silver was right, hearing him say it out loud made all the difference. He didn’t need to be tied to his family. Instead, he’d start a new one with Silver.
“It does. Thank you.” Donovan smiled. “That helped a lot.”
“You’re welcome.” Silver had moved to running his fingers through Donovan’s hair. “Then, once we have the garage and your new business going full steam—we’re set.”
Donovan wrapped his arms around Silver’s neck. “This is the first time since I began design school that I’ve felt such excitement about life. But more importantly, it’s the first time I’ve wanted a future with someone, and that feeling goes beyond excitement. You’re my whole world, Papi. I hope you know that.”
Silver placed soft kisses all around Donovan’s mouth then pushed his tongue past the seam of Donovan’s lips. He tasted him over and over, Donovan opening up to his Papi, submitting to the demands of the kiss. Silver broke away, but framed Donovan’s face with his palms.
“Mijo, I’ve waited for you, ached to have a boy of my own. You’re my whole world too.”
Silver drew him into his arms, and they held each other for several minutes, Silver rocking him until their breaths matched.
“Can we go to bed now?”
Silver chuckled. “I hope you don’t mean you’re tired, because I have a special gift for you.”
Donovan drew back so he could see Silver’s expression. He grinned. It was positively wicked.
“Oh, do tell.”
Silver pinched him again. “It’s a surprise. Up you go.” Silver encouraged him off his lap, then headed to the bedroom without waiting for Donovan. He glanced over his shoulder. “I want full nakedness when I get