The Right One - Felice Stevens

ONE

* * *

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

At three in the morning, even in New York City, not many people were out. Morgan clutched his overnight bag and began to shake. His head spun, not from the slight concussion, but from leaving everything behind. His life had been on a downward spiral, starting with a Saturday night dinner party a few months earlier. Morgan touched his cheek as he remembered the painful details.

“I’m sorry, baby. You know I didn’t mean it.”

Cheek stinging, his head spinning from the punch to his jaw, Morgan gazed at his husband, who stood over him with an anxious expression in his eyes. Morgan remained sprawled out on the dining-room floor of their apartment.

“Why did you do it, then?” Morgan winced as he ran his fingertips over his face. “I told you Chris and I were only joking around.”

Jeffrey’s eyes narrowed, and Morgan’s heart raced. “He had his hand on your shoulder. Why would you let another man touch you?”

“It didn’t mean anything. Chris is my best friend. We’ve known each other for years. You know he’s with Sean.”

“Oh?” Jeffrey’s voice came out deceptively soft, and despite his aching head, Morgan tried to scoot away, but Jeffrey grabbed his ankle. “So you’d let any man touch you?”

Oh God, please, not again.

“N-no, of course not. I just meant it was innocent. Nothing sexual.”

“How do you know what he was thinking? I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I’ve watched him try to wiggle his way between us since we met.” Strong fingers bit into Morgan’s ankle, and he winced. “He wants you, but he knows you’re mine.”

Used to Jeffrey’s abrupt mood shifts, Morgan knew the best way to defuse the situation was to agree with everything he said until he changed back into the loving man he knew.

“Of course I’m yours.” Morgan softened his voice and smiled. “You’re my husband. You know I’ll do anything for you.”

Jeffrey’s eyes blazed. “Damn right you will.” He let go of Morgan’s ankle.

Things escalated a few weeks later, the night of the dinner he’d worked his ass off for, hoping to impress Jeffrey’s coworkers.

It hadn’t turned out as planned, and once everyone left, Jeffrey had let loose on him.

“Remember you have to type up my notes. You said you were too busy to do it before.”

When you were tired as hell from staying up half the night to make sure the dinner you arranged for your husband to impress the senior partner was perfect, the last thing you wanted to do at ten o’clock at night was to stare at a computer screen. If he made a mistake, Jeffrey would get angry. And if he got angry…Morgan hesitated.

“I was trying to make everything perfect for you. And I have to clean up now…”

Jeffrey crossed his arms. “Yes, you do. Especially the wine you spilled.” He advanced on Morgan, who took several steps back. “Are you saying you won’t help me?”

“Of course not. I’ll do whatever you need.”

Please don’t hurt me. I can’t take it anymore. Please…

Jeffrey grabbed him and kissed him thoroughly, leaving him breathless. “I love you so much. I’m sorry I got angry. Do you forgive me? Please say yes. Tell me you’re not angry. You know I didn’t mean it. I love you.”

“I know you’re under a lot of stress at work. But you’ll make partner. You’re so smart and work so hard.” Everything would be okay. He rubbed his cheek against Jeffrey’s, loving the closeness. This was what Morgan loved. Being needed and wanted. It was what had gotten him into trouble in the first place—feeling so alone and lost in New York City that he’d fallen head over heels for the first person who paid attention to him.

“I’d better. Although you spilling the wine certainly didn’t help me. Good thing Winthrop has a sense of humor.”

“I’m sorry,” Morgan whispered. “I’m such a klutz.”

“I know you are,” Jeffrey said but with such a good-natured smile, Morgan relaxed. “That’s why you need me. But you’re so cute and adorable, no one can resist you. And Winthrop is a prick, but I’d suck his cock if it would get me that partnership.” Jeffrey kissed him again, hard, his tongue pushing into Morgan’s mouth. “Now clean up while I go over tomorrow’s cases for my morning briefing. I’ll have the notes for you in about an hour. You don’t mind if I don’t help you, right? I have so much work to catch up on. I will if you