But then he went over the line, crossing into too attentive. Trying too hard to make a connection with Ally. And that "Wish" line? Even Ally wouldn't write something like that. So silly and cornball it was unbelievable. Except something seemed so sincere about the way Bennie had said it.

Oh, yeah, he's good. But d.a.m.n, Ally thought, leaning back in his chair. The guy was gorgeous. Movie star, runway model, holy-h.e.l.l-have-you-ever-seen... gorgeous. Maybe he had been hasty. Maybe he should have at least gotten his money's worth from the escort instead of storming off. He was probably going to pay for it no matter what. Robbie would have used his credit card, so what would be the harm? Ally dropped his hand to his lap and was surprised by how warm it was against his hardening c.o.c.k, until he looked down and remembered it was No Pants Day. Groaning, he stood and went to get fully dressed.

Otto was just leaving when he got back to the office, after dropping off a tray with a bowl of soup and a sandwich on the desk.

"Thanks, Otto." He smiled gratefully at his one true friend.

"Anytime. Can I get you anything else?"

"No, thanks. I just need to make some calls. I'm expecting some movers later, though," Ally said a bit sadly.

Otto studied Ally for a moment before nodding. "All right, then." He patted Ally on the shoulder before walking away.

Ally plopped down in his chair and started eating, chewing without really tasting anything. Instead, he stared at the sports drink Otto had left, thinking it was the same color as Bennie's eyes. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and picked up the phone. He dialed his accountant's number by memory. He talked to the man enough when he was going through his friends' extravagant spending habits. All on Ally's credit cards, of course.

"h.e.l.lo, Aloysius. What can I do for you?" Ally winced at hearing his full name, but he knew he'd never get his longtime accountant to change.

"Hey, Emille. It's time for plan B."

A sharp exhale crackled in Ally's ear. "Are you sure, son?"

"Yep. Close all the credit cards, change every pa.s.sword, migrate every account. How soon can you have new cards sent over?"

"I can send you something this afternoon. Aloysius, do you really want to do this?"

"Yes. And can you arrange for some movers?"

"For the whole house?"

Ally chuckled. "No, just the bedroom stuff. And the office. Not any of the furniture."

Emille sighed. "All right. Where will they be taking everything?"

Ally paused. He wasn't sure. All he knew was he had to get away. Fast. If he knew anything about Robbie, it was that he was already making backup plans to make sure Ally didn't cut him off. He wanted to be gone before his freeloading friends showed up.

"You know what? Just arrange to put them in storage. I'll find a hotel for a few days. And send some cash with the new cards. Just don't authorize anyone else to use them."

"Aloysius, are you sure you're not just overreacting?"

The doorbell rang, and Ally heard Otto's footsteps heading away from him. He leaned back in his chair and considered everything that had happened that morning. Was he being rash? He thought about Bennie, smiling at him from across the restaurant. Maybe his friends did care, even if the way of showing it was messed up. Robbie had hired escorts for him before. Maybe it was his way to look out for him.

"Aloysius? Are you still there?"

He sighed. "I don't know, Emille. It may be harsh, but I've got to do something. These guys are taking too much from me. They don't give anything back. I need to move on somehow." He heard voices and looked up to see Otto leading Bennie into the office. He smiled that professional smile at Ally again, and that solidified his decision. "No, Emille, I'm not overreacting. Do what I asked."

"All right, son. I'll get the cards messengered over today."

"Thank you, Emille." He hung up, probably with a little more force than needed, judging by Bennie's reaction. Otto discreetly stepped out of the room, leaving them alone. "What do you want?"

Chapter Six.

WHEN Harley pulled up, Bennie almost didn't want to get out of the car. The estate was breathtaking. And intimidating. He shivered, wondering what he was doing there. Harley pulled up, Bennie almost didn't want to get out of the car. The estate was breathtaking. And intimidating. He shivered, wondering what he was doing there.

"Man, you don't have to do this. Just leave the jacket with whoever opens the door, and we'll go."

"No. I'll be fine."

"You sure? You look like you lost your mojo there."

"My mojo? Well, don't worry. We don't have to build a time machine or anything. I'll get it back." He looked over at Harley, laughing. A sc.r.a.p of blue material lying in the back seat caught his eye as he stepped out of the car. He leaned in and grabbed it. "Can I take this?"

Harley nodded. "Be my guest. I think it's my sister's. She must have left it when we went to the beach last week."

"Don't wait up," he said as he tied the sarong around his waist and dropped the ap.r.o.n into Harley's front seat before turning to the steps.

"Good luck, my man," Harley called out as he drove off.

Bennie looked around the room while Wish finished up his call, feeling out of place. Wish had a freaking butler, after all. Bennie had people surrounding him all the time, people catering to his every whim, but no one whose job it was to handle all the little things for him. His time at the top of the modeling world gave him access to some of the most beautiful homes on the planet. He'd been in mansions, and estates, and palaces all over the world, all filled with servants, and it had never impressed him. Everyone wanted him around, usually to decorate their arms or add glamour to their huge parties, filled with all the food, alcohol, drugs, and orgies he wanted. He just floated through the parties, smiling on cue. He didn't stay long, and he never spent the night. The hosts would be disappointed, sometimes even threatened him, but he stuck to his morals and wouldn't let himself get caught up in the excessive lifestyles. Lifestyles that people like Palmer wanted desperately, clinging to him for any opening into the upper echelons.

Bennie shook his head. Why did coming to an estate to visit one guy make him so nervous when the opulent parties never affected him? What was it about Wish that made him feel like that teenager back in the trailer park? From what he'd seen, Wish wasn't anything like those guys who pawed at him, trying to buy his affection. He chuckled at the irony. All those guys throwing money at him, hoping-expecting-him to bend over for a few bucks and a fancy house, trading on their bank accounts or the power of their names. He always walked away from them.

Then there was Wish, throwing money at him to just go away. Not expecting anything from him. In fact, Wish didn't seem to expect much of anything from anyone, except maybe a kick to the teeth. And Bennie was here chasing him.

"What do you you want?" want?"

Wish had changed out of the suit, but he still looked commanding sitting behind the ma.s.sive desk. The purple polo shirt really brought out the green eyes, but now he noticed a fire in those eyes and the spots of color high in his cheeks. By the way he slammed the phone down, he was angry.

Good for him. It looks good on him.

"You left your jacket, Wish." He held the expensive coat out to him, waiting for Wish to come to him. He gave a tiny smile when Wish leaned back in his chair and stayed right where he was.

"You could have just left it with Otto."

"Well, I wanted to make sure you got it." He turned up his smile. Given how Wish had left the restaurant, he thought it wouldn't hurt to pour his considerable charm into it.

Wish shook his head. "Did you really think there was a chance I wouldn't get it? This is is my home." my home."

d.a.m.n. This isn't going the way it's supposed to. He held up the folded pages. "You forgot this too. I figured you might want it back." The way Wish's shoulders slumped, Bennie knew there was a story behind this story. "I hope you don't mind. I read it." He held up the folded pages. "You forgot this too. I figured you might want it back." The way Wish's shoulders slumped, Bennie knew there was a story behind this story. "I hope you don't mind. I read it."

Wish looked up, a wary expression on his face. "And? What did you think of it?"

"Brilliant."

Wish started closing up the files that were open on his desk and cleaning up the lunch tray.

"Wait. What did I say?"

"Nothing. Thank you for returning my things. Just drop it on the chair there. I trust you have a way back, or do I need to have Otto call you a cab?" He tapped a pile of papers against the desk to straighten them. Bennie could tell something was bothering Wish.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He reached out to stop Wish. "Talk to me. Maybe I can help."

"Talk to you? I don't even know you." Wish's color was rising again. He really was upset about something. "Look, I've really got to go now. Thank you again, and Otto will see you out." He left the room, leaving Bennie standing there to wonder just what in the h.e.l.l was going on. He heard a m.u.f.fled conversation in the hallway, and Otto appeared in the doorway.

"I'll take those."

"Look, I didn't mean to upset him. Can you tell me what I did?" He would have faked sincerity if he had to, but he didn't need to in this case. Watching Wish shut down before his eyes went straight to his heart and strengthened his resolve to do whatever he could to get Wish's life on a better track.

"He's had to make some tough decisions today. I can show you out."

"Wait. Is there anything I can do? I just want to help, but I seem to keep s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g it up."

Otto looked at him, and it felt as bad as the time he picked up Lizzie Shaffer for the junior prom. The silent a.s.sessment her dad gave him had him squirming under the scrutiny. It felt like an inquisition, even though he hadn't said a word. Now Otto was giving him that same look, and it felt even more uncomfortable. He felt heat washing over the back of his neck, and he was glad his dark skin hid the blush. He fought the urge to shuffle his feet. Finally, Otto nodded.

"Follow me." He turned and walked out of the room and started up the stairs. He pointed at a couple of suitcases standing at the base of the staircase. "Pick those up, would you?"

"What?" Bennie shook his head, not understanding what was happening.

"You want to help? Pick those up and follow me."

"But-"

"Never mind. I'll take them myself." Otto turned around to head back down and grab the bags himself.

"No. I got them." Bennie was surprised by the weight of the bags-or rather, the absence of weight in the empty suitcases. "Is Wish going on a trip?"

"You could say that."

"Where's he going?" he asked, fishing for information. Maybe he could arrange to have his next shoot there and "accidentally" b.u.mp into him.

"I'm not sure he's thought that far ahead."

"What?"

"He hasn't made any arrangements yet, as far as I know."

Bennie stopped on the stairs. "You mean he's just packing up and leaving? No idea of where he's headed?"

Otto turned to him. "Yes. That's what I'm saying. Ally has decided to clear out his accounts and leave. No forwarding address, no destination. Just leaving."

Bennie climbed the couple of steps to stand next to Otto. "Is this because of his friends? Because of what he thinks they did to him today? Because I'm not what he thinks I am."

"Well, maybe you can help him decide where he's going to go."

I have an idea or two. Most of which would include a party of two. "I'll be glad to talk to him, if he'll listen." "I'll be glad to talk to him, if he'll listen."

"Hopefully he will," Otto said sadly.

Chapter Seven.

ALLY stood looking around the room that had been his sanctuary all his life. He hated to leave it behind, but he knew it couldn't be helped. Leaving was the only option he could think of at this point. Robbie would make his life h.e.l.l if he stayed. Canceling all the credit cards and changing all the access codes was going to p.i.s.s him off. Robbie would show up at his house, pounding on the door until Otto let him in, just to get access to the Theodisius accounts again. stood looking around the room that had been his sanctuary all his life. He hated to leave it behind, but he knew it couldn't be helped. Leaving was the only option he could think of at this point. Robbie would make his life h.e.l.l if he stayed. Canceling all the credit cards and changing all the access codes was going to p.i.s.s him off. Robbie would show up at his house, pounding on the door until Otto let him in, just to get access to the Theodisius accounts again.

Sighing, Ally opened up the closet. He tried to imagine packing up everything in there-all the suits, the designer clothes-but nothing appealed to him. Instead, he went back to his dresser and emptied the drawers. Shorts, T-shirts, and polos were all he wanted to take. Looking at the pile on the bed, he chuckled, thinking the suitcases would be as empty as his life.

"Otto? I think I just need one duffel bag," he called out, far more cheerfully than he felt.

"Yes, sir." Ally started when Otto answered from behind him. He turned around, the smile dropping from his face.

"What are you still doing here?" He narrowed his eyes at Bennie. "And what are are you wearing?" you wearing?"

Bennie looked down, following Ally's look. "It's a sarong. It's still No Pants Day. What are you you wearing?" wearing?"

"Did you need Otto to call you a cab?" Ally turned toward the dresser, sorting through his watches. He didn't really care how they got packed, or even if they did, but he needed something to do. Bennie got to him. Bad. Or good. Whichever it was that made him want to hit the man. Then throw him down and do him. "He could have done it downstairs."

"But he needed help with these." Bennie smiled and lifted a suitcase at him. "Taking a trip?"

"Yeah," Ally answered. "To nowhere," he added under his breath. He took one of the suitcases and set it on the bed. He opened it and carefully stacked his clothes in it, but they didn't even fill half of the s.p.a.ce.

"Going someplace tropical?" Bennie asked as he hopped up on the bed. The edges of the sarong pulled apart, and Ally's eyes were drawn to the thick, muscular thigh. As Bennie shifted around to get comfortable, the slit opened farther. The fabric bunched in Bennie's lap, highlighting every line and curve in his legs. And between them, Ally realized. He turned and headed back into the closet, not really looking for anything, but needing to tear his eyes away from Bennie's legs.

"I have no idea," he mumbled.

"What?" Bennie called.

"Nothing. Never mind." He turned to his shoes but still couldn't find anything he wanted to take with him.

"This is really great, you know."

Ally went back to his room to find Bennie sitting at the head of his bed, his back against the headboard, a stack of papers in his hand. He had one foot planted on the bed and the other leg extended. That leg drew Ally's attention, up and under the sarong, which had fallen open. He could see Bennie's semihard c.o.c.k curving over a pair of b.a.l.l.s that made his mouth water. Bennie stretched, opening his legs farther, and Ally took a couple of steps closer without realizing it. He stopped, one hand reaching out, when a heard a noise. "What?" he asked, his eyes locked onto the promised land between Bennie's thighs.

"I said, do you see something you like?"

Ally's eyes shot up to meet Bennie's, and he could feel the blush starting on his neck. His ears burned like he was standing too close to a fire. Bennie was smirking, with one eyebrow up. "Sorry," he said before turning and almost running to the bathroom. Once inside, he slammed the door shut and leaned against it. His eyes were burning, and his breath was coming in gasps. What had he been thinking? He had nearly grabbed the man as he lay there on Ally's bed. Just because Bennie was being paid to be there didn't mean he wanted Ally pawing him. He really was getting desperate. The first c.o.c.k in his bed that wasn't attached to his own body, and he couldn't control his hands. He let out a growl and went to the sink. All he could see in the mirror was his own bright red face staring back at him. He gripped the cool marble tight to keep his hands from shaking.

That smirk on Bennie's face was etched in his mind. He knew what he was doing to Ally-he had to be doing it on purpose. What would he have done if Ally had actually reached under that silly flowered material to grab his c.o.c.k? He could tell Bennie liked to be watched. His body had reacted to the way Ally stood there, mesmerized. The semihard c.o.c.k stood at attention, apparently starving for some affection.

Was Bennie out there, fuming because Ally refused to play along? As he stood there, he pictured Bennie's smirk going from amus.e.m.e.nt to anger. He was probably ready to get this over with already. Ally wondered how many customers he scheduled in a day. He had to be anxious to get on to his next trick. Standing there, it was easy to picture Bennie getting angrier by the second. Finally, he'd get up and storm across the room. Ally closed his eyes, and the imagery took over his senses. Bennie, stalking across his bedroom to stand outside the locked bathroom door, those blue eyes blazing in contrast to his dark skin. He'd bang on the door, but Ally wouldn't answer.