Page 8 of Business vs. Pleasure

“Of course I love him.” Ricardo meant to snap at her, but it came out shaky and hurt. “And I hate myself. I can’t excuse it. I won’t.”

“Breathe, Ricardo.” Her voice was gentle but firm. “You fucked up, but it isn’t like you went out and cheated on him.”

“Then why does it feel like I did?” Christ, he sounded pathetic. “I would never cheat on him. Never in a million years. But now it feels… Fuck. It feels like I did.”

“You didn’t.”

That wasn’t Eve.

Ricardo almost dropped his phone as he spun around, and there was August. He stood just a few feet away, dressed only in a pair of track pants that probably cost a fortune and his extra-supportive slippers. His expression was unsettlingly serious, but not angry.

Ricardo gulped. “I, uh…” He cleared his throat. “I have to go.”

“Good luck,” Eve said, and ended the call.

Heart pounding, Ricardo slipped his phone into his pocket. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough that I want to know what happened to the chicken.”

Ricardo almost wanted to laugh, but instead, he was stunned to realize August had been listening for so long. And it wasn’t even that August had managed to go undetected, though that was unnerving in its own right; no one could get the drop on Ricardo. Not after the Green Berets and years as an assassin had fine-tuned his situational awareness. Shit, maybe those senses were atrophying, because that would help him with all this restlessness.

That mini-freakout was mostly in the back of his mind, though, overshadowed by how much August had actually heard.

“I, uh…” Ricardo cleared his throat. “I wasn’t trying to go behind your back. It was just Eve—I needed⁠—”

“I know.” August sounded calmer than he had since their argument in the bedroom. “I get it.” He laughed, what little sound there was swallowed up by the gentle breeze. “I was probably going to call her myself.”

“You—really?”

“Are you kidding?” August crept closer. “She’s way smarter than both of us and she understands you.”

Ricardo let go of an uneasy laugh. “She is. And she does.” He sobered, studying his husband. “I’m sorry, August. I⁠—”

“Shut up.” August closed the remaining space between them and slid his hands over Ricardo’s waist. “I heard what you said. And…” He sighed, resting his head on Ricardo’s shoulder. “I get it. I was pissed, and yes, it hurt that you didn’t say anything. But… I get it.”

Letting his eyelids slide shut, Ricardo wrapped his arms around August. “Still. I should’ve told you.” He stroked August’s hair. “I should have… Well. It was all stupid, and I’m sorry.”

A quiet laugh shook August in Ricardo’s arms. “I’m just glad you admit it was stupid.”

Ricardo chuckled and rolled his eyes.

After a moment, August drew back and met his gaze, and some of his usual spiciness had returned. “Also? I looked at the site, and have you seen this fucker who’s catching up to us?” He scoffed and made a face. “NightRaven? Really? I will not be outdone by some edgelord clown named NightRaven. Ugh.”

Ricardo blinked, caught off-guard by the shift even though he’d known August long enough that he wasn’t actually surprised. “So… you’re saying you want to come out of retirement and⁠—”

“If it means keeping NightRaven in third place where he fucking belongs? You’re goddamned right I do.” He cocked a brow. “So was Heidi contacting you about an actual job? Or was she just trying to lure you back in again?”

“I’m not sure,” Ricardo said with total honesty. “Her message said she had something interesting, but I haven’t responded to her. Since… you know…” He gestured at himself and August.

His husband nodded. “Well. Maybe you should get back to her.”

“Maybe.” Ricardo took August by the hips and turned him around. As he nudged him toward the door, he murmured in his ear, “I guess it just depends on if you think I should do that before or after we have makeup sex.”

August’s breath stuttered in the most delicious way, and he glanced over his shoulder at Ricardo. Their eyes locked for a few electric seconds.

Then he licked his lips. “If you contact that woman before you fuck me into the mattress, I will murder you for real.”

Ricardo laughed, relieved they were back on solid ground.