Page 11 of Enslaved

“No.” Heath stepped around him.

Portland jumped back into his path. “I’m quite serious. I’m willing to make you a very generous offer.”

Heath squared his shoulders. “No.” This time, he didn’t walk away. He held Portland’s stare, so the man understood he wouldn’t be budged.

Confusion twisted Portland’s features. “Why? It’s obvious you can’t stand him.”

“Why do you want his contract? What would you do with it?”

Under his unwavering stare, Portland turned visibly uncomfortable. He shifted nervously. “I have no immediate plans.”

Heath felt the way his intensity doubled. “The remainder of his contract is worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and you just offered to pay even more. That’s not the actions of a man with no plan. So, again, what do you plan to do with his contract?”

“I don’t see why it would matter to you.”

Heath didn’t falter. “It matters.”

Portland lost his shiny composure. “Why do want to keep him so badly? If you don’t even like him and won the damn thing in a bet anyhow, why refuse to sell?”

Something dark rose inside Heath. It sounded in his voice. “This. For this fucking reason, right here. You’re badgering me to buy Court like he’s a goddamn object. He’s a person. I might only hold his contract for the next sixty days, but for those months, he’ll get to be the human fucking being he is. Now get the hell out of my way. I have places to be.” While still fuming, Heath stepped around a visibly shocked Portland, leaving him behind. He considered going back and turning the argument physical while he waited for valet to bring his car. Heath couldn’t count the number of times he had seen Court on Portland’s arm and the guy still treated Court like he was nothing. Court was a person. This job was bullshit. Fuck everyone who had led Court into this position and trapped him there, including Heath. Heath was enraged, and he had no idea how to fix anything. All he knew was he wanted to get back to Court. So, that was what he would do.

Chapter Six

Court hated when hecouldn’t remember where he left his phone. He had shaken down his clothes and searched all the usual places. Court didn’t think he had left it in Heath’s car, but he had jumped out pretty quickly at the sight of his dad melting down. It was possible. He had been distracted by Heath hiring a spa crew to come to them. Then Heath had fed him and found them something to watch. It hit Court. He remembered checking the time on his phone before setting it on the coffee table. Court searched around the table, going as far as to move it and check beneath. He had no idea how much jostling had gone on in the night for them to end up so entangled. Plus, Court had shoved Heath off the couch. It was likely Heath had hit the table. Court winced. He hadn’t considered that before now. Court dropped to his knees and peered under the couch.

“Ha. There you are.” Court dug his phone from beneath the edge of the couch. He had missed hundreds of texts. “Damn.I should’ve left you under there.” With a sigh, Court plopped down on the couch and started scrolling. It was the usual spiral from both his parents. This time, though, Court wouldn’t give in. He was really done this go around. Seventy-five thousand was the breaking point. That eye-popping number proved exactly how far his dad would go with no regard for Court, or anyone, for that matter. He couldn’t do this anymore. Court barely skimmed the texts, feeling nothing any longer. They had beaten him down years ago. His scrolling slowed as he came closer to the end. The tone changed. Suddenly, he was being praised as the amazing son they knew him to be. Court paused to actually read. His dad’s debt had been paid. The phone dropped to Court’s lap. He stared at nothing. It didn’t take much mental math to figure out how that debt had disappeared. Court didn’t know how he felt. On one hand, this would only embolden his father to continue spiraling. On the other, why? Why would Heath do this? He had a hard time reconciling the image he had carried for years of Heath with the man he had spent the last couple of days with. Court didn’t even know if he should broach the topic. For better or worse, Court was blown away.

Another thought creeped in, undermining him. What did Heath expect in exchange? Did he want Court in his debt? He didn’t know how to handle this. The doorbell rang, cutting through his spinning thoughts. Court tossed his phone aside. He hoped it wasn’t his dad again. Court didn’t bother checking his camera. By the time he got it pulled up on his phone, he could have the door open. The immediate rush of joy he felt at the sight of Heath on the other side shocked him speechless.

Heath smiled. He had a cat tucked under one arm and the other hand behind his back. He looked like a butler, presenting him with his daily pet.

Court chuckled. “You know, most men just bring flowers.”

A bright smile lit Heath’s face. “I believe this is what they call the cat distribution system. He was crying in your yard.”

Court plucked Tom from Heath’s hold. “Yeah. That’s because he’s mine. He’s just an asshole who likes to escape and try to knock up all the neighborhood cats. Of course, he fails, but that doesn’t stop him.” He stepped back, letting Heath pass. “I’m surprised he let you pick him up. I wasn’t joking. He really is an asshole.” He shut the door and set Tom on the floor. When he turned, Heath held a coffee mug with a peace symbol on it and a tiny cactus planted inside.

“This is what I brought. See? It’s a peace offering.” He pointed at the peace sign. “And it’s prickly. Just like me,” he said, pointing at the cactus.

Court couldn’t stop smiling. His face hurt. “Idiot.” He accepted the gift. Court couldn’t stop looking at it as he carried it to a nearby shelf. “I’ll leave it here where I can be reminded of the day I made amends with a prick.”

The sound of Heath’s laughter did something to Court’s chest. The sensation doubled when he turned and saw the genuine Heath was still with him, smiling and obviously here to stay.

Heath’s smile slipped a hair. “Do you mean it?”

“Mean what?”

“Am I forgiven?” He looked like a naughty child, begging for forgiveness. The puppy dog eyes were too much.

“I’m getting there.” The sweetest and most heart-stopping smile passed over Heath’s lips. Court had to move on. He motioned toward the couch. “You don’t have to stand in the middle of the living room. Sit.”

Heath moved Court's phone to the coffee table and sat. Court chose the opposite end. For a moment, they sat in uncomfortable silence.

Court couldn’t take it. “Why did you do it?”

Heath looked confused as hell. “You’ll really have to be more specific. I’ve done a lot.”

An embarrassed chuckle escaped Court. He realized how quick and accusatory his question sounded. He tried to start over with less bursting at the seams. “Why did you pay Dad’s debt?”

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