Page 19 of Forbidden Lust

“No. It’s fine. We were supposed to meet last week, but I had food poisoning, so had to cancel on him.”

“You had food poisoning last week, and we’ve been fucking like bunnies? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Josh laughed. “It was just for a couple of days. I think I ate something dodgy on a date.”

Daniel felt a surge of jealousy at the thought of another man with his hands on Josh. He had to tamp that down straight away. Josh wasn’t his... well, not yet anyway.

“It’s weird, because he asked me not to contact him again after the funeral, and then out of the blue he asked me to meet him for lunch with no context.”

“Why did he ask you not to contact him again?”

“Oh. That was my fault.”

Daniel couldn’t believe that. The guy sounded like a complete arsehole. What kind of person asks their kid not to contact them again after their mum and stepdad have died?

“I asked for money,” said Josh, looking embarrassed.

Daniel gestured for him to continue. Josh needed to be comfortable with what he shared.

“He never contributed financially when I was growing up, which I get. I mean, he’s got a wife and two other kids. I was just a mistake he made when he was a teenager. Who wants reminding of that?”

Daniel focussed on the road ahead and tried not to grind his teeth too much.

“I asked him for money to help with the funeral costs. He said I was only interested in him for his money, and told me not to contact him again. It wasn’t my proudest moment, asking for money at my parents’ funeral, but I was desperate.”

“What about your other siblings?”

“Never met them. I’m not sure if they even know about me.”

“How do you cover Carly’s tuition fees? Student loans?”

“No, I don’t want her to graduate with loads of debt. They let us pay instalments, and since I got the job with Oscar it’s easier.”

Daniel was sceptical. How much did an exec assistant earn? He knew Oscar was like him, and would pay his employees their worth, but ten grand tuition fees a year plus a flat in London– no matter where it was– and living expenses for two people... Daniel wasn’t that far removed from his childhood to know that would be challenging.

He wanted to offer to support Josh financially, and also punch the sperm donor in the face. What a cunt. Daniel hoped he never met the guy. It didn’t look like he was ever going to be a feature in Josh’s life, though.

“Any idea what he wants?” asked Daniel.

“No, but Iwasgoing to meet him. I thought about telling him to piss off, but curiosity got the better of me.”

“Do you want me to come with you when you meet him?”

Josh looked at him with his mouth open.

“Some moral support is what I’m offering, Josh.”

“I’m not sure how that would go down. He doesn’t even know I’m gay, and if I rock up with a guy the same age as him, he might flip out.”

“The same age as him?” Daniel tickled Josh’s side. “You cheeky little fucker. I’ll get you back for that later.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” he replied with a cheeky grin.

“Oh no, boy. I think your punishment will be that you don’t get this dick tonight,” he said, palming his crotch.

Josh looked horrified and then pouted. It was fucking adorable, and there was no way Daniel could resist those big brown eyes again. He wasn’t sure who he was kidding here. He looked over at Josh, who was still pouting, and burst out laughing. Josh laughed along with him, and their conversation veered into less serious topics for the rest of their journey.

Daniel parked at one of his favourite restaurants, in a gorgeous village called Heartwood. It was the epitome of small town charm. They did the best traditional Sunday lunch in the country in Daniel’s view. Getting a table had been a challenge, but he’d been here enough times over the years that the owners – who were a gay couple and had become his friends– had said they could squeeze him in. The “guest he wanted to impress” probably intrigued them. Why had he said that on the phone? He wasn’t sure, but it had gotten him the table, so he couldn’t complain.

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