Page 1 of Forbidden Lust

CHAPTER 1

JOSH

This was the worst date of his life!

The guy, Neo, was handsome... and confident about it, which Josh didn’t have a problem with. He loved confidence in men; it was something he himself lacked in droves, although he hid it well. Neo was ten years older than him, and Josh preferred older guys, as people his own age often came across as immature. He’d needed to grow up quickly over the last three years, so was finding he had less in common with his peers than he once did.

His life had been completely upended when his parents were killed in a car crash, leaving him with the responsibility of his younger sister, Carly. She’d been eighteen when it happened, so he hadn’t needed to get formal guardianship, but she had been just about to start university. She went to Starhaven University, like him, which was in London, so at least they could live together and keep costs down. Their one-bedroom flat in South East London was a squeeze, but this way she wouldn’t graduate with debt. His parents had lived within their means, and they hadn’t wanted for any of the essentials as kids, but holidays were a luxury, as was eatingout. Both his parents had worked hard to provide for him and his sister, with no help from his birth father.

That was another sore spot for Josh. The man he’d called Dad had been in his life since he was five years old. He was Carly’s biological father, and had treated both of them as if they were his own. His sperm donor, which is how he referred to the other one, had never made a single contribution to his upbringing, whether that be financially or emotionally. He’d been twenty when Josh was born, and had no interest in a kid. Josh could understand that. However, the sperm donor was now a millionaire. He’d attended the funeral, and they had spoken briefly, having only met a few times before. Josh’s emotions had been in a heightened state and he was wondering how he was going to pay for two funerals. It hadn’t been the ideal time to ask for help, but he was desperate, and the only way he had to contact him was through his business mobile phone. The fact he didn’t have his own father’s personal mobile number or address was very telling. His father had basically told him to get fucked the one time he’d asked for help.

Josh wasn’t one for queenie drama, but he could be a petty bitch when he wanted to be. He knew of his father’s company from his mother, and one of their biggest competitors was Montgomery Equity, so Josh had made it his mission to work for that company. Within a year, he was the executive assistant to the CEO, Oscar Montgomery – even better than he’d planned – but what had started out as a bit of petty revenge had resulted in a job that he not only loved but was great at. Bringing order to another person’s chaos was where he thrived. It was his own chaos that was more of a challenge, but he was slowly ticking things off his list.

His career was going well. He had ambitions, and Oscar was supportive of those. Carly would graduate in the summer and get a job, so they could get a bigger place to live. As for romance, here he was. Dinner with a handsome olderman, who was certainly a “character,” if Josh was being polite. It was his New Year’s resolution to get a boyfriend, and this was his first date of the year after he’d reinstalled all the apps on the second of January. He had a feeling where this date was going after Neo had given one of the wildest opening lines he’d ever heard.

“I rarely buy a guy dinner until after I’ve been inside him.”

Who says that on a first date? He then ordered for Josh, so there wouldn’t be “too much prep later,” which was presumptuous. Josh was an anomaly in the gay community. He didn’t sleep with men on the first date. It resulted in some lengthy dry spells, but he wanted a relationship, not another notch on his bedpost. He’d done all the mindless screwing when he was at university, but he was twenty-five now, and although many of his peers were still sowing those oats, Josh wanted a partner. He suspected Neo just wanted an eager bottom to pump up his ego.

“How do you find working in the city?” asked Josh, wanting to keep the topic of conversation in the safe zone.

“Love it. All those guys in suits, showing off their bubble butts... I walk around hard all day.”

Okay!

“I bet you look good in a suit, Joshua.”

“It’s just Josh. Not short for Joshua.”

“Hmmm, I think I’ll call you Joshua. It suits you better. Josh is a bit boy racer, and you come across as more of a gentleman.”

Was that a compliment?

“I hope you won’t be too much of a gentleman when you’re choking on my dick later.”

Josh almost choked on something – his dinner.

“Like the sound of that, did you? I knew you’d be filthy in bed. The quiet ones always are.”

Josh felt like his face was on fire, and he wanted to be anywhere else but here. They were still eating their maincourse, though. Josh was eating a fairly bland chicken dish... because Neo had ordered it. Neo was chomping down on steak and chips.

He needed to say something, because he didn’t want to string Neo along, but he also didn’t want to be lumbered with the whole bill from this expensive restaurant his date had insisted they eat at. Oscar paid Josh well, but London was not cheap, and he was covering his sister’s tuition fees, which were ten grand a year, plus her living expenses. He could worry about his own student debt later. Right now, he wanted to give Carly the best start to her working life that he could, and having no debt would give her more opportunities. She could pursue her dreams and passions, rather than a specific salary target.

They wrapped up their dinner, keeping to safer topics, with the occasional innuendo from Neo. Josh chuckled along, but just wanted this date to be over.

“I’ll get this,” said Neo, pulling the bill over to himself.

Josh was conflicted. That set out an obligation on his part to reciprocate. If he turned down going back to his place, he would look like an arsehole. He needed to do something.

“I prefer to split it on the first date.”

Neo narrowed his eyes, looking at Josh. Could he guess he wasn’t getting into Josh’s pants tonight? Or any night, for that matter. Josh imagined Neo liked to have sex in front of a mirror, so he could watch himself and flex his muscles, à la Patrick Bateman fromAmerican Psycho. Josh wouldn’t be surprised if Neo was a secret serial killer. It was clear he’d suffered as a child, with a name like Neo. Children were nasty little bastards in the playground.

“Firstdate? That’s very presumptuous of you, Joshua. Already planning our second date, are you?”

“No,” Josh spluttered. “That’s not what I meant. I just think it doesn’t set any expectations for anyone then.”

“Oh, so you don’t want a second date?”

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