Page 25 of Havoc
Remy took his shoes off, placing them at the end of the bed before pulling the comforter back to the end. He scrolled through his phone as he waited for Lawrence. True to his word, he didn’t take long, even though Remy told him to take his time.
He stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Remy looked him over before tossing his phone aside and standing. He approached him, placing his hands on the other man’s waist and pulling him over to the bed.
“Lay on your stomach, baby.”
Remy watched as Lawrence lay down, then grabbed the massage oil before straddling his legs and opening the bottle. He’d made sure to get water-based oil so it would absorb and not leave a mess.
He’d been massaging Lawrence’s back for a few minutes when Remy shifted, and the other man gasped before groaning.
“Remy,” he stated exasperatedly, and Remy found himself chuckling.
“Relax, baby. I can keep my dick in my pants.”
Lawrence scoffed. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Remy massaged Lawrence’s lower back for the next half an hour, pulling small groans and moans from him for the first twenty minutes. When Remy heard Lawrence’s soft breathing, he looked to find him sleeping.
Slowly getting off of him, Remy pulled the towel from Lawrence, covering him with the comforter and placing the towel in the bathroom on the rack. He put his shoes on, kissing Lawrence’s cheek before turning off the lamp and leaving the room.
Remy turned the television off and left the apartment, locking the door. He slid into his car and headed to his condo. He made a mental note to text Lawrence tomorrow to see how he felt.
10
Lawrence weaved through traffic and headed to Alijah’s gallery. He, Chayse, and Erin were helping her package some paintings she’d sold and hang up new ones in their place. He hadn’t seen the three of them at the same time since the wedding. He’d been assigned several new businesses to try to get as clients that kept him busy. Well, that and when he wasn’t working, he’d been spending time with Remy.
Though he was sure, the three of them were doing the same. Alijah enjoying married life, Chayse enjoying living with Nik, and Erin enjoying her two new men. Even if they didn’t know it was Remy with whom he was spending his free time. They’d been dating for a few weeks, but Lawrence hadn’t told anyone. It wasn’t as if he was keeping it a secret. They went out, and people saw them.
He’d considered going to Chayse and Nik’s housewarming party, but he’d been sore, his back hurting again that weekend. He relaxed in Remy’s bed but insisted the other man go. In hindsight, Lawrence had become more sore after Remy returned from the gathering. So, that may not have been the best idea.
He pulled onto the street where Alijah’s gallery was and found a parking spot. It was going on one thirty, and he was lucky to get a place as close as he did.
The closed sign was up when he reached the door, but he tried the handle and found it unlocked. Lawrence stepped inside, not seeing anyone, but he figured that Alijah and whoever else may have beat him there were in the storage room where she kept her shipping materials and paintings before putting them out.
Lawrence was proven correct when he stepped into the storage room doorway and found all three women looking over a few of the paintings.
“Hey,” he greeted, drawing their attention.
“Hey,” Alijah responded as the three turned to look at him.
“I didn’t think you’d be able to come help since you were working,” Chayse spoke as he stepped into the room.
“I didn’t have much I needed to focus on today, so I was able to get it done,” Lawrence responded. “I’m more shocked that Alijah could get away from Kieran.”
“He doesn’t have any meetings this afternoon. So, he’ll be okay without me for a few hours.” Alijah responded. “I ordered lunch for us. It should be here soon.”
They helped Alijah take shipping boxes, filling for the boxes, and the paintings she was shipping out to the main area for the next thirty minutes. She sold quite a few pieces since she’d had the gallery. Lawrence thought she should get someone to work for her during the week instead of just on the weekends. He did not doubt that she would eventually begin to sell more and need the additional help.
While she had someone working Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the gallery was closed the rest of the week. Alijah still dropped in for a couple of hours when it was open, and she insisted on packaging and shipping any paintings that were sold and needed to be sent herself. Lawrence could understand that. She wanted to make sure that the paintings reached the buyers unharmed.
They’d placed the lavender Styrofoam popcorn in the boxes, adding the paintings once they were wrapped in soft lilac cloth. A thank you card was placed on top.
Once they were all packaged, Lawrence carried them carefully behind the desk, where they’d be picked up at five-thirty when the gallery opened. She’d sold three paintings. Two were shipping to other cities, and the other would be delivered to an art collector in town. They’d sealed the last one when there was a knock on the door.
Alijah opened it, took the food, and tipped the delivery person. She then went over to the desk, placed the food down, and reached over to grab a bottle of wine. They made small talk as they ate overthe next forty-five minutes, and once finished, they cleaned up, taking a short break to digest before Alijah went to choose new paintings.
While Lawrence waited for Alijah to choose, he took out his phone. He noticed he had a text from Remy asking if they were still on for that evening. Lawrence responded that they were, and he was fine with Remy picking him up.
Alijah and Chayse stood back when the paintings were chosen, ensuring they were straight while he and Erin placed the pictures. They hung slightly high, which made it easier for them to hang them.
