He checked the time and figured he'd better call his mother before she found out about Ronin from one of the Anatolis brothers. It seemed they spoke to his beloved mom more than he did. Smiling, he turned to the house phone and dropped it between his head and shoulder and dialed her number.
" Hola?"
José smiled. "Hey, Ma."
"José! Mi hijo! "
"How are you? I had to call because I needed to talk to you about something."
"Oh nonsense. Is it about when you're coming to España to visit your poor mother? Te extraño."
"I miss you too, Ma, but this should make you happy. I met someone."
His mother gasped dramatically. "And you're serious about him because you wouldn't have told me about him if you weren't."
"I am."
"Well, what's his name? What does he do? Where's he from?"
José laughed. "His name is Ronin McCall…"
"The painter?"
"Um… he paints, yes. Usted le conoce?"
"Well I've never met him. But he did some amazing paintings for a firm I was contracted to a few years ago.
Then he disappeared for a while."
"He was in the Navy."
"The Navy? Well that explains it. That means he's sexy…"
José wanted to bash his head into a desk. "Ma!"
"Oh come on! I'm a woman you know."
" Yo se. But still! And yes, he is sexy. I don't know I
just—I don't want to mess this up. Ma, what do I do? He said I didn't have to worry or change who I was to make him happy. But what if clumsy José isn't what he wants?"
"Then I'd hope he would be man enough to say so.
Look, honey, love isn't complicated. We make it so. Just go with him, make this relationship grow. Get to know him in every way possible and see what comes out of it. Invest in him."
"You are very smart, Ma."
She laughed softly. "I know. That is why I'm the mother. Now I know it's late in Eros with the time difference and all. Get some sleep, okay?"
" Gracias, Ma. I'll come see you soon, huh? Maybe after we finish this job for Laird."
"I'm going to hold you to that. And you're welcome, sweetheart. Good night."
" Buenas noches. " He was barely off the phone with his mom when his cell phone vibrated beside him on the desk and he reached for it.
"Hey," José answered.
"I wish I could tuck you in tonight." Ronin's voice was soft, like the wind blowing over José's skin. "It seems we haven't really had a chance to have some quality time since we started this thing."
"This thing?"
"Yes. You know what I mean."
José chuckled and set his teacup down. He curled his left leg beneath his bum. "I know what you mean. I was thinking about us earlier. I was trying to make a decision."
"Yeah—what were you thinking?"
"I was thinking if I feel like this for you now, what will it be like if we get a chance to really grow together?"
There was a silence on the other end that threatened to drive José mad. Finally Ronin cleared his throat. When he spoke again, his voice was different, almost hard.
"All right. What did you decide?"
"This would be easier if we were together," José said softly. "I want you, Ronin. In every possible way."
Ronin laughed. It was a rough sound that reminded José of the way Ronin had dominated him—pulling his hair, spanking his ass, fucking him roughly, leaving José's mouth open for a scream that never came. What he did get was blinding passion that he would happily let enflame him.
"Well, let's do this then."
José smiled. "You sure?"
"I'm positive. We're not children, José. We've moved from being just together, to being together. I can live with that. When I woke up with you beside me the other day, I was so happy to see you there and I couldn't
understand why."
"Because I give you booty?"
Ronin laughed. "And that—that humor you have does my heart good."
José hung his head then, heat spreading on his cheeks as his body pulsed sweetly. "Good night, Ronin."
"Night, baby."
Chapter Nine
Ronin carried the final frame from his workroom and placed it beside the others in the large sunroom. He stepped back and rubbed a hand over his cheeks as he looked down at the final set of paintings he was doing for José. A smile crept across his face as he wondered how he'd gotten them all done. He kept stealing time to see José, to take José out for dinner, lunch or just to get some booty.
But he loved every moment of it. He licked his lips, rested his hands on his hips, and walked from the room as he undid one of the straps from his paint-covered overalls. In the kitchen he grabbed a bottle of water and after a long drink he turned to the fridge to see what was for dinner.
The phone rang loudly behind him and he groaned.
" Yellow?"
Mack laughed. "Well, someone's in a good mood.
That means one thing."
"Yeah? And what's that?"
"You are getting laid."
Ronin chuckled. "Yeah, whatever. What's up?"
"Well, I'm packing a bag. I finished my caseload and I'm heading to Eros."
"Finally," Ronin cheered. "When are you leaving?"
"First thing tomorrow morning. I should land in
Century at about eleven. You coming out to get me or do I have to walk to Eros?"
"Tempting. But I'll come get you. I have to talk to you about something too but I'll wait till you get here."
"Sounds serious. Did you tell them your brother carries a gun for a living?"
Ronin laughed. "You're being a drama king again.
It's nothing bad, trust me. It's about my love life."
"Want me to take the red eye?"
Ronin shook his head. "No, I can wait. You be careful. And
