"Ah yes, the boyfriend," Mack exclaimed happily.
"It's great to finally put a face to the name."
José's heart did a happy dance and he laughed.
"Come on, we should get you back home before rush hour starts in Century."
"José, my friend, I live in New York… the capital of all traffic jams," Mack explained. "But you're right. They do suck."
The three piled into the truck. José opted to sit in the back after Ronin chucked the suitcase in. José picked up the package beside him, leaned forward, and handed it to Mack. "We thought you might be hungry. Airplane food is not the best for anyone's health."
Mack took it. "Thanks." He laughed. "I like him already, Ro, he feeds me."
"One thing you need to know about my brother, José. The best way to make him your friend is to feed him,"
Ronin said.
Mack stuck a sausage into his mouth. "I resent that!" he exclaimed but he was laughing nonetheless.
José sat back and looked out the window. He remained silent, giving the brothers a chance to talk as they drove back into Eros. The scenic route was always beautiful to him and he doubted he could find his way
through the back roads if he tried. He always loved driving along the ocean and feeling the salty air dance over his face and through his hair. He wound down the window and stuck a hand out, allowing the wind to flow through his fingers and over his flesh. There was nothing better.
"José, you coming home with us?" Ronin asked.
José inhaled and pulled his hand in. "No. Drop me off at my place? I want to give you two time to catch up."
"You all right?" Ronin asked.
"I'm fine, baby. I have some work to finish if we're going to go see my mother. I've been procrastinating so while you're with Mack, I'll have to do it, right?"
Mack laughed. "Man, so glad I'm the cure for procrastination."
"If you're sure," Ronin replied, making the left turn.
José reached to kiss the back of Ronin's head. "I'm sure."
At his home, he said his good-byes and was walking toward the front door when Ronin called him. He turned around and watched Ronin walk up to him. He was exhilarated when Ronin took him in his arms and kissed him so soundly his knees wobbled. There was a pride that went into being claimed by such a strong man and it turned José on. He knew then that Ronin wasn't ashamed of him.
Ronin wanted others to know. When they eased back, José
smiled. "I'll see you later."
"I'd better." Ronin's voice was soft but heated.
Chuckling, José tapped Ronin on the ass and stepped out of his arms. "Go."
* * * *
Back in the truck the air was silent. Ronin knew his brother was staring at him. Taking a breath, he glanced over at Mack. The man had a smirk on his lips and Ronin shook his head.
"What?" Ronin questioned, turning to the road once more.
"You love him."
Ronin smiled but shook his head. "I don't know what I feel for him for sure. What I do know is there's this hunger I have for him that I have never felt for any other man. It's too early to talk love."
"Time? Bah."
"Now you're starting to sound like Captain Estrella.
What does that even mean?"
Mack laughed. "Please. I'm sure José doesn't want you to profess your undying love yet. But as long as you don't take him for granted, and you show him how your body and heart feel, you'll both be happy for now."
"Yeah… I am fighting for this to work, Mack. You would not believe how hard."
"I can believe it. The way you held him just now—
that said something. You look happy, Ro."
Ronin smiled. "Did you know he spent the night?
And this morning I woke up and he was gone. I thought he'd left. When I went downstairs he'd made breakfast, had one of our friends drive over fresh strawberries, and thought you may be hungry after your flight. Who does that?"
"A man who cares."
"Yes. We're making plans to go to Spain."
"Spain? Why?"
"His mother lives there."
"You're planning on meeting his family?"
Ronin smirked as he thought of the Anatolis brothers and their men. "I think I already met half of his family," Ronin explained. He pulled over and stopped.
"You see that restaurant over there?"
Mack nodded.
"Anatolis—any relations to Jamal Kendricks?"
"Yes. Savaro Anatolis is Jamal Kendricks's husband. Savaro has two brothers, Laird and Rajan. Then there's Race and Xavier… they are family to José.
Anything he wants they are there for him. When I came
here, on the first day, they took me in and fed me. Then they got me a major contract with José's company."
"Wow… Are you sure they're real?"
Ronin laughed. "Yeah, they're real. They're just good people. My point is, I have to meet the mother. I've met the rest of José's family."
Mack nodded again. "I'm happy for you, Ro."
"Wanna come back to Anatolis for dinner?" Ronin asked, checking his mirrors before pulling back on the road.
"I have a hankering for something sweet…" Mack licked his lips.
"Then I have the perfect suggestion from Anatolis!"
Epilogue
Five months later
"I'm happy José found you," Gabriella DeLuz said, sticking her hands into the bowl of peeled potatoes and smiling. She moved them around then handed the bowl to Ronin.
Ronin smiled. "Why is that?" He poured the water off in the sink then dropped the potatoes into the pot of boiling water. He added some salt to the pot, covered it, and turned to face her. She was a beautiful woman, with long hair, slightly greying. Her brown eyes twinkled mischievously at him.
"José is a good son," Gabriella replied. She was chopping up some carrots and green peppers now. Finally she stopped and put the knife down to face him. "But I always thought he kept looking for love in all the wrong places. He's never brought a man home before, you know that?"
Ronin couldn't help
