Eighteen
Dean towel dried his hair while he scrolled through his messages on his phone. Time to go play pretend again. He picked a black polo t-shirt and a pair of slacks to wear when his phone vibrated. He entered his code to open it and found a picture of Roman and his ex boyfriend kissing from an unknown number.
He stared at the number and
"Dean?" Roman said, walking in. His arms went around Dean from the back. "It's still early. Do you want to-" Words seemed to die in his mouth when he saw what Dean was staring at. Dean could feel him stiffened and he moved away. "I can explain-"
"Someone's following you," Dean said softly.
The question was who?
He picked up the phone and dialled the number. There was a ringing tone; the person did not answer. Undeterred, he decided to try again later. "Dean, it's not what it looks like," Roman said, his face worried. "He leaned over-"
"Roman, calm down. I know. I trust you." He sat on the bed and started to put on his socks. "You're going to have to be a bit vigilant for the time being. Just look around discreetly."
"You're not mad?"
"No."
"Still I should explain. I don't want you to second guess. He leaned over and kissed me and I pulled away and I told him not to do that-"
Dean sighed. Anyone could see Jason was being googly eyed over Roman. "It's okay."
"No, Dean," Roman countered. "It's not okay. He asked me if I was sure if it was you I wanted and I replied to him-"
"Roman-"
"Always. You know I wouldn't cheat on you. I mean I know you've been cheated on in the past but I'm not like that. Dean, I wouldn't-"
Dean kissed him then. "Stop it, Roman. I said I trust you and I mean it. So relax, okay?"
He looked relieved. "Okay."
"And I hope you trust me about Seth. I'm getting rid of him."
"He really enjoyed himself last night," Roman reflected.
"I'll bet. It's the bill that has to be settled later."
"You're paying for all that? Dean, it'll probably cost you close to a couple of hundreds."
Dean shrugged. "I can afford it." Money was not an issue for him. He had plenty to spare.
"We're still early," Roman said. "What do you want to do?"
"I wanna make love to you."
Smiling warmly, Roman laid down on the bed before Dean settled on top of him. His boyfriend pulled him down and they started to move their lips against each other's tenderly.
Roman found himself smiling widely as he decorated a birthday cake for a guest with icing. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE" was beautifully written on top with small clear edible diamonds outlining the name too.
"That looks great!" Rusev complimented. "Look at you, smiling so much. Your boyfriend and you must have had a very good morning."
The Samoan chef laughed. "Yeah we did."
Dean did not overreact and that took him by surprise. He trusted Roman and his biggest concern had been someone following him. That melted his heart and he was very grateful that they did understand one another.
Their morning lovemaking had been slow and tender before it became intense. Dean's gentle whispers of loving words and praises had shot straight to his heart. He had informed Chris that Dean was staying over in the hotel and his chef had just laughed and told him to make the best of it.
He was in awe he was working for a company he loved.
Good colleagues. Comfortable working environment. Lots of compliments by guests. He felt appreciated for his efforts and it made his heart swell. Ever since Dean entered his life, things changed for the better.
Roman knew that even if he had been stuck at Spice, just having Dean alone made it worthwhile.
"We're going out tomorrow night," Damien announced over breakfast. "Give an excuse to the boyfriend."
Dean put down his cup of Darjeeling tea. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see. Remember what I said over breakfast the other day?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'll be bringing you to the deal. You look like you're acute in business. I'm sure you will appreciate it once I show you our financial standings."
Dean smiled. "Now you're talking."
"Meet me at the parking lot entrance at seven." Damien grinned. "I'll be busy with meetings the whole day today. Where's the boyfriend?"
"Don't know. Don't care."
"Trouble in paradise?"
"You could say that."
The crime boss slid his hand across the table and grabbed his. "I care about you, Jon. Nothing has changed. Just say the word and we'll be together."
When hell freezes over, Dean thought.
"Baby!"
Oh fuck, the auburn haired cop thought. Seth! That little brat was heading towards their table dressed like Dean in a Ralph Lauren polo t-shirt with a sweater tied around his neck and slack pants.
"I miss you," Seth cooed before leaning in to kiss Dean who stood up. "Would you look at the time?" the undercover cop said. "I have to be on my way."
Seth was not pleased. "Kiss me or I'll call you by your real name," he whispered into Dean's ear.
The little brat was blackmailing him? "Call me that and I'll squeeze your nuts so hard you won't be able to orgasm for months on end."
He gulped. "It's okay then."
Dean glared at him before walking off. Time to make the phone call again.
Dean hadn't noticed Roman when he stalked past, an angry expression on his face towards the gents. He wondered what that was all about.
He quickly finished putting the croissants on the counter before walking to the staff exit when he felt himself being pulled aside quickly. Blue eyes met brown eyes. "Why the angry face?" Roman asked.
"That little twerp tried to blackmail me," Dean snarled.
"What?"
"He wanted me to kiss him. I'd rather kiss Chewbacca."
"Once upon a time, you were kissing him," Roman cheekily reminded him.
"Babe, not now. I just had my breakfast."
He laughed. "Okay. I'll stop… till later. Oh Bill said he sent you a text. He's having a barbecue party tonight but he wouldn't say why."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Okay I guess I'll go."
"You'll?"
"We'll go."
"That's better," Roman replied "So I'll see you later?"
"Yeah."
Bill was apparently throwing a party to celebrate his dog's recovery. Dean rolled his eyes when he told him that. Bill had asked Roman to help him get some beer from the kitchen. "Ummm congratulations?" he said.
"Ha ha," his friend said sarcastically as he grilled the hot dog.
"So what happened to your dog?"
"He had liver disease but I went to this vet - Jason Jordan - and my precious Pookie is okay now."
Dean frowned. "What?"
"He came highly recommended. You'll see him later. I invited him as well."
"Where is Pookie now?"
"Pookie's at a pet hotel." Bill set the hotdogs aside and took out some hamburgers.
Jason walked out of the house with Roman laughing about something. Of all the vets in Haydon… "He's Roman's ex boyfriend," Dean informed his friend.
"Oh. Small world."
"Yeah."
"What type of a breed is Bill's dog?" Roman asked, passing Jason a bottle of Jim Beam.
Jason thanked him. "A Labrador Retriever. The disease was easy to treat because it was still in the early stages. I had no idea that Bill was Dean's friend."
"Yeah. They've known each other close to a decade." He glanced to see Dean who looked hot in his black wifebeater underneath that favorite leather jacket of his and denim jeans nodding his head to whatever Bill was talking about.
"About early this morning-"
"Forget it, Jason. It's over."
"Roman, I still care about you."
He frowned. "You know I'm with Dean. And I love him. He's the best thing to ever happen to me."
"You're mistaking gratitude for love."
"Jason, I've been in love before. I think I know what the difference is. Besides you didn't want to commit. You were happy with us just casually dating. Dean sees something with me. We met, went out and before I knew it I was living with him. You and I were long over since I met him."
"But how can you love him, Roman? What exactly do you know about this guy?"
"Enough there is to know."
Jason shook his head. "Forever the hopeless romantic."
"Always your favorite thing to say to me."
"Well, you were always lost in the clouds. You had all these plans for us and I wasn't so sure and now you're doing the same thing except at such a fast pace."
Roman shook his head. Why were they talking about this? He had Dean. The only thing he should be talking about was his job. "Jason-"
"I made a mistake. It's not too late for us, Roman. This whole thing with Dean isn't love. It's just a crush or puppy love you both are having. It takes time to get to know someone and fall in love. We were real." He held Roman's hand. "And you know it's true. Listen to your heart, Roman. It always tells the truth."
Dean watched with a pang in his heart the scene in front of him from a near distance unknownst to both men.
No matter what Roman would tell him, he'd have to accept it.
After all, wasn't that what love was about? He certainly remember hearing songs about it; about how if you set something free and if it came back to you, it was yours. He would support Roman even though his heart would be broken.
"You want something to eat?" Bill offered Dean coming from behind him. The auburn haired man shook his head. "No. I'm not hungry," he declined politely. "I think I'm going to sit down with Mark."
"Okay," Bill said.
Mark was munching on a hamburger on the concrete bench. "I swear Bill should have been a cook."
"That'd be his third job then," Dean replied.
"So tomorrow's going to be a big deal. You ready?"
"Yeah, I am. He wouldn't say much about it though. I'll switch on the recorder."
Mark sipped his beer. "The deputy director of FBI called me about the position you applied two months ago."
Dean looked at him. "Yeah."
"They are interested in accepting you. I put in a recommendation too. But it's totally on you if you want the job."
"I'll have to think about it… and ask Roman."
'Take your time."
Roman kept quiet for a bit though he was irked now with Jason.
"You want to know what my heart tells me?" he said. "It tells me over and over it's Dean so I'm sorry, Jason. I'm not out here to prove to anyone about what he means to me or what I mean to him."
"Roman, I know you're a hopeless romantic but this is ridiculous. I mean who falls in love in four days?"
"We did, Jason. We did. And as much as I care about you as a friend, I cannot let you undermine what he and I feel for one another. So unless you respect my relationship, I'm going to leave."
His ex boyfriend shook his head.
Roman sighed and walked towards the back of the house to discard the beer bottles.
"Roman, I'm sorry," Jason apologised coming up to him. "But he's kissing his ex boyfriend and-"
"He doesn't love Seth. He doesn't even care about him. He was in a situation where if it got out who he really was, this whole crackdown could go to waste and who knows what else would happen?"
"So you don't mind him kissing Seth?"
"Didn't you listen to a word I'm saying? No."
Jason nodded. "Guess he wouldn't mind if I did this."
"What-"
The vet's lips crashed against his just like he used to in the old days before Roman shoved him. "That's it!" he snapped. "I'm out."
"Roman-"
"No. Stay away, Jason!"
He went out to the front where Dean was just heading to the grill. "Babe?" he called.
His boyfriend turned to look at him. "Yeah?"
"Is it okay if we called it a early night?"
"Sure."
The drive back to the hotel was a quiet one. Roman glanced at Dean who seemed lost in his own thoughts. "Something wrong?" he asked.
"Nope," came Dean's reply.
"Can I switch on the radio?"
"You don't have to ask, Roman."
Look at this face
I know the years are showing
Look at this life
I still don't know where it's going
I don't know much
But I know I love you
And that may be all I need to know
"Can we change the song?" Dean asked, his voice gruff.
Roman was certain that something was definitely wrong. "Ummm… sure." He pressed the next station.
And the first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command, my love
"Maybe just switch it off."
When they reached the suite, Roman locked the door and stared at Dean's back as he removed his jacket. "Dean?" he asked.
"Yeah?" he heard Dean's voice, rough with emotions. Something was definitely up.
"What's wrong? And please don't say nothing. I know something's bothering you." His boyfriend walked into the room and sat on the bed removing his shoes and jeans. Roman stood at door. "Dean, you're scaring me."
"It's not too late for you to change your mind, Roman."
His heart pounded. Dean knew. He must have overheard. But how much? "What do you mean?"
"I mean it's not too late for you to leave this relationship without further damage done to you."
He didn't mention about himself, Roman noticed. "You heard."
"Yes. I heard."
He shook his head. "How much?"
"Just about him asking you to follow your heart."
"And do you know what my heart tells me?"
Dean kept quiet. "I'd like to think it's me."
"Of course it is." He sat down beside him. "Dean, I was so mad at Jason for making those suggestions."
"But I'm not surprised, Roman. You guys were together for some time and we've only known each other for-"
"Dean, stop it."
"Why?"
"Because I love you. And you love me too. We don't owe anyone an explanation unless it's to one another, remember?" He smiled. "Besides, didn't you said I was yours?"
"You are. But I won't stand in the way of your happiness."
"How can you be when you are the reason for my happiness? I didn't give you that ring for no reason, Dean. I gave it to you as my promise to you. I don't take promises lightly."
"Me neither."
"Well. Then that's that." He sighed. "He kissed me in the kitchen just now and I yelled at him. I don't think I can ever be his friend after the disrespect he has given you and me."
"I got a job offer."
That was random. Roman looked at him. "Really?"
"Yeah. Before we met, I had applied and got interviewed to work as an agent for the FBI. I got in."
"But it's not going to be in Haydon?"
"No… it's in Washington. It'll be at the headquarters."
They'd be a good ten hours away from one another. Roman didn't know what to do. He didn't want Dean to go but if that was what he wanted…
"I'm not taking the job," Dean revealed.
The Samoan man's curiosity was piqued. "Why?"
"Because I can't bear to leave you. I applied it way before I knew you and my priorities have changed. Don't. Don't try to tell me to go, Roman. I'll never forgive you if you push me for this."
"I won't," he reassured him. "I'm actually glad even though that sounds wrong."
"Yeah?"
He lowered Dean gently to the bed, nudging his thighs apart, their eyes gazing into one another. "Yeah. I don't think we're both cut out for long distance."
"I think so too."
Dean kissed Roman as he was shaving. He was all dressed up for breakfast. "I'll be back late tonight so don't wait up."
His boyfriend nodded. "Okay. I guess I'll head out for drinks with some of the guys from the team."
"Sounds good. Just remember to keep your eyes on the lookout discreetly."
"I will."
Damien was early today in the summit room with some spread in front of him. "Good morning," he greeted.
"I don't see what's so good about this morning," the undercover cop replied as he sat down.
"Oh you'll see tonight how good it can be."
"Can't you tell me now?"
"Now who's the impatient one?"
Dean laughed. "Alright. You caught me."
"You know what I'm impatient about?"
"I'm not sleeping with you with my boyfriend around."
"Not even a handjob?" Damien whined. "You're mean."
"Damien, you know the drill. My boyfriend's in town."
"But he won't know."
As if on cue, Seth popped up in the room. "Baby!"
Damien wasn't the only one who looked annoyed; Dean was too. "Seth, pipe down," he hissed.
"After last night, how could I?" he cooed.
"Fuck Seth. Shut up."
Damien looked like he was trying hard not to laugh. "See you later, Jon." He stood up and winked at Dean.
"I hate you," Seth sneered.
"Trust me, the feeling's mutual."
"But I miss our sex."
Dean almost spat out the milk he was drinking. "What the fuck?"
"Yes. I do." He slid his hand near Dean's crotch. "I know you do too."
He pushed his hand away. "Seth, behave yourself. And what the fuck happened to your squeeze?"
The two toned man crossed his arms. "He said he had a thing to do and he'll catch up with me later. This is all your fault."
"He knows who I am?"
"No!"
When Dean had walked in that fateful day that Seth chose to cheated, they were going at it like bunnies in the other spare room. He didn't say a word but just took a step back and then confronted Seth later the next day.
Seth huffed. "He doesn't know who you are, Jon. Have sex with me?"
Dean was about to reply him when-
"Still hitting on my boyfriend?" Roman said, holding a bread basket and placing it on the table.
Seth waved him off like he was a fly. "Oh buzz off, Roy."
"It's Roman."
"Sorry I don't have time to learn your real name." He tugged at Dean's hand. "I wanna go out."
"Seth, I'll pay you one grand to scram now."
That perked him up. "I like money. Okay." At that, he left the table.
Dean found Roman frowning at him. "Dean, money isn't everything," his boyfriend said.
"Sometimes it is, babe." He took an aspirin and downed it with water.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. He keeps pressuring me for sex. I feel like I'm dating a teenager."
"Well, if you slept with him-"
"I'm not interested. Besides, I'm going out with him later to who knows where for a business meeting."
Roman nodded. "Stay safe."
"I will."
At seven, Dean took Damien's car to head to a club that he referred to as Ecstasy. It was apparently a good twenty minutes from the hotel.
"I'm part of the Alphabet Club," Damien explained as he drove on the street. "We run from alphabets A to Z in many countries."
"The business of human sexuality."
Damien winked. "Exactly."
"So you're the boss." It wasn't a question but a statement.
"No. I'm not. I'm the third in line though."
Dean sighed. "Then who? Adam?"
"Hell no! Z runs the show."
"Z?"
"Dude used to work for SWAT. He's been the brains behind our operations."
No.
No.
No.
"Does Z have a name?" he asked, hoping for the worst.
"Of course. Name's Zack… Zack Ryder."
A/N Sorry for the slow update. Thank you for favorite/follows/reviews. I appreciate it :-)