Living It Read online

  Living It

  By Casper Graham

  Published by JMS Books LLC

  Visit jms-books.com for more information.

  Copyright 2018 Casper Graham

  ISBN 9781634866538

  Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

  Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

  All rights reserved.

  WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

  No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

  This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Published in the United States of America.

  * * * *

  A huge thank you to DRS, the wonderful man who stays by my side through everything. There’s no word good enough to convey the depth of my love and appreciation for you.

  Also, a massive thank you to the readers for supporting me, especially the ones who have been with me since book one. Your loyalty and support mean the world to me. Thank you.

  * * * *

  Living It

  By Casper Graham

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1

  Davion Chen walked around the museum on Tuesday morning to inspect the sculptures among other valuable pieces of artworks to ensure everything was ready before the place opened to the public at nine. He had been in the museum for close to an hour then, having reached his office exactly four minutes before eight o’clock. As the museum curator, he was expected to be there from eight in the morning until five in the afternoon, even though the museum itself would be off-limits to the public by four.

  “Davion.”

  He turned toward the source of the voice calling out his name. “Hey, Liz. What’s up?”

  Elizabeth Whitley, one of the archival document managers, wasn’t only his colleague. She was also one of his dearest friends.

  “Not much,” Elizabeth replied before winking at him. “Just had another wonderful Sunday with Mia, if you catch my drift. It’s too bad Mia has to work on Monday. Otherwise, we could have another day of fun.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Rub it in, will you?”

  He wasn’t angry, but he was definitely a little envious. Elizabeth and her lover, Mia Henderson, had been together since senior year in college. They celebrated their eighth anniversary the previous week, two days before Valentine’s Day. He was thirty years old, the same age as Elizabeth and Mia, but he was still single. In fact, he had been single for a very long time.

  It wasn’t as if he stopped trying to get himself a nice man to settle down with. He had gone out on at least ten dates over the last three weeks alone, but none of them clicked with him. He was starting to think he might be destined for the single life for the rest of his existence on this planet. Being single wasn’t a terrible thing, but he would like to have someone to come home to and spend time with, especially on his days off from work, which happened to be Sunday and Monday when the museum would be closed.

  Elizabeth snorted at him. “You would be in a disgustingly sappy relationship of your own by now if you could stop being so picky.”

  He glared at Elizabeth. “I was not. That’s a slanderous judgment on my character.”

  “Uh-huh. Tell me then. What’s wrong with Theo?”

  “He’s a slob.”

  Elizabeth snickered at him. “And you got that after one date with the guy?”

  He ignored Elizabeth for a few seconds and proceeded to check on the remainder of the sculptures in the room. “I can tell from the way he dressed himself during our date.”

  “Oh, Davion. Fine then. What about Patrick?”

  “He talked too much.”

  “Edward?”

  “Immature and misogynistic.”

  “Christopher?”

  “Egotistical and boastful.”

  “Isaac?”

  “Too pretty.”

  Elizabeth tugged his arm and halted him from moving any farther. “You’re kidding, right?”

  He shrugged. “Nope. I like my man to be more rugged.”

  “And hairy.”

  “That’s right. You know me so well.”

  “I do.”

  The silence stretched on for a minute or so as they continued to look around the room side by side.

  “Davion?”

  “What?”

  “You do realize that calling Isaac ‘too pretty’ is ironic, right? I know you hate hearing this, but you’re one of the prettiest men out there.”

  He glared at Elizabeth in annoyance. “I most certainly am not. I’m…I’m…I may not have the classical handsome appearance of some men, but I’m not a pretty face.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.”

  “Of course not.”

  He would rather die than admit how irritated he was with his face and its accompanying features. He had heard enough over the years about his well-groomed eyebrows, which he never did anything to in his entire life, his long and curled eyelashes, and his sexy, cocksucking pinkish lips. It didn’t help that he had a lean, athletic build, along with naturally curvaceous hips and a perky ass. Fortunately, he was quite tall, being six feet even.

  “They’re wrong. You know that, right?”

  He shut his eyes for a second and nodded. He didn’t have to ask Elizabeth to clarify what she was talking about. They both knew.

  “Thanks, Liz, but I’m over them.”

  Elizabeth got in front of him and raised her left eyebrow. “I believe you, but your last three relationships left a horrible scar inside you.”

  He inhaled and exhaled a couple of times before responding. “I’m fine now. They’re all in the past.”

  “Are you sure about that? You haven’t been in any serious relationship for three years now.”

  He smiled at Elizabeth. “I’m really okay.”

  Elizabeth gazed into his eyes for a moment. “I’m going to repeat myself. They’re wrong, especially your three ex-boyfriends. There’s no shame in being a pretty face. You can’t help the way you look. We have been friends for years. I know you. You will never do anything sexual or even remotely flirtatious to encourage other people to stare at or hit on you while you’re involved with somebody in a relationship. Your ex-boyfriends are insecure assholes. They don’t deserve someone as kind and empathetic as you.”

  He nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate your support.”

  “Good. Anyway, I’m going back to my office. You better do that, too. It’s one minute to eight o’clock.”

  He glanced at the watch on his right wrist. “Yeah. See you later at lunch, Liz.”

  “Sure thing. Save me a seat in the pantry if you get there before I do.”

  “Will do. Bye.”

  Elizabeth waved at him and walked away in the opposite direction since their offices were located
at different ends of the building. He headed toward his office and put his earlier conversation with Elizabeth to the back of his mind for the time being. He had a job to do, some of which required his full attention. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by anything else. It was time to get busy.

  * * * *

  Jonah Wong did his best not to appear like a creep as he headed toward the kitchen from the cashier or his office for the sixth time in the last fifteen minutes. He pretended to inspect the pantry and freezer or converse with the chefs, but he did everything in a hurry. Not that he didn’t care about Yummy Pleasure, the Chinese-western fusion restaurant he started from scratch a decade ago with his parents’ financial support when he was only twenty-four years old. He simply had something better to do at the moment.

  He stepped out from the kitchen and stood behind the counter before picking up the piece of paper right next to the register. He grimaced when he realized it contained nothing on it, but he didn’t care. He just needed an excuse to look busy as he attempted to admire the pretty Asian man seated next to a good-looking Latino man. He never expected to feel such an attraction toward another man, especially after his last relationship had ended in a less-than-pleasant manner more than two years ago.

  He shuddered in disgust as he shook off the memories of his ex-boyfriend. The man was a cheating scumbag. Jonah had to get himself tested for sexually transmitted diseases after breaking up with that bastard. Fortunately, the results came back clean and negative. Since then, he found it impossible to be intimate with another man, preferring to take care of his dick with his trusty right palm. It was much more reliable, and he didn’t have to worry about any diseases.

  Then again, that might explain why he had a painful, throbbing hard-on for the Asian man. He might be missing the feeling of a slick, tight hole wrapped around his cock, and the sensation of a warm body sleeping next to him. He should probably get laid. The sooner, the better. It had been a while. He couldn’t very well remain celibate for the rest of his life. All the pent-up lust would drive him insane.

  He was about to return to his office when the Asian man’s meal-partner got up, quickly followed by the Asian man himself. He observed as the two men embraced briefly before the Latino man walked away from the table and exited the restaurant. He hesitated for a moment before making up his mind and rushing toward the table.

  He cleared his throat softly to grab the man’s attention. “Good evening. My name is Jonah Wong. I’m the owner of this restaurant. Is everything all right with the food?” He was astonished when the man’s cheeks reddened a little, but he was quickly distracted by the man’s beautiful smile.

  “I’m Davion Chen. Nothing’s wrong. It’s my first time here, but I love the atmosphere. The food is incredible.”

  “Oh. That’s great. Thank you.”

  “Yeah. You’re welcome.”

  He didn’t know what else to say for the next few seconds, but he didn’t want to leave Davion just yet. “So, I noticed your…uh, date left you here…” He was delighted when Davion gestured at the chair, inviting him to have a seat.

  “It’s another failed date.”

  He tried his best not to appear ecstatic or even sigh in relief. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Davion shrugged. “Nah, it’s fine. Marcus, that’s his name, is awesome and sweet, but neither of us feels any sparks.”

  “Cool.” Jonah winced in embarrassment once the word came out through his mouth. “I’m sorry. Again. I mean, not that it’s cool—”

  Davion’s melodious laughter startled him midsentence. Jonah groaned under his breath as the joyful sound caused his dick to grow impossibly harder. He might end up dead if Davion became even more attractive in the next few minutes. Some higher power must be listening because Davion grinned at him, which made the man a billion times more beautiful. He had no doubt he would be jerking himself raw to the image of Davion’s gorgeous face for the rest of his life.

  “It’s all right, man. I’m not offended at all. Besides, I get a free dinner from this ordeal.” Jonah’s eyes widened in confusion. “Marcus paid for the meal before he bade me farewell.”

  “Oh, okay then.”

  “What’s closing time for the restaurant?”

  “Nine. Why?”

  “Do you have to stay much longer afterward?” Davion countered without answering his question.

  “I’m the owner. I can leave anytime. The manager will take care of everything and lock up. Why?”

  “I’m thinking about getting my favorite ice cream from the ice cream parlor two blocks away from here. Care to join me?”

  Jonah’s heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. He sat up straight and tried to remain calm. “Like a date?”

  Davion beamed at him. “If you’re interested.”

  “Absolutely,” he replied in a hurry.

  He didn’t care if he seemed desperate. He couldn’t deny he was more than eager to spend time with Davion. To hell with his damn pride. He would agree to anything as long as he could be with Davion for just a minute longer.

  “Fantastic. Can we leave now?”

  “Yeah. Let me grab my wallet and smartphone from the office. I’ll meet you outside. Did you drive here? Otherwise, I’ll get my car key, as well.”

  “I did. We can take my car. I’ll bring you back here for your car after we’re done with our ice cream.”

  “Great.”

  Jonah managed to reach his office and get his personal items in less than three minutes without running like an overexcited teenage boy about to go out on his first date with the most beautiful boy in school. He would remain as cool as a cucumber. He could do that. No sweat. How hard could it be? Right?

  Chapter 2

  Davion forced a smile onto his face as he sat on one of the benches across the table from Jonah in the ice cream parlor less than twenty minutes later. He had no idea where he scrounged up the guts to flirt and ask Jonah out on a date. He winced a little in embarrassment as the memory flooded through his mind. He had made a damn fool of himself. A gorgeous man like Jonah was way out of his league. There was no way in hell a tall, strapping hunk like Jonah would be interested in him. The man was probably humoring him or taking pity on him after his failed date with Marcus.

  He scooped a huge spoonful of vanilla ice cream from the large bowl while doing his best to check out the sexy man seated in front of him, without appearing too blatant, obvious, and desperate. He suppressed a groan at the sight of Jonah’s muscled, hairy forearms. He never knew he could be jealous of a spoon, but he hated the one in Jonah’s hand. After all, the fucking spoon was now inside Jonah’s mouth. Davion had to remind himself not to moan out loud when Jonah released the spoon and got more chocolate ice cream from the bowl before lifting it toward his mouth.

  Life was so unfair. He noticed the thick chest hair peeking out from underneath Jonah’s shirt, and he yearned to caress the man’s chest. Unfortunately, that would be creepy and downright pathetic. He had almost choked in shock and lust when Jonah had opened the top two buttons of his fitted shirt a few minutes earlier. He was quite certain Jonah only had an inch over his own six-foot height. However, he could tell by Jonah’s biceps and bulging chest pressing against the poor shirt, not to mention those tree trunk-like thighs and rounded, perky ass enveloped within a pair of black jeans, that the other man exercised regularly and took care of his body.

  He bit back a sigh at the thought of his own body. He was in a good shape at the moment, but he wondered if he should bulk up a little. Maybe it would help land him better dates. His pretty face always seemed to attract the wrong kind of men. He was so absorbed in his own thoughts that Jonah’s hand on his arm startled him, causing him to almost drop the spoon. He barely managed not to whimper when Jonah pulled away. He already missed the feeling of Jonah’s warm palm on his arm.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you like that, but I called you twice, and you didn’t respond.”

  He gav
e Jonah a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, too. I was lost inside my head for a moment.”

  Jonah grinned at him, which made the man even better-looking. “It’s fine. So, what do you do aside from going out on dates with strangers?”

  He chuckled at Jonah and ate another spoonful of his ice cream before answering the man’s question. “I’m a museum curator. The museum specializes in sculptures, paintings, and several historical artifacts.”

  “Oh, that’s awesome. What’s it like?”

  “Boring, for the most part.” He and Jonah laughed at the same time. “Don’t get me wrong. I love what I do, but it’s nothing exciting. I may be in charge of the collections at the museum, and I get involved with the interpretation of a few heritage materials, but most of my days revolve around an endless amount of paperwork.”

  “No breaking and entering at the museum? Or a murder mystery?”

  He rolled his eyes while Jonah snickered in amusement. “I’ll deny it to my last, dying breath if you ever tell anyone about this conversation, but there were times in the past when I wished for any sort of crime to occur at the museum just to break the monotony of the dull hours I had to spend inside my office.”

  Jonah chuckled. “That bad, huh?”

  “Very.”

  After that, the two of them were quiet for a while as they continued to eat their own ice cream. He wanted to come up with something witty and funny because he was hoping Jonah would find him interesting enough. He wouldn’t be averse to the possibility of going out on another date with Jonah, but that might not happen if Jonah considered this impromptu date to be stiff and awkward. He sighed in relief when Jonah spoke up first.

  “I can’t believe someone like you is still single.”

  That statement was so unexpected, he ended up staring at Jonah in astonishment with the spoonful of ice cream about an inch away from his mouth. “Someone like me?”

  Jonah cleared his throat, and Davion was astounded at the sight of the other man’s reddening cheeks. “Yeah. I mean, a man as good-looking as you are. I also think you have a great sense of humor. I…I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when you invited me to get ice cream with you.”