Weekend Reading!

2/19/2026

Once he was home, Ian double-checked the locks and alarm system before changing into a t-shirt and linen lounge pants. He padded barefoot through the house to the living room. Rarely did he bring work home, but when he did, he never used their bedroom despite how comfortable the bed was.

He did, however, grab two of the large, firm pillows and carried them to the living room. Ian settled on the couch, the big pillows behind him. He pulled the coffee table closer and lifted the top, placing his laptop on it. “Play Ian’s music.” The smart speakers came to life, playing Ian’s favorites.

There were plenty of ways to look into a person’s life and Ian had the resources to look very deep. When the room began darkening to the point he had to squint, Ian took a break, turned on lights and got a tall glass of the fruit infused water Taren made and always kept in a pitcher.
Taren arrived home just as Ian was resuming his task. He hung his jacket on one of the hooks near the door and tossed his keys into a bowl on the kitchen counter. “Whatcha doing?”

“I didn’t bring work home if that’s what you’re trying to ask.” Ian glanced up and smiled.

Taren sat on the couch facing Ian. “The look on your face tells me that.” He reached out and squeezed Ian’s knee. “So, what are you so engrossed in?”

Ian took a deep breath and let it out slowly, not sure how Taren was going to take what he was about to say. “I’ve been looking into Kevin.”
Raising his eyebrows, Taren said softly, “Oh. Why now?”

“He paid a visit today.”

Taren shrugged. “So, he said he’d have to bring others to look over the resort.”

“That’s just it. He came by himself.”

“Are you alright?”

Ian took Taren’s hand. “Yes. I admit I was uncomfortable, but it was fine.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I’d have met you,” Taren asked.

Ian couldn’t hold back the eyeroll. “Taren, be realistic. I’m not going to call my husband in for every meeting that makes me uncomfortable.”
“When that meeting involves a man we’ve been intimate with, and is a Dom, yes, you can,” Taren shot back. “No one would’ve known why I was there. I visit you all the time.”

“In this instance, he wasn’t a Dom, but a potential client of the business I own!” Ian yanked his hand away.

“Ian, Kevin isn’t any client, he’s dominated you!”

Kevin’s words of ‘what would Taren think of us’ echoed in Ian’s head. “You don’t trust me?”

“Of course I trust you. It’s Kevin I don’t trust,” Taren said softly. “And it’s my job to protect you.”

“Not in my professional life.”

Taren blew out a harsh breath, clearly not agreeing with Ian. “Kevin is a great guy when it comes to a good time, but he can get a little obsessive.” He pointed to the laptop. “What did you find?”

“You’ve never looked into his background?”

“No, Ian, you know I can’t without a warrant or at least an active investigation. And I had no reason to do any sort of check.”

“You introduced him to me,” Ian said quietly.

Taren flinched. “You had a choice.”

“I know.” Ian turned the laptop so the screen faced Taren. “This is what I found.”

“There’s nothing here but the basics,” Taren said.

“Yeah. That’s the point. We do security checks on potential employees as well as execs bringing in big groups of people. No one is this squeaky clean.”

“No, they’re not,” Taren muttered.

“Could he hide or alter information?” Ian asked.

Taren shook his head. “I have no idea. He develops gaming code and software. The guy is a true geek.”

Ian’s phone blared three quick tones, making them both start. It was the alert used if there was a serious emergency at the resort. Twisting around, Ian looked at the coffee table. Taren turned in the opposite direction and took a few steps to the kitchen.

“Here.” He snatched the phone off the counter and held it out to Ian.

Ian took the device, his hand shaking. “Thanks.” Swiping the screen, he spoke into it. “What’s going on?” He listened to a young woman, Lynn, stammer through an explanation. She was a college student and probably all of twenty. “Calm down, I’ll be there in twenty minutes and tell the night manager to shut the damn thing down.”

Taren sat on the couch. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure.” Ian began to pace after ending his call with Lynn. “Something with the Wi-Fi, there’s a public network for guests and a private one for payments and guest information. I don’t understand how, but now that private network that should be secure is open to anyone. We have an outside cyber security company on retainer.” He stopped and scrolled through his phone. “I have to call the—” Ian stopped talking when the call connected. “That’s rich. Twenty sales calls, procedural meetings, employee updates a week, and when I really need them, I get the damn voicemail! What the hell am I paying them for?”

“Ian.” Taren stood and crossed to Ian, taking his shoulders.

“Don’t you fucking dare to tell me to calm down!” Ian snapped.