Free Rough [01] - A Bit of Rough by Laura Baumbach

how soon can we be there?"
    A soft, but distinct clearing of a throat jarred both men. Bram stilled his hand, eased back and turned, making sure James was protected from any prying eyes.
    The younger man knew he was flushed, and he could feel a fine sheen of sweat on his face. His breath still came in short, shallow gasps over chapped lips and his pants visibly tented. He wouldn't be standing up anytime soon. James made an effort to pull himself together, then peeked past Bram's shoulder to see who had interrupted them.
    Vito stood at the table, a large bag of take-out containers in his hands and a rakish grin on his face. He chuckled at James' soft moan of embarrassment and extended the bag to Bram. "Dinner for two, to go. I thought maybe this night would be better spent at home, yes?"
    Bram laughed and accepted the bag, nodding. "I think you maybe right. Thank you, Vito.
    You're a very intuitive man." Fishing out his wallet, Bram tossed three fifties on the table.
    Vito shrugged and tilted his head to indicate their waiter at a table several feet away from them. "Thank Angelo. He said you were distracting him too much for him to work."
    James dropped his chin to his chest and mumbled a distressed, "Oh, God, Bram. He'll never let us eat here again."
    A Bit of Rough - 43
    Bram just laughed again and tapped the top of James' fallen head. "It's okay, Jamie. I think he'll forgive us as long as we leave quietly. Right, Vito?" Bram stood and motioned for James to join him.
    Vito chuckled. "Not to worry. The biggest catastrophe of the evening will be if Mrs.
    Giovanni's cooking goes to waste. See to it that it doesn't, my friends, and all will be forgiven." He patted Bram's arm, tucked an unopened bottle of red wine under it and walked off, humming a love song James recognized from a popular Italian opera.
    Picking up the loaded bag, Bram waited for James. James inched out of the booth then awkwardly gained his feet, trying to unobtrusively rearrange himself in his pants.
    A sudden, painful pinch to one butt cheek made him jump, muttering a string of oaths under his breath. "What the hell did you do that for?" Shocked, James rubbed at his abused ass, trying to soothe away the deep ache.
    "Just trying to help." Bram took James' arm with his free hand and began leading them to the exit.
    "How did bruising my butt help anything?" Confused, but wanting to leave, James let the other man guide him out the door.
    "Easy." Bram glanced down at the front of James' pants. "You can walk just fine now."
    James suddenly realized the uncomfortable fullness was gone from his trousers. His erection had subsided the moment the pain had jarred through him. "Crafty bastard."
    Bram grinned and let his voice take on the rough, sexy tone that had sparked James'
    interest from the beginning. "Don't worry, baby. I promise I'll make it up to you. I know a few uses for Mrs. Giovanni's sauce she probably hasn't tried yet."
    A Bit of Rough - 44
    Chapter Four
    The drive to Bram's house took fifteen minutes, much of which James spent pressed against the passenger window, commenting on the structural style and elegance of the long-established neighborhood.
    They ended the drive on a short, circular driveway in front of a graceful, two-story, red brick home. Wrought iron rods, spirals, fence posts and grates adorned much of the building. There was even an elaborate weather vane topping the patina-colored roof of an octagonal tower. The approaching twilight hid the rest of the home's period features.
    Awed, James climbed out of the truck and followed Bram up the steps of the wide porch.
    He waited while Bram opened two heavy-duty locks on the entry door, then preceded his host inside.
    Once they passed through the marble-floored foyer, the adjoining rooms became massive, all boasting nine-foot, domed ceilings, stylized, ten-inch baseboards and oak hardwood floors. Ancient oriental rugs accented leather and dark oak furniture groupings and numerous original