Ted MacTaggart's overbearing father is still trying to control his life, even from the grave. His will insists that, in order to inherit the family company, MAC Superior, Ted must be married by his twenty-fifth birthday -- and the marriage has to be "real." As in the board of MAC has to sign off on it.<br><br>Ted could fight the will, but then the handsome, artistic Ryan Costa, an old friend from school days walks back into his life, offering to be his groom-of-convenience. Ted draws up the contracts and Ryan, who has family medical bill problems, agrees gladly to the terms. Ted, emotionally walled off and afraid of his attraction to Ryan, also suggests they should keep their relationship strictly professional. Caring for people has always proven a weakness for him. Now isn't the time to start.<br><br>It's not long before Ryan's charm breaks through Ted's walls, but Ted isn't his own worst enemy in this case. Other forces are vying for MAC Superior, and even when their relationship is becoming the real deal, its shaky foundations land Ryan and Ted in trouble.

Poor Little Rich Boy

Ryan let him go that time, kissing at his neck and collapsing completely on top of him. “Is it time for breakfast?”


“Time to shower then go down to breakfast, maybe,” Ted replied with a chuckle. “We’ve made a mess. Again.”


“I’ll take the duvet cover and the sheets down later and wash ‘em.”


“I can do laundry,” Ted protested, still unwilling to move. He just felt so warm, so carefree, so…comfortably affectionate. It had been a while since he’d had sex with anything but a toy. Had it always been like this? He couldn’t recall. Surely not, though. Surely all this…touching was a bit much.


“Can you really, though?” Ryan wondered.


“Well…it’s been a while, but in theory, yes.”


Ted joined him. “Poor little rich boy,” he said.


Ryan kissed him full on the lips. “Yeah, but you’re my little rich boy, so that’s cool.”


Chapter 39