The Delaneys At Home Read Online Free Page B

hoping the gun isn't a euphemism," she said.
    I shook my head. "Oh no, it was real alright. But it was a misunderstanding, that's all. We just need a bigger bed. I don't suppose manufacturers normally think of any more than two people sharing, do they?"
    My boss laughed. "No, I don't suppose they do. But, between you and the Delaneys, I'm sure you'll set the world of bed-making to rights."
    I certainly hoped so because tonight I wasn't planning any more pistol action if I could possibly help it.
    For the rest of the day, Melissa and I dealt with clients, sorted out two new exhibitions for the summer and tried to plan our Christmas extravaganza. In all honesty, we'd been planning this for weeks, but it always took a hell of a lot of negotiation, as painters could be a fussy bunch. One day we'd think we were there and the next we'd be back at the start again. It was worth doing, though, as a lot of business and arty networking happened over the holiday season and, as my father kept on telling me, you couldn't put a price on goodwill.
    Today, my will--and indeed everything else about me--was pretty damn good. Maybe it was to do with recent sexual shenanigans, but there was also something about the fact that tonight I would be going home, not to my own company, but to be with the twins. Every time I thought of it, a zing of expectation shot through my gut and a couple of times I caught myself humming. Not the best thing to do in any gallery where concentration and quiet is all, and Melissa soon put a stop to it with a quick harrumph.
    Funny how she and the Delaneys both had the ability to put me back on track without the use of words. I was obviously drawn to similar types, though the main thought occupying my head for most of the rest of the day was how quickly I could make the evening and my first real home-time arrive.
    It arrived even before I anticipated it. At the stroke of four-thirty, the front door opened and Mark sauntered in, with Johnny close behind. They brought with them the freshness of the outside world and a whole lot of attitude. Mark nodded at Melissa, who nodded back, and then he gave me a slow smile, which couldn't help but startle my cock into action.
    Before I could say anything remotely sociable, he stepped right up to me where I hovered by one of the gallery's newer acquisitions, grabbed me by the shirt and plunged his tongue deep into my mouth. I'd opened it to greet the twins in words, but this was as good an alternative as any, so I grabbed Mark back and sucked for all I was worth.
    With Mark more than a little off balance, probably due to my enthusiasm, I shuffled us both along until we reached Johnny, whose arse I grabbed for a quick grope to let him know I was paying close attention to them both.
    We were just getting into the whole scenario when Melissa cleared her throat. She was far too glamorous to cough.
    "Mark, Johnny," she said. "Lovely to see you. I'm assuming you're not here to buy any paintings?"
    Johnny chuckled as he extricated himself from my exploratory hand, and Mark slowly and reluctantly withdrew from my plundered mouth.
    "If we were, you'd be the first one I called," he said. "But I'm here to ask you a question. Liam distracted me."
    As if they were of one mind, the twins and Melissa all looked at me, as if I'd done something terrible in waylaying Mark from his original mission. Whereas, I'd have thought it was very much the other way round. Still, I put on my best cheeky grin, which was, after all, very much how I was feeling.
    "Well," I said. "I never say no to distractions."
    This time, Johnny laughed out loud, and Melissa snorted. "I couldn't possibly comment, but at least when you're not distracted, you're a damn hard worker. I'll say that for you."
    "I'll go further," Mark said, in such a tone that all of us fell silent and turned toward him. "I think when Liam's really concentrating, then he's the most beautiful man on the planet."
    The silence around us continued, but this