Ryan Taylor up and coming star of the architectural world had attended his best friend’s wedding at his husband’s country estate outside New York, the venue was to die for he couldn’t stop staring at the architectural structure of the buildings on the property.  He had not just attended to support his best friend but he had a meeting with his friend’s husband and his business partner after the ceremony.

Tatum Adams had been Ryan’s friend since childhood and they had been inseparable for many years, Ryan fully supported Tatum’s marriage to Andrew Pearce the international real estate and business enterprise billionaire.

Tatum was an Omega a rare evolution species and had always been a jabber addict as his sisters called him, he never kept quiet and he always butted in where he wasn’t asked to, so for Tatum to have found and married his soul mate had given Ryan some hope for his own future.

Tatum had introduced Ryan Taylor to Andrew his new husband and Jonathan Down, who was Andrew’s business partner and company CFO during the wedding reception, and they had been extremely impressed by his architectural portfolio and style.

His style matched and exceeded what they had in mind for the new Pearce Enterprise's mall development.

They had set up a proper meeting for after the happy couples returned from Greece and would then discuss the upcoming project, and sign all relevant documents pertaining to Ryan’s exclusive contracted employment for the foreseeable future at a lofty sum.

Ryan Taylor is a 25-year-old man who is very attractive and has a well-toned physique, his personality is friendly and open his only drawbacks are that he is shy and deaf, after an accident in high school that left him with complete loss of hearing he is also in the closet and not likely to be coming out by himself.

Because of being deaf Ryan had never had the courage to come out so to say, even though his family knew they didn’t want to pressure him or even tell him that they were aware of his preferences. Because they loved him too much, to make things awkward, they were willing to wait for him to gather the courage to stand proud.

His two older brothers were happily married but fully supported Ryan being gay, even though he didn’t know it yet.

When Tatum introduced Ryan to Andrew and Jonathan, he kept looking at the floor when Jonathan looked at him. Tatum was watching him closely, as he was officially the only person Ryan had confided his sexual preference too.

*Hmmm, I wonder if Jonathan likes guys?* Tatum thought silently to himself. * I need to remember to ask Andrew*

An hour earlier…

Andrew, I’d like to introduce you to my oldest friend.

“Gentlemen, this is Ryan Taylor,” Tatum said excitedly

Tatum signed for Ryan: “This is Andrew, my husband”

Ryan nodded and smiled while shaking Andrew’s hand.

“And this is Jonathan, who is Andrew’s best friend and CFO of Pearce Enterprises.” Tatum signed one again.

Ryan looked towards Jonathan, and his smile died on his lips.

He tried to avoid Jonathan’s gaze and looked at the floor when Jonathan shook his hand.

His hand was tingling all over when Jonathan released it. He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and looked at Tatum with panic in his eyes.

Jonathan had noticed that Ryan had eagerly smiled and shaken Andrew’s hand but had desperately avoided his own eyes, and had lost his smile when their eyes met briefly.

The sparks that Jonathan felt when they shook hands were still vivid in his mind.

Interesting! I wonder if he is shy or, is it just that he dislikes me? I definitely like his sweet smile and expressive eyes… I have to ask Tatum more about him. Jonathan thought to himself.

Tatum had briefly signed to Ryan about the project, but he was also adept at reading lips as he had been hearing impaired for 10 years already.

Ryan seemed very enthusiastic about the project itself although Jonathan’s presence seemed to distract him somewhat.

This amused Jonathan, he asked Tatum to speak privately for a moment.

“Sorry mate! I’m going to borrow your husband for a few minutes.” Jonathan said.

“All good, just bring him back. Andrew replied.

“Always mate,” Jonathan said.

Jonathan and Tatum went to the open bar for drinks.

“Tatum?” Jonathan queried.

“Yes, Mr Down?” Tatum replied.

“Nonsense your family, call me Jonathan for pity's sake.” Jonathan chided Tatum.

“Ha-ha Jonathan, what’s the matter?” Tatum asked

“Your friend doesn’t like me for some reason?” Jonathan asked with a frown.

“No! That’s not it, believe me.” Tatum replied smiling.

“Really? He avoided my eyes, tried to look at his feet instead of at me and he stopped smiling the second he looked my way.” Jonathan said.

“Jonathan I think you scare him” Tatum replied

“What? I’m not the scary one! Your bloody husband is!” Jonathan was outraged.

“Ha-ha, no, not in that way.” Tatum laughed.

“Huh?” Jonathan said confused.

“I think you scare him because you’re his type and he liked you the moment he saw you, and he is in the closet, he is too afraid of being deaf and gay…” Tatum said.

“What? He is deaf? Ha-ha” Jonathan looked flabbergasted.

“Jonathan I never asked but do you like guys or girls?” Tatum asked.

“Tatum my utterly beautiful friend, you are not my type. Simply because you are way too feminine, you look like a girl.” Jonathan replied smiling. “So, yes I am gay and I like handsome guys not pretty ones”

“You are such a jester, but I do think Ryan might like you instead of dislike you, he is trying to avoid looking interested as he has always felt being deaf and gay might be too hard on his family, not so much himself,” Tatum explained.

“He reads lips perfectly and can still speak but usually avoids speaking as he can’t control the volume,” Tatum added.

“Jonathan please promise me one thing, if you’re going to pursue him, take it slow he is a very gentle soul and tries not to hurt anyone I don’t want to see him get hurt himself,” Tatum asked nicely.

“Tatum, who said I was interested?” Jonathan asked looking cocky.

“I just married Andrew Pearce do you think I am dumb or naïve?” Tatum asked.

“Point taken, okay I promise not to hurt him, do you think he will give me a chance? “ Jonathan asked.

“Honestly, I have no idea. He to my knowledge has never had a boyfriend and avoids relationships like the plague, when he likes someone he runs away. You might have to get creative if you really want him.” Tatum stated.

“Let’s go back, I’m sure Andrew is getting fidgety again” Tatum noted.

“Yeah right!, Your husband might just actually throttle me if I keep you too long,” Jonathan said.

“You never know” Tatum laughed.

 When they got back to Andrew and Ryan they found Andrew engrossed in a drawing, Ryan was busy doing a preliminary sketch of what Andrew had envisioned and he without a doubt had amazing talent.

As Jonathan stepped closer to take a look at the sketch his arm grazed Ryan’s side and with a sudden jolt Ryan dropped the pencil he was drawing with, it rolled under the table. He seemed to be panicking slightly the quickly bent down to retrieve the pencil from underneath the table, lifting the long white tablecloth to look underneath he came face to face with a smiling Jonathan whole held the pencil out to him.

Ryan’s eyes went wide and he tried to unsuccessfully jump up from under the table, knocking his head hard on the table’s underside.

Jonathan was very surprised when Ryan suddenly spoke, although it was very soft. He had a very nice voice that sent shivers down Jonathan’s spine and stirred some erotic thoughts and a place obscured by his slacks.

“Ouch! You stupid idiot, you’re under a table what the hell were you thinking” Ryan said so softly it was almost inaudible.

Rubbing the top of his head he looked up and straight into Jonathan’s piercing eyes; he blushed bright red and hummed, then promptly looked down again.

Jonathan found this very amusing, it was like I’m some scary monster out to devour him.

Jonathan reached out again to hand the pencil back to Ryan, this time he took the pencil trying to avoid touching Jonathan at all, but Jonathan had other plans.

As Ryan reached for the pencil, he grabbed hold of Ryan’s wrist, holding him there…

Ryan’s eyes shot up staring into Jonathan’s, who stared right back with a cocky smile.

“I know you can read my lips” Jonathan whispered

“You can run away from me and hide as much as you want, but right now all I want to do is kiss you,” Jonathan whispered.