The Betas: René

Chapter 2

Chapter 2Henri’s Study

Armand was seated behind Henri’s desk with Henri and Julien sitting in front of the fireplace. Henri passed Martin Frankie’s résumé, and Martin gave it to Armand. He then took his customary place behind Armand’s left shoulder. René sat down in the loveseat placed in front of the desk and motioned Frankie to sit next to him.

Armand read the sheet in front of him. “Your résumé…” Armand held up the sheet, “is very impressive.”

“Thank you, Mr. La Marche, although I haven’t worked for anyone but Dante, I’m a competent financial manager, have supervised people, managed my stepfather’s property, and controlled his legitimate business interests. I’ve also done other incidental work for him, such as guarding Mr. Bellaire’s husband.”

“A job for which your father was very well paid,” Armand observed.

“Excuse me, Mr. La Marche,” Frankie interrupted. “Dante is my stepfather. My father was Francis Xavier Fitzgerald. He died in Bosnia when I was ten. Dad was with the Army Rangers and was awarded a Silver Star posthumously.”

“I stand corrected. I can see why you would make the distinction.” Armand blinked hard, taken aback at Frankie Ferone’s vehemence.

“Neither the men who came with me that night nor I made one extra dime for that job,” Frankie added. “My stepfather was out of line.”

“Armand, Frankie’s men searched for Stawski the next day in Queens and came back that night without charge,” Julien reminded him.

Henri said, “Frankie also aided Vitas and I when we were in danger from Chernof. Frankie actually confronted one of the Russians and held him off until Regis came outside.”

Armand raised an eyebrow. “You have advocates among my board members.”

“I’d hoped I had.” Frankie smiled. “I consider Julien and Henri friends. When we came to Julien, he treated us like human beings instead of hired thugs. Because of that, we came back and then when Julien called, offered to help Henri.”

Armand nodded. “They and their husbands speak well of you. Their recommendations hold weight with me. When would you be available to start?”

“The first of May, although I plan to take a week’s vacation before I take a new job. I haven’t had a vacation in ten years.”

The Alpha first spoke over the Alpha Link to René. “René, you have two weeks.” Then aloud, he said to Frankie, “Mr. Ferone, you’ll have my answer by the first. The job pays a stipend from Garou Industries of two hundred and fifty thousand plus a salary from my funds of two hundred and fifty thousand. You’ll work closely with Martin and René and be in constant contact with the deputies to the rest of Garou’s board members and their husbands. I can’t guarantee you a job yet, but I will let you know in the time specified. If I can’t hire you personally, I’ll make sure you find a job elsewhere.”

Frankie gaped at him. “Thank you, Mr. La Marche, I don’t know what to say except that I’m grateful for your consideration.”

“You and René go down and enjoy the reception. Julien, Henri, and Martin, we have business to discuss.”

Armand waited for the door to Henri’s study to close behind Frankie and René. “I can’t hire him unless René is successful with his mating. Frankie is an Alpha in the human world, a Hi-Beta in ours, like Julio. So, René’s way is not an easy one.” Armand examined the résumé again.

“If you’ll excuse me for speaking, Alpha…” Martin spoke up. “When I met Edward, it became immediately apparent that he was a Hi-Beta. Yet it only took me a day. The attraction was instantaneous. I got him to see things my way as soon as I declared myself. Once Julio was healing from his injury, it took Alpha Daurensbourg two days. Frankie will not be as difficult as you think. I expect poor René to have a hell of a ride, but it will be interference from Don Ferone, not Frankie’s reluctance that will give him fits.”

* * * *

René and Frankie descended the stairs, and Frankie walked over to take another plate to the buffet. René found them seats at a table for two set up in a private corner. Frankie returned to René after filling his plate. “My God, I’ve never been this hungry. I’m beginning to feel like I haven’t eaten in the past month.”

Frankie sat down and focused on eating his food. Midway through his meal, he asked, “Are you seeing anyone?”

René breathed a sigh of relief. His Mate was interested. “No, I’m not. The family is very conservative. We don’t do casual. When we begin to see someone, we’re dead serious. I’d like to start seeing you.”

Frankie cleared his throat. “I hate to ask, but I’ve got to get away from my stepfather or lose my mind. Would seeing you jeopardize my chance at a job with Mr. La Marche or Garou?”

“No, it wouldn’t. Mr. La Marche will decide on your employment on your own merits, and where it is he’d like you to work.” René was lying to his Mate, a bad way to start out, but if Frankie chose not to see him, Armand couldn’t hire him because of their secret. The situation was exactly the opposite of what Frankie thought it was, and René couldn’t say a thing.

“The hell with it. Mr. La Marche said he would help me get a job even if he can’t hire me. It’s past time I did something for myself. Yes, I’d love to see you. I can’t say how serious I am yet, but in ten years, I’ve never agreed to see someone exclusively. I don’t think I’d be very happy if you saw someone else at the same time as you were seeing me.”

“We don’t believe in s*x before marriage…is that a big problem?”

Frankie grumbled under his breath. “I haven’t had much opportunity for s*x in the past ten years. Dante made sure of it.” He sighed. “Why should this be any different? Of all the men I could pick, I get one with morals.”

René choked on his laugh. All was good. He had little reason to be jealous. Wolves possessed excellent hearing as his Mate would hopefully soon learn.

For form, he asked, “Pardon, I didn’t hear you…”

“Eventually we get to make love, don’t we?” Frankie’s eyes begged for the right answer.

“Eventually, when we commit to one another.”

Frankie nodded. “I don’t know why I’m agreeing to this after knowing you only an afternoon except that I like you more than I’ve liked any other man I’ve ever met. I told my mother once that I didn’t intend to live like a monk, but I’ve already agreed to live like one for you. I don’t understand myself.” Frankie’s gaze trailed downward, and he batted at the air.

René frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Damn thread. I thought it was a floater in my eye, but it’s not. My mother was doing embroidery when I saw her this morning, she must have been using gold metallic thread, but I can’t catch the damn thread to get it off me.” Frankie batted at the air again. “I’ve probably got thread all over the back of my suit. Once I went over there, and she was using pink. It covered my slacks. The men laughed behind my back all day.”

René chuckled. “I’ve sat in Elena’s Play-Doh and had it on my ass all day with Martin snickering until Sean took pity and told me what was wrong.”

Frankie grinned. “Ugh, that’s worse than thread. Did you get it off your suit?”

“We were at the ranch, so I was in jeans, and it washed out. I don’t know what would have happened with a suit.” René grabbed Frankie’s shoulder. “Would you like to go out to dinner?”

* * * *

Frankie’s couldn’t help sniffing the air. René smelled good. Italian spices…sweet basil, oregano…René smelled like home. Frankie scanned the room. Spotting Henri, he told René, “Sounds good but I have to say goodbye to Henri, Vitas, Julien, and Richard.” René squeezed Frankie’s shoulder, and together they started to cross the room. Frankie gazed longingly at the buffet. “I shouldn’t be so hungry, we just ate.”

“I have to tell Martin and Armand that I’m leaving. I’ll meet you at the front door, and we’ll discuss where to go. Don’t worry.” René laughed, it sounded musical. “I’ll feed you,” he said.

“Sounds like a plan.” Frankie walked close behind him. He felt absurdly happy.

* * * *

The Old Homestead Steakhouse

They decided to go to the Old Homestead by Chelsea Market. The Homestead specialized in beef, and Frankie discovered they both liked medium rare red meat. A taxi brought them downtown. The maître d’ knew René and gave them a private corner table.

“Can I order for us?” René asked. Frankie nodded, and the waiter hurried over to their banquette. “Good evening, George.”

“Good evening, Mr. DuBois. Your brother and Mr. Kellerman are elsewhere this evening?” George inquired.

“They are at the wedding reception we left. We snuck out early to enjoy some of your steak. George, this is Mr. Ferone, you’ll be seeing him often.” George raised an eyebrow and René stared him down. The waiter lowered his gaze to his pad.

“We’ll take the Oysters Rockefeller, the Shrimp Tempura, two onion soups, two beet salads and the Prime Porterhouse steak for two, medium rare.”

“Would you care for something to drink, Mr. DuBois?”

René gazed over to Frankie. “We’ll have two s*x on the Beach.” Frankie smiled back warmly at his date.

“We’ll examine the dessert menu after we eat.” René closed the menu and gave it back to the waiter.

“I don’t think I can eat all that, but I won’t complain. At the rate I’m eating today, I’ll finish.”

René scrutinized the wine list. “Shall I send the sommelier, sir?”

“Yes, George.” He turned to Frankie. “Do you like Bordeaux?”

“I like wine, but I don’t know much about it.”

The sommelier crossed the room to their table. “Good evening, Mr. DuBois.”

René nodded. “Hello, Reynaud, this is my friend, Mr. Ferone.”

Reynaud didn’t bat an eye. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Ferone.” The sommelier nodded.

René examined the wine list. “I was hoping for a two thousand and nine Bordeaux from Pomerol. The Saint Emilion for that year is variable.”

“May I suggest Château Pailhas Grand Cru? It’s Saint Emilion, but I chose it myself, and it’s a classic,” the sommelier suggested.

“You don’t have a Pomerol of that vintage in the cellar that you’re holding back for a special customer?” René coaxed.

“Not this time, Mr. DuBois.”

“All right, I’ll take your recommendation.” René smiled at the sommelier and handed him the wine list.

“That’s an awful lot of money for a bottle of wine.” Frankie frowned, unused to spending his money on things like expensive bottles of wine.

“No, not for a two thousand and nine. I want you to try it. I have the Pomerol in my cellar. We’ll taste it in my home, sometime. I’ll cook. Dinner tonight is my treat as I invited you. Perhaps, some time, you can take me to your favorite Italian restaurant. I know very little about Italian food.”

Mollified, Frankie agreed. He and René closed the Homestead at ten. They held hands between courses, laughed and touched each other through dinner, and managed to drink two bottles of wine. René suggested Taylor forty-year-old port after dinner. He also ordered an espresso for each of them, plus chocolate cake, and a slice of cheesecake for them to share. They ate off each other’s forks. René licked a crumb of cheesecake from Frankie’s lips. He peered at René from under his lashes. I’m falling hard for this guy. His eyes opened wide in realization, I’m already half in love and I haven’t even known him for a day. Frankie sighed in acceptance of his folly.

* * * *

René forgot that humans didn’t have the tolerance for liquor that the loup garou did. He didn’t trust the taxi driver to get Frankie home in one piece, so he delivered his Mate to his condo door. Frankie let him in, and René made some decaf and shared a cup with his Mate. The size of Frankie’s condo upset him. He didn’t think Frankie should have to live in such a little box. René became determined to get Frankie moved in with him as soon as possible.

They sat together on the closed sofa bed drinking their coffee. After they finished, Frankie took their cups and put them down on the end table. He grabbed the back of René’s head and brought René’s lips down to his. Frankie’s tongue traced René’s mouth, and René opened to him.

His Mate’s tongue probed inside, and he responded with a more intimate kiss, one his brother had described. Frankie’s flavor was as sweet as René expected, like Godiva salted caramel wrapped in rich, dark chocolate. He tasted just like the wonderful fragrance he exuded. His Mate leaned over and encased René in strong arms. Frankie trailed his fingers down René’s chest toward his belt. René took his Mate’s hand to his lips and kissed the palm. “It’s late. We both have work in the morning. Are you free tomorrow night? We could have Chinese at my place if you’re not sure when you’re going to be finished up.”

Frankie’s eyes opened wide. “You were serious about the sex.”

René smiled sadly. “I’m afraid I was. Does that change how you feel?”

“No, it frustrates me, but I want you in my life.” René licked Frankie’s palm, and he kissed his wrist. His Mate shivered.

“Let me know when you are ready to irrevocably commit. We’ll travel out to the ranch, get married, and I’ll make you mine.”

“How can you be so sure that I’m the one? We just met today,” Frankie said, eyes wide. “I know I like you more than I’ve ever liked anyone else, but I’m not willing to call it love yet. Call me old-fashioned, but I want love with marriage.”

“I do, too…Know this, I love you, deeply. Do you read gay romance?” René raised an eyebrow.

“That’s a non sequitur.” Frankie blushed. “But yes, I read gay romance.”

“Download Jason Jones on your reader. Read his last series. Tell me what you think.” René kissed Frankie deeply. “It’s time for me to go home.” He got up.

“Let me kiss you goodnight.” Frankie smiled angelically. He stood and wrapped his arms around René’s and deliberately teased his mouth and neck. René grabbed his shoulders and set him firmly away. Frankie searched his face. “What’s your address?”

“I’m sure you know where Armand lives. I’m two doors down on the right.”

“You have me curious about the book. Maybe I’ll read it tomorrow.” Frankie batted at the air. “The damn thread. It’s getting thicker. This suit needs to be cleaned. I’ll see you tomorrow night around seven.” Frankie gave René his phone. “Call yourself. Then we’ll have each other’s number. If I can’t make it by seven, I’ll let you know.” Frankie saw him to the door. “Goodnight, René. It’s been an interesting day.” He brushed René’s lips with his.

René smiled. He would have to think on his feet to stay ahead of his Mate. Frankie wasn’t a boy like the others. He was a full-grown man and therefore challenging. René liked that. His only worry was that Frankie might not accept him so quickly. And gods forbid, what if he refused him?