Page 40 of Employing Patience

“What do you think being straight means, genius?”

The teasing slides from his face. “I—”

“What do you want, Joey?”

“You.” And when his eyes meet mine, I think I believe him. But that answer could mean many, many things.

“And what do you plan on doing with me once you have me?”

He swallows. “My brain doesn’t know, but my body is screaming for everything.”

The hope inside me ebbs. His lips are right there, his face, his body already so close to mine his heat is like a furnace. But if his head isn’t sure, this can’t happen.

I press against him, backing him into the opposite wall until our positions are reversed. He’s so close I can count every eyelash, can make out the faded freckles underneath his eyes. The want running hot through me is struggling to take over, knowing he’ll let me, but I refuse to give in.

“It’s no secret that I want you,” I rasp, freeing the words. It feels both good and terrifying to say out loud. “But that doesn’t change anything. Until your head and your body are on the same page, I don’t want a part in your game.”

“And when they are?”

My breath hitches as his fingers sneak under my shirt, running over the sensitive skin on my stomach. “Then you better be fucking ready. Because I will give you everything. And it’ll leave you begging for more.”

11

JOEY

Do I go home and jerk off over that promise? You can bet your ass I do. I’ll give you everything. Damn, those are some sexy words to come out of that sexy mouth. Having someone so handsome and powerful pressed up against me like that, knowing that he had complete control over the situation, was something else. I’ve never had a thrill like that. Not when we’ve been flirting, not with any of my previous relationships, and not with any of my other crushes.

If Art had kissed me, if he’d wanted more, I would have gone through with anything and everything.

The only problem is, I don’t know if I would have regretted it after.

I’d like to think I wouldn’t. I’d like to think that sleeping with my boss, let alone a man, is something that wouldn’t affect me, but until I’ve been there, done that, how the hell do I actually know?

This obsession is getting too much though. The way I crave him is worsened by that night out, and for the last week at work, he’s back to being a ghost. The few times I have spotted him, he’s passed through the bar quickly, eyes trained on his phone, making fast, casual conversation with anyone but me. It’s driving me crazy in all the best ways.

I need his attention.

While I’m waiting for him to come down for a lunch break so I can plan my moment to pounce, Will walks in.

“Joey, hey.”

“Hey.” I haven’t seen him since he was carried out of the club, but at least today, he has more of a spring in his step. “How did you pull up?”

“Horribly.” He’s grinning.

“Let me guess—Keller nursed you back to health?”

Will hisses at me to be quiet as he glances around. “No, not … not exactly.”

“Then why do you look one dog bone away from pissing yourself?”

“Fuck off, do not.”

“Uh-huh.” I run my eyes over him again. “You do look a lot happier than when I last saw you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m normally happy. That was a rough day. Anyway, I wanted to say thanks for helping me through it, and, uh, sorry for being such a downer.”

“You weren’t.”

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