Page 42 of More than Need

“I know,” Riley said simply.

Gideon didn’t know. No one asked him, so he stayed quiet.

Sebastian’s fingers curled further around the chair. “I can’t keep secrets from him. I did that once before, and I lost him because of it.” He glanced between them. “What am I telling him, exactly? Didn’t expect to come in here and find you making out with one of your own detectives. It looked like you were about to fuck him out there.”

Gideon shifted uncomfortably on his seat. He wished he could say, “We didn’t do anything wrong.” Except they had. They’d broken clear protocols, planned to do it again, and had openly flaunted it where anyone could have come in. He knew how lucky they were that it happened to be Sebastian and not someone else who would have spread the gossip like wildfire.

“I told you we should have gone into your office,” Gideon mumbled.

Riley gave him a look. “Constructive, thank you.”

Sebastian carefully lifted his hands from the chair and squinted suspiciously. “Have you… in here before?”

“No. Are you done trying to scold us as if you and Quinn have never been caught doing anything in public?”

“We were dating at the time, it was close to midnight, and we didn’t technically get caught. It was justyou.” He clicked his fingers. “Oh, and we didn’t do it at the station where you and Quinn worked, or somewhere that has high traffic in the middle of the day.AndI wasn’t his boss, and he wasn’t mine.”

“Finished?”

“Maybe. Not yet. Give me a second.”

Riley laced his fingers together and rested them on the desk. “It’s important that this doesn’t get out, for Gideon’s career as well as my own.”

Sebastian’s face twisted. “I hope you’re not implying that I would report you, because if you are, then fuck you, and I hope your next hot chocolate tastes like second-rate cocoa.”

Riley rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You can quit the dramatics at any point. I was not suggesting you would talk. It’s simply an important factor in this situation.”

“The situation where you and one of your detectives are… fucking? In a relationship? I’d like to clarify exactly what I walked in on.”

Gideon looked to Riley since they hadn’t actually clarified anything. They’d confirmed it wasn’t just about sex. That left a lot of wriggle room in terms of labels. And where did Dawson fit into that?

“If you need it explained, then I worry about what kind of relationship you have with your men.”

“Deflection doesn’t work on me. If you’re worried about the risk, you might want to avoid exposing yourselves right in the middle of the station?” Sebastian suggested. “If someone elsehad walked in on you, who knows what would have happened?” He cursed under his breath. “I should have taken a picture.”

“That’s perverted, even for you,” Riley said flatly.

“Asproof. Who’s going to believe me?”

“Unfortunately, too many people think you have integrity and would be inclined to take you at face value.”

“Thanks… I think. You still haven’t answered my question.”

“What our relationship status is, is none of your business,” Riley said firmly. “That’s not the point of this discussion.”

“Touchy. At least tell me how long you two have been… like this?”

Finally able to contribute, Gideon happily supplied, “Since last night.” Technically, two days ago? It depended on what they considered to be the “start.” First kiss? First look? Or first overnight stay? Something in-between?

“Since…” Sebastian glanced between them. “Moving fast. Can I sit down, or are there cum stains on the chair that will only show up with blue light?” Sebastian asked.

“Sit the fuck down, Sebastian,” Riley said firmly.

Sebastian shared a grin with Gideon before complying. “I just wanted to check. Hygiene is important.”

“So is keeping my blood pressure down. You don’t particularly care about that.”

“I only have the capacity to care about one thing at a time.” Sebastian spread his legs out and adjusted his suit jacket. “I can’t believe you finally got yourself a boyfriend, and it’s one of yourdetectives. Couldn’t attempt to branch out a bit further?”

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