Page 27 of More than Need

“Their loss.” Who even were his neighbours? He’d never seen them. Gideon decided not to analyse that because he had a feeling that he’d only come out more pathetic. “You even wrapped them.” How long had he had these for, waiting to spring them on Gideon? Had he gone shoppingtoday, or had they been hidden in a drawer at his office? Not the one Gideon had been searching for gum.

Riley’s lips pursed. “They do it for you,” he said stiffly as if the idea that he’d taken the time to wrap Gideon’s gifts was inconceivable.

Gideon tried his best to be careful with the wrapping at first and then succumbed to his baser nature, ripping it off like a kid on his birthday. His lips parted in surprise. “It’s not a police manual.”

“Was that what you expected?”

“Maybe? Yes.” Only sort-of yes. “Or like, paperwork to file.”

“Paperwork to file,” Riley repeated. “What would be the purpose of that?”

A solid question. “It’s your gift; you tell me.” Gideon thumbed through the book. “You bought me a colouring book. Andpencils.” Expensive ones too. The kind he couldn’t justify spending money on.

“It’s hardly a state secret that you enjoy colouring books in your spare time.”

The difference here being that Riley had never bought him one before. Not even for his birthday.

He smiled wide and crowded Riley against the counter. “Is this where I say thank you?”

Riley glanced at Gideon’s lips. “You already did.”

“That was before I knew what the gifts were.” Gideon smoothed his hands down Riley’s chest, tugging on his suit jacket, flicking a thumb over a button. “I think they deserve a better, more personal thank you now.”

Riley cupped the side of Gideon’s neck and smoothed his thumb under his chin. Gideon’s eyes fluttered closed, and he exhaled shakily. He’d been craving this all day, like a drug addict with a new addiction to a particularly potent substance.Neededit.

He arched his neck and lifted in a silent demand for a kiss, not wanting to wait another second more for his next fix.

Except that it didn’t come, and his eyes flew open. Riley’s serious face didn’t give him high hopes for the evening. “Riley?”

“I need to tell you something, Gideon, before we go any further.”

Gideon frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“I kissed Dawson.”

Gideon blinked. What? That hadn’t quite been what he’d expected. He’d braced himself for more of the same, “I’m your boss,” stuff. Which he didn’t have an argument against because it wasn’t wrong. Not this. “As in?”

“Exactly how it sounds. And he sucked me off in the car.”

Oh. He leaned against his dining table, hands reaching back to brace himself. “What an eventful day for you.” He’d seen the spark of attraction between them and had assumed that the Sadie-shaped issue between them wouldn’t allow it to bloom. “When did you see him again?”

“Long story. We were arguing, and then—” Riley shrugged. “He gets on my nerves.”

Gideon snickered. “He gets on your something else as well.” He really wanted to hear that story, though. How had Dawson ended up in Riley’scar?

“You deserve to know because of whatever it is that we’re doing. And in case it changes your mind.”

“I’m not changing my mind.” Gideon licked his lips. “My dick is rock hard, and hearing that is only making it worse.” He only wished he’d been there to seeit, not stop it.

“Yeah?”

Gideon brushed his hands over Riley’s hips and playfully tugged his belt. “Yeah. Did you return the favour?”

“He didn’t let me.”

Interesting answer. “And if you could have?”

“I would have.”

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