Page 44 of More than Need

Sebastian leaned his shoulder on the doorframe of Riley’s office. “Who is Dawson? You know, there’s so much gossip going on around here, and I never get to hear any of it. Quinn’s really holding out on me, and so are you. Are we even friends?”

“It doesn’t concern you,” Riley said. “Does having four men not keep you occupied enough?”

“I always have time for extra gossip.”

“Sounds like you need a hobby.” Riley hooked a finger in Gideon’s belt loop. “Lunch is fine,” he said, pressing a kiss to the side of Gideon’s head.

“We were supposed to be having lunch,” Sebastian said, pushing off the doorframe. “But who am I to get in the way of a budding romance?”

“You talk just to hear yourself, don’t you?” Riley said.

“It’s the only way to ensure intelligent conversation. I’m going to go surprise Peyton for lunch, and I might take a leaf out of your book and find the nearest desk.” He slapped Riley on the shoulder. “I’ll call you later.”

“Gideon?” Dawson said through the phone. “Are you still there?”

Gideon hooked his ankle around Riley’s. “We’re free; where are we going?”

Riley stirred his coffeeabsently as he watched Dawson across the café table, spooning the ice cream floating on top of his sundae milkshake. He’d brushed his hair to the side with his fingers to get it out of his face, but a few strands had broken free to curl against his forehead. He glanced at Gideon where he stood at the counter across the room, ordering their food. He preferred having them both in his sights.

“Why do you keep looking at me?” Dawson asked. He slid the spoon and ice cream into his mouth, lips stretching to accommodate the utensil. Riley couldn’t look away. “Do I have some cream on my face?”

“I’m trying to work out how you maintain your physique,” he lied. He’d been thinking about Dawson’s tongue. Though still a valid question. The milkshake came with drizzled chocolate, whipped cream, and a large scoop of ice cream. A meal in itself.

“So clinical. I have a labour-intensive job, and I don’t have milkshakes every day, unfortunately.”

Riley finished stirring his coffee and placed his spoon on the side of the small plate the mug had come on. “Why did you invite us out for lunch?”

“Are you always this suspicious, or am I a special case?”

Riley’s job had taught him early that most people couldn’t be trusted. Doubly true in this case. “You can hardly fault me for that, considering how we met.” How could Dawson not have an ulterior motive when the entire reason he’d met Riley had been to call him out for not wanting anything to do with his best friend? He couldn’t honestly think that Riley believed that sleeping together meant it ended there? Even with the caveat that he couldn’t mention her if he wanted to keep having sex with them, Riley doubted he’d suddenly stop wanting to bring her up.

“Is it so unusual that I want to know more about a man that I had sex with? Both of you, in fact.”

“Things you can take back to your friend?”

“Oh my God, you are the most infuriating person on the entire planet.” Not the first time he’d heard that. “I haven’toncebrought up Sadie in this conversation. In fact, you’ve mentioned her more than me.”

Riley took a careful sip of his coffee and didn’t respond to that.

Dawson huffed out a laugh and shook his head. “I have no idea why, but I want you. She’s going to kill me when she finds out. Probably never talk to me again, and I’d deserve it. Every time you open your mouth, I wonder why I’m even still here.”

“And?”

“And what?” Dawson bit out.

“What are you doing here?”

Dawson’s lips flattened. He put his spoon down and stood. “You know what, this was a bad idea. I should go.”

“Come here,” Riley said before Dawson could move away from the table. He could admit to being an asshole and his unfair treatment of Dawson.

He couldn’t deny that he was waiting for the other shoe to drop, and for Dawson to push the agenda again. He couldn’t think about what it meant that Sadie existed, that his biological parents were still out there somewhere in Sydney. Some part of him, a long time ago, had wondered if they were local or not. Until he’d realised that he didn’t care. They weren’t part of his life, and he didn’twantto be part of theirs. He had a family. One he would never give up for anything in the world. Not even the chance to find out more about the two people who had abandoned him when he’d been only a few days old. Whose genes made up his own.

Dawson hesitated and then dropped into the chair beside Riley. “What?” he asked defensively.

Riley slid the milkshake across the table and gathered some of the ice cream with his teaspoon. He cupped Dawson’s neck and fed it to him slowly. Heat flared in Dawson’s dark-brown eyes as he parted his lips, letting Riley in.

The spoon had barely touched the table before Riley kissed Dawson, lapping up the sweetness of the cold dessert with his tongue. Dawson moaned and curled a hand around Riley’s tie, drawing him closer.

---