Page 49 of Gratification in Gluttony

Jude narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think you’ve earned it yet.”

Toni’s brows rose. “Oh? Did not see that power dynamic coming, but I can work with it. What exactly do I need to do to earn a kiss?”

Pretending to think hard, Jude wiggled his head and hummed. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“I don’t think I like this game,” Toni said, forcing Jude’s head back farther with pressure under his chin. “It feels rigged against me.”

“Perhaps, but I’m having a fabulous time.” Jude’s smile was sharp and beautiful, and Toni wanted to taste it.

But he held back, enjoying the chase too much to end it quite yet. “Of course you’re having a good time. You’re the one in control. Oh, you’re gonna be bossy, aren’t you?”

Jude shrugged innocently. “If you want me to be.”

A growl rumbled in Toni’s chest unbidden. “And you say I’m the dangerous one.”

“How about you take me upstairs,” Jude said, circling Toni’s wrists and pulling until Toni released him. “I’m not one for exhibition.”

“As you wish,” Toni said as he stepped back.

With a pat to Toni’s chest, Jude smiled grandly up at him. “Good boy,” he said, like it was nothing.

And Toni’s brain glitched. He made another strangled noise in the back of his throat. Like a moan and a cough and a choke all rolled into one. It was not very sexy, but it made Jude pause.

Toni looked down at his jeans, which were bulging out obscenely because those two, innocent little words had, apparently, made him instantly erect. Jude followed his line of sight and made his own odd noise. Like a laugh and a gasp mixed together.

“Apparently, that really works for Toni,” Toni said, and Jude hid a laugh behind his hand.

“Do you, uh, need a minute?” he asked around his snickers.

“I’m gonna need a fucking decade.” Toni stared up at the sky and tried to think about unsexy things, jerking away when Jude placed a hand on his arm. “Come on, don’t touch me. I’ll never get flaccid if you touch me!”

Jude stepped back, pressing his hands together in front of his mouth like he was praying. “I’m so sorry.”

“No, you’re not! Don’t lie to me. I know what you’re doing.” Toni pointed accusingly. “You’re evil. But in a very attractive way. Are you sure you’re not part Incubus or something?”

“Just plain human,” Jude said, biting his bottom lip as he stole glances down at Toni’s erections.

“You’re not plain anything,” Toni said stiffly, grabbing Jude’s wrist and hauling him toward the door to his building. “I need to get you inside before you make me come on the sidewalk with nothing but your human witchcraft!”

“My Jewish ancestors would roll over in their graves if they heard you accuse me of being a witch.” Jude inspected the inside of the foyer as Toni pressed the button for the lift. “I like the domed ceiling in here,” he added, more to himself than to Toni.

“Yes, very nice,” Toni dismissed, pulling Jude into the lift and clicking the button to close the doors repeatedly.

“What are you—”

The second the doors closed, Toni pounced on Jude, trapping him against the wall and burying his face in his neck. “Can I please kiss you now?” he begged, fingers flexing on Jude’s hips.

Jude gasped as Toni’s still hard cocks pressed to his thigh. “Toni.”

“I’m trying to be good, but you’re making it very hard. Literally,” Toni said, rolling hips, and Jude moaned. Fuck, he moaned, and it was everything. “Yeah, baby, make that sound again.”

The lift dinged, and Toni snarled viciously as he spun away from Jude, both of them trying to stifle their panting breaths as the doors opened and several people joined them in the lift.

“Good afternoon,” one of the women, an Octopod, greeted them.

Toni nodded and hummed in response, not trusting his voice enough to speak. Since Jude didn’t understand Hellia, he remained silent as well. The Octopod frowned at both their poor manners, then turned to face forward with a harrumph.

Slumping, Toni stealthily calmed his breathing as Jude fought to stifle his laughter. Toni flipped him off, which just made him laugh harder, the little shit.

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