Page 9 of Scout

For the first time in ... well, for the first time ever, he saw himself in a long-term relationship with one man. Rico was right—if Scout didn’t take a chance, he’d never know. Something extraordinary might come from this—he just had to take things slowly. The last thing he wanted Alex to think was that he did this often because he didn’t. Scout had never dated an employee or a business associate. But seeing Alex everyday and being unable to touch and kiss him was torturous, to say the least.

The heat from Alex’s body penetrated two layers of clothing and radiated across Scout’s skin. The man’s mouth looked delectable, as it always did, and the only thing preventing him from kissing it was Alex still hadn’t given him an answer.

Desire filled Alex’s eyes, but also a bit of wariness.

Scout reached up and stroked the other man’s stubbled cheek. Whatever aftershave Alex put on that morning still lingered, just enough to tantalize Scout’s sense of smell. “It’s okay. If you say no, we’ll forget I ever asked.” As if he could. “If you say yes, it’ll just be a kiss—nothing more. I’ve never done this before, Alex—not with someone who worked for me. But there’s something about you ... I just can’t ... I can’t resist. I want you and for more than just one night. And that kind of scares me a little.” More like a lot. “But don’t worry, your job is safe either way. The decision is all yours.”

Alex licked his lips, drawing a groan from Scout’s throat. His cock grew harder, and he knew it would take all his strength not to go any further than just a kiss—ifAlex said yes.

“You have three seconds to answer me. If you don’t, I’ll let you sleep in one of the spare bedrooms, and we’ll go back to being employer and employee. Three seconds. One ... two ...”

“Yes.”

The one word had been spoken so softly that Scout almost didn’t hear it. To be sure, he slid his hand to Alex’s nape and squeezed gently. “Say it again. I want no misunderstandings between us.”

Alex cleared his throat. “I ... um ... I said yes.”

Scout searched the man’s eyes and face for any regret or fear. When he was confident they were both on the same page, he tugged on Alex’s neck until only an inch separated their mouths. He didn’t want to rush it. There was something amazing about sharing a first kiss. Call him old-fashioned, but he thought it was the sexiest thing in the world—a once-in-a-lifetime experience between two people that could never be duplicated.

His lips brushed against Alex’s. Once. Twice. The third time, he didn’t break contact. Slowly, he learned the texture and taste of Alex’s lips. They were pillowy soft with a firmness underneath, a strength he held back. Scout wanted desperately to unleash the beast within himself, the one dying to strip Alex naked and fuck him until neither of them could walk. But that wouldn’t happen tonight. Baby steps. He had to take baby steps because the pending romantic relationship with Alex was too special to screw up before they ever got started.

Scout moved forward, closing the last distance between their bodies, and pinned Alex against the wall, pressing their torsos and pelvises together. Alex was just as hard as Scout, and that knowledge had himwanting to drop to his knees to find out exactly how big and long the man’s cock was.

Their hands stroked and squeezed each other’s shoulders and upper arms. Scout didn’t know about Alex, but he forced himself not to let his hands roam anywhere else, knowing it would lead to stripping the other man naked.

He ran his tongue along Alex’s lips, silently asking for entry. When access was granted, he surged inside, licking and savoring. He could taste the Guinness the man enjoyed earlier.

A moan escaped Alex, evoking one in response from Scout. The room grew hotter, or at least it felt that way. Scout needed to stop but kept telling himself to revel in the kiss for a few more seconds.

The slamming of a door had the men jumping apart, breathing heavily. Alex’s eyes were wide as they darted around, searching for the source of the noise, but Scout chuckled. “Sorry about that. Sounds like Magnus just got home. If we were further into the apartment, we probably wouldn’t have heard it, but since we’re against the front door ...” He shrugged and then cupped Alex’s jaw. “Sleep in my bed tonight. No sex. I just want you beside me all night. Please?”

His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for an answer. When a smile spread across Alex’s face, Scout knew he had it.

Six

As he stirred, Alex wondered why it was so damn hot in his bedroom. The air conditioning was always set for seventy degrees in his apartment, so he shouldn’t be sweating like he was right then. Maybe the power went out during the night.

He tried to kick off the covers, but his heel hit something hard. Before he could figure out what it was, an arm came around his torso, and a soft voice murmured, “Stop kicking me and go back to sleep.”

Huh? What the . . .?

Keeping his body stiff, he slowly opened his eyes and let them adjust to the faint morning light filtering in from behind the blinds covering a row of windows. He recognized the room instantly, having been in Scout’s bedroom several times before to retrieve things for him.

Oh, shit. What have I done?

His mind scrambled to piece together how he’d ended up in his boss’s bed ...withhis boss spooning him!

A rush of memories of the night before swirled in his mind like a mini tornado. Cock & Bull. Drinks. Fun. Not allowed to drive home.You can crash at my place. No worries.Walking back to the Paradox with Scout. Taking the elevator to the penthouse. A question. Scout had asked him a question.

Oh.

My.

God!

They’d kissed. Hell, they’d made out! In the foyer. Shit! Who initiated it? What else did they do?

Alex took a personal inventory. He was bare-chested, and his pants were gone, but he was still in his boxer briefs. Okay, that was a good sign, right? If they’d had sex, he probably wouldn’t have put them back on. Right?

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