Page 84 of Billion Dollar Love: Manlove Edition

“Not necessarily. I’ve broken my own rule before.”

“You might not believe me, but I’ve never kissed anyone before asking their name before. I don’t even go out that much.”

Ben eyed him a few seconds before speaking again. “You know, I thought you were straight until that moment. Tried to put you out of my mind.” He shrugged. “When you showed up in Club Status, I saw my chance because almost no straight guys ever go there. The way you reacted so quickly made me think maybe you’d noticed me staring.” His jaw set. “Because I do, you know. Stare at you. All the time.”

“Until today.”

“Well, today was different. Didn’t want to even be near you, let alone look at you.”

“I can’t believe a blunder killed your attraction to me.”

“Killed my desire to act on it,” Ben said as he crossed his arms.

Adam sank down into the chair again. His gaze flicked over, and his body reacted to the sight of a growing bulge in Adam’s pants. He looked back up. “I don’t believe that.”

“What?” Ben said, blinking at him.

“I can tell your anger is still very real. But your desire to touch me is far from dead.” Adam rose and moved closer. “You practically crawled into my lap when I kissed you.”

“I’d been drinking.”

Adam shook his head. “Not enough to not know what you were doing.” He cornered Ben against the desk and ran his palm over Ben’s cock. “And you haven’t had a drop today.”

Ben tried to pull away, but Adam grabbed him by the waist and drew him into a kiss.

****

Ben melted against Adam exactly the way he had Friday night. Just being near the man again had already been far too much to handle, so that caress to his aching cock had destroyed the small bit of control he’d been grasping at. Today, Adam’s mouth seemed even hungrier. And he certainly gripped Ben more fiercely. Confusion took hold as he kissed the other man back. It felt so good—he’d wanted Adam for so long—but the hurt still lingered.

Ben pushed at him. “Stop. Please.”

Adam did, but he still held Ben, staring at him and trying to catch his breath. “I’ll do anything. Name it.”

That brought Ben out of the lust-filled haze a bit more. “Name it? What do you think I’m going to say? A car? A promotion? What?”

“Anything to make it up to you,” Adam said as he caressed Ben’s cheek.

“Why? Because you want to fuck me?”

Adam flinched. “Yes, but not because you’re attractive. That’s why I touched you and kissed you Friday. But now, I want to be with you because of the way that kiss felt.”

A shiver ran up Ben’s spine as he asked, “How it felt?”

“Yes. I felt happy. It felt right to be touching you and holding you.”

“That’s pretty common with a first kiss.”

Adam frowned. “Can’t you let it go and give me a chance?”

Ben wiggled out of his arms. “Can’t you deal with not getting your way every single time?”

“I said I’d do anything, but I wasn’t thinking of fancy presents or bribes. That was your assumption. I was asking what I could say or do. Actions. Not throwing money around or using what power I have.”

“You say that, but I bet I could’ve asked for those things. And you’d have given them to me.” Ben crossed his arms again, hugging himself because he didn’t want Adam to see him shaking.

“I probably would have. I’d have then trusted that we could move beyond that once you got to know me.”

“I already know you. You don’t drive yourself anywhere. You inherited a company because of your last name. And you spend five minutes making out with men before asking their names.”

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