Page 40 of Addicted

Changing position, Owen took a knee next to Liam, clicking through the site, and Liam had to pull up all his strength to focus on the screen and ignore how those meaty thighs flexed once again. He wanted to straddle them, rub up against them, and the erection that he’d just forced away started to perk up for round two.

Suddenly he was staring at the staff page again, their photo looming full screen.

“I hope it’s okay that I used this. I really like it” There was a smile in Owen’s voice and when Liam turned his head their faces were inches apart.

“Y-Yeah, it’s fine,” Liam croaked out. “I like it too.” He licked his lips, his mouth suddenly parched. Owen’s gaze snapped to them and Liam found himself doing the same, studying how Owen’s top lip was thinner than the bottom, which was full and biteable and only encouraging Liam’s hardness.

“Liam?” Owen was calling his name and Liam realized that it wasn’t for the first time. Slowly, Liam lifted his eyes and his breath caught again.

Owen was staring back at him with a passionate intensity that Liam had only dreamed of. The line he’d drawn in the sand dissolved to nothing under the gusts of that stare. He didn’t know what to do, it felt like he was watching from outside himself as Owen moved closer, his eyes flickering back and forth as they bore into Liam’s. Inches apart like this, Liam could see teal and green flecks in Owen’s irises, making them more like a tropical sea than an ocean. Either way, Liam was swimming in them now, submerged.

A ringtone cut through the moment, shattering it, and they both blinked. Owen stood, and Liam’s erection vanished as he realized that the sound was coming from his phone. Without thinking, he took it out of his pocket and answered, staring at Owen’s back.

“Um…hello?”

“Liam.” The voice made his heart sink.

“Oh. Hello Aunt Diane.” Owen’s shoulders stiffened as Liam said her name but he didn’t turn around; instead, he fiddled with the scanner. Liam wondered if he should take the call in the hallway but his knees were still weak from whatever had just happened and, with any luck, this conversation would be short.

“You soundsoexcited to hear from me.”

“I’m sorry. I’m at work.” He tried not to sigh into the phone.

“Still with the serving job?” She sniffed at him.

“N-No, I work in the office now.” For some reason he didn’t want to tell her about Owen, she would only sully it.

“A promotion? Finally! Wait, hang on for a moment.” She barked a drink order at someone in a way that made Liam feel sorry for them. “Anyway, I’m calling because we’re wrapping up our travels and I wanted to let you know that we’ll be back in the area at the end of next month to sign the paperwork.”

Liam was glad she couldn’t see him because he frowned so deeply that his face hurt.

“Are you sure we can’t do it through email?” That sounded a little too close to a whine but he’d take any opportunity not to see her. She wouldn’t be happy with the state of his life and he was juggling too many things to have her throw a wrench into it all. She wouldn’t just topple his house of cards; she’d set the whole table on fire.

“Unfortunately, no. The bank told Laurence that we need to be there in person and have the sign-off notarized.”

“Okay.” Liam realized that Owen was now studying him, an odd expression on his face.

“I’ll call when I know the exact date.” As usual, her tone was dismissive, containing none of the kindness that his mother’s voice had. “Goodbye, Liam.”

“Bye, Aunt Diane.” Liam was beyond caring about politeness and ended the call before she could upset him further. Shaken and a little angry, Liam stared at his phone until Owen’s voice broke through.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking but what do you want to email her?” Owen asked slowly, carefully, avoiding the awkward discomfort between them.

“Oh, uh, some papers from a bank account they didn’t know about until now.” Liam stood, wanting to give Owen back his seat. “My mom had it in her maiden name so I have to sign some things.”

“I could help you with that.” Owen sat down again, trying to appear nonchalant but tension radiated off him.

“N-No. Wait. I mean thank you but Aunt Diane said it has to be notarized and her boyfriend Laurence is the executor so it all has to go through him.” Liam started to head for the door, his body twitching, needing another pill.

“All right.” Owen’s voice told Liam it was anything but that.

“I’m gonna go…to the bathroom,” Liam finished lamely, looking for any excuse to leave. It was lunchtime but he needed to sort himself before he sat through a meal with Owen, who looked at his watch.

“Liam, I have a lunch meeting so I’m sorry but I won’t be able to eat with you today.” It was a blatant lie. If Owen had an appointment, then he would’ve mentioned it at the beginning of the day, but Liam wasn’t going to call him on it. He wanted the out so he could mull over the last five minutes.

With a nod he was out the door and down the stairs, settling into his spot at the back of the storage room in record time. Reaching for his wallet he pulled a small transparent bag of oblong pills from one of the inner pockets. Shaking one of them out into his palm he swallowed it dry. The act usually grounded him but not this time. This time his mind spun, flipping around a single question that flashed in bright bold colors.

Did Owen almost kiss him?

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